Our End-Of-Summer Getaway and 2 Birthdays

Vacations: It's all fun and games until you become a parent; and this was the trip that tested our patience, stamina and sanity. 

Shoes Left Behind

It all started the moment we arrived into the town of Leaky and we stopped to get some gas. We realized that we totally forgot to put shoes on Hailey, hence, we had no shoes for you for the entire trip. Luckily the Dollar General had 1 pair of sandals in her size-ish (and I am so thankful that they were Frozen themed because that saved so much drama and negotiation) and $6.30 later, you had feet protection. For the record, we have left lots of things behind, but we have not left anyone of you guys behind...yet. 

We checked in at the Rio Bella resort, and found our cabin. You all ran around exploring each room and feature excitedly and when you realized that there was a river right outside, we immediately set out to explore the grounds. 

We hung outside until it was dinner time and then we went back to the cabin to have some sloppy joes. Then, the usual bath, story, and bedtime. 

Mysterious Night Symptoms
Around 11:00 (after I finished last week's post) things started to go crazy. Daddy and I were both up with you guys for so long, I don't really even remember the details anymore (even though it was only a week ago). Hailey, you woke up crying, saying that your diaper area hurts. We try the usual ice pack, diaper cream and you go back down to bed. We all fall asleep and then Hannah wakes up coughing like crazy, wheezing, which wakes up Hailey, who also starts to scream and complain about her pain.  Eventually Daddy, went downstairs with Hannah to help open up your airways and at some point, I yell downstairs for you to try sleeping on the recliner. Daddy turned on the TV to help you calm down and apparently you watched TV for like 3 hours before he turned it off and then you fell asleep. 

I remained upstairs with Hailey the remainder of the night and Hailey, you would wake up every 30 mins or so crying in pain, and I would roll over, pat you a bit and you would eventually go back to sleep. This happened 8-9 times (I saw it on my sleep monitor) for the remainder of the night and then we all woke up a bit later than usual, lulled by the soft pattering of rain outside. By late morning, the rain stopped and everyone was suddenly all acting ok, so we decided to rent some kayaks/stand-up paddleboards to explore the river which we had completely to ourselves. 

Hannah, you picked up paddling especially well. You were a natural! We kayaked up to a point where the water was too shallow and fast to paddle and we just floated back to our site and then we did it again before going back in for lunch. 

You guys wanted to try out the stand up paddle board and both were able to be on it at the same time. 

In the afternoon, I tried to get you down for a nap (since you had such a rough night) but you were not interested, so we went on a walk while Daddy took the big kids kayaking down the mini-rapids. 

We did spend some time that day doing schoolwork. I had told you guys that we started school a month earlier than everyone else, so we could take a week off, but you both insisted on continuing school during vacation...I'm sure earning points had nothing to do with it. 

No Take-Out Pizza
The plan for that evening was to order pizza for dinner, but when we called the pizza place, no one picked up (and later, we found out that it was closed). So, I figured that since everyone was starting to get sick, appetites would be small and we would be able to spread out our food without having to order out. We had Chicken Thunder and s'mores from the oven because I forgot to bring charcoal/firewood. 

Mysterious Night Symptoms II
At bedtime, we hoped it would be a better night. Hailey, you had not complained about any pain during the day, so we thought maybe the pain from last night was due to something you ate, but I gave you a half a dose of ibuprofen just in case. Hannah, we sent you to the recliner to sleep just in case and then we all went to bed early. 11:00 hits and Hailey, you wake up again, screaming in pain complaining about you diaper area hurting. We try the ice pack, we try different creams (we brought everything!), you are inconsolable. I tried patting you to sleep like the night before and it didn't work. Eventually, Daddy suggests a cream that works and you end up falling asleep for the night. This was around 1:30. 

We wake up the next morning and make pancakes for breakfast and we decide that everyone seems to be happy and good for hiking and we head to Garner state park. 

We arrive at Garner and it seems like we are the only ones at the park. We decided to do the Crystal Cave hike because it sounded pretty cool, I mean, come on, Crystal caves! 

We Forgot the Ergo!
We forgot to bring the baby carrier, so we Daddy basically carried Hailey in our arms the whole hike. When I would take over and give Daddy a break, you would mention how bony my shoulders are. Hey, sorry I don't have rippling pecs and biceps like Daddy.  It was a short hike (about a mile total), but it was steep and rocky. 

Slowly, but surely with lots of complaining, we finally made it to the Crystal Caves. 

From the outside, it just looked like an ordinary cave. 

The view was pretty amazing. We could see the "mountains" and the river valley below. 

The inside of the cave actually has crystals! My guess would be quartz or calcite, but it was super cool to see them all over the roof of the cave! Since we were all sniffly, we decided to stay away from the park rangers to ask. We'll be back. 

Hannah, you liked finding all sorts of treasures along the way. 

Everything Cool is Closed

We wanted to do other things like mini-golf and paddle boats, but I guess since it's the low-season (or COVID), none of those things were open available. So, we decided to go home for lunch. 

After lunch, we did some painting outside on the balcony. I had you guys pick something that looked cool and you could paint it. Hannah, you wanted to make something out of the treasures that you found on our hike instead, so I let you and this is what you came up with. 

Fevers start

When I asked if you guys wanted to get some work done, Nathan, you started to mention that you didn't feel well, so I reached over and felt your forehead and you seemed a bit warm. I sent you back inside to take a nap and you actually did sleep for about an hour. 

Hailey also started to feel warm and acted very lethargic, so you also took a nap. 

Hannah, you did 2 pages of math and then you and I went to float the river for a little bit. 

At some point during that day, all 3 of you were feeling under the weather, so we just stayed inside (while it was beautiful outside) and you 3 just watched TV. (Hailey, you may have been drifting in and out).  

A little bit before dinner, I gave you both some ibuprofen and you both started to perk up and have an appetite. Hailey, you even got up to walk around and play for a bit. 

Hailey, your favorite thing to do this trip was play with the tetherball. You would shriek so happily as you tried to whack the ball away. You would laugh especially hard if the ball hit your face, or Nathan because he usually over-dramatizes his reactions to get you to laugh. 

We have a tradition of taking a picture with our backs to the camera and we were able to snap one here. 

We had left-overs for dinner and made s'mores again and enjoyed hot chocolate outside while we waited for it to get dark enough to see the stars. But then clouds rolled in, so we gave up and just went inside to go to sleep. 

We all slept so good that night. Hailey, you only woke up once and you were able to go back to sleep quickly after I gave you your seal. 

We woke up the next morning, fevers all gone, packed up and drove home. With everyone sharing the same germs over the past few days and being sniffly, but showing different symptoms, my mind immediately went to we caught COVID at seaworld, so when we got home, I immediately went to get tested. 

While waiting for the test results, I really was thinking that if this is how COVID presents itself in our family, like, if that's it, I kind of hope that it we have it and maybe we don't have to be as careful going forward.

It was negative. 

But this whole trip got me thinking about how maybe out of everyone in the family, Hannah may be the most at-risk because even with the smallest cold, her airways close up so much that it's always so scary to see her struggling to breathe. My non-allergy, non-eczema, non-asthma kid may be the most at risk. 

With all of the hiccups along this trip; with all the prep, cooking, cleaning that I still had to do, I'm still thankful that we were able to get away for 3 nights, and that we were able to enjoy some change. The challenges were rough, but in hindsight, that's life, right? 

Oh, and before I sign-off for the night, I must wish Nathan and Hailey both Happy Birthday!

While I was waiting for the results of my COVID test, we stayed home and made do with what we had. Luckily we have a pretty well-stocked pantry for baked goods, so we had the ingredients on hand to make the cakes. 

I was feeling pretty weak and sick, so we took it easy the next few days after our trip and just played at home. 

On the morning you turned 8, I had a scavenger hunt for you to find your gifts. 

We had cake in the afternoon (instead of after dinner) because we know how you guys get after eating chocolate and sugar. 

And for dinner, Hailey helped make the chicken thunder. 

On Sunday, we had Chinese school, I found it funny when Hannah, you started to do this because I saw the exact same position on a meme. I think kids do it to stretch their backs out. Makes sense. 

Sunday evening, Hailey Squeaks sat on a "wall". 

Hailey squeaks had a great fall. 

All the Havlir women and all the Havlir men

tried to help Hailey feel better again. 

You cried for a few minutes, calmed down, and then at 7:15, you fell asleep. This caused us to freak out a little because this is very unlike you to just go to sleep without a fight, so we were thinking concussion. We decided to monitor you and kept you on our bed and we continued the night time routine with Nathan and Hannah. 

8:30, you wake up. Relief turning into annoyance, I'm thinking, it's going to be a long night because you probably just got your second wind and will be awake awhile before getting tired, so we cuddle for a little while and then you eventually roll over and we both fall asleep. I think I went to sleep at 9 and didn't wake up until 7:15 the next morning. I have not slept this long in a long time. I can't even remember the last time I went to bed at 9. 

So we wake up and it's Hailey's birthday! You turn 3. You request brownie doughnuts, so being cleared from COVID, I decided that we would just go and buy some doughnuts. Win Win. 

After breakfast, you did your own scavenger hunt that Hannah and Nathan made for you. 

And for dinner, we celebrated again with your requested "mango mommy and daddy go go (seal) cake" 

We ordered pizza for dinner (your favorite) and enjoyed a nice dinner on the patio. 

I'm going to make a milestone post about each of you sometime this week, so you can be on the lookout for that. 

Ok, 

Until next week, 

Love,

Mommy