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We are off !
Well .. maybe not . 5 hr delay for plane as technical
difficulties so got free vouchers to eat ( 100 ) but Tristan took another 2
they gave him and then felt bad
Arrived San Jose late and too late and cold to enjoy the
nice pool and balcony of special hotel I booked for our first afternoon oh well
! Settled for a local diner 200 metres away and Nicholas got to practice his
Spanish because they didn’t have English menus or skills . Was fun ! So what if
we ordered two chicken tacos and got only one meat one with a bunch of coleslaw
on it . Adventure
Then enjoyed balcony of our room for all of 10 mins
before we went to bed as as wake up was 5:15am !
We had a somewhat restful sleep until old lady Robert
woke us all up with his massive scream ( he was being attacked or murdered
again .. )
Then long transfer taxi bus and boat to Tortiago to the
jungle and rainforest at the Patchira lodge .
Pura vida !
Pura vida ( pure life ) is my motto commanded by Nicholas
. I like it
Will be a fun week to get Emma surgery off our minds and
just relax and enjoy eachother before our lives all change for the next while
with surgery and uni selections and kids living abroad etc
“ vacation “ day
Our second day was honestly really disappointing. What we
were told would be a long 5 hr transfer to the island of Tortuguero became a
9hr transfer ! And not because of traffic . We realized we were gravely
misinformed and that was very annoying knowing that of 8 days 4 full ones would
be fully booked by travel . Seemed ridiculous
In any case with my new pura vida attitude I kept calm to
the point I think my family thought I must be high
We took the longest slowest most annoying bus ride of our
lives - then another one and then a cool boat ride for 1.5 hrs where we all
fell asleep Then got the Pachira Lodge late afternoon ( left hotel at 6am ) and
we ate a delicious lunch and got this vacation finally started !
We went in the pool and did some rainforest walking . We
talked to a bunch of people and I was so proud of Nicholas for his Spanish . We
all found ourselves a bit cranky by the lost day but right after dinner really
got into the groove of it all
We sat by the water and chatted and laughed and enjoyed
eachother . It was also fun to go back to our huts and have screens only and
felt the tropical rainforest rain beat down on the tin roofs off and on all
night Tristan true to his nature took off my himself with his speaker by the
water late into the evening and I couldn’t sleep until I knew he was back
safely in his room . Emma petrified of spiders asked me to sleep in bed with
her so I did :)
Pachira lodge tor Tortuguero
We awoke at 5am in the morning for our excursion in the
pouring rain on a boat to visit the national park by water . We were sure it
was cancelled as pouring rain but no phone to call from room so Robert went
over in a poncho in the rain through the jungle and his pyjamas to ask if it
was on and it was !
5:30am on the boat covered in raincoats and ponchos and
hoods off we went on an u covered boat !
It was fabulous and for sure will be one of my fave
memories of the trip Monkeys and birds and alligators all of us literally half
asleep in ponchos just love it A thin moment as Leah would say and calm and
peaceful
The day just got better even and sun came out and family
swim in pool and boys napped a lot . Great lunch and conversations and lots of
family time just the way we planned . TAught me I have to remember never ever
to judge a trip by first day arrive as always cranky and unhappy mostly for
some reason Not good at transition any of us
Jungle walk for Robert and Emma and Tristan and great
food and lunches and lots of relaxing . Did an excusrion into the little
adorable village and had passion fruit and coffee and Tristan even bought
cigars ( but did not smile them ) which was a first for me to see ! On the
other side where the village is there is a beautiful ocean carribean ocean too
which was very cool . Big waves and dark dark sand . We walked and chatted and
was so hot and nice ( although could not go into ocean as very rough and not
too clean ) but was very beautiful to just walk the beach and be together
Another little jungle walk in the dark to go to the
neighboring lodge which has a hot tub and left the kids napping yet Again Great
last night here after dinner sitting in our chairs by the lake where we had
laughs and also some harder talks about a few things but the setting was right
and was open and honest and also hard and sensitivities between two siblings
And the crazy crazy part of this trip is none of us could
stand the idea of travelling tomorrow another 9.5 hrs to get to surf town part
of vacation ( 5 was already pushing our limits given that 4/8 days of this
vacation would be spent fully on a bus or in a car so we did something
absolutely crazy ) We are chattering a small plane and pilot and taking 40 mins
on plane and then an hour drive instead . We have never ever ever done anything
this last minute and luxurious but decided that would replace an excursion we
were going to add for 300 dollars more ( never realized chartering a plane was
remotely affordable) We decided that this in and off itself was a totally
exciting excursion that we would never forget and would be well worth the extra
cost. We got on the phone with agent and had it all happen within an hour .
Crazy crazy crazy
Howling monkeys and crazy airplane
Oh yes those monkeys without the big rain are very very very
loud at 5am . Luckily the rest of my family can easily go back to sleep . Not
me ! But I loved the feeling of being one with nature and just being in our
little jungle hut with just screens and hearing nature wake up . It felt
amazing
Had breakfast and I went for a great morning swim and
then we left for our airplane ! I was never so happy seeing the kids so excited
in this little “ airport “ omg my nerves were on edge but contained it and
didn’t ruin it for any of them
Well as we were all excited and taking pics and dancing
around we received some troubling instructions :
Get on the scale each of you and get weighed . Uh oh . I
don’t do numbers
Shit . You want me to getter Weighed in front of my
entire family and the adorable pilot ? And maybe told the plane can’t take off
as I ate carbs today ??
Well thank god that weighed me with a 17 lbs knapsack on
my back too so was hard to see what I weighed . All I know is that we were
quickly told none of our luggage could come on the plane with us ( we had
already left a big suitcase in the jungle for a transfer )
This was terrible for my pura vida now . Getting weighed
publicly and having to have no luggage until evening . Too much - but I managed
to keep it together
So there we were laughing and chatting and feeling
excited and the final bomb was dropped
The pilot and air traffic come over and tell us that
there is a “ little issue “ the 1200 flight we chartered was a 5 passsenger and
not 6 !! And ps we need a pilot in there flying the plane
Pura vida slowly and surely moving away - far far away .
I am supposed to trust these people to fly a plane and yet they can’t count to
5 ? And even worse are so blind they don’t notice we are 5 people for half and
hour ? ( and we are the only people on that small tarp )
So our choices are :
Fly separately and he does 2 trips
Wait until 1pm for a bigger flight ( ps whole point was
to save time )
So .. I cry and I cry
We chose the splitting up option and I hug my daughter as
though I will never get to see her again . I cry and cry . And cry for my
husband too . A silent look was all it took for my husband and I to silently
decide there would be a parent on each flight and Emma needed him and the boys
needed me Ps we are very scared of small planes apparently . Willing to all go
down as a family I guess but not spilt up !
And there we had it two flights chartered
And free
Both of them
Because they are blind and can’t count I guess
Was an amazing experience and for some reason a hard one
. Boys and I went to the Caribbean ocean lookout and chatted and sang yoga
songs and talked about love and life and had a good time . Meanwhile I prayed
to god both planes landed safely
I watched as Emma Hugged us all tenderly and said she
loved us . As she threw herself in my arms and said “ are you scared mom -
don’t worry I will be ok ? “ It was a moment we got to have That’s how I am
starting to think about her surgery too It was all very tender
We arrived at Cariblue Puerta Viejo and ocean really
pretty right across the street and nicer than thought . Hotel is what expected
and super simple although the no Towels for pool and the one key only and the
all lights out on property at 10pm were big shocking ! Not luxury that is for
sure !
Big room with ugly furniture but some beach to see which
is cool . A real surf town and the boys quickly got out to the waves and then
of course Nicholas was exhausted after as the waves gave his body a beating for
sure
Emma hung with us and then we all went to dinner for some
yummy Italian food and some snacks for room but we were all exhausted from so
many days waking up at 5am and were very out of it at dinner
Nicholas began a sore throat . Pls god make Emma not sick
before surgery - I truly beg you .
Today was an unprecedented unexpected day ans one we will
remember and talk about for a long time to come
I lost my pura vida ( for good reason ) but I got it back
I adore my children and have never been so proud to be
their mom
They are my best friends in so many ways sometimes there
is a blur at this age that the boys are as adults now between being their
parent and just being with them I feel abundantly grateful everyday that the
only thing I have ever needed in my life I find in this family of mine
I feel like I had to play one role to get them and me and
us all here for so many years and now it’s time to try on the other hats that
have been in the chest for so long . On this trip I have begun ... and it feels
good Part of me regrets I could not have been this way before and part of me
knows for sure I could not have and still ended up with the people they are and
will become Nobody will believe me but it has been in essence the sacrifice of
myself to be as bossy and deliberate in this family . The person who paid the
price is me I think ... but I would do it all over again They are wonderful
autonomous responsible high performing happy confident humans ( could be a wee
bit kinder a couple of them ! )
Surfing day
The problem with surfing here is that it is super hard !
In front of our hotel is where we are told they hold some country wide
competitions so a bit more advanced that what boys are capable of
Today was the off day so meant to surf all day and they
didn’t surf at all / Emma did though and we took her to a beginner beach for a
2 hr lesson and she was amazing Apperently while we were gone the boys swam out
super far in the ocean and got caught in a riptide . Nicholas made it back and
realized his brother was still struggling ( who is a lifeguard!! ) and had to
send a lifeguard to get him . Just as lifeguard arrived Tristan managed to save
himself :( And they friggin tell me not to worry about them ! All have sunburns
too so telling them to wear sunscreen is pretty useless Oh well I say at this
point
We had all a great lunch together and then each headed
off on our own directions for afternoon . Two were sunburned and headache my
from drowning so slept in room and rob and I read and slept on the beach on the
sand . Chase came to join us for a little sleep
Tristan went off for a FaceTime call with sandrine and a
drink at the bar and then we all had a family ping pong tournament before
heading off to dinner at an Asian fusion pls in the pouring rain
Tomorrow is snorkel expedition
Supposed snorkel day
We all got up and ready and rushed the breakfast and as
bus arrived to get us for snorkeling and hiking tour we were informed there
would be no snorkelling Pura vida !
This really sucked given the fact that the snorkeling was
a big highlight of trip especially for Emma and Tristan :((
Changed plans quickly and boys rented surf boards and
Tristan caught a wave and Nicholas has fun trying W Electricity is out at hotel
so no wifi and Emma is bored and upset . We brought chairs and towels and
looked out to the ocean on this cloudy cooler day ( can’t say the weather has
been very nice at all )
At lunch it was as very cool we rented bikes from the
hotel and had a great Mexican lunch in the village by the ocean and than roads
the bikes in the village and bought some chocolate to share
On the way back we got stuck in some rain but made it
even more fun . Saw a little cute jungle massage place and went back me rob and
Emma and had last minute massages in the outdoor huts with all the jungle
sounds around us . Feet soaked in rose petals and best part was the outdoor
jungle shower . ( we asked for that as a favour since the electricity was still
out so boys were completely in pitch dark . Tristan had a nap for 2.5 hrs as he
was feeling under the weather and Nicholas went to look at surfers at the beach
A healer there saw into my souls about surgery and what
she found there was sad :(
We drive back all three on our bikes in the pitch pitch
black . Was crazy and dangerous and a bit wild ( and fun ! )
Headed out to village again for a great sushi and curry
and ceviche dinner
Man our kids are homebodies though ! Want to always go to
bed by 10:30pm .. no bars ... don’t want to smoke cigars and play cards with
their dad ! Lucky us I guess as not hard wild teens !
Dinner was one of my faves at a colourful cool place that
had everything you could want . Kids had sushi and cerviche and I had curry .
Of course we shared the brownie at the end all 5
Was a cloudy unexpected changed plans day but actually I
ended up loving it just the way it was
Snorkeling and last day
Woke up today to beautiful sunshine finally ( we shall
see if lasts as usually one a couple of hrs ) and told that snorkeling could be
on today with 50 percent visibility. We are going for it and cancelled the
planned kayak tour . Off we go for our last day !
Was a super fun day after all and stayed sunny all day .
Was super rustic and simple in a boat that was made of my closet I think but
that is what made it fun . The snorkeling compared to what we are used to in
Turks was really really poor ( and especially what Tristan just saw in Belize )
but we didn’t care much as were happy to be on a boat and swim in the ocean as
beach near hotel is more surf type than swim type . We ended up at a point in a
beach for fresh pineapple and a bunch of pics and was just a really fun
morning. We opted out of the hike part and hired a driver to take us back to
the hotel for some surf since such a nice day . We had a lunch included at a
super cute place
Back to the beach for the only day of hot sun . Boys surf
and Tristan got up a lot today ( Tristan has Bali up on Nicholas where he
surfed and practiced a lot ! ) these beaches are hard surfing and wild waves .
Emma tanned ( burnt ! ) asked us to take 10 million pictures of her and Robert
and I sat on the beach and swam and went for walks on the ocean and just
enjoyed the last of our vacation Chase went for a long walk on his own and Then
we all met up at the pool for some reading and Tristan showed us the video he
made of our trip for a contest at school where he can win 150 ( he will very
likely be the only person in the college we are guessing using their week off
to make a video for school lol ! )
Today was so fun and all my three monkeys got along so
well . I love ❤️ our family
Some cool job offers for the kids for summer jobs too .
Man we are proud of these kids ... seriously they really take care of
themselves well and get into some seriously cool stuff
We are heading off to dinner soon at the only fancier
place we reserved at for some steak . 6 hrs of car tomorrow to airport and then
flight so pick up is 9:30am so I intend to watch the sunrise on the beach and
get 3 hrs in before spend my day on transit
How do I feel about the surgery in 1.5 weeks ? It’s good
to be here . Feels right to all be together here and now . Feels like my mind
is able to take a break from it all Mostly feel at peace pretty much and very
much in the present moments
Other times I can break into tears at the slightest
mention thought or moment and I feel I will never be able to catch my breath
again . I watch her on the beach finally having gained the 8 lbs she has been
trying to gain for a year and seeing the beautiful muscles of her body and
thinking how can she lose that and 17 lbs ? Years of building up that muscle
from years and years of dance to all be gone ?
Clearly the esthetic part is the least of our concerns
and have never really thought about it but on this trip it hit me . The long
scar , the weightloss on her tiny frame . All the things she can’t do for the
next 6 months to 2 yrs and all the freedom of moments like this week that we
won’t have for a long while . All the unimportant things really that this trip
brought up that still made me sad this week ...
So I go between peace and acceptance and sadness and
tears . As the date approaches I feel a quiet resignation creeping up . I
admire my daughter and her courage and strength and also know she is slowly
unravelling too and that the next months will be one of the hardest things she
will ever endure in her life and us as her parents possibly too . I am scared
for her surgery but even more scared for her recovery and the unknown . I am
also scared of who I will become . Can I maintain my work and my friendships
when all I want to do is crawl in a hole and close my eyes and let it all be
over ? Will we be able to accept the love around us even if all the love is
given by people so far that only have healthy kids who can still dance ?
Tomorrow we leave and head back not just to the hustle
and bustle of work and school but to something we have not faced before and a
new world awaiting us
Fancy dinner was awesome and so was the food and service
. Yummy ! Was worth the splurge
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