arrivals and departures

I can't remember now if I mentioned that the kids and I were leaving for California, but we were, and we did, and now we're back.

I survived, although I will admit that the trips to a fro were BRUTAL. On the trip there Gabe, Josie, and I were flying from Boston to Washington D.C. and then on to Sacramento, and because Josh happened to be flying out the same day from a different airport, I was lucky enough to have a friend offer us a ride, but we had to be dropped off at the airport 3.5 hours early. We'd been in airports or flying for 7 hours by the time we boarded the plane in D.C., and it wasn't until that moment that I realized the horrible truth. We'd made NO PROGRESS and were facing a 6 hour flight to California. I almost cried, but instead I fed the kids cookies and ate peanut butter cups. Then Gabe got diarrhea on that flight and I spent 30 minutes in the airplane bathroom wedged into a corner, pressing my knee against Josie to keep her from moving and licking the sides of the toilet and holding Gabe up while he cried. It was, well, A.W.F.U.L. Really. I've been blocking it out of my mind because I still faced the return trip and I didn't want to consider what might happen on the return.

It wasn't quite as bad as the initial trip, mainly because we were traveling for 8 hours as opposed to 14.5, but Josie did vomit all over me as we were descending into Denver, and then we had an Incident on the moving walkway when her car seat got trapped in front of me as we were trying to get off the moving walkway, and the rolling luggage was behind me, and I looked like a cartoon character as I tried to balance with a rolling item in front of me and another behind me and my legs pinwheeling while I frantically tried to heave the caught car seat off the ramp. A kindly man finally took pity on us and sprinted over and helped me fling the car seat off the metal ramp. I'm sweating just remembering that moment, I wish I had video. The rest was terrible but not due to any dramatic events, just general toddler misbehavior and a 2am arrival time. There isn't much you can do when you are keeping kids up for hours and hours past their bedtime. You just give them more lollipops and hope for the best, no?

The rest of the trip was great, although much much colder than I'd planned on due to some sort of unexpected cold front. My parents and I took the kids to the zoo, the San Francisco Exploratorium, some toddler type amusement park, tons of parks and walks, and I gained 5 pounds because I ate like a pig and sat on my behind all day long. Ahhh, vacation. I miss you.

We're back at home, and I am in some sort of crazy delirium of being thrilled to be home, in my bed, with my husband, and loving my house and neighborhood and the weather that is somehow ridiculously warmer than California. Go figure! I'm taking long walks and slow jogs every day because I have to lose these 5 pounds before this weekend due to an incredible event taking place on Friday.

I am LEAVING MY CHILDREN FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. EVER. I am going to Vegas with some of my best law school girlfriends and we are doing extravagant things like staying at the Venetian hotel, going to Stiletto Spy School, gambling, dancing, and taking care of no one besides ourselves for 72 whole hours. I will not be wiping another human beings' behind for 3 whole days. I'm hyperventilating at the thought. I've also cried 3 times over the last 3 days because I'm leaving Josie for the first time in the care of her father, and it is killing me softly, but I am holding on to the belief that doing something for myself with my friends will make me a better mother. Right? Tell me I'm right, please.

I'm leaving Friday morning, and between now and then I'll be scouring my closet to find acceptable clothing for a weekend where no one will smear greasy fingers on me. My friend told me not to get off that plane if I do not have sequins in my bag. Can't wait.