JaeByrd’s Nest

We recently took a plane trip. Our son finally outgrew the booster car seat requirements so we’re traveling without having to bring along a car seat or rent one once at our destination. In addition some airlines are starting to charge for checked bags. So we figured it was time to give this “one bag” thing a try.

As we were each allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item that gave us a total of 6 bags and whatever we were wearing.

How did it work out?

We went right up to the self check-in. Didn’t have to wait in long lines or for someone behind the desk to check-in our bags. Got through the security lines easily and quickly. Our bags were easy to travel with in the airports between flights and store in the overhead bins on the planes.

When we landed on the other side we breezed right past baggage claim (no waiting for our bags, no lost bags, and no broken wheel at the last minute!) and right onto a bus to the rental car. (No lugging luggage to the bus stop, onto the bus, off of the bus…)

On the return the same thing. No dropping someone off with the bags and then returning the car or lugging all the bags with you on a bus and then through the terminal.

I have to say that the idea at first was daunting. Is it possible for me to fit everything I might need into one bag and a purse? What about keeping an active 9 year old boy busy and in clean clothing? By paring it down to the NEEDS (and a few wants) it was.

After the ease of our last trip. The lack of luggage mishaps or losing time waiting. I have to say we’re now a ONE BAG ALL THE WAY family!

How did we do it?

Cargo Pants, vests, jackets, anything with pockets is a good clothing item for travel. It gives you an “extra hand” for things you might want without having to dig in a bag for it. Or to just hold a water bottle for a minute.

Get a carry-on bag that is SURE to fit in those small overhead compartments and a personal item bag that will fit in the seat in front of you. I don’t know how many people we saw trying to shove bags that were clearly too large for either and some ended up having to “check” their carry on. At a charge no less.

After culling what we WANTED to pack we we got our items down to what we DID pack: Trial sized personal items in a 1 quart size bag (If you don’t have trial sized items already as freebies or have your favorites in reusable containers, just buy them after you get there (or use the hotel’s) and save yourself the screening.), clothing for 2-3 days (you’re wearing one day’s set.), a laptop, and cables/chargers (a few toys, an inflatable pillow and a blanket - I don’t like using airline ones). And a ”personal item” bag that had our entertainment (games, books, magazines, MP3 players, etc) and snacks.

Layer your clothing on the bottom of your carry-on, cables and other items in a row on top of that, and put your heavier/bigger clothing in a layer over that.  I put my laptop in a neoprene sleeve on the top of all that. You can pull the whole sleeve out and place it in the bin to be screened.

For a 5 day trip we imposed on family once to wash our laundry. If you’re not visiting family you could find a laundry mat, use the hotel facilities if they have them, or go all the way with sink washing and drying in your hotel. Think clothing that all goes well together and travels well. There are places that sell travel clothing, but unless you travel a lot probably not worth the investment.

I was very surprised that I didn’t miss anything I didn’t bring with us. Anything we might have needed we could get at a local Walgreens or Walmart. (So long as you’re traveling in the USA.) So it really was a lot less stress on the trip having one less thing to worry about and is something we’re going to be doing from now on. I highly suggest giving it a try.

What have you got to lose? Well, certainly not your luggage!

Links:
TSA: What to Know Before you go. Permitted and Prohibited items.
Onebag.com.
Airline Luggage Allowance Policies.
How to Prevent Lost Luggage and travel tips.
Unclaimed Baggage.

You know when you get pregnant everyone is so excited and happy for you. Everyone has advice and there are books upon books telling you what to expect when expecting…but when something goes wrong  and you’re told you’re going to miscarry there isn’t a lot out there. There are the few people who offer to help with whatever you need, the ones that don’t say anything for fear it will be the wrong thing, and the ones that do say the wrong things.

We found out the end of January, that after 8 1/2 years of infertility and waiting, we were expecting our 2nd child. A few weeks later we were told that the pregnancy wasn’t looking good. Two weeks after that we lost our precious baby. We named him Asher Zechariah which means “Blessed Remembrance of God.”

Today would have been our due date. In remembrance of Asher and the hope he brought not only us, but many other women we know struggling with infertility I thought I’d share some of the things that helped us at the time of our miscarriage and in the months since. (I give a lot of links and I don’t agree with everything on them, but they have good information or items that make it worth the sharing.)

We’re thankful to have good friends, and people we barely know, who have been a blessing. The kind words, the food, the gifts, the cards, the flowers, and all the many prayers have helped us through this difficult time. Thankfully the “helpful” comments that unintentionally hurt were few and for the most part on days when I could let it roll off.

These two links have very good advice and ideas for helping someone you know through a loss. They are things people did for us said to us that were comforting:

Good support is important. While it isn’t talked about much in common conversation around 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage. It’s pretty likely some you know in their reproductive years has had one. Having someone to ask “what to expect” questions who has been there and knows what you’re going through is helpful. I found my doctors to be very clinical and not very helpful when it came to this big scary unknown. There are several places you can find support. I only personally have experience with:

Hannah’s Prayer.

Also a good site, because there is a possibility of being misdiagnosed is:

The Misdiagnosed Miscarriage. 

More information I found helpful during our wait, miscarriage, and months after our loss:

Facts about Miscarriage.
Mourning a Miscarriage.
When your family has lost a loved one.
Conceiving AFTER Miscarriage. (Men and women’s perspectives)

For myself, and others that I know, having something to remember our baby by can be comforting:

A scrapbook with mementos/pictures to remember your loved one.
A memorial garden.
A special teddy bear. (Build-a-Bear has some birthstone bears - if you have suffered a loss I suggest ordering online rather than going in to make one.)
Birthstone/Memorial Jewelry (Gifts to Remember, My Forever Child, and The Comfort Company had some nice looking items, just to name a few I saw.)

A few songs I found comforting:

Through the Fire by The Crabb Family
Farther Along by Anonymous
Because He Lives by William J. Gaither
Precious Memories & More (A listing of poems, some are good. “Men Don’t Cry” is a very good one reminding us that it is a FAMILY that grieves the loss of a child, not just the woman.)

I’ll end here with my three favorite selections out of the many verses in the Bible that gave/give me comfort.

Jeremiah 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

1 Samuel 1:27-28  For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

Matthew 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.