My parents have, on multiple occasions, reminded me of my habit of getting sick on vacations when I was a todler. I can now say that I have lived through that adventure on the parental end of things. Ever since we went up to Wisconsin Dells last May we have been wanting to go back. For months we had been planning a trip to go up Valentine's weekend. Not the most romantic get-a-way to be sure, but the timing worked out well for us, or so we thought.
Just inside for the 72 hour no refund period, L started showing the signs of getting sick. C almost immediately took him to the doctor, where he was diagnosed with a double ear infection. Said infection spiked a fever up to 104 Friday night, but by Saturday night the fever was all but gone and he seemed well on his way to recovery. With all signs pointed toward improving health, we left mid-day on Sunday, thinking by Monday surely he would be back to almost full speed. What we didn't expect was for a nasty cough to set in. We did not notice it much before we left, but it got our attention quick about an hour into our trip when he started coughing and didn't quit until he threw up. He repeated this trick a couple more times during the remainder of the trip, refusing to take a nap in the process, which surely didn't help. Between the cough, a strange bed, and strange surroundings, he did not get much sleep Sunday night either, nor did we.
Monday we took a wait and see approach, and decided to wait until after L's morning nap before attempting any activities. The nap went OK, so we thought some warm air and sun would do him some good. While it was apparent he was not 100%, we took it very easy with L, and he seemed to enjoy spending a little time in the water. N had started to lose his apprehension about water slides at the end of our last trip, and that apprehension was completely gone this time. C and L were not big fans of the family tube slide, but N and I went back a couple times.
Lunch back at the room and afternoon nap went OK, so the recovery seemed to be back on track. An afternoon session at the water park went fairly well, but at supper the coughing came back with a vengeance. We had to make a hasty retreat back to the hotel. When we got back, L seemed mostly unphased by the ordeal. C, on the other hand, was starting get L's cough. Not good. We started to accept the idea we were going to have to cut our losses and make an early return home. Monday night, thankfully, did not go too badly. L had a few coughing fits, but kept what little supper was left in his tummy down. C slept on the Murphy bed so that her coughing did not wake up L or I. N, bless his heart, slept like a champ.
We entered Tuesday with the plan to let N and I get one last water session in before hightailing it home. C and L would join us if they felt up to it. After morning naps for both C and L, they seemed up to the task and we made a family trip to an area we hadn't tried yet. I think we would all agree it was the most fun we had the whole trip. N hit the water slides like a pro. C and I both had some apprehension that on his way up to the slides there were parts where we couldn't see him, but he waited his turn and dutifully came back to us every time. L enjoyed playing in the water, and seemed to really like when I took him down one of the kiddy slides. He didn't even want to go back to C, he just reached for me and then pointed to the slide. Of course I obliged him with half a dozen trips down it.
After a couple hours, we got our fill of the waterpark and headed back to the room for lunch and loading up for home. L took another nap, and the rest of us started packing. Although she seemed to enjoy the morning activities, packing took alot out of C. L was still coughing a little too, but not as intensely as before. With the sting of an unused night charged to our credit card, we headed for home mid-afternoon.
I dare say the trip home went better than the trip up. L still had a few coughing fits, and managed to keep his streak alive of throwing up every day of our vacation. N had, by this time, mastered the portable DVD player and kept himself mostly occupied the whole trip. C's condition continued to deteriorate, which she only let show the maybe 30 minutes out of the 4+ hour drive that she got to spend facing forward and not holding L's barf bowl or getting something for L or N.
Although it wasn't uneventful, we made it home safe and sound. L and N took a little time to wind down, but both went to sleep in their own beds without much fuss. L, so far (knock on wood) hasn't been coughing too much. N has coughed a few times, as have I, but no major signs of illness, yet. C is suffering with a cough, chills and fever. Looks like we are going to need that last day of vacation afterall, just to get everyone nursed back to health.
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