The Third Level of Hades

Dear Readers-

Are you aware of the seven levels of Hades? I visited the third level last night on what was meant to be a quick trip from Nanning to Guangzhou. Our plane left the terminal with thirty babies on board. Not everyone was in their seats yet. The first sign things were amiss.

Genevieve doesn't really care for flying all that much. I tried to explain the thrill of lollipops and gum, but she didn't seem to grasp the power placed in her hands and her ability to get Mom and Dad to do whatever she wanted merely with a scream. She squirmed alot, but was otherwise quiet.

Not so for the newly French kids in front and behind us.

My mom can tell you the trick for flying with babies is to keep a bottle handy to help ear pressure by sucking. What to do when the baby has an ear infection and won't take a bottle?

Mom and Dad offered up the ever diplomatic lollipop solution after 10 minutes of ear piercing screaming. It helped a little, but the poor girl was in agony. The one in front of us also had an ear infection and wouldn't take a bottle, but she just cried.

Then the flight got longer and longer and longer until we finally landed.

We didn't get to our hotel room until 10 pm. No one had had any dinner except baby Evie (baby G's new name) who had a bottle on the bus.

Mom had to get dinner at McDonalds. Imagine her delight in a.) having to go to McDonalds in the first place, b.) essentially translating her order sixteen times through pantomime, pictures, and words, and c.) correcting the order as it came out piece by piece for the next 20 minutes.

I have a tummy ache today and my mom is blaming it on the McNuggets I ate at 11 pm last night.

On to brighter news. Our new hotel is GREAT!!! Big rooms, bright and sunny and near two fabulous parks - did I mention there is a Starbucks in the attached mall?

Mom suddenly seems much perkier.

We went to Shamian Island this morning and mom and dad bought Baby Evie a new stroller. Everyone's backs improved immediately.

This afternoon there is a bunch of paper work for mom, and big naps for everyone else - although it is my mantle to protest the nap through a great deal of cute behavior.

Now that I'm in Guangzhou, I'll post some pictures. I promise!