Merry Christmas, happy solstice, and peaceful winter!
We are in Florida. I was nervous before we left for our trip, worrying that someone would get sick and the whole trip would fall apart. I often feel like I’m anticipating illness or a seizure, as if waiting for a shoe to drop. I am simultaneously worried that my fear will bring it to pass while believing that my fear and vigilance is necessary because if I relax then that is when things will go poorly. I do not recommend this way of being. I’m working on shifting things for myself.
Nothing went wrong before our trip and the kids did really well with all the aspects of travel. They were extremely patient many times with the flight, waiting for an hour to get our luggage, getting the rental car, and getting our hotel room and luggage storage sorted. For the flight itself we had three seats together and one seat quite separate. Carl arranged for me to be on my own so I could rest and read. That was a lovely surprise gift.
For our first day at Universal Studios and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I felt more at ease than I expected to be. My priority was connecting with Sarah. When we tried doing the Olivander’s Wand experience, Sarah was stressed and started complaining loudly. I asked if there was a way she and I could leave the room. Luckily we could leave easily, but then we were in the main store area. She sat down on the floor and was starting to melt down. I somehow coaxed her outside. Then in the middle of a busy pedestrian thoroughfare, with people and noises all around, I was able to focus on her as if we were the only two people in existence. With my head close in front of hers I started talking about all of the various clothing items that I have that she likes to discuss in terms of where I got them. Within a minute we were peacefully and happily connected. After five minutes she was ready to resume being in the world around us. I was pleasantly surprised by my ability to handle things in that manner rather than getting tight and upset towards her.
Overall we had a great day. We ate at the Three Broomsticks, drank pumpkin juice and butter beer, tried spells with wands from Olivander’s, outfitted Amy in Ravenclaw robes, helped Amy adopt a Pigmy Puff, went through King’s Cross station to platform 9 3/4, rode the Hogwarts Express to and from Hogsmeade, and walked over 10000 steps. We were also startled by the fire-breathing dragon outside Gringott’s bank. This dragon scared the crap out of Amy so then she rushed past it anytime we were in the area. Meanwhile, Amy surprised us on multiple occasions with her confidence and clarity when speaking to strangers such as when ordering donuts for the family or arranging for the Pigmy Puff adoption announcement.
Sarah really liked the singing frogs that were part of a Hogwarts choir. The frogs had big mouths that opened and closed. Sarah now likes to open and close her mouth while pretending to be a frog. Both kids also liked Fievel’s world based on Fievel Goes West (unrelated to Harry Potter). That was a playground of sorts with everything made from buttons or books enlarged so you felt like you were the size of a mouse.
We ended our first Universal day with time at the pool. Unfortunately Sarah’s chosen way of playing while floating and singing at the same time resulted in many moments of swallowing a bit of pool water. This seemed like not too much at the time but in hindsight may have ruined the day that was to come.
For day two the plan was to split up so Carl and Amy could do rides that might be too scary for Sarah and me, while Sarah and I did more time at Fievel’s world. We did split up but shortly afterward Sarah grabbed my arm as if unsteady and said “ow, ow, ow, my head!” I led her to a place to sit. Someone who worked at the park checked on us and told us where to find health services if we needed Advil or something. I texted Carl to return. When he and Amy got to us we all went to health services.
We thought Sarah just needed Advil and a quiet room for a bit. So Carl and Amy went off to do more. Then Sarah started throwing up repeatedly. Almost all of it was phlegm. Or as Sarah called it, pukus. She was miserable. The only good thing, if you can see it that way, is that this has happened routinely in Sarah’s life that she gets too much phlegm and this is the only way to get it out. So while she seems sick it isn’t a bug. So I was pretty sure I knew how it would play out and that she was fundamentally ok. However, it was going on for a long time and the nurse suggested we go to an Urgent care so they could give Sarah something to stop the vomiting. I had her use the toilet while we waited for a wheelchair so I could walk her back to the hotel.
After that, as we walked, it seemed that Sarah had rounded the bend and was on the mend. She still needed to take it easy, but no more came up and out. She and I found a sofa and snuggled while waiting for Carl and Amy to get back. After a while I took out some crackers because I was hungry. Sarah wanted them which seemed like a good sign. While she had crackers I got a selection of food and drink. She was eager for all of it and it sat well in her belly. So the rest of the day went well and we got to our rental house in St Petersburg in time for me to get groceries before the store closed early on Christmas Eve.
Sarah was ready to start Christmas at 4:30am! We made her wait until 5:30 to wake Amy. At least our early start made it easy to watch the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. My uncle John Mather has been working on that project as the Senior Project Scientist since 1995. We were excited to see his interview in the NASA coverage. I felt teary watching the actual launch. If you missed it and want to see the coverage, here is a link. John is on around minute 21 and a half. As I was growing up whenever I performed, my mom always said she wanted to stand up and say “that’s my daughter!” Now I get to electronically stand up and say, “that’s my uncle!”
After naps and waiting for the temperature to rise, we headed to the beach. It was perfect and we lucked out with a parking place. The waves were mild and the water clear, even if cold. Beach time is one of the most relaxing ways to spend time together as a family because both girls are happily easily occupied for a long time and can do some things together such as chasing birds. Amy told me she was an assistant bird chaser for her musical note boss (Sarah.) We joked about how her boss sometimes gave her a rest. But, Amy said, chasing seagulls is treble. And if she doesn’t do a good job she might be given a note.
On the way back to our rental house we had the surprising good fortune of driving past an ice cream shop that was open. So of course we stopped to indulge in a treat. Later, as I fixed dinner, the girls had fun playing with their new karaoke microphones and singing along with their favorite songs. As I write, Sarah is signing “Like a Prayer.”
Much love to all of you. May any rough patches pass quickly.
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