Home again, home again, jiggety jig

Gavin and I made it home from Kansas City safely and without too much wear and tear. We had a great time... aside from the terrible cold / flu he had while we were there. The poor little guy woke up Friday morning covered in sticky green snot. Yup, a face only his mother could love - and just in time for the big trip. I got him bathed, dressed, and cleaned up and headed for the airport. Of course I questioned if we should even be going. Would he be miserable all weekend? Did he need to see a doctor? In the end, I decided to go. Afterall, we were staying at my sister's house, a place with all the comforts of home. It's not like we'd be in a hotel or an RV. The flight went well (Pictures to come later). He didn't sleep on the plane like I thought he would, but he didn't cry either. The time on the plane isn't the part that got him, it was the fact that I pretty much woke him up and stuck him in the carseat for 45 minutes while we drove to my parents house, then switched cars and had him ride for another 35 minutes in the car, then put him in the stroller for an hour while we got checked in at the airport, made it through security, and made our way to our departure gate, WHICH WE BARELY MADE! We were the last two people to board the plane! Then, made him sit in my lap for an hour and a half while we were in the air. That was what did it. And even so, he was pretty good - just really antsy and wanted to get down off my lap and crawl around. The airline crew was great, moving me to the front of the plane and moving the person in the seat next to me to first class so that I had a little more elbow room. The flight attendants even offered to hold Gavin while I folded up the stroller and got seated. Normally, that wouldn't surprise me since he's such a cutie-pie but he was obviously covered in snot and that makes most people keep their distance! Part of the reason we didn't stay home was that I knew Gavin had already received his seasonal flu vaccination as well as the H1N1 vaccination. I already had H1N1 and Gavin didn't get it, so I was pretty sure he wasn't going to pass on some terrible sickness to anyone on the plane. We had new toys, snacks, and a bottle to keep him occupied. He fell asleep about 5 minutes before landing. Oh well!

We were pleasantly greeted curbside by Carrie and Katie, who had driven down from Minneapolis through the wee hours of the morning and arrived in perfect time to pick us up at the airport. After stopping for lunch, we headed to Kristin and Tim's house and took advantage of the time to nap!

By Friday evening, Gavin was miserable. He had a fever, red cheeks, hot head, cough, and green snot everywhere. He cried and fussed, and couldn't sleep. Katie and Carrie made a couple of runs to Target for infant Motrin, baby Vicks vaporub, and a thermometer. Kristin was by my side throughout the entire night helping me sooth Gavin when he woke up crying, making a bottle for him, giving more Motrin, and letting him rest his head on her to sleep. When I say she was by my side, I mean that quite literally. You see, Gavin and I slept in her room with her and Tim slept downstairs on an air mattress and then on the couch (after the air mattress deflated). So, Kristin didn't have a whole lot of choice in the matter! But she also didn't complain, not once! She was a perfect pillow for Gavin's snot-logged head and snuggled and kissed him just as if he wasn't all gooey and green.

By Saturday, Gavin already seemed to be on the mend and was a much happier baby. We enjoyed coffee in bed, went out to lunch, went shopping at Country Club Plaza, and had the nicest evening IN that I've had in a long time. We ordered Green Mill delivery, opened some wine, and sat by candle-light enjoying our delicious creamy pastas and wine and the company of best friends and sisters. After Gavin went to bed that night we all crawled into bed to watch a fantastic girl movie, Sex and the City.

Sunday morning was slow and relaxed. Coffee in bed, again. Bubbles for Gavin to play with. Sunshine coming in the windows. It was wonderful. Katie, Carrie, and Kristin were so helpful all weekend, loving and playing with Gavin, snuggling him and blowing bubbles for him. Gavin LOVED Kristin's new soft furry rug by her fireplace! It was his favorite place to be all weekend!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

We had a fun, easy-going, relaxing weekend. Kristin and Tim's home was warm and inviting. The time spent with good, old friends was overdue and irreplacable. Maybe we'll see Chicago next December!