Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

4.25.2014

Holidays, hospitals and beyond... Day one!

So many different things happened on our holiday that it felt two weeks was actually two months.

There were so many high's but I will never forget the low's for as long as I live.

On our official day one, Ace was admitted into hospital.

This would have to be up there on a parents worst nightmare list.

Being overseas, and your child becoming seriously sick. It happens to other people. Not us. You know that feeling?

Ace had an infection.

He was fighting extremely high temperatures, and was having difficulties breathing due wheezing and a croupy cough. After our admission, he then followed on to have two febrile convulsions. It was then they started testing for some nasty things, including Influenza.

All his test results returned negative to anything nasty and it was just obvious that he was fighting an infection. I've never thanked who ever was looking over us as much as I did at the moment.

It all escalated so quickly. I mean he was swimming in the pool fine in the morning, and then this was him now, we couldn't even wake him at all?
 
  
The hospital was amazing. Thank god!

But language was definitely a barrier. Doctors and nurses were all speaking Thai and that was so frustrating for Dad'n and I when we wanted to know how and what they were treating Ace with.

After all had settled and Ace was a little more stable, everything was explained to us in English, but until that point, our anxieties hit levels that were out of control.

Being a Nurse, Dad'n would turn to me wanting to know what they were giving him and what they were doing. My response of "I don't know" was only adding to our anxieties.

As quick as Ace went down, he seemed to come back up.

The next morning, Ace and I snacked on Pringles and Pocky sticks for breakfast. Thai breakfasts were not what we were craving at all. Savoury porridge with minced meat on top, which I am sure was lovely... But not for us.


It was so surreal. He was sitting up in his hospital bed like not much had happened. I, myself, looked like I had aged 20 years minimum, but that was okay. As long as my little man was okay!

As I look back and reflect on it all, there are some things that stick out that helped us get through a sucky situation.

Having family travelling with us... Obviously.

We had support for Boo and we had support for ourselves.

Our travel insurance... They were amazing!

If you are in the market for a policy for your holiday, have a look at AAMI. Their support left us speechless. We had doctors calling us asking about Ace's condition. They offered to liase with his treating team so they could fully translate what was happening if they language was becoming to much of a barrier. They covered all medical expenses before we left the hospital so we didn't have to outlay money for the rather large bill! I can not speak highly enough about our experience. It was such a blessing.

Of course you never think it will happen to you, but this time, for us... it did.

Will we continue travelling with the children?

Absolutely.

This would of happened where ever we may of been. I will however research the hospitals a little more of where we will be travelling. I would like to have a better understanding of where we would have to go if we are somehow unlucky enough to frequent an international emergency department again.

So, that was "day one".

At least it could only get better from there!

 

3.17.2014

Finding the perfect travelling bag for kids...

Finding the one... Travel bag for little people that is ;)

I love to travel and holiday, that's no secret. Who doesn't?

But what I also love is every fab find that I can get my hands on in the lead up to said holiday.

It used to be beautiful travel bags and accessories for myself, but since children, the obsession has turned to them. As it does with everything it seems.

For quite some time, I have been on the hunt to find to perfect carry on bag for them. The one.

Our family holiday last year had us taking a "Trunki". I thought it was SO going to be the one. How wrong I was.


I thought it was the answers to all. It was going to be amazing. So many parents raved and swore by them. It was going to rock my travel accessory world right? Wrong. It didn't work for us. AT ALL!

Sure it was fun for the first 15 minutes arriving at the airport. It was cute. But for the rest of the time, children got over pulling it. We didn't have time to have them riding it. Dad'n got super over trying to carry it. Its bulky and awkward. Its hard to get into. Many un choice words flying around surrounding that little case. Try to picture arriving after an overnight flight with two children still trying to sleep getting through customs with this big pink thing that every family member wants to throw! Sorry, still some pent up anger issues regarding poor Trunki LOL. Can you tell?

So we are getting geared up for our trip in a few weeks and our new bags and accessories have arrived. So we are having a play.

We kind of  look like a walking advertisement for Skip Hop.

I have always loved their products, we have quite a few in our collection. They have always functional and very durable.





We also got the matching travel blankets that I have attached on the back with a hook for easy access. Who doesn't like matching! They stuff in and out of the attached pillow which seems to work really well.

So far, these bags seem to hold a fair bit, but not to much so they get to heavy for children to manage. Carry handle packs away neatly and  they have a parent strap to make them a bit easier to carry for those times when children get over it. Which mine seem to a lot!

I look forward to giving a review on the other side of the trip and letting you all know if these in fact, were the ones.

Anyone else have a travel accessory problem? There could always be worse things I say ;)

Feel free to share what works, or what doesn't work for you.

*** Please note: These are my own opinions the products mentioned above, no endorsement has or will be received ***

2.16.2014

Three O.



I have a birthday coming up. It's a milestone one. So they say...
 
Three O. 30.
 
I am not a very big birthday person.
 
Never one to have a fabulous party. Not one to shout it from the rooftops. It just usually slides by with some warm and fuzzies from the family and quiet celebrations. That's what makes me happy.
 
But this one feels different. This one, I'm actually quite excited for!
 
Our proper celebration for this birthday will actually be 5 weeks late.
 
We are heading off to Thailand to celebrate with family, as it is also my brothers 40th birthday in May. We decided to meet in the middle... April, and have a tropical birthday bash, my 30th, his 40th.
 
As you do yes?
 
I also got advised by a girlfriend last week to add a date in my diary, a date for a girls night out for birthday dinner and drinkies. Hello! I don't think I can remember the last time I did that. Sad but true.
 
So turning 30 definitely has some excitement surrounding it.
 
Things feel right, as if I am exactly where I should be. Life is good.
 
No crisis in sight here. Bring on 30 I say.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3.21.2013

Travelling with babes in tow continued...

As mentioned in my Travelling with babes in tow post, I said I would share some of the things we do / organise / buy / pack before a trip. Things that just get everyone excited and prepared for the adventures ahead.

So here goes.

  • Starting with something very important. A countdown. Obviously if they are old enough, kids LOVE a good countdown, and so do I. Nothing better than crossing off days, or checking our countdown app's to see how many sleeps are left.

  • We did lots of lead up preparation with Boo (3 1/2 y.o) before our trip to Bali in February. This included lots of google images. The plane, the cabin of the plane, air hostesses, airports, seat belts, noises planes make. Anything I could think of to help her get familiar with what was going to happen, make it less confronting and most of all, make it fun! Some say OTT, pfft to them ;)

  • Lists, lists and then a list for my lists! Nothing makes you feel more prepared than to be organised. Less chance of forgetting something!

  •  A big stock up at the chemist. Yes, you can buy most things where ever you are going, but when you do need something a) do you really want to be traipsing around trying to find it and b) you will usually need it at some silly hour of the morning. We always travel with a good supply of medications and a first aid kit... Just incase! Listed below are just some of the things I like to have on hand.
* Panadol (adult and child)
* Hydra lite - Dehydration (gastro, food poisoning, bali belly ect...)
* Buscopan - Stomach cramps
* Maxalon - Nausea (prescription)
* Immodium - Diarrhoea
* Kwells - Travel / motion sickness
* Claratyne - Antihistamine (allergic reactions)
* Betadine
* Miltons sterilizing tablets - All you need is some clean water, a container and these tablets to sterilize bottles, dummies, sippy cups (all very important when travelling in foreign countries little babes)
* Sick bags (have you seen how small those paper bags or on airplanes? Would struggle trying to catch a child's vomit in one of them! TMI but true ;)
* First aid essentials (band aids ect...)

(Just my opinion. Obviously majority are for adults. Consult with your GP prior to your holiday for advice on what you should take.)

  • Photocopies of passports and travel documents to be packed in check-in luggage. If you have the misfortune of of losing your travel wallet, it's much easier to get things replaced if you have copies.

  • A quick email to confirm transfers, portacot hire, and anything else you may be thinking twice about.

Hope there is something helpful somewhere in there.

Have you got a tip that helps you prepare for a holiday? Would love to hear it!

3.20.2013

Travelling with the babes in tow.


Yesterday, I had a play date with a Mum I hadn't caught up with for some time.

We had lots to talk about, including family holidays that we had both been on since our last catch up.

We shared our stories of the good, the bad and the really bad LOL.

It got me thinking...

What's your take on family holiday's with young children? Do you love it? Are you obsessed by it? Or maybe you would rather listen to nails down a black board than to sit on a plane with young children?

I think some people are afraid of travelling with young children. Afraid of the unknown. Afraid it will end in rocking back and forth down the back of a plane with a screaming child. Hey, it might... but who cares. Your on holidays. In another one, two, six hours you would have forgotten all about it and would be enjoying your family on a fab holiday!

I personally think travelling with babes in tow is the bee's knee's. I tell anyone who will listen. We have been on a few holidays with our babes now and there is always a countdown in progress until the next.

I thought I might share over the next few weeks, some holiday / travel tips that we have picked up along the way that help make our holidays smooth sailing.

So watch this space if you have a holiday with babes on the horizon!