The Weekend That Shouldn't Have Been

Several months ago, Mike and I purchased a great Groupon deal. Don't know about Groupon? Check it out here. It was a two night stay at the Rhinecliff Hotel in Rhinebeck, NY. It was kinda funny, because the Rhinecliff was a well known, crappy, hole in the wall bar when we were in high school. Yes, Mike and I went to high school together. When I say bar, I really mean, dive.

So apparently, in the few short years since high school (ha ha ha), the building was purchased and renovated into a beautiful hotel. It sits right on the Hudson river, only 2 miles from historic Rhinebeck NY. And only 10 minutes from Red Hook, the town Mike and I grew up in.

To say we were looking forward to this weekend does not begin to describe it. We had not had a weekend away, without the kids in years. As a matter of fact we never got away for our 10^th anniversary because we decided to have another baby instead.

My parents happily offered to take the three kids, so Mike and I could enjoy a weekend at the Rhinecliff. And we began to count down the days.

Our saga began Thursday night. Jilly woke up at 10 pm throwing up. Right then, I started to question whether our weekend, which was actually Sunday-Tuesday, was actually going to happen. She was only sick once. And seemed much better the next day. A fluke, perhaps. Or something she ate? I called my friend Jean, a physician, begging her to tell me that it wasn't the start of some terrible stomach flu that would ravage the entire family. In the back of my mind, as much as I didn't' want everyone to get sick, I wanted to go away! She told me it could be just a one time thing. But she didn't' sound terribly convincing.

And for good reason. Sure enough, the next night, Friday night, (only about 36 hours from when we were hoping to leave) Audrey, our almost 3 year old, woke up vomiting. This was NOT a one time deal. She was sick most of the night. I ended up sleeping on her floor.  It was a LONG night.

This is when the depression set in. We weren't going away, were we? It wasn't fair. I Needed this weekend away. Our kids have been healthy all winter, why now?

Audrey was better the next day, but we now knew it wasn't food poisoning. It was the stomach flu. Who, we wondered, would be next? Everyone was fine all day Saturday and Saturday night came and went without incident. Maybe that was it.

I talked to my parents and they said they would still take the kids. They knew how much we'd been looking forward to this time away. And how much we needed it for our sanity. So, on Sunday morning, with everyone healthy and happy, we packed bags and the car and headed south.

After visiting with my parents and having a little lunch, Mike and I kissed our girls goodbye and headed to the hotel. The Rhinecliff Hotel is gorgeous. We settled quickly into our spacious room. Mike flopped onto the King size bed and I immediately filled the jacuzzi tub and slid into the piping hot water enjoying the silence.

My first inkling that something wasn't right came about ½ hour later. I felt slightly nauseous, but attributed to the hot bath and the fact that I hadn't eaten much. My appetite was gone and had been for days, but I figured it was just the psychosomatic effects of the kids being sick. We never made it to dinner. Within the hour, I was sick. Really sick. It was not a good night.

The next day I was able to get out of bed, but couldn't enjoy the full complimentary breakfast the hotel offers it's guests. The breakfast menu looked great. Or would have, had I not been wanting to crawl back into bed. I managed to drink a little tea and eat a bit of fresh fruit. Mike tells me the pancakes with fruit compote were delicious. After breakfast I began to feel a bit better. Actually, I rallied rather well. We drove to Rhinebeck and wandered around the shops. Many had changed since we'd last been there, over 8 years ago, but comfortingly many were still the same. We met an old friend for lunch and it was wonderful to catch up.

We spent more time back at the hotel, so I could rest. Mike and I did enjoy spending time talking without being constantly interrupted or having to settle an argument between our older two girls, or helping the youngest in the bathroom.

I spoke with my mom several times throughout the day. The kids were having a blast, as I knew they would. The weather was perfect and they spent most of the day outside painting rocks.

Mike and I went to dinner at our favorite sushi place and I was able to eat a couple a pieces of sushi and it was delicious. Sadly, I was back in the hotel and in bed by 9 pm. Some romantic weekend, huh?

But I went to bed looking forward to our final morning at the hotel. Maybe enjoying a long bath and then having a wonderful breakfast. I remember seeing eggs Benedict on the menu that I couldn't wait to try.

The next morning I woke to my cell phone ringing at 7:00 am. It was my mom. She and my dad had been sick all night and needed us to come and get the kids right away.

Ugh.

So, our weekend ended the way it began.

I had huge ideas about the way I would blog about our weekend. Review the hotel. Review the restaurants. And I can't really do any of that. Not properly anyway.

So, now I'm left feeling frustrated at the world. I don't ask for much. All I really wanted was a weekend away with my husband. And I guess I did get one. I just would have preferred one with less agonizing stomach pains and vomit.

Oh, and that brings me to Guilt. The horrible guilt I feel for bringing the sick children to my parents, only to infect them.  I feel terribly about that. I'm so sorry mom and dad. Really, Really, Sorry.

But, in the end, my family is now healthy and happy (sorta), and there will be other weekends. Maybe in another 13 years.