The Annual Chromosome 18 Conference 2019: Part 9 & Part 10

Posted on October 9, 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 26th:

Camilla woke me up around 6:00 am. I was very tired and not too long after I’d been awake I went to the restroom and sat there getting the food out of me for about an hour.

After I got out, I got dressed and ate some food (just because my stomach was upset it didn’t stop me!) before going down to the lobby for the last time. Unfortunately, our car had car trouble.

It took us 1 or 2 hours before getting on the road to Wyoming. Around noon, we arrived at our one gas stop and when we tried to get back on the road, our car had more engine problems.

During the trip, I drifted in and out of sleep especially since there was bad or no service and because I was tired. Once we were on the road again, I slept some more. As well as eating lunch, snacks, and other things.

Once we were about 10 seconds or minutes away from Salt Lake City, we stopped for gas again. And yes you guessed it, more car engine problems. It took about 4 hours for this to be fixed.

So right around 4:00 pm, we arrived in Salt Lake City and I woke up with a pinching stomach pain with nausea behind it. So once we reached our motel, I sat down inside while waiting for Patty, Debbie, and Frank.

I went up with Patty, Frank, and Debbie. Funny thing was that they had the hotel room next to ours. Unfortunately, there was a terrible smell in the hallway which my pain and nausea worse.

I quickly went into Patty and Frank’s hotel room and waited there for Camilla to get back with a new motor. I drank a lot of water which helped. Once I felt a little better I went to our hotel room and the pain immediately came back.

So I lay down and put the heating pad on my stomach. I kept drinking and ate a little. Eventually, I felt nearly better and I took a shower then I felt normal. So I got ready for bed.

I even read a little and used my phone until my eyes wouldn’t stay open. I finished getting ready for bed. Afterward, I turned out the light and went to sleep around 4:00 am.

July 27th:

I woke up at 7:00 am. I got up and got ready to go. I sat in the restroom last as I knew that would take a while. So I went down to the lobby and suddenly my nausea swept over me again.

I waited until Camilla came back and I went outside to get in the car. As we stopped at a gas station, I started eating. After I was done eating, I started feeling tired again. I once again drifted in and out of sleep.

When we were close to the Great Salt Lake Flats, I felt Patty’s ringtone and vibration ring in my lap as my phone was in my lap. I looked and responded. It became clear that they were stopping there.

So we decided to do the same. I managed to get some really cool optical illusions although I was tired. Afterward, we went into the restrooms there. We left and went our way.

Unfortunately, I had a meltdown about my chocolate melting and Thomas had scratched me on my right arm and twice on my left hand. (One of those scratches are still there as a scar. )

I eventually calmed down. We soon reached the Nevada border and we soon stopped at Fernley’s Love gas station to go to the restroom and get gas. I eventually went and left the place.

Soon we were back on the road to Reno. I rested some more but the meltdown had scared the sleepiness out of me or at least delayed a little. Before I knew it, we were back in Reno.

We eventually arrived back home around 2:00 pm PDST. We unpacked a little and settled down. I was so tired that I didn’t even watch a movie since it was movie night. I stayed up as long as my eyes would let me.

And right around 11:00 pm, I fell asleep peacefully in my own bed.

Selfie of Me.

Optical Illusion took by me

The Great Salt Flats

Have you ever been to the Great Salt Flats, Salt Lake City, or Wyoming? I would love to hear your answers in the comments if it feels right to you.

Bonus question: What was your favorite part of my annual 2019 conference blog post series?

The Annual Chromosome 18 Conference 2019: Part 6

Posted on September 6, 2019 by lillian

July 23rd:

I woke up at 9:39 am. I then looked at my phone to see if there were any messages from Macy and sure enough there was. Eventually, Macy asked where I was and I told her I was up in the hotel room eating.

Then around noon, Macy went to her hotel room to eat lunch. Then about 9 minutes later she asked where I was again. I told her that I was still in the room but I told her that I was dressed.

So she told me that she was on her way to our hotel room. Then 2 minutes later, she was at the door. So I walked over to the door to open it. So we hung out in the hotel room for a little bit before heading to her hotel room.

During that time, Macy went to the restroom there. Once she was done drying her hands, she asked Siri what the weather was in Kentucky. After she got the answer to the weather, Macy asked what time it was in Kentucky.

Then she told Siiri to type a message to me saying we were in the same room together. After she sat down for a minute, we roamed the hallways and as we approached the 6th floor I asked if she wanted to see Patty, Frank, and Debbie’s hotel room.

She said sure so we did. Once we got to the door I pulled out the room key and looked at the room number to make sure it was the right door. Then I opened the door to show her what their room looked like.

I let her see the view then I closed the white curtains again gently. After that, we went to the 4th floor again. So we could ask Camilla about the pool. We went on a mission to find the age limit of going in the pool by ourselves.

Macy and I went outside and looked on the sign on the gate but to our surprise, there was no age limit on the sign. We went back to Camilla to tell her and she suggested we go look at the sign outside of the pool on the second floor.

So we went to the second floor to look at the sign and sure enough, the age limit existed. The age limit was 14 and under. So we went back to Camilla and told her. She told us to double-check with the hotel staff in the lobby.

So we went back down to the lobby to ask. The staff said it was okay for both of us. We headed back up to our hotel room. Camilla said good but she pointed out the pool had people in it.

We waited until 3:00 pm. At 3:00 pm, people started coming back from the zoo. In about 15 minutes, we got in the pool. I kept an eye on the time too to make sure it wasn’t 10 minutes yet.

When there were about 3 minutes left, Camilla came in the pool and I told her to let me know when 10 minutes were up. When the 10 minutes were up, Camilla helped me and Macy find a spot in the shade to dry off.

Once we dried off, we headed out of the pool gate and down the steps where we ran into the rest of Macy’s family. I followed them right into the elevator and managed to get a spot next to the elevator buttons so I could press the 4th-floor button.

Once Macy and I got off the elevators, we went in opposite directions so Macy could take a shower and so I could get dressed. While I went to the restroom, I Facebook Messaged Patty to talk to her about getting the presents Patty got us from exploring The Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak.

Eventually, I began figuring out what to put on. I finally decided upon black baggy pants that are very comfortable with the shirt I wore before going to the pool. At 4:00 pm, I arrived at their hotel room on the 6th floor.

I sat down to hang out and before I left, they handed me a bag that said Garden of The Gods and Pikes Peak while Camilla got some ‘replacement’ earrings while Thomas got a dream catcher.

At around 4:30 pm, I found Macy in the elevator room on the 4th floor waiting for me so I quickly changed my pants into my blue skirt. Then I went down only to realize I forgot my sunglasses and my little white cape so I went up quickly to grab them.

Once I came to the elevator room, the elevator that came was crowded but there was just enough space for me to squeeze in (being small has its advantages). In the elevator, among the crowd was Katie and her father who were heading down to the lobby as well.

At around 5:00 pm, I saw this party/tour bus we were getting on. I could hardly believe my eyes. The music I must say was interesting. Camilla went inside the bus to get photos of the party bus full of self-advocates like me, Macy, and Lauren.

Camilla danced to the music which was very funny. Once she left, we started riding with no seatbelts which were awesome! All the bumps made me feel like I was dancing. Macy said that she was not expecting seatbelts but she liked it like me.

Too soon though, we arrived at the restaurant called Front Range Barbqeucue and again I had another friend hold it while I got off. Once I got off, I followed Macy and the other self-advocates to the entrance of Front Range Barbqeucue.

Then we turned left and I saw three steps with no railing but I looked around and found a temporary railing. Macy went first, I went second, and Lauren went last.

While I was going down the steps, I looked down to ensure that my feet were stepping in the right place. Once I was down, I walked into the room that the self-advocates would be in.

Macy, Lauren, and I all found a spot to sit down together at. I got some water and a straw so I could drink that water instead of my thermos water. Unfortunately, when I was about to message Camilla my phone went dead so I had no way of knowing the time.

Shortly after that, the food was ready and I went to at least get two things of food. Chicken and a muffin. I knew I might not be able to eat both so I chose to eat the meat. Although, immediately I regretted my decision. I immediately wished that I had chosen to eat the blueberry muffin.

After I ate, my stomach was grumbling, gurgling, and unsettled. So I just rubbed my stomach and drink water in hopes that would settle my stomach. My stomach took it a while but eventually, it settled down some.

I was wondering about the time. I was practically talking to myself about it but Macy heard me and showed me the time on her phone. (Thank you for that, Macy!) It was almost 8:00 pm.

Soon it was time to go so I went outside and went back up the steps using the temporary railing. I found Katie and she helped me get to Macy and Lauren. We got to the party tour bus and this time my hair was blowing around due to a window open behind me.

We saw the sunset on us while on the bus. It was a magnificent sunset. I really wished I could have taken a picture of it. Macy showed me the time again on the bus. Macy and Lauren’s mothers’ all went to get tattoos and Macy asked me if I wanted to hang out with them while they waited.

Then all too soon, we were back at the hotel. We walked back inside together. And so the waiting began starting with a stop at the restroom for all three of us. Once we were done, Macy’s father asked about us having fun in the bathroom through text message.

We burst out laughing. Once we stopped laughing, we headed into the lobby and I sat with them for a while. When they were on their phones, I went to scout out a plugin outlet but couldn’t find one.

Eventually, Camilla came by and helped me find a spot for my phone and I eventually went over once it was on and messaged Macy through it. Then Macy and Lauren went up to grab their iPhone plugin cords.

I decided to go up with them so I grabbed my phone plugin and went up with them. Once Macy and Lauren got their plugins, we all found a perfect spot for our plugins that weren’t being used. So we plugged up our phones and sat down together on the floor,

Camilla stopped by to take pictures of us and I also asked for a cup of water as I already drank all my water. We sat there until almost midnight. We had a great time together.

Macy set up this group text with Lauren and I because she figured it would be easy to message us through. (Awesome idea, Macy!) I also dropped Macy off while Lauren continued on the elevator alone. I got ready for bed and then I used my phone until my eyes wouldn’t stay open.

So I got up and finished getting ready for bed. Then I went to sleep at about 3:00 am. (Yes, I know it was late but I was having fun on my phone and didn’t see the time until it was too late.)

Me, Macy, and Lauren hanging out aka Starfish Triplets! Taken by me!

Me, Macy, and Lauren.
Taken by Macy!

The Starfish Triplets aka me, Macy, and Lauren on a party tour bus! Taken by Camilla.

Self Advocates on the Party Bus! Taken by Camilla.

What do you like to do with your friends? I would love to hear your answers in the comments if it feels right to you!

Click here for Part 7!!!

The Annual Chromosome 18 Conference 2019: Part 5

Posted on August 19, 2019 by lillian

July 22nd:

I woke up around 7:00 am to Camilla closing the blackout curtains so we could sleep a little longer. So I went back to sleep and winded up waking up at 11:00am. My grand aunt Debbie Burton had already landed at the Denver International Airport by that point.

So I messaged her to keep her company while she was waiting on Patty and Frank (the Romano Duo) to get there. I also kept Patty company through text throughout the day. Almost everyone wondered where I was including Rebecca and Macy.

I also took a shower (that was an accomplishment around Christmas 2018) and it felt so natural because I had done it at Patty and Frank’s home many times there. Afterward, I ate a few crackers before going to meet up with Macy by the elevators.

In the conference rooms, I ate some of my assigned lunch served by the Marriott staff but provided by the registry slowly and cautiously. After I finished eating, I messaged Patty and found out they got stuck in the same traffic near Glenwood Springs.

Knowing that Patty overheated easily, I asked if they pulled over at the White River National Forest. Patty messaged me saying they did but just got back on the highway. After that, they got out of the traffic jam.

Then I went up with Macy to roam around the hallways. I messaged Debbie again to check on her as Patty was worried that she wasn’t okay sitting there all by herself. So I messaged Patty to tell her that she was okay.

I asked Patty what room number they thought they would get. Then Macy and I headed to our hotel room so we could hang out with Camilla. Afterward, Macy and I headed to her family’s hotel room so Macy could go to the restroom.

After that, we went back down to the lobby and I sat with Macy outside the Self Advocate Room for a minute before realizing I was getting nauseous again so I told Macy and then I went back up to the hotel room alone,

Of course, I wasn’t very happy that I had to leave Macy sitting there alone so as soon as I got up into the hotel room I messaged Macy to let her know I was resting in the hotel room.

In return, she told that she was in the Self Advocate Room again. Eventually, I found I was able to not be nauseous while sitting down so I went down to the lobby and stayed sitting there.

Rebecca and Lauren eventually came over to sit by me while I did things on my phone & message Debbie and Patty. Camilla eventually came down and she asked if I wanted more water. I said yes so I got up so I could order water with Camilla’s help.

I eventually started getting nauseous again. Once I got back to the couch, I got a message from Macy asking where I was. I told her that I was over by Rebecca and Lauren. I eventually got up so I could go with Macy to roam hallways again before she had to go back down to the self-advocate room.

I eventually went back down to the lobby with her. I asked Patty and Frank what their estimated time for their arrival was. She said 4:05 pm the first time then said 4:30 pm the next time.

At 4:00 pm we went outside for a group photo. While we were out there, I saw many cars that looked very close to Patty and Frank’s car. Right when Macy, Lauren, and I sat down together, Patty, Frank, and Debbie came through the doors.

Frank went to register Patty, Debbie, and himself. Debbie went looking for the restrooms. While Patty talked with Camilla and met Macy. Then Debbie came back to join Patty and Frank eventually came over.

Patty gave me the hotel room key. Then after I saw Macy off. I saw Debbie, Patty, Camilla, and Frank waiting for an elevator so I joined them. I got off on the 4th floor while everyone else got off the elevator on the 6th floor.

I eventually went to the lobby where they were eating. I also saw Macy’s father and mother eating together. I pointed it out to Camilla and eventually, Macy’s father came over to introduce himself. Macy’s mother looked over at me and asked me if I was still going to Olive Garden.

And I told her that I think I would. Macy’s mother asked if Macy would text me when they are done at Bulid-A-Bear and I told her yes. After Patty, Debbie, Frank, and Camilla got done eating I headed outside with them.

It felt very good outside. I then headed up to their room with them. While I was up there, Macy messaged me saying they were almost at Olive Garden. I then got Camilla to drive me there in the dark.

I then ordered french fries and a straw for my water. I winded up spilling water on the table but luckily no one noticed but me. It was a little too full for me. I then got my french fries.

It was a very small portion of french fries so I was able to eat all of them without it upsetting my stomach luckily. Macy finished shortly after me. At around 10:00 pm, the first Marriott shuttle arrived. Macy and I got on together. We sat together too.

Lauren was on the other side of Macy. I was happy but tired. Macy had to go straight up to her hotel room and Lauren and I went up too. I dropped Macy off by her hotel room. Then I headed to our room to drop off the money then I went to find Camilla in the lobby.

Of course, Camilla was talking with friends. I talked some too. It was 11:00 pm when me and Camilla headed up to the room. I then got ready for bed. Then I played on my phone a little until my eyes would barely stay open so I got up to go to the restroom.

After that, I went to sleep at around 1:00 am or 2:00 am.

View of the mountains from our hotel room. Taken by me!

The view from our hotel room. Taken by me!

What is your favorite hotel so far? I would love to see your answers in the comments if it feels right to you!

Click here for Part 6!!!

The Annual Chromosome 18 Conference 2019: Part 4

Posted on August 11, 2019 by lillian

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.)