California Trip and what now?

This summer has been one of the best of my life.  For serious, I have loved it.  I worked a little, but mostly didn't.  This meant I just hung out with my boys a lot.  We took short trips to loved ones' places and enjoyed the heck out of that.  We all did Cub Camp.  We took the kids back to the museum and the zoo, and went to COSI in Columbus, too.  We've just had fun.

Here are some pictures from the Fort Wayne festival thingy that we went to:

Rob and Dustin in the hamster balls.  It was HILARIOUS to watch.

Checking out the steel drums after the band was done playing.  Elijah now wants a set.

I went to California for the first time in years.  It's always nice to go see family, and this time I got to love on my sister, Lori's new baby.  LOVED IT.  We did a bunch of stuff, too, which was fun.  We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is amazing.  They now have an octopus exhibit which was breath-taking.  For real.  I would go to an aquarium that ONLY showed octopuses.  Beautiful creatures.

The tattoo I plan on getting.

Jellies!!!

Miciah and Dea laying on the ground watching the sardines swim in a big circle.

 

I got to see, and have long talks with, almost all of my siblings.  Collin, my bestie, and his wife, were there while I was.  That was amazing.  I got to go jean shopping with Lori (she showed me where to buy more expensive, better quality jeans).  We went on walks.  We took turns holding the baby.  We put together a puzzle.  It was blissful.  We're all adults now and much nicer to hang around than we were as teenagers and young, stupid 20-somethings.

New jeans, post hemming.  I'm short.

The puzzle.  Fun, right?  It's my family, 2009.

My favorite place we went to is now a Must See every time we head out to CA:  Point Lobos State Reserve.  So, so pretty.

This is Miciah saying, "NO!"  She didn't want me to take her picture.

The other thing that was going on while I was in CA was less than nice.  Before I left, Tank came down with some sickness.  He was sick for a few days, seemed to be recovering for a few days right when I left for CA, and then was even sicker for another few days.  Rob took him in to the doctor and got him an antibiotic.  He still recovered slowly, in terms of getting his energy back.

Then I got a call from Rob saying that he was coming down with something.  The next day he called and said he was feeling lousy.  The next day he texted and said he had bronchitis.  Then he texted a few hours later and said he also had pneumonia in one lung.  Ugh!  He was on two antibiotics, codine cough syrup, and was rotating Tylenol and Ibuprofin every few hours.  Intense.

I got home Tuesday night and instantly was plunged into a very overwhelming state.  Rob was still really sick, so I had all the normal things to take care of post-trip, PLUS all the things that didn't get done while he was laid up.  It seemed like everywhere I turned someone needed something from me and only me.  "Have you done this yet?"  No.  Not yet.  Just repeat "not yet" for everything you're wanting to ask me.

On top of that, we were making preparations for going down to Mammoth Cave for two days as a family.  (And with my parents.  My parents are at my house right now.)  We canceled Rob's tickets.  My mom and I were starting to talk about food prep when it became obvious that Elijah was coming down with the same crap.  Of course.  SO, we scrapped the whole trip and ate the cost of the cabin plus the portion of the tour tickets that couldn't be refunded.  Which was fine.  I feel like I paid $130 for an extra two days to put my house back in order and take care of my sick boys.  Worth it.

But woah.  :)  It's been nuts.

Rob is now almost back to normal.  He's on a business trip in Michigan, and I'm with him.  He gets tired too early in the day and has a lingering cough, but that's about all that's left of his sickness.  Elijah isn't at 100% either, yet, but he's getting closer everyday.  (Seeing Elijah just sitting for hours was bizarre.  That kid normally has so much energy.  ...  The house was really quiet.)

Lake Michigan, where Lake Muskegon connects.

Michigan is beautiful.