The Way Things Are...

So, besides those pleasant afternoons enjoying family time in the sunshine touring beautiful sights in Europe, there are those many more days of reality in between. Yesterday was one of those days. This is long, but you might appreciate it - in some sick way!
Let me set the stage:
- The kids have been sick with bad colds all weekend - coughs and high fevers.
- Keegan has picked up the bad habit with this cold of being over-sensitive and coughing hard enough to make himself vomit.
- We have met the doctor we've chosen here once, very nice, British (Speaks English).
- The doctor's office is located not far from here in a nice little town called, La Hulpe, which is a French commune.
- I speak exactly three words of French - Bon jour, Merci, and Wie.
- The town has narrow winding streets with cars parallel-parked on both sides.
- The main road is quite busy and also where the doctor's office is located.
Now, that's a lot of detail, but it will make sense as the story unfolds.
Yesterday morning I called the doctor to inform her that the kids are very ill and I'd like her to see them. We make arrangements for an appointment that afternoon. I get all three kids down for a nap before going, but Keegan doesn't fall asleep right away. So, I have to wake him up after a short-hour nap to take him to the doctor. We make it there fine and the Lord blessed us with a parking place somewhat near the office that I can just drive into rather than parallel-park. I have concerns it's in a school pick-up zone, but risk it. Now, Belgians are only in a hurry when they're behind the wheel of a car. So you can imagine I was making friends unloading three kids from carseats on the busy, narrow road! We made it to the office where Mikayla made herself at home touching and playing with everything possible. Keegan whined the whole time - again, short nap, not feeling well. Cayden did ok because I was holding him. Thought it was going to be a quick trip, so I carried him instead of taking a stroller. So, after determining they have sinus and ear infections, the doctor writes out thorough simple directions for me to give them the medicine she's prescribing. Then, informs me that you can just walk down the street to the pharmacy, hand them the prescription forms, pay, and be done. So, as I'm gathering up the kids, including Keegan who's let himself out the office door, I decide to chance the French-speaking pharmacy up the road since we're all out of the car already. How bad can it be? (FAMOUS LAST WORDS!)
Begin the trek to the pharmacy. Must cross the busy road - find a cross-walk. Wait for a car to actually stop for us amongst the traffic rolling by. Blocking our path on the sidewalk is a group of people talking with about six little dogs. You all know my kids are dog-lovers.... managed to get them through the crowd and down the sidewalk without touching or asking to touch any animals. (I'm still carrying Cayden.)
Enter pharmacy. There are four pharmasists and probably four other patrons in the tiny little store all speaking French. I have try to have the kids sit in a chair and that lasts all of 29 seconds. So I have them sit by my feet while I try to get the meds. (Remember, they're not feeling well, haven't been exerting themselves all weekend, and now are tired out from a walk besides.) So, I have a lady filling the prescription - slowly. People come and go from the store. One coming with a poodle, yes, in the store. Of course, Mikayla wants to see it. Get her back over by me, she sits, and Keegan stands up hitting his head on the corner of a little shelf they've built for people to set their purses, but happens to be at toddler head height. So, while holding Cayden, I'm trying to console him. He wants to be held... then he starts crying harder... and then throws up! So, I'm trying to help him, hold Cayden, and ask the lady for a cup or bucket or something because my son's puking on their floor! Remember the amount of French I speak, that's about how much all the others spoke of English. I was "acting out" vomiting to try and get the ladies behind the counter to help! Keegan vomits again! Finally they gave me some tissues... thanks... then a more helpful one gave me a trash can and some paper towels. She actually came and held Cayden for me so I could help Keegan. I kept saying "merci", "MERCI"! We managed to calm the situation down a bit before leaving... when Mikayla noticed a kids table with books that they could have been looking at the entire time! So, they sat there content while I paid, with Cayden back on my hip, and gathered things to try and get out the door. At least everyone there was smiling once things settled down... not sure if that was polite or happy to see us go?
Thankfully, traffic thinned a bit and we could get to the car ok. Packed the kids in only holding up about six cars. Got out of the parking spot ok and still made it home before the afterwork traffic!
Unfortunately, I have to go back to the pharmacy to pick up the rest of the medicine because they were short a couple bottles! Not sure if they'll let me in!!!
Now, I'm not looking for sympathy by any means... just sharing some of the "real fun" we're having here sometimes too!