Arkansas and beyond

So, we're in Sams in Rapid City yesterday on our last leg of the trip home from Arkansas when Kaden just randomly walks up to the older lady serving samples and says "Last night I threw up in my bed." She was a little taken aback. He never even realized she was serving FOOD (if you know Kaden, that's amazing) No, he was too focused on the fact that he was telling her about throwing up in his bed last night (which was actually at least 2 weeks ago.) I don't know what brought it to his head. I did make him tell her that it was a long time ago and he was better now. She seemed to feel better after that. (Get this sick kid out of here!)

I asked him what his favorite part of the trip was. "Playing trains in the car." Really, kid? Really?? I'm deciding to believe that he thinks "trip" means only the car part. Surely his favorite part of the last 10 days was NOT the car. Or maybe it was and he had a better time than all of us.

It was a great trip! We left early on Friday the 16th. I don't even remember what time. All I remember is getting up and being so tired. I went to take a shower but first got on the scale... I saw 69.2lbs but read it as 169.2. I FREAKED. Oh my word. I mean, I knew I was pregnant and all, but it would be unhealthy to gain that much weight in the ENTIRE pregnancy, much less the first 15 weeks. I got on the scale. Off. Back on. Off.. back on. Finally realized there was no 1. And also put it together that I did NOT weigh only 69.2lbs. WHEW. I got in the shower and made a new rule that I am not allowed on the scale before a reasonable hour in the morning. Also, a mental note to get a new battery.
Anyway, back to the trip. With losing an hour through South Dakota, and eating lunch and dinner in parks along the way, we arrived in Omaha at some friends' house around 7pm. The next day felt longer but was actually like 120 miles shorter... and we made it their around 5pm (if i remember right)
During the stay we shopped, visited with old college friends, made a lot of food, saw a lot of pretty nature including Lost Valley and the hike there, and I got sick. Yep. I have never been able to visit this group of people without being sick at some point. This makes the 4th time... I'm not sure I want to see them again! (kidding!) At first I thought it was just pregnancy, but the longer it went on and the worse it got I realized, nope, I'm sick. I kept taking my nausea pills, which just changed the "bad" I felt. We didn't know if we'd be able to leave on Friday like we planned, but I bucked up and packed up and we left. Miserable car ride. By the end of that day I was pretty much over the sick part, but still felt terrible from the remaining heartburn, and side affects thanks to pregnancy. Poor Luke had to deal with me sick and the kids and drive the whole time...
Saturday we spent the day with yet another college friend. We visited Grace to see all the changes, and basically just hung out since between us there was almost always one kid napping! It was so fun to catch up with old friends and remember life before. (Was there life before kids?) We left around 4:30pm to head to Mitchel SD. I had really wanted to stop at Fazoli's but after being so sick and still feeling somewhat horrible I decided not to bother. That means on this whole trip I made it to Sonic once (on the day i was sick, and didn't drink it all, or even enjoy any of it) and didn't make it to Fazolis. I don't feel as let down as I would have thought if you'd warned me I wouldn't make it.

We're home now. We got home Sunday around 2pm. Unpacked. Put away Sams food. Made dinner, and went to the church business meeting, and I was in bed at like 8:15 (keep in mind it was 9:15pm where I came from!) I was so tired. It was a good trip, but it's always good to be home. Even if there are piles and piles of laundry.

Oh did I mention it poured rain? Most of the time we were there. Oh no, not while we were driving, no, then it was sunny and HOT. It rained while we were there...while back home it was like 73. Hows that for backwards. We commented on the way home how it was weird that in the entire 10 day trip we had not seen ANY snow. Not even a little. We couldn't have planned better for March in our end of the country... Arkansas, however, could have held off on the rain.

Kaden started the vacation with antibiotics for a double ear infection. Having never had one (that I knew of) I didn't realize with ear infections came the possibility of hearing loss. Let's just say for a day or 2 we just thought he was being REALLY rebellious, until we realized he wasn't hearing well. It was amazing how quiet and timid he seemed because of it. We figured out it was because he wasn't hearing almost any of the conversation so he just sat there, lost in his own world. People commented on how he didn't seem as outgoing as we always say he is. Yes, by about day 5 he was back to hearing, and back to his normal talkative, inquisitive self. It was SO sad to see him not hearing.

So there's the nutshell of our vacation. It was affordable and fun...and maybe someday we'll feel like we can afford a cruise or true vacation spot. For now, we'll enjoy what we're doing. Afterall, the grass is always greener where you water it. Oh and I have to mention how WELL Kaden and Kate did in the car. There was virtually no crying (altho, i do remember about 20 minutes from Kate at one point...other than that it was just momentary needs...the crying was easy to end...) They did so well. They never complained or fought getting in the car...and they were mostly nice to each other and me.

Now begins the craziness that is our week. Today I begin physical therapy for my hip/tailbone/who knows what it is pain. I have to miss my Bible Study which just makes me grumpy. Then I need to go to Walmart and have a veggie tray made for a girls night with some friends. We're doing a mystery murder dinner party. It will be fun, even if i do have to dress like a man soccer player (with a pregnant belly?). Not the point. That party's at 6pm. Somewhere in there I am meeting with a lady from church to finalize plans for the Progressive Dinner we're planning for the young couples at church. Oh, and hopefully I'll have a new phone???

Tomorrow I have Roslyn for 6 hours and Bible Study, and hopefully I can be caught up on laundry and make a lasagna for this weekend;s Progressive dinner. That's when i need to do all my little chores, like paying bills, taking care of the pile of mail, and catching up on the phone calls I need to make.

Wednesday I have a playdate/bible study for most of the morning, model ultrasound for the Women's resource center, and dinner by 5pm so we can get the boy to AWANA on time. Maybe during Awana I can get my Walmart shopping done.

Thursday I have Roslyn again for 6 hours and hopefully somewhat of a down day. As down as it can be with an extra kid who crawls now....

Friday is usually my down day, but between the birthday party Kaden is invited to (at these ages, it's moms and siblings too) and getting ready for the Progressive Dinner and Craft Day I think I'll be pretty busy.

Saturday is Craft Day, which I lead at our church, from 9-4pm. Then the Progressive Dinner is sometime that evening (is it bad that I don't know the time?) and we have some friends moving to town, so we'll drop whatever and go help them unpack when we can (which might mean i skip on the dinner, or have kids at craft day!). I'd also like to have prepped a meal so we can have those friends over for dinner a couple times this week as they settle in.

I just hope no one else gets sick... not this week!