What a Week

I feel like so much has happened over the last week - it pretty much felt like an eternity, but it was just 4 days of hell, followed by 3 days of something between crappy and normal.  I think it's safe to say this was not the week of vacation any of us hoped for!

I originally typed out all of the yucky things that happened from start to finish (delayed and cancelled flights, sickness - including a double ear infection, high fevers and Hand Foot and Mouth, hot and sticky weather with little breeze, sleepless nights and restless and fussy days).  However, I don't need to bore you all with that!  I'll try to focus on the good things and highlight as much as I can with the pictures I did capture during our trip.

We started our trip in Traverse City (after aforementioned delayed and cancelled flights) and stayed with our good friends, the Thompson's.  Ryan was playing in golf tourney with Mike, so Luke and I headed up to spend a day with Neely and their two boys, Ben and Peter.

They have a cottage on a little peninsula that juts out in the middle of Grand Traverse Bay.  It's beautiful there and the water is amazing.  It's only ankle deep for as long as you'd want to wade out which makes it perfect for little boys to play.

Luke had fun playing for a little bit...this was just before he got really sick; poor boy.  It makes me sad to even look at these pictures because I know it was just hours before he was wracked with a high fever and sickness that I hope he never experiences again.

Luke was so sick by the time we were ready to leave the Thompson's that we stopped at a clinic before leaving. The doctor confirmed he had a double ear infection and set us up with a prescription for an antibiotic.  We got on the road and made our way to Lake Charlevoix.  After another sleepless night and a child who screamed like we were pulling his toe nails out every time he swallowed, we took him to another clinic and doctor.  She confirmed pretty quickly that he had Hand, Foot and Mouth - which evidently was going around like crazy at home.  Not quite the "happy 14 month birthday present" he was hoping for.  She switched up his prescription and within a day our boy was feeling much better.

He turned into an eating and sleeping machine though - I think he was trying to catch up on all that he missed for 4 days.  So this is how he and I spent the 4th of July parade...

Not a bad view from outside the car - Lake Charlevoix at Boyne City.

Honestly, I think we had it pretty good because it was about 100 degrees outside!

The rest of the trip was much better than the first part, yet Bubby still didn't fully return to his spunky self until the last day or so.  He did have fun playing with his cousins - especially Stella.  They had so much fun talking in their own language.  Unfortunately, Stella became a victim of Luke's illness when she got home.  We tried so hard to keep them from sharing things but it was impossible....

A view from the front porch...

And on our last day, Mike and I got brave and took Luke, Lily and Stella for the afternoon.  The kids were so good, but boy, it was hard work.  Lily was easy - but Luke and Stella - they are another story!

First we had lunch at Murray's.  All three were perfect and Lily even told people passing by our table we were a family - Luke was her brother and Mike and I were her mom and dad.  When we snickered, she looked at us and said, "you GUYS....don't laugh or they'll know!!!".  She was hysterical, she got the biggest kick out of  pretending she was Luke's big sister.

After Murray's, we ran into KMart to get a few supplies and snacks.  The kiddos were super good again and came away with some treats for later.  After that, we hit the splash pad in Charlevoix.

I thought this would be really fun.  All three love the water so easy-peasy, right?  Holy cow.  Luke turned into a wild man and wanted to run non-stop.  Stella was a little bit afraid of the water at first and was running around in opposite directions from Luke at the beginning.  And Lily was awesome and in her own pretend-world making up dances and fighting imaginary people!  Thank goodness for that.  I was a sweaty, hot mess before we were done, but I'm pretty sure the kids had a great time.  There aren't many pictures of Luke because he was running all the time.  :-)

  

And here they are after the splash pad.  Lily was sure she wouldn't fall asleep...hmmm.... Mike was my hero and drove all of us around (sleeping, including me) for over an hour so we could get a good nap.  Have a said I love him lately?

Luke and I had some relaxing time in the mornings, too.  We took a few walks on the beach and within minutes, he was sleeping.  (I have no idea why I have such a sour face here...must not have finished my coffee.... and PS - never let me cut my hair short - eww).

And to make the whole trip worth it, Luke got to do his favorite thing ever, as much as he wanted.

All in all, I'd say we made limeade out of limes...(sorry, I think lemonade is gross!).  Bubby is back to normal, we're back in our routine and we're all back in our own beds.  Hallelujah!