What a week.

Well.  Now that I've had about a half a day to get back on track.  Let me catch up!  Last Thursday night I drove down to Miami with my two kids and husband to go on our last family vacation of the summer.  Sounds like no big deal.  But when you race and travel as much as we do sometimes, a simple three day cruise is a logistical nightmare.

We left the Port of Miami at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.  Cruise was great.  We went to Atlantis on Saturday and loved it.  If you ever get the chance go to Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas do it.  Keep in mind though, you may need to take out a second mortgage on your home to visit there. 

Unfortunately, it wasn't the perfect weekend.  We got some bad news while we were in port waiting for the ship to sail.  So the underlying tone of the vacation was -  I guess a bit melancholy. A dear friends mother had unexpectedly passed away.  I felt really bad I wasn't there as a friend.  I knew he understood.  I just felt guilty.  

Sunday morning we went to bed at about 2:20 a.m. after packing our stuff back up to disembark in the morning.  At about 3:30 a.m. my youngest starts puking!  And, I mean really puking!  If you have kids you know that they freak out and start crying uncontrollably when they get sick like that which of course means you inevitably end up covered in throw up.   My poor husband was gagging in that tiny little cabin.  I thought for sure he was going to be next. Wimp!

At 8:30 a.m. we were able to make it to the gangway where we were hoping to rush through the lines and Customs line to get out of there to save the little guy the embarassment of yaking all over the place in front of all those strangers.  Well, it didn't work.  We tried but, it seemed every one we ran into had no sympathy for our story until the poor kid started throwing up all over the floors of the main corridor at Customs.  I felt like turning around and saying I told you so, but instead just looked at the Customs agents as if to say " I hope you don't expect me to clean this up".

Anyhow, we made it through and on our way out of Miami I tried to call a few friends to see if they could pick me up at the port in an attempt to go to the viewing and funeral of my friends Mom.  No answer from anyone so we kept driving, all a long thinking I may have tried to call them while it was taking place.  In between trying to reach them by phone  I was playing catcher from the front seat with a cup and napkins in hand.  I don't mean baseball either.  Yep!  The little guy was  still puking.  

At about 4:00 p.m. I called SWA booked a flight from JAX to MIA. I had missed the viewing but I could still make the funeral that was scheduled for Tuesday at Noon. 

We arrived home at about 5:00 p.m. My step son finally stopped throwing up and seemed to feel better.  Thank God! We walked in the house.  I dropped my luggage.  I used the rest room.  Took my suitcase dumped everthing on my bathroom floor.  Pulled a few black articles of clothing out of the closet and some clean underwear and zipped it up. Kissed the kids and my husband good bye and I was off to the airport, which is about an hour from my home. 

I arrived at Ft. Lauderdale airport at 10:30 got to my gracious hosts house at about midnight  and we talked until about 3:40. I got up at 7 a.m. to drop off my other friend who was nice enough to lend me her car at work. Talk about TIRED!

Made it to the funeral.  It was sad.  I felt bad for my friend and his family of course.  There is nothing you can say or do in that situation but be there.  So that is what I did. 

I booked a flight for 7:30 p.m. which was the earliest I could get to go back home to JAX.  I arrived at 11:00 as (of course) my flight was delayed.  Drove my hour got home at Midnight on Tuesday/Wednesday morning actually.  And I felt like I was hit by a train.  I slept in yesterday until 10:00 a.m.

Today, I feel like a brand new person.  Finished school shopping for the kids at Target and the Mall this morning. Hitting the gym at 4:00 p.m. today.  My laundry is being done while I write this.  AND, yep you got it.  I have a meeting tomorrow in Miami regarding Media purchasing for my race event WSC.  Be back home on Sunday.  Saturday if I can help it.  Oh and yeah, I forgot I will be leaving to drive to Tampa on Wednesday night.  That's 3 days later, right?    

Well, atleast I managed to buy the PINK CD I have been wanting to get in between all this.  So, I guess I accomplished something in the last week.        

I will let you know shortly what magazines we will be in soon!