The trip, etc.

I know many wondered how the trip went so here goes:
We flew out of Rabat early in the morning. Holly was flying with me and there were two other people that I knew from the embassy on our flight so I had good company in the line for ticketing, etc. I told the ticket agent that I would need my stroller back at the gate when we got off of the plane and she put a tag on it, etc.
I went through customs in Rabat and the guy asked for my judgement saying I can take them out of the country. I gave it to him and he stepped away to go talk to his supervisor. I got a little nervous thinking that something was up but he came back and let me through. Rabat is such a small airport that you have to climb the stairs to get on the plane. Not fun when you have a diaper bag, backpack and an infant carrier with a big baby inside!!! :)
The flight was pretty smooth and uneventful. Leah quickly discovered how to unbuckle her seatbelt so that was a task to distract her, but it was minor overall.
We arrived in Paris and they roll the stairs up to the plane. It's worse going DOWN those stairs with all the gear. I got to the bottom and told the worker that I needed my stroller. They told me to wait over to the side. Great! Some other moms with small children did the same I saw my stroller and pointed it out to the worker. I wasn't sure if she understood so I got my friend to explain it to her in French. No problem. We waited and waited and finally the luggage and my stroller is driven off. I was NOT happy! They explained that I had to go to baggage claim to get my stroller and that I had to get on the bus to go to the terminal. *SIGH* Fine!
We get to the terminal and my friend talked to an Air France representative and told her that I needed the stroller. One diaper bag was full of pre-filled formula bottles which they now make in glass. Those things are heavy!. My backpack had ALL of my adoption paperwork just in case I needed to produce something upon request. So Air France explained that they would have to call the baggage people and ask them to put in on the carousel instead of on my next flight but that it would take so long I would miss my flight. Not cool!!!
So Holly and I start walking to the gate for our next flight while carrying this stuff (we were REALLY struggling). We had to get on another bus and if there was a long hallway, we seemed to have to go to the end EVERY time! We finally got to our gate and were ready to collapse!
Finally they called for us to board and when I got to the agent to show her our passports and tickets she noticed the girls had different last names (their names will change when we finalize here in the US). I told her about the adoption and she said she had to see the adoption decree and the permission to take them out of the US. Part of me felt that it wasn't really her place to demand these documents because she did not work for customs, but rather Air France. However, I wanted on that flight so I cooperated. :)
Holly was not originally seated with us. We were in a middle row with 4 seats but she was further back. We decided to have her sit and wait in the extra seat until the person who was assigned to the seat showed up. He finally did and we showed him the girls and explained that he was more than welcome to sit with me and the girls but if he'd prefer a quieter, more pleasant flight, he was welcome to Holly's seat in the back. :) Needless to say, he took Holly's seat. :) Turbulence was quite rough over the Atlantic but other than that the flight wasn't too bad. The girls did pretty well within a bit of fussing, but nothing unbearable, etc.
We arrived in Atlanta and struggled with all the things to get through customs and claimmed our luggage. Some people offered to help but we had to go through a different line so we had to do some of it on our own.
At this point I got my stroller back. YAY! I was able to put the diaper bags and my backpack in the stroller so it was a nice relief!!! One of the workers helped me by pushing my cart all through the airport from when I claimed my luggage to go through customs to when I rechecked it. I went through immigration with no problems at all! :) :) :) What a relief!!!
Holly and I located our gates and got on the subway and said our goodbyes. I was so glad she was there to help. There would have been absolutely no way I could have done this by myself without my stroller!
I arrived at my terminal with 3 hours to spare. I wondered around shops trying to work up an appetite (I can't eat on planes) but my stomach had not settled from the flight yet. Every five steps I took someone commented on the girls. That took some getting used to!
On the way to my gate I stopped by a Delta representative and asked for assurance that I would get my stroller back at the gate when I arrived after my next flight since I was by myself. She gave me a new tag and assured me that it would be there. She also told me to talk to the gate agent and tell her that I would need assistance onto the plane and she would tell me what to do when they start boarding.
I stopped by the gate agent and told her what was going on and she asked to see our passports. Well, she noticed the different names and the different passports and asked about it. I told her about the adoption and she congratulated me, etc.
I sat down to wait and a pilot looked at me and said "I heard you tell the gate agent about the adoption! Please tell me you are not traveling by yourself!!!" I told him how Holly helped me and how I was just doing the last leg by myself. I also explained how Josh didn't choose to have me do this by myself, etc. He was prior Air Force and explained how his wife had to travel many times without him, etc.
The time finally came for me to board and everyone was VERY helpful. The pilot that I had talked to was a passenger on my flight and helped me board. The guy who sat behind me was so smitten with the girls. The flight was very uneventful. While we were on the runway the man who sat behind us was on the phone with his wife and told her about the girls. It was so cute. He helped me off of the plane and I stood at the gate to wait for my stroller. I GOT IT!!! By the time I got it loaded, etc. The flight crew was coming off of the plane. They all offered to help but I was fine with the stroller.
I got through the security checkpoint and saw Andrew. We were both thrilled to see each other. He was taller than the last time I saw him! As I was heading to baggage claim the man that sat behind was was waiting with his wife. He said "I'm sorry but I wanted my wife to see those girls!" It was so cute!!!
We took the hour ride home and my Father in law was waiting when I got home. After an hour or two everyone left so we could go to bed. I had been awake for 26 hours. I was only able to sleep for 2 hours. I unpacked for a while, watched some tv on my computer, etc. I was able to get one more hour in and realized that sleep was not going to happen for me. It was 5am so I hopped in my new van and went to find the Krispy Kreme. Those were some delicious doughnuts!!! :)
I realized that from carrying all the things through the airport I was covered in bruises. There are over 20 on my thighs alone! The smallest ones are the size of my fingertips. The worst is the size of my palm!
Regardless, I am sooooooooooooo happy to be home.
The following night I was only able to sleep 4 hours but the following night I slept through the night. The house is slowly getting unpacked and arranged as well. I think the girls and I are over the jet lag. Now we are trying to get into a good routine, etc.
Sorry for the delay in posting. Between the lack of sleep, running errands to get the house in order, unpacking and chasing children. I am just now getting a chance. Life is good. The only thing I would change would be Josh here with us. However, such is the life of an Army wife.:)
--Rachel