Homecoming

My return trip from Scotland didn't go as smoothly as my flights out of the US. Understandably, there seem to be many more safeguards in place for people coming into the United States. I got to experience my first interrogation and full body scan at the airport in Amsterdam and, honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. Maybe it's because I've been through the miracle of childbirth twice and really don't care what strangers see which parts of my body, but it took about 5 seconds and I saw no one ogling the images coming through. To be honest, I was much more irritated that there were no water fountains once I got through security and had to wait in a holding cell...er...room for forty five minutes before my international flight. Dehydration is your wost enemy, folks...not millimeter wave technology.

Moving on!

I really clung to the time I had during my ten hour flight back to the states. Most people wouldn't revel in that much air travel, but I know the next time I'll be forced to sit in one place for that long while people bring me food and drinks will probably involve senility and/or hospitalization.

A zombie-like state is pretty much unavoidable after being immobile for that long, so making my way through customs and back through security in the US to catch my connecting flight was kind of a hassle. I did get kudos from someone behind me for being able to pass the 'sobriety test' by taking off my boots while standing up, waiting to go through security. Considering my level of sleep deprivation, it was well deserved praise.

By the time my flight to Pasco was near boarding, I was ready to fall asleep on the floor and tell someone to just come pick me up. Somehow, I miraculously made my way onto the plane and to my seat and found I had a very pleasant seat partner, who kept me entertained for the entirety of the flight.

Our flight crew was fantastic and the pilot got us home almost forty five minutes early, which means, I got to baggage claim before John got to the airport. It was a sweet, sleep deprived reunion. After getting home and showing off the souvenirs I had brought all the way across the ocean (hey, it's an accomplishment to get shortbread that far without crumbling.) I promptly fell into bed and was out cold until I heard my girls grumbling in the morning.

This was the moment I had been waiting for since kissing their sweet heads good night a week ago. I leaped out of bed with as much enthusiasm as any jet lagged individual could muster and rushed to greet those sweet girls. Audrey had woken up, yelling for her Mama and Bailey was sleepily sitting up in bed muttering "Papa?...Papa?" We all came back to bed and snuggled...or in Bailey's case, randomly head-butted individuals within a three-foot radius. What a sweet, sweet reunion.

Since then, we've been slowly working on getting back to whatever normal is. While I was gone, Audrey had been sick and Bailey pretty much just didn't know why her normal schedule had gone so topsy turvy. It didn't help that shortly after I got home, Bailey came down with a stomach bug. But, honestly, I'd rather be puked on by my girls than not have them around. We've been spending a lot of time together-just the four of us-and Audrey and Bailey seem to be returning to their old chipper selves.

All in all, I think the time I was given to relax, explore new places and reconnect with who I am as a person, outside of my title as mother, was priceless. When it comes down to it, I am an independent, laid-back, loner type and being a Mama 24 hours a day can make me lose sight of that. I feel like I've naturally come back to the self I'm constantly trying to maintain as I wade through the frantic, stressful situations motherhood throws at me.

Namaste.