Slowly Digging Out

At the airport in LA

Finished with our security check!

Rebecca on the airplane with Daniel

Grandma and Nathan happy to be done with the first long flight

Mary likes the babies

Mary helping to feed baby Chris

I must apologize for the delay in updating the Boys' Fan Club about our trip home and weekend after. Wait--no apologies necessary. I'm lucky to be conscious right now!

Anyway, we left our new friends in Riverside at 5:00pm PST with tearful goodbye's. They truly became like family to us. By 7 pm, we were at LAX with rental car turned in. We (Jeff, Rebecca, and his Mom) walked with trepidation up to the check in desk with our four checked bags, three carry on bags, three baby monitors, and three preemies in car seats. Jeff and his Mother checked in at the computer kiosk easily, but I got some strange message requiring a ticket agent's assistance. Finally after waiting several minutes and being shuttled to different agents, a grandfatherly gentleman working the ticketing desk became aware of our circumstances, and decided we needed a free upgrade to Economy Plus seating. He moved our tickets about 30 rows forward, and put us in rows with a little extra leg room (which also helped ensure the car seats would fit). He also assigned us seats with little likelihood of seat mates (so that we could use the car seats in the empty seats nearby). Finally, he escorted us to the security check, and cut us in line to near the front. What a blessing!

We reached the front of the line, and the security personnel instructed us to put our carry ons onto the x-ray conveyor belt. Then they could not decide what to do with us, our kids in car seats, and our baby monitors. Finally, a supervisor decided we should be pulled aside for special screening, despite Jeff's objections over walking around a corner out of sight of our belongings including two notebook computers. Finally when we arrived at the special screening area, one of the security personnel consented to Jeff's claiming our items before being patted down and wanded. Praise the Lord, nothing was missing, and we were quickly screened (they hardly looked at the boys in their seats and the monitors!) and permitted to move on.

By this time, it was 8:00 pm PST. It was time to feed the boys, and we wanted to boost the batteries on the monitors before leaving LAX. But of course, every power outlet we saw in the terminal was in use. Finally, Jeff inquired of an airline agent about an outlet, and he said we could use the outlet behind his desk, on the floor (in an area not generally permitted for general passengers). So we settled on the floor, somewhat apart from the crowds of travelers, plugged in the monitors, and fed the boys. Afterward we enjoyed some sandwiches prepared by Suzanna before our departure to the airport. Our flight was nearing boarding by this time, so we re-assembled ourselves, and were preparing to head closer to our gate, when we attracted the attention of some flight attendants, and travelers as well (whom we encouraged to keep their distance!) After some ooohing and aaahing, we moved toward our gate and boarded shortly after.

We boarded our flight and Jeff's Mom quickly found that the seat next to hers was occupied. But, another passenger on another row with an empty seat next to hers, volunteered to swap with her, allowing Mom to use that seat for her traveling companion, Nathan. We were all seated and the flight went rather uneventfully. The boys were all great travelers--they slept way more than we did! Chris was Jeff's "partner", and Daniel was mine. The flight left close to on time (scheduled for 10:20 pm PST), and arrived at Washington DC about 6:20 am EST, Thursday. We exited the plane and had to change terminals in order to catch a flight at 7:00 am to Charlotte. We made it, but had to get the kids out of the car seats and check the seats since the flight was full. So, it was quite a sight, us all in the cold jet way, unbuckling and swaddling three preemies. But, we made it, got ourselves gathered and were the last to board. The flight was quick, and we arrived in Charlotte shortly after 8:00 am...without our luggage. We were told it did not make the connection and would be delivered to our home the next day. But considering the fact that everything I had for the boys, other than about a 12 hour supply, was in luggage, we decided to wait for the next flight coming in about 10:20 am. Our luggage arrived around 10:30 am and we left the airport shortly after. By now it was time for the boys to eat again, so after they ate, we needed lunch, so we did not arrive home in Anderson (exhausted!) until about 2:00 pm.

Once we unloaded the van, it was time to feed the boys again, and we all six of us went to bed. Somewhere about 6:00 pm, Mary decided her nap was over, and she woke me from a sound nap with a greeting. We ate again, fed the boys again, did our nighttime feeding schedule, and got up Friday morning at 5:45 am (keeping in mind our bodies are still on PST--so really 2:45 am), to prepare for and arrive at the pediatrician's office for an 8:00 am appointment--and we made it!

We were very happy with our new pediatrician. He said the boys were all doing great. Only Chris needs to gain weight a little better, so we are "spiking" his formula with a little extra calories provided by baby cereal. That has been a little challenging, finding a nipple that does not clog with the cereal (we think that's resolved now). Over the weekend we slowly caught up our laundry, unpacked, and caught up on sleep (somewhat), and started organizing things at home (a little). We still have a ways to go.

I am anticipating the arrival of my parents (specifically my mother who has volunteered to spend a couple months with us, helping with these early challenging days of the boys).