Mommy-Guilt meets R&R

I'm leaving...on a jet plane.  And in this case, I know when I'll be back, again.


Tomorrow morning, I leave for Florida to meet up with 6 girlfriends for a weekend getaway!  I have not gotten away by myself and gone so far and for this long except for an annual Women's weekend retreat every Spring for the last several years.  I'll meet a friend at the airport and then all 7 of us will meet in Florida.  WOOT!
Naturally, as I've been looking forward to this weekend for months, last night, our little girl kept waking up, crying her eyes out.  Early this morning, she has a fever and I was scheduled to take her to her yearly well-visit.  Yeah, not so well.  Poor thing was floppy, extra cranky and bleary-eyed.  They cancelled her vaccinations because of a slight fever.  I asked Dr. B if, with this flu, if she would vomit or 'the other thing' (C'mon people, this is a family-friendly blog).  She says, "No, she will have a fever, some aches and chills.  Just make sure to give her plenty of fluids and we'll give you a prescription."  So, as we were waiting for her to come back, I hear the dreaded, "Hwah, hwah."  Yup, she sure did vomit all over the examining table.  Sweet little girl was so taken aback and upset.  
I also got a prescrip for the littlest-little, as a precaution.  I asked, just to be certain that it was O.K. for me to still travel.  She said of course and that I just need to wash my hands well and often.  (Not that anyone has EVER called me a germ-phobe, or anything!)  
For a split-second, I was thinking of the irony of Noodle to get sick before I left.  Then, that was overcome with the reality that this is life, not irony.  It's January, peeps get sick, whether I'm going on a trip or not.  Of course I'm praying that the rest of my family stays well and that I don't start tossing cookies while I'm gone.  Hubs told me there was not a chance that I would cancel this the trip!  Thank God for a good, loving and understanding man.  He will hold down the fort and take care of the kiddos.  
I felt a little bit of that 'Mom-guilt' about leaving before the girlie got sick but now it's settling in, quite nicely.  But I know that I need this trip, as much for my family, as for me.  I want to be better for them.  I'd like to get some R&R to come back refreshed for this crazy-amazing family that I have.  
The girlfriends I'll be chatting into the wee-small hours with, sipping wine with, enjoying delicious meals with, are full of joy and Spirit.  I'm so thankful that I have friends in my life that encourage, support and would rally if need be.  I need this - you need this - in your life.  I love that space and time have not taken away from us being able to speak life into each other.  I love that I can look forward to this time to laugh, cry because we're laughing so hard and to enjoy each other's company.  And let's face it.  I get to have adult conversation for a whopping 60+ hours, give or take a few for catching some Zzzzzz's.
So Florida, here we come!  Put out some sunshine and warm breezes for us.  And loves of my life, my heart is never so far away.  We girls will be driving around the Sunshine state in a rented minivan, just to remind me where my heart will always be.