The ER Visit

It was nothing, really.  But after a few very concerned sounding text messages, I figured I'd set things straight:)  Sorry if any of this is TMI.....
 
I had felt a UTI brewing all day on the day before we left but I thought with plenty of water and cranberry supplements I would be okay.  Wrong!!  I woke up the next morning feeling sick to my stomach along with the infection being worse, but didn't really know what to do so we just left.  Let's just say the ride down was less than pleasant.  By Saturday evening I had pain in my lower back from what I'm assuming was the infection reaching my kidneys.  And my stomach never got any better and I threw up.  By that time though, all the prompt care places were closed for the night and I just really wanted to feel better.  I probably could have waited until morning and just gone to a clinic but we weren't that tired anyway so we just loaded up the trash can in case I threw up again and went to the ER.  And I also didn't want to wait too long because I know a girl who ended up getting sepsis from a UTI and that really didn't sound fun. 

After checking in they put me in a trauma room just to get me out of the waiting room.  I hope I never have to be in one of those for an actual trauma!  They gave me my first round of meds along with the prescription to get the rest and we were on our way!  (Those meds were my best friend that night.)  A few miles from the hospital I had a little freak out session because I couldn't find the prescription paper for one of the meds.  So after sitting at a stoplight for awhile debating whether or not to go back, I finally realized it's because they had written two meds on one sheet of paper and I had not actually dropped the paper in the parking lot like I feared.  So we proceeded to Walgreens.

I was really grateful to have a 24 hour place close by the hotel!  But then we walked in and realized the pharmacy was NOT open 24 hours.  Just the rest of the store.  After a little arguing with Siri though, we did manage to find a 24 hour pharmacy.  There was a little confusion when the pharmacist asked me for my date of birth.  When I told him, he said "Is that Robert's birthday?"  I was really confused, but Danny's middle name is Robert so it didn't seem like the most far fetched question in the world.  But it was then we all realized they had put the wrong name on my prescription papers at the hospital and nobody noticed!  We had to kill an hour in Walgreens while the pharmacist called the hospital and got everything figured out but finally it was all settled and we were on our way.  We got back to the hotel at 1:00 in the morning and slept really sound!

So there you have it.  Nothing life threatening.  It just sounded worse than it was when I said we went to the ER:)

Gatlinburg/Camping

I feel like I should start this post with a little disclaimer letting people know that we really don't plan to go on quite so many vacations for the rest of our lives.  We are just aware of the fact that if things go as planned, we will not always be as free to do what we want when we want.  So we are just trying to take advantage of the time we have with just the two of us before that (Lord willing) changes.

 

*Warning: This is long*

 

So we headed to Gatlinburg, just the two of us.  It started out on not the greatest of notes, as I was not feeling well and we ended up going to the ER the first night we were there.  But that is another story for another post.  Maybe.  Anyway, other than that, we had a grand ole time.

 

Our first hike was Laurel Falls, which, if you're looking for a very family friendly trail (baby strollers included) I would recommend it.  It's just a couple miles round trip and is paved the entire way.  And it has a pretty waterfall at the end!

 

That night we went into Gatlinburg (our hotel was in Pigeon Forge), walked around, and got Mellow Mushroom pizza and Ben & Jerry's ice cream.  It was quite tasty!

 

The next day we went mini golfing at Old Macdonald's Farm.  As soon as I saw a barnyard golf place, I knew we had to go.  It's important to remember one's roots, you know!  We are mooing in the picture if you can't tell:)

 

That night we went to the Dixie Stampede where I couldn't take pictures of anything but the pre-show.  So sad.  But it was fun!  Oh, and then we rushed to Clingman's Dome to watch the sunset from the top of a mountain.  And I forgot my camera.

 

The next day was our big hike... going to the top of Mt. Leconte.  Which is (almost) the tallest mountain in the Smokey's.  Here we are at the trailhead, all geared up and ready to take on the mountain.

 

It was really pretty along the way, though sometimes it was hard to enjoy the beauty when I just wanted to quit.

 

Made it to the top!

 

Eleven miles and seven hours later, we were never so happy to get back down.  We were wiped out!

 

Danny really wanted to do a trail he's never done before (he had done everything else in years past), so sore as we were, we headed off to one more trail.  (Porter's Creek if you care)  But it was only four miles round trip and half of it was just a gravel walk way.  Compared to the day before, it was a piece of cake!  We stumbled across a big swarm of butterflies that were really cool.

 

The review that we read about the trail said that it would end up at a "fairly spectacular" waterfall.  We were a little skeptical of how spectacular it might be, and rightly so.  It was basically a large trickle coming down the rock.  But we still liked it cause we could sit and eat lunch right at the base of it.

 

The above picture is looking up from our lunch perch and the below picture is looking down.

 

That night was supper at the Happy Days Diner.  It was my choice, and it did not disappoint!

 

Then off to the comedy barn.

 

The next day we headed to Hocking Hills, OH to camp with some of Danny's family.  More hiking ensued, along with good times around the campfire, lots of games, and great food.  I love campfire food!

 

 

It was a great week, but needless to say, it was great to get home too.  And I am hiked out for awhile:)

 

Florida... Two Months Late

So.... Florida.  We went there.  Almost two months ago.  And we may or may not be going on another vacation next week.  So it's definitely time to document FL!  So here's just a few snippets and a real quick overview. 

 

Walking to the pier one night.  The picture makes it look like Danny wears pink sandals when, in fact, he doesn't.  Those were mine and I was holding one of the kids' shoes.

 

 

Mmmmm.... ice cream.

 

Some really fun contraption on the playground.

 

Cassie's birthday- gotta love the candle in the potato at breakfast that morning:)

 

Lots of cute kiddos.

 

I do declare-  I got some pretty stinkin cute nieces and nephews when I married into this family!

 

Mom and Cass parasailing.

 

Putting Cassie's b-day present to good use.

 

Out for bike ride and a lunch stop at the really yummy taco stand!

 

Celebrating Jenny's birthday.

 

The Shell Factory

 

We are so fierce.

 

It was a great trip!