It has taken me a few days to share the details of our travel home, for good reason.
It was horrible.
Mind you, we had an overall great week at the hotel with our little Elsa. She was getting used to us, her new surroundings, and the hotel staff. Then we changed it all up and hopped on a few planes and traveled for over 30 hours. Let's just say she didn't like that so much.
There was screaming, wailing, biting, hitting, kicking, and spitting. Yes, I said spitting. Lots and lots of spitting.....
At one point, as we boarded the plane in Frankfurt I started to just cry right along with her. It was a combination of exhaustion, and frustration with doing everything I could to try and settle her down. My agony was only compounded by the comments passengers would make to us about hoping they don't have to sit next to the "screaming baby," and me just feeling really sorry for her because she was so scared, confused, and grieving.
I liken the experience to labor, and just wanting it to be done and over with. Although this labor was far more difficult than the one I had giving birth to Oliver!
I do have one kinda funny story to share. On the flight from Denver to Portland (a mere 2.5 hours which was no big deal to us after our 29 hours logged in travel already), Elsa started to scream as I buckled her into the seat for take off.
The elderly man in front of us started spazzing out in his chair. I seriously thought he was having a seizure at first. Then he kept screaming, "I'm disabled, I'm disabled, get that baby off this plane right now! I insist, I'm disabled!"
The flight staff kept telling him that we were doing everything we could to settle our child down, but that he just needed to put his headphones on and relax. Then, another older gentlemen next to us chimed in demanding to be moved to another seat away from Elsa.
On the speaker the flight staff announced we were taking off, and everyone needed to settled down. Once we were in the air, Elsa fell asleep on the ground at my feet and slept the entire flight. It was obvious that the poor baby just was overwhelmed by everything.
Once we landed, I dressed Elsa in a cute little Africa shirt. The people behind us apologized for the rude comments others made to us, and we made sure to explain that she is just coming home for the first time and that she is just scared. Some people were really encouraging which made up for those grumpy old men.
We were finally home! The terrible travel experience was over, and we were ready to start our life with our new daughter......
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