We're working on an upcoming special feature in The Saratogian called "Fifty Things I Love About Saratoga" (check it out on Sunday, June 26) which has been a little nerve-wracking and exciting, too. We started out asking each other "Do you think we'll be able to come up with fifty things?". Yet after crowd sourcing and brainstorming meetings, the shared sentiment became "How on earth will we narrow it down to fifty?!". That's the great thing about Saratoga. There's so much to love.

Since I've become a parent, my list of things I love about Saratoga has changed somewhat. Bars have been replaced by playgrounds, and white tablecloth restaurants are outnumbered by the kid-friendly variety. Don't get me wrong, this gal loves a romantic night out with a glass of Cabernet in hand, but the reality is that those nights are few and far between and finding a place to eat that will welcome our spirited five year old - most likely with a friend in tow - is a weekly dilemma. Although my son is pretty well-behaved at the "fancier" restaurants (he's been to most, including Prime and the Wishing Well), it's just not as relaxing for us or those diners decked out for "date night".

Just for fun, here's my 'short' list, "then" and "now":

Evening out - Evening in with D'Andrea's Pizza

Dinner at Chiati - Dinner at Forno
Sipping wine at the Wine Bar - Shirley Temples at Circus Cafe'
Gideon Brunch - Down home breakfast at Shirley's
Late night downtown on Caroline Street - Quiet morning at the Saratoga Farmers' Market
Attending a mid-week cultural event - Sitting on the bleachers at a T-ball game
Afternoons on the patio of a downtown restaurant - afternoons at the Children's Museum
Strolls in Congress Park - Strolls in Congress Park (with a little guy between us)

Although my life has changed dramatically, one thing remains the same: Saratoga is a great place to live, work, play - and grow as a family. There's no place I'd rather be.

A week ago Monday, I had planned to take a much needed personal day to decompress and get things done. The most important item on my to-do list? A 90 minute massage.

The Saturday morning prior, my son woke up with a fever. Not just your ordinary 'throw a dose of Tylenol at it' fever, this was of the full on chills-body aches-crying variety. Scary. He hadn't had a fever like this since he was a baby. With a big night ahead of me, I called my parents in as reinforcement and headed to the Children's Museum at Saratoga fundraiser at Saratoga National [I'm on the Board, otherwise I would have put on my PJ's and stayed put]. I made it through most of the evening before my folks alerted me to yet another fever spike. Poor guy. I went home to do what moms do. I cuddled, snuggled, and wiped tears and tried my hardest not to breathe in the germs. My personal day was right around the corner and it was my very first day off since the year began.

Sunday arrived with a repeat of Saturday's fever with the added pleasure of my own scratchy throat and headache. No biggie, I told myself. We'd both feel better in the morning.

Wrong.

We both felt WORSE in the morning. My dad came over so that I could go to the doctor first thing. It was official: my personal day was now a sick day. When the doctor said "you have bronchitis", I thought I'd heard him wrong. My first case ever.

My son's diagnosis came on the fourth day of fever Tuesday afternoon. By the time we made it to clinic hours at the pediatrician, they'd seen more than a dozen cases of flu. My son had it too.

The planned personal day was not to be (I didn't get my massage...wah wah), so I let it go and got back to work on Wednesday and proceeded to play a serious game of catch up that would last through the weekend.

Annoyed? Nah. If there's one thing you learn as a working mom, it's that the kids come first, then work, then massages. Even on my worst day, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm turning my "fail" to focus and planning our first ever family international trip. The Roses are going to Ireland this summer! More on that later... I'm also sure I'll get that massage at some point and it will be just what I need in that moment.