Las Vegas: Week One

Jay and I woke up to snow and strong winds. Fearing the weather would effect our travel plans, we checked our flight status several times and nothing had changed. So we continued getting dressed and packing up our things, then left the hotel at 5:00 am to catch our first flight from Kalamazoo to Chicago. As always, the process of checking in and going through security at the Kalamazoo airport was smooth. Shortly after boarding the plane at 6:30am (EST) we were informed the plane would need to be de-iced before taking off. We were assured by the flight attendants that this would only be a 15 minute delay. A whole hour later we were finally in the air. There was a good chance we had missed our next flight from Chicago to Vegas, but we were holding on to the hope that we would make it just in time. By the time we got off the plane in Chicago we discovered that we had in fact missed our next flight. We rushed over to customer service where they booked us for a flight that would depart from Chicago at 9:30am, arrive in Los Angeles at 12:16pm, then depart from Los Angeles at 1:20pm, and arrive in Vegas at 2:38pm. It was our only option if we wanted to get to Vegas that day. With our original flight we were looking at getting into Vegas at 12:00pm, but missing that flight made for such an inconvenience by putting us a few hours behind schedule. Need I mention that we were flying with a ten month old? Traveling with a baby is never exactly convenient, so this delay and the extra travel time that was added on to our day was extra frustrating. 

We walked for what felt like two miles through the Chicago airport, hauling a good amount of luggage and a baby. Our gate was located in a dirty and ghetto part of the airport. We found seats then I took Jay's breakfast order while he stayed with Evelyn and our luggage. After standing in a very long McDonald's line, I ordered our food and walked back to Jay and Evelyn. Somehow I misunderstood Jay and got his breakfast order wrong- a sausage McMuffin instead of a bacon McGriddle. Obviously this isn't the worst thing that could ever happen to a person, but it just went right along with the theme of our day and we had a good laugh about it. We still had about a half hour before we could board the plane and Evelyn was getting tried and cranky, rightfully so. I took her into the bathroom to change her diaper and kill some time. In the middle of her diaper change in the stinky dirty airport bathroom I heard someone vomiting in a nearby stall. By that point I was officially grossed out and officially ready to get out of that airport. Our flight to Los Angeles was smooth and Evelyn took a good nap in my arms. There had been some setbacks and unfortunate occurrences but we were relieved to be on a plane making our way to our new home.

When Evelyn woke up from her nap she felt warm and was extremely lethargic, almost as if she was on the verge of passing out. It was really scary and I was just thankful it was happening at the end of the flight. As the plane descended Jay and I put some water on her face, stripped off her clothes, tried to get her to drink a bottle, and I said a few sincere prayers. Jay, being the calm and rational one, tried to assure me that she was probably just overheated. I really hoped he was right, I mean she had been wearing fleece PJ's and the plane was very warm. We got off the plane and Evelyn was already acting more like herself. Jay and I found our next gate and sat down at a restaurant nearby. We finished our lunch just in time to board our final flight to Las Vegas. Home stretch! I had driven through Vegas more times than I can count but had never flown in. It was exciting flying into our new hometown, especially after a long day of travel. 

  

We made good time and our flight landed before 2:30pm. After getting horribly lost and taking a few wrong turns in the very large McCarren Las Vegas airport, we got to baggage claim at 3:00pm. It appeared the baggage hadn't been unloaded yet. Relieved, we sat down and patiently waited. Twenty minutes went by and we were growing impatient and a bit nervous wondering if we missed our luggage. Meanwhile, poor sweet Evelyn was rubbing her eyes constantly and whimpering out of exhaustion (it was 7:00pm EST which is her bedtime). I felt horribly guilty for putting her through such a long day. About ten minutes later we made our way over to customer service and spotted Evelyn's car seat right outside of the office. Hallelujah! We had missed it after all... They unloaded our luggage onto the conveyor belt before we arrived at baggage claim but it was all good, we just had to grab our luggage, make it over to Enterprise to rent a car, then drive over to Chon and Kent Goodman's where we would be staying for the next ten days. 

I handed Jay his suitcase then searched for mine. Somehow I missed it, so I looked through the luggage one more time. Still nowhere to be found. I frantically walked into the customer service office and asked for some assistance. Using our flight information, the customer service representative did a quick search on the computer and confirmed that my bag did in fact make it to Vegas along with the rest of our luggage. So where in the world was it?? The customer service rep was very optimistic which is what kept me from bursting into tears. He kept saying things like, "Oh this happens all the time. Someone probably grabbed the wrong bag by mistake. It won't take them long to realize they have the wrong bag, then they'll call us and we'll contact you and you can come get your bag." He rummaged through the suitcases that hadn't been picked up yet, looking for ones that were similar to mine, then contacted the owners of those bags hoping to get some information. But that was of no use. Luckily at the very last minute of packing these suitcases earlier that day, I took out a file folder that contained all of our important documents- birth certificates, passports, social security cards, etc. and packed them in Jay's carry-on bag. However, this lost suitcase contained a good majority of mine and Evelyn's clothes (a lot of which I consider to be irreplaceable keepsakes such as all the headbands I've made for her), diapers, toys, all of mine and Jay's toiletries, jewelry, and hair cutting supplies. The customer service rep went on to say, "You have a baby, so go to the store tonight and get the things you need for your baby, keep your receipts and you'll be reimbursed for everything you purchase regardless if your bag shows up or not. And if your bag doesn't show up you are eligible for up to 3,000 dollars in reimbursements." No. I did not want to go to the store that night. And then hassle with getting reimbursed? No! I wanted my bag! We were basically homeless and it had been a dang long day with a few too many unfortunate occurrences, and all I wanted to do was get to the Goodman's with my family, put a fresh pair of clothes on my over-tired baby, shower with MY shampoo and conditioner, and put on a fresh pair of MY clothes and go to bed! And that's when the tears came flooding. It wasn't just the fact that I didn't have my bag, it was not knowing where my bag was. The thought of a stranger opening up my suitcase and rummaging through mine AND Evelyn's belongings made me absolutely sick to my stomach. The costumer service rep gave me a reference number and some more information on how to track my bag, but besides that we were helpless. Once again, Jay was incredibly patient, loving, and hopeful. He instructed me to take deep breaths and assured me the bag would show up. 

Jay, Evelyn, and I boarded a shuttle which took us to Enterprise where Jay had reserved a rental car a few days prior. He waited in a long line while I sat with Evelyn on a couch in the lobby playing Baby Einstein for her on my phone (I wish I snapped a photo of her in that moment- you could see the exhaustion in her face and it was so pitiful) while I recalled the items that were packed in my missing suitcase and began mourning the loss of every little thing from Evelyn's swaddle blanket she used since the day she was born, to the sapphire ring I inherited from my mom years ago. Approximately 15 minutes later Jay approaches me and Evelyn in the lobby, shakes and then drops his head and says, "This day..." What now. In order to rent a car from this particular Enterprise they have to run a credit card. We do not have a credit card. Need I say more? There were several other rental car companies nearby, so Evelyn and I stayed put while Jay looked into other options. But wouldn't you know... All the other companies also required credit cards. 

We made our way to a different part of the airport where I could nurse Evelyn in private. Fortunately we had Chon and Kent nearby, so Jay called and asked if Kent would come rescue us. While we waited for Kent to arrive I called in my medical prescriptions to a nearby pharmacy to try and get them filled as soon as possible, because of course my medications were also in my lost suitcase (lesson learned!). None of the medications were terribly pressing and I knew I'd get by for the night, but sometimes these things take time and I wanted to get the ball rolling. Kent is one of the most delightful people you'll ever meet and I felt just so horrible during the car ride from the airport to his house. I hadn't seen him in a few years and was looking forward to catching up, but as he was trying to make conversation, I just couldn't. I was so drained and just didn't have the emotional energy. 

We arrived at the Goodman's home around 5:30pm (8:30pm EST). Chon expressed such sincere compassion towards us when we walked through the door. I wish I could recall some of her exact words, but I remember feeling great peace and relief just to be in her home. She came into the guest room with a box of hotel shampoos and soaps they had accumulated throughout the years, along with a couple of spare toothbrushes. Jay and Kent went to the store and picked up a few more toiletries, a thermometer, and medicine for Evelyn (she still felt warm from earlier that day and we wanted to make sure she didn't have a fever). I put Evelyn to sleep, then did a quick load of laundry so that I could have at least have one pair of clean underwear. My appetite was non-existent, although I knew my body needed food. All I wanted was to sit in that guest room and cry. Jay (again, such a patient and loving soul) hugged me and said, "Look. I know you're upset and this totally sucks. But lets just get through tonight. Come eat dinner, then we'll go to sleep, and that's it- don't think about anything else." We went into the dining room and had such an enjoyable dinner with Kent, Chon, and Chris. At one point during dinner I completely forgot about what a horrible day we had. A tender mercy that was. Due to a severe stress head ache, I didn't get much sleep that night. The thought of someone else rummaging through my suitcase... I could not let it go.

Monday morning we woke up to palm trees and clear blue skies. Sunday was travel hell, but we survived and it was a new day.

Kent drove Jay to a rental car company where Jay successfully rented a car and even got a free upgrade. Jay, Evelyn, and I had lunch at Cafe Zupas (an old favorite and greatly missed restaurant) and then went on a little shopping spree at Target where I acquired a new wardrobe and toiletries, courtesy of United airlines. There was still hope that my bag would be found and I wanted to hang on to that, but I was also preparing myself for the worst case scenario. And if worst case scenario was a shopping spree at Target, then I really couldn't complain. We also got to see our new home! It was late at night and the power hadn't been turned on yet, but I loved what I saw through the flashlights. That night we had another delicious homemade meal back at the Goodman's then settled in for the night. We spent the next day exploring our new city and running a few errands in preparation for our big move-in day. 

It was Wednesday. I had spent the last two and half days constantly refreshing my email and calling the airline every free minute I had, hoping for an update about my bag. On Wednesday afternoon I received a miraculous email stating that my bag had been located! I immediately called the airline asking for a more detailed update. The airline wasn't able to tell me where or when the bag was located, just that it was out for delivery that afternoon. SWEET MERCY. When my bag arrived I asked the delivery man for more information. He responded, "I'm just the delivery guy. But often times bags get stuck in TSA for further inspection especially if they contain a lot of liquids." As I said, my bag contained ALL of mine and Jay's toiletries which included shampoos, lotions, mouth wash, and hair products. It still irritates me not knowing for certain where my bag spent the last two and a half days, but I was just going to assume it got held up in TSA, which is a whole lot better than the idea of someone else taking it by mistake. Really it didn't matter where my bag had been, I was just unbelievably relived to have it safe and sound with everything still in place. As far as getting reimbursed for the purchases I made while my bag was missing: The whole situation was not handled well and I was only reimbursed for about half of my purchases, even though I had kept my receipts and filed a claim exactly as they instructed me. Overall it was a very irritating experience and I don't know that I'll be flying with United anytime soon. And I know for certain from here on out I will be much more careful and considerate as to what I pack in my suitcase before checking it with any airline!

Besides the traveling fiasco, we were loving Vegas and thrilled to move forward with our move.