That’s what the guy at the Newark airport said when I approached yet another security check. I’d managed the 4 a.m. wake-up call; gave Addy a high five when he woke up without a fever; jammed food in the kids; loaded up with the taxi; stood the immigration; and……well on and on.

The flight was fine except for an incredibly crabby women that scolded a thrilled group of eleven year olds traveling to the U.S. to help bring cultures closer together. I hauled the kids and all our stuff down the isles and on to customs.

Coco! We forgot Addy’s bottles on the plane!

I had been so worried about finding Addison’s socks that I forgot the black bag of Addison’s coconut water under the seat. We shuffled through customs. Coco held back tears and I sought out the first Continental agent. She called the crew. It didn’t look good. The agent got a serious look on her face and said, “I’m going to check myself.”

I stood there and tried to comfort Coco. Those bottles were the key to the rest of the trip - in fact the first few days going without much drama.

Oh my! I said. I forgot the DVD player too!

Almost at the moment I finished this sentence, the woman from Continental came walking towards us with BOTH black bags in her hand. I ran up and hugged her! I think I may have professed my love for her too, but well. I was a bit excited. The DVD player I could live without, but those bottles!

At yet another security check, the guy in Newark shouted to his co-workers that I had way too much stuff. And I did. But it was that food, all that gooey food. When I forgot to take my laptop of the bag, I was sent to another line, barefoot, hoping holding Addison and hoping Coco would hold her own and stay close.

Once I mentioned the food was for my special needs son, the guys were so nice. They checked it all out and were nice, in their rough sort-of way.

I have a doctor’s note, I said. He said he didn’t need to see it. No one looked at the note.

On we went through delays. It was quite a few hours until we found ourselves in bed our new/old land. We spent the next day catching up - as we relatives tend to do. Coco is glued to her cousin and doing all those things cousin’s do.

And to answer’s Wendy’s question, no I don’t have a nanny, but it’s sometimes this is a good thing, though challenging. We’re ala going to learn a few things while we’re here - quite a few things.