Journey to China: part 1.

We woke up around 8 AM EST and scrambled to make last minute preparations for the flight that afternoon. We managed to pack all the final items, run to the bank and get on the road only half an our later than planned. Since we had a 60-90 minute drive into the city, we wanted to leave with plenty of time for traffic delays so we were still on time for our 3PM departure.

We arrive at the airport and say some teary goodbyes to Father in law and make our way to the ticket counter where we encountered our first bump in the road.

A little backstory first. We knew we had to pay for Quinlon even as a lapchild and called Air China when we booked our tickets to inquire as to what to do about this since we couldn't book his ticket online (required a paper ticket to be issued). They assured us that we could pay at the gate with no trouble.

Fast forward back to current problem at the airport. We were (very politely) informed that they had no record of an infant included on our reservation and now we have to speak to the Air China representative to book a ticket.

Fortunately, the flight was not sold out and 45 minutes and $300 later we were on our way through security.

I wish there was a way to convey the sight of us and our very much overpacked carryons making our way through security. Thank goodness most major airports now have a family line that makes it much easier and faster, but still, taking off 3 pairs of shoes, coats and shoving 4 carry on items and pocket contents into little grey plastic bins can be quite the ordeal.

We make it through security fairly smoothly (no secondary security check woo!) and make our way as quickly to the gate as possible. We don't even get to the actual gate area before we see a long line of Chinese people who look suspiciously like they are waiting for something important. We hop in line and only 5 minutes later the lines starts moving because our flight is boarding.

We board the plane, got settled, buckled the carseat in and only had to wait for 15 minutes before we were ready for take off.

The flight itself was rather uneventful. It still feels weird to say that about a 13 hour plane ride, but honestly, Quinlon was an angel. He played happily across our laps and standing in the carseat and making friends left and right. Around normal bedtime (on eastern time, mind you) he went to sleep and did his normal night thing. I even got 5 hours of sleep which did wonders for making the flight seem shorter.

The last hour of the flight seemed the longest. Quinlon was awake and starting to get a bit of cabin fever but still in great spirits and we just kept forking over the rice puffs and dried fruit to keep his little mouth occupied.

We landed and gathered our 'campsite' and prepared to step out into a whole new world.

... to be continued.

Miss me?

I'm going to attempt to type out the entire adventure in the next blog post. Just wanted to break the radio silence and let everyone know we made it safe and sound.

<3

Seriously...

How does one keep an (almost) 11 month old entertained on a 13 hour flight?


And I still can't decide if it is better that it is an overnight flight or worse since we are going to arrive in Beijing only 3 hours LATER than when we left NYC only the next day. So if he sleeps through the flight only to wake up to evening time in China, I have a feeling it's going to be a rough start to adjusting to the time difference. At this point I am leaning towards having an easy flight and just dealing with the sleep changes when we are HOME and comfy in our apartment.


This morning I was awoken by the dragon smacking me in the face with a small plastic bottle. I cracked my eye nearest him only to jump up in horror. That small plastic bottle was a bottle of Astroglide. How in the HELL did he find that???

We have a date...

Monday, February 23, 2009
Air China # 982

New York John F Kennedy Intl (JFK) to Beijing Capital (PEK)
Departure (JFK): February 23, 3:30 PM EST (afternoon)
Arrival (PEK): February 24, 5:55 PM CST (evening)




Damn, it feels good.

Well, he caught it.

>_<


Donnie and took turns staying up with him all night... he only dozed fitfully at best and was just generally inconsolable.

Still the same story today. I finally broke down and gave him some ibuprofen *sigh* and it's barely making a dent in his fever.

He is currently wrapped just like in the photos in the other blog entry (except his arms are tucked in so he is nice and snug) and fitfully napping. Every half hour or so he wakes up and coughs and fidgets and gets pissed until I can manage to bounce/pat/rock him back to sleep.

Poor baby.


Poor me.

General happenings...

We're sick... well, Donnie and I are. We're praying like crazy that this skips Quinlon. It's a BADDDD cold. Super raw swollen throat and a deep tight cough. Miserable, I tell you. Today Quinlon has a slight fever, but it looks like he has a spider bite, so that might be the source of the fever and not the bug we're battling.

We are enjoying our newfound love of wrapping. We love our Beco, but wrapping is really winning me over. Donnie hasn't attempted it yet but has already jokingly staked a claim on my newest and loveliest wrap seen here.





Only about a week until China. Not sure on the exat departure date because we have to wait on our friends to overnight the invitation documents that got sent there so we can get visas. Not too wise to book $1300 worth of plane tickets when you don't have your visas in hand.

Any prayers you can send our way for the sickies and our 14 hour plane ride are more than welcome.

Time!

8 days until we leave for NY to see FIL.

16 days until we leave for China.

2 months until Quinlon turns a year old.

3 months until Donnie and I's 3 year anniversary.

Time is running so short... and I am mildly freaking out.


I broke down and bought a wrap baby carrier. I got a Hoppidez Osaka and have a pending trade for a dyed Natur Wool Indio. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of the madness of the wrap world.