I had the most perfect start to the weekend with S. He made me smile and challenged me a bit but that's what kids do, right? While my family is in New Mexico sending my sister off and R is off training the little on an I spend some much needed quality time. on Friday after we did some errands and checked on R's house we stopped at King's Fish House for lunch sat outside on the patio and talked. Friday must have been the dal all the cool parents were out with their kids : ) People were watching us and one lady commented to me on her way out how adorable S was and that she wishes all parents would take time with there kids like S and I were doing. I told her I don't get to do it often but when I do they are my most memorable times with him. She happened to be out with her granddaughter. On Saturday, we did a little shopping, got S a nice haircut and had lunch at El Torito's then we finished off the day by playing his favorite educational game Brain Quest (Grade 1), I'm buying (Grade 2) today because he's too smart for his own good. 

This morning I sent him off with his dad...this makes me sad sometimes. I love being with S but every time his dad picks him up he has this look of utter depression on his face. Maybe he doesn't realize it but damn it shows, bad. I remember when he told me he had separated from him wife (like I even cared anyway) he looked happier and was more pleasant to deal with. Like he stood his ground for once, obviously that didn't last long. Now dealing with him is ridiculous. He has an attitude and is always combative with me. One thing I have always done is be consistent. If I'm a bitch I'm going to be one, give people a reasonable expectation. He's a Gemini so i guess I should expect mood swings since they don't know what's going on half of the time anyway. It seems to me like he needs someone to stand with him, like a child does when they're scared. I stand alone and have never needed anyone to back me up in conflict or in resolution. It's just sad to know someone could be a better person yet they let other people drag them down.

I can say I needed this trip, just for the sole purpose of relaxing and getting my mental back on track. We left the house at about 4:30am to head up to R's, I had planned on leaving at 4am but S had an asthma attack right before we had to leave so I had to tend to the little one. I got him straightened out and then we we off. We had a great trip up, S had no more attacks and basically engulfed himself in my iPod games most of the way up, I in "Dirty" was completely and utterly in another world in that book....truly my element. My twitter pals will know that my son had to go to the ER on Friday night, our first night camping. S had been having some breathing trouble all day and we just couldn't get it under control. R's best friend Rob is a medic and luckily he was on the trip with us and he was nothing short of an angel helping to look after S, everyone did and I am beyond grateful for everyone's concerns. When it came time for me to make the call for S to go to the ER, R was right there with me and drove us to the ER for S to be seen. It was hard for me to see him in that condition, barely breathing and scared. He said to me in the truck, "Mommy, I don't want to die...", can you imagine the feeling of helplessness I had? I reassured him that I would let nothing happen to him and that I would never leave his side. I had to keep my composure and not break out in a flood of tears because it broke me to pieces to hear him say that, I just looked into his eyes and started to talk to him about his favorite book "Zen Shorts" and remind him of his favorite parts...which got a smile out of him. A smile I had been longing to see all day. The staff at the ER was amazing, quickly attentive and concerned. I will be writing a letter to them about their treatment of S and their efficiency. R and I were very pleased with them.

Heading back to the campsite Steven was very alert and looked great after being given his treatments. I was thrilled he would be able to sleep in comfort. On the first night after the little one was down for the count, R and I stayed up until 4am that morning. Our adrenalin was running so I don't even think we could have went to sleep if we wanted to. Later that morning (2nd day), was the day I'd been waiting for...the gun range. We made the most interesting drive up this huge mountain and then down the other side to a range. You could practically shoot anything you wanted to, and our group did. You can see all of the fun in the Vandenburg AFB set on Flickr. The remaining days we indulged in fishing, good food and conversation. In my opinion the perfect camping vacation. Now will someone please check me into a 5 star hotel...because I think I'm due.