My weekend adventure consisted of a mini road tip with the boys - my dad and 8 year old nephew. Friday afternoon we headed to Central Texas to see my incarcerated sister, who I haven't seen in nearly a year. (I've only mentioned my sister a few times, here and here.)

It was a gorgeous weekend! The whole drive was like one big post card. It made me want to give up city life and go live on a farm. Or at least buy a goat, or something.

We spent the night at a hotel and saw my sister Saturday morning. She looked great! She was so excited to see me that it was hard to keep her on one subject. Knowing we only had two hours together, she raced to say everything.

I get that my sister is a drug addict. I get that she's survived this long because she's manipulative and a good liar. I love her and I know she wants a better life for herself, but I'm not naive enough to believe 100% of what she says...

HOWEVER, I did learn a few surprising things during our visit. Can't really say if any of this is true.

1. She has to pay to see a doctor. Okay, this probably is true, but it surprises me! All the rest of us have to pay to see a doctor, so why not prisoners? Makes sense. But in an over-crowded prision, I don't think it's a good idea to discourage people from seeking medical treatment. Especially a group of people at high risk for having TB, STDs, etc. Oh, but psychological treatment - totally free! Go figure.

2. She has to buy a hairdryer to stay warm. Again, it's prison and she's not supposed to be comfortable, but it's not a Chinese prison camp. Where she's at gets in the 30s at night and her only source of heat is a hairdryer. That just doesn't seem right. Considering how we grew up, the fact that she doesn't have access to a Chi and a humidifier doesn't seem right either.

3. Ooooh, this is the most scandalous thing she told me, yet to her it seemed completely normal. ALLEGEDLY, one of the guards has a crush on her. He will write cases again other prisoners (it's like getting written up and can make your sentence longer if you get too many) and tells them they have to give my sister money to make the case go away. We thought something was going on because she hasn't been asking my parents for money as often. But if this is true, how big of a freaking idiot is this guy?!

She only cried one time during our visit, and it's when she said this. I'll never forget it. It was a huge reminder to not take anything for granted.

I'm so excited that you are pregnant! I've been telling everyone about you! I know that I wasn't a good mom, but I can be a good aunt, and when I get out of here I'll be the best aunt ever!

When I was pregnant, it wasn't a good thing. It wasn't something we could all celebrate and be excited about. But you being pregnant is a good thing, and I'm so that happy I can live vicariously through you. You get to have all the joy I didn't have. I love you so much.

When my sister got pregnant, she was 19 and addicted to meth. She was under pressure to terminate. She just couldn't do it, so with my parents help, she decided on adoption. She cleaned up and moved back home. After deciding on adoptive parents, she changed her mind. To this day, my heart breaks for that couple who thought they would be getting a baby.

But now we have my nephew and he is the best thing that has ever happened to my family.

Some days I'm filled with worry. Will this pregnancy last? Will the baby be healthy? Was it dumb of me to wait this long to start having kids?

But I know I wouldn't change anything. I get to have all the joy.