Finally Home After a Long Day of Travel

Yesterday marked the end of our Mommy and Daddy only vacation.  We had a great trip and it was fun getting to see our family and friends!  It has been a long day of travel for us and an emotional day of travel for me.

We got to the airport around 8:00 this morning for our plane that was supposed to leave at 11:00.  "Supposed to" being the key word.  While we were eating breakfast, my mom called to say Rylie was saying she had a headache and stomach ache.  I immediately started to worry, wishing I could snap my fingers and be home.  My mom called back a second time to let us know she was keeping the kids home from preschool as Rylie wasn't feeling up to going.

We made it to our gate to wait for our plane.  About the time we were supposed to board the plane, an announcement was made that there would be a 2 hour delay for departure.  I was disappointed, especially knowing Rylie was sick, I just wanted to be home with my kids.  After talking to my mom about the delay, I made it to the gift shop for more reading material and snacks.  Bill took a nap, as I watched the clock taking forever to tick away two hours.

So as we were getting ready to board for a second time, Bill made a stop by the men's room and I gathered our carry-on bags. Then an announcement was made that our flight was cancelled, and to be booked on another flight, I needed to approach the ticket counter.  It took all I had for me to not start crying, really after being in the airport for 5 hours, we still weren't on our way home.  I stood in line at the ticket counter with about two lines of ten people in each line standing in front of me.  As I saw each person getting booked on another flight, I was afraid by the time it was my turn that there would be no more flights out of Chicago.  As Bill came back from the bathroom, he saw me in line with all of our bags and asked what was happening.  In an attempt not to burst into tears, the lady behind me spoke up that our flight was cancelled.  He immediately understood how my frustration had turned into emotion.

A man for the airline had given me a card with a number on it to call to book another flight.  I gave it to Bill and let him know that the line wasn't that long and if he could call while I remained in line.  He came back letting me know that the earliest flight was at 5:15 the next morning, but the attendant could only see a specific airline and not all the flights.  I became more emotional and told him we were getting home tonight no matter what.  We stayed in line, and as we were almost at the counter, an older gentlemen was arguing over getting a free flight for the inconvenience and wanting his luggage.  This caused the other line to move faster and allowed more people to get booked on flights before us.  I was thinking to myself, "Old man, you are standing in the way of this mama getting home to her babies, one of them being sick."  I felt like the mom on the movie "Home Alone" thinking of all the possible ways we could get home.

Bill was great at keeping me calm and being understanding.  I probably would have had a meltdown on the poor lady at the ticket counter and had some choice words for that old man if it wasn't for him.  We finally got booked on another flight, unfortunately we would have to wait another 2 hours to board and we would be flying through Minneapolis with another layover there.

We finally made it into Phoenix around 7:30 tonight, we were "supposed to" get home around 12:30 this afternoon.  We finally have our babies, Rylie is still not feeling well, but we are happy to be home!!!  I don't think I will be flying for a while!