And we'll have fun, fun, fun til' the flu takes our fun away . . .

Rewind to a week ago Saturday (December 27, 2008):

Lunchtime.

Friends: It's cold here. Want to go with us to Key West?

Us: Um, okay.

9:00 p.m.: We leave. Four adults. Two kids (15 months and 5 months). Two cars.

What a blast! J did better in the car than either M and I could have guessed. We drove through the night (9:00ish p.m. until about 3:30 p.m. the next day). We stopped in St. Augustine Beach (beautiful town) for the night and left around 10 a.m. Monday morning. We arrived in Islamorada (a key about half down through the Florida Keys) around 4 p.m. Monday afternoon. We went to beaches (Bah'ia Honda - a must visit if you ever go), visited Key West, swam in the pool and just relaxed. The weather was in the 80's! I could seriously live there all year long. We left late Thursday morning and stayed overnight in Jacksonville. Then continued north to Charlotte, NC, where we arrived Friday evening. Saturday we visited with some friends who have a son 2 months older than J. They had a blast playing together! We left around 2p.m. Saturday and arrived home about 10 p.m. that night.

Even though it was a surprise trip, it was one of the funnest times of my life. We took our time and just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves.

That is, until we got home. Saturday night and Sunday everyone was fine. Monday morning M woke up feeling sick and wound up having symptoms of the flu. J and I left the house to go on errands in an effort to not breathe in any germs. Well, 2 miles before my mom and dad's, J threw up all over himself and the car seat. There I am, with all four windows rolled down, trying not to throw up myself. Poor J!!

We get to my mom and dad's and I strip J buck-naked outside on the porch (it's about 30 degrees out) so as not to get puke all through my parents house. Then I start taking apart the car seat so it can be washed in the washing machine. What a pain in the butt!! Luckily my dad was there to help disassemble and reassemble.

Speaking of my dad, I give him major kudos - when my sister and I were little he would go to the other end of the house if we were sick. He didn't "do" puke. Tonight, he helped take apart and wash Jack's vomit covered carseat without even the slightest grumble. My mom and I were amazed! If it wasn't my kid, I'd have been on the other side of the house! Apparently, being a grandparent makes you change your ways!

So, as I sit typing, M and J are both sleeping peacefully on the couch and loveseat, respectively. The dog is sniffling around like he has a cold. And I am sitting with the Purell hand sanitizer next to me.