Not Exactly As We'd Planned

Yesterday I spent all day getting ready for our weekend up in the mountains with friends. Because Julie had been home sick (cold, cough, and fever) from school on Wednesday and Thursday, I had a ton of errands to run—Petco to get cat food, CVS for Children's Tylenol, Blockbuster to return the kids' overdue movies, Whole Foods to pick up apples and bananas, the bank, and the post office. I also had a phone appointment with one of Steph's teachers. In between all of this, I did two loads of laundry, ran the dishwasher, packed up suitcases for me, Pete, and Julie (and supervised Steph's), made a kugel, and made sandwiches for the kids for the ride up (Andy and I planned to get burritos at Dos Amigos in Concord). Phew!

Andy got home early and packed up his stuff, and we got on the road at about 4:40. Normally it takes us just over 2.5 hours to go the 150 miles (it's all highway), including a pit stop or two. Not surprisingly, though, we hit a fair amount of rush hour and weekend traffic, and the rain slowed things down even more. We were all irritable by the time we got up there at about 8:00, and Pete was complaining that he didn't feel well. I honestly just assumed that he was tired and grouchy.

Fast forward to about 11:00, when I woke up and said to Andy, "I just heard a big SPLASH!" At the same instant, I heard Pete at our doorway saying, "Mom?" I had only a nanosecond to think, "Isn't that odd that Pete happens to be needing me for something at the same second that I woke up to a strange SPLASH sound!" The next nanosecond I realized that he had puked everywhere—he couldn't even make it to the bathroom.

Our friends had plans they couldn't change for last night, so they were intending to get an early start first thing this morning and meet us at the mountain. We called them right away and told them to turn off their alarm clock. That was the only saving grace—that they didn't drive up all the way up only to have their weekend ruined too!

This morning Pete felt better, not pukey but still not 100%. Andy was going to take the girls to the mountain for a few runs, but it had rained all night and then turned quite cold, so there was a layer of ice on everything. He called the mountain and was told that only a few trails were open, although they hoped to open the rest later. We decided to bag the whole idea and just head home.

So here we are. How's your weekend going?

Comments

[Laura]

Wow, didn't expect to see you in here tonight. Just stopped by because I thought I remembered you mentioning a website that I wanted to look up (something about the simple life?) and I thought I could find the blog where I thought I had seen it. (Not even sure now if it was you who mentioned it). So sorry to hear your weekend isn't going well, and I hope Pete is feeling better. Everyone's kids are sick. Yours in Boston, two of a friend's in Chicago, and one that I know of here in the St. Louis area. Funny how they are all passing that around at the same time all over the country. I have never skied (sp?) before, but I imagine it ain't fun on ice! How fun though, taking weekend trips to the "mountain". Sounds just like the fairytale New England life I had always hoped for!

[Laura]

So, what cat food are you feeding your babies? I was feeding my girls IAMS for forever, then I learned some bad things about dog experiments that IAMS was privy to and it upset me. In the meantime I accidentally learned that most cat foods have all this corn and wheat and gluten that is supposed to be bad for my kitties, so I started searching. I was in Petco for hours one night trying to decide on a new brand, then caved in and just bought some Science Diet which actually has more gluten than IAMS. Last month I bought some Wellness. Now my kitty that used to be fat is suddenly skin and bones. So I'm worried. But they are all begging for treats, so I think just hate healthy food, just like their mommy. Yesterday I bought a small bag of Blue Spa Select. But it has "meal" in it which I also read is bad. So, which food are you using? I'm trying to find the best stuff I can afford. I'm trying to eat healthier, and I'd like my cats to eat healthier, too. But I don't think Marsha is on board with this plan.

[Tonya]

Oh...bummer! I remember a few of those occasions when Nate was a young 'un. In the scheme of things I know it's part of parenting and you just deal with it. But while it's happening, it really is a bummer to have a weekend ruined. (I'm sure Pete feels that way!) And very glad HE'S feeling better! (I can't imagine that there will BE a weekend that goes by for Octo-Mom where at least one of her 14 children isn't sick...) (But we're not going there, are we?)

[sharon]

We packed the whole family up last week and went to Lake Placid where it was warm, rainy and muddy so no sledding, skating or skiing. When we left Saturday morning it was 5 degrees, snowing and now that we're back in NJ it's snowing and we're supposed to get 12 inches tonight. No puking, but one case of strep for my 7 year old.

[James]

Sorry to hear about how your weekend was unfolding.

Three big fears of mine about being away from home: vomiting in an unfamiliar place, dealing with my kids vomiting in an unfamiliar place, and staying in a room where the previous occupants were vomiting.

All around, vomiting figures into my tendency to be a homebody.

[Liz]

OOh, ouch, not a good weekend away...Hope you are feeling better.

[Janeen]

Oh man. So sorry. Hope you can get some rest for yourself.