Trip to the U.S.

We have been home almost two weeks, but our trip back was so eventful that I have to still blog about it! We didn't have a leg that wasn't full of excitement and obstacles!

It all started from the very beginning-- when we checked in in Chiang Mai. Several of our friends met us at the airport and helped us through security with all of our bags, which we actually only checked five of the eight we could have checked! We went to the international ticket counter and were told that United didn't renew their contract to allow us to go through immigration in Chiang Mai. We were allowed to check our luggage all the way through, but couldn't go through immigration and therefore would not be able to spend the evening inside the airport area where we had reserved a day room (our flight from Bangkok left at 6:40 am). We all went to the domestic check-in area to check our luggage and then went back to the international side to see if immigration would let us go through, which of course they didn't. Our flight got delayed and we were afraid the United office would close before we got to Bangkok so we called. They didn't really understand our dilemma (that we really needed to stay inside the airport so we could stay in our day room). We did find out that their office would be open until 10 pm. Our other problem was that we needed the bulk head for Jordan's car seat because it needed to be reclined. When we got on the plane, we were not in the bulk head and Jordan's car seat didn't fit...but it was a short flight so it didn't matter. Once we got to Bangkok, we hurried out to get to the United office. It was "hidden" and had to be pointed toward it but finally got there to find it completely dark! Lufthansa was next door and we asked them if they knew where they were and we called and had her talk to explain our problem. We find out they actually are inside but in the back! One of the ladies calls the day room hotel and finds out that they have a hotel only 10 minutes from the airport and we can use our reservation there. They arrange for us to be picked up and we trek back down to the meeting point in the airport. We finally get to the hotel and get some sleep...but about an hour less then we would have if the original plan had worked out and we hadn't had to leave the airport. We get back to the airport the next morning 15 minutes before the counters were suppose to open to check-in. (They opened early but we were still one of the first to check-in). At first we didn't think they were going to give us the bulk head, but Jacob was very patient but firm with the agent and he finally put us in the bulk head but says he can't over ride the computer for our flight from Tokyo and we'd have to work on it when we got there. That flight was 6 1/2 hours and wasn't too bad, our request for a child's meal got lost so Keely didn't really eat much but she did take a 2 hour nap. In Tokyo, the agent didn't have much sympathy for us but did agree to put in a request for 2 seats in the bulk head but couldn't guarantee it and told us to check at the gate right before we boarded. They did have a wonderful play room in the airport and Keely played hard on the slide there and ate a McDonald's hamburger (she didn't eat on the next flight either). At the gate, they wouldn't let us board as early has they normally do but when they finally did let us board our boarding passes beeped when they went through the machine and we found out they moved two of our seats and Jordan and I had the bulk head and Jacob and Keely were about 6 rows behind us. We got on the plane and Jacob got Jordan and I settled and by that time the family with the 3 seats next to us arrived (it was a family with a college age daughter) and we presented our story but didn't think they would switch seats but they did! That flight was very difficult (and was good we were all together for the moral support needed to get through the flight)! During our first meal, Keely was really restless and I let her get up and was walking in circles between our seats and the bathroom while Jacob ate until we hit turbulence! Keely had no understanding of this and couldn't understand why we were trying to get her back in her seat and she had a melt down (which included screaming). We tried hard to calm her down but couldn't and she screamed for what seemed like 10 minutes (it may have only been 5, but we have no idea). About a minute after she calmed down she fell asleep...only to be woken up less than an hour later! Keely can gain a lot of rest during a cat nap and we knew we were in trouble!! Jacob and I kept dosing on her but she just couldn't fall asleep. Finally we took Jordan out of the car seat and set it up for Keely and put her in it and gave her some stickers to play with and Jacob and I dosed off again. I woke up hearing Keely look at Jacob and say, "Daddy" and look at me and say, "Mommy." I closed my eyes and when I woke up again she was asleep! She slept the last 4 hours of the 11 hour flight until we got to the gate in Chicago. Our last flight thankfully was uneventful!! What a trip!! I'm sure glad we won't be doing that again for a few months!