Epilogue

I desperately wanted to go home, so I booked a flight for Friday evening after I picked up the kids' visas. My friends the Glanzers were to fly on the same flight, but due to a ticketing problem were not able to, which we found out at the last minute. This was really disappointing and we didn't have much time to say goodbye.

I had no problems with Interpol at the airport in Uganda. Of course Micah pooped before we went through security so I changed him and thought we were all set, then he pooped again just before boarding! Such a hassle. Luckily a nice man from TExas who'd been in Uganda helping build a building at another orphanage watched my bags while I went back into the restroom. The kids were very good on the first flight. Once they turned out the lights, they both went to sleep. We had bulkhead seats and a bassinet that Micah slept in so my arms got a break. The flight attendant wasn't very nice or helpful, seemed to find us annoying and icky (he was a gay man). When we got to Amsterdam I went right to the ticket counter to try and see if there was another flight going to Detroit instead of Atlanta and sooner. I was told that since my bags were checked my flights could not be changed because you must stay with your luggage. I got mad and teary eyed.

Tried to rent a pod (called Yotel) but they were all full so got a room in the airport hotel. Very nice. They said it wouldn't be ready for an hour and they wouldn't watch my luggage and don't have a lobby restroom, so I sat in the lobby, changed a diaper, spilled some snacks and unloaded a bunch of stuff from my bag and the room was ready in 15 minutes! Zariah slept for 5 hours, Micah for 4. We had a queen bed and all laid down in it. She cried for about 3 minutes then began snoring. I slept for about 2 hours.

Zariah was really good all this time, smiling and wearing her backpack. I fed Micah and cleaned up both kids and we headed to the gate. Once again Micah poops just before and just after security, while they are beginning to board, and there is no bathroom in this area which was really crowded. So I found the least busy spot and changed him there, asking a woman to watch my bags. When I came back she was gone. It was a struggle to tow the wheeled suitcase with the diaper bag strapped on, kept tipping over and getting caught on the arms of the chairs on the plane. The gate staff and flight attendants on this flight were super nice and helpful. They carried my carryons on and helped me get settled. Had bulkhead seat again and Micah fell asleep after about 2 hours, at which point turbulence began and they made me take him out of the bassinet and buckle him to me with this special seatbelt, which woke him up. Things went ok until about the halfway point (4.5 hours) when Zariah got tired. The problem with bulkhead seats is that the armrests don't fold up. She couldn't lay down and get comfortable, kept trying to arrange the blanket and pillow and couldn't get them how she wanted them, so started to wail. The two of them alternately fussed and cried for the next several hours, finally falling asleep for the final 2 hours. Other passengers were a blessing. They held, walked and distracted them for me.

I had to wake them when we landed, and they were not happy. Zariah wailed and wanted to be carried. A man carried her for me but she didn't like that, and then I carried her but not how she liked so she wailed then too. I'd asked the flight attendants for help like a skycap, but you have to request that sooner than I did. So the other passengers helped me and her hysterical wailing got us moved to the head of the line at immigration. The immigration woman was rude and unfriendly. Zariah screamed through the entire immigration review, despite being offered suckers. I asked for help when I left but I was coldly told that "this is a federal govt. office and we don't do normal airport functions." so I staggered out and took the elevator down to the security area, where numerous employees rushed to help me. They have a special lane for passengers needing assistance. They carried Zariah, helped me get my luggage, which I had to claim and recheck, and got me a wheelchair to ride Zariah and my bag in. I checked my 2nd carryon at this point. After that, I went into the handicapped stall in the restroom, cried a little, and regrouped.

Then my flight was delayed in Atlanta. I wanted to scream, but went straight to Starbucks and got an espresso frapuccino instead. When we got on that flight, they kept the cabin dark and all 3 of us fell instantly asleep. I laid on my back across the row of seats with Zariah curled next to me and Micah on my chest. Again, other passengers helped me carry the kids and the bag. A flight attendant got me a wheelchair again (I kept getting asked why I didn't have stroller) and I headed down to baggage claim, where Daryl was with Tessa and Keegan. Jasmine and Levi were at the homecoming dance, Isabel at a sleepover, Mateo in bed, Anya crashed on the couch and Dillon in charge at home. The kids were home from the dance by the time I arrived home (11:30pm) and we all visited. Micah never woke up even in the airport or in and out of carseat. Neither kid objected to riding in a carseat at all. Zariah was now wide awake and very friendly, jumped on couch like she'd always lived here. She went to bed with minimal problems. Daryl had the night shift, which included being up with Micah from 4-6:30 and I slept.

I think I have some post traumatic stress going. I cried from the airport to the car and also cried myself to sleep, with relief that it was finally over. It's the hardest thing I've done, much harder than giving birth! And I mean just the 20 hours of air travel with 2 little kids. I think the 5 weeks in Uganda of being always vigilant and "on" was really hard. too.

Kids are getting along great. No issues so far.

I am exhausted beyond belief.