3 Down - 0 To Go! Man It's Good To Be Home!

It's Sunday night - 9:32pm eastern time. I am happy to report that T, Rhonda and I all survived the flight(s) home. It's been a long couple days, and the room is starting to spin (darn jet lag), so I'll keep this short. Well, as short as possible.

The transit hotel in Seoul worked out really nice. We hit some additional duty free stores again this morning. Could that really have been this morning? Well I guess technically it WAS Sunday.

The first leg of today's flights was the big kahuna. 12.35 hours. UGH. I don't care who you are - sitting for 12.35 hours STINKS. Trying to corral a 2 year old who doesn't want to nap. STINKS x TWO. While it wasn't quite "the flight we shall not speak of"... there were moments when I wanted to jump out the nearest window. T slept a grand total of about 1.5 hours on this flight. She fought it and fought it ALL day. She was a trooper MOST of the time, but like any two year old, who has never flown before and is completely off schedule - she had some meltdowns. The nothing will soothe me meltdowns. Not fun. The bassinet in bulk head was just a tad too small - and didn't allow for proper head movement in "the rock" so that didn't fly much either, other to sit in while being fed.

The big action on the flight was the medical emergency we had. A girl passed out near our seats - no one but Rhonda really reacted. There was something else going on - and about 1 hr later there was an announcement asking if anyone on board had medical experience. SCARY. We didn't end up making an emergency stop - so Rhonda and I decided she must have been ok. That or something much worse - but we liked the first option.

T soared through customs like a champ and is now an OFFICIAL US CITIZEN! Wooo hooo! We didn't have a chance to replace the travel jammies with the cute red/white/blue outfit - but she still looked cute doing it! The Chicago to Detroit flight was a non-event really. Quick - less than an hour and painless.

We were greeted by my mom (Gramma!), Jennifer (cousin) & her daughter Riley (T's new BFF), Carrie (cousin's wife/oldest friend and that doesn't mean age) & her daughter Mary, and Yvonne & her son Conner. It was great to see everyone and we were super glad for the reception. T didn't fuss ONCE at the airport - even with a flock of people around her. The car ride home had it's UPS and DOWNS, but we've already covered the car challenge... no need to beat a dead horse. All in all, for a kid who missed 3 naps and essentially an entire nights sleep, she was in amazingly good spirits.

We arrived home to signs in the yard welcoming us from my awesome family. Jennifer and her kids and Gary/Rena and their kids made some great welcome signs. If you're near Croswell, check 'em out! I couldn't bear take them down!! My family ROCKS.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't send a special message to Miss Rhonda. And no, I promise I am not starting to tear... ok maybe a little but that's the jet lag right?? Where oh where would I be without you? THANK YOU for saving me in Vlad this week. Your friendship means the world to me and I appreciate the adult conversation. I love that 9/10 times if I am thinking something - you probably are too. Who else would travel the world to go to Vladivostok, TWICE? (And then who else gets their luggage lost between Chicago and Detroit...)

It's good to be home!!!