My So Called Vacation...

So, feeling like I needed to get away, I called my friend and we made plans to head to Newport for a week, with our four kids, in an attempt for some fun, lots of craft time and visiting our old stomping grounds. Well, let's just say the trip did not go as planned. I must say it was definitely fun visiting with my friend, and it was fun seeing a few others that traveled down for a day or two (especially you Jen!)... We also got a few crafty things done (but not a lot, like I was planning) and it was nice having other women around to help cook, clean, do laundry, etc... that was seriously nice. However, my whole family was sick the entire time and we were all miserable! I had gotten a bad bug (the coughing, hacking, can't sleep kind) the previous Thursday and was still fighting it (still am) the entire trip. Needless to say, half way through I gave in, went to the store and invested in Mucinex and Tylenol PM! Definitely saved my life, I think! I hardly woke up at all in the night, except when my kids did! Also, the previous Thursday, Rachel was diagnosed with a double ear infection... so, we had her on antibiotics, but she was still complaining of pain. A few days into our trip she started vomiting... the first time it just happenned to be in the middle of the Marine Hatfield Science Center... At least she got to see the new baby octopus :) I felt so bad for her. From then on, it was miserable. She continued to vomit every day and had severe diarrhea. Sorry if that's an overshare, just trying to stress the point of how bad it was for us all! Andrew had it too (hence why I have a picture of him in the sink- it got a little messy!)... poor kids. I feel like they are always sick and continually on the mend! When does it stop??? Anyway, we finally got home yesterday, an entire week later, and I can't tell you how happy I was. I just wanted Mike back, his help with the kids, and our beds, kitchen, everything! You don't realize how much you love your home, until you've been away for a while. It's nice to get back to the daily flow of things. Although, today I'm feeling a bit queasy, so hopefully I don't get what Rach had! All in all, I'm very grateful for my time away, but wish it wouldn't have been so stressful! Next time, definitely taking my precious husband with me :)



We couldn't find Andrew at one point, and finally we looked upstairs- there he was at the balcony- he had climbed two flights of stairs to get there!



Right before Rachel had her first episode... poor girl- she really was a tropper!



Andrew's highlight of the trip- he loved that ride on fire truck... he seriously couldn't get enough!