New Zealand Days 1 & 2 (Auckland)

We set off for New Zealand on September 26, but had half a day layover on Oahu, so we rented a car and drove to Kaneohe to leave flowers for both sets of grandparents (& then pounded food from a nearby okazu-ya shop)! Perfect way to kill 4-5 hours. 

Our flight to New Zealand was a little over 9 hours, so we didn't land until after 10pm. We didn't hop into a cab until after 11pm to go to our hotel, which was right in the heart of Auckland's city center. (If you're in need of a 2-bedroom apt there, check out the Best Western Presidential, beautiful room and reasonable rates). Though we crashed well after midnight, the 20+ hours of travel were blissfully seamless (well, aside from Rich being formally cited by the New Zealand government for the ham in his sandwich that he inadvertantly 'smuggled' into the country, thereby causing the three of us be temporarily detained by Customs, but that's another story). Because in addition to that little international incident, this happened...

The delicate flower with her friend Karen

I'll try to make a long story short- the next morning, we decided to walk over to the Museum of Transportation & Technology to meet our friends the Hales (since we were told by the concierge that it was a 10 or 15-minute bus ride, or a 25-minute walk away).  Annnnnnd....this was NOT true. Because despite Rich RUNNING and carrying Ryan half the time, while I frantically ran with two heavy bags filled with gifts for the Hales (let's call them 'the kettleballs' for the sake of the story), we soon found ourselves only a third of the way there at the appointed meeting time. And because we were in the boonies, like serious boonies, we had no way to call or hop a cab or bus. About 75 frantic minutes of speed walking with the kettleballs and Ryan, we finally arrived breathlessly...at the WRONG museum building. 

Thankfully, we caught a trolley over to the main building. However, about 4 minutes into the 5 minute ride, I suddenly felt nauseous and told Rich I felt sick. He took Ryan from me because I looked pale. Once the trolley stopped and everyone got off, I suddenly felt so sick (I could barely see, things turned almost dark) that I was worried I would throw up if I tried to stand up. But because I realized I was the only person still sitting on the trolley, I forced myself to try stand up. The next thing I remember- is waking up and not being able to see a thing, but hearing Rich yelling at me and asking if I was okay. I tried to answer him, but my mouth was moving in slow motion so I was slurring my words.

Evidentally when I tried to stand up, I drunkenly staggered/spun around and started to walk toward the back of the trolley instead of the front/off. The minute Rich saw me do that, he flew back into the trolley and caught me right after I'd crashed into a wall of the trolley and started to collapse onto the floor. While he held me on the floor, he kept asking me if I knew where I was (I thought I was in a hospital because I couldn't see anything, but heard a man shouting for an ambulance). Once I came to completely a few minutes later, Nurse Rich assessed me and diagnosed me as possibly dehydrated from the long flight and the 4-5 miles kettleball run (I'd had only a small glass of vitamin-infused water that AM since I thought it was a short walk to the museum). He also thought my recent breathing difficulties exacerbated the situation since I was hyperventilating when I came to. He gave me a bottle of water to drink, which I tanked. I was then put into a wheelchair by museum staff since I still couldn't stand upright/walk. Rich wheeled me over to Karen and almost immediately asked her to push me behind some trash cans...and then vomited all the water Rich had just given me...in the gift bag I'd just given them (it had been quickly emptied). 

So to review- I was over an hour late to see our friends (who had driven with a newborn and 4-year old for over two hours and yet managed to get there on time). I greeted them from a wheelchair (with a green face I was told), and then vomited into their gift bag. Twice. Pretty classy.

Thankfully, after an hour or so in the chair (and a lot more fluids), the rest of the day was lovely. We spent the rest of the afternoon cruising the Museum with Karen, Dylan and the three kids... Despite my drama, it was honestly like seeing family again. I felt bad for being late and puking, but yet comfortable doing it all in their presence. :-) Which is good, because a few days later I made Karen pull over on the side of the road so I could puke from motion sickness (so I cold also reiterate to her how comfortable I was around her).

A few pics post-kettleball race/pukefest/wheelchair drama-

This was a traditional schoolhouse...I wanted Ryan to get a feel of how strict they were back then.

I had to rap his knuckles for good measure.

Reunited and it feels so good. Two sets of besties.