by Jess Emm

Created on: January 01, 2007   Last Updated: April 26, 2007

We've been out of town since Christmas Eve, and it has been exhausting. The kids got sick the day we left, and have been sick since. What started out as a low fever morphed into a cold, which then morphed into the cough of my nightmares. You know the kind of nightmares, where you're forced to stay awake for hours on end and then have to get up and function like a normal human being? Well, we've had that.

I have not slept more than 2 consecutive hours since last Saturday, no exaggeration. My husband hasn't either, which makes he and I just all full of love and happiness. Needless to say the kids, in spite of having gotten very little sleep, are acting as though the world is a beautiful place. We got home today around 3:30 (after a 9.5 hour car ride that should have only taken 6), and they were so glad to see the cat. I didn't know two people could be so happy over a small, furry being. It makes my heart glad. I have done something right in giving the children a cat. I have reached the pinnacle of parenthood.

So today was the worst car ride of my life. We got up at 4:30 (yes, a.m.), were in the car by 6:15, and speeding along to the sound of Finding Nemo on our rather lovely, new portable DVD player. It was such a peaceful ten minutes. And then it wasn't so peaceful anymore.

"RUNNY NOSE!"

"Daddy! (I was driving) G has a runny nose!"

So the hubby gets the tissue, one of approximately 5000 at this point, wipes our son's snotty little nose, and turns back around. We listen to about 2 more minutes of Nemo, and then.....

"RUNNY NOSE!"

Mind you, every time he says this he puts his chuby little finger on his nose, and then gets upset when he gets snot on his finger.

Nine and a half hours. Of this. We did make a few stops for food and such, and at one point I got so desperate I actually bought the kids Popsicles at a rest stop. I still cannot believe I let two preschoolers eat RED POPSICLES in the backseat of my Honda. I really need some sleep.

Did I mention that I also have a really bad cold? Runny nose and all.

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