Airport Antics II - the return flights

We're home in Texas. Made it home Wednesday night - just 24 hours after we'd planned. So did our return trip go smoother than our trip to Maryland? Here's the story. You decide.

(If you missed the story about our trip to Maryland, or just need a good laugh, you can read it by clicking here.)

We were scheduled to leave Maryland on Tuesday afternoon at 3pm, and arrive in Texas at 7:30pm. But our first flight was delayed because of weather, leaving just 18 minutes to make a connecting flight if we were to try to do it. Um... that's not going to happen. Ever. It takes me and the kids 20 minutes just to get off the plane - by the time we get off last, haul our bags out, keep Faith from walking away as I get the stroller together, and then get everyone buckled in and on the move... So we had our flights rescheduled for Wednesday.

Thanks to a smart thinking Gramma, we got an earlier first flight so we'd have a slightly longer layover before our 2nd flight - ensuring enough time to use the bathroom, change diapers, find our gate and grab dinner.

So we got to spend an extra night with Gramma & Grampa. Which was perfect timing since Wednesday morning Nathan finally decided it was time to say "Gramma" - I think I could see my mother's heart melting! I'll share more about that on another post later.

Anyways, so back to the airport we go on Wednesday. Nathan was SO proud to pull his own bag - his Thomas carry-on from Uncle Dave, stuffed to the rim with toys and snacks. He didn't care what was in it, though, he just wanted to pull it! He refused to let me help, and if I put it up on the stroller, out of his reach, boy was he mad! He loves that bag, Uncle Dave! And it was fun to watch people in the airport, as they watch that adorable little guy pulling his own bag, walking through the concourses like a big kid :)

Flight #1 went well. Gramma was able to come through secruity with us to help out - after a very frustrating conversation with the ticketing agent... who was quite insistent that two toddlers with one mother is not a "special need". Apparently he's never had kids! Or if he has, he's never taken them through airport security by himself! Anyways, long story shorter, he finally allowed my mom to get a special pass to help out. Yes, it's do-able without help. But it's SOOO much easier with help!

Once on the plane, it was evident that it wasn't a full flight. So our seat mate disappeared. Hmm... wonder why. LOL And the kids didn't notice, they were too busy laughing and staring out the window. They were loving it!

The flight itself wasn't bad, either. The kids ate as though they were starving to death... all the chicken nuggets I'd gotten before the flight, an entire thing of fries and part of my own chicken sandwich. 3 oranges, a half-sleeve of Ritz, a sharing size bag of M&Ms, a few crayons and a bite of play-doh. Why does play-doh always go straight to the mouth??? At least it never rolled away, or made a mess. Except Nathan's front top tooth was bright red for a little while... lol

The kids soon settled into their seats and were pretty good for most of the flight - it was nice for them to have the extra room to move around. Nathan enjoyed his Thomas book (thanks again, Uncle Dave!). But I'm not sure how much the guy in front of him enjoyed listening to the music it played... over and over and over again. The man did move seat eventually. lol

And Faith enjoyed the light-up Christmas tree. Until she threw it and it landed under the seat, scaring the flight attendant as she went by and saw something flashing under our seats. Oops :)

After our 2 hour flight, it was off to find a bathroom to change diapers. We lucked out and got a family bathroom - one of the best inventions ever! I'm so thankful for family bathrooms!! And while I repacked our stuff, the kids had fun singing to their reflections in the mirror. lol

Then it was off to find our next gate. I knew we had a 2 hour layover, so there was no need to rush - that was nice! We found the monitors, pulled out my itinerary (that I got Tuesday) and looked for our flight number. Found it... now eyes scroll across to see gate b13... and then... CANCELLED. What?!?! Cancelled!!?? I remind myself to stay calm, we'll figure this out. It's only 4pm, we'll get home eventually today. lol

Turns out my Tuesday itinerary was not the flight I was actually on. Remember that obnoxious ticketing agent who fought over letting my mom help me through security? He must have noticed the change and put me on the new flight. Same time. Same destination. But thru gate D26 and on another airline - but still thru Delta. Not sure how that all works, but, as Jacob says, they're probably all in cahootz with one another anyways. After noticing this on my tickets (not itinerary), I see we don't have seats. It says we'll get seats 10-45 minutes before departure. We headed to the D concourse, but our gate was still for another flight, so we left to wander and kill and hour. Hoping to find a play area for the kids, but unable to.

We did, however, find a place to get headphones for Nathan - so he could watch a movie on the laptop (and hear it!) on the plane. And Faith finally gave in to a nap on our walk, too. I think she was exhausted... lol... look at the position she slept in?!? Funny stuff!! I slipped the stroller canopy up and put my jacket over it to give her some darker privacy since everyone in the airport wanted to ooo and ahh over her and her adorableness :)

Nathan & I kept walking, him pulling his Thomas bag. And then we found a Cinnabon. Yumm... The kids had such a big lunch on flight #1, that I was pretty sure they wouldn't eat dinner on flight #2 so soon. Especially if there was a nice snack before the flight... and what's better than a cinnabon?? lol

Nathan enjoyed it! And even though we were quiet, the moment that box opened and the smell of cinnamon escaped, guess who woke with a smile?? Yup, Faith. Perfect timing. lol

Faith liked the Cinnabon, too. See it on her nose?? lol

After our snack, it's off to flight #2. And boy is it crowded at that gate!!! Turns out it was an overbooked flight. And they were asking for volunteers to go on a later flight. I tried to volunteer - it was just 1 1/2 more hours to stay in Atlanta, the kids were happy, and we'd get $400 in travel vouchers for volunteering. Plus, maybe I'd luck out and the later flight wouldn't besold out, and we could have 3 seats again. But long story short, I wasn't able to get bumped. We got seats instead. Row 16B an Row 10B. Uh huh... 6 rows apart from one another!

Now, I wouldn't mind, so much, being 6 rows apart from Nathan and only having to deal with one toddler on the plane, by myself. At least, I wouldn't mind nearly as much as the people in seats 10A & 10C would mind. LOL But, generously a young lady offered to move up to Nathan's seat, 10B, giving up her aisle seat and the right to fly next to a mom with 2 toddlers, in exchange for a middle seat at the bulkhead... hmm... wonder who got the better deal in that one...

And our seat mate was a middle aged gentleman that didn't mind the kids at all. That was great. Especially considering what happened next...

The plane takes off - mind you, I'm covered in gooey teddy grahams that both kids have spit out onto me (apparently they don't like cinnamon teddy grahams... or maybe it ws jsut too much cinnamon after that cinnabon??). And there was no room in the overhead compartments, so our big carryon is under my feet, making it all the harder to find the wipes, in the Thomas bag, so I can get un-gooey...

Anyways, plane takes off, and I get the wipes. Next, I find the laptop and new headphones. I pull them out, in preparation for when they give the OK to use electronic devices. I was ready to get the kids watching a movie - and maybe it would help entertain them for teh 2 1/2 hour flight.

Electronic devices allowed... so I turn on the laptop. And I look over at Nathan and see this:

He's sound asleep, head resting on our seatmate's arm. And our seat mate is sound asleep, too. LOL So much for the movie!

I still boot up the laptop and get the movie started for Faith. I plug in the new headphones... and the don't work!!!!! I'm getting a VERY faint sound out of them and nothing else. Oh I was frustrated. Cause I can't return them... I left the packaging and the receipt in a trashcan in the Atlanta airport. Not to mention the store is in Atlanta! And I live in TX... Anyways, that was annoying... but I move on. Gotta find things to entertain Faith with for 2 1/2 hours on my lap.

Ohh... speaking of laps... what is that I feel?? Its warm. It feels wet. Oh no... it isn't... oh yes it is...

Faith pees through her pants. Onto me. Nice. I look up to see where the bathrooms are, and their both blocked. The beverage service has started, and the two carts are each 10 rows away from us - blocking any chance of me taking Faith to the bathroom for a private diaper change. At least for 45 minutes. I wasn't about to hold a leaking-diaper-wearing-wiggle-worm for that long. And so, I do the unthinkable. Again.

Problem is, I can't reach the diapers... not without waking Nathan in the tight, crammed space we're in. But, with some luck and a lot of toe work, I'm able to get to a diaper. It's an overnight diaper. Cool - that's even better. It should hold for the next 2 hours well, right? :)

Wrong. I put it on and SNAP - the side breaks off. Great... how will I attach it now? No tape - well, I had tape, but it was in the bottom of the Thomas bag - completely unreachable at the moment. Remember, I've got a naked, wiggly toddler in my lap, in a tight space, with lots of strangers watching my every move.... The tape we had was for Nathan. A friend suggested it'd make a great toy for him to keep him entertained for hours on the flight. Awesome idea!! Too bad it only worked for 10 minutes. But, hey, that was 10 minutes!! :)

Anyways, back to me - holding a wiggly, naked toddler, with a pee covered pair of jeans and lots of strangers watching. Oh, and a broken tab on the diaper! Macgyver mom has a brillant idea. And this may be TMI... but... within MUCH easier reach than another diaper is a pantiliner. In my pocket. So I pull that out, stick it on and WAH-LA, instant diaper-fixer. LOL

I didn't take a pic at that moment - remember, lots of strangers watching me. I've already done enough strange things while changing a child's diaper in my lap (at least I didn't use the tray table!). They don't need to see me take a picture of my daughter's diaper, too... lol.. So after our flight, I snapped a pic before changing her diaper. Just for you. Cause I knew you'd laugh ;-)

Needless to say, flight #2 was long... and tough. But it would have been a lot harder had I had to entertain both kids. Thankfully, Nathan slept for 2 hours of the 2 1/2 hour flight. And we had 3 sisters sitting behind us to help entertain Faith. She adored them! Them, and the hair of the woman who sat in front of us. So sorry, Miss!

We met up with Jacob in the airport, got our checked car seat and headed home, to sleep in our own beds and settle back into normal life again. And all the way back to the van, Nathan still insisted on pulling his own bag - not even Daddy was allowed to help. Not even when Nathan's overly tired, and really just wants to sleep. He still refused to do anything but walk himself and pull his own bag. I told you, he loves that bag! :)