Road Trip to Utah - Part 1

Adam and I haven't had a chance to take a road trip to Utah this year so we decided to do it in the fall. I love the fall in Utah. The leaves changing and all of the different colors on the hills, not to mention to much cooler weather from Arizona.

We left last Friday, early in the morning, and drove on up to have a visit with Adam's family. I drove the first shift and we stopped in Flagstaff for a quick potty break and to get something for Adam and I to eat. Then, it was on to Kanab - yes, I was still driving. The kids did fantastic!!!! I'm sure a lot of it had to to with the fact that we left early in the morning, Owen wasn't feeling well (more on that later) and, therefore, didn't have to stop for many potty breaks because he wasn't eating or drinking very much.

Then, from Kanab to Salt Lake, Adam took over the driving responsibilities. The kids slept some, but not nearly as much as the first leg of the trip. (Note to self: drive the second leg when the kids are awake next time.) We arrived safe and sound at his parents' house.

So, since Owen wasn't feeling well and had the "glassy eye" look all day long, I decided to call my dad to see if an antibiotic was in order. He felt really hot to me even when he woke up that morning, but I really didn't think much of it because he was in long "winter" jammies and under all of the covers! I thought he was just warm from how he was sleeping. Well, when I took his temperature, one ear was 102.7 and the other ear was 103.5. What the crap?! With the fever and him not feeling well and pretty lethargic all day (even though we were in the car), my dad told me it was best to get him started on an antibiotic - fabulous. (Before we left and in my defense, I did warn my mother-in-law that the kids Owen was sick and that I thought I was coming down with it. She told us to come anyway - so we did!)

When I tried to get Owen to take the first dose of his antibiotic (z-max), about 10 minutes later he was sitting in my lap on the carpet and then he threw up all over himself, me and our clothes. We did, however, manage to catch some of it in our hands that inevitably would have landed on the carpet. (Eeeeewwww, gross I know!) This was jus within the first 20 minutes of us being here at the house.

The kids went to bed early that night and - frankly so did I. Only, this backfired on me at about 4 in the morning when Caroline decided that she wanted to be awake for the next hour and a half. That girl, I swear. She finally drifted back to sleep and none of us woke up until 9 in the morning. That was heaven!

Saturday the kids played and played with their cousins, Connor and Heather, and they loved it. Saturday night was rolling around and I noticed Caroline was not sounding so good - she was getting a bad cough. Great! All night long she sounded like she was having trouble breathing - real wheezy and tight- and then the cough got even worse sounding. Sunday afternoon yet another call placed to my dad and, needless to say, Caroline was started on antibiotics.

Monday, we went to the Hogle Zoo with Rebecca and her kids. Once again, the kids had a blast running all around the zoo. The new baby elephant, Zuri, was out and boy was she ever cute. They had a baby crocodile, snow leopards, giraffe, and tigers. We saw the giraffe, crocodile and the baby tigers while they were being fed from mommy tiger. Those babies were sooooo cute!

When we got home from the zoo, Adam said he wasn't feeling well and thought he was getting a cough. What ever comes of that will remain to be seen, but I think I know how it's gonna end - antibiotics.

Today, Tuesday, I went to my old work and saw my friends, bosses and former co-workers. I was good to see them all and although not everyone is still there, it was good to see those that were. I got to go to lunch with my friend, Marilyn, and have a little bit of time to myself this trip. That was a nice little break.

On the train ride home, Howie was fussy and I happen to look down just in time to see what I thought was a tooth. Sure enough I felt around on his bottom gums and he cut his first tooth! The little monkey is only 4 1/2 months old and his first tooth has come through with the second one getting closer to come through as well. Howie hasn't been overly fussy, no fever, no real cold to speak of, and wasn't drooling a whole lot either. He was chewing on lots and lots of stuff, including himself and was drooling just a little bit. I can't believe he has cut his first tooth!

I thought Owen was early at about 5-5 1/2 months in cutting his first tooth; and Caroline at 5 1/2- 6 months in cutting her first tooth. But, seriously - 4 1/2 months is crazy!

All in all, we are having a good time thus far - despite the germs being shared by one and all. I'm sure more adventures await us.

***Pictures will be posted once we get home and I've had a chance to go through them all.