Temperatures Nearing 104…

While the temperatures outside have been next to unbearable, one temperature has trumped even the sweltering temps outside...mine.  That’s right.  For eight straight days I ran a temperature topping near 104 degrees.  It was a long, frustrating and miserable week.  It botched plans for a weekend getaway to Okoboji and created two visits to the doctors office and one visit to Urgent Care.

It all started last Saturday with a little cough.  By Sunday, I didn’t feel great and was running a low grade fever, but pretty much went about my usual business.  Monday I still didn’t feel great and decided to go to the doctor.  They diagnosed me with bronchitis, prescribed me and antibiotic and sent me on my way.

Tuesday came around and I didn’t feel great, but knew I was on antibiotics and thought I would be feeling better soon so didn’t let a little low grade fever stop me.  Until Tuesday night.  My fever spiked higher and I couldn’t keep it down with Tylenol.

Thursday, with rising temps, it was back to the doctor.  They tested me for mono, influenza and did blood work.  No answers.  They thought it was a virus that was causing my fevers and it would just have to run its course.  I woke up Friday with no fever and an appetite so I was thankfully convinced that I was better!

But...Saturday came and my fever was back.  My thermometer beeps differently when it reads above 100.  3 fast beeps.  I didn’t even have to look to know my fever was back.  I had chills, some trouble breathing and my cough lingered on.

Sunday Trent took me into an Urgent Care.  I was determined to walk in and demand answers and walk out feeling better.  I was ready to demand a shot to make me feel better.  To my surprise, without even asking, they said they were going to give me two shots.  Praise. the. Lord.  I don’t love shots, but if I was going to feel better after a week I was willing to try almost anything!  They were surprised by how long my fever had lasted.  They could hear congestion in my chest and the oxygen levels in my blood were low.  They said they could do a chest x-ray to determine if my bronchitis had turned into pneumonia, but since I was young it wouldn’t change how they treated me.  So they are treating me for bronchitis and pneumonia with steroids and antibiotics.

Funny story about the shots.  They gave me two shots in the “hip.”  “Hip” is apparently the politically correct way of referring to your butt when they are giving you a shot.  However, I feel like my rear has a lot more padding for a shot than I would have near my hip.  So I will take a shot in my “hip.”

Anyway, I am confident that I am now finally on my way to feeling better.  My fever is gone and some energy is back.  Still fighting off my cough, but baby steps here.  That’s not going away over night.

Tomorrow, it is back to summer school and I actually can’t wait to get out of the house!

{The Launes} 

 

What?…

It was a busy weekend.  Sara was back in town.  I love how we try to plan some time to spend together and end up spending way more time!  It helps to make up for the time we don’t get to spend together.

The fun began Friday night at Tim and Jessie’s.  While the boys played Acquire, the girls decided to make signs for the softball tournament that the boys were playing in on Saturday.  Not going to lie, I was a little embarrassed at the idea of making and holding up signs in public, but they were a big hit!

After a late night, it was up early for an 8 a.m. softball game.  I was a little late, but made it in time to catch most of the game and cheer on What?.

  Earl the Pearl up to bat.  Trent is the only man I know who can strategically sweat a heart.  What a man.

Sara won a t-shirt for answering a trivia question and I won a hat and coffee mug for answering a trivia question...

Number 1 fans...

From left...Vest is Best, Earl the Pearl and Shahan the Ma-han.

After a disappointing day at the tournament, we headed into Elkhorn to swim.  There were intense games of Horse, knock out and 500 taking place, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Finally, after some fun in the sun and a long debate on where to eat, we headed to Red Robin for a late dinner.

I am so thankful for good friends and fun times spent together.  I get to hang out with Sara one more time tomorrow before they begin their new adventure to Alaska.

Now I am nursing myself back to health.  A nasty case of bronchitis has invaded my body and has overstayed its welcome. Seriously, who gets sick in the summer?

{The Launes}

Tails, California…

Heads Carolina, tails California...two weeks ago Friday we embarked on a new adventure.  A road trip bound for California.  No, we didn’t flip a coin and decide to head west, but there was a lot of driving and camping involved.  And if you know me at all, I do not camp!  I tried to be a trooper and I like to look at it as character building.

We made our first stop in Kearney so we could visit the Chizeks and meet baby Addison.  Addison seemed like such a good baby!

Then, we headed into the mountains, played John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High and took in the beautiful scenery.

We stopped for the night in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  We pitched a tent in a place I thought I could handle camping, but Trent assured me that this was not real camping.  Apparently bathrooms and campers too close together draws the line between camping and “camping.”  I think I prefer “camping.”

Bright and early the next morning we loaded up the car again and headed for Moab, Utah so I could experience my first national park adventure. 

3 and 1/2 hours on the road and we were at Arches National Park. It was one of the most amazing places I have ever been. 

Delicate Arch...worth the hike!

Sand Dune Arch...

This time we camped up to Trent’s standards right on the Colorado River back in the canyons.  Primitive.  Very primitive.  No bathrooms.  No running water.  Nothing. 

Goodbye Arches National Park...

Hello Zion National Park.

After leaving Moab, we were headed to Vegas, but Trent wanted to go on another little hike before we took on city life.  So while I was driving, he searched on his phone and found one just on the outer edge of Zion National Park that he thought would be a good hike.  He was rather vague about it, but I decided to be a good sport and trust him.  So we parked and headed on our way.  Just a little ways in there was a little stream we had to cross.  Of course I didn’t want to get my good running shoes wet so I asked Trent to give me a piggyback ride across.  He kindly declined and I eventually bit the bullet and crossed.  I soon found out the entire trail followed a stream and about 75% of the hike was actually in the stream!  We climbed waterfalls and went through the stream surrounded only by a canyon.  Sneaky guy knew this the whole time, but thought I wouldn’t go if I knew!

Getting my feet wet...

After climbing two waterfalls and going a little farther we were debating on whether or not to turn around.  We weren’t sure how much farther the trail went or what was at the end.  Then a couple that we had passed a little earlier caught up to us and asked if we saw the rattlesnake back there in a little cave Trent checked out.  This created instant panic in me and I could not get down fast enough!   It ended up being a very cool trail and the water felt good on the hot day.  Trent rates it as his favorite part of the vacation.

Part one complete.  Up next...

Viva Las Vegas!

{The Launes}

Viva Las Vegas…

You know what they say...what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.  But that would be just boring!

Back in April we bought a Groupon getaway for a hotel in Vegas.  We knew we were planning to road trip to California so we thought this might be a good place to stay along the way.  I was super excited about our hotel and I was also excited to visit a couple of Vegas attractions. 

Our first stop was the M&M store.  4 floors of overpriced M&M gear!  I was mostly excited for the chocolate and the opportunity to create my own carefully selected bag of M&M’s.

$16 and some change later we had M&M’s.  I had a mishap with the mint M&M handle and ended up with over $8 in mint M&M’s!  Of course I didn’t let them go to waste...

Then we headed next door to the Coca-Cola store.  Similar the the M&M store.  Several floors, but Coca-Cola paraphernalia instead of M&M’s.  We enjoyed some cokes (mine in a glass bottle)  Incase you haven’t picked up on it...we are not your average Vegas goers!

Our hotel and pool...super sweet.  It was off the strip a little, but so nice!

Our first night there we were exhausted, but the next night, we were ready for a night on the town.  We started out by going to a show called Illusions.  I was in awe of all the tricks they did.  Then we went for a late dinner.  Trent wanted to try a buffet when we were in Vegas so we went to the Mirage.  We gave our best effort to eat our money’s worth.  One of the servers even laughed when he saw Trent coming up for more prime rib!

After dinner we headed to my last itinerary item...the Bellagio for the water show.  It was just like fireworks, but it water.  The first one we saw also just happened to be God Bless the USA.  So patriotic!

After one last night in Vegas and an early morning at the hotel pool, we loaded into the car again and hit the road to California.

{The Launes}

Cal-i-forn-i-a…

Tuesday evening we arrived in Santa Barbara.  We took a round about way to avoid rush hour L.A. traffic and arrived just in time to make quick stop at the ocean, stick our toes in the water and feel how cold it was.  Swimming in the Pacific Ocean was going to be a long shot for me!  Then we met up with Graham and Amanda for dinner at a restaurant right on the ocean.

We spent our first two nights in a cute little town called Solvang.  It was up the coast about 45 minutes on the most winding road I have ever driven on.  Solvang is a Dutch community and everything is designed in that fashion.  It was full of little shops and eateries and we visited our first of many farmers markets while we were in California.

Our hotel...

Wednesday we went swimming at Gaviota State Park and Wednesday we made our home for the next few days in Santa Barbara.  We spent a lot of time at the beach!

Trent and Graham went kayaking in the ocean...

We visited In-N-Out...I love that place!

We did  a little hiking...

A super cool plant that I saw all over Santa Barbara.  I even bought one at a farmers market to try and raise in Nebraska...

Saturday we stopped by a sand volleyball tournament furthering my dream of someday joining the AVP...

Trent and Graham had so much fun in the ocean.  They swam and boogie boarded their little hearts out until the sun went down.  It was like watching two kids having the time of their lives!

Amanda got to take a few breaks from studying to hang out!

We were homeward bound on Sunday morning.  Our trip back to Nebraska was much quicker than our trip out.    We mostly drove, but made another stop in Glenwood Springs to do a little hiking.

Hanging Lake...

Finally, we were back in Nebraska...the good life!

Like always, all good things must come to an end...

Vacation By the Numbers

Miles Traveled: 3,738

Pictures Snapped: 312

States Visited: 6

Days Gone: 12

Stops and In-N-Out:  3

License Plate Game: 43 states, District of Columbia, Mexico and Canada.

What. A. Trip.

{The Launes}