The three R's

Rest, Relaxation and Recuperation!

* Up until last Sunday evening it was still highly doubtful as to if I would be healthy enough to board my flight for Aruba. Maisie and Eammon's head colds had diminished significantly and they were both feeling okay. My cold too had eased up but it had set me back in other ways leaving me physically drained and depleted raising concerns about my ability to travel.

* Thankfully a lot of rest and being very careful over the weekend pushed the odds of making the trip in my favor.

* The appeal of three weeks in the warm Arubian sun, on the beach, resting, relaxing and recuperating vs. the cold, laying in bed and recuperating in Atlanta also helped seal the deal so Aruba was a go!

* Monday morning ten minutes before we were to walk out of the house for the airport the airline called to inform us that our flight was running at least 1 1/2 hours late making our connecting flight (their one and only daily flight to Aruba) impossible to make. They asked if we could make an earlier flight out of Atlanta which was leaving in 55 minutes...yeah right as we were still at home!

* I asked what other airline they were going to book us on to make our flights and 20 minutes later we were booked on a direct flight leaving about an hour after our original flight time.

* Figuring we were up and ready to walk out the door we decided to just head to the airport figuring we'd have plenty of extra time as our new flight was now an hour+ later than we had planned. Thankfully we did go early as the airport was a zoo with the longest queues I've ever seen in my life. I think everyone thought if they waited until the Monday after Thanksgiving to travel everyone else would have already traveled, but no such luck.

* Since we had been bumped from one airline to another we couldn't do self check-in so 2 1/2 hours in the queue waiting to check in...oy!

* Thankfully security lines weren't too long and were moving along quickly...except all three of us were tagged for extra security checks! Maisie did get a kick out of putting her feet on the mat with the shoe prints and putting her arms out to be patted down, it was sort of funny. But come on...a three year old being tagged for a special security check, give me a break.

* We had an easy flight and Maisie was, as always, a great little traveler even taking a good little nap during the flight.

* Once we got into our room (which as you can see by the picture we have a lovely view) Eammon and I could have easily taken a nap but Maisie was bursting with energy as evidenced by the laps she was running around the room also she was excited beyond belief to get into the swimming pool so Eammon and I sucked it up and we all went to the pool.

* Maisie loves the zero entry pool and also the large, wide ledge that runs the length so that she can swim (hand walk and kick) the entire length.

* Where we are staying for our first five nights on island, the beach has really small waves so Maisie is able to easily play at the water's edge and run in and out a bit without concerns of her being knocked over by a wave.

* Maisie finds great delight in knocking down the sand castles that Eammon so loving builds over and over for her.

* Maisie and I still have a bit of our colds remaining but unlike me, the girl has energy to spare.

* In years past, my usual day in Aruba was to be on the beach by 9ish and other than a quick break for lunch I'd be there until dinner time dividing my day between being in the water, chatting with friends or hanging out under the chickie. So far this trip, after an hour or two being out in the morning I'm ready to join Maisie in the room for a nap and then an hour out in the afternoon and I'm done for the day.

* Even though it's warm and sunny I've barely made it into the water as I can't seem to warm up after being wet. It took four days before I even dipped my toes into the ocean! Each day though I'm gaining energy and in fact, last night for first time in weeks, I stayed up later than Maisie at bedtime!!



More piccies and better stories of vacation days in my next post.