I left off as we were heading downstairs to watch the last Texas vs. A&M game. I am a HUGE Longhorn and was excited as always but also sad for this years game. A&M is leaving the Big 12 so this was going to be the last game (in the foreseeable future) against these two teams. We have a winning record over them, W75-L37-T5, and I was hoping to add another win to that category.
As the game started my stomach started feeling weird. I wasn't sure if I had eaten something that I shouldn't have (not on the Courtney food plan), or if I had caught some left over germs from my sister, Michael, or Miles. (The 3 of them had been sick over the previous weekend with a nasty case of the stomach flu.) I figured I had eaten something I shouldn't since I had been around them a few days and I hadn't felt badly yet.
About halfway through the first quarter I went upstairs because it was getting worse. That's when it happened. Vomit city. Unfortunately there were no tv's upstairs and I didn't think I would make it downstairs to watch the game near one of those tv's, and near a bathroom. I could hear everyone downstairs cheering, and seconds later would get an update from my ESPN app telling me what had happened. I made many trips to the bathroom during one of the most exciting games ever! (Because of what was at stake, and because of what happened.) The only upside was we won! We are officially more awesome and way cooler than A&M. I already knew that, but now everyone else knows too.
I was sick all night long. I tried sleeping but that didn't work. I tried rolling over to my other side because my hips were sore, and that just led to me having to run to the bathroom. It was a sad, long, disgusting night. Being sick, even at a relatives house, is awful. All I wanted was to be home, Houston, Austin, either would have been better. The next morning my mom called checking in on me, and asked if I felt up to being in a car. I told her I just wanted to go home. (Insert pathetic, whiny voice here.) We decided to drive to Houston instead of Austin for a few reasons. 1. It was a shorter drive, 2. Miles wouldn't have to be in the car as long or have to get used to another new place to sleep, and 3. Then Rebecca, Michael, and I would drive Saturday morning to Austin to finish our awesomely planned weekend. (We were going to watch the Michigan vs. Ohio State game at a Michigan bar, hang out, and then go to a Master Pancake show at the Alamo Drafthouse called A Very Hanksgiving. It featured a mashup of all of Tom Hanks' movies and tv shows.)
After a long morning, well for someone who hadn't slept all night, we left for Houston. My mom was nice enough to let me have the front seat, and my awesome giant brother in law was nice enough to let me lean my chair back some. He's a giant, he has giant legs that need to go somewhere, and he let me crunch those giant legs up. It was very nice of him. When we got home we all ate dinner and went to bed pretty early with the plan of the 3 of us waking up to head to Austin at 7 to make it in time for the game, and my parents would wake up just as early to take care of Miles. I woke up around 6 and checked my phone like I usually do and saw I had a text message from my sister. "Not going to Austin. Sleep in." Wait, what? She came in not much longer after I saw that text and I asked what happened. Apparently soon after I went to bed my parents came in and told my sister they were both sick. Ok, well at least I now knew it wasn't something I ate and possibly left over germs I had caught from the Chicago crew.
So we were Houston bound since the babysitters were officially sick.* No hotel room, no football game at a fun bar, and no Master Pancake Theater. Oh, and no official ride back to Austin at this point. I guess Greyhound could take me home.
My poor parents kept their door shut all day, and would call us if they needed anything. My mom even told me to leave it at the door and knock. I didn't do that of course, but I thought it was funny she offered that. I did however totally hold my breath every time I went in there. Around 10 we got a call from my Aunt. My Uncle was sick too and felt like death. Not long after we got another call from her telling us my Grandpa was sick. Not longer after that, Zachary only made it halfway back to Dallas before having Jennifer pull over at a gas station to puke his guts out.
I'm sure my family probably hates me now and totally blames me. However, I think it is way more impressive if we blame this on Miles because his reign of terror is way better. Because he got sick earlier and in Michigan, he terrorized 4 states (Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Louisiana), and infected 3 cousins, 1 aunt, 1 grandpa and grandma, 1 great aunt and great uncle, 1 great grandfather, and 2 friends. That's a pretty impressive record for a 9 month old. Those stats are way cooler than mine, so I'm just putting all of the blame on him.
I was feeling better, but still tired on Saturday. We watched the Michigan game, Go Blue!, and tried to make it exciting for Michael. I don't think it was the same though.
After the game there was a great pianist that played for us. He is very talented.
We then went to the park. We tried to convince Rebecca we didn't need to add the car seat to the stroller because the basket thing underneath would totally work. She didn't go for it.
This was the best picture I could take of the ridiculousness that is his hair. It is amazing.
That night we rented some movies and Rebecca and Michael decided to have some wine. Rebecca broke the cork and so Michael found a medieval poking device to try to fix the problem.
It didn't really work so they had to shove it all the way down and then use my mom's loose tea leaf holder thing to strain the wine before drinking it.
Sunday everyone seemed to be on the mend and feeling better. Mom and dad actually emerged from their room. I was lucky enough to have a friend drive me back to Austin so I wouldn't have to take the Greyhound. Before leaving, Miles and I had to keep up with traditions and have a photo shoot. He wasn't having it that day, so there aren't many photos to show for it.
I think his face sums up this trip and Thanksgiving pretty well. Over. It.
*For those of you in Houston, I did want to see you. However, I was terrified I would start to infect the entire city of Houston so you should just be thanking me. Plus I'll be back in a few weeks for Christmas.
