Vacation: Some Things You Just Can't Pack For

The flu. There's just nothing that prepares you for a sick kid on vacation. Yes, I had the Infant's Motrin, the Orajel for incoming teeth, Band-Aids and Neosporin. But when someone catches a cold, ear infection, the flu or worse, no planning or packing could have saved me.

On our recent vacation, our 1-year-old caught the flu on our last day in the California sun. Doing our best, we kept him hydrated and slowly fed him crackers, like he was a sick little bird. When it came time to fly home, there was a glimmer of hope that while all he wanted to do was sleep, we were clear to suffer though a fussy flight and get home.

Unfortunately, our connecting flight in Dallas was canceled due to weather. I felt slightly relieved about not having to soothe a crying baby through another flight, but that was short-lived. That night, our 4-year-old got sick as well. After hive breakouts, fevers and staying up all night, we knew we couldn't fly. So, we drove.

The 10-hour trip, while mind-numbing, took us through a small town in Oklahoma that had been bit by a tornado just the night before. Half of the town was eerily destroyed, like a movie set. Unreal. Huge trees were uprooted, laying on their sides. Mobile homes were tossed about like litter in an abandoned alley. The whole town seemed sad. Houses looked sad, defeated by what had to have been a terrifying monster.

We drove on.

We were just two hours away from home before my husband and I both got sick. Unable to function, we pulled into a hotel for yet another unplanned night.

After three days of travel, we arrived home weak, dirty, without luggage and still queasy. I realize we're not the first to experience awful travels, but I share this story for a couple of reasons.

I was reminded very pointedly that you can plan and plan with excited anticipation. You can pack perfectly. You can be flexible enough to enjoy a minor setback here and there and still have a great vacation (with pictures to prove it), but there is nothing that can prepare you for an illness or for natural disaster.

At the end of the day, you are a family. That's what you have. That's who you are. You live, you travel, you hold each other up, you laugh, you cry. Together. That's what makes you family.

No natural disaster or nasty flu bug can take that away.

(Peace and prayers for those dealing with the aftermath of storms this spring.)