We were supposed to fly home Monday. We headed to the airport all packed and ready to return home. Just as we were checking in for our flight- we were notified that our connecting flight from Denver had just been cancelled. CANCELLED!! So now what!? Our options were to fly to Denver and wait around all night hopping they could fit on a different flight at some point on Tuesday. OR we could take a red eye to Chicago at 10:30pm and hang around Chicago for 5 hours from 1am-6am then fly into Lincoln. OR fly to Denver and try to rent a car to drive home. OR just stay the night in San Diego for another night and get on a flight the next morning. We opted for the last one. We gathered up all our luggage and headed over to the hotel shuttles. Stayed at a Bayside hotel. It was only 2pm and we had already returned our rental car...so we were basically confined to that area. The twins did some homework, Corynn messed around on her iPad, and Evie and John and I took a walk around the neighborhood.
Corynn and Evie took advantage of the extra pool time. We walked around downtown San Diego and had dinner a great burger place.
Then about 2am Evie had a coughing fit. We turned on the shower and sinks in the bathroom and tried to use the steam to help ease the coughing. Our family had two hotel rooms with the twins and Corynn in one and John, Evie and I in the other. So at least the other kids got some sleep. Evie finally fell asleep around 4am. We had to be up and at the airport before 8am. I should have known it was an omen of the how the day would go.
We made it to the airport at 8am only to find out our flight was delayed a few hours. I walked the entire airport trying to find some kind of cold medicine for children, but no luck. Poor kid was going to have to tough it out until we got home.
She was exhausted by the time we finally boarded our first flight. It was a 2 hour flight and she fell asleep in my lap about 10 minutes in. She needed the sleep so I let her sleep. Even when she peed all over my lap. Not much you can do at 30,000 feet when all your clothes are packed in checked baggage. Just thankful I had on black pants...otherwise it might have looked like both of us had accidents.
We finally make it to Denver only to find out that the connecting flight to Lincoln is delayed. Joy. I go through all our carry-ons hoping to find something to change Evie into. Finally find something that will work for her and we head to the bathroom to change her and dry me. As we get back to our gate, John informs us that the flight was delayed AGAIN. So we hang out in Denver. For hours. And during that time, flights at gates around us are getting cancelled. Evie is still coughing and the airport was freezing.
Finally- we make it onto our flight only to sit at the gate for a half hour while they restocked soda and ice. The buckle seat belt sign was on and Evie had to pee. She had to wait until we were in the air. She was crying. There was nothing I could do. I had put a pull-up on her at the airport, so I told her that it would be ok to just go in her pants. She held out as long as she could. And of course the pull-up failed. She was upset. I was done. I could not wait to get home!!
But we made it. It was definitely a stressful trying time for our family, but it didn't ruin the trip. The trip was amazing! Lots of memories we made and we had a blast! I'm just documenting our experience, so that when we contemplate taking a flight through Denver- I can just read this and remind myself to pay extra to take connecting flights through any place but Denver. Seriously.
Happy 2015!!! Wishing everyone a lovely NEW YEAR!!
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