The Cruise

Warning: This post in insanely long. I don't know what happened, I started typing and just couldn't stop, and I typed it in blogger so there was no grammar check. Don't feel any pressure to read it just scroll through and look at the cute pictures of Wyatt. There are more photos at my parents blog, and at Karen's. I will really try to post all our pictures to our photo website this week.

So many of you who know me know that about a week and an half ago we got back from a cruise with my entire family. I think it has taken me so long to post about it because I am still trying to sort out what I thought of it. Overall it was great to be with my family and there were some great memories. Unfortunately there were also some not so great (even bad) memories. I think I will do best to summarize each day.

Thursday: The Browns (3) flew in, there plan was several hours late, but they arrived safely in LA.

Friday: The Halversons (7) and Cannons (4) arrived while the Browns were at Disneyland. All flight were on time and that day we only had to make 4 round trips to the airport! That night I thought was fun. I had everyone except my parents (who stayed at the Poole's, thanks again) stay at my apartment. For those of you who are wondering that is 15 people in the village apartments. I was really excited to fit everyone and I think everyone had a good time. I don't know how some of the families in our complex always live like that, but for one night it was fun. The garage was turned into a luggage storage center.

Saturday: We were off to the boat with 17 people and over 30 bags. We ate great food, explored the ship, played ping pong and everyone was healthy and happy.

Sunday: We were at sea all day. We played games, more ping pong. Everyone still happy and healthy and having a good time.

Monday: Another day at sea. Rick and I were able to go to the gym together, more great food, games, and a great time was had by all at the kids pool, with tons of slide, the pools were the perfect size for Wyatt he could slide down and still stand in the water when he landed. After the pool, which was pretty cool, even though the weather was really great between 80 and 90 degrees we put Wyatt in the pool shower to warm him up a little. Apparently he found it very relaxing and we had our first diaper mess to clean up. By dinner my dad was feeling what he thought was a little sea sickness.

Now for a little background, this entire time the Captain had been coming across the intercom ever few hours announcing the spread of the Norwalk virus (symptoms: vomiting and diarrhea-it is spread by people coming in contact with one of these symptoms and not washing their hands enough said) throughout the ship and asking all cases to be reported to the medical center immediately for treatment. As we were going to bed Chris and Greg came to ask if we wanted to play a game. While Wyatt was standing in the doorway he projectile vomited EVERYWHERE! Wyatt threw up 8 times that night. He was quite the trooper. After each episode he just wanted to play. IT was sad to see him because we soon learned he could only wear a diaper because he would instantaneously ruin any clothes he would wear, so the poor baby survived the whole night in a diaper with no blanket to comfort him. The low point of the night was when we voyaged down to the Medical Center for the doctor to look at Wyatt. Wrapped in a towel the poor guys threw up twice more while we waited. The Doctor could not treat him because he didn't weigh enough. He just said to bring him back if he got dehydrated and he could start an IV. This of course had me a little panicked about keeping him hydrated, but nothing would stay down. More bad news came when the doctor told us Wyatt had been tagged and was quarantined to the ship for 24 hours.

Tuesday: Acapulco. We did get some sleep and when we woke up Wyatt was happy and ready to play, but he would not touch any food. Wyatt was stuck on the ship so I stayed with him while Rick went out with everyone else and from what I have heard they had a great time on the beach body surfing. Rick came back and I went out to meet everyone at the beach, on the way I meet them walking back so I did get some picture in the town before we re boarded. Wyatt was doing much better and we took him off the boat when the quarantine lifted at 9 pm so we could say he had made it to Acapulco

Wednesday: Zihuatanego. This morning my nephew Isaac woke up sick so by brother-in-law Clint and him stayed on board while we were off to the beach. We walked to a nice beach and started to play. Wyatt started to act a little weird and whiny and didn't want to play like normal so I ended up sitting with him in the shade.

Thursday: Puerta Villarta. This day started quite early. We had a really fun shore excursion planned where we were going to zip line through the jungle. THEN, Rick woke up at 3:30 am feeling like he was about to die. By this point the virus was so widespread across the ship that they no longer allowed the "infected" out of their stateroom so we called the medical center and they sent a nurse to our cabin. Where she gave rick some medicine and shot right in the hallway, which I thought was pretty funny but of course couldn't laugh at the time because Rick thought he was about to die and I feared the consequences. Needless to say our shore excursion was canceled. My dad and sister, Suzy, were also sick at this point. I was determined to still have a good day so I packed up Wyatt and took him to breakfast. The moment I sat him down at the table with his food he threw up everywhere. It was like I had a bomb or something, I was surrounded by crew members immediately and rushed back to my cabin with Wyatt. At this point Rick and Wyatt were quarantined to the cabin for 24 hours. Thursday was the low point, Rick has dying, He couldn't even speak to me until about 4 pm it was so bad. Wyatt was an angel and slept almost the whole day and was so good at playing inside the cabin and had no more symptoms. I spent most of the day in pitch black because were were in an inside cabin so there was no light at all and my boys were sleeping. I kept my sanity by playing solitaire on Rick's phone.

Friday: Cabo San Lucas. All 17 of us were feeling good and were ready to get off the boat. While we were getting off we found out that Suzy's quarantine had been placed later than she called and she was still restricted to the ship, it was sad to leave her behind. There was not a point where we were all off the boat together :( We went on a great glass bottom boat ride and played at Lover's beach. Rick got to do some snorkeling, and we were able to buy a big Sombrero for Brandon, Karen's Beau. Suzy did get off the boat eventually and was able to spend some time in Cabo.

Saturday: At Sea. My nephew Brigham was sick and confined this day, he was a real trooper. Rick was a little off as well but was still able to move around a little. He took a couple naps with Wyatt, while I went to spend some money in the gift shop. NCL had given $200 on board credit to all the cabins that had people quarantined so we ended up with $600 and spent almost all of it. It is harder to do then you may think in a ship gift shop. I tried to end the trip on a high and went up to Karaoke, where I sang "In the Jungle" I am sure people thought I was drunk, I made a complete fool of myself, but it was fun and I would recommend it to anyone trying to lift their spirits.

Sunday: Back in LA.

Post cruise casualties: After everyone was home safe, my mom, niece (Liz), Nephew (Jacob), and sister (Lisa) all had their turn at the virus. I think everyone is almost healthy again! I am pleased to report that even though I was confined for almost 52 hours with two of the "infected" I never got sick.

Overall it was a memorable trip and I am glad that we went, especially now that we know we will be so far away from family for the next six years. I am really grateful to my dad for planning the whole thing and bringing us. If anything about the trip makes me a little sad it is that he wasn't well the longest and always looks forward to vacations so much. I am sure our next family trip will be great and the experience has not put us off cruising forever, but maybe we will take a little break.