SO and SS18 packed up and headed out just after lunch yesterday! Very excited for them. I can't wait to see the pictures and hear the stories. Very sad that I will have zero contact with SO while he is gone because I will truly miss him. May sound dumb but we have never been apart this long! As of Tuesday night, there was a very good chance that they were not going to be able to go. On Sunday we were out of town helping SO's parents cut down some fallen trees and SO took the chainsaw to his hand. It was rough. Went to small town Urgent care to get it stitched up. 3 hours later we walk out of there with 19 stitches, some super glue and a pair of scissors. Dr said he would be fine to go to mtns to ride and sent him on his way. Monday morning we wake up and the hand looks horrible. Super swollen and infected looking. We both thought the trip was off right then and there. Called around and got him some antibiotics (what doctor in their right mind doesn't give antibiotics to someone who just had a chainsaw in their hand??) for him. No body could believe we didn't get them right away. Now they are off. I sure hope his hand can withstand the pressure it will be under. This wasn't an easy trip to get to happen and it would be horrible if it turned out anything but great for them. SS18 swore his life away for the next 3 weeks in order to go on this trip. He had to drive to BM's work everyday and have lunch with her, and on his chore list the first thing on there everyday was "do something nice for your mom." Now he has all these days that he cannot come to our house with SD16 because he has to make up the time with her. God forbid he see his dad more than 2 days in one week without having to "make up" for it. The worst part is the SS18 went all out and sent his mom an edible arrangement at work, plus had flowers, M&M's, and a gift card to get a massage and pedicure sitting on the counter for her when she got home (something nice for mom) and she still broke down in tears because nobody cares about her feelings. She didn't make any dinner all week because she was "depressed" apparently. SD16 fended for herself for meals while BM sat on the couch with a bowl of cereal all night. Really wishing right about now that BD4 would be home ALL weekend so that I could plan some fun stuff with her, but she wont be. Bummer.