Our Christmas Vacation

Day 2 of Travis Home: Quickly after breakfast we all bundled up and went out back to play in the snow!
We were a little bummed at first when we realized the snow was so powdery and not any good for packing; however we pulled it off and built a pretty great snowman, with the help of our Snow Man Kit Lori had given us the previous Christmas:)

Frosty:) Maddix wants to make him a wife! 

We took the afternoon easy, playing with new toys, drinking hot coco, and eventually got hungry and had lunch at the Olive Garden; while there we had a very nice family give us a free kids meal that our waiter took care of for us and between the two we only paid the tip; it restored a little faith for humanity. 

We really enjoyed the day, but by the night Travis was starting to feel achy, had a migraine, chills, and a lot of stomach pain; pretty sure he got the FLU from the plane because non of those were our symptoms. Travis was asleep by 8:30pm... poor guy. 

Day 3: This day actually started short after going to bed. At 2:00am Maddix came into my room, sick. He rolled around crying with massive stomach pains and we were quickly in the bathroom the rest of the night; Maddix obviously (after FINALLY getting better) caught was Travis had. It broke my heart to see him so sick and getting chills... it's seriously been since right before Thanksgiving that we've been sick. I'm not going to lie, I've been feeling a little bitter that our 3 measly days were cut down to 1 good day:( 

Travis woke up feeling considerably better, as did Maddix. We stayed at home resting, but before the night was over we ventured over to the Thanksgiving Point lights festival, compliments of a voucher from one of our friends. The boys just oohed and awed, and Aaron that he was the real deal when Travis let him stand up on his lap to see the lights better; he also threw the worlds largest thrashing fit when he had to get BACK in the seat.... I know, right?

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Then before the end of the night my dad and Wendy stopped by to open presents while Travis was still here; despite our illnesses. 

Thanks for coming over!

This Morning, Sunday: 4:50am we woke up(... I now have the flu:p ) and headed to the airport; the whole way I had my head buried over a shoebox, trying not to vomit. That drive is a hazy blur, and truthfully so is the drive home. I'm normally a drowsy driver, but add being sick and tired onto it and I have to say I think Angels must of drove us home because I think I checked out. I got home and it was all I could do to get the boys back in bed, hit the bathroom, then pass out on my bed. When I woke up I realized I was supposed to be to work in an hour, but after a quick call my amazing manager quickly took care of it for me and the rest of the day was spent lying in a pile on the floor by the Christmas tree texting Travis. My kids? Oh yeah, they took complete care of themselves; I am SO blessed to have Maddix. Not only did he fix himself his OWN breakfast, but he also poured Aaron a bowel of cereal. He put his own movies in, and took them out, so I could just nap, and Aaron blessedly napped for 3 hrs this afternoon (tender mercies). At night Maddix got himself in the shower, soaped his body, washed his hair, brushed his teeth, and got in his pi's all by himself; not to mention he entertained Aaron all day; I was, once again, just a blob. Thanks to my mom and sister for bringing my gatoraids and foods I could manage to eat! And POOR TRAVIS... he woke up feeling freshly sick again and had to be stuck on a plane all day. When finally made it to New York he couldn't bare the idea of taking another bus for an hour and a half and decided just to cab it back to his apartment. 

And that was our time together. I'm so grateful we got to be together, and I am SOOOO SAD we all got sick...... AGAIN!!!! And now I am sitting here TERRIFIED that Aaron is going to take his turn and be sick tonight after he FINALLY.... finally started getting healthy:( Please make the winter illnesses end.... just lets move away from this. I for one am BEYONE ready to usher in a new year of hopefully increased health, and finally being together with Travis permanently! 

~Just a disclaimer, I don't mean to sound so selfish... because I feel bad complaining when we have so much. I mean I just hop of Facebook and see dozens of friends/family with children barely holding onto life for example and I'm instantly grateful for all I have; however, my kids are going to read this as they get older and I want them to know that not everyday was Honky Dory... sometimes life just sucks! Seriously, I try to make everyday special, but there are plenty of days that just suck. The end. ~