The trip to Virginia was somewhat awful. We left SFO on time at 1pm. We flew to Charlotte, NC. But when our plane arrived, the airport was closed due to a huge storm. So we circled around in the air for 45 minutes. Then we were finally cleared to land, but because no one could move during the storm, there was a huge cluster-fuck of planes clamoring for gates. So we sat on the tarmac for another 45+ minutes. Some of the passengers were getting rude, because it was totally the flight attendants fault (eye roll). We had been checking our flight to Richmond and it had been delayed (as all the flights had), but it wasn't delayed long enough. Even if we had landed before it left, it was across the airport from where we came in. Aaron talked to a gate agent, who confirmed the flight had left. We had two options (I think it was 11:30pm at this point) either try to get on a flight to Norfolk (about 90 minutes away from my mom's house), or wait til 7:30 the next morning. I made the unilateral decision that we would go to Norfolk. If we didn't have Bertie, I would have said we could spend the night in the airport. But we would need to find a hotel, a way there, spend money, likely have Bertie not sleep, not have our clothes, possibly run out of diapers, etc. The plane to Norfolk was already boarding, but was only 10 gates away, so we ran, and got there. In total, we spent 10 minutes in the actual airport. (I should mention was Bertie was great. He slept a bit, and was overall a good traveler). We got into Norfolk around 1am. Our suitcases, of course, didn't show up. We talked to the American Airlines agents, and they said they would show up at Richmond on the next flight (8:30 the next morning). Then we waited. It was close to 2 before my mom and stepdad got there (even with him speeding some). Aaron was unhappy, Bertie was having fun running around the abandoned baggage claim. Bertie fell asleep in the car on the way to their house. We arrived at 3:30am. Bertram refused to sleep in him crib, so we put him in bed with us. But he didn't sleep. I took him out of bed close to 4:30, and we went downstairs. I couldn't get the cable to work. Around 5 we walked across the yard to the other house. (My mom and stepdad were originally neighbours. She moved into his house, and my older sister lives in what was my mom's house). We turned on the tv, and watched cartoons. I was exhausted, of course, but Bertie was going strong. I think my mom and stepdad got up around 5:45. I think around 8:30 (24 hours awake), I went back to the first house (where Aaron, and my dad (who had arrived a little before we did, and why my mom was so late getting to Norfolk) were sleeping). I crashed for 2.5 hours. Bertie finally fell asleep at 9:30 and slept til 12:30.
My mom bought a crib to replace her pack n play. After the Florida Incident I told her the pack n play was not going to cut it. That night we went to put him to bed, and the crib mattress was a little high. He started panicking, and promptly fell out of the crib. So after lowering it, Aaron and I camped out on the floor until he fell asleep. After a couple nights of this, I got permission from his pediatrician to give him melatonin and benedryl. That is like a roofie for babies! He went to bed so easily. We did that for 2 nights (as recommended), and then didn't have issue after that.
My little sister was sharing the room with Bertie. She was staying over for the week prior to her wedding, so she and I could spend time together and also to get wedding stuff done. The night before her wedding, she and Aaron swapped, and she slept with me, and he slept in Bertie's room.
The day after we arrived, my mom's friend Genie arrived (she lives in CA too, but more central than we do). She is a level one badass. She gets things done, and is a wedding expert. Plus she's fun and funny.
On Thursday night there was a huge storm. Lots of thunder, lightning and wind. It seemed like a bad storm, but not terrible. We didn't lose power, but the cable/internet went out. We drove around the next morning to run wedding errands, and found lots of places had no power, roads were closed due to downed trees, and there was some flooding. Yet, somehow, everything for the wedding was ok. The venue didn't lose power, and didn't have any tree damage. Her caterers ran on generators to make the food. The hair salon had no power, but came to the venue for styling. And the nail salon still had power. (Many places only got power back yesterday).
The wedding was beautiful. I cried like a baby. My mom cried, my dad cried, the groom cried. It was a moving day. It wasn't too hot, it didn't rain, no one got too drunk. Unfortunately, we had to leave before anything too fun happened, because we have a two-year-old. We left after dinner, but missed the toasts, dancing, cake, and sparkler send off. I got to read my dad's toast, it was awesome.
Now my sister and brother in law are in Aruba. It's weird because it'll be the longest I've gone without talking to her.
Aaron and Genie went home this morning (on the same flight). My dad goes home tomorrow mid-day. Bertie and I have til next Tuesday.
I want to say I love how my family gets along. My mom and dad get along way better now. And my dad and stepdad get along too. My dad said (more than once) that he didn't realized how much he missed talking with my mom's mom.
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