Last California hurrah.

Can you guys believe that we moved away from California a year ago? This time last year we were packing up the car and planning our trip across the country. I really can't believe it has been that long...probably because I have been back to California 5 times since we moved here...well 6 counting my most recent trip. As some of you may know, I recently accepted a full-time position working for the organization where I completed my school psychologist internship at. Before starting full-time, I wanted to make one last little trip out to California to visit some family. It had been 4 months since my last visit (which is a lifetime considering I was going back to CA every 2 months). So I booked my ticket to San Francisco to visit my sister, brother in law and cute little niece.

A few days before my trip, my oldest brother had surgery on his knee. This surgery was supposed to be routine, a one-night stay in the hospital and then go home. But things got complicated and he ended up having multiple surgeries on his leg and his stay in the hospital grew much longer. It's a little strange for us to have medical issues in the family. I mean we definitely have had scary issues, but nothing as terrifying as the thought of losing your brother or your brother losing his leg. My sister and I decided that we needed to go be with my brother and his family during this very unsettling, scary time. So we packed up the car less than 24 hours of me landing on the West Coast and we headed east 4 hours to Reno. We spent the next 3 days there visiting my brother in the hospital, being with family and (hopefully) helping with the everyday life activities of a busy household. Although it was unfortunate circumstances, I am so glad that I got to spend time with family I didn't expect to see on this trip - my oldest brother, sister-in-law, niece and 2 nephews AND then my other brother, his girlfriend and my other niece drove up from San Diego. It was like Christmas morning.

This trip was a whirlwind of emotions, and reflecting back on those few days, I realized so much about my family that I don't think I was truly aware of before. I'll have to save that for a later post because honestly, I am crying right now thinking of the sacrifices my family has made for each other. We are far from perfect. Some of us have made serious mistakes that have changed our lives forever. But there are some good things about us too. We make sacrifices for each other without blinking an eye. We are really quite selfless sometimes, surprisingly. I also grew to love my sister-in-law Amy even more. She has been a part of our family for nearly 20 years and is like a sister to us, but I learned how strong of a woman she is. Besides working full-time and juggling her three kids busy schedules, she was able to care for my brother and spend any free moment at the hospital while keeping it all together. Amy, if you are reading this, I think you are the strongest woman I know! When I stop crying like a baby, I'll try to write about how dysfunctional and awesome we are, all at the same time. But for now, I will share the pictures from my trip. I will spare posting the picture of my brother's cut open leg with exposed muscle. You're welcome.

The cutest serious baby in the world!

Love these pretty girls. 

What a good looking bunch! 

This is only 5 of my 13 nieces and nephews!

A pretty Reno sunset. 

Ah! We hate goodbyes! 

I was so happy to be able to be there for my family. Something that I have struggled with since moving to Massachusetts is not being there for my family when they need help. But luckily, I could be there this time. 

Ugh, now I have to wait 90 days before I can use vacation time and go back to California. Hope it goes by fast!

ps. brother is out of the hospital now.