We took a red eye to FL this year - FL is where I'm from originally. The kids were finally on a normal(ish) sleep cycle this past week, and then we took a red eye. Amazingly, they slept on the plane for three hours and hubby and I tried to sleep. All in all it was an uneventful trip - which we more than grateful for because all of our other pilgrimages home have led to disaster.
Join me as I stroll down memory lane...
By far my most harrowing plane ride took place over four years ago. My youngest was 3 months old which would make my oldest 4 at the time. She was in full swing of reflux and he was in full swing of hyperactive 4 year old. The ride down was relatively uneventful except for the blood clot I got from riding on the plane (that's another post all together). The vacation itself went well, and my wonderful mom was more than willing to get up in the night and feed the baby so I could get some much needed sleep. We got back on the plane and our first leg went fine as well. I managed to get the toddle and the baby through the airport to the second plane. They were both tired before we got on the plane, but neither would give into sleep. SO, by the end of 3 hours of our 4.5 hour flight, they were both postal. Since I had a baby, I had only purchased two seats - my first mistake. We were in the two seats over the wing - second mistake (it's too loud for kids to sleep there). I spent the better part of an hour in the aisle bouncing reflux girl while patting my crabby 4 year old who was prostrate on the seats crying. As we are approaching Seattle for our final decent (from my low perch in the aisle), I happen to notice that the flaps aren't up on the wings (they slow you down so you can land). About the time I'm going to call the flight attendant, she appears from the rear of the plane asking to look out our window. I point out the flaps and she politely asks me not to say anything to the other passengers. So now I, the flight attendant and the pilots all know that the flaps aren't up. About this time, the pilot comes on the radio telling us "these airplanes have a lot of light and switches. We've confirmed that our flaps aren't up, but we don't know if our landing gear came down. We're pretty sure it did, but we have to fly by the tower for a look". We have to WHAT?!?! I felt like I was in some sort of Lifetime movie of the week! I'm trying my damnedest not to panic - especially in front of my kids but I'm close to failing miserable at it.
So, we fly by the tower, and the captain confirms that the landing gear is down (YAY!). We still have the flaps problem though. The captain then tells us that we are going to circle for a bit to try to slow the plane down prior to landing. I'm thinking to myself "..and dump fuel so we don't explode when we land'. Thirty minutes later, the captain comes on and says this - I swear to you I am NOT making this up "Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we need to make sure that your seat belts are fastened, your tray tables are up and your seats in their full upright position. We're going to come in hard and fast when we land. Right before we land I'm going to come on and say "BRACE, BRACE, BRACE" Now when I say that, I want you to brace yourselves as best as possible. If you have small children, try to place one hand in front of their torso's. If you have infants in arms (hi - that would be me on both accounts) place them in a carrier or hold onto them as best you can. I will be back on just before we land. Okay here we go". I'm pretty sure my normally ghost white skin had turned translucent by now. I'm trying hard not to freak out in front of my kids, and trying to figure out how I'm going to brace the three of us for "landing". I also couldn't decide if I should call my husband to say our final goodbye's or pray for the best. I decided on the latter. Somehow making that phone call made it all too real - and I preferred the semi state of denial I was already in.
About this time, the captain says "BRACE, BRACE, BRACE" - I use my mom seat belt arm to hold my oldest back on my left, I death drip the baby who is already in a Baby Bjourn (aka Baby Fly Paper) and throw my foot up on the seat in front of me hoping to wedge myself in. And then we landed - hard - only there were no fire balls, no explosions, and no cartwheels of the plane. You can't imagine the collective sigh of relief that came from all the passengers.
We came to an abrupt stop on the runway. I look as we are stopping and it is only then that I notice all of the fire trucks and ambulances lining both sides of the runway. At which point my son yells out on the plane "LOOK MOMMY! FIRE TRUCKS!" all heads turn our direction. A moment later, a firemen (woman?) comes over in their full head to toe silver fire gear which prompts my son to yell out "LOOK MOMMY! IT'S A SPACE MAN!" all heads turn our direction again. The captain comes on to explain that we came in fast and stopped hard which creates heat around the wheels and brakes. The firemen/women were coming to make sure our tires weren't ON FIRE!!! Once they gave us the all clear, the plane started taxiing toward the terminal - and the ambulances and firetrucks fell in line behind us and my son yells "LOOK MOMMY! IT'S A PAH-RADE!!! All heads turn toward us again then quickly out their windows to watch the parade too. And ever since then, I get a bit twitchy on planes.
Join me as I stroll down memory lane...
By far my most harrowing plane ride took place over four years ago. My youngest was 3 months old which would make my oldest 4 at the time. She was in full swing of reflux and he was in full swing of hyperactive 4 year old. The ride down was relatively uneventful except for the blood clot I got from riding on the plane (that's another post all together). The vacation itself went well, and my wonderful mom was more than willing to get up in the night and feed the baby so I could get some much needed sleep. We got back on the plane and our first leg went fine as well. I managed to get the toddle and the baby through the airport to the second plane. They were both tired before we got on the plane, but neither would give into sleep. SO, by the end of 3 hours of our 4.5 hour flight, they were both postal. Since I had a baby, I had only purchased two seats - my first mistake. We were in the two seats over the wing - second mistake (it's too loud for kids to sleep there). I spent the better part of an hour in the aisle bouncing reflux girl while patting my crabby 4 year old who was prostrate on the seats crying. As we are approaching Seattle for our final decent (from my low perch in the aisle), I happen to notice that the flaps aren't up on the wings (they slow you down so you can land). About the time I'm going to call the flight attendant, she appears from the rear of the plane asking to look out our window. I point out the flaps and she politely asks me not to say anything to the other passengers. So now I, the flight attendant and the pilots all know that the flaps aren't up. About this time, the pilot comes on the radio telling us "these airplanes have a lot of light and switches. We've confirmed that our flaps aren't up, but we don't know if our landing gear came down. We're pretty sure it did, but we have to fly by the tower for a look". We have to WHAT?!?! I felt like I was in some sort of Lifetime movie of the week! I'm trying my damnedest not to panic - especially in front of my kids but I'm close to failing miserable at it.
So, we fly by the tower, and the captain confirms that the landing gear is down (YAY!). We still have the flaps problem though. The captain then tells us that we are going to circle for a bit to try to slow the plane down prior to landing. I'm thinking to myself "..and dump fuel so we don't explode when we land'. Thirty minutes later, the captain comes on and says this - I swear to you I am NOT making this up "Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we need to make sure that your seat belts are fastened, your tray tables are up and your seats in their full upright position. We're going to come in hard and fast when we land. Right before we land I'm going to come on and say "BRACE, BRACE, BRACE" Now when I say that, I want you to brace yourselves as best as possible. If you have small children, try to place one hand in front of their torso's. If you have infants in arms (hi - that would be me on both accounts) place them in a carrier or hold onto them as best you can. I will be back on just before we land. Okay here we go". I'm pretty sure my normally ghost white skin had turned translucent by now. I'm trying hard not to freak out in front of my kids, and trying to figure out how I'm going to brace the three of us for "landing". I also couldn't decide if I should call my husband to say our final goodbye's or pray for the best. I decided on the latter. Somehow making that phone call made it all too real - and I preferred the semi state of denial I was already in.
About this time, the captain says "BRACE, BRACE, BRACE" - I use my mom seat belt arm to hold my oldest back on my left, I death drip the baby who is already in a Baby Bjourn (aka Baby Fly Paper) and throw my foot up on the seat in front of me hoping to wedge myself in. And then we landed - hard - only there were no fire balls, no explosions, and no cartwheels of the plane. You can't imagine the collective sigh of relief that came from all the passengers.
We came to an abrupt stop on the runway. I look as we are stopping and it is only then that I notice all of the fire trucks and ambulances lining both sides of the runway. At which point my son yells out on the plane "LOOK MOMMY! FIRE TRUCKS!" all heads turn our direction. A moment later, a firemen (woman?) comes over in their full head to toe silver fire gear which prompts my son to yell out "LOOK MOMMY! IT'S A SPACE MAN!" all heads turn our direction again. The captain comes on to explain that we came in fast and stopped hard which creates heat around the wheels and brakes. The firemen/women were coming to make sure our tires weren't ON FIRE!!! Once they gave us the all clear, the plane started taxiing toward the terminal - and the ambulances and firetrucks fell in line behind us and my son yells "LOOK MOMMY! IT'S A PAH-RADE!!! All heads turn toward us again then quickly out their windows to watch the parade too. And ever since then, I get a bit twitchy on planes.
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