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The Annual Chromosome 18 Conference 2019: Part 4

Posted on August 11, 2019 by lillian

Hey, everyone! I just got back to Colorado Springs from the conference on July 27th. This blog post is a summary of what I did at the annual Chromosome 18p- conference this year. In case you are wondering, these are Thomas’s, Camilla’s, mine, and Chromosome 18’s website.

Here are some related blog posts: https://lilliandarnell.com/2018/07/06/annual-chromosome-18-conference-2018-part-1/, https://lilliandarnell.com/2018/06/15/my-adventure-to-surprise-part-1/, https://lilliandarnell.com/2017/09/13/annual-chromosome-18p-conference-2017/ I hope you enjoy!

July 21th:

I woke up around 11:00 am. I took my time eating brunch and getting dressed. It was around 12:00 pm when I finally went down to the lobby. I sat down in a comfy chair so I could text Camilla where she was in the lobby.

I saw Emmalee Bauknecht (an 18p- friend of mine; first attenders) and her mother while I sat there along with another friend who attends the conference every year. After a while, I got a message from Camilla saying where she was.

She was in the restaurant with Thomas and his friend, sibling, and Camilla’s friend. She ordered some french fries. I went to the restaurant to grab the water Camilla ordered for me.

Then I found a spot in the lobby that had a table next to it and had a good view of the lobby doors so I could see if Macy or Lauren came through the doors. It was a very comfy couch, I must say.

Camilla came to give me french fries that she ordered for me. The french fries were delicious. If you are wondering, I had them as a snack. Then I dropped off the french fry box off where Camilla was sitting.

I headed up to the room to look at the storm clouds a little better. After that, I came back down and sat down on a similar couch and a similar view of the doors. Macy and I messaged each other for a while.

I even took a selfie just for her. Around 4:00 pm before Camilla went to get nametags, she talked to one of her friends and I saw Macy’s father come into the hotel to check-in and get their hotel room.

Shortly after that, Macy and her sister, as well as her mother (one of Camilla’s friends), came in through the doors. Once I said hey to Macy, her family went up to their room with their things.

So Camilla and Thomas went into the conference registry room. After I stayed in the lobby for a minute or two, I went into the conference registry room and hung out in the entrance of the room.

I got a message from Macy asking where I was because she was in the lobby looking for me. She found me as I was about to go find her in the lobby and of course, we giggled at it (hint; giggling duo!). Camilla eventually came over to us.

Macy and I stepped outside to get our picture taken by Camilla. Then we went inside, Macy asked how to get to the outdoor pool so I showed her how to get out there. We went up to roam around the hallway floors and show each other our hotel rooms.

Right before Camilla and Thomas left to go to the Garden of the Gods, I thought I had lost the room key. So I asked the front desk for a new one using my phone; it was a major accomplishment for me.

Once Macy and I did that, we headed back up to my hotel room. We stopped by so Macy could glance at the indoor pool on the second floor. Afterward, we headed down to the lobby at 4; 00 pm to sit down and I took the opportunity to charge my phone.

I found a place nearby so I could keep an eye on my phone while I was sitting down. While I did that, Macy and I chatted some. Eventually, they again invited us to a restaurant.

This time there was a twist. It was a Mexican place instead of a pizza place but I didn’t mind just so long as Macy and I got to hang out some. So we drove there; Macy and her family arrived there first.

Of course, Camilla got lost but winded up finding it after a U-turn. So we headed into the restaurant and found Macy and her family. The restaurant was called Los Palmitas by the way.

I had some of the tortilla chips while I waited for food. I naturally had french fries. It was almost hard to stop eating them. Once we got back, the opening social had started. Unfortunately, I didn’t go because Camilla told me it would be loud.

So I just waited for Macy to come back but she had to go back out so she could get something at 7:00 pm. Just before 7:00 pm, we heard thunder and saw lightning. The thunder had scared Macy.

She was afraid the power would go out. Just in case, I put my flashlight in my bag. Right around 7:00 pm, it started raining. At around 8:00 pm, I went down to the lobby again. Most people were in the lobby again so I was able to hang out and be social at the very end of the opening social.

I even managed to show a few people the coloring page. I showed Lauren and Macy. They liked it a lot. Lauren’s mother, Macy’s father, and Macy’s mother saw it too and they liked it too.

I went back up to the room at around 10; 00 pm but went back down with Camilla around 11:00 pm. We spent 30 minutes talking and being social before heading up to the room.

I started getting ready for bed when I got nauseous. (Psst… I won’t go into full detail on this because it’s nasty stuff). I finished getting ready for bed and I played on my phone some before attempting to sleep.

I slept for only two hours before I woke up to Thomas being sick in the bathroom which made me sick. I immediately knew that the whole vacation would change. It wasn’t until 5:30 am that I got back to sleep.

A selfie of me! Taken by me, of course!

Me And Macy Reunited At Last! Taken by Camilla Downs

What is your favorite restaurant to eat at? I would love to see your answers in the comments if it feels right to you to answer!

Click here for Part 5.

The Annual Chromosome 18 Conference 2019: Part 3

Posted on August 8, 2019 by lillian

July 20th:

I woke up around 10:30 am feeling happy, excited, and relaxed. Camilla was making coffee using a noisy coffee maker the hotel had which woke me up accidentally. I didn’t mind though because I was very excited.

Shortly after that, I messaged Macy for a little bit. Of course, Macy messaged me first. We messaged each other for about an hour. I got upset over food, time & taking a shower while Camilla and Thomas were getting ready to go out to a vegan restaurant around 11:00 am.

It took me about an hour to calm me down. Then I slowly started to eat but I got distracted and soon Camilla and Thomas were back in the hotel room. I took my shower and felt very proud of myself for taking a shower.

Camilla went back down to the lobby to eat her lunch and I asked her to take my lunch down to the lobby for me. So she did. I dried off until I was dry minus my hair. I got dressed and got my bag ready to head down.

After I did that, I went the wrong direction accidentally and I had to turn back. So once I found the elevator room, I hit the down button. Once inside the elevator, I pressed the “L” for the lobby. I was down very quickly.

There I saw Katie and her mother. She actually wondered when I would come down. After that, they went to check on their hotel room. I proceeded to sit down in the lobby to eat.

One of Camilla’s friends asked if I went swimming and Camilla said that I had just gotten out of the shower which was true. After she was done talking to Camilla, another one of Camilla’s friends (also a former DJ) with his wife came by to talk to us and so his wife could meet us for the first time.

I messaged Macy while the former DJ talked to Camilla. Of course, at one point, he noticed I was messaging someone and asked who I was texting. I told him, Macy and he said of course.

After he and his wife were done talking to us, I finished eating lunch then I went up to the hotel room so I could grab my sunglasses. Then I headed back down to the lobby so I could check out the outdoor pool and patio. Camilla went out with me the second time.

She headed inside the pool to talk to some of her friends. I went up to the pool to set down my water and bag but not my phone. During that time, thunder was rumbling. I said,” Don’t you dare rumble at me! Is that right?” at the thunder.

I immediately sent a message to Patty and Frank and took a selfie with the dark cloud. The lightning kept getting closer. When I left my room key in the room, I went up to grab it but I got caught in a downpour. So I took a shower outside kinda sort of.

I also took pictures of some flowers too during the rain being careful not to get my phone and book too wet. I saw a friend of mine in the lobby and she asked me if I was excited for Macy to come tomorrow. And I told her that I was with a smile.

Once I got up to the room, I got the room key and I watched the rain and wind for a minute before going back down.

Around 4:00 pm, I headed back up to the room and once I got up there. It started hailing outside. The thunder was nearly ear-deafening and the lightning was almost eye-blinding.

During that time, I attempted to Facebook Video Chat Patty and Frank (aka the Romano Duo) to try and show them the room. Of course, the wifi wasn’t cooperating right, the hail and the thunder made it difficult to show them.

I still managed to show them the room anyway. I messaged Macy to tell her two knock-knock joke.

After that and the storm calmed down, I went down to the lobby to see if anyone I knew was there around 4:30 pm. I checked my Facebook on my laptop.

Then I headed back up again until 6:30 pm. At 6:30 pm, we went down to the lobby to meet up with some of Camilla’s friends for a barbeque at one of Camilla friends’ mother in law’s house.

We got there and Thomas’s friends were there at the barbeque. Of course, I was a little bored with none of my friends there but I managed to still have a good time. We even saw a deer on the way back from the barbeque and it was standing still as there was a dog getting ready to chase it.

By the time, we came back to the lobby we were all tired.

Of course, I needed to find the restroom in the lobby. I actually had to ask Camilla to show me where it was. After I was done, I went back to the lobby where Camilla was talking to her friends. It was about 2 hours that Camilla got done talking.

I got ready for bed and again I stayed up until my eyes couldn’t stay awake anymore. I messaged Macy before she went to sleep too. I went to sleep very excited about Sunday.

Selfie of me. Taken by me!

A selfie. Taken by me!

Flowers behind the hotel. Taken by me!

Flowers behind the hotel. Taken by me!

Rose Meadowsweet behind the hotel. Taken by me!

Roses in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Roses in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Roses in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Silverweed in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Roses in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Lilies in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Lilies in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Lilies in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Rose Meadowsweet in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

Flower in the back of the hotel. Taken by me!

What’s your favorite flower? I would love to hear your answers if it feels right to you.

Click here for Part 4…

The Annual Chromosome 18 Conference 2019: Part 2

Posted on August 6, 2019 by lillian

July 19th:

I woke up at 5:00 am once again with a renewed sense of excitement. So I quickly got ready to leave our hotel room in Provo, UT with the help of my mother, Camilla. Thomas took a bag to put ice in so Camilla could put ice into the icebox.

After he did that, he went down to the lobby to get some breakfast around 6:00 am. He came up to see how much longer until I and Camilla were ready after he got his food. Of course, we were almost ready. Camilla and I went down to get me a cup of water with a paper straw (I don’t like paper straws, unfortunately).

Then Camilla went up to grab the last round of stuff and I went up to make sure I got everything. We headed to the car at 7:00 am. I messaged Patty as soon as Camilla got the car running to let her know we were on our way again to Colorado Springs.

I messaged Macy (a very close 18p- friend of mine) throughout the second part of the trip as well. About 50 minutes of being on the road, we had to stop so I could go to the bathroom in Price, UT (Later, I learned that high altitude can cause you to go to the bathroom more).

Camilla decided to get some gas while there too. Then we were on our way again to Colorado. After that, we rode in the car. Eventually, I had posted in Lauren Martin (an 18p- friend of mine) and I’s the private group on Facebook that I was almost to Colorado.

A little while later, we made to Colorado (Yay!). I then posted a Facebook post saying I was in Colorado. Then I let Rebecca Parker (an 18p- friend), Macy, and Lauren know that I was in Colorado.

Shortly after, we arrived in Colorado we stopped in Grand Junction for gas, bathroom, and lunch. Then after Camilla ate lunch, we headed toward Glenwood Springs. After Glenwood Springs, we went into a huge traffic jam.

Unfortunately, the car overheated during the traffic jam. We had open our doors and windows to attempt to cool us down because Camilla and I both overheat in the hot heat.

A nice guy in a truck near us was able to give us a frozen water bottle to help. It wasn’t enough so we pulled off at a rest stop called White River National Forest. I went to the bathroom there (nasty! blech!). After I was done, we went back outside and found that the traffic jam had picked up a little speed. So Camilla and I took some quick photos before Camilla checked the car.

After she decided it was okay, we went back to the highway and this time we were on the side of the highway that we could pull over if we needed to. Luckily, we only stopped twice with the traffic jam and we were all so relieved that it was over.

So we continued until Denver. In Denver, there was bad traffic due to rush hour, construction, and car accidents slowing us down but at least we kept moving that time although slow.

Also, in Denver, I finished what was left of my trail mix.

After we left Denver, we were very close to Colorado Springs which expanded my excitement. I was so excited that I could barely contain my excitement and joy. Before I knew it, we arrived in Colorado Springs.

Once we stopped at the stoplight near the Colorado Springs Marriott, I took a good look around. Of course, there was construction across the road from where we were at the traffic light.

Then after the traffic light turned green, we started up a steep incline to the Marriott as it was upon a hill. Along the way, we saw some adorable fawns. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get any photos of the fawns.

It was my very first time seeing deer up close. After we went up a slight 2nd incline, we were at the start of the parking lots. We went up 2 more steep inclines filled with parking lots.

Finally, we arrived at the entrance of the Colorado Springs Marriott after doing the last 2 inclines. Then Camilla had Thomas and I sit in the car while she checked us in. I didn’t think it was a good idea leaving me with Thomas especially when I needed to go to the restroom.

While I was sitting there waiting for Camilla to get back, I messaged Lauren in our Facebook group. Naturally, I didn’t get a response until later because they were out exploring Colorado Springs.

Thankfully, Camilla came back shortly after I sent that to Lauren. While I was waiting to go up to the room outside of the car, I messaged Macy to let her know I was at the Colorado Springs Marriott.

I messaged Rebecca to let her know I was at the Colorado Springs Marriott too. I also let Katie Baker (also known as Kaitlin; a very close 18p- friend of mine) that I was at the Colorado Springs Marriott too.

I also let her know the room number, just in case. I let Patty Romano (part of the Romano Duo) know that we arrived at the Marriott hotel too and I also let her know the room number.

There was an automatic revolving door, automatic wheel accessible door, and lastly a manual door. Naturally, I chose the manual door while Thomas and Camilla went through the revolving door.

I was surprised at how big and spacious the lobby was. We went straight up to our hotel room in the elevators. The elevators were Montgomery Vector hydraulic elevators (just in case anyone wanted to know).

Once we got inside, my nose got hit with a whiff of stink. I was shocked at how small the room was. Afterward, I went to the restroom. Camilla gave me my hotel room key. Then I went straight down to the lobby with Thomas and Camilla.

After that, I went back up to the room. I then took a look at the view. Camilla found the window opened a little bit. Of course, they had live music playing in the lobby so we could hear that through the open window.

The music stopped at 8:00 pm MDST. After Thomas, Camilla, and I had settled down some for about an hour or 2, we went down to get some dinner around 9:50 pm in the lobby.

Unfortunately, the restaurant was about to close but we were still able to order our dinner while sitting in the lobby. While I waited for my food, I checked to see if Lauren had responded to my Facebook post in our Facebook group saying that I had arrived at the Colorado Springs Marriott.

Sure enough, there was a comment from Lauren. Lauren said in her comment that she couldn’t wait to see me and that she was staying in a different hotel in Colorado Springs.

I also had repeated my first achievement of the trip while waiting for our food which was drinking water from a glass cup with a straw.

The food finally came at 11:00 pm. So after we ate, we headed up to the room on the elevator. We got ready for bed. I stayed up for a while though so I could relax.

Eventually, though, my eyes would barely stay open. So I quickly went to the restroom and finished getting ready for bed. Then I let myself fall asleep. I think it was around 1:00 am or 2:00 am when I fell asleep. (I know, it was late.)