Our Trip, Part Two: The Rest of It

Ok, it wasn't THAT bad. I don't want to give the impression that our trip was ruined by Parker's sickness, because it most certainly was not. I just happen to have a gnawing fear of the stomach flu, and it had struck. Poor little Parker had a bad night. He and Neal both had to shower and wash everything they were wearing, and were quarantined to a corner of Charlotte's house until the clothes were dry. We headed back to Sundance a bit earlier than we wanted to, and Neal, sacrificing his own health, stayed by Parker's side the rest of the trip.

On Saturday, we just generally hung out around the house, trying not to talk about playing in the snow. My mom and I did a little window shopping down at the resort (where I purchased nothing, since the average pricetag for any one item in Sundance is $180).

Sunday morning, we went to church in Provo with Lincoln and Mimi. Mom took care of Parker back at the house, where he took a warm bath and slept for hours.

After church, we went to dinner at Lincoln and Mimi's adorable condo, where they treated us to the result of hours of hard work: Korean Bulgogi, which we quickly scarfed down, and even some Miso soup for Audrey. Thanks guys for all that food and good company. We felt so honored to sit at your special tables and eat your delicious food!

By Monday morning, it was time to head back to the airport for the long journey home. I know everyone has a pretty yucky travel story. Steph told me one yesterday, and I know Charlotte has had her fair share. Now last year, we had a bad trip home from Christmas, too. Neal and Audrey had contracted the flu, and I'm talkin' influenza here, not just a bad cold. Neal was too sick to be the "dad carrying the suitcases all through the airports," and since it was left to weak little me, we had no fun. This time was no different. We flew to Las Vegas for a layover and an airline change, which we were kind of nervous about. We had to switch from Delta to Continental and just hope our luggage made it. Neal had started to feel sick by this time, but still had to carry Parker everywhere. We tried to even get one of those car thingies to drive us to our gate, but they don't have those in the Vegas airport. We considered a wheelchair, then determined that Audrey would have to push it since I was loaded down with the luggage. And a baby. Neal stuck it out and we just walked. Every time Parker sat down, he fell asleep. He had absolutely no energy, poor little dude.

We got to our gate, changed Miles' diaper, and Audrey and I left to look for some food. I swear I asked Audrey every 45 seconds if she was feeling okay. She was, thankfully. Unfortunately, I was so scared of getting sick, that I forewent Ruby's (!) in favor of a soft pretzel. I didn't want Ruby's to be my last meal before you-know-what. Little did I know that while I was off getting us nourishment, Neal was having me paged 5 times in the airport, asking me to return to the gate immediately. I didn't hear a single word of any of those pages. (So sorry, Neal!)

Turns out Parker had completely lost his cookies all over the place back at the gate and the flight was almost completely boarded. (Way early, by the way, I was watching my watch.) By the time I got back to the gate, there was Parker, in Neal's sweatshirt and no shoes, looking as pathetic as can be. Neal, in his panic at the sight of Parker's stomach contents, and the already-boarding flight, had stuffed all of our belongings into the diaper bag (with his spit-uppy hands), so all of Miles' toys for the flight were now contaminated. We apologized to the attendant for the mess (which he said was no big deal, because, of course, he didn't have to clean it up!) and got on the plane. Las Vegas to Houston: a little over 3 hours. Parker did fine, mostly slept on Neal's lap, while Audrey, Miles and I passed the time watching "The Lake House" with no sound. Way fun.

We arrived in Houston, to the most retarded airport in the whole world, I am now convinced. It took us a good hour-and-a-half to find our luggage (which actually made it!), board the train, find our car and get on the road, only to have Miles scream bloody murder the whole way. Of course. The good news is that Parker ate a bagel and some gatorade after his bath, and so far, so good. He's going to be okay. His little hip bones are sticking out and his eyes look bigger than ever, but he's over the worst of it.

We had such a fun trip, but have (once again) vowed to never travel at the holidays again. We are not sickly people, but we ALWAYS come home sick and beat and mad at the world for all traveling on the same day as we did.

Last night I fell victim to the horrible, terrible, very life-interrupting vomiting virus. I'm now a bowl-totin' member of the feeling-really-yucky-club. Thank heavens for my perfect husband, who happened to have the morning off and let me sleep until 11, with short interruptions for baby-feeding, of course.

I was really nervous to send Audrey to school today, I'm just sure she's going to get it any minute. Neal went and checked on her at lunch and she says she's still fine.

Wish us luck the rest of the week. 3 of us down, 2 to go.