Flight Home

So after the Embassy meeting we anxiously awaited sleep and our trip home on Aeroflot. For the first time during our three trips, our plane actually took on time and landed on time. I would not wish our travels on anyone, but if it meant a guarantee that our flight with Katerina home went off as scheduled, I might have made that trade.

The flight itself was horrendous. We sat behind a bulk head giving us loads of leg room and a place for a bassinet for Katerina. She had nothing to do with it and squirmed from one lap to the other for the ten hour trip home. This was after crying violently, screaming, for the first 30 minutes of the trip. We assume it was because of pain in her ears during the ascent. It was horrible. We felt so bad for her because we could do nothing to help her despite trying everything. We felt bad for the passengers around us because it was quite loud. At this point, we were both thinking this might be the worst ten hours of our lives and just couldn't wait to get on the ground.

She did calm down and that started the squirming. We were hopeful she might sleep for most of the flight. This did not happen either. I would guess she might have slept for three to four hours of it. Of course the problem here was, we could not sleep either so it made the ten hours seem soooooooo loooong.

She did not cry much during the descent into JFK which was nice.

Because we were seated near the front, we were quick to get off the plane and to customs. Customs was quick. We were taken to the secondary office but only for a stamp. The first officer was able to handle everything for us except that. With the stamp from the first officer, Katerina became an American.

Updates to Come

Sorry to those who read the blog. I will have updates coming soon. I promise. But between the jet lag, Kelly being sick and best of all having to watch and play with Katerina, I just have not had a chance to write about our trip home and Katerina's reaction to her new home.

Needless to say though, we did arrive at JFK in NY and Katerina made it through customs with no problems.

Putting things together

We have a conference call scheduled for Monday to discuss our itinerary/schedule while in Moscow. The first two days are ours for tourist stuff. I think we will spend most of that time at the Kremlin and Red Square areas.

More importantly is trying to get everything we need for the trip. Small things like warm clothes, hand warmers, scarf and hat. Kelly may need a pair of comfortable boots for walking to help with her sore foot. If I am lucky I may be able to get everything together this weekend so I can still play Volleyball on Tuesday. Getting everything ready also includes at the office though which is my larger concern.

I have to get to the Customs Border Patrol to have my laptop approved. Believe it or not, I can bring it out of the country with no problem. But if I do not have a receipt when I enter the US coming home it is possible that I would have to pay customs on it. So I need a form to prove I owned before I left the country. Who knew?

All worth it in the end!