X25 and cooties

Yesterday, we packed up our suitcases and intended to move from my in-laws home, over to my sister-in-law's house, to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday and for us to spend a couple nights over there - to let the cousins build forts and sleep-over, etc. We've been a bit hesitant to invade too much, even though we were invited and felt welcome, because Dennis is so new to their family. Brian and Honor have had plenty of time to play, and have sleepovers, with a changing selection of cousins, at their grandparents house ever since we've arrived. Well, we thought Dennis had a fair amount of good bonding time, and decided to go over to their place and visit the whole bunch at once for a couple days. It didn't work out.
btw - Here are some pictures from the last few days:

We arrived and the kids dispersed to play in all directions. I love how easily they just pick up and go with each other. I had a bit of time to visit with some of my nieces and nephews too. Even Dennis chattered with me and spent some quality time interacting. I am very new to him, but he is such a bright and active boy. We found a box that had a container with markers in it, and he and I played drums and put things in and out of the box. He listened and responded when I told him 'no' (no markers in his mouth). He also responded positively to encouraging words when he put things in the box nicely. He's definitely made himself right at home with his new family and it is a joy to see the interactions!

Christine made an amazing meal - shredded pork tacos, homemade salsa, and rice, followed by a yummy cake (Happy Birthday Dad!). Unfortunately, some evil cootie chose this moment to attack Brian. The only problem with dumping a whole bunch of kids from different environments together - full immersion - is cooties. Someone is bound to have something that the others have not been exposed to yet. Ah well. Maybe it was that evil stomach bug that attacked Julia earlier this year, who knows, but Brian didn't have much appetite, and after dinner, the poor kid was throwing up, pale-faced and chilled. Sigh. We got him cleaned up and calmed down, but he was not a happy camper. I am pretty sure that this is something that Brian would have picked up from one of his cousins because they are the only ones he's played with and we've been here a week or so now... it makes sense and is only to be expected since they have different sets of immunities... so I assume Dennis has already been exposed to everything, I was still worried about keeping an actively sick child near him. We packed up and I took the kids back to my in-laws... disappointing the healthy kids who wanted to play. (Sorry!) At least we could leave Brad there for a bit more pinocle with his brother and family. I brought the kids home on my own.

There's a new Rite Aid pharmacy near the house and we stopped there on the way home for gatorade and motrin. Brian thought he felt better, but he threw-up there too. Thanks to the guys by the freezer who ran over with a bit of cardboard to catch the mess, and the employees. Poor Brian. We finally got home. Got Brian a bit of fluid and Motrin and hopped in bed. I put Honor in my bed, trying to keep her away from the evil cooties, and I slept in Brian's room to keep an eye on him.

I generally prefer a firm mattress, but I guess I've gotten used to the softer ones we've been using on vacation. Sometime in the night I had a dream that we were visiting a friend on a river. When we arrived, we found it to be some decrepit apartment on a crowded oil rig thingy. I am sure there was some good reason for this, in my dream, because we didn't turn around and leave. We went aboard and asked for our friend. We were informed that she lived in section X25, and was expecting us. We found section X. Open bays with concrete walls and mats on the floor. Civilians and military people side by side. I dunno - it made sense then. I asked a Marine how to find section X25, and he answered, one level up, where the air mattresses were. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. I didn't find out though. That's when I woke up. My neck was stiff, and Brian was throwing up again.

We survived the night, and Brian seems better this morning, although he's running a slight fever. Hopefully we will be back playing with cousins again soon (and I'll avoid visiting the oil rig again) :-)