On Monday, Naomi and I flew from Des Moines, Iowa to Boston, Massachusetts. Our layover was in Washington, DC. Michael then picked us up from the Logan International Airport, and we drove a little over 2 hours to our new home in Hubbardston, Mass. Someone here referred to our location as "the sticks"...if that tells you anything. It's actually a lovely town, full of huge trees and tranquil ponds. A quiet snowfall greeted us that night and gently covered the trees. It was a peaceful end to a not-so-peaceful day.
Naomi and I's flight was scheduled to leave at 7:10am on Monday morning. We arrived at the airport and made it through security with no commotion. I knew I had to gate-check the car seat so as soon as I arrived at the gate (6:45) I unpacked her from the car seat. She was scheduled to eat at 7am and had been awake since 6:15, so I knew time was tight. It was warm in the waiting room.
We did not board until 7:15, and Naomi was on the verge of serious fussing. I was able to board first, which was great, except for one thing. I needed to nurse Naomi. Soon. And I was given an aisle seat. That meant that when the window seat person came, I'd have to stand up and let him or her in. I couldn't do that while nursing. So I tried in vain to keep Naomi distracted while I waited....and waited.... Eventually a woman came in, gave me the window seat, and took her seat in the aisle. Once she sat down, I had less than a normal seat left...(is that clear enough?) It was tight.
I finally fed Naomi and the woman next to me was SO kind and understanding. I had hoped that Naomi would fall asleep soon after eating, but my dear daughter is not much of a snuggler and doesn't fall asleep well while being held (I know, weird, right?). It's nice most of the time, but when we're on a 2 hour flight and she can't sleep, it's not so nice. She's a bit fussy, which puts me on edge. Soon I hear a very familiar sound...my adorable daughter filling her diaper. I cringe...waiting, even saying a prayer that the diaper is enough to hold it all in...soon my hands on her back feel wet, and my shoulders droop. Another blow out. Not here on the plane! I'm stuck in this seat! The woman next to me is sleeping and I cannot get over to the bathroom. What will I do?? I'm agonizing over this thought when I realize that I really have no choice. I need to change her there, in my lap.
As I am thinking through this, she continues to fill her diaper and beyond. Soon I realize this is the LARGEST DIAPER BLOW OUT OF ALL TIME!!! Nearly all the way up her back and around the sides, going through 2 layers of clothing and onto the blanket I'm holding her in.
Needless to say, the next 20 minutes were stressful. I didn't want to gross anyone out, or get in trouble with the flight attendants for changing a NASTY diaper right then and there. But I really don't have a choice! So I take a little break whenever the attendant comes by, and try to cover things up when my seat partner wakes up a bit. Oh man, it had to have taken AT LEAST 20 minutes to change that diaper. I used all my wipes except ONE. She's only semi-clean, but it's got to be good enough for now.
Then I realize, I HAVE NO WHERE TO PUT THE DIRTY CLOTHES, DIAPER, or WIPES. I ask the flight attendant for a trash bag (all while hiding what I need to put in that trash bag) and she says, "sure! I'll get you one from up front!". She goes up front. She stays up front and never brings a big. 10 minutes goes by and I've got a smelly, poopy diaper next to me and a handful of wipes in the pocket in front of me, nasty clothes wrapped up in an oversize burp cloth and NO TRASH BAG. I hit the "call attendant" button (felt so bad, never have done that before but I had to!) The OTHER attendant came by, I continued to hide the nasty diaper and I asked her for a trash bag. FINALLY I get one. Then, it dawns on me that unless I want to throw away the clothes I really should have asked for 2 bags. I get creative. I put the clothes in the bottom of the bag, twisted it several times and then put in the diaper, then twisted it some more to hopefully keep that diaper mess from getting on ANYTHING else. Whew! Crisis averted.
Good news: Naomi slept for 2 hours straight on the 2nd flight, and another 2 hours on the car ride from the airport to the house. Now that's my girl.
On Monday, Naomi and I flew from Des Moines, Iowa to Boston, Massachusetts. Our layover was in Washington, DC. Michael then picked us up from the Logan International Airport, and we drove a little over 2 hours to our new home in Hubbardston, Mass. Someone here referred to our location as "the sticks"...if that tells you anything. It's actually a lovely town, full of huge trees and tranquil ponds. A quiet snowfall greeted us that night and gently covered the trees. It was a peaceful end to a not-so-peaceful day.
Naomi and I's flight was scheduled to leave at 7:10am on Monday morning. We arrived at the airport and made it through security with no commotion. I knew I had to gate-check the car seat so as soon as I arrived at the gate (6:45) I unpacked her from the car seat. She was scheduled to eat at 7am and had been awake since 6:15, so I knew time was tight. It was warm in the waiting room.
We did not board until 7:15, and Naomi was on the verge of serious fussing. I was able to board first, which was great, except for one thing. I needed to nurse Naomi. Soon. And I was given an aisle seat. That meant that when the window seat person came, I'd have to stand up and let him or her in. I couldn't do that while nursing. So I tried in vain to keep Naomi distracted while I waited....and waited.... Eventually a woman came in, gave me the window seat, and took her seat in the aisle. Once she sat down, I had less than a normal seat left...(is that clear enough?) It was tight.
I finally fed Naomi and the woman next to me was SO kind and understanding. I had hoped that Naomi would fall asleep soon after eating, but my dear daughter is not much of a snuggler and doesn't fall asleep well while being held (I know, weird, right?). It's nice most of the time, but when we're on a 2 hour flight and she can't sleep, it's not so nice. She's a bit fussy, which puts me on edge. Soon I hear a very familiar sound...my adorable daughter filling her diaper. I cringe...waiting, even saying a prayer that the diaper is enough to hold it all in...soon my hands on her back feel wet, and my shoulders droop. Another blow out. Not here on the plane! I'm stuck in this seat! The woman next to me is sleeping and I cannot get over to the bathroom. What will I do?? I'm agonizing over this thought when I realize that I really have no choice. I need to change her there, in my lap.
As I am thinking through this, she continues to fill her diaper and beyond. Soon I realize this is the LARGEST DIAPER BLOW OUT OF ALL TIME!!! Nearly all the way up her back and around the sides, going through 2 layers of clothing and onto the blanket I'm holding her in.
Needless to say, the next 20 minutes were stressful. I didn't want to gross anyone out, or get in trouble with the flight attendants for changing a NASTY diaper right then and there. But I really don't have a choice! So I take a little break whenever the attendant comes by, and try to cover things up when my seat partner wakes up a bit. Oh man, it had to have taken AT LEAST 20 minutes to change that diaper. I used all my wipes except ONE. She's only semi-clean, but it's got to be good enough for now.
Then I realize, I HAVE NO WHERE TO PUT THE DIRTY CLOTHES, DIAPER, or WIPES. I ask the flight attendant for a trash bag (all while hiding what I need to put in that trash bag) and she says, "sure! I'll get you one from up front!". She goes up front. She stays up front and never brings a big. 10 minutes goes by and I've got a smelly, poopy diaper next to me and a handful of wipes in the pocket in front of me, nasty clothes wrapped up in an oversize burp cloth and NO TRASH BAG. I hit the "call attendant" button (felt so bad, never have done that before but I had to!) The OTHER attendant came by, I continued to hide the nasty diaper and I asked her for a trash bag. FINALLY I get one. Then, it dawns on me that unless I want to throw away the clothes I really should have asked for 2 bags. I get creative. I put the clothes in the bottom of the bag, twisted it several times and then put in the diaper, then twisted it some more to hopefully keep that diaper mess from getting on ANYTHING else. Whew! Crisis averted.
Good news: Naomi slept for 2 hours straight on the 2nd flight, and another 2 hours on the car ride from the airport to the house. Now that's my girl.