Let's start at the very begining...

THE AIRPORT

I was so so so not looking forward to this. J has been on many many flights in his day (he was around 17 at this point in time), and every single one he has just slept the whole time. But, he was never on a plane for 11 hours, and never at 10 months old. Have I mentioned that J thinks that 3 hours of church is enough torture as it is?? How was he EVER going to sit still for 11 hours?

Australia is too far too swim, so it's not like we had much choice in the matter. So, off we went to the Honolulu International Airport with our carry on bags packed full of treats and toys to satisfy a small country. We were there with time to spare---so we thought. When we get to the counter, they tell us J was not booked with our flight. Well, yes, a matter of fact he was. Of course he was. But since no one that works for Hawaiian Airlines knows how to verify an infant was added to an international ticket, we stood there for a good 2 1/2 hours. No exaggeration.

When you check in to an airline, do you ever notice how much they type on their computers?? Really, what are they doing?? What is all that ruckus really for? We watched as the man, then the woman, the back to the man, typed his novel, ran around behind the counter, picked up that red phone, calling people, etc. For all that time spent, how come nothing seemed to really be getting accomplished?? It was quite the fiasco to watch. I was sweating bullets because our tickets specifically said we needed to be at our gate an hour before the flight. Time was ticking.

Finally, somehow, someone pushes the magic button, and $200 later, we are ready to go... So, off we are running to the gate, because at this point, they tell us, "You need to hurry, everyone is boarded and they are only holding the plane for you." as if we were the incompetent people in this situation. That issue is neither here, nor there, so moving on...Of course, to even get to the International terminal, you actually have to wait in another to line to get on a bus-thing, that takes you across the airport to another terminal. So, it's not like we could go fast, or slow. We just had to wait.

We get to the gate, and of course, "WAIT! Your son does not have a valid Visa".... Oh. My. Gosh. Of course he does. They checked it down stairs. At this point it took all of the patience in my body to just stand there, and do nothing, but stand...and stare. Again, there we are watching this circus unfold, once again, with people telling us we can't get on the plane, yadda yadda yadda. I tell them that all of our Visas were approved the same day, and I have all the verification numbers. "Well, did you spell his name right? You have to spell his name right..." What? Of course I spelled his name right. It's really not that difficult: J. Hmmmm Are you serious?

"Ok. Just get on the plane and we will have it figured out before you land." Seriously? You can just do that? "... if we can't figure it out, they just won't let your son into Australia..." Oh that's all? That's not too bad. I guess we could just leave him on the plane for the 4 weeks we are going to be there, and just pick him up on the way back. Of course I am the dramatic one in the family, and my extremely mellow, low key husband Chris jumped to the idea of us getting onto the plane. "Taylor, they'll figure it out."

I just dumbfoundedly followed him. Well, hopefully we can take J with us once we land.