31 August 2007

Two handsome boys: Erica and Katherine kissing their sweet baby:

One last photo of us at the airport before John and I flew home:

The journey home could have been much worse, which is about as positive a statement I can make about travelling alone with a 9-month-old baby. We prayed for the Blessed Virgin Mary's special protections and I think she helped us a lot!

On the first leg from Lincoln to Minneapolis, John began screaming hysterically in the airplane while we sat on the tarmac. I prepared for the worst. But before the airplane had even begun taxiing for take-off, John nursed himself to sleep in my lap. Halfway through the flight, he switched to simply sleeping while leaning against my chest, without even nursing. About five times, he woke up suddenly, sat bolt upright, began to scream, and was asleep again within five seconds. It was supernatural! Those of you who know John know that he does not sleep on my lap, so this event was a wonderful surprise.

I let John run off some energy in the Minneapolis airport before the second leg of our journey. He did scream loudly and without ceasing for the first half hour or so because I couldn't get up from my seat and John didn't really want to nurse. Once we were at altitude, I spent the rest of the three-hour flight standing in the aisle with John asleep in my Ergo. (Even when we hit turbulence and the seatbelt signs were lit, the stewardesses did not make me sit down.) The other passengers were grateful. I read a book the whole time, having to hold it out straight in front of my face, which I'm sure looked a bit goofy. I have to say that carrying John all day and standing while I flew across country (which requires a lot of muscles to continually adjust and balance while the plane moves) gave me a serious workout. I was exhausted and sore when I arrived home!

Chris greeted me at the gate, having once again convinced the ticket agent to give him a gate pass to help his wife with her one baby. Chris tried to make the situation sound more pathetic by telling them about John's cold. This morning, Chris sneaked out early to buy bagels and cream cheese from Einstein's Bagels! What a treat!