Yes, we made it. We are officially in the US. We've been here now for 3 whole days (including our stop over in Chicago)! I haven't had a chance to update since we've been so busy. It's been SO FUN just jumping in the car any time, not having to wait for the guard to open the gate, going to STORES, driving IN THE LINES and FOLLOWING THE TRAFFIC RULES!!! Wow, weird... But, that is for another post, I think. This time, I wanted to share our trip out here, which was something that no one in their right mind should do!
It all began on Friday... (well, I've been stressing about it for 6 months, so I suppose it didn't necessarily begin then, but that's beside the point.) I think that was one of my more difficult days... But, before the we left for the airport, we had a short little family home evening. We talked about what things would be like (again) and Devin gave us all blessings. Then, Josh said the closing prayer. Well, amongst other things, he said, "Bless Mommy and Claire and Andrew that they will be safe, and I'm thankful I get to stay here with Dad so I can do whatever I want." Oh dear!!
Anyway, we the driver came for us and we all piled into the car. Devin and Josh came, too, just to see us off. We got to the airport without problems. We got through all the security and stuff (not difficult since we had a lot of help), and then Claire and Andrew and I sat in the waiting room and waved goodbye to Dev and Josh. *Sniff sniff* (I still am tearing up when I think about it.) The plane ended up leaving late, but it wasn't too bad. Probably half hour. So we ended up leaving somewhere between 10:30 and 11pm, instead of at 10. It was interesting trying to keep the kids happy when all they wanted to do was go to sleep or be super crazy. Thankfully, I had brought a few little snacks with me. They ate them all. Ha!
We finally got on the airplane. I must say, business class is the way to go!! There was about 4 feet between our seats and the seats in front of us! And the chairs reclined almost flat! AND, as soon as we got in to sit in our seats, there were the flight attendants helping me put my bags up in the overhead, situating the kids, moving things around, and bringing us juice and water while we waited for everyone to board!!! Wow!!! Both of the kids sort of snuggled into their blankets and pillows (provided by the airline...as I said, I packed LIGHT) and got ready to sleep. Talk about your big car comfort! :) It was so nice and relaxing there! We took off and within a few minutes, both kids were asleep. *Sigh of relief*
The only problem, though, was that we had one short stop on the way to Zurich. Douala. It's the commerce capitol of Cameroon, and a 25 minute flight from Yaounde. Unfortunately, when we land there to pick up more travelers, they have to turn on ALL of the lights, and we usually sit there for 30-60 minutes. I was really concerned that the kids would wake up, think they had just had their 'afternoon nap', and be awake for hours afterward. Well, Claire slept through the WHOLE stop!! Andrew, on the other hand, woke up. He chatted with me and had some water. Then the plane took off once more, and I said to Andrew, "Ok, it's time to lie down and go back to sleep!" He said, "Ok." And DID!! :) They slept the rest of the entire flight! YEA!! They slept through the breakfast wake up and the landing! I had to wake them up to get off the plane--and they weren't too happy about it!
Thankfully, some of Devin's co-workers were flying that same flight with me, so I had a lot of help. I don't know what I would have done without them there--Thanks guys!! I had heard lots of wonderful things about the playrooms there in the Zurich airport, but unfortunately, I never did find it. But, we had fun anyway. We went to a little airport bakery and got some SUPER nasty bananas (I will never be able to eat bananas again unless I'm in a tropical place), 2 containers of yogurt and a soft pretzel for $11 (blah). Once they posted which gate we were flying out of, the kids and I went there and played and played. We had a ball for about an hour and a half just driving matchbox cars to each other and running up and down the empty aisles.
Then, people started coming and we started to prepare to board. I went up to the front desk people to ask for a tag to gate check the stroller. It came to my turn, I went up to the desk, and the lady was busy. Busy, busy, busy. So busy, that she didn't even acknowledge that I was there for HALF AN HOUR!!! I was almost in tears by the time she finally asked if she could help me now, as the kids were fighting like crazy and I was getting pretty tired of standing there!!!!! So, I got the tag, and saw that there were people lined up to get their passports checked. I asked if I needed to do that, too, and she said yes, but that I didn't have to get in line since I had the kids and they were beginning to board (the line was LOOOOOONG!!!), so I went right up to the side of the booth where the ladies were standing taking passports. I stood and stood and stood some more while waiting for the lady next to me to help me. She just continued to ignore me. Great. THEN the clincher: There were two ladies doing the checking. The one next to me ignored me. The one next to her decided to come help the other, walked right in front of me, and with her back purposefully to me, started to take passports. The tears started. A nice couple who were next said she should help me first, so the lady exhaled in that exasperated way, rolled her eyes and turned rudely toward me without a word and grabbed my passports. She looked through them and asked where my tickets were. Hi, they're right there. Then she just glared at me and said, "Well, the other people will take care of it anyway, so it doesn't matter." And with that, she turned away. Boy. What service.
So, I aimed the stroller with my now sleeping children, toward the line of people boarding. I stood there waiting and waiting to be able to get in the line and get on the plane. Thankfully, someone finally took pity on my and let me in. She even offered to drive the stroller while I handed our passes to the ticket guy. Apparently, though, I really didn't have tickets. I only had boarding passes. Huh? How did that happen and why didn't anyone tell me?? So, the guy taking the tickets turned and started typing away furiously on the computer, and I got to stand there holding up the boarding line for a good 15 minutes while he looked things up. He said it was just a problem from Douala (huh?), and that it should be fine, but did I have a print out of proof of our tickets? Yes, thank goodness! So I handed it over, and I followed tearfully after my kids.
Then came a fun experience. The lady helping me drove the stroller right up to the plane and I thanked her, she left and then I looked down at the kids. They were both completely out. And I realized that somehow I had to get both of the kids out of the stroller, fold it up for the gate check person, then take the kids and our two carry-ons onto the plane, all by myself. I sort of lost it, and just stood there staring at the stroller and started sobbing (Yes, I only got 2 hours of sleep on the plane the night before. If you combine that with pregnancy hormones, well, I think it's pretty understandable.) The poor gate check person was at a loss as to how to help me. Finally a nice person in the line offered to help by holding the kids while I folded the stroller, but as soon as the kids were jostled a bit, they started screaming for me...*sigh*
Well, I honestly don't remember how I managed to get the kids and the bags onto the plane in one piece, but I did. Andrew was still asleep, but Claire was now awake. Andrew awoke probably about half an hour later and started screaming (his normal reaction after a nap--but he's pretty inconsolable for about 10 minutes until I can find something he would like, like food or cars). But, other than that, those two kids were INCREDIBLY good through the entire flight. Claire watched movies on her little television (again, we were in business class and I must say I love the ameneties!), and Andrew mostly just drove his cars up and down 'hills' (the seats or my legs).
Unfortunately, we had some grumpy neighbors. Andrew was EXTREMELY good, even for a 2 year old. But, sometimes when he's really happy, he likes to sing, or maybe gets a little loud when talking to me. Any time he got remotely above a regular talking voice, the guy next to us would turn and glare and say "Shhhh!!!" What?!?!? It's the middle of the day, dude! Anyway, I tried really hard to mostly ignore him (meaning not saying anything scathing that my easily irritated pregnancy brain could think up), and try to happily tell Andrew to try to whisper. How can you be angry with this sweet little guy????
Anyway, we got through 9 1/2 hours of this flight without any major incidences, then came my favorite part of the whole trip. Some little boy from some other part of the airplane decided to come visiting the other sections of the plane. He saw us and stopped and stood there and just stared. I don't think he spoke any English...and he didn't speak French or Spanish either, so I couldn't ask him anything. Well, after just staring for like 10 minutes, he left. THEN, he came back. And he came back with a big, shiny, red car. Oh dear. Andrew saw it and started asking for it. The kid just started driving this car all over the floor next to us and our seats. You are taunting me, evil child!!! Andrew's begging for the car began to turn to hysterics, and we began our final descent. The kid finally left, but Andrew was absolutely hysterical. There was nothing I could do, and I felt really bad for everyone around us. Then, the guy next to us just stared at Andrew with this glare of absolute hatred, and started just clicking his tongue, and I lost it, I'm sorry to say. I am not usually a confrontational person, but he'd been kind of on my nerves for 9 1/2 hours, I had barely slept in about 48 hours and I am very pregnant, so may I be forgiven, but I lost it. I looked at him and said, "Well, at least you only have to enjoy this for 20 minutes instead of all 10 hours of the flight." And he responded, "I HAVEN'T enjoyed it for the past HALF HOUR!!" And I replied heatedly with, "He's tired!" Then the guy said, "Well, I'm tired, too!" And I said, "I'm traveling alone with a 2 year old and a 4 year old and I'm 8 months pregnant so CUT IT OUT!!" Well, I burst into tears, too, so Andrew and I sat and cried and cried until we finally landed. When we landed, it shocked Andrew into stopping the crying fit, and he fell asleep. Thanks, kid. I continued to just sob.
I waited for everyone else to get off the plane before I even tried to stand up and gather up everything. I was a complete mess. Now I had to gather all my things, and carry Andrew and my bags to the stroller and try to open the stupid thing up and put him in. Thankfully, again, I did have help. ALL of the flight attendants came over to help. I was able to wake up Andrew (without a screaming fit this time...thank goodness!), and I carried him out while the flight attendants carried my bags and Claire took off ahead of me. I got the stroller out, stuck the kids in it, and, sniffling, steered my way off the plane and into the airport.
I got to the big Customs room (after some elevators and wondering if I were really in the right place or not), and when I walked in, I saw the huge long lines and I started to cry again. I just started walking along the back of the room hoping that maybe there was a somewhat shorter line, or a place where I wouldn't have to do the 'snake' line (that back and forth line waiting is a killer if you have a double stroller and only one hand to steer with). A security guard saw me, and said I could go in the special line for diplomats. No line. No zig-zag. I have dip passports anyway, so I didn't feel so stupid going there. THANK YOU!!!!
After going through there, I found my way out and then wondered where I was supposed to find my shuttle. I asked a lady who was shouting something about shuttle service, and she led me outside (BRRRRRRR--Chicago is COLD!!!!!!) to a shuttle. When the guy asked me where I was going, and I told him, he started to load the bags in. I asked if there wasn't supposed to be a specific shuttle for my hotel, and he said, "Oh, yes, there is one. Yours is close to the airport-this shuttle goes downtown! Go inside and call on the red phone and they'll send you a shuttle." Thank you!! So, I went inside... what red phone? I don't see a red phone!! So, I asked the currency change people, and they told me I had to go to the other end of the terminal. I'M TIRED!!!! Ok. So, another deep breath--please stay in this time, tears!--and let's go for another walk through the masses of people. I got to the information booth and I still saw no red phone. So, I asked the information guy, and he said that they had done away with the red phone. I almost cried again at that statement. BUT, they now had an automated system. You just go over to this touch screen, put in which hotel you want, pick up the phone next to it, it dials automatically, and you request your shuttle! YES!!! So, I did, and within 10 minutes, we were in the right shuttle on our way to the hotel.
My original plan was to go swimming when we got there so that we could go to bed a little later and be much more on our way toward converting to the new time change. Instead, we got to the room, showered, dressed in our 'jammies, read scriptures, prayed, and I read stories until we finally all fell asleep--at 6pm. Good timing, I thought. By 5:30, we were all awake. I did some exercises, because I was really hurting from all the walking and sitting and massive amounts of lifting that I had been doing, and then we went to breakfast at 6:30am. The kids ate yogurt and muffins and cranberry juice. We hung out eating for almost an hour!
When we got back to the room, I had a message on my room phone. Devin and Josh had called! :( I missed them! It was about 20 minutes to 8am. In the message, devin said he was going to call back, but unfortunately, I couldn't wait. :( The shuttle left the hotel only once every hour, and I needed to be to the airport around 8am. My head hurt intolerably, so I went to the little hotel 'market' to find some Tylenol. They did. They had those little sample pouches with 2 pills each...it was $2!!! sheesh. But, I really needed some relief to get through another day of travel! Best $2 I've ever spent, I think.
By the time I got to the airport, my head was still pounding, my eyes were burning and watering and my ears were completely plugged up and I could only hear myself. It was horrible. I tried to ignore it while I was looking for where to check in. Once again, there was a huge long zig-zag line in the baggage check line. I didn't have any bags to check, so I found an information guy and asked if there were a self-check in place where I could check in without having to stand in line since I don't have any bags to check. He took me over to a computer and helped me out...then we hit a little hitch. it only issued a ticket for me. Huh? We tried a few times, but the kids had no tickets. Please, not again! (Thankfully, almost 12 hours of straight sleep does wonders for the tear ducts, and I had no teary eyes that morning!!) So, this extremely nice person took us over to a separate booth and started hacking away on the computer to find what the problem was. Well, apparently, the kids didn't have e-tickets. They had been issued paper tickets. I had no idea what this meant or why there was a problem, but, well, problem there was. So, he typed in all kinds of random things that I don't understand and out comes Claire's ticket. Yea! Then, after another 5-10 minutes, he kept saying, "Something is wrong here..." Apparently, Andrew could get a ticket, but he couldn't be issued a seat. Oh dear. I can't have a lap baby. I don't have a lap!!
Well, then he gave me a print-out of Andrew's ticket sans seat and said I should just go up to the check-in desk at the gate and see if they can fix it. I said ok. Then he told me I needed to head on over to security, and that it was over on the other side... And he said he would carry my bags for me over there and show me where it was! What a blessing! I still couldn't really hear very well, but the headache was starting to go away...and I was having a hard time catching my breath. So I was very grateful. He pulled my bags all the way to the security and got me in line. THANK YOU!!!
I got through security without problems, and went looking for my gate. I think I walked for half an hour to my gate from the security check in! Good gravy! Oh well. By the time I got to our gate, I was SO tired and HOT HOT HOT!!! There was no room to sit (I'm telling you, you couldn't get people out of those airport waiting seats to save your life! Makes me appreciate even more how Mary must have felt being rejected from inn after inn...HI! She's PREGNANT!! Be a gentleman!!! I know, I know, my situation wasn't even HALF as bad, but still...I feel that I can empathize a little more...and appreciate that one innkeeper who said he had room in the stable...I wouldn't have been grateful for that, too!!) So, I parked the stroller next to a big pillar and I sat on the floor next to it. I was SO HOT!!! I told the kids they needed to be my fans and they had to blow in my face to cool it down. They giggled a lot as they blew on me! It was so funny! And it did help (well, Andrew spit a lot, but, hey, they had fun!)
When I was more cool and able to walk again, we went up and got a gate-check tag for the stroller and a seat for Andrew (thank goodness!!) then went in search of water and a little snack. I found some nice HUGE water bottles with the 'squirt' tops (less spilling) and a couple of fruit salads ($18...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...crazy airport prices!!!) and we sat down to enjoy our water and fruit. Andrew doesn't like cantelope or honey dew. :) He's never had it before. Claire ate everything she saw. :)
They started boarding, and when we got up to our turn, the lady said I needed to go down the elevator instead. I said I could just get the kids out and fold the stroller and go down the stairs, but she insisted I go on the elevator. So, thankfully, she called someone over to help me. It was a tiny plane, and so we had to go outside to board. That freaked the kids out for two reasons. One: The plane is LOUD!! Two: It was FREEZING in Chicago!!! A snowstorm was coming (I was REALLY hoping to get out before it hit, as everything was ready and poised to completely shut down!!!!!!) and the wind was blowing...whew, it was cold!! So, I got the kids to the stairs to go up the plane, made them get out, folded up the stroller, checked it and one of my carry-ons, and we all got on the plane. *sigh of relief*
There were about 65 seats (17 rows of 3-4 people) altogether on the plane (maybe a few less...), so it really was pretty small. Claire sat by a lady, and Andrew and I sat on the other side. As we were rolling away, Claire asked if she could watch a movie. I said that of course she could, as soon as we got in the air and they let me turn on the DVD player for her. That was when I realized I had checked the bag with the DVD player in it!!! It was under the plane!!!! OH NO!!! I told her, and I thought she was going to cry! But, we did avoid disaster. I had brought with me stickers, a blank notebook, color wonders, and a really cool sticker book, and that kept the kids pretty happy. Unfortunately, I was so confused with tears at the end of our Zurich to Chicago flight, that I accidentally left 2 of Andrew's 3 favorite cars on the seat of the plane, and I was concerned that he would go bonkers without them... But, we again were amazingly blessed.
The lady Claire sat next to was an ANGEL!!! She sat and played with Claire and talked to her and helped keep her busy the entire flight!! Andrew played with his one car that was survived, a few dinosaurs and the overhead lights and little fans. It was the most relaxed leg of the trip so far. Completely wonderful! The flight attendants were SUPER nice. One of them was talking to me for a bit, then as she got up to do something else, Claire turns to her and says, "Go cook the food!!" Ha! We all got a kick out of that! You could tell she had been traveling on long long flights on business class where they literally serve you food and drink the ENTIRE time! (They even served us Chocolate Ice cream!!!!) This flight they didn't even have a bag of peanuts or something, but that was ok. We survived well.
We landed at Salt Lake, and the lady next to Claire was traveling on to Boise, so we assumed we were going to the same place, so she walked with me, pulling my bags and chatting with me. I just can't get over how wonderful and nice she was! We found the gate, I checked in and got our tickets and seats, and set off to find some food and fun for us, as we still had about 3 hours before our flight left. We went to a Burger King and got chicken tenders, french fries and Sprite, then we went to one of the play areas right next to our terminal, and the kids played happily for an hour and a half!! Then we went for a walk to the bathrooms (this was another of the hardships that I have forgotten to mention before: Claire needed to use the 'potty' every 10 minutes. good grief!! As SOON AS we would get onto an airplane: "Mommy! I need to go potty!!" As soon as we would sit down to eat: "Mommy! I need to go potty!" ANY time we were finally situated somewhere and taking a breather: "Mommy! I need to go potty!" Anyone seen the Apple Dumpling Gang? It's like that. When she says she's gotta go, she's gotta go!!!) We walked up and down the gates until we boarded (this was another time that I really loved the leashes, and recommend that EVERYONE who travels with more than one child have BOTH leashes AND a stroller!)
We boarded the plane, this time even smaller than the last--12 rows of 2-3 people each (so about 30-ish seats). There were probably only 20 people on the plane. Andrew and I were in row 10, Claire was in row 11, and there was no one behind us at all, so the flight attendant asked some of the people in the front to move to the back so the airplane would be more balanced. Claire had her own 2 seats, so she was happy. She played 'peek-a-boo' of sorts with the person that ended up sitting behind her. Kept her happy for the entire flight! :) Andrew was happy to be sitting by the window again, but as we waited for take-off, I noticed he kept getting quieter, and I asked him if he wanted to lie his head in my lap. He said yes, laid down, and before we even started rolling was completely asleep! Poor little lamb. :)
My favorite thing about that flight to Idaho Falls: The flight attendant will get up after about 20 minutes and say: "We have now reached cruising altitude, and we are starting our final descent!" YEA!!! I felt so happy at those words!! We landed and I had to wake up the Andrew. He wasn't very pleased about that, nor about going outside to wait for them to bring our bags over! It was COLD! the kid was shivering uncontrolably by the time I got the stroller up and running. We finally got into the airport and there was Mom and Dad and Celeste and Daniel waiting! They had even thought to bring blankets for the kids which was nice! They draped the blankets over the kids in the stroller and we walked outside to get into the van (another plus to no checked bags: No waiting for the baggage carousel to spit your bag out!) It was so cold! We all said to Andrew, "Look! the moon!" and he promptly stuffed his face into the blankets as much as he could so he could get warm! Poor guy! We all loaded into the van, and the kids sat in the back with Celeste and Daniel and giggled and played the whole way! It was great!
All in all, it was as good a trip as I could have asked for. I was sent many angels to help me along the way. And while there were a few troubles and problems along the way, it could have been so much worse! There were no delays or cancellations. And I had help with my bags through much of the time. As I've been writing this, it's been amazing to see all the wonderful blessings and help I received as I made that amazingly long journey. I know it was answers to many many prayers, and I thank all of you who thought of us. I couldn't have made it without you! :) I am happy to be here again, and now it is finally time to focus on the fact that the reason I'm here in the first place is for the little baby.
The only thing left now is to have Devin and Josh here with me. Soon. All of you out there who would like to, pray for them, too!!
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