First flight/ Baby's medicals 3/20/08

3/20 Flashback

We got up at 4:00, got dressed, got Eli up about 4:15 and headed down to the lobby to take off. On to the next leg of our journey. We were hoping Eli would sleep on the way to the airport- Yeah, no barfing- we sat up front:)

We got to the airport and found out they do have all the liquid restrictions. So much for the frozen apple juice/water mix we had with us for Eli. Only things purchased- marked for baby consumption are allowed in.

Our bags (they weigh the carry-on's, too) were over the limit- but computer and camera equipment don't count, so we didn't even need to take those items out. Yelena and Serge were with us the whole way through. We got pretty close with them this trip. We'll miss them. They joked that we'd be back soon to get a little sister for Eli. HHHHmmmm. God would have to give a really clear calling on that for us to repeat this process.

We sat over in a corner waiting to get everything processed, then we had to go through the screening. Tim had to remove his computer and the camera bag so she could rifle through them. Eli was being very helpful, putting the trays our shoes had been on back in the right place. They did allow us to keep the activa yogurt drinks for Eli. Yeah!!

The we found a place to sit off to the side of the airport holding area. We were some of the last folk out the door to get on the first bus to take us to the plane. I thought my arms would break from holding Eli, so I was so incredibly blessed when a man stood up and motioned me to take his seat. The culture here is so different. They treat people with children as so special. We go to the front of the lines in most places. I love it.

The people mover took us to the plane and we again were ushered up to the front and were able to get situated quickly with only one carryon below our feet- in front of Eli. It was another new Aeroflot plane. Blessings were abounding today!

It seemed to take forever to get everyone boarded and out on the runway. Eli did watch through the window as we approached take off. I know he is too young to have any clue what is happening, but I'm glad he was able to see this.

They served breakfast pretty quickly. But just before they came around, we thought we smelled a dirty diaper. So the boys headed off to the bathroom. They were gone for a while. You'll have to ask Tim about that experience :) I asked if they had food for the children- she said only if you asked in advance. Soooooo- warning to all, when flying with children, be sure to have your agent request a child's meal when booking your next flight. We'll try to get that for our 12 hour flight on thurs.

Our only struggle during the flight came over breakfast. Our little guy is hungry, tired and cranky and I made the oatmeal (I had a packet and got hot water from the stewardess) a little too thin. So, I'm trying to feed him so it doesn't get everywhere. That was challenging.

After that, things went smoothly. We had snacks and played games with the snacks. They brought a little backpack with activities in it when we first boarded and about an hour into the flight they brought an infant pack- with diapers, wipes, bottle, etc in it. I took out the bottle, which had a tight fitting lid, removed the nipple and we had a rattle that served snacks- this made a handful of snacks last almost an hour. He kept getting more and more comfortable sinking deeper and deeper in my lap until he finally lost the fight for wakefulness. He then slept til we arrived in Moscow. What a great trip. I can only hope our 12 hour and then the 2 hour trip back to Ohio go as smoothly.

We got off the plane and went down to the luggage area. Eli was a little bit of a bear at this point- so very ornry. We waited while Papa went and got the 2 bags we had checked. Then began the most difficult part of our journey for me so far. The few hundred feet with me trying to carry him and pull a bag. I thought my arms would break. For those of you in the waiting- start lifting weights!! bulk up those arms ladies!!

Max was waiting for us just on the other side.

We loaded up the van and took off. Tim, Eli and I ended up in the back seat. We weren't sure what was happening next. We assumed we were going to the hotel. Rest up and regroup. That was not to be. Looking back, I can see the wisdom in this- we couldn't check in the hotel yet, and we needed to get our medicals done- so we headed off to do that. It took forever to get there. Probably seemed much longer that it actually was due to the barf fest going on in the back seat. Our poor little guy. One minute singing, the next minute barfing. We had the bag in place, but his little hands came up in automatic reflex and he pushed it aside for just enough time to cover him and Papa in his snacks from the flight. After 2 or 3 more spasms, he seemed to calm down. So I took him while Tim tried to clean up his clothes a little bit. We started to change Eli's clothes- I did have a change with me.

We got the pants on and I felt him tighten up and got the bag there just in time. SO, we left the shirt on and put a bib with the crumb catcher on. He just kept heaving. I felt so bad for him. It was all bile by this point. He didn't even whimper though. I just kept loving on him, trying to keep the bag closed when he wasn't barfing so he wouldn't need to smell it. I am so glad no one else in the van joined him.

We finally got to the office. We quickly dressed him and headed on in. He was subdued for a little bit, and then he wanted to get down and play with the Dini boys. Tim and Greg were filling in our paperwork for the Embassy.

After a little while, Eli and I headed back to the doctor's office. She was very nice. Her English was pretty good and she was great with Eli. She went through the medical info we had been given for Eli and wanted to know if I had any questions. Then I stripped Eli down to his diaper and she did a pretty thorough examination of him- listening to heart- she was able to detect a murmur--but not problem she assured me. Listening to lungs, checking head circumference- weight ( I think 11.8 Kg) and height. She did an abdominal exam while he was lying on the table- squeezed his belly and said he eats too much.... lol

We got dressed and came back out. Since both Dini children still had to be seen (Thomas has had a pretty nasty cough and fever off and on for the whole trip) and I knew Eli hadn't eaten much today, I went out to the van and got the diaper bag and Eli had a snack of pureed baby carrots. He loved it. I liked it the first time.

The second time, on the way back to the visa photo gallery, I wasn't so glad to see them. We were ready though, with the bib in place- caught it all, even the dry heaves. Good thing- didn't have another clean change easily accessible. Good times in the back seat :P

The pics were funny. They took 2- one was goofy serious, the other he was smiling. guess which one they chose for the visa? Yep, the serious goofy one. We laughed.

We finally got back to the hotel. The rooms weren't all available yet, so they put us in a smaller room with the option of changing rooms the next day if it was too small. It was pretty nice- but it was very small. We had a small amount of floor space, so we figured we'd change the next day. So we got what we needed out of our bags and left the rest packed.

We went to lupper at the hotel dining room. Hamburgers and fries..... MMMMMmmmmm was it ever good!! The kitchen staff was great and heated up Eli's canned food so we could feed him, too.

We went back to the room and all laid down for a nap. I think we could have slept forever. I got up at one point to turn the music down a little and was right next to the phone when it rang. Our friend, Lori Jerger, knew we were in the hotel and wanted to touch bases with us. It was sooo nice to finally meet her and Adam face to face. We'd been talking for so long via email and phone.

WE Didn't do much more that evening. One point of interest- Eli now throws a fit when we try to put him on his potty chair. And the ducky- he's terrified of it. Our room was a handicapped room and had no bathtub- only a walkin shower. So bath was abbreviated with him screaming his head off the whole time. Who knows?

We finally all got into bed and drifted off to the sleep of exhaustion. What a day!