Day 10 - July 6, 2013

Day 10 – July 6, 2013

Phoenix, AZ – The Grand Canyon

225 miles/  3 ½ hours

Temperature

The Thunder Bird Lodge

We were planning a 7a.m. departure and almost made it – almost.  About 6:45, Camden started vomiting.  We cleaned him up, got water in him.  He said he felt better and he looked okay.  I dressed him and we started loading the car.  Then he vomited again – on the couch, the floor and himself.  Into the shower he went, as I continued load the car and Rich worked on cleaning up.

Everyone was in the car ready to go at 7:30.  Two stops – ice and coffee – then, yep, Hunter started vomiting!  OH dear Lord.  Back to Walgreens for vomit bags.  Audrey started moaning that her stomach doesn’t feel good.  I put on my big girl pants, cause it seemed that things might get ugly.

And they did!  At approximately 10 a.m. we stopped for a restroom break and Audrey tossed her cookies in the parking lot.  All I could do was laugh – hysterically!   Good God.  What a mess.

Side bar:  We drove through the cutest little town, Williams, AZ.  Apparently the original Route 66 ran right through downtown.  Very cute.

We got to the Canyon about 11:30, of course the rooms weren’t ready.  So we decided to park and go see the sites.  Rich and I were so excited, but things were not looking good in the back of the car.  Cammy said he felt better, but the other two, not so much.  Bear was starting to look green.  It took us 45 minutes of circling to find a spot!  Seriously.  Finally we scored, and walked to the rim of the canyon…

As beautiful as I remember, pictures do not even come close to doing it justice.  Trust me, you have to actually SEE it to understand the majesty of the site.  Wow.  I loved watching Rich’s reaction, as well.  He loves this stuff.  Unfortunately, the chickadees couldn’t have cared less.  They literally dropped to the ground, in exhaustion, looking absolutely miserable.  Poor Hunter was on the verge of tears.  I don’t know if this is a bug or food poisoning?

Hunter had to use the restroom, so I walked him back to the Thunderbird, and also checked on our rooms.  Two of the three were ready.  Yay!  I put Hunter to bed and then went and got Rich and the other three.  At this point, the skies were looking very ominous.  We drove back to the hotel, HATING that we had to sacrifice our parking spot.  There were no other options, as we had too many bags and we were too far away - plus it was starting to rain.  The dark skies were spooky and the air was kicking up, with the temperature dropping.

We pulled up front and unloaded quickly.  Adding to the hassle – there were no luggage carts and no elevator (we’re on the second floor).  Grrr…  Then I went in search of parking.  By the time I was back at the room, I got a text that Jeffy and gang were circling, so I went out to meet them.  I explained the heath situation, with much embarrassment, as we were sharing three rooms.  Two of their children were supposed to be sleeping in the same room with two of ours!  Yikes. 

The temperature dropped drastically.  At 4:30 it’s 61 degrees and falling!  Momma is freezing.

Things went south rather quickly.  Barrett succumbed to vomiting around  7, at which point, I threw in the towel.  Jeff & Rich had dinner at the El Tovar, Jan rescued her children and sheltered them in her room (totally don’t blame her), while I fought the good fight.

Into the night and the next morning we had more vomiting, diarrhea, soiled beds, clogged toilets, high fevers, cold baths, Tylenol administration, soiled clothes and showers for both the patients and caregiver.  Momma never told me there’d be days like these.

The hotel rooms look like a war zone.  I’m awaiting housekeeping’s arrival, so I can grease their palms and get help disinfecting the place.  As I type, I am surrounded by sleeping children.  The windows are open, and I can glance up and see a little bit of the canyon.  Just a little sliver...

Quote of the day:

Momma:  “May Day!  May Day!”  As I looked on in horror, when one of the toilets clogged and started to back up.

 

In the car, on our way:(

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poor kids

 

 

 

The El Tovar Hotel (not staying there, but I did with my family the summer of 1980)

 

The Cochran Clan