Rest

This evening, I’m surrounded by 5 sleeping kids in our hotel room.  On the 2 long days to reach my parents house, we had done numerous stops to deal with carsick kids with what felt like one disaster after another.  On the way back home, we did our first long day, and Solveig was the only really carsick one but she looked so green, and there was nowhere else in the car we could put her to make it easier.

This was Solveig though, so between throwing up, she kept our spirits up with random “hoorays” shouted out, and “I yuv you, Mommy!” said in her sweet little voice.  She still managed to be the sunshine of the car.  On one stop on that first day back where we changed diapers and such, we were walking back to the car and felt a cool fresh breeze and I thought to myself “I wonder if it will work for  us to lengthen our trip by just one day.  If we could break the very long 2nd day in half, and rest at a hotel in-between, our car-sick kids might get a bit of help.”

I was shocked that Knut went for this idea, and made a few phone calls to make sure things were going to be fine back on the farm.  We have a very generous family.

Later that evening of the 1st day driving back, we stopped at a Wendy’s for supper,  and I was happy for that decision because Solveig (who had stopped throwing up by then) had begun to make terrible messes in her diaper and well…it got bad.  I got into one of those situations in a public bathroom with a kid who clearly needed a bath from head to toe because she was literally covered in poop, and having no bath in sight.  I ran out of wipes after cleaning up so many times.  The bathroom had no paper towels left, and the toilet paper was worthless.  I ran out of clean clothes for her (including pajamas), and Knut was across the restaurant with the other kids and I left my phone in the car to call him and I nearly cried in panic.

Kids don’t let you do that, though.  You find a solution, and you make it work because that is your only choice.  I honestly love that about children.  They give you ample opportunities to feel like a superhero, and dig deeper than you ever thought possible.

We had our planned stop in Denver with some friends who I’ve known since birth and they showered us with love and help, delicious food…and soap, and provided sleep and breakfast and coffee.  Because of our changed plan today to drive only a half day, we were able to stay and talk with them for a little while, and just enjoy them.

Once we got back on the road for our 1st half day, I grabbed the iPad, and got a hotel room for that night at 1/2 price online, and it was done.  There were a few hiccups when we got here, and the hotel had us do a little room switch because we were assigned the wrong room.

So tonight instead of driving until 2am, I am resting.  I’m not sure if I’m getting older, or just wiser.

There is so much work waiting for me at home, and I am chomping at the bit to get at it.  I’m at that point of vacation where the daily routine looks lovely.  I’m told we have about another foot of snow in our yard since we left.  I have clearly chosen the right place to live because the thought of returning to a winter wonderland makes me smile.  It’s because I don’t have to leave the house to work, or bring my kids to school.  I’m spoiled when we’re snowed in.  I crave the peace of it.

Well, Ingrid is laying between Knut and I as we are each reading or typing on this bed, and she just woke up and looked at me and has dared me to a smiling/cooing contest.  I plan to smile at her, and anticipate her smiling back at me until much too late tonight.  It’s only 6 hours of driving home tomorrow.  (Plus stops…of course.)  We can do this.