We just back from spending over a week with my in-laws and
it was one fun, busy vacation. To keep from making one of the longest blog
entries ever, I’ll break up the trip and write several separate entries describing
our great vacation. So make sure you keep reading after this entry.
Let me begin by saying that I’m one of those lucky people
who got the best in-laws you could ask for. Michael had to go to Denver for work that week
and so I was there with his parents for a week by myself. Not everyone would be
able to do that and say that had an absolutely wonderful time. But they are such
kind, selfless people that I always feel totally at ease there. I really do
love to be with them.
As I mentioned, Michael had to go to Denver later that week so I made the 7 hour
drive alone with 3 kids. Thankfully, I met my in-laws in Billings, MT
and my mother-in-law drove with me the last 2 hours. The drive started out
well. I was able to get everyone dressed and fed well before the time we wanted
to leave. But while we were getting ready, Michael was attempting to move the
captain seats around in the van per my request. It turned out to be much
trickier than expected and there was about a 20 minute period where we weren’t
sure that we would be able to leave anytime that morning because the seats were
totally messed up. Fortunately, Michael figured things out and we pulled out of
the driveway only 7 minutes after my desired departure time. As Michael was
saying goodbye to the girls, Annabelle started bawling. Michael was giving her
a hug and she wouldn’t let go of him. When we asked her what was wrong, she
said she was going to miss him too much. It was such a tender moment that I
myself got choked up and tried unsuccessfully to hold back the tears. I’m so
glad that Michael is such an important part of Annabelle’s life now. There was
a time when she didn’t want anyone around but me. She is definitely over that,
thank goodness.
Once we got off, things went downhill. Only 45 minutes into
the trip, Jillian started complaining that her stomach hurt and only a few
minutes later, she threw up everything she ate for breakfast. I had just
entered the mountains and there was no good place to place over. So I had to
keep driving as Jillian sat there in her vomit, bawling and freaking out, and
Annabelle holding her nose and trying to not to look at Jillian, which would
have surely caused her to throw up as well. Annabelle has quite a history of
getting car sick (once when I was driving to Utah by myself, she threw up 7
times and the usual 3 ½ hour drive ended up taking 8 hours), but as she’s
gotten older, it hasn’t been a problem anymore. I guess now we have to worry
about Jillian. After a few minutes, I came upon a turnout and we stopped to get
her cleaned up. Thankfully, it didn’t get on the actual seat of the van, just
all over Jillian and her car seat. I cleaned up as best I could with the
cleaning supplies I always have in the car and we continued on. She didn’t
throw up the rest of the trip which was a miracle because the weather was
causing some serious problems. For most of the way to Billings, there was a downpour. It was
absolutely terrifying when we were driving through West
Yellowstone and the mountains. The rain was coming down so hard
that I couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of me. I felt us sliding and
we almost hydroplaned a number of times. I was gripping the wheel so tightly my
knuckles were numb. Sarah was fast asleep and Annabelle and Jillian were
watching a movie. Annabelle could tell that things were bad and so she was
really good about keeping Jillian interested in the movie and they didn’t
distract me much. That was the scariest time I’ve ever had driving. Once we got
to Billings, the rest of the way was clear skies
and we made it safely to Sheridan,
WY.