Considering Our Flight to NY

Everything seemed to get off to a good start.  We went to bed at a reasonable hour, mostly packed and oatmeal soaking for a quick breakfast for the kids.  We’d be getting them up a little early, not way before the crack of dawn like on other trips, to get on the road to the airport by 7:30.  This would give up plenty of time to get to OIA in time for our 10:05 flight to Albany.  But you know what they say about the “best laid plans of mice and men.”

It broke down near the end of my shower.  CavWife went to get the kids up.  CavBoy had peed so much it soaked through his diaper, PJs (which we were hoping to have him wear on the flight) and into his sheets.  So CavWife was involved with stripping his bed and sent him into a still-dripping dad to strip him down and put him on the potty.

This was the morning that he decided he had to poop first thing.  And it took time as the minutes quickly went by.  Suddenly I heard CavGirl screaming from the kitchen.  To help avoid illness being passed around the plane, we gave the kids Airborne.  CavWife mistakenly put it in CavGirl’s water bottle.  So, it fizzed away building up pressure until CavGirl opened it.  It erupted, spraying  our very dramatic/traumatic daughter.  So much for not having to change her clothes…

Finally, with less than 15 minutes to depart I am dressed and CavSon is off the potty while I scramble to get him dressed and the last few items packed.  When our ride arrives I realize I had never removed the car seats from my car.  I pulled a Homer Simpson.  Now I’m getting really stressed.

We left about 5 minutes later than expected, which isn’t too bad, but you can never predict the traffic on I-4.  It was a foggy morning- so this did not bode well.  But in His mercy, we had no traffic issues of note.

While on the 408 (a toll road) our friend decides he forgot the exit # of the “miss a toll” shortcut.  We tell him not to worry about the $.75, we’ll pay it for speed and simplicity.  But he calls his wife while we are approaching the first toll.  He’s to the left where you have the lanes dedicated for the E-Pass with no slowdown.  Problem- he doesn’t have an E-Pass.  He realizes this in time to cut across 3 lanes of traffic and get in the change lane in the nick of time while I hand him toll money.  I don’t know how we didn’t die.

We spend the next few minutes encouraging him to take the quick & easy route.  Nope.  He claims that since he’s Scottish and Jewish, he’s doubly cheap and can’t on the principle.  I’m telling him the sign says 3 minutes to our exit.  I’m timing him, and we’ve got 5 additional lights to deal with in addition to the more circuitous route at a slower speed.  Amazingly, we only get held up at one of the lights, and it was still 5 minutes.  That may not seem like much- but you also never can predict how long you’ll spend in the line at security and I want to make up time from our late departure.

Arriving safely at the airport, we unload the bags and car seats before the Southwest curbside check-in.  We no longer go in.  We spend the tip money to avoid the long lines and additional stress of going inside.  I’m getting wiser in my old age.  I still can’t figure why everyone who walks up gets in the lines directly in front of us however.  So, we move to the shortest line all the way to the other side only to have a guy who went passed that line to stand my us move to that line in front of us.  Inside, we bring the kids to the bathroom.

Security was easy aside from being trapped by all the people in wheelchairs.  We’ve got plenty of time to have the kids hit the bathroom again.  More than we expected for the plane was late arriving.  But the kids had fun watching planes move around.

On the plane we got the seats put in.  If you have ever tried to do this with a kid hovering you’ll understand how frustrating it can be.  Particularly with the airplane seatbelts.  While trying to tighten it, I disconnected it inadvertantly, my hand angled between the seat and cushion and toddler all over me.  I’ve got the missing skin on my hand to prove that this should possibly be an Olympic event.  And it one in which I might be able to make the national team.

It was a mostly relaxing flight.  The boy was doing well, playing and watching everything.  I periodically asked “you have to go potty” to which I received a hearty shaking of the head.  He has demonstrated a great ability to hold it- even all night at times.  Just after noon he started squealing. and pointing to his crotch.  He had to pee, I thought.  I discovered that he had peed.  First thought- change him.  Second thought- what’s the point?  The car seat was soaked.  Apparently those few sips of water since we left the house multiplied a hundred-fold in light of the fact he’s peed 3 times since waking up already.  He’d just have to sit in the slowly-cooling wetness for the next 30-40 minutes.  To quote CavWife- “too bad, how sad.”

When we hit the gate, I stripped him and stuck a diaper on him.  We did have nearly a 2 hour ride after we grabbed the luggage.  I disconnected the car seat- we are now  the only non-personnel on the plane- to discover a nice puddle for the poor stewardess to clean.  I offered many apologies, sincere apologies, expressing great shame for my shameless son.

While CavWife and CavGirl hit the potty, I decide putting a plastic bag on this wet monstrosity will not work.  I remove the soaking seat cover against the many protestations of my now returned wife.  This while again having the kids hover (can a dad do anything without the hovering?).

With the dripping cover in a bag, the seat wiped down and my hands cleaned, I send CavWife to get some food with the kids while I bring the luggage we have to meet her parents.  My plan was to get our checked bags while they install the car seats.  At this point, all the luggage has been claimed but ours.  My in-laws pull up at the end of the row and I offer quick greetings before heading to grab our bags before they disappear.

Too late… I hear them paging me.  But I can’t see the SW luggage office.  Oh, on the far side of the baggage claim.  After 2 trips, I’ve got all the bags and now it is time to install the car seats I thought we installed already.

But we arrived safe and sound (his diaper exceedingly dry) at the Farm, much to CavGirl’s great delight.  And so, our vacation has begun.  Lesson learned- put the toddler in a diaper no matter how potty trained you think he is.