The Jersey Shore

I've never seen the reality show The Jersey Shore, but I think I get the gist. I'm really disappointed that Americans now associate Jersey beaches with Snookie and The Situation and their antics.

Ocean City, NJ is the complete opposite of hot tubs, sex, and booze. OCNJ is a true family town. My grandparents met in OC in 1939 and have brought their family just about every year since. I first came to OC when I was 6 months old and I think have only missed 3 or 4 years in my 30 years of existance. My dad has been coming to OC for most of his 65 years! OC is a dry town, which is the complete opposite of Ocean City, MD where everyone is plastered and riding the bus. When you sit on the beach, you notice 2-3 generations of families together under umbrellas. Families play games at night, eat dinner together, and are just TOGETHER. Something that is seeming more and more rare in 2011. It is a special place for our family. My grandparents always rented a house for our family and now that they are unable to come, my parents have picked up the tradition.

When we drive over the 34th street bridge and smell the salty air, I instantly feel the gitters and excitment of another summer at the beach. My family sang "Ocean City here we come!" as we drove over the bridge growing up. I still hum it in my head.

There was no doubt that we would bring Evie to OC this summer even though she is 6 weeks old. Packing for the beach is a car full as is, but with a newborn, we were stuffing the CRV. We arrived on Tuesday afternoon for our 5 day stay.

After about 20 hours of being here, I sensed something was wrong with Evie. She wasn't eating and was fussier than normal. I called her pediatrican's office and they instructed me to take her to the ER.

Jason quickly showered off the sun tan lotion and other smelly remains for the beach and we were off to Shore Memorial Hospital. I sobbed the entire way there (all 5 minutes). THANK GOODNESS there was a hospital near Ocean City.

Upon arriving at the ER, Evie registered a temperature near 101. They quickly rushed us to the pediatric ER, which literally opened 2 hours before we arrived. It was beautiful, but all the nurses were running around trying to find supplies. Evie was crying hard, I was sobbing harder, and Jason tried his best to keep both of us in line. I won't relive the horrifying details of all the tests. I left the room for all of the bad stuff. They tested Evie's urine, blood, and spinal fluid. Yes, my delicate 6 week old daughter had a spinal tap. The word "menagitis" had me bending over my knees uncontrollable crying. WHY US??!

I finally got away to call my parents to join us. By this point Evie had her IV with fluids since she was dyhydrated. She still refused to eat from me, formula, anything. She screamed for 6 hours straight. I'm so glad my parents were there for us. I was losing my mind and nothing was comforting me at that point.

To make a long 3 days short- Evie was admitted to Shore Memorial Hospital for 48 hours. None of the cultures ever grew bacteria. I vacationed in the brand new pediatic floor for 2 nights on a hospital bed. My parents brought food, clothes, and loving arms every day. Jason escaped for an afternoon on the roof top deck back at the beach house. Evie started to feed, pee, and poop again. She even gained some weight.

The funny part- Jason forgot his toothbrush at home. As soon as we arrived in our hospital room, there was a toothbrush :) Also, the nurses "babysat" Evie for us on Thursday night, so we did go out for dinner after all. And you bet I had a glass of wine!

We got back to the beach house on Friday evening and enjoyed 36 hours of a somewhat normal beach vacation. My sister's family arrived late that night. I didn't get to the boardwalk, walk Evie in the salty Ocean City air, get a tan, or have Mack n Manko's pizza, but I have my Evie in safe in my arms again and that's all that matters.

Yet another memorable vacation at the Jersey Shore.

Ocean City 2011