Ava's cast came off on Wednesday, so they planned to leave for Wisconsin Thursday morning. Ava didn't love the packing or having to go to the store with Jay and then having to keep herself entertained. She'd napped for about an hour and a half after her cast came off, but she was exhausted.

After dinner, Hailey went to start loading things into the back of the Jeep and Jay was showering. Ava was tired. She just wanted someone to help her with her pajamas, cuddle her, and then tuck her in. So, she put her crayon down and went up to her room, grabbed her night time diaper and some pajamas, then went to find Hailey.

"Haiwey," she called out, going into the garage.

"Yeah?!" Hailey called out. Ava followed the sound of her voice to the back of the Jeep.

"What's up, Aves?" Hailey asked, moving the stroller.

"M tiwed. Hep, pease?" Ava held up her diaper and pajamas, looking up at her sister.

"You're so cute, Ava Grace. Let me finish this and then we'll get ready for bed, baby," Hailey did not expect her sister to stomp her little foot and burst into tears; so far, Ava hadn't been a typical 4 year old and didn't just throw fits.

"No! I'm tiwed! Pease, go to bed!" Ava cried, dropping to the ground as she sobbed.

"Woah, okay, I'm sorry, baby. C'mere," Hailey lifted the little girl up and went into the house, Ava wailing and saying she was tired over and over again the whole time.

"What happened?" Jay asked as he came downstairs.

"She's tired. She asked for help changing and I asked her to wait. She lost it," Hailey sighed, laying Ava on the couch so she could change her.

"Weird. Do you think it's a tantrum or a meltdown?" Jay had discovered the difference between the two in a book he'd been reading about parenting with Hailey.

"I'm thinking more of a meltdown. She's had a really long day and ran around a lot more than she has since we met her," Hailey answered, placing a hand on Ava's stomach to get her attention. "It's okay, you're okay, honey. I'll change you, just breathe."

Ava nodded and her thumb went into her mouth as Jay grabbed her bunny and gave it to her. He sat by her head and stroked her hair while Hailey changed her into a diaper and her pajamas, helping move her so her shirt could be changed. They were glad she'd had a bath after her cast came off because it clearly wouldn't have happened otherwise.

Once she was changed, Hailey lifted Ava up and held her close, trying to soothe her. "Jay, will you please go finish loading stuff into the Jeep? I'm going to go rock her."

Jay kissed both girls on the head and went to the garage while Hailey took Ava upstairs and sat in the rocking chair. Ava settled in her lap, her head pressed to her chest above her heart.

"I sowwy. Am I in twoubwe? Pease, no hit!" Ava grew scared, but Hailey was quick to soothe her.

"No, no, you're not in trouble. Yelling wasn't a good thing to do, but you aren't in trouble. I should've noticed how exhausted you are and helped you get ready for bed earlier. And we will never hit you, Ava. Never. This house is safe. However, if you just yell at us because you don't get what you want, that won't be okay. We use our nice voice always, baby," Hailey stroked Ava's hair as she spoke, feeling the toddler nod.

"Okay, I'm sowwy," she yawned, settling completely.

"It's okay, baby," Hailey rubbed her back and felt Ava grow heavy against her in under five minutes. Glancing at the little clock in Ava's room, Hailey saw that it was still thirty minutes before Ava's bedtime as she put her in her bed and tucked her in.

"She's out," she said as she went into the garage to help Jay.

"Do you think she's getting sick? It's early," he asked, worried.

"I hope not. I think today was just a lot for her and she didn't nap as long as she has been," Hailey responded.

They talked as they finished loading up most of their stuff then went inside and relaxed. They knew the next day could be long, they hadn't had Ava in the car for more than 45 minutes at a time yet, and that was once.

——

Come morning, after one nightmare that Jay comforted Ava after, the little girl was back to her normal self, happy as could be. And beyond excited for their trip.

She ran into Hailey's room after breakfast, asking her to hurry up. "I'm hurrying, Aves! Can you go make sure you have your bunny and blanket? And that Jay got your monitor?" Ava nodded and ran out of the room.

The little girl was in a blue romper and her hair was in two french braids, which Hailey had done while she was eating her breakfast. Jay saw the flash of blue before he heard Ava coming.

"Did ya get my monitow?" She asked as he lifted her up and tickled her. Tickling was a new touch that she was okay with; the first time either one of them had tickled her, she'd had a panic attack.

Ava laughed and Jay kissed her cheek before setting her down. "I got your monitor, kiddo. Let's make sure everything you need is in the car. Do you need to go potty?" Ava went back to her room with Jay and made sure she had her comfort items then he left her with Hailey to use the bathroom. Ava was still in pull ups, but now that she could move a lot easier, they were starting to work on really potty training her. Hailey's plan for Jay's first week back to work was to get the potty training done.

Soon, everyone was in the car and Jay was driving to the nearest highway to get them to Wisconsin. The drive was normally about 4 hours, but they knew with a toddler it would be longer. They just had no idea how much longer it would be.

Ava was great for the first hour and a half. They had music playing and Hailey let her watch a show on her iPad. Then they stopped for Ava to run around and for a bathroom break. It was towards the end of hour two that things started to get rough.

Ava's tummy was starting to feel funny. She drank some water, but it didn't help, so she took a bite of her granola bar. That made it worse.

"Tummy ow," she sniffled, catching Hailey and Jay's attention. Hailey's eyes widened. Crap.

"Do you need to go potty?" Jay asked, hoping that's all it was.

Ava shook her head. She was getting hot. She pushed her lovies off her lap and into the middle seat as she started to sob. "It ow!"

"I used to get carsick, pull over!" Hailey had already unbuckled before Jay fully pulled to the side of the road, and jumped out to get Ava, who was working herself up.

Hailey barely had Ava out of the car before the toddler threw up. Hailey helped her bend over and rubber her back as her little body shuddered. Ava let out a loud cry before getting sick again.

"I know, just let it happen, baby. I'm right here, you're okay. Everything is okay," she soothed. Jay was over with them at this point, holding some napkins and Ava's water.

Ava finished and stood there, crying. Jay wiped the little girl's mouth and helped her rinse her mouth before Hailey lifted her up.

"No wike!" She cried into Hailey's neck.

"I'm sorry, Ava girl. I'm so sorry. It'll be okay soon," she told her, swaying and rubbing her back.

They waited a little bit for Ava's stomach to calm down, and after a quick change, they were back on the road. Hailey sat in the backseat with Ava this time, wanting to be close in case she got sick again.

Ava's poor stomach didn't like the car. Within thirty minutes, the toddler was fidgeting and crying about her tummy as she started to sweat once more. Hailey grabbed an empty sack and held it for Ava as she threw up for the third time.

"Make it stop!" She begged once she finished. Their hearts broke; the kid had no idea what was happening to her and unfortunately, it wouldn't stop until they were done in the car.

"I wish I could, baby. Let's try watching a show and see if that helps," Hailey tied the sack shut snd put it in another sack and wiped Ava's mouth, used some hand sanitizer, then put a show on her iPad.

Ava put her thumb in her mouth and rested her head against the side of her car seat, quickly dozing off. Hailey frowned and looked at Jay.

"I wish she wasn't like me in this way. I just hope she grows out of it like I did, otherwise traveling is going to suck," Hailey put her head in her hands. She was sad her little sister was dealing with this.

Jay reached a hand back and touched Hailey's leg. "I'll stop at the pharmacy in the next town and get her some medicine and pedialyte, it should be about 30 more minutes. Are you doing okay?"

"I'm fine, just worried about her. I haven't been carsick in years. I'm definitely giving her something for the drive home," Hailey commented, squeezing Jay's hand before looking over at Ava.

Ava only lasted ten more minutes before she suddenly threw up in her lap and started crying hysterically. Hailey was just glad she'd already moved her blanket and bunny out of the way.

"Jay, pull over!" Hailey called out, getting a sack open before Ava could get sick again, having it under her mouth just in time for the next round.

Jay pulled off the road and ran to open Ava's door. He got her out of the car once Hailey had her unbuckled and quickly pulled her soiled clothes off of her little body. Ava was in hysterics, reaching up for Jay to hold her, begging for it to stop.

Hailey got out and used the wipes to get Ava cleaned off so Jay could pick her up. "I'll clean the car if you calm her down," Jay nodded and started walking back and forth by the car, rubbing Ava's back.

He was able to get a little water into her as she settled against him. Hailey was relieved the damage was mostly in the car seat, so clean up was a little easier. She glanced over and saw that Jay was swaying with Ava.

It made her heart swell, seeing her husband with her baby sister. He was amazing with kids.

Once everything was sorted with the car, Hailey got Ava into a clean pull up and a sun dress before Jay started driving again. Ava whimpered when the car moved.

"No mowe, pease, go home," she sniffled around her thumb, easily breaking their hearts. They still had 45 minutes on the road.

"I know it's not fun, baby. I'm so sorry your tummy isn't happy right now. Jay's going to go get you some medicine that will help and then we'll get to the cabin," Hailey ran her hand over Ava's braids, hoping to provide some comfort.

Ava didn't like it, but she nodded and pointed to the iPad hanging off the back of the passenger's seat. "Pease?" She asked quietly, clearly exhausted from her stomach's hatred of a car trip.

"Sure, babes," Hailey got a show on and Ava lasted until they pulled into the pharmacy parking lot before she was dry heaving into another sack. Not much came up that time and Hailey got her to drink some water before she took her inside with her.

Jay got motion sickness medicine, pepto, pedialyte (to dring and popsicles), and some saltines while Hailey was in the bathroom with Ava. Once that was done, Jay got some medicine into the toddler while Hailey stood by the car, holding her and rubbing her back. They also managed to get two crackers in her before she refused, but she accepted some of the pedialyte before she popped her thumb into her mouth.

By the grace of God, once they were back on the road, Ava fell asleep and stayed asleep for the remainder of the drive. Once there, Jay settled the little girl on the couch with her bunny, blanket, and a trash can (just to be safe), and he and Hailey unpacked and started to make a very light, and late, lunch. Hopefully, the rest of the trip would go much better than the drive.