The Kindness of Strangers and This is Gross

Monday was horrible.
I woke up at about 4 to feed Juliette, and couldn't go back to sleep because my throat hurt so bad. I decided that a trip to the doctor was a must. I waited til a reasonable hour and left Juliette with Margot's sister in law, Michelle, and went into the Take Care clinic at Walgreens. The Take Care clinic was miles better than any urgent care I've ever been to. I checked myself in on a touch screen computer, and only waited about 5 minutes while the Nurse Practitioner finished up with another patient. The diagnosis was strep throat. Ugh. But on the bright side, I was seen, diagnosed, and had my prescription filled in less than 30 minutes.
I was reasonably sure that I'd start feeling better within hours of starting the antibiotics, WRONG. Margot, Michelle, and I went shopping, and the shopping trip ended with me throwing up in the bushes at the outlet mall. And then again on the side of the freeway on the way back to the house to pick up our bags. And then two more times on the side of the freeway on the way to the airport.
NOT AWESOME
We got to the airport and after checking in (Michelle and I were on the same flight, she actually lives in the same neighborhood as my sister Amber), I left Michelle and her 2 year old and went as fast as I could thru security and to the gate, because Juliette needed to eat (it had been 4 hours), and I knew more vomit was in my future. I managed to feed the baby before the next episode, and since I had left Michelle I had to rely on the kindness of strangers. As I was throwing up in the bathroom sink a kind woman offered to hold my baby, she stayed where I could see her and talked to me the whole time. She said, "don't worry, I'm not going to take your baby, I'm a mom and I understand you're nervous handing your baby over to a stranger, I'm standing right next to you, your baby is fine" another woman patted me on the back and offered me the bottle of water she hadn't opened yet, and two other women saw the situation and went and bought me a water. I was crying, partly from being sick, partly from stress, and partly because these women were being so nice to me.
Michelle got to the gate a few minutes before boarding, we got on and got settled. I warned the flight attendant that I'd been sick and that I'd likely puke again during the flight. I tried to make myself before take off but couldn't manage. I prepared myself as best as I could for the two hour flight, I had my gingerale and barf bags all ready. I nursed Juliette again during the very bumpy take off to help her ears adjust to the altitude, and managed not to get any on her while I threw up again. Michelle held Juliette most of the flight while groaned in the seat next to her, and while her daughter played games on my iPhone. A kind stranger offered to hold Juliette as we landed in case I got sick again. Michelle's daughter was acting her age and needed her mothers attention during landing. We made it off the plane and out of the airport with out any more problems. Michelle carried Juliette, and I kept a tight grip on Francesca's hand.
We were met at baggage claim by Andrew, Eddie and Dallin (Michelle's 17 year old son) and between us managed to get everyone to the cars.


So today while my children are both napping (I probably should be too) I'm so thankful
1. for the kind women in the Denver airport bathroom
2. that Michelle isn't a sympathetic puker
3. that Juliette is the easiest baby I've ever known, she seriously was an angel the entire trip
4. for understanding flight attendants
5. for my bed
and
6. for my family, Andrew jumped off his dads shoulders, hugged me tight and told me that he'd missed me