My "Thirteen Day-I'm Nuts-Drive Down Florida Alone with Two Kids" vacation.

I am four days in to my "Thirteen Day-I'm Nuts-Drive Down Florida Alone with Two Kids" vacation. 

I spent days preparing, nights laying awake thinking about just how crazy I am, and then I actually started the packing, mapping, and car-stuffing. 

John had to work, and I had to see my family. There was no way to compromise on either end there, so the decision was pretty clear - I would venture on. A.L.O.N.E. (Well quite opposite of alone - with two kids, I am NEVER alone... but while missing my other half, I feel alone.)

So the trip began.  I loaded the car and headed on the road.  The music was blaring in the front and the DVD player was singing "D-D-Da-Dora!" in the backseat...  yes. You read correct. Dora. My child is obsessed (to put it mildly) with the netflix sensation that is "Dora" (remember we are cable-free).  We jumped on to I-95 and drove across the FL/GA border, stopping in Jacksonville for the night.  My in-laws live there, so we had a wonderful welcome.  Emmett's first pair of shoes were purchased, and we met extended family for dinner, where the trip took an awesome turn with meltdowns, sickness, and dinner to go.

I failed to mention that Scarlett and Emmett both had a fever the day before we left for our trip.  Scarlett said she was sick and that her "vagina hurt."  That is not something we take lightly.  We headed in to the doctor, assuming our first UTI was occurring.  After seeing the pediatrician, we learned that Scarlett did not (Thank goodness) have a UTI and that her vagina was fine... however, after checking her throat, our pediatrician informed us that she had ulcers down her throat!  She had the virus that normally leads to hand-foot-mouth.  And of course, after checking out Emmett, he had it too.  I was warned that I was in for five days of 104 degree fevers, crankiness, and possible rashes. oh and that it would be HIGHLY contagious. AWESOME. Good thing my car was packed to leave for a thirteen day trip through Florida all on my own with the kids.

So back to the first night of the trip and our dinner out.  With one child rolling on the restaurant floor and another screaming on and off my exposed boob, I pulled the white flag.  My mother-in-law and I promptly left the extended family at the restaurant, grabbed to-go boxes, jumped back in the car and headed to her house, where we then bathed kids, stuffed our faces, and chugged wine.  I was exhausted and it was only half a day into my trip. What was I thinking doing this?????

I woke up at the crack of dawn the next morning to get everything packed back up and ready for the 5 hour drive to my grandparents' house in Venice Beach.  As I loaded the car with giggling babies, set Dora to REPEAT, and slipped my feet out of my shoes, I noticed that the sky was quite an unpleasant color and had a heaviness to it.  Well, not even 30 minutes into our drive, the clouds overflowed and drowned us on the highway.  I-95 to I-4 to I-75... the rain never stopped.  There were moments of panic (that I might go crazy) and other moments of bliss with sleeping kids and the sounds that only rain can make.  That mixed in with insane drivers was an experience in itself.  I did only have to stop once.  Emmett needed a break from the car, I needed gas, and I HAD TO PEE.  Now here lies the problem:  Scarlett was asleep.  How do you pee with one child who has to be held and another asleep in the car seat?  Answer:  You stalk other gas station customers to find one with a car full of kids who is one pump away.  You kindly ask them to make sure no one steals your child and you make a run for it with the one awake child.  You pee as quick as humanly possible and you run (through the pouring rain of course) back to the car. 

We made it in one piece to our second destination.  We have been here for three days now and are having a great time.  I say this as my kids are rolling over balls in the living room, have destroyed a vintage Shakespeare book, spilled maple syrup over pictures,  brought sand back from the beach, and 'reorganized' everything from waist-height down inside my grandparents' house.  There are four generations of women within the four walls of this home right now.  And N.O. W.I.N.E.  (My family doesn't indulge very often.)  Man am I missing my husband and our nightly ritual of a glass of wine for dessert!  After the past four days of children not feeling well, sleeping in beds that are not my own, driving countless hours, and eating food that I am not use to, I deserve a glass of wine at the end of this!  We have had a great weekend at the beach.  Scarlett loves the water and digging in the sand.  Emmett on the other hand hated it.  He tolerated it for as long as he could each day, but he was the reason we would pack up each day.  I say that as I realize what occurred today.  As we showered off before getting back in the car, Scarlett had a meltdown. A full on, crocodile tears, stomp feet, throw things, cry so hard I might puke meltdown. over a DRESS.  She wanted to wear a dress.  But silly mommy - I didn't bring a dress! What was I thinking?  Seriously? WHAT WAS I THINKING?  How could I not have brought a dress to the beach for her to change into?  Lord, give me strength.  After stopping at Target and purchasing a new dress (Yes I am a horrible mother for getting her what she wanted. Don't judge me.)  we made it back to the house. 

In our beach ventures, I got some good pictures:

   

Tomorrow we head back onto the road to South Florida.  We will be spending a week with my mom before a weekend at Disney world.  Yes. You may call me crazy now.

However - the virus that I was warned against ended up not getting worse.  No rash, no more fever, nothing.  Just crankiness.... but that can be blamed on anything at this point ;)

What is the craziest road trip you have taken as a parent? Please tell me that I am not alone in my craziness!



PS -- On the resolution note:  We are still on our journey.  I am just finding it more fun to blog about bigger topics that are occurring in our lives right now.  :)