Husker Land and Travel Woes!

Well, it's happened!  College football is here and with that comes dressing the cutest person in your family in your favorite team stuff.  All Ben wanted to know on game day was if his baby was dressed in Husker gear.  Rooney never fit into the Husker jerseys we bought for him.  But on a brighter note, Rooney did lose 1 whole pound the last time we took him in for a haircut.  Yup.  One.  We did it!  After 3 years, he lost a pound!  Back to my point.  Lilah and I thought in honor of Trev being home from Afghanistan that we would venture back to Nebraska for a much needed visit.

Lil' Red

Lil Red and Gramma

Lil Red and Her Grandparents

I had been having small panic attacks for 2 weeks thinking of traveling alone with a squirmy 5 month old.    I was remembering stories of TSA making a poor mom try her own breast milk in security a few years ago when they were cracking down on liquids. Changing a diaper in an airplane restroom?  A whole plane of angry people if my infant screams the entire flight?  Breastfeeding on a plane?  Delays?  I decided I was a crazy person but that the trip was worth it!

We were set to go.  Other than both of us starting to get colds, we were ready.  I got home from work on the day Lilah and I were supposed to fly out to pack a few last minute items, feed the baby and head for airport when I discovered my first leg of the flight had been massively delayed out of Indianapolis.   The next hour and half consisted of me talking on my dying cell phone that was plugged into the wall in my kitchen with a very accented United Representative, dog barking, and Lilah crying.  I was going to miss my connection in Chicago that night, sleep in the Ohare airport with an infant and catch the flight the next am OR not go at all. No flights out of Indy for 2 days- all booked.  The last option was driving directly to meet my connection in Chicago, by myself, with Lilah... which left in 5 hrs.  It was Chicago or bust.  In one of the least sane moments of my life (very honestly.), I embarked on a mad dash speeding panic driving the 3.5 hrs to Chicago, alone with Lilah. I threw everything in my car, changed her diaper and we left.  I neglected to grab anything for me to eat or drink.  Almost out of gas.  Phone nearly dead and no car charger.  It was going to be a great trip!!  I sent Ben a cryptic text, not wanting him to know what I was doing, or that I was seriously insane.  I filled with gas as fast as I could and we went 15 over the speed limit the entire way.  I kept thinking of everything that could possibly go wrong- car breaks down, accidents, traffic jams in Chicago, getting lost with no phone, getting to airport but still missing flight....  I ate cough drops the entire way to keep my hungry stomach at ease.  Lilah slept the first 2 hrs (throwing off my master plan of her sleeping on the flight) but started to cry still with 1.5 hrs to go.  I somehow managed to feed her a bottle in her carseat and still drive on the interstate in Chicago, even I was a little bit impressed, and the crisis was diverted.  I realized too late that there were about 4 tolls on my route I had chosen, and I had no cash.  I decided this was no time to worry about road improvements for the people of Chicago, so I sped through those all the toll stops!  With about an hr and 15 minutes to go, I pulled up in airport economy lot parking.  It was the size of small city.  I had no idea where to go, so I just grabbed my suitcase, carry on bag, diaper bag, car seat and infant and started walking.  I had no idea how to get out of this blasted lot to the airport.  Luckily, a lady walking by with her small efficiently packed luggage took pity on me, grabbed a bag and directed me to where to go.  We were on the monorail towards the terminals.  Still and hour left!  Every person who saw me thankfully took pity on me and carried either my luggage or bags while I hauled this chubby infant in her carseat and the rest of my luggage.  I thought O'Hare would be disastrous to get through.... I was so wrong.  It was Switzerland- fast, efficient and everyone was so nice!  We made it to our gate.... with 45 minutes to spare!!!!!!  We did it!!!!  The travel prayers you all sent worked and I thank you!  I was starving, thirsty, had to use the restroom, but we made it!!  Over the next 45 minutes, I learned 1) how to pee with an infant strapped to you and 2) how to non-chalantly eat a sandwhich with an infant strapped to you and wipe the crumbs out of your infants hair.  Let this be a lesson to you all on how not to travel. Lilah really is an amazing child and rolled with it all so well.  She was a gem on the flight and we made it back to Nebraska... so worth it!! :)

Our flight back was much less eventful!  Lilah did manage to spill my drink all over my two neighbors, cry most of the time and have a poopy blow-out in-air.  It was quite exciting for the two poor guys sitting on either side of me that were both college aged.  Excellent birth control for the next few years, I imagine.

Go Big Red!!!

First grass!

Really digging it

Nana and Papa

Someone loves no clothes!

Solids were ok, spoon was better

While back in Lincoln- we partied.  I went to the first homegame with my dad.  Saw Trevor and his girlfriend. Saw Ben's folks!  Got a pedicure.  Saw Allie, Iz and Heidi. Saw Frannie and Paul.  Saw Gigi, Uncle Ron and Joan.   Lilah tried solids for the first time!  We are still convincing her that her feet aren't a food group.  :)   And of course, enjoyed many missed moments with my parents at the Ponderosa.  I didn't mention that Lilah had a fever three of the four nights we were back, but that was peanuts compared to what we just went though to get there!