Westward Ho!

Isn't that the title of a book or musical? We are now on Day 12 of our 15 day Colorado/Wyoming heritage tour. We came west to celebrate Scott's grandmother's 80th birthday and to meet a bunch of extended family on both his sides. We are traveling with my in-laws and overall, having a nice time. Here are some lessons learned (or just conclusions drawn)so far:

1. Fever + flying + Colorado Springs Altitude can = hospitalization for a 2 year old.
2. 5 Star hotel service really is better on every level. They will shuttle you back and forth to the hospital and send your kids gifts when you learn lesson one.
3. There are good pediatricians outside your comfort zone.
4. Kids are really resilient. They can and do adjust to new time zones and sleeping conditions (outside hospital and without an IV) with relative ease.
5. Nice people still do exist. They give you their taxi when it is midnight at the airport b/c you are traveling with kids, and they let you go ahead of them in line at a medical clinic when your seven month old starts showing symptoms of virus on Day 9.
6. Infants' Tylenol and Motrin can be administered at the same time every six hours to control high fever.
7. Cowboy themed anything seems much more attractive and sheik west of the Mississippi. I actually deliberated a metal cowboy themed napkin holder and fringe dress for my daughter.
8. A change in environment does not make a child alter eating habits for the better.
9. There are actually places where you can drive for two and a half hours and count the number of houses you see on one hand...and it is absolutely breathtaking.
10. A DVD player is not required to survive a three hour roadtrip with kids.
11. It can be 39 degrees. In June. For more than one day in a row. In the continental U.S. It's like going back in time seasonally.
12. I am addicted to email. Going without it for 4+ days almost gave me the shakes.
13. You can get email access on a computer through a cell phone!
14. There are no good movies out this summer. I have the opportunity to go any night I want, and there were only two halfway worth seeing.

More soon...and pics!