What's in a Name?

WARNING: It's a novel. Go pee and grab your coffee first. Or grab your coffee then pee. Whichever suits your need at the time. 

I named my blog a few years ago, when I was laid off and became a stay at home mom. At the time I had full intentions of writing about all of the going on's (if that's even a correct phase) in my life. Somehow, the title "Adventures in life, love in Motherhood" has really just been about Motherhood. Which is fine with me. But sometimes the name just doesn't feel like it fits. Then I thought of this post. And for the first time in a long time it fits so perfectly.

The husband and I took our first "vacation" since before Kyndall was born (with the exception of literally 2 days in Vegas just to watch a UFC fight - which I wouldn't call a vacation - more like a getaway.) I love my husband dearly, and have needed yearned, for some time away with him for the past year. We've had a few date nights here and there, but I needed him, away from all the craziness that is our everyday lives. And we LOVE Vegas, it's where we were married almost 7 years ago, and just a place that we go back to over and over. We know the roads there the same as we know them in Houston. We even know a few of the dealers at the casinos that we go to regularly. It's our place. We've been planing a trip there for what seems like forever, but was probablly really only 6 months or so.

 The day of our flight, Kyndall comes down with what we think is a horrible UTI. Screaming in pain every time she needs to pee, and hasn't gone for about 24 hrs, by the time I get her to the dr. After a failed attempt at a catheter, she finally gives enough of a sample to test, and then wakes the whole dr office up with her screaming as she finally relieves herself. HORRIBLE experience for us both. I was in tears. I didn't even cry when she got her first shots, I still don't. But this was truly so heartbreaking. All I could do was pray, and beg for God to take away her pain. They give her a shot of antibiotics, which she cries about for an hour, and complains that her leg hurts so bad that she can't walk...We drop her off at MaMaws, she seems fine, and we take off for the flight. I call to check in the next day, and again it's been 24 hours since the last time she peed...it's 3:30 Houston time, and the dr closes in 30 minutes. No way for my MIL to get a sitter for Rhyder and get to Baytown in 30 min...so it looks like a trip up to TCH ER. My mom rushes off work to head over - then another call. She finally went. I hear her laughing and playing in the background as opposed to the crying and whining I heard before. Next morning it's my moms turn with the kiddos. When I call her to check in, she tells me that Rhyder has a really bad cough and she's having to take both kids back to the Dr. FANTASTIC. Turns out Rhyder now has Croup. My poor mom and these sick babies. And poor me (yes I said it - poor ME). All I wanted was a break, and even 1,000 miles away I'm still worried sick about my babies at home.

Our trip was good despite that...and losing a bit of money...but then again, that's what you go to Vegas for anyways right??? Actually, someone ELSE lost the money, I kept us from losing TOO much by winning a few hundred here and there at roulette. One thing we learned...never play 23, always play 3. 4 times of playing and 23 NEVER hit. 3 hit every time. Yay me! :) Blackjack wasn't that great to us, but we had a great time playing. Hugos was FANTASTIC as always, and we had a great dinner at Mastrao's in the new CityCentre with some friends of ours who lived there. O'Shea's was a blast as always, Four Queens our usual spot robbed us blind within about 45 minutes.  We missed the Paris breakfast buffet, and Margaritaville - two of the stops we ALWAYS make...but found a nice little new place to play downtown at Main Street Station that still pays 3-2 on Blackjack! We took a little drive up to Mt. Charleston and fell in love. We will be back one day for some sking and a few nights in one of the cabins that sits on the side of the mountain and has one of the best views ever! Oh, and of course we had to have our In & Out, # 2, Animal Style. I could seriously go to Vegas for just 24 hours, play a little blackjack, have In & Out for lunch, Hugo's for dinner, and come home a happy camper. Love the food in that town. After 3 long nights and 3 quick days, we headed back home on a crappy flight that was delayed over an hour, and finally got back to my moms around 2am . Babies were up around 7, and I was soooooo happy to have my sickiepoos back in my arms! Well, up for good, Rhyder was up from around 330-5am - welcome home, and back to no sleep! But I wouldn't trade it for the world!!!

And thank you Mom for taking such great care of my babies, I know it was hard, but they loved spending the couple of days with you and PaPaw as always.

Now, a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. 

SNOW! We were sitting in snow!!! It's typically 30 degrees cooler in the mountains than in Vegas - and we found this to be true! 89 in the valley, a gorgeous 63 in the mountains!

Mon Bel Ami - where it all began, August 23, 2004. My sometimes romantic husband even pulled in to surprise me with a quick walk through to take a peek at what had changed, and recall some good memories. :) Love that man.

Self pic of us at Cosmopolitan inside of CityCentre.

Mt. Charleston

The photog in me always chasing that sunflare...

Overall we had a great trip. And I had a chance to experience the best parts of my life...My love, and Motherhood.