An Amazing Trip

For a year now we had been planning and awaiting our summer vacation, a trip to Las Vegas. Yes, that's right, not your typical family vacay spot, but we had a reason for choosing Vegas as our family destination. This year's annual AMC Convention (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita) would be held there. We had not made it to a convention since Morgan was one year old and this time it was finally within driving distance and not the first week back to school! The best part was that we would have two sets of grandparents with us to help out with the girls!

On the morning of July 3rd at 3am we grabbed the girls from bed and put them in their pjs into their carseats. Since it was the middle of summer and we were expecting record heat we decided to hit the road early in hopes that the girls would sleep a good part of the way and we could hit Vegas before the really hot sun did. Well, that planned worked for one kid. Kenzie transferred to her carseat just fine and was out until mid-Phoenix. Morgan on the other hand woke and never went back to sleep. She was just too excited about the trip and kept shouting "Vegas Baby!". Other than the fact that Morgan didn't sleep on the way up the drive went very smoothly and we made great time.

Kenzie stretching her legs in Kingman.

We arrived at the hotel around one and immediately Morgan began making friends. There is no way to put into words the experience of being at an AMC convention. Of being in a room full of people who truly get it. Their 'normal' is our 'normal'. Although each and every AMCer you meet is different and so many are affected in so many different ways and to different degrees, they all get it. They all (parents, kids, extended family) have been through the casts, braces, surgeries, countless therapies, the stares in public, etc... And for once being in the hotel there weren't the stares. Seeing kids in braces and wheelchairs and walkers was the norm for those four days and it was fabulous. In fact, it was so normal for those four days that the moment we left and were back in the real world I so desperately wanted to go back. It was such an amazing experience and we hope to make it to convention again in the future.
   We were so busy over those four days and so much happened I can't put it all into words, but here are some pictures from the trip. I am hoping to come back to this post and add more pictures once I get them from the grandparents since they were with the girls more than David and I as we were in many breakout sessions.

Kenzie had a great time making friends too.

Morgan and one of her buddies playing follow the leader.

This was what they resorted to playing after Morgan and two other boys got in trouble for racing.

Morgan and one of her new buddies. These two were together most of the trip. In fact, one evening they took off for a few minutes by themselves. David had to hunt them down.

Morgan making her own "Scarman" doll.

Morgan and "Scarman" Ward.

David and Morgan painting during our final morning. The kids always do a huge painting session and they do a group painting.

Morgan and two of the wonderful young ladies we met. They were truly inspiring.

The convention wrapped up on Saturday and we headed as a family down to the strip for our final day of vacation. We thought Morgan should experience the true Las Vegas and see where her daddy is always sneaking off to with his buddies :)  My dad had also arranged to take Morgan to see the dolphins at the Mirage (remember her birthday party and her latest obsession with Winter the dolphin?)

Checking out the fountains at the Bellagio.

Poor Kenz was crashed out from the heat.

Morgan trying to signal the dolphin to jump.

It was amazing how close you could get and it was nice that there was barely anyone there so you weren't fighting for a spot.

We had an amazing time at convention and a great trip overall. We are so thankful to David's parents and my dad and stepmom for coming with us. It was so nice having their help with the girls and great that they were able to be a part of our AMC family.