what i learned from this thanksgiving...

well, we finally made it home from our thanksgiving trip.  it took exactly 12 hours to go what usually takes about 9.  those extra 3 hours were super fun with a 14 month old who was screaming to get out of her seat and a 5 year old who had a fever and was the latest victim of the stomach bug.  here are some interesting things i learned while on our little "vacation."

1.  taking a child to universal studios with the stomach bug is not fun.  not fun at all.  poor carson was the first to be hit with "the curse" and the poor thing was pitiful.  i had this whole awesome surprise of taking the boys to universal studios and staying at the hard rock hotel.  well, one of them had a good time and it wasn't carson.  this is how he spent his afternoon at the pool.

not really what i had in mind.  he didn't even notice when it started raining on him.  poor kid.  the next morning we were up bright and early hoping that he felt ok.  not so much.  this leads to my second thing i learned.

2.  the custodial staff at universal studios doesn't get paid enough.  i won't go into the nasty details but after riding minion mayhem, the ride we had been waiting for.  the ride we got to the park early so that we could get on it first, carson wasn't feeling so great and may of trusted himself to pass some gas a little too soon.  my sister had him in the bathroom trying to clean up a little and the you-know-what hit the fan.  or i should say floor.  it all hit the floor.  all of it.  i had no problem finding them when i came into the bathroom.  i tried my best to clean up but the sweet custodian told me to leave it all that she would get it.  thank you, thank you, thank you.  

3.  universal studios is really fun.  after the little mishap in the beginning carson really rallied and we were able to enjoy (mostly) the rest of the day. 

finally a smile.  carson is not a huge fan of rides but he liked this one!

i look horrible but who cares!  we got soaked on the last few rides we went on.   the day was a success and they had a blast.  

a big thank you to aunt megan who went above and beyond her auntly duties.  

4.  if one kid gets sick on a vacation to the beach all of them will end up getting it at some point.  the next to be hit with the cure was poor shelby.  she was just pitiful for two days and then a little beast after that.  poor thing pooped out her diaper so much it got in her hair (i just happened to be out when this little treat happened, thank goodness).  i was on the receiving end of a nice projectile vomiting though so that was fun.  little thing was running such a high fever and just did not want to move.  it was selfishly nice to have her just lay on me and snuggle.  she is not a snuggler at all so to have her lay with us was nice.  but sad because she was so sick.  

brooks was the last to be hit.  his came just as we were hitting the road to go home at 6:30 in the morning.  nothing like riding home with the faint smell of vomit in your car.  good times.  and of all three he is by far the worst one when sick.  he already is pretty "needy" but when he's sick he is extra needy.  bless his heart is all i have to say.  bless his heart.  

5.  i wouldn't of survived the vacation if not for my mom.  don't get me wrong, we all came through at clutch times but three kids sick back to back to back isn't easy or fun.  we had a constant load of laundry running at all times trying to make sure the funk didn't spread.  sadly, when you're all staying in one condo it's nearly impossible.  i'm not sure my mom saw daylight but i was able to get out, do some shopping and go to the pool and tiki bar.  thank goodness for the tiki bar!  

6.  watching my parents try to play the game, heads up, is hilarious.  i mean tears rolling down our faces funny.  just think of them trying to convey pole dancing without talking.  hilarious.  thank you ellen degeneres for that game.  it's now a family favorite.  

7.  when a 9 hour trip turns in to a 12 hour ride from hell i want to scream and cry just like the kids.  holy cow that was miserable.  the last hour was spent trying to console brooks in the back who started asking at about mile 2 when we would be home and shelby who was not happy to still be in her carseat.  thank goodness for my sweet little carson.  at one point we stopped to go the bathroom (we did this a lot on this trip) i asked him if he needed to go.  his reply, "no, i can just wait till we get home."  that kid.  of course 5 miles down the road he had to pee. 

8.  i love my kids more and more every day.  even when i have cleaned up all kinds of bodily fluids off the floor, themselves and even myself, i still love them.  i love seeing the three of them together.  i love seeing each one's little personality add to the dynamic of our family.  i'm amazed at the three little lives we have been blessed to call our own while we are here.  even when they are sick and needy and whiny on a thanksgiving vacation to the beach.  these three little people are amazing.