One week from RIGHT NOW I will be on the second airplane of the day, the one headed for Guatemala City.
I can’t explain the complete joy. I have been buzzing with excitement since we got word on Tuesday. I feel like I’ve had too much caffeine too late at night. My body feels like it’s trembling just beneath the skin. I haven’t been sleeping or eating as much. I’ve been making lists, and lists of lists. I’ve been packing and doing laundry and repacking. I’ve been rearranging baby clothes and boy clothes and, just because, my clothes too. I’ve brought out baby toys, the baby tub, the co-sleeper, and an assortment of slings. We bought a carseat and a shelf full of baby foods. I picked out a locket, had it engraved with baby’s name, and put inside a picture of baby with her foster mom - to give to our foster mom. I’m spinning in hundreds of directions trying to make everything as smooth as possible.
I’m thinking about making the trip a comfortable one for JediBoy too. He asked if we could take a globe on the plane so he would know where he was. Once I heard that, and with some good advice from a friend, I hopped online and hunted down some maps, and printed them out as 4×6 prints. I have 8 maps: our local area, our state, the US, the world, North and Central America, just Central America, Guatemala, and Guatemala City. To me that makes sense, as we’re going from the small area we’re familiar with, traveling on a grander and grander scale, then zeroing back in and winding up in the small area she’s familiar with.
I’m putting these in a softcover photo “brag book” that holds 24 photos. I’m going to add some information, cards with our itinerary, stickers so he can mark where we are / where we’ve been, and some timed activities or small things to open. I’ve got a couple small books and coloring books, as well as one of those magic ink books, hidden away for him.
I’m hoping that most of the way down will be easy - it’s only 6 1/2 hours from airport to airport, and he’s never been on a plane before. He’s very slightly afraid, but mostly excited. I think with three excited adults giving him their full attention, the trip down will be fun.
The way back will be much harder - not only will we have an 11-month-old with us, we also have a 9 hour, overnight layover. So for that stretch I’m packing more electronic goodies - his Leapster, an mp3 player, and our Nintendo DS.
This is what’s running through my head these days. Every slight thought produces a list, or a new project, or a phone call to be made. I’ve read pages of travel tips and security info from the TSA sites, our agency and the airline. I’m making lists of lists and running at full-bore - but I’m so happy. None of this is stressful - it’s all just so exciting.
Today is the last Sunday we’ll be home without her.
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