The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!

The Good: Getting to see Carly after several months of not seeing her!

The Bad: Me throwing up in the car on the way down to see Carly in St. Pete Beach, Florida, Friday afternoon while still 2 hours away.

The Ugly: Realizing I did not in fact have food poisoning, but that instead I had a virus. And, Jackson threw up ALL over the car on the way home Sunday night.

Yes, this is all true. The boys and I had planned a visit to St. Pete Beach, Florida (which by the way is a beautiful beach!!!) this past weekend. Eleisha from Moye's (who also babysits sometimes for us) was supposed to go down with us. Friday morning, I woke up after having a bad dream a little nauseated. Which is normal for me especially after having a bad dream or after eating lettuce which I had the night before. I had an upset tummy (for lack of better terms :( ) and then felt a little better so I got in the shower. In the shower, I got really light-headed and dizzy and had to call for Paul to help me. So, I laid down and thought worst case scenario we would just have to leave later in the day once my tummy got better. After a few hours, I felt better. Not normal, but better and definitely not like I had a virus coming on.

So, we left to head down about 11am. We got five hours down there, and I had to pull over to be sick. Yuck! Thanks for my wonderfully technological car, you can't open the door unless you hit unlock or put it in park. Which I didn't have time to do. So, my "sickness" got all over the car door. Yuck! We spent an hour cleaning it up on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere with two hot whiny kids. We were going to turn around and come home, but Paul said since we were two hours from a bed we should go down and if I felt bad the next morning then come home.

So, we went on. After getting lost and hitting traffic, we finally got there! Then, thankfully Carly and Josh brough the kids and Eleisha some dinner, and we all got some rest. The next day I felt better. And day by day I got better and better with a little more appetite.

Here we are on the sunny beach! It was so pretty. Wide and bright sand! But, a very hot sun! I forgot how easy I sunburn on the gulf! Oops!
Our hotel was nice. They had a little bar area outside where we ordered lunch each day in between the beach fun and swimming in the pool. The food was good, and the view was gorgeous. It was alot of fun and good company! Jackson asked me if we could stay there forever!? Carly was loving that comment! :)
Saturday night we went out for dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp's at John's Pass. Which from what I know was a few minutes away close to Madiera Beach and Treasure Island. It was right on the water where Jackson could see lots of boats and the draw bridge. He was infatuated with the draw bridge. We got to see it open up for a boat to pass, and he was thrilled. He really loved talking about it all with Josh.
Here we all are waiting on our table. You also see Cindy and Nathan. They are Carly's stepmom and Dad. They were so nice. Eleisha was commenting on how much Carly looks like her dad. The kids loved them! Jackson would have went home with them I think!
We decided to drive back a day early thru the night so the kids could sleep. After all that drama on the way down, it really took forever it seemed, and we weren't looking forward to the drive back. So, we left about 5pm after going to see Carly's apartment. Which was adorable and quite cozy! She seems really happy down there even though we really miss her.

We were making great time coming home, until Jackson started acting funny. He didn't want dinner, and I should have known to pull over, but I felt bad for many hours before I threw up so I didn't know how long I would be sitting on the side of the road in the dark which was dangerous! Anyhow, long story short, he threw up everywhere! Yuck! It was (I know such a blessing) his first experience with a stomach virus, and he's almost four! So, that was good and bad. At least he sort of saw me get sick first, so he wasn't quite as scared as he would have been. But, one of my fears was puke in the car or puke in berber carpet. So, it came true.

Ahh..I am glad to be home. Sort of. Preston threw up last night, and they still aren't all the way better. So, after being in the car with them that long, and now being homebound I am quite quite agitated and inpatient. I am just so ready for all this to be over, and life to go back to normal. Paul spent 8 hours cleaning up the car. And, we are still cleaning the car seat.

I keep reminding myself of the blessings: This is just temporary, and it will eventually all end, and at least after it is over we will all be healthy again. It could be worse, it could be worse, it could be worse.....