Snacks on a Plane

The flight home to MI was completely miserable.  Awful.  Not fun.

We made it through security much easier this time.  Curb side baggage check.  My dad accompanying us to the line.  Going through the short international line.  A breeze.  We made great time.  I nursed the babies and we got everything in order before they even called us to the line.  We went over to the terminal and stood with the crowd that was forming.  The Delta lady waved us to the front and let us board before everyone else... we looked like we needed extra help I guess.  The only disadvantage to this plan was that everyone walked by us on the way to their seats and got a good look at the people with the crying babies.  I think Scarlett is scared of being on the plane cause she was on the floor crying most of the time people were boarding.  I had to hoist her into my lap (mind you I have a baby in a front carrier) so the guy could climb over her and get to his window seat.  Thankfully we had economy comfort seats that have extra leg room.

Scarlett kept crying while people found their seats.  The flight attendants all tried to help.  Scarlett declined everything they offered: plastic wings, chocolate, snacks, etc.  And Scarlett's crying made the babies get fussy.  A were a hot mess.  A hot mess.  Finally it was time to buckle her.  I waited as long as I could.  Then I grabbed her and man handled her into her seat while I fastened the lap restraint and pulled it tight.  She was hysterical.  I saw a guy sitting us put on his headphones.  They weren't plugged into anything (since all devices had to be turned off).  Nope, just using them to drowned out the sound.  I wish he had an extra pair for me.

Once the engines started spinning faster (ie: flight idle) and we drove to the runway Scarlett calmed down.  She was asleep before we even left the ground!  I guess the benadryl that she "needed" for her "allergies" finally kicked in.  She slept for most of the flight!  YAY!

The babies also received their much needed allergy medication before the flight.  But they kept waking up anyways.  They were crying/fussy for at least half the flight.  Jake and I was constantly working to keep them quiet.  We passed them back and forth, stood up and bounced them, nursed them, burped them, swaddled them, etc.  It was exhausting.  I had to hold both babies while Jake went potty.  Then when I had to go potty I just kept Siena in the sling.  Glamorous.  The couple sitting next to Jake seemed very off put by the babies.  And the gentleman next to Scarlett wasn't friendly at all.  At least he didn't get too upset when he had to clean up all the m&ms she spilled all over his seat.  There were nice people that would say sweet things when they walked past us to the potty.  Why weren't they on our row instead.  Bad luck.

When we finally got off the plane a grumpy old man said something about the flight being "too noisy" when he walked past us.  Luckily Carolyn's MI friend Jennifer was on our flight and she helped us get all our gear off the plane.

There were a few moments where I thought I was going crazy.  But I decided before we left that no matter what I wouldn't lose my cool.  It wasn't easy - but I just kept telling myself: "all these people get to go home and have a nice relaxing evening.  This is only 3.5 hours out of their day.  These are just little kids - not misbehaving teenagers.  We're doing all we can."

So ya, it was the greatest experience.  I think I can wait another year before trying that again.

We were sad to leave our family but it is wonderful to be home and in our own beds.  I video recorded Scarlett coming into our house.  I was curious what she would do since we were gone for so long.  I thought she would go running into the playroom or into her room... I was wrong:

Nope, the first thing she did was put her shoes away in the closet!!!  Couldn't be prouder!!!!!!!!!

We are slowly settling back into our routine.  It's a lot harder than I remember to be alone with all the girls all. day. long.  I'm burning through my chocolate stash at a high rate of speed.  I feel like a zombie in the days.  But I know that it will get better.  Scarlett has already snapped back into her nighttime routine.  We're putting them all in bed at 8 pm so we have a few min to unwind without screaming girls.  But they are all waking up at night.  Scarlett will scream for me and I have to go rock her back to sleep.  The twins are not sleeping a long chunk of time like before.  But we are all still adjusting to being back home and in the eastern time zone.  I'm not freaking out quite yet cause I have a feeling it will get better.  *fingers crosses*