We were lucky enough to get an extra nurse shift today so Brendan had care all morning. Bill, Trevor and I were able to go out and do some shopping.

After just a month shy of 13 years of memories and reliable service, it was time to say goodbye to my green Xterra.

That car has been everywhere: camping, roadtrips, commuting, hauling us and the dogs on a whirlwind trip around southern Utah, off road, on road, even bringing our teeny weeny preemies home from the hospital for the first time. I am going to miss it. The one thing that it could not do is get our whole family from point A to point B safely. There is just not room enough.

So we went to see the big inflatable bull to see if it would grant us a wish for a new vehicle, but we found out it didn’t work like that. So we went inside to see the sales guy.

Trevor says that he and Gramma would like to cruise around in this one and Brendan can drive separately.

This is what Daddy wishes we were looking at.

“Gimmee the keys, I am going for a test drive!”

Once we figured out what we wanted, Trevor agreed to cosign. His cute score is better than our credit score.

We now own a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan, pretty bare bones model with plenty of room for 2 car seats, a nurse and all of Brendan’s medical equipment. I no longer have to stress about how I am going to get both boys to the doctor for their one year checkup on Monday, or any of Brendan’s other followup doctor appointments.

Brendan just enjoyed himself at home alone and got lots of Trevor-free quiet rest time. He did so well today, sprinting off-vent for over 8hrs.

He has a celebratory beer when we get home. Trevor already got to ride, Brendan should enjoy his first trip in the new van. We will probably have it until it falls apart, so he just may learn to drive in it some day.

Trevor was feeling a bit better today. He still has loose poops, but there was nowhere near as much screaming involved.

He only needed two baths today, not ten

We let him get some air time on his poor skin again tonight!

Thanks very much Jonah and Christine for bringing over a delicious dinner! It is such a great help after such an exhausting week. We are lucky to have a nurse to cover for us again tonight so we hope to get rest.