Taking days off

I have put in at work for some days off in October. I'll be going to my Mama's house for 5 days. It's not nearly long enough, but I'm going to try to get more days off later, if it's possible. I'm very much looking forward to the visit, though. I need to see her more often but the work schedule gets in the way. I think I'm going to talk to my GM and see if I can get several days off in a row every month from here on out, just to go visit Mama. She's 85, and I want to visit her at every opportunity I can get.