A Mixed Bag

 Since Kaitlyn is off track, we decided it would be fun to go to the zoo. A group of us had planned to meet  at 9:15 and drive down together.

I won't lie. I'm not a morning person. If you know me well you know this.

But sometimes the need arises to get up and get going. This morning was one of those mornings. I got up and started to get ready, the house was dead silent. I finished up and decided it was time to rouse the deep sleeping ones from their peaceful slumber. Ugh I really hate waking the kids up. Booo!.

Of course on mornings when we have NOTHING going on, they are all up by 8... but on Sundays and days where we need to be somewhere early, they are all under some sort of sleeping spell. It makes me want to go crawl back in my bed and forget about it.

This is Kailyn's bed, Jackson has his very own room. Trust me. But ever since we moved to a bigger house so they can each have their own room, they want to sleep together every night!

Anyway, we all got out the door, ON TIME with lunches packed and everything. Markham deserves some credit for this amazing accomplishment since he got the cooler, chips, bread, peanut butter, etc out on the counter for me so I could throw it all together. He knew I would be rushed, he is wonderful.

Fast forward about 20 minutes, we were on the 15 heading to the zoo. We were driving in a min-van tandem. I took a deep breath, all I had to do now was follow the van ahead of me and I was gold.

But then Addie started complaining that her "tummy hurts" and "Mommy my tummy is sick." A little warning signal went off deep in my brain. I didn't even want to entertain the possibility of barf. As if I could will it to not happen or something. She continued on and off for 15 minutes. As we neared the exit, her whines intensifed and then it happened.

BARF all over,

 not once, not twice, but 3 times, and it sounded like there might be a 4th. Oh man, Oh  man!!

This is not good.

I am remembering all the nilla wafers she had eaten while I was busy packing lunches, I quickly glanced behind me. It was BAD.  She was covered. Kaitlyn and Jackson were freaking out. I was dangerously close to missing the exit. I careened over 2 lanes of traffic and managed to make it to the off ramp.

My guardian angel was working hard today.

After several calls, several of us pulled over. The kids sat in devastated silence after I told them we needed to go back home. My sweet dear friends, Cassie and Erin saved the day and offered to take Jackson and Kaitlyn to the zoo.

My mommy superpowers kicked in.

I devised a plan to take Addie to Markham's office and clean her up and meet them as soon as I could. I was banking on her just being car sick after eating a breakfast of cookies. I opened the stow-and-go compartment plunged my hand down deep and pulled out a ziploc bag with an extra outfit!! It was even a 2T!!

I was apparently the only one who heard the chorus of angels sing.

Being prepared paid huge dividends today.

Markham's building is ridiculously awesome and has a gym and showers and the whole 9. I gave Markham a heads up and he met us in the parking lot with a few bags and a canister of Clorox wipes.  I gave Addie a shower and Markham got me a diet coke. Bless him. Addie was laughing and dancing and gibbering to Markham.

The zoo was back on.

We had the best time. This moment was worth all of it. Addie loved it. Every time a sea lion swam by, she gasped and exclaimed, "Look Mom!! Look!!"

A few of the cute friends we went with 

The carousel. 

We topped the day off with ice cream. 

It turned out to be a very fun day, The weather was beautiful and we all had a great time. While we enjoyed our ice cream Kaitlyn read us zoo trivia from the TV screen mounted high on the wall. We giggled and laughed. I had one of those thoughts I often have--
It won't always be this way. I won't always have kids who barf in the car and who are filled with wonder at the sight of a sea lion. I am grateful we salvaged this day.