Hell in the air

We are in Florida… thank the good Lord above, as I really didn’t think we’d make it here.  I was ready to jump from the plane.   

Let me back up.  The evening started out really well.  We made it through security (taking the laptop out of the bag, folding the stroller, taking off our shoes and holding Porter through it all), and onto the plane without a hitch.  Porter was in awe of the airplanes (for the life of me I can’t spell how he says it… ay pane or something… its late. I’m tired), and even though we sat on the tarmac for nearly an hour before taking off, Porter did great!  I guess I should have known we were doomed when he took the biggest dump of his life right before takeoff and the flight attendant informed me that this plane didn’t have the infant changing station in the lavatory so that left me with the only option I could think of… change his crappy butt on my seat.  We made it through, though, and I hoped that would be the worst of the evening.

However…..the plane left around 10:15 or so… I don’t know.  Sometime between then and 11pm Porter flipped out.  I mean FLIPPED OUT.  He was getting tired, we tried the Einstein video on the computer and all it seemed to do was keep him awake.  So, we tried to hold him to get him to sleep.  Well, that just doesn’t work for a child who is used to going to sleep on his own, tossing and turning at his own free will until he is comfortable.  Well, in a cramped airplane seat that just isn’t possible.  He was SO tired.  His eyes were heavy and for a moment I thought I had him asleep.  His eyes were closed, he was mumbling while I bounced him on my lap.

Then it happened… I don’t know how or what or why… but he turned into THAT CHILD.  He started screaming and arching his back and wrestling me.  His eyes were closed, he was bawling and thrashing and miserable.  For close to half an hour we pretty much helplessly tried to restrain him from bashing into the seat in front of us.  He was screaming BLOODING FLIPPING MURDER for half an hour on the plane. At one point I just dropped my hands and was THIS >< CLOSE to crying. I almost ALMOST laid down on the aisle floor and just bawled. But then I thought, what the hell would that do?  I’d just make myself look like more of an idiot!  So, I sat there, staring in disbelief at the situation surrounding us.  The lady across the aisle from me took him and tried to calm him, but he then wanted me, only to come to me and thrash and flip out even more.  Ryan and I both had no idea what to do.  We tried walking him, rocking him, holding him down, getting a firm voice with him… nothing worked. I seriously just wanted to land the plane and get off. He finally got to the point where he was gagging and choking.  I tried walking him again, and bouncing him along the way and about the 4th time up the aisle he started to calm down.  At this point I was exhausted, delirious and as I paced, I avoided any eye contact at all. I was humiliated.  He finally fell asleep and even though my arm was numb from carrying him after 30 minutes of wrangling him, I kept walking for fear that he’d wake up.  Finally, I sat down, we finished the flight and the rest was pretty smooth.  All I have to say is its a good thing we have 11 days to try to forget that flight.  It was HORRIBLE.

So, on to better things… we didn’t get to Mary Ann’s until about 2am, and Porter (for the first time in his whole life) slept in bed with us.  He was exhausted today, sleeping in until 8, taking an hour morning nap and a 3.5 hour afternoon nap.  We are having a GREAT time with Jess, Ryan, Hailey and Alyssa.  The guys are getting along great, and of course Jess and I are so excited at all the photo opportunities we’re going to have this week.  We *attempted* (keep that in mind) our family sessions today at the Mead Gardens, but it was like 95* and hotter than HELL and we were sopped with sweat by the time we had hit our second location.  Jess and I were out of sorts with taking pictures… we just plain sucked with focus and exposure.  Must have been the heat, right?  HAHA

Anyway, here are a few pictures so far… (please excuse the conversions… I’m on the laptop and its a little wonky)

Porter on the plane… watching the planes on the runway

Alyssa in the pool

Porter and Ry swimming

A few from the gardens…

Hailey and Alyssa

Us…