Summer 2018 Part 2 NY and Canada

This was our 11th year of going up to NY for Sam's annual eye check up.  In 2007 Sam had corneal implants or the Boston Kpro put in his eyes in placed of his rejected corneas.  He was born with Peter's Anomaly an eye condition that affects primarily the corneas.  He had received corneal transplants when he was an infant in 2004 but they failed and his corneas had clouded up again.  Our original doctors in Miami felt it was not a good idea to do further transplants and hesitantly told us of Dr James Aquevella who perfected the artificial cornea.  We are so glad we chose the Kpro for Sam.  It has worked wonderfully in his good eye.  He had some issues in his left eye but we were expecting that it might not work.

So once again we  drove up and I have to admit I was dreading the trip this year.  Usually I don't feel like that till we are on the way home but this year I started with it.  Some of the dread I think comes from going to Rochester NY where we had to deal with the memories of Selah's accident.  It's hard to even look at the Erie Canal for me.  But I fight those feelings.  So off we headed....









Our first stop was Rochester to visit Dr A.  Sam had a wonderful report and cooperated in all his testing so he did not need to stay and go into surgery for an exam under anesthesia.  His cornea looked great.  His pressures were perfect.  We got to give all the staff a hug and thank our beloved Dr A again!

Then we had an extra two days to spend in Niagara Falls!  We stayed on the Canadian side for the first time.

Yes it was cold for us Florida people!

This never gets old!

Funny bird

Outside our hotel

We did something new and went to Ft George north of the Falls.  It was an absolutely beautiful day.

Steve an his camera

My happy girl

After we NF we went about 5 hours north to Sturgeon Bay a national camp ground.  For years we had talked about doing this and thought we should do it this year since we still have Steve with us for the summer.  The hardest part of the trip was the traffic around Toronto.  It made NYC look like a parking lot.  I've been all over the world in some crazy places and I've never seen such aggressive traffic.  During the ride I wanted to cry it was so bad but I didn't want to be a wuss or distract Steve who was driving.  We had no idea how bad the traffic was going to be.  Since then we learned that the Toronto area is considered North America's worst traffic spot!  I can attest to that!!!!



We were glad to get to our quiet campground!








Our cabin.  I hate to admit it but it was not very comfortable.  We have done cabin camping in Florida and were a bit spoiled.

Shad and his camera

We also went further north to Gundry Lake park  it was breath taking.

 Yes we got matching shirts!

Sam loving on daddy for giving his snacks

We also went to Killbear Provincial Park

It was interesting but a bit difficult for me with the little kids.  The bugs were horrible and remember I am a Florida girl and I know bugs LOL  We felt like we could not hardly have the little kids out.  We literally parked right next to the door and then rushed the kids out.  We drove them around to all the parks but didn't really take them out of the van.  One day there a good breeze and we were able to be out more.  I didn't even walk much because i was getting eaten up.  Those bugs sneered at our bug spray!  It didn't faze them a bit.  

With cabin camping I cooked and cleaned and did it over again the next day.  It was not much of a vacation for me.   But everyone else had a good time.  My husband doesn't seem to attract bugs as bad as I do so he took really long walks.  .  Of course the boys didn't mind much.  They did some fun things including kayaking on the bay during a tornado warning!  (we did not know about the warning!!!!)  Steve called me from the bay and said that water was coming over his kayak and he was about a mile out.....  Good Lord I was worried.  Thankfully they made it back and then we learned of the weather advisory!  It got much worse and we lost power for hours!   Steve had downloaded the classic movie The Shining on his computer so we watched that while the storm howled LOL!!!!!!

One night we were so cold we turned down our window unit and immediately mosquitoes began flooding our cabin!   We had kept the unit on because we needed some fresh air and the windows didn't have screens in them.  So we were up for an hour killing mosquitoes.  Poor Sarah got bit up so badly and she scratched the dickens out of herself.   She still has slight scars from them.

Despite it all both Sam and Sarah seemed quite happy except for the bugs.  They liked the smallness of the cabin and like riding in the van places.  They both did so good.  They are easy going when it comes to traveling.   

I'm really glad despite the difficulties and challenges that we went up into Canada.  It was interesting and some spots were so beautiful.  Next year we are planning for Jon to fly up with Sam for a quick doctor visit and then the fam is going to the beach for a week!!!!!!!!  THAT is my kind of vacation!  I have to admit we don't do many relaxing vacations.  We really want our kids to see the world.  It changes a person to get out of their environment and go new places   Growing up I had little opportunity to do anything or go anywhere so vacations have always been important to me.  We have always tried to do interesting things with the kids.

Next Blog will feature Shad and all his travels this summer.  He has been a busy young man!!