The Return Trip

On Thursday, Oct. 25th Eddie, Joey and I got up at 1:30am to begin our travels home. We had just over an hours drive to the airport and had to check in at 3:30am for the 5am flight. Again we made it to our first stop and made the connection no problems. When the plan was getting ready to leave Minneapolis we had to sit at the gate to burn fuel as the plane was too heavy!! This delay was going to make for a very tight connection in Memphis. I was prepared. I called the 800 number to get the gate number loaded the boys and all our gear into the baby limo and we RAN (I mean I really RAN) through the airport. The plane was still there, but they had closed the doors 2 min ago and they wouldn't let us get on. The man (single and probably age 25 with NO kids) got a direct flight to Panama City. Cool this should be no problem. I get to the counter with 2 screaming kids and they want to re-route me through Atlanta!?! I looked at the lady and very calmly said there was no way I was gonna take my chances getting stuck in Atlanta with two screaming kids. There had to be 2 more seats available on the direct flight. She rolled her eyes and mustered up enough trouble to say, "I guess I can check" Like I was asking her a huge favor!!! Lo and behold there were seats and she could get me on the flight. She gave me 3 booklets and said they were meal vouchers. I opened them only to find a discount if I booked a future flight with Northwest. I shoved them in my folder and sat down to feed Joey and get at least one kid to stop screaming. I was successful as we found a toy motorcycle and lollipop as well so they were both quiet and we had 6 hrs to kill in the Memphis airport so I was in no hurry. We walked down every corridor possible and multiple times. One guy was trying to give away his meal vouchers. I just looked at him and said, "I have 3 of those and no idea how to get food with them." He showed me how to tear about the packet and the food vouchers were totally hidden inside. Cool now we had $30 in food vouchers to spend while we were killing time. First we went to a fast food place and I just ordered whatever we wanted thinking it wasn't my money. It came to $9.98 and the lady working the register was totally amazed as she said no one ever came that close to the $10 voucher amount. We ate and walked some more. A few hours later we went to Starbucks. I got the largest drink and 2 huge muffins as again, it wasn't my money. The total was $8.97. We had only an hour left to kill so I decided to take the boys to the gate to hang out. I visited with another passenger that missed the same connection as we did and he complained that they didn't even give him meal vouchers. I said no problem and gave him Joey's. He was very thanful and ran down to Starbucks himself. It was time to board and Eddie was getting very cranky since he had been awake sine 1:30am. He finally gave in a fell asleep on the flight. Good we were almost home. I had called and given Daniel the flight number so he and Alan should be there to meet us and then I should get a nap myself. Eddie was not happy to wake up when we landed and in fact he was yelling and screaming you would have thought I was totally abusing him. I was completely embarassed and searching for Daniel to rescue me. No luck. The computer showed that our flight never left so Daniel was taking Alan's buddy Aidain home and would come to the airport when he could. I lost it!!! Well all our bags and carseats made it so I loaded them on a cart and loaded the kids in the stroller with our carry ons. I pushed the stroller and pulled the cart and even managed to find the van in the parking lot as well as the spare key in the diaper bag. I got the car seats installed, kids buckled in (Eddie is still screaming at this point) threw the bags in the back and had to deal with no parking ticket in the visor. I paid the $16 bucks and couldn't wait to get home. Daniel calls to check in and I told him to head home and we would meet him there as I really am Super Mom and we were already on the road. When we pulled in the driveway it was all worth it for the hug and smile I got from Alan as he ran to me when I opened my door. Daniel brought stuff inside and had stopped to pick dinner up for us. I started unpacking and doing laundry immediately as we were leaving the next day on a road trip to Alabama in separate vehicles as Daniel had to continue on to Georgia for a TDY. I don't think I've ever slept so good!!