This flight was dreaded from the minute the Dubai idea was conceived. I knew it was going to be hardest endeavor to which I have ever committed. And it was every bit of the torture I accounted and lots that I couldn't have even imagined up.
The date for the flight was set for March 23 and I began training for the event right away. I took all three kids to the mall many days during the week to fight the crowds and "ride" the escalator (yes, one escalator... recall we were in Tulare/Visalia staying at my Moms). I thought we had this component figured out.
I worked on the details diligently. They were as follows; Drive to LAX area the day before in my mini Van, have the van picked up at the Embassy Suites, my Mom would be meeting us at the hotel later in the day to assist in the evening and with the airport drop-off, then head to the airport in the morning after a good nights sleep. Well, the day before the LA trip my Mom comes down with a horrible case of Strep throat and can not go. Lovely. I wake up Tuesday morning with my very own sore throat, packed up and left as planned. The show must go on. My Aunt Sue met me in LA at Embassy Suites. FYI: there are two Embassy Suites in the LAX area within a mile. They will not inform you of this when you checkin. It can be a royal pain in the ass in the event you have someone meeting up ;) Thank goodness she came out to help me with the kids. I sure needed it when that tow truck flat bed showed up in the street out front the Hotel at 5pm to pick up my vehicle for Shipment. Geez. Can you just imagine me with my three kidlets running around the street at LA rush hour, yikes.
Me and the kids wake up, hit the breakfast bar, load up onto the Shuttle for Airport and are on our way by 8am. I love curbside check. Now, onto the beginning of things not going smooth. We have four carry-ons. Two normal size with wheels and two smaller ones bungied atop the wheelies. Sienna is in charge of one (we had practiced this). As we head to the first Escalator, I have one carry-on and Liam's hand, Sienna refuses to pull the carry-on (it is too heavy all of a sudden) and Myles refuses to get on the Escalator, terrified. Now we have a major traffic jam at the base of the LAX airport BEFORE security. All this causes Liam to throw himself to the floor in a full tantrum meltdown. I can feel myself sweating, the fever was not helpful either. Did I mention we are in the First-class priority line? Oh yeah, there was that too. Thank God for the very helpful couple who volunteered by force to help me all the way through Security for the simple price of the, "20 question Game". Starting with the obvious question, "Is there a Husband and why isn't he here to help?" To which I answered, "I am sure he is out to dinner with friends right about now... VERY concerned ;)" This flight actually went very smooth after the unexpected 3 hour delay. What was supposed to be a relaxing dinner and playtime in Chicago O'Hare airport turned into a rushed frenzy to make it to our connecting flight with no dinner. I fed them M-n-M's out of sheer desperation.
Security was again in our details. Ugh. The Airline Etihad had sent me my own personal helper to get me through, thank goodness. Of course, I get pulled aside for a detailed search. Visualize me putting Liam on and off and in and out of my Ergo baby backpack three times (that was a God send by the way, I recommend everyone invest in that device). We board right on schedule and dinner was served right after take-off. I issue the kids the their soft blankets which were packed in one of the four pieces of luggage and I had wishfully hoped that they would peacefully go to sleep in their seats that fully reclined. Not a chance. To abbreviate a VERY looooong 14 hours, the couple sitting behind me said it best, "Lacey, you could have expended much less energy had you just stood beside the kids' seats for the entire 14 hours to cater to their needs." Versus the 3 million up and downs from my own seat. But, they were not crying, they were not screaming. Thank God for small miracles, right?
We are alive and we are home...
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