Six Thousand Three Hundred Twenty Six Part 4

August 7, 656 miles. A very long day. We arrived in Columbus, Ohio and checked into our hotel. We decided the area was a bit sketchy, so we unloaded the ENTIRE truck just to be safe. It was a good choice, but the truck was very full.

We ate late that night, mistake number one. I woke up at 4 am and fed Eli. I got him back to sleep and jumped in the shower. Right when I got out of the shower, I heard a loud splashing sound and then crying. I ran around the corner from the bathroom to find Jackson throwing up all over the floor, wall, bed, himself. Are you kidding me???? More throwing up. I called next door and woke Shelle up and sent the two older kids to her room because of the nasty smell. I finally got the truck loaded up, Jackson cleaned up and started on cleaning the floor and wall. As I was pulling the bed skirt off to rinse it off the best I could, a large, scary bug with a million legs came flying out from between mattresses. I dropped everything and went straight to the front office to tell them what happened. Gross. I hate bugs, and I hate throw up and it just was a lovely beginning to another long day.

We drove to a Walmart, and bought saltine crackers, towels, a garbage can, Ginger Ale, and a new pillow for Jackson (because right after we got in the truck he threw up again all over his pillow. It went in the garbage.) When I came out from Walmart, Jacob was throwing up, too. And Abby looked like she was going to cry as she was holding it all in. She felt nasty, too.

Unfair, to me and Shelle and the poor kids. At this point, it's not fun anymore. We just wanted to get home.

August 8, 575 miles: We drove to Fishkill, NY where Shelle lives. The kids were doing a bit better, but still feeling yucky. No more throwing up, thank the stars. We crashed at Shelle's home for the night. It was raining and I couldn't go on another mile.

August 9, 177 miles: It poured rain all day. But we didn't care, we just wanted to get home. We arrived home around 1:00pm. David greeted us at the door and we were full of excitement and energy. Eli stared at David for a while, not quite sure about him.

 Eli grew a lot while we were gone. He's daddy's good buddy now.

 Jackson doing much better and happy to be in his own bed.

Abby happy to be home, too!

Jacob in his own bed. Yay!

 

Rhode Island-Utah-Arizona-New Mexico-Oklahoma-Missouri-Ohio-New York-Rhode Island =

6,326 miles. Some trials, and lots of hours in the truck, but a trip totally worth every mile it took. I'm so grateful to everyone who let us stay with them, who fed us great meals, who drove for me so I could get a break, and who visited with us.

 

It's always the best to plan for a trip and get excited about it and go on to take it. It's also bittersweet to say goodbye to family and friends. But it's the best to come home, get all the laundry done, get back into a groove and our own beds, and be together as a family. I'm so thankful for this summer!