24 OOPSSS!!! 30 HOURS!

This will be a re-enactment of the last 30 hours in real time, you will know exactly what happened to us while traveling with a baby…It’s risky and dangerous, so please don’t try it for fun!!!!

Read with caution…Just kidding I think I will just sum it up~!

We left at 21:00 hours from our apartment and at 20:00 baby Oli-K decided to give us problems, first he hadn’t slept and now he had a massive case of the poops that ruined all his clothes…so I had to give him a bath because it was all over him and then I had to go into the luggage to pull out another outfit (I only brought 3 outfits and 3 pj’s). He cried from exhaustion all the way to the airport! In the smoke filled airport he was calm and starring at everything. Elvira stayed with us until we had to go down stairs and wait for them to open the gate, it was much appreciated! Boarding call, we all get up and walk outside in the cold for about 3 minutes to the plane. I was a bit surprised that they don’t let baby’s board first…so I decided I’m going to push in front of everyone and tell them “ASTAROJNA”and “IZVINITEE” in Jackie’s language “out of my way!” it really means be careful and sorry. As I push to the front with the stroller and the baby freezing to death, I wasn’t about to take him out of the stroller, so I told Daniel to go in front and hold it and I will take the back. We really looked like strong people, Daniel with his big back pack and the laptop and me, with mine and my purse. As we enter the plane we are really happy that we paid for first class and it was worth it. Olivier got a bottle as the plane was lifting that way he would not bother everyone by screaming! First class wasn’t full so I didn’t feel too bad when he did cry. He slept maybe 1 hour out of a 3 hour flight. The same thing for when the plane was landing we gave another bottle. I can honestly say we are a mess; we have so much baggage and then the baby stuff. Everyone gets off the plane and we are still there looking for the baby‘s boots and putting on his jacket, all while he is crying. The flight attendant is telling us to hurry because we are holding up the bus that will take us down the runway…well we didn’t know!!! We get on the bus and everyone is staring at us…we feel slow and awful and Olivier is still crying.

We enter Almaty airport and met up with Sveta, another nice coordinator. We sit and have coffee while Oli sleeps. Our next flight is at 8:20 and the time is 3:45 am. We have lots of time to kill. She gives us his documents and his passport and tells us what we have to show if someone is to question us. Boarding time, we meet 2 other families that have adopted from Almaty and a lady that is in the process but has to return home. We asked to be seated where the basinets are so we could have room and for the babies to sleep. Well that flight was for 7 hours and 55 minutes (late departure) and Olivier didn’t sleep much maybe 2 hours…between him and Lara (the other little baby seating with us) they made an orchestra of yelling, screaming and smells. We arrived in Amsterdam and we have 3 hours to go instead of 5 hours.

In the airport we relaxed by getting a massage, ok I got the massage and it was so worth it at the time but now my back and arms are sore! Baby Oli-K was an angel but seems to go to the bathroom at the most awkward times. Boarding time!!!

We asked to be seated together and to get a basinet but they said they could not accommodate us at all. Finally on the plane the nice lady seated beside us on the isle seat accepted to change spots with me. It was an older plane and not much room where we are seated and the flight attendant asked if she would change seats to another row…but it never happened. It was ok but cramped (the lady was really nice and helpful). All I can say is my little boy slept most of the 7 hour and 20 minute flight on me and he peed on me twice, once while changing him and the other while sleeping (no more clothes for him). And finally we land, we also noticed when we landed the first time in Amsterdam that he didn’t need a bottle, he didn’t feel the pressure change (or he didn’t complain), so we didn’t give him bottles on the ascent or descent.

At the arrival we are struggling with our bags and the baby, and we find it frustrating that they decided to put our stroller (umbrella) under the plane; we really needed it to walk through the airport and to wait in long lines (customs and immigration). All is good, we are in Canada and tired, but home.

We retrieve our bags and the stroller after 45 minutes and then off to find Lorraine…what a welcome, we cried seeing a familiar face and place!!!! Olivier took to Lorraine immediately by giving his warm energetic smile and a giggle.

Now we sleep!!! We feel like we are still on the plane (motion sickness)…to be continued!!!