The Long Way Home

I just had to write about our eventful way home because it is all pretty funny now in retrospect.  You would totally think I am flying for the first time and being a mom for the first time.  First, our Ani still has potty accidents at night so we usually put a diaper on but she never has an accident during the day.  I know I should probably bring her in to see if it is something to be concerned about, it's like if she is in deep sleep she doesn't wake up for having to go to the bathroom.

Anyway, on the way to Slovakia she only slept about 2 hours the whole time and so she never got to sleep so hard that she would have an accident.  I thought about putting a diaper on for the way home but for some reason I didn't.  I had plenty of extra clothes and stuff in my carry on bag, which was confiscated in Budapest saying it is too heavy to take on the plane and I had to check it in.  I was quick trying to figure out what one or 2 things I could take out of there that we would need for the trip but then I just couldn't think straight on the spot like that and didn't think of some extra clothes.  Our first airplane ride was great and uneventful and we were soon getting on our "big" plane, that was flying from Munich to Chicago and the whole flight took about 9 hours.  We had to get up early again that day to get to the airport in time so Ani was pretty tired and soon after take off she was fast asleep.  After almost an hour into her nap, as I am trying to catch 20 minutes of snooze here and there, I notice a certain smell.  For a while I didn't think anything of it and then it hit me - Anika.  I quick feel her butt and just as I thought that certain smell was Anika having an accident.  Not only her underwear and pants were soaked but her sweatshirt and the seat she was on.  If we didn't go 10 times to the bathroom before we got on the plane, but "come on" I thought.  My mind started racing what in the world can I do, stranded on this huge plane with absolutely nothing to change Ani into.  I quick started looking through the plane to hopefully see a mom with a child about Ani's age but I only knew of 2 or 3 moms with little babies.  There was no hope. :)  I wrapped her mid section into 2 blankets that they gave us for the trip and took her to the bathroom.  Poor Ani wanted to sleep so bad and when she found out she was all wet she felt really bad.  So that was all within the first hour of the 9 hour plane ride.  I asked a flight attendant if they had anything I could use but she just laughed at me.  So the only option was to grab as many paper towels as I could get in the bathroom and stick it all around Ani's belly, under her pants.  I still wrapped her in those blankets and that's how she sat for the rest of the time.  We still got up about 5 times to go to the bathroom and I was relieved that by the end she was almost totally dry and the smell was not as noticeable unless you smelled her by her clothes. :)

I was relieved about it again when we entered the Chicago airport because somehow too many planes landed at the same time or something but the customs were packed with people and we waited a couple hours in an overcrowded hallway to wait out turn.  Anika was so tired at this point as it was getting close to the middle of the night in Slovakia and she just sat on the ground and either walked when we moved or just scooted on the ground.  I didn't even care anymore, I myself was almost too tired to stand up and I couldn't hold her in my arms.  Well, we finally got our turn and I have never been more excited to get our bags to go through customs because I could finally get a diaper and change of clothes for Ani.  Of course, if I was smart I would have taken a bit more stuff out of that bag as we had to stay in Chicago overnight, which I didn't know about at that time.

That is my dumb moment number 2.  So I have my boarding pass all ready to fly from Chicago to Fargo, our final destination and I was so happy we had enough time to get to our plane because most people flying with us missed their connecting flights because of the customs situation.  Anyway, there were no boards with flight info, just a train to get on and I ask a lady by the train where I should go.  She asked what airlines and I said United to which she points me to the train and said I needed to go there.  We got off at a terminal with a big board of flight info there and I check for Fargo - 8:15, just like my boarding pass so all I had to find was a gate number.  I got it and we slowly got to our gate, even had something to eat and waited.  If I was thinking a little bit it would dawn on me to check the flight number but it wouldn't occur to me in a million years that there are 2 small planes leaving from Chicago to  Fargo within a few minutes of each other.  So I just waited until it was time to get on the plane and that's when the flight attendant goes "you are flying United and this is American airlines".  I just about died right there.  I could not believe that I was just sitting there for an hour and did not realize I am waiting for a wrong plane.  Of course, our terminal was at the other side of the airport and so it was impossible for us to make it in time for boarding since these 2 planes were leaving at the same time.  Seriously, there are so few flights coming into Fargo in one day so why are there 2 from Chicago at the same time?  I was so furious, at myself and everyone, I knew the best option we would have now is to fly in the morning.

And that is what happened.  Luckily the airline didn't charge me for re-booking and gave us a half off coupon for a very nice hotel so that was great.  I called Ehren's mom and then Ehren and of course I just bawled because all I wanted was to get home.  I was exhausted, sweaty, with no change of clothes and no one I knew.  Unfortunately Ehren was already in Fargo so he drove out there with the boys for nothing and I felt so bad about that.  But I guess the main thing is that we were safe and nothing bad happened.  I put Anika into a nice hotel bed after 10pm and she was out within 2 minutes.  The next morning we woke up early to get to the airport and got on the first plane to Fargo and it was so sweet to see our boys again.  Kason seemed so much bigger to me and we all had a great time catching up.  The kids still play and play together so nice, you can tell they all missed each other.

So that is the story of my trip back.  Pretty dumb and sad, after flying that many times to do this, but I guess stuff happens to everybody.  I am glad I am home safe and sound.  We are getting ready for Kason's family birthday party tonight so no time to sit back and relax yet.