Dorothy isn't on my list of top ten favorite names. It might not even make my Top 100. But this past week had me wishing for her ruby slippers. And red is my least favorite color (as a self-respecting Auburn fan).
Before Corben arrived we planned a trip to Maryland for a week. Colin had a work conference to attend and I thought it would be a good time to visit friends and family. Some ideas are better in theory.
Saturday morning started off ok but as we coasted down the airport boulevard we noticed the traffic lights were out. Not blinking. Just off. Hmmm. We parked and unloaded our mountain of "stuff". We packed "light" considering we were going to be gone for a week. 2 large rolling suitcases and one small duffle to check. 2 carry ons (the kids each had a small carry on too but I'm not counting those). Oh and a stroller, stand on attachment for Connor and 3 car seats. But seriously we packed light. It just took 3 trips from the car to get all our stuff in line to check bags. And speaking of line to check in. It was fairly long - not too long but it also wasn't moving.
Remember those traffic lights that were out (I had forgotten in the rush to get everything and everyone in line. Well the power went out at the airport and even though it was back up . . . the computers weren't. Manual check-in was making a 15 minute line nearly an hour. The kids were perfect angels. Unfortunately we used up all the patience capital before we got on the plane.
Ok so we were a little rushed by the time we got to the gate. We didn't get to perform our usual routine of filling up cups and bottles before boarding but otherwise all was good.
I purchased Early bird check-in to make sure we could all sit together. Ha. There were already 75 people on board before we even lined up so they allowed families to board first (which is not the usual practice) -so I didn't need early bird check-in.
We couldn't all sit together which I luckily found out a few weeks ago when I called to add Cora and Corben as lap children. I say luckily because had I found out when we were boarding the plane I would have just totally freaked out. There are only 4 oxygen masks in each row of 3 seats and there are 5 of us. Yep.
The "plan" was to have Colin and Cora together and I would have Corben (I was loving this plan). Once we found out it was a completely full flight we then decided to have Connor sit with Colin and Cora to give Cora a little more room to move about. We found 2 empty rows. Corben and I sat in front and the other 3 C's directly behind us.
We sat at the gate for 30 minutes past our scheduled departure time. Kids were so good. I mean sooo good. Connor had a sweet nurse sitting on the other side of him who clearly was sent from heaven just for Colin on this trip. She totally reminded me of Colin's mom, who I'm sure would actively choose to sit with a dad traveling with 2 little kids to help out. Finally we were up in the air and on our way.
Cora was a little squirmy when we started the descent but then got fussy when we kept circling BWI and circling. I was trying to check on them by peeking through the cracks in the seats. Connor didn't look good. He was getting whiter and whiter and fast. Colin couldn't really help him because Cora was kicking and trying to get out of his arms (but of course she had to be sitting in Colin's lap for landing). I warned Colin and the nurse that the sea bands on Connor werent in proper position and he didnt look good. Colin managed to get the tiny sick bag open. I had Corben and couldnt strap him in Ergo baby carrier because he cant be "attached" to me for take off or landing. I kept thinking: If we could just get on the ground. If we could just get on the ground. If we could just . . . Too late. Puke on plane. Not much made it in the bag. But the good part? Cora got quiet and still. Really quiet. Like she didn't move or make a sound at all until we were off the plane.
Lessons learned (other than we may never fly again and I really considered driving home) :
1. Give Connor Extra Large Ziplock Baggie at beginning of trip.
2. Take the time to put sea bands back in place after washing hands (ahem)
3. Puke shuts Cora up. Ha.
But see if they would just put 5 oxygen masks in a row or if not in every row - a few rows so that families with puking kids can sit together and spare the poor nurses of the world from the experience of Saturday.
So Connor felt better (obviously) and once the luggage arrived we got him new clothes and things were getting better. But how could they have gotten worse?
As a side note, I decided to pack the kids clothes in ziplock bags this trip (wish I had saved one of those bags for the plane ride) but it was helpful to just pull out a bag and send Connor off to change and have a ziplock for the dirty clothes.
Ok so back to the trip. It was about 3 when I left Colin and the kids and wheeled the 3 car seats down to catch the rental car bus. I was first in line at Hertz but somehow I still had to wait about 20 minutes before someone could be bothered to assist me. Despite what I was told on the phone when I made the reservation, they would not add Colin as an additional driver without him present. And yes I had his license. And yes I am a Gold Card member (but since I didn't book the reservation under the Gold Card Colin had to actually be there). Logic? I quickly figured out that I wasn't winning this battle and agreed that it was a "reasonable" solution to be allowed to have Colin show up to any Hertz location and add him as a driver (without charge). Ok. So off to get the minivan. Um that isn't a minivan. Sure it is an extra large SUV but I happen to know that the SUV is $100 dollars cheaper than a minivan andplusalso? I reserved and paid for and re-confirmed the day before a minivan!!! Back inside to find out what was possibly going to go right today. As the manager explained "pre-assigned vehicles" and "low supply" I just lost it. I want a minivan. The agent just sent me outside to get in my "minivan" - her words. What kind of operation is this? Truthfully the reason I wanted the van was because I know how to install the car seats and my kids know how to get in and out with relative ease. Oh, and because I took the time to call and reserve a van months back and confirm said van the day before. So I want the van. And I want it now before you suck any more of my day away wasting my time. And I don't care why your company pre-assigns cars to people that are different than what was reserved and promised. Not to mention charging me the van price and trying to give me a cheaper car. STOP the madness and give me the van. I got the van. Now back to pick up Colin the kids and the luggage. A few stops to pick up our DVD player at Caitlin's (Colin thought this was wasting time but he was wrong. Kids were so good after this stop and Cora is now an unofficial Neverland pirate) and some pack n plays at Bob and Amy's and we were on our way to NOVA for the night. The kids played and the adults laughed. Colin and I ate our first food (literally other than a granola bar) of the day at 6:30pm. Talk about running on empty. Seriously, thank God for good friends. We had such a fun, relaxing end to a dreadful travel day.
See all smiles! Little Joshua in the top right of the photo may be Cora's husband - or at least boyfriend. She loves her some "Jossshh". Too bad we forgot to take a bath photo! I'll blame it on a hectic day.
And now Corben's first flight is documented and what a day to remember!
As I type this at 5 am waiting for my kids to wake up and Colin already on the road to DC for work I am watching to OK tornado coverage and know that even a challenging day of travel with my babies is still a day with them. My heart is heavy thinking about those poor children and their parents in Oklahoma.
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