Sicknesses, yet again...

I felt their little foreheads again and again, as their body temperature rose throughout the day. Their energy was dissipating, like air leaving a deflated balloon. Their smiling faces and happy voices, suddenly turned sluggish. They laid on the couch and looked tired and watched the American Ninja Warrior All-Star special... 

And after awhile, I was finally able to get a temperature read from my daughter, but thankfully, not my son too. His immune system seems to be kicking the butt of whatever is overwhelming my daughter's system. So for now, they're both resting, trying to let their bodies fight whatever is fighting back even harder.

This cold and flu season has been unforgiving to us. We have gone 6+years without a major sickness, no more than a cough and sniffles. Which the cough and sniffles seemed to be taken care of since we started routinely diffusing... But somehow, this year, we were caught off guard and have been in this whirlwind of illnesses. Right when we think we have it beat, like a Hawk circling its prey, it comes right back around again to finish what it started.

I may be a parent for 6.5 years, however, I am not a veteran parent when it comes to fevers. I have very little experience from a mothering role and quite frankly, fevers terrify me. So as soon as my daughter's temperature spikes up to 103 (which seems to be a common thing now), I'm immediately transported back to our last experience, when we rushed her to the emergency room. I am immediately inundated with fear, that she'll become confused or forgetful or exhibit other weird behaviors again. 

So, I keep her close and snuggle her tight. We talk about TV shows and we read stories. Anything to distract her from being so sick that even blankets hurt her body. She tells me how much she loves me and I tell her how she's my most favorite girl in the whole world. And she spends each night of her fever induced sickness in my bed, which she loves. At night, she keeps her warm body close to mine and wakes, as soon as her hand falls from mine. (My rule is, the sick child stays in bed with me so I could keep a close eye on them the whole night, and also, because no one likes to be sick and alone at night. And, my husband sleeps in my son's room, so he doesn't feel left out). 

I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to watching my babies be sick. I'm OK with the sniffles and even a deep cough, but fevers will be the death of me for years to come. And I hope, as spring rounds its sunny warm face, our bodies will rid themselves of these evil germs and we could put the last two months behind us.

Until then, maybe I'll try to do a ritualistic dance or some sacrificial ceremony. And maybe, just maybe, we can conquer this super bug that is being just as pesty, as flies during a barbecue...

Or maybe, just the old fashioned way of love, soup, and juices will also conquer it...

But hey, at this point, I'll try anything ;) 

A full circle revelation...

We walked up and down this street so many times today, my quads started to ache. We stopped and lifted fallen leaves off the ground and admired their brittle ends. We piled rocks in a pattern off the side of the road. And I was holding a collection of sticks that my son just had to have. It was almost 70 degrees today, in February, and tomorrow will break 70. I had sweat coming from me, as I dressed inappropriately too heavy, not yet aware of how warm it actually was. 

My son, ran ahead of me, leading the way, with his walking stick in hand, to fend off the joker - just in case he crossed our path. He would intermittently wait for me, to tell me how much fun he was having and to say that I'm his favorite person in the whole world... 

I've learned to love these quiet times, with just the two of us. It was a hard adjustment for me to go from 1 child, to 2 children, then back down to 1 again. But here I am, 4 years later, walking hand in hand with my little boy, on the same street that I once walked hand in hand with my little girl... 

It's funny how life turns full circle like that.

A vacation is perfect, but home is even better...

The alarm clock rung before the sun was fully awake. The birds were faintly singing outside my window and having their morning conversations. I desperately wanted to push the snooze button a million times over, however, I knew I had to finalize the last details before everyone else woke up.

My daughter was awake minutes later, before I even got myself out of bed. She has a way of sensing movement from a dead sleep... She quietly walked over to me and asked if it was almost time to leave for Florida? She asked this three times throughout the night. But this time, I was finally able to say yes.

We laid in bed minutes longer, enjoying each other's company, before the madness begun (something we rarely get to do anymore with the rush of morning routines). We talked about all the fun things we were going to do. She added her own version of trip, as she usually does. And for me, I love hearing the way children tell their stories and how they view the world -it's always so exciting and there's never a detail missed or a topic not discussed.

My son joined us a few minutes after that. He, more excited than his sister, if that was even possible.

My husband and I took our children to Disney and to stay with our southern family, 2 years ago, when they were 2&4 years old. And that trip had many ups and downs. My daughter was perfect in the car ride, whereas, my son repeatedly cried and whined. However, my son was much better in the park, whereas, my daughter was overwhelmed by the crowds and whined and cried in the park...

So essentially, the standard was set very low for this trip... And that's a relaxing feeling when you have very little expectations.

However this year, our car ride down and up was amazing. Better than anything I could have imagined. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but instead, I only heard a little whining from my husband, none from my children. Both children played their kindles, watched movies on the DVD player (the same player that decided a 24/hr car ride would be the perfect time to pick and choose what DVDs it wanted to play and which ones it would say, "unknown disc"), and I provided random dollar store items/toys for them to receive throughout the trip (to break up the monotony of the drive). We stopped at rest stops so they could run and chase each other. We picnicked at the Virginia welcome center. And, yelled out each time we saw a South of the Border Pedro sign. And we stopped off for the night in a hotel with a heated indoor pool.

(After our indoor picnic)

(Indoor hotel pool)

There was absolutely no schedules, no bedtimes, dinner time -anything. We stayed at a beach side restaurant well past dark and my kids danced to the band well past their bedtime. We swam in an ocean and pool in early February. Created sandcastles in the white sand. Searched and searched for the best seashells on the shore. We sat on the porch and watched the sunset over the gulf and watched a rad storm with 70 mph winds come through town. We went to a wildlife preserve and saw alligators two feet from us and huge manatees swimming outside the perimeter. We took a boat out on a river to see an island of monkeys. We went to an Indian archaeological site where we walked sacred grounds with a guide. And, we bought citrus fruits from a roadside stand and gorged ourselves with grapefruits and oranges, until we had enough for a lifetime.

 (The shore line to the gulf)

 (Beach side restaurant)

 (Wildlife Preserve boat ride)

 (Manatee)

 (Alligator)

 (Archaeological Site)

(Monkey Island)

My children played for two days straight with their cousins and we sat around the kitchen table celebrating my Uncle's birthday, my birthday, and my dad's birthday...

Nine days came and went... Too quickly. It seemed like as soon as we placed our two feet onto the warm pavement at my mother in law's home on the gulf, each day afterwards, was melting away like an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. There wasn't enough time to talk to family or see all the sites. And there definitely wasn't enough time to capture all the warmth and store it in our winter stricken bodies.

And before we knew it, we were rounding the highway back home...

Back home to a sleet storm that awaited for us, nonetheless...

This trip was a perfect break during our cold winter months. Just the correct frame, between Christmas and Easter. And cold enough to appreciate the warmth, but not warm enough to complain about being too hot... It was a nice reminder to slow down and stop the rhythmic routines. To hug more and cuddle just a little bit longer. To talk about anything and everything for as long as the words flow from my children's mouths. To gather around a table with family or your uncle playing the guitar, well past bedtime. Or, gorge yourself with Publix streusel coffee cakes (maybe more than any human should consume).

This vacation was more than just a trip down south. It was an adventure. A bundle of happiness, all wrapped up in a nine day package.

We were free to roam the beach and leisurely stop and appreciate all the seashells that floated ashore. To stop every few feet for rocks and coral because my son needed just one more. To find the best of the conch shells for my daughter. And, stopping every few feet to rescue hermit crabs from seagulls, once they were trapped past the surf line. 

And if I closed my eyes long enough, I was transported back to a time when our lives weren't controlled by a schedule. A time when the three of us were left to wander at our convenience and nothing would stop us. A time, when life didn't feel so rushed.

But here we are, back at home and in the cold, with snow flanking our long driveway. Our shells are cleaned and stored and we sat on the floor beside them, manipulating each one, while pondering which was our favorite. We rooted through brochures, talking about our favorite places or places we never saw. And laughed, when we talked about my son repeatedly telling us we HAVE to go back to see a cool factory (that looked abandoned) in the middle of a bay... And he was adamant that visitors were allowed to go.

But being home may not have a readily available ocean, or a heated pool, or even our beloved southern family... 

However, it has our beds, toys, and belongings.

It has the same rooms where both my children took their first steps, the same paths I'd walk with my infants during their sleepless nights, and the same hallways where my children ride their big wheels and roller skates...

This place may not be a luxury vacation, but this place is home. And while vacations are great to visit... Home, is where we love to be...

An impromptu vacation to Florida!

On a day when I was admiring the snow falling outside my window, like leaves being blown off an autumn tree. The air was crisp and I could feel the draft circulate around my older home. My house was buzzing from both my children playing. School was cancelled from all the snow and the sicknesses have finally bowed in defeat. The sun hasn't shined in weeks and we're all going stir crazy from being confined within our plaster walls.

My phone rang and I darted towards it, to seek some adult conversation. My daughter roller skated past me and my son trailed behind her on his big wheel. I sought asylum in my back living room to avoid the chaos, when I answered the phone.

On the other end was my mom, who I normally speak regularly with. She asked how we all were, if we were outside sleigh riding, or trying to keep warm. Then within the same breath, she randomly presented us with an offer to head to Florida with them, on an all expenses paid trip to surprise my uncle for his 60th birthday...

Before I could pick my jaw up off the floor, my brain yelled, "yes!" at the highest volume, that I heard it from outside my ears.

I soaked in all the plans and details and pretended to mull over the idea, but let's face it, they had me at sunshine and warmth,

The story was, we are to leave this Saturday and stay until next Saturday (arriving back home on Sunday) -we're driving.

I love taking adventures, always have, but I'm a planner and require advance notice, so I can stress and dwell on all the external factors. So, being that we only had a few days to finalize everything, I feel like a chicken with my head cut off...

But the image of sun, family, exploration, and the ocean helps level out my wandering mind.

So here we are, Friday night, and I have the car packed, all the details finished, and two children and a husband who are too excited to sleep, like it's the night before Christmas.

And tomorrow morning, bright and early, we'll all be piled in the car, embarking on yet another family adventure. But this year, there are more adults than children and hopefully, my children won't whine the majority of the car ride like our last Florida trip...

Fingers crossed...

**I won't be doing any blog posts for the next week. However, you can keep up with my vacation by viewing my Instagram page -I will post regularly on there. So follow my page, the_happy_days and the hashtag, thehappydaysvacation for up to date pictures and stories. Also, if you don't have Instagram, you can still view my pictures from the right side column of my blog's main page (non mobile version).
www.jackyhappydays.blogspot.com

See you all on Instagram!