What a Week!

I decided about a week ago that I didn't want to wait for Steve's niece to bring Riley back to me in April. So I found a decent price on a flight and made my way to San Diego this week to reunite with my baby boy. The only flight I could find was one that had me arriving in SD on Tuesday night, and leaving Wednesday morning. I didn't want to tell everyone I was coming, because I didn't have enough time to spend with any one...and the time I DID have, I wanted to spend with family. I was really anxious the entire flight to see my boy, and I decided that I wanted to surprise a couple friends when I got there as well. The flight was long, but peaceful, and I got the "warm fuzzies" seeing the Coronado bridge when I came in for landing. My parents were in Arizona for the week, so my brother picked me up from the airport. We picked up Riley and headed straight to my great grandma's house! We visited there for a while, and then headed to my parents house where I could have enough time to wash the only set of clothes I had (I was wearing them) and to our surprise, my parents decided to drive back in town to surprise me in SD. I was so happy to see them! I spent a little while at home with my parents, brother and Riley. I then went to surprise Becky, and then Kara. Tara and Ingvild showed up at the place I met up with Kara. It was definitely great to see my friends and it didn't even seem like we hadn't seen each other in 3 months!

I got back to my parents house at about 11:30pm (2:30am Raleigh time) and called it a night. When I got up, I packed Riley's things, had breakfast with my family, Beck came over for a while longer, and then I was off to the airport...

and THAT'S when it ALL started.

My dad dropped me off at 11:50 for my 12:50 AMERICAN AIRLINES flight. Yes...too bad I was flying American for this trip. I'd usually fly Continental or Delta, but the cheapest flight I could find for such short amount of notice was American. Bad choice this week. You can read more about it HERE. Me and Riley went through the stress of security only to get to our gate on the OTHER SIDE of the airport to find out that our flight got canceled. I called my dad and he came with my mom to pick me up. I was pretty bummed...but when my mom asked if I wanted sushi for lunch, I immediately felt much better! I'm sure Riley was confused. Oh well...we went to Sushi with my parents, my bro, and his girlfriend, Beth. Then on our way home from lunch, my dad decided that he wanted to make Carne Asada for dinner. I was even more excited about that!! We got home, I put Riley down for a nap, and then headed to the store with my mom to help her with her Jelly Belly's and to buy stuff for dinner. We got back to my parents invited my aunt Dani over and ate dinner.



I SLAUGHTERED my family in a game of Scrabble. They don't think "entreats" is a word, but it is, and it got me 75 points.

I packed up in the morning and headed for the airport AGAIN for my rescheduled flight at 12:20pm. So...I get there...got through security with Riley, get down to my gate on the OTHER SIDE of the airport, to realize my flight is delayed an hour. "Ok...I can handle an hour...let me just call my dad to let him know I got here ok." Yea..that would be the point of the story where I tell you that I left my cell in my bro's car. I made change for a dollar and called my dad. He already knew I had forgot my phone. My brother was on his way to meet me at security (on the OTHER SIDE of the airport) to hand me my phone. The security people thought it would be a good idea for me to go through security again...I didn't complain, but I did dramatize how heavy Riley was, and made my back pack fall off "on accident" a couple of times while the guy was explaining the rules to me. After being shot with a few doses of sympathy for me, he asked his boss if they could just pass my phone through security while I waited for it. So that's what they did. I got it, made my phone calls and headed back to my gate on the OTHER SIDE of the airport. As I approached the gate I heard them announce another delay...that made 2 hours. and a while later...another...which made 3 hours. Thankfully Lindbergh field is on the ball with free wifi so I had a vice to keep my mind off time for a while. In the mean time, Riley started running a fever. Like a really high one. He just slept on the chair next to me. I felt so bad for him and was not looking forward to having a sick boy on the plane. As time ticked away, I realized that since my first flight was delayed, I might not make my connecting flight in Chicago. I was originally scheduled to fly in to Dallas Ft Worth, but that changed because of all the cancellations...so they connected me into Chicago's O'Hare. I called the airlines and told them my concern about not making my flight, and they told me to talk to the ticketing people at the gate. So I stood in line behind about 15 VERY disgruntled people and when my turn came I told them my situation. I told them "I'm connecting in O'Hare for a flight to Raleigh, and I was just wondering if you think that since my flight's delayed here, that there's a chance I could miss my flight in Chicago." They told me I had a BIG chance of missing my flight in Chicago, but that they're usually good about giving discounts on hotels there. Um..yea..I wasn't about to get stuck in Chicago with my boy. So I told them if they thought I wouldn't make my flight then I would just stay another night in SD and fly out in the morning. They then informed me that they couldn't put me on another plane until Tuesday of next week. I told them I needed to get home sooner than that. They did some button pushing and told me that Chicago's flights we're all delayed and that I'd have about a 10 minute window to get on my connecting flight. So I decided to risk it and get on the plane to Chicago. After a lot more waiting, and then an hour more of waiting on the plane before takeoff...we finally headed out for Chicago. When we landed four hours later, we had to wait another 20 minutes for a place to pull the plane in, and another 10 minutes for a group of people going to London to get off our plane and run to another plane waiting for them.

Finally I got Riley off the plane and ran as fast as I could to the arrival and departure screens. I didn't need to run. It was 9:40PM (Chicago time), I knew it was delayed until 10, but I didn't know until I got there that they delayed it another 3 hours. 12:50pm was my estimated departure time. So... I had to figure out what to do for 3 hours with my sick boy in my arms. I knew I needed to keep busy so that I didn't start feeling the pain of my tiredness, so I changed Riley's diaper, and scoured the airport for food. Everything was already closed, but thankfully I found a vending machine with milk for Riley. I filled up his bottle and changed his diaper again, then walked back to my gate with an hour to spare. I wanted to rent a cart to push Riley in, but they were 6 bucks and I just couldn't bring myself to buy one. Thankfully on my way back, with Riley on my shoulders, I found a stranded cart and jacked it. I felt like I was Tom Hanks in Terminal! Riley didn't want to be in the cart though, so I just carried him anyway. I got back to my gate, and I was tired...my arms hurt from carrying my boy, and I was starting to feel myself wearing out. I sat really close to the ticketing line at my gate so that I was aware of any changes. It was snowing like crazy outside and very windy. Every time someone opened the gate door a gust of cold air would come in and literally sting everyone in the room. There were other people sitting there...even mom's with babies...but they all had strollers. I didn't. My sick Riley was laying across the arm rest of my chair and my lap with my sweat shirt over him. We just waited and waited and waited. I went in and out of my sleep stupor and every few minutes caught a glance of a guy about 20 feet away from me smiling at me about every 10 minutes. I didn't want to make conversation...because I looked like crap and I was just tired, so I turned the other way and just sat there. My emotions all started welling up inside me as a result of my tiredness and feeling sorry for my baby. But, before I let the tears start rolling, I reminded myself that I was in a better circumstance than most of the people there and that I had done REALLY well with Riley and that I was just a FEW hours away from being home in my nice warm bed and getting to reunite Riley with his daddy and brother. That's about the time when one of the ticketing ladies came and asked me for my boarding pass. Since the entire day was just full of airport miscommunication, I figured they wanted my boarding pass to check when the plane was supposed to get there or something. After a few minutes, I glanced back at the counter and saw the guy I mentioned earlier talking to the lady. Right then I knew God was going to bless me and Riley. Sure enough, they both came over, and the guy said "Hi, I just saw you and your son sitting here, and I know it has been a long flight day for everyone here. I travel a lot and I want to trade you, your ticket for my first class ticket." As he was talking, all I heard was God's voice, delighted in my efforts in staying patient and strong throughout the day. I replied "are you serious?!" He said "yes, I'd be honored if you would take it!" I obliged, and thanked him a ton. I tried to explain my story to him and before I could finish he just said "I know", smiled and walked off. He finished waiting for the plane in a spot where I couldn't get a good picture of him. So I pretended to throw some trash away and stood behind him to take a picture of at least his profile..for my blog of course. Well...I didn't know that my phone's camera sounds were turned on, and when I snapped the shot, everyone in the gate turned as if the friggin paparazzi was there. I quickly turned around and acted like I heard the snapshot behind me like everyone else. He probably saw me, but oh well. First Class people were called to board the plane (that was me!!) coach passengers boarded next and the guy waved at me and Riley as he passed by. I thanked him again and he again told me he was glad to do it!! We took off, and I took full advantage of blankets and pillows, warm wash cloths and ample leg room! There was actually enough room in the seat for me to put Riley next to me instead of on top of my lap! We enjoyed our last leg of the flight home. As we got off the plane at 3:00am, I headed to baggage claim. Our flight was the only people in the airport at that time. I wanted to find the "guy" to thank him again and ask him for a picture...well...you know how the story goes with that...I waited and waited and never saw him again! I didn't get a good picture, but I have his boarding pass to always remember the nice gesture and God's blessing on me that day. So... Richard Puckett, if you happen to google your name...I hope this post comes up! Thank You again for your generosity! I'll never forget my first time sitting in first class!!

Riley was ecstatic to see his daddy and brother. We had a little play time at 3:30am and then all went to bed together at 4am. I enjoyed my time in SD, but I'm sooo glad to be home!! Here are some pictures of me and my family before I left!







I'm so glad I was able to see a few friends and family this week, but I'm even more glad to be home with all three of my boys today!