Day 16, 17- Packed and ready, but had to resort to Plan B

We were packed and ready to go on Thursday night...and time was passing slowly. We had to check out by 3PM at our hotel, but our flight was not until 9PM. So we pretty much stayed in the hotel till 3, and then walked to Subway for a sandwhich- and it is pretty close to the US Subway. I had the sub of the day- Turkey/Ham- toasted on wheat with Southwest sauce, and Mickey had turkey plain. Anna will not even try any part of a sandwich, so she had chips and milk. We then headed back to the lobby until our shuttle for the airport arrived at 5.

Inside one of the lobbies, statues made out of jade.
















We then headed to the airport to wait on our flight. Anna had her last milk tea and a sucker(that she didn't like).

We boarded the plane and were off for a 12 hour flight. After our first airplane meal, I gave Anna a little Benadryl and she slept for at least 7 hours. She did fabulous!!! And when she woke up, it was time to eat again- so she was happy. "We hopped off the plane at LAX"....and went through immigration and customs. Anna was officially a US citizen since we had set foot on US territory!!!
We then had to get our luggage for our connecting flight, and then to the ticket counter. When we got to the ticket counter, we were informed that our flight ahd been cancelled from ATL to Chatt due to Ice/Snow, therefore they had cancelled our LA flight, and was going to put us up in a motel for the night and fly out on Saturday. (NOT- that wasn't going to work). We told them we had to fly out on the Friday night flight, preferrably the early one at 10:55 PM, and we would figure out a way home from Atl. We were originally scheduled for a 11:55 flight. But we were able to get the 10:55 flight out of LA to ATL, so we had a 5 hour layover instead of 6. We used that time in making arrangements with family and friends to come pick us up in ATL and drive us to Home.(which became plan B)

So off we were to ATL, where we arrived at 6AM. We had no luggage to get due to it being on the 11:55 flight. So we headed to meet Mike and Kay (Mickeys sister/brother in law). They were waiting on us and it felt so good to see family and finally be back in the SOUTH!! Mike and Kay greeted us (mostly Anna-with a balloon, stuffed animal, outfit and snacks). Mickey and I got snickers bars, and I got a beautiful rose also. We headed to meet the second leg of our trek home in the snow and ice, Dana and Shane, who were waiting on us in Kennesaw. Actually it had rained most of the night and melted the snow off the roads, so they weren't bad. We arrived at the Ricketts home at about 9AM, because we could not get to our home on the ridge due to the icy roads. We were welcomed by my brothers family and then later my parents, and the rest of the Bennetts. . . They had all made welcome home posters, and Lara had made breakfast (and SWEET TEA).  It was good to be in the vicinity of my home, that was for sure. After a couple hours there, we finally were able to make it to our home - in 2 car loads(LOL- we were officially a family of 6).  Our neighbors, the Slifkos, had taken this picture of our home, and  texted us to let us know our power was out- but came back on about 30 minutes after we had been home.

Oh, home sweet home!!! We gave Anna a tour of her new home, and she was pumped. She had seen pictures and seemed very comfortable in it. She responded amazingly well with the kids, and I am sure the 2-a-day Skypes helped. She gave them a work out going up and down the stairs, and from room to room. We got an excellent early dinner of country cooking- (thanks Stephanie and Lara) and then headed to bed at about 10.  Anna slept in her bed with Olivia across the way, and went to sleep with ease.