Let the vacation begin!

Finally we made it to Hamilton. 

Last week I had planned to start packing and everything on Friday, so we'd be nice and ready and be able to relax and enjoy our time before leaving.

Oh how wrong I was.

I was so, so sick. I haven't been that sick in years. Everything was sore, I was nauseous and dizzy, feverish, freezing cold so much that my lips turned blue, and MISERABLE! I do not like being sick. I don't like not being able to work to my full capacity. This is also why I never had a problem with alcohol or drugs. I don't even like to take medicine. Nothing that will interfere with the way my body works naturally, or being able to do what I want it to do. 

So I gave myself a day. I rested as much as one can when caring for a toddler by oneself while one's husband is working for 12 hours straight (all the mum's whose husbands leave for days/weeks/months at a time can go ahead and roll your eyes now). It. was. hard. Ka'ihi couldn't understand why I wasn't able to play with him or take him outside or do anything more than lay on the couch or bed and watch him play, and try to encourage him as much as possible and sing drunken songs in my semi-conscious state.

We were both glad to see daddy, that's for sure.

Anyway, I knew I had been given a blessing to be able to rest and slow down and be forced not to clean or work or run errands, so I thought tomorrow I'd be back to the grind.

Surprise surprise. Life is laughing in my face big time. 

Although I thought my fever had broke and I was getting better, I was actually much worse the next day. My head felt like so much pressure was inside, I couldn't bear to stand. My fever got worse and my shivering was out of control. I actually wore Kamuela's socks and a sweatsuit to bed. In Hawaii. 

Anyway, by the third day I just had bad stomach pains and a headache, but it was now Sunday and we were leaving Monday. So I had to get going.

We packed as much as we could, but that left cleaning, laundry, last minute errands and the rest of the packing for Monday. And Kamuela worked. I was so stressed! It was the worst. But somehow we made it and once we were on the plane I could breathe. I was dreading the flight, based on the last time we went and knowing we'd have to hold Ka'ihi the whole 9 hours and how cramped and horrible it is.

 And it was marvelous.

We were so blessed to get an extra seat next to Ka'ihi and I, so he had someplace to stand and play and stretch and sleep! He was so much more comfortable that way, he slept most of the flight and barely fussed at all. He was such a doll to everyone, smiling and flirting and playing. I could not believe how wonderful everything went and how nice people were to us. Free food, extra special treatment, things running smoothly. Such a contrast from the previous few days!

Well everything since then has been a breeze. Kamuela is driving in NZ for the first time and doing really well. We are having such a great time and loving helping set up for Frayne's wedding.

Thank you Heavenly Father.