Journey to Madison - Part III

The PLAYPEN was left in baggage collection (or conveyor belt) at NY airport. We accidentally left it, there were too many baggages already. I felt guilty, I was the one who said 'We got all the bags! Let's move on" to my DH that night. He went back to airport to check the playpen, but nobody was there to help anymore (it was midnight, everyone went back home, I supposed). Luckily my daughter were already tired and the youngest slept on the bed.
The next morning, Nabilah was really hungry and look for cooked rice. The night before we asked the stewardess to pack us some dinner leftover. She gave us steamed rice and a spoonful of steamed vegetables with fried egg. When she saw the rice, she screamed "Nak nasi.. nak nasi" translated to "I want the rice.. I want the rice" and ate them like she never eats rice before. I was so sad, I cried, actually cried in front of my hungry like wolf, at that time, 18 months bubbly daughter. My DH also cried, but in his heart (hehehe).. I knew him, he loves our daughters so much. They were tired and jet lagged after a long haul flight. My DH went to the airport again to check on out left playpen but no luck. No one can help him. He went back to the hotel and it was already 11.30 a.m.

I got the kids ready, and we went to the airport again at 12 o'clock. That was our big mistake. We did not know how NY airport check in work, we took for granted that the system they used are simpler than what is in KL International Airport. It turned out that flight check-in counter is different with baggage check-in counter. And you have to walk quite a distance to get the baggage x-rayed and check-in. The most important fact, there were lots of people waiting in line for check-in!!! Our flight to Madison via Continental Airline was scheduled at 2.10 p.m. When we finished check-in processes, it was already 1.35 p.m. Both of us ran like mad to the immigration check, I pushed Nabilah's stroller and my DH pushes our trolley of hand carry luggages with Najihah in her car seat sitting at the front of the trolley.

Luckily we passed the checked without much problem. The officers pitied us when she saw all the stuffs we brought along and with babies in tow, everybody seems to be nice and helpful. I even asked a man to help me pulled down Najihah's seat handle because I cannot do it with one hand (my baby is in another arm). It was hard, try it yourself. And came the most tiring part, running to the gate! Ours was at the end of the hall, like 20-30 minutes if you walk normal pace. My DH ran to the gate, asking them to wait for me. I was holding Najihah in her seat (it was like 15-pounds weight, could not run faster that a snail.. hehehe) and somehow, my luck, an airport buggy passed me by and offer to send me to the gate. Phew! What a relieve. We went in exactly 5 minutes before the gate is closed and got on the plane, eventually.

Well guys, there rest of the story was pretty much normal paced. We arrived at Madison around 4 pm and was greeted by a Malaysian family. They waited for us, thanks so much K. Nafisah and Abg Andi! They provided dinner for us that night and next day breakfast. K. Rohany cooked us lunch and somehow we managed to get some sleep with the kids. Our journey to Madison was not an easy one, but it was all worth remembering.