Birthday Flop

Friday was my 32nd birthday. I'm not one to really make a big deal out of birthdays, so we didn't have any big celebration planned. It was just a normal Friday. I had to go to work and then we had planned to go out to dinner as a family. I was really looking forward to dinner though. We were going to Oceanic, which is right on the beach at Wrightsville. I was looking forward to eating on the pier, enjoying a cold drink and relaxing a little. I was really looking forward to a walk on the beach after dinner with my family. The day didn't go exactly as we had planned...

It was Scott's turn to go to the gym that morning, so I was home alone and had just gotten out of the shower when I heard Austin on the monitor. It was earlier than he usually gets up and he was crying. Normally, he wakes up really happy and I hear him babbling away to himself over the monitor. So, I went to his room to check on him. As soon as I opened his door, I saw it- poop everywhere. All over him, his pajamas and his bed. Awesome. I got him all cleaned up and headed back to my room to set him up on some pillows to enjoy his morning bottle. That's when I discovered more poop. It seems our 9 year old dog has developed some incontinence issues lately. I feel really sorry for him, but it's still frustrating none-the-less. I cleaned it up and took the dog outside. Little did I know, I had missed some. The dog had left another "deposit" in the bathroom. By the time I got back in the room, Austin had found the second pile of poo and was playing in it as if it were play doh. Gross. I screamed as if I were being attacked. I cleaned poop off of Austin for the second time in about 30 minutes. After cleaning and disinfecting the bathroom floor, I was finally ready to finish getting ready for work. By now, I was running quite late, but luckily Scott had returned from the gym. I had a brief "woe is me, it's my birthday, and so far it's been crappy" moment, but I got over it quickly. Scott was his usual helpful self, and volunteered to take the kids to school so I could try and get to work on time.

I just kept looking forward to my beach birthday dinner. We got to the Oceanic, got our prime table on the pier and I got ready to relax. I was even carded when I ordered my drink! The day was definitely on the up and up! It was a good, glorious 30 minutes until Bella started complaining of a tummy ache. And it went downhill fast. I took her to the bathroom in hopes that would solve the problem, but she was doubled over and crying. I quickly realized she had to get home- and quick. Scott quickly found our waitress, who brought our bill and threw my uneaten dinner in a to-go box. Poor Bella- we had to pull over once on the way home and then rode the rest of the way with a barf bag, just in case. We got home and I got my sweet girl settled in bed, fully anticipating a rough, long night of barfing.

10 minutes after we got home, Bella was back up and completely fine. Maybe she just got too hot? Who knows. Regardless, I was certainly glad she felt better. She was even able to join Scott and I for some Oreo ice cream cake.

There was definitely a time where I would have been really disappointed with the way my birthday turned out. But I honestly could not have cared less that it didn't go according to plan. I certainly have a lot to be grateful for. I am married to my best friend who is also an incredible father. I have 2 healthy and happy children (aside from the occasional barfing). I will gladly deal with poop and barf any day (although, I'd rather not!) for Scott, Bella and Austin. They are worth it and better than any birthday dinner or present ever.