Home Sweet Home!

Well...the plane ride wasn’t as bad as I was thinking it was going to be. Now mind you, Roger and I never slept and we were up for 24 hours, but we knew that would be the case.

Once at the airport it took quite a bit of time to get the kids checked in and there wasn’t even a line. Because they have a Russian passport and we have US passports I guess they double and triple check everything. Finally at the gate and we were almost ready to board. A good thing not to have to waste too much time waiting there.

On the plane, They both didn’t want to put on their seat belts. With enough distractions and then the plane racing down the runway, they were fine. The plane’s seats configuration was 3, 3, 3. Roger sat with both kids and I was the aisle across. I basically handed him stuff/toys/food for most of the flight. The kids were very occupied with the remote controls in each seat-back for the individual movie screens. These kids don’t like to watch TV or movies. It doesn’t interest them in the least. A bit of a bummer for such a long flight, but the remotes worked well enough. They played, then it was time to eat. We ordered child’s meals and they ate some of it. This is pretty gross but Reese ate the butter packet--AS IS. She seemed to really like it. Yuck! After lunch we tried to rock Niko to sleep. He slept on Roger’s lap. We didn’t tell Reese to go to bed, but she shortly fell asleep on the armrest by the window, too. Niko was sleeping for almost two hours when the Fasten Seatbelt Sign came on and the flight attendant immediately came over and made us put seat belts on both kids (a lap belt for Niko while in Roger’s arms). Right after we got the belts on, the slight turbulence stopped and Niko and then Reese woke up. Darn flight attendants. I bet they would have slept another hour. After that they were a bit rambunctious. Tried playing in their row, changed diapers, walked Niko around the plane many times and 2 really quick, short meltdowns(for the entire flight), then it was time for the second meal. They weren’t too keen on this one so when our food came, they were like vultures on Roger’s food tray. It was pretty hysterical. The flight was 11 hours. We actually arrived in Houston an hour early. So, that flight, as busy as it was occupying their minds, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I thought there would be major screaming and meltdowns, but not the case. They were very good considering how long the flight was and that they had to be confined in one row.

Arrival in Houston....our “single” stroller was there. Yea! Long walk to passport control, then we were asked to go to a special room and wait to be called upon. Seeing as the kids have Russian passports and we’re claiming them as US citizens there’s a process internationally adopted children have to go through. It took awhile and our friend Adrianne had to wait outside for us. Finally given the “OK”, we had to go claim our bags and switch airlines to US Airways and re-check the bags. Little did we know we had to lug ALL bags, kids, stroller, carry-ons up and down escalators, on a tram, then elevator, switching terminals to go check-in and check bags for the next flight. We were very happy we had someone helping us out on this part of the journey, for sure. Thanks Adrianne! This must have been the worst part of the whole 24 hours. Finally through the US Security checkpoint, we got to eat some dinner and decent food--with an actual English menu. So nice to hear English and read a menu. We couldn’t have been happier and more exhausted at this point. After dinner, we went to our gate and decided these kids have been up way past their bedtime and thought we would try to have them sleep. We had almost 2 hours remaining. I held and rocked Niko and he fought it at first but managed to fall asleep on my lap rather quickly. Reese, on the other hand, OMG!!! This was the Major meltdown and screaming episode I was afraid would appear on the flight, but it came at the terminal. Better there than on the plane, I’d say. It took quite awhile...walking with her in the stroller but Roger finally convinced her to sleep. They slept as we boarded our last flight for home, woke slightly as we adjusted them on the flight, and then they were OUT the entire flight to PHX. We were grateful for the quiet, restful time on the 2 hour, 10 minute flight home. Walking through the terminal it was even hard to wake them up.

At the airport we had Roger’s business partner and his wife and two boys meet us. They were kind enough to drive our truck and park it at the airport for us and help with the bags and to get the kids settled in their car seats. Also at the airport was Adrianne’s husband, Ed, being a wonderful photographer. Roger’s mother and friend also wanted to be there, too of course. Thank you everyone for giving us a warm welcome to AZ!

The kids slept the entire way home in the car. Once home, we brought them inside and they saw Pardo, our lab. Oh my....they fell in love with her. Couldn’t give enough hugs. kisses, and squeals of delight. We thought it might be real hard now to put them to sleep after that, but after about an hour we put them down in our room on a pull out sofa we have in there. We figured with the jet lag and all we would just have them sleep in our room. We never even showed them the whole house or their rooms. The airport adventure and the dog was enough excitement for one night. Niko went down pretty quick, as usual, but Reese took her time. Not as much screaming and crying but did eventually fall asleep. Three hours later, she awoke and came walking by our bed. Several tries to put her to bed woke up Niko. He only stayed awake a short time and was back down. We decided it might be best to take Reese to her room and bed at this point. She can often wake up Niko and we didn’t want that. Roger slept with her in her room. She fell asleep and woke up at 6am. Niko awoke about 5:15. Not bad.

Our Sunday was very busy. They are a full-time job, the two of them. Very happy, but busy. One bad thing we think has happened...we believe Reese might be allergic to our dog, Pardo. This makes Roger and I very sad/upset. She’s itching constantly and scratching, watery eyes, too. When we got home Saturday night after she met Pardo she sneezed many times. This morning she awoke to a rash on her cheeks and on parts of her arms. At times today it got worse when she was playing with Pardo. For now we’ve given her some allergy medicine and put hydrocortisone cream and eczema cream on her several times. It’s a bit better. Maybe we’re wrong on the diagnosis. We’ll see what tomorrow brings... probably a doctor’s visit. All in all, it’s GREAT to be home and in my bed!