Our trip to Reno was exactly what all of us needed.
The biggest highlight for Kay was getting to spend time with Tyler’s family, especially her favorite person, Hannah. Hannah, who also has Down syndrome, shares such a special bond with Kay, and watching their relationship continue to grow is something I’ll never get tired of. The excitement on Kay’s face every time she sees Hannah is absolutely priceless.
She was also so excited to spend time with Nana and Poppi, who always make her feel so loved. One of Tyler’s nieces was visiting too, and within what felt like minutes, she and Kay had become great friends. It was so much fun watching them all laugh, play, and make memories.
We stayed busy throughout the entire trip. We played mini golf, spent plenty of time at the arcade, explored a children’s museum, enjoyed some delicious meals out, and found fun things to do everywhere we went. We also had the opportunity to see Cirque Alice, which ended up being one of my favorite memories from the trip.
I honestly wasn’t sure how well Kay would do sitting through a live performance, but she completely surprised me. She was so engaged from beginning to end, and it was so much fun watching her react to everything happening on stage. Her favorite part was the acrobats. She watched them so closely and even tried mimicking some of their movements from her seat. Seeing the excitement and wonder on her face made the experience even more special.
Sometimes the best memories come from trying something new and discovering just how much your child is capable of.
One of the biggest surprises of the trip was that Kay officially lost her second tooth while we were in Reno. It made the vacation even more memorable.
Maeve came along with us too, as she always does, but this trip looked a little different for her.
Normally, she is constantly in working mode as Kay’s diabetic alert dog. While she never truly stops doing her job, she finally had the chance to just be a dog. She spent her days hanging out with one of her favorite puppy friends, Simba, whose size and energy are a perfect match for hers. They wrestled, played, and completely wore each other out while staying cool inside and away from the Nevada heat.
Even while enjoying herself, Maeve still reminded us why she is so incredible. Whenever we were back at the house, she continued alerting to Kay’s blood sugar changes just like always. It was the perfect balance of work and play, and I loved seeing her get to enjoy a little vacation of her own.
As much fun as all of the activities were, I think what made this trip so special was simply spending time together. Life has been incredibly busy lately with appointments, therapies, diabetes management, and preparing for kindergarten. Taking a few days to slow down, laugh, relax, and enjoy family was exactly what we all needed.
We came home with tired feet, happy hearts, and memories we will treasure for a long time. We are already looking forward to our next trip back to Reno.