We returned from vacation today with our five kids and all 28 limbs intact.  1500 miles round-trip — completed.  Whew.

On our trip, we discovered that our toddler gets carsick.  He confirmed it, too.  We were about 5 minutes from our cabin in the mountains when he threw up his dinner all over himself and the back of the van.  We wiped him down quickly and drove straight to the cabin, where I put him in the bathtub and he said, “this is the best vacation ever!”  Oh, to be three and appreciate everything, even after vomiting twice all over yourself.  It’s kind of like being drunk and in college, I guess.  I remember professing my love to a few people after throwing up, too.

We had no WiFi and very little data or cellular service at all on our vacation, and it was kind of nice.  We did a lot of hanging out together, playing games, and of course, taking care of babies.  I think the mountains and lack of WiFi forced me to be very contemplative. I was able to snuggle with the babies and just enjoy it.  They are so beautiful and amazing, and I felt bad for dragging them on the long trip, but in a few years, they’ll be running around (hopefully) and excited about sleeping in their own room.  Our toddler slept downstairs in the room with bunk beds with his brothers.  I was kind of sad.  I hoped that he’d want to stay upstairs in the room across from us, but he assured me he’d be fine.  I made him promise to wake up one of his brothers if he woke up in the middle of the night and needed me or daddy.  He was fine; every single night he was fine.  He’s just a little man.  A few years ago, he was the crying baby who went on vacation and got hot and  bothered being dragged to places outside.  Now, he’s sleeping with the big boys and going potty and getting carsick.

Speaking of carsick, we bought some kids’ Dramamine.  It worked really well…for 6 hours.  We were about 45 minutes from home when I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the toddler looking down, head bobbing a bit, with a sad look on his face.  I asked if he was ok, and he didn’t look up or say anything, so I immediately pulled over.  My husband raced to the back of the van, the younger of his older boys got out, whiled the oldest held a bowl in front of the toddler’s face so my husband could unbuckle him from his carseat.  Just in time.  The toddler threw up in the grass on the side of the road, saving us from hours of cleaning up him and his carseat.  I really feel like I deserve a gold star for that.

Of course, it was Father’s day yesterday, and I must say that my husband is the greatest father I ever imagined in my wildest dreams.  I can’t imagine sharing this parenting journey with anyone else.  He keeps me grounded and makes me happier than I ever thought possible.  I love you, my leopard.  Happy father’s day.  Thank you for giving me the best kids ever!