Sickness, Weekends and Travel

 So this weekend is definitely one of the most interesting, busiest and quite frankly grossest weekends I have had in recent memory.  However, it does reaffirm the fact that I love my children in that, nothing will test a parents love for their children like a good bout of the flu in the  middle of the night.  Friday night seemed to go off without a hitch; children to bed at a "decent" time, relaxing and a little mindless TV to end a long and intense week of work. However, going to bed at 11:30 or 12 suddenly seems like a bad idea when your daughter comes into your room at 2:49 am (Yes, I checked my phone to see the time) to tell you that, "someone threw up in her bed." After a rather long conversation between my wife, Julie, and I regarding..."did Rivers sleep in her bed?  Did you check the bed to see if anyone threw up in it last night?" We quickly realized that Rylee had thrown up in her bed and either didn't realize that she had, or was worried that we would be upset and tried to lie about it. She is just too sweet...she didn't want to let us down or have us see her as being inconvenient.  So, my wife stripped the sheets and I changed the little girl that was clearly not feeling well. Julie had to get up early so she slept on the couch and me and the kids were in our bed. All was good in the world again...than 30 minutes later came. So did the vomit. On my pillow. I jumped out of bed at a speed that would make Usain Bolt jealous and grabbed the trash can from the downstairs bathroom...because apparently the upstairs one would have been too easy to find. After cleaning up our daughter again, cleaning up the bed and changing the pillow I let our daughter watch cartoons in bed and I grabbed a small child's princess sleeping blanket and a pillow and slept on the carpet in our room...and by "slept" I mean laid there for 4 hours and listened for our daughters gagging and would guide her to either the trash can or the bathroom. Oh, I didn't mention that it seems that my rotator cuff is torn in my left shoulder (awaiting MRI still) and laying on the floor was not a good idea...my arm is still in agonizing pain and falls asleep often. Regardless, my little princess has been in bed all day in between getting sick and taking full advantage of Daddy the Maid...however; when you see how cute they are (see pictures below) you can see why I am perfectly happy to wait on her hand and foot.


On another note, I now have only 5 days until I leave for my big 12 day trip to Europe.  Feeling pretty excited, yet always is a bittersweet feeling to be leaving my wife and kids for an extended period of time and this will be the longest trip I have ever taken.  Two years ago I went to Ireland and England for 9 days and it seemed like forever; however, this time it will be 12 days to France and England. Aside from missing the family I will say I am looking forward to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Europe.  France is going to be amazing; aside from the fact that the only things I can say in French translate to "toilet", "hello", "good-bye", "pig", "butt crack" ...oh and "yes" and "no". There are very few sentences I can put together with those words that wouldn't lead to me in the bathroom or hiring a plumber. However, going to see the beautiful palace of Versailles, and walking in the Hall of Mirrors is going to be awe-inspiring and seeing the Eiffel Tower will be surreal.  However, seeing the beaches of Normandy is going to be a chance of a lifetime.  I also suppose seeing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris will be an a-ok experience.  That Leonardo Da Vinci is quite good...one day he will be as talented as Leonardo DeCaprio. Every time I see Titanic I cry. "Don't let go Jack."

So after spending 4 days in Paris, we go to Normandy and St. Malo...lots of beautiful castles, churches and cafe's galore...we go to England. I have to say I am excited to go back. I speak the language...relatively well anyway, and we get to see Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Canterbury, Windsor and take a ride up the London Eye...oh and we also get to take a Harry Potter tour (seeing where filming took place, etc).  The chance to revisit these places is something I never thought that I would do...so I am beyond ecstatic!

Oh, but because of this trip I should probably start packing, planning and making lists...checking them twice...to make sure I am ready for this trip. Packing for 12 days is not an easy feat I have decided. Two weeks worth of socks, undies, t-shirts and all of the clothes that accompany it is going to be daunting.  Not to mention the weather is a little unpredictable and makes it difficult to plan for...sweaters (of course)...hats? Coats? Gloves? Scarves? Umbrella? No idea. Not to mention all of the electronics required...phone, ipods, camera and all of the chargers...oh and the currency converter. With all of this in mind, it is time to get packing...or at least making a list. Or, if my son has his way...first we should play basketball.