Kaitlyn's Vacation

It's Sunday night and I am up for the fifth time in response to coughing from the crib.  I lean over and feel that she's sitting up.  Her arms raise and I scoop her up, only to realize she is sweating and fevered.  We feel our way to the kitchen so as not to wake Raymond and Momma Ky.  She happily accepts the Tylenol Kids pill and while she chews that, I gather her puffers mommy has sent along.  After two puffs of each we shut out the lights and feel our way back to the bedroom.  I set myself up in the big chair with a pillow and grab her blanket from the crib.  We cuddle in the chair and when I wake, a couple of hours later, she is cool to the touch and fast asleep on my shoulder.  I shuffle forward in the chair, brace myself and pray the knees hold ~ there I'm standing.  Kaitlyn stretches into the crib ~ still her choice at Mommas' ~ and I crawl into bed.  It's 5:15 a.m. and I've set the alarm for 6:45....

Later, as we get settled in our hotel at the Detroit airport I once again offer Kaitlyn Tylenol.  Her fever has returned, and I marvel at her stamina and determination to make the best of things.  She's excited to be headed to Disney and this constant cough is not going to interfere.   I snap a photo of my loves.

This first night away is a bad one for Kaitlyn, (and the Mommas).  Her cough goes on through the night.  We are up in good time, just before 6 and Kaitlyn is happy to watch cartoons while we have our showers.  Her fever has broken in the night and although her cough remains, she is in good spirits and anxious to head to the restaurant for breakfast.

Every step of the journey is an adventure for Kaitlyn.  She’s nervous of the elevator and needs to hold Momma Ky’s hand in order to enter.  She braces herself as it travels down, and can’t get off quick enough once we land in the lobby.  It’s rare so far that we encounter someone who doesn’t smile at Kaitlyn.  She’s such a minute and her blue eyes attract lots of “ooos” and “aaahs”.  She’s not much interested in the attention and clings closer to Momma anytime someone speak to her.  I’m not sure why, but I feel the need to say, “She’s a little shy” in response.

Kaitlyn isn’t too impressed by the plane.  We were seated 7 rows back from Momma Ky and Raymond, but Ky told me Kaitlyn’s response when offered the window seat was, “I’m not sitting there!!  That seats dirty!!”  Upon inspection, Ky did find shreds of paper on the seat.  Kaitlyn sat in the middle.  She ate her Minion candies and sipped her drink and had no comment about the take-off or the landing.  In between she played on her new Smart tab or snapped her seatbelt open and shut countless times.   She knew she had to keep her seatbelt on while the light was on, but nevertheless, she couldn’t resist opening and closing it.

By the time we are hustling through Orlando airport Kaitlin isn’t quite as eager to pull her suitcase along.  Her little legs are getting tired and she gets Momma Ky to carry her and pull both bags.  I love that she can look out for herself and ask for what she needs.

On the Disney bus, although her brother is asleep in minutes, Kaitlyn is wide awake, alert, and observant.  She has countless questions for Momma Ky and when the questions stop she is laughing at the cartoons being shown.  When the show switches to safety tips she asks for her Smart tab and busies herself for the 30 minute ride to the hotel.  For such a little person, she is embracing all aspects of her trip and hasn’t given into the tiredness we all feel.

The highlight of Disney for Kaitlyn was meeting Cinderella.  The lowlight was that she had to also be in the company of the wicked stepmother.  Kaitlyn loves stories and movies and drinks in every detail.  It was not lost on her that the wicked stepmother was mean and scary.  Kaitlyn hid her head in Momma Ky’s neck until she moved on and when Cinderella came by she was eager to step down and have her picture taken.  She gazed up into Cinderella face and answered her questions if not loudly, sincerely.  Kaitlyn was so happy at this dinner.  She loved her food ~ corn, mashed potatoes, chicken tenders, strawberry soup and chocolate milk!  When dessert time arrived she surveyed the buffet with Momma Ky and came back to the table with a plate full of tiny choices ~ cheese cake, cannoli and a mini chocolate cup with chocolate mousse.

She wasn’t into having her photo taken and she definitely did not enjoy the roller coaster.  She waiting patiently in line for Buzz Lightyear until she succumbed to sleep – it was after all a 65 minute wait.  When we woke her up for the ride she was a gamer – jumped in and figured out in short order how to fire the laser, accumulating 2,900 points.  (As a comparator – Raymond scored 40,000 points)  Not bad for a 3 year old who has just been awoken from a deep slumberJ.

At bedtime we got to hear Kaitlyn’s endless chatter about her adventures that day – what she loved, what scared her and everything in between.  Our night would end with “Good night Raymond.  Good night poopy Mommas!” at which point she would collapse with giggles.

Kaitlyn lined up her clothes each morning and dressed herself.  She asked for what type of hair (braid(s), pony(s), or plain and sat so quietly while Momma Deb complied. 

She was lively, appreciative, loving, determined, happy, sad, questioning, fun loving and so so funny.  What gift she is.  What lucky Mommas to be loved by her.