So, Sat arrives and we are flying out to Bham. We were flying on a Buddy Pass from a friend, so were fortunate to have the free ticket. One thing about a "buddy pass" though, is that you actually are flying stand-by and risk being the one bumped from the flight. Pretty brave to do with your first flight with a 3 month old, but we were going for it non-the-less. I called the airline that morning and we were good to go. She said there were 6 open seats and we were 1 of 4 "listed" on the flight on a buddy pass. Once we checked in, we were the first on the stand-by list. We were pretty sure we would make the flight.
We arrived at the airport at 1:30 for a 3:30pm flight. We were to fly through Midway(chicago) and then on to Bham. It was perfect bc the plane leaving Charleston was continuing on to Bham so we were not even going to have to change planes. Everything was looking good. We were delayed about 30 min from the start due to some weather going up the east coast. We sat outside security with Jeff and had lunch at the airport. We were delayed again, and the last I recall we were delayed until about 5:15pm. It made for a long day in the airport, but Madelyn did great. We ate, napped, did what we needed to do. Around 4:00, I went on through security and Jeff left. The planes were landing and they were calling for boarding. I was issued my boarding pass and we were on our way!! I had gathered our things and Madelyn was sleeping in my arms. Then......I hear it......"Leslie Coleman, please come to the desk". Urgh!!! What's changed!! Well....turns out someone got sick on the plane coming in, and they had to close a whole row of seats, therefore, leaving not enough seats for us to get on!! :( No problem, he says, you are going to go out on the next flight through Baltimore and connect to Bham. I asked how tight my connection was in Baltimore? He said, as of right now, you have about 45mins, and if you aren't going to make the connection, I won't send you on this flight. We were delayed a little longer bc storms were coming through Charleston. Finally we were on the plane and I thought all was good. We sat on the runway a little longer to let some lightning pass. And off we were. By this time, I am really unsure of what time it is, or even exactly what time my connecting flight takes off, I just know, that I will have to run to my connection.
Madelyn slept for take off, woke in the air and stayed awake the rest of the flight. She nursed on the descend and did great. As we landed the flight attendant was announcing the connecting flights and gates. We were late and connections were tight. Multiple flights she said would have to be re-scheduled, but she said Bham, holding! Great!! They were holding the plane! So off we went and I ran to the connecting gate. We did have to go from terminal B to A though. I was coming down the escalator and saw A-4, the door was open!! Ah, we are going to run on, but we will make it, I thought! Then, I look up to see them closing the door!! Crap! I run down the rest of the escalator and bolt to the gate. I say, "Birmingham, Leslie Coleman"....she responds...."Sorry, you're too late!". I say "the plane is right there....I am sure there are still people boarding, can we please get on?" As she types at her computer and doesn't even look up at me, she says "Sorry, the doors are closed" My eyes start to well up with tears as I realize and know this is the last flight to Bham that night. I turn to walk away to compose myself and turn back....."Birmingham, Huntsville, Atlanta, Nashville, can you get me to any of them tonight?" She said..."Nope, we don't fly to Huntsville or Atlanta, and the last flight has left for Nashville and Birmingham, I can get you to Charleston?" Really!! I just CAME from Charleston!! I turn away from this lady before I slap her, as she is saying all of this to me, not even looking me in the eyes, or in my direction at all. She then proceeds to tell me, to let her finish what she is doing! REALLY!! You see that I am standing here, alone, with a 15 week old baby and you won't look at me or help me!!! URGH!!! I begin to walk toward the gate of the flight going back to Charleston....at least we can sleep in our own bed and have our stuff. Then I realize that our bags went on the flight through Chicago to Bham, and if we go back to Charleston, then we lose the ticket completely and we won't make it to Bham at all. hhhmmmm.....I call Jeff....he is in a movie!! :( I call my parents! Dad immediately says, get a hotel and see if you can fly out in the morning? I am about to lose it at this point and my child has started to scream! I am walking aimlessly and I see a woman sitting at a computer/gate that is empty. I walk up to her and ask if she can help me. I can't help but start crying at this point. Madelyn is crying and I am not sure what we are going to do. I proceed to lay out her changing pad on the floor, and take her out of the baby bjorn and try to calm her as I just sit on the floor next to this lady. Now, Madelyn and I are BOTH crying!! WOW! I felt pretty helpless. I thought, I don't have a carseat, how can we get to a hotel? I will NOT spend the night in the airport with my baby!! What am I going to do?? Anyway.....to make a long story short....
We got booked on the 7am flight out; Dad found us a hotel by the airport; and I rode in the hotel shuttle with the baby in my arms! Finally arriving at the hotel around 9:30pm! I get Madelyn to sleep, contemplate ordering room service as I haven't eaten or drank anything since lunch at 2pm, but instead opt to just go on to sleep at 11pm. As we have to catch the shuttle back to the airport at 5:30am!
Whew!! What an Eventful Day! We made it to Bham around 8:15am the next morning. Exhausted, disoriented, and a little beaten down, but we made it! Our bags had made it the night before and dad had gone to the airport to get them so they didn't sit overnight. Madelyn was a trooper and got to sleep in bed with me in her first hotel too! Too bad, I didn't have the camera in my carry on. And thankfully I am still breastfeeding or we might have been in trouble! And thankfully, we had enough diapers!! :)
Overall, MG did great on the planes. She slept the whole way from Baltimore to Bham.
OK......so it's Sunday now....
We head home to mom and Dad's, shower the airport/hotel/airplane funk off us and head over to Kim's for a little brunch and to meet Watson!! It was a long awaited meeting! Watson and Madelyn were born just 3 weeks apart and Kim and I have been friends since Kindergarten! It was so fun to visit with them and meet Watson!
Poor Watson was not happy about being laid down
His crying scared Madelyn and then she started too! We couldn't help but laugh
Everything was better on Momma's shoulder! Look at those Blue Eyes! Watch out ladies!
Sunday evening we were back at Mimi and Pops and Madelyn got to meet her cousin Penny and Uncle Jason! Uncle Jason, had just arrived back in the states from a mission trip to Panama! He was on the flight home with the final teams from the next season of Amazing Race!! How cool is that! :) Coco stopped over and had dinner with us too, bc she was going to be out of town the rest of the week working on one of her fun houses!
Sweet Love from Uncle J
Penny loved holding me!!
She kept saying how Tiny and Beautiful I was!
Pops read me some Night Night Books
We had an eventful 24 hours and we were all VERY glad for our heads to hit the pillows that night!!
Next up.....T-town and visiting with CiCi, Grandpa Mike, Sister, Uncle Dane, Aunt Marg, Parker, Mollie, and back in Bham with G.G.
tee hee hee....those are the cutest pictures ever!
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