Oh, Whatta Day!


Just because you're on a trip of a lifetime doesn't mean that everyday is going to absolutely rock. In fact, in a two week vacation its bound to happen that at least one day things will go to shit. Well, friends, I'm sad to say that today was that day.

Now, before I act like it was all horrible and I need to drink my day away, (which, let's be honest, in Ireland, I'll do that regardless of the type of day), there were some high points. But let's start with the bad and end on a high, shall we?

  • I blow the transformer we brought to operate our electronics by turning on my straightener. I blame the hotel, it worked at the other two hotels we stayed at. Last night's hotel had slow service, even slower internet service and then it can't handle a rinky-dink straightener. #hotelfail
  • I'm a pretty good driver at home (everyone whose ever driven with me is still alive so that counts for something, right?) and I have to admit I'm doing rather well over here. However, I do horrible with circles, or round-abouts, at home so you can imagine my fear of them in a country that drives on the opposite side of the road as mine. Eric keeps on bringing up the National Lampoon's European Vacation clip… (I would love to display it here, but they restricted sharing on the clip so just click on the name.)

    Needless to say, I had to drive through FOUR round-abouts. I was not happy.

  • It's Ireland, so of course it started to rain. Then it stopped, then it started, then it misted, then it rained.
All of those things would be just any vacation fodder until it was compounded by the following:
  • Before boarding the ferry to cross the Shannon Bay I get a text from my father-in-law telling me that they took my youngest to the ER last night because she was having difficulty breathing. She has been fighting a terrible cough which I had a feeling would turn into croup. I told my in-laws to have my mom take her to the doctor tomorrow (which would be today) and that they'd most likely administer steroids and send her on her way.

    Well, my little one didn't feel like waiting and had a breathing fit at night that they couldn't get her out of, so off to the hospital they went. When I got that text I had several moments of extreme terror and worry. My poor little girl was in the hospital and I'm in Ireland living it up. What kind of mother was I?

    I tried telling myself that all was well; that she was in good hands, that it probably was just croup but they were just taking precaution with the tests. But then again, it wasn't my hands she was in. It wasn't my arms holding her close to my chest so she could hear my heart beat and in turn calm her down. It wasn't me telling my baby girl it was all right. It wasn't me. It broke my heart. I still tear up when I think about it.

    ** I won't hold in you suspense and have you wait until I get to the good parts of today to tell you that she's doing fine. Thankfully I got a hold of my father who was still at the hospital with her and my mom. It turned out to be croup and after some nebulizer hits and steroids my baby girl was released home and she's currently waiting for me to talk with her. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • While driving through a sleepy beach town we realize that our front tire was flat, most likely to the curb I hit by taking a turn too sharply. Eric goes to fix the flat only to find that the tools that the rental car company gave us to fix a flat tire do not fit the tires they put on the car. Lovely.
  • It was raining heavily and steadily at this time.
  • We make it to the famed Cliffs of Moher to see…
Apparently there is a stunning view behind me…
  • Almost got into a car accident around a blind curve, on a steep hill, in the fog. So we got cursed out by a very angry Irishman, which I admit was quite amusing. ๐Ÿ™‚
  • We rolled into Salthill, right outside of Galway, and we were so cold, wet, and weary we passed on finding a local pub and sat at the hotel bar.
Now. The good stuff…
  • Breakfast and dinner were delicious.
  • We saw a cow crossing. Moo.

    Cow crossing! I was so excited I almost drove off the road… ok, technically, I did, but only a little bit. ๐Ÿ™‚
  • My baby girl is at home and healthy waiting for me to skype with her. ๐Ÿ™‚
  • The garage that fixed our car did it in 30 minutes.
  • We're in Ireland ๐Ÿ˜‰
  • We stopped to see Poulnabrone Portal Tomb that was constructed over 5,000 years ago and where the remains of 30 people were found.

    Rain or shine, this is still an impressive site.
  • Driving in the countryside at a slower speed because of the rain I got to take some pictures of ruins that I normally would have missed at normal speed.
ย 
  • We ended the night with a pint at the bar and a skype with our girls.
Guinness after a long day is a wonderful thing.

Hm, looking back, it doesn't seem like that bad of a day. I think worrying about our little “Trouble” (our nickname for our youngest) and the weather just affected us more than we would have liked. But when I line the events of the day up, it wasn't so bad after all.

However, it was exhausting so I bid thee farewell, my dear friends, for it is time for me to turn into a pumpkin for the night.

Till tomorrow!


5 responses to “Oh, Whatta Day!”

  1. Glad to hear your little one is doing better! LOVE the pictures of the scenery! I so want a castle!

  2. Doesn't sound like such a bad day after all, everything worked out well in the end. Still, having had a few days like that myself, I do understand the panic and the terror.
    Now, about the round abouts. They drove me nuts at first, but once you get used to them, they rock.
    I wish you great joy of the coming days. Keep up posted.

    Bless, Pru

  3. Glad to hear your little one is doing better. My daughter has had croup a few times, and it can be scary. Glad you're having a good time over there even if everything isn't perfect.

  4. Glad your little one is better! And at the end of the day~ you ARE in fact in Ireland!!!
    That covers a lot of pitfalls! (love the part about getting cursed out by the angry Irishman!! lol)
    I hope your day tomorrow is problem free!!