First Class Trip Back to England

What a way to start our new year, with all five of us being sick during our visit to South Carolina.  I was exhausted.  When we woke up in the hotel the morning we were leaving, both girls got sick again, and Amelia was still running a fever.  The van was loaded, so I was already going through spare clothes for the girls.  In tears, I told Eric we could not fly back in that state.  He spent twenty minutes on the phone with the airline, only to find out that they give very little breaks for changing your flight due to sickness.  The man would waive the $250 per ticket change fee, but we would have to pay almost the full ticket price for each of us due to the change in fare price.  We had no choice.  We had to fly back to London.  I was prepared with medicine, plastic bags and extra clothes.  I prayed to God and we were on our way.

 

Eric is amazing when we travel.  He handled 6 suitcases and 2 carry-ons.

I had the big kids in the double stroller with Cora in the carrier on my chest.

 Yes, the top suitcase did fall off once, but we just had to laugh and keep going.

To top off our rough start to a long day of travel, our suitcases were too heavy.  This had never been an issue in the past due to Eric's status with Delta.  He does not have a weight limit on luggage.  The man who checked us in, however, said we could not have so many suitcases over the limit for an international flight.  Yes, they were jammed with Christmas presents!  To prevent paying the ridiculous charge on each suitcase, Eric went and purchased another suitcase.  Luckily, in the Atlanta airport, they have luggage stores before you complete your check in process.  Yep, we were "that family" by the check in with our suitcases open on the floor taking out the heavy things and repacking.  Somehow, we both stayed calm and smiled.

Our first flight to Boston went well.  The kids were troopers even though they were not feeling the greatest.  Finally, some good news came when we arrived at the gate.  We were upgraded to FIRST CLASS for our flight to London!  I could not believe it!  I have never flown in first class.  I did not even know children were allowed in first class.  It was such an answer to prayers for us.  We had so much space, and we were treated like royalty.  The seats could lay completely flat, so the kids got some much needed good rest.  I put my feet up and enjoyed a glass of wine.  The 8 hour plane ride seemed to go by very quickly.  No one got sick, and we were able to keep Amelia's fever in control.  

So much space!

Dylan enjoyed his orange juice and a movie.

My view

My feet could not even touch my bag on the floor.  Well, I had them up most of the ride.

A tired, but happy mommy and baby

Amelia loved the fancy glass, the small water bottles and the bag of toiletries just for her!

Enjoying our drinks

Such a good big brother

The flight was great.  The big question was, how were we going to fit all of the luggage into the car with TWO extra suitcases?  There we were again being "that family" with suitcases open on the ground of the parking lot. We emptied one suitcase and put the items on the floor behind the seats and placed that suitcase into a larger one.  Eric moved all of the seats forward to make enough room for the new suitcase to fit.  My knees were on the dashboard, but we made it home with everything.  It took us almost one week for the kids to adjust back to the time change and get over the flu.  Our time with family and friends made it all worthwhile.  Now it was time to get back to life in England.... 

Road trip to Aiken...Highs and Lows

On New Year's Day last year, we woke up on the airplane and started our new life in England.  It has been an interesting year full of adventures for us.  We missed our friends in Aiken, where we lived before moving to England.  On New Year's Day this year, we said our tearful goodbyes to family, and we made a road trip from St. Louis, Missouri to Aiken, South Carolina.  We broke up the 12 hour trip, and boy am I glad we did because it ended up being our most challenging road trip to date.

We rented a minivan which had so much storage space!  

We started the trip comfortable and happy.

Busch Stadium with the St. Louis Arch in the background

 Saying goodbye to the Arch as we cross over the Mississippi River into Illinois

Dylan still had a fever, and the poor boy was miserable.  Then the stomach bug hit us.  First Cora got sick, twice! That was lovely in her infant car seat.  Then, Amelia got sick.  I spent the first night in the hotel scrubbing car seats, blankies, and clothes in the tub.  We were anxious to see our friends in Aiken, and I was hopeful that the sickness would pass quickly so we could spend some time with friends over the next 3 days.  Long story short...Dylan's fever was off and on over the next 5 days, we ALL got the stomach bug (which was quick, thankfully) and Amelia started with the fever/flu as well.  I kept thinking the kids were over it, and then the aches and fever would return.  Thankfully, we got to meet up with some friends at the park and enjoy some fresh air when the kids were feeling a bit better.  I was blessed to stay healthy enough to spend time with some of the best friends a girl could pray for.  It was a MUCH needed girls' night out!  I wish we would've been able to spend more time with friends those 3 days, but I am thankful for the little time we did spend together.
 

Fun at the park with Megan, Charlie and Kyle

We didn't last long due to low energy, but it was fun while it lasted.

 Megan, Cora and Amelia

Cora loved all of the attention!

 

 Dinner at Moe's!  (Amelia didn't make it, but Dylan was there.)  

 

 

 Fun at the new library park with LOTS of friends!

Our favorite babysitter, Miss Stacey

 It was GREAT to see our friends!  The sunshine was nice as well!

 Dinner with friends...such a great night!  Too bad Eric didn't make it, and he came and got Amelia after 15 minutes because she was not well again.  I made her stop crying and smile for this picture with Megan and their matching shirts. :)  Abigail and Annaleigh were as sweet and cute as ever!
 

 Daly, Solomon, Dylan and Kyle

 

 

Kristi, Raquel, Caroline, Cora and Angie, Jill

Lorie Ann left before we took this picture.  She needed to get home to put up her feet!  Her sweet baby girl will be here soon!

A big thanks to Rich and Raquel for hosting a lovely evening!  A huge thanks to my friend Kristi, for risking getting sick to spend time with us those 3 days.  You know you have a good friend when, A: she gives you her Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag, B: she gives you her nursing bras and C: she spends time with you and your kids knowing they are sick, and she doesn't get mad when her daughter throws up the day after you leave.  Instead, she texts, "It was worth it."  I miss my dear friends! 

  

Gretchen's Special Day

Still catching up on my holiday posts...
After 10 days of nonstop holiday fun, birthday celebrations, reunions and time with cousins, we had the joy of celebrating Gretchen's baptism with our family.  I was so touched to play an important role in Gretchen's special day and in her future as well.  I was honored to be asked to be her Godmother.  Amelia, however, was not so happy.  She wanted to be Gretchen's Godmother, and she was very upset about it at first.  I told her she could help me, and she was content with that.

 Amelia, Cora and Dylan looking so cute!

Giving Grandpa Trost some love before the baptism

 Sweet Gretchen Catherine, the star of the day

I gave her this bonnet made of Irish linen.  It has her initials and birthdate on it, and it turns into a hanky for her wedding day. 

 She was perfect, and she did not mind the water on her forehead.  Look at her proud parents!

 A special blessing for daddy

What a darling family!

My adorable Goddaughter

The entire Hefley family!

The seven Hefley grandchildren

Conner, Dylan, Gretchen, Reed, Amelia, Cora and Lily

Grandpa and Nana Trost with the kids

All of us with Nana and Grandpa Trost

 My mom, Aunt Cathy, Aunt Terri and Grandma Reed

Lindsay and Carrie
We were missing Kate that day, but so happy that she and Tommy were home from the hospital and he was feeling better.

 How cute is Brooks?!!!!

My awesome sisters-in-law, Michelle and Becca

Party time!

Happy Lily

Samantha and Reed

 

Dylan and Dalton, my Godson
Don't let the halo fool you...he's a stinker, but I love him anyway!

And some last pictures from our final night in St. Louis.  We loved spending New Year's Eve with our cousins!  Poor Dylan had a fever, so he stayed with Nana and Grandpa for the night.  We also missed Brad, Kate, Grace, Graham and Tommy due to another trip to the E.R. for them :( 

 

It is never easy saying goodbye to our families.  After the kids spent so much time together and had so much fun with each other, I hate to go another 6 months without seeing them.  But time will pass quickly, and we will be back soon.  We are so very thankful to all of our family and friends for their support and encouragement.  Living so far away and missing out on so much time together with the ones you love is very hard.  A HUGE thank you to the grandparents for taking us in for 6 nights each and allowing the kids to take over your houses. We miss everyone already!