So, while Mimi and Pop-Pop were here, the clinical trial staff from Minnesota called and said that there might possibly be a spot in the Sanfilippo, Type B clinical trial for Little Buddy and that they wanted to try to get him up for a screening! This was big new. BIG NEWS. But it wasn't official yet. We had to get travel lined up and approval and lots of "i"s dotted and "t"s crossed, but we did. And then we were officially going to Minnesota for a week to screen Little Buddy for inclusion in a Type B trial!
DAY 1: PLANE RIDES AND DINNER DATES
We left on Monday afternoon (because where else do you want to go on Memorial Day but Minneapolis, right?). Made it to the airport, had lunch, and then jumped on the plane. Thankfully, due to all of our Ohio trips, out kiddos are seasoned travelers and did pretty good on the plane.
Waiting to get through security with his new favorite traveling hat.
Enjoying some lunch before the airplane!
Thank goodness for tablets and games of peek-a-boo!
Settling into the hotel and not willing to give up her newly discovered love, the tablet. Ugh. I hate it, but you do what you gotta do when traveling.
Making himself right at home.
Not a bad view from our hotel room!
There was also a Type A family in town who was sweet enough to reach out to us and invite us to dinner. Little Buddy and Little Sister had a lot of fun playing with Reagan and they all enjoyed playing on the trolley in the Spaghetti Factory!
DAY 2: TESTING TIME!
On Tuesday we headed over to the hospital to talk with the clinical staff and do Little Buddy's physical evaluation. We learned about the trial and Little Buddy had blood work taken, a urine analysis performed, and an ECG. He was a trouper through everything!
Fueling up for a big day (thankfully we convinced Little Buddy that the "french" pancakes were an acceptable substitute for regular pancakes)!
We're ready for you University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital! Hope you're ready for us!
After our long morning at the hospital, we headed out to get some lunch before going back to the hotel. we just hung out at the hotel the rest of the day because of the rain and because Momma and Daddy were TIRED!
Downtime and Daniel Tiger at the Hotel!
Awesome little sister is ready to take charge!
This spinning chair became a favorite ride during out hotel stay!
Daddy and his Little Sweetie!
Even though Little Buddy has to miss school this week, we're certainly not taking a break from learning time! His teachers and therapists were able to send assignments for him so we can keep him on track!
DAY 3: TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME! AND TO SOME HISTORICAL RUINS?!?
Because Little Buddy didn't have any more testing scheduled until Friday, we planned some fun family activities for Wednesday and Thursday! After breakfast, we played at a park, then went to a Twins game, and ended our day at the surprisingly beautiful Mill Ruins down by the river.
No better way to start a day than with breakfast in bed!
Brother and Sister had a great time playing at the park!
It was great to cross another baseball stadium off of our list. This is Little Buddy's seventh!
Little Buddy enjoyed the Twins game and a helmet sundae. Little Sister was tired from the park and enjoyed a nice nap.
Quick little dip in the pool at the hotel to cool down after the game!
After dinner that evening, we chanced on Mill Ruins Park. This is a park that is downtown by the Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River and shows the ruins of several flour mills that were abandoned.
Pretty views while we walked down to the ruins.
Very cool to see what's left of the foundations and structure.
Although Little Sister was less impressed by the views and more interested in the goslings. She's very into baby animals right now!
Little Buddy thought that the remaining steel beams looked like a wrecked pirate ship!
The foundation ruins were very cool to see, especially for history nerds like Momma and Daddy!
All smiles after a fun day!
Although Little Sister was quick to pass out afterwards!
DAY 4: WE'RE GOING TO THE ZOO, ZOO, ZOO!
Besides baseball stadiums, we also try to check out zoos whenever we travel. We had a great time at the Minneapolis Zoo and even got to meet another Sanfilippo, Type A family. Another great day!
Little Sister is ready for an adventure!
First up, Little Buddy's favorite: the tigers!
These two could pose with statues all day long!
Checking out the moose!
And the moose statue too, of course!
"It looks like we are riding Chesney!"
Lots of love for the carousel!
Camels!
"What can I see next?"
Entranced by the prairie dogs (mostly because she baby prairie dogs)!
Watching the sea otters swim was also a big hit...
...but the bears took the cake! We didn't get any pictures of them swimming right by the glass (because we were just too in awe) but this was by far the best bear exhibit we've ever seen.
Checking out the leopard.
They really enjoyed playing on the exhibits around the zoo as well as the playground!
After the zoo, we made a quick stop at the Univeristy of Minnesota to see the campus a bit. The kids enjoyed playing in the book store!
Just hanging out watching Wheel of Fortune before bed! Little Buddy was pretty intrigued!
DAY 5: SICK AND TIRED AND READY TO GO HOME
Unfortunately, as tired as we were after our zoo day, no one slept well that night. Turns out that while Texas is finished with it's blooming period, Minnesota is just getting started and Little Buddy's sinus allergies went CRAZY! He does not understand that he needs to cough up the drainage instead of swallowing it, so we were dealing with a super congested boy with a super upset stomach from mucous for most of the night and then for the neurocognitive exam and travel home the next day. Yay?
Thankfully, he made it through the neurocognitive exam ok and even managed to refocus himself in spite of the fact he felt awful and just wanted to go to back to bed. He managed to only throw up mucous there once. And then once at the airport. And then once on the plane. Poor buddy. We needed home to less pollen, stat!
Saying bye-bye to his favorite thing about the hospital, the giraffe in the revolving door.
Back in Texas and headed home, but all he cares about is some much need rest!
He immediately started feeling better once we arrived home, but he was still very worn out. Some cuddles on the couch and then off to bed for our sweet boy! Thankfully, he was just fine the next day, once that pollen worked it's way out of his system!
So all in all, it was a good trip to Minnesota. And now we wait for results and to find out if we are accepted into the trial. Our fingers are crossed!
Good night,
LBM
Little Buddy's Momma
