International Travel with a Sick Baby

It seems to be our family tradition to come down with the stomach flu the day before we fly to the States. Monday morning Coco started throwing up at 6 am. In all honesty, better her than me, but it still put a serious crimp in our plans. By 5 that evening, I had been doing laundry non-stop and she was still at it! :( So we went to the Kinder-Permanence urgent care at Zurich HB. I was so impressed with the facilities, staff and doctor. Then at the Bahnhof Apotheke, we didn't have to wait in line, the doctor had faxed our prescription over so they were already working on it and they were so helpful and kind. All in all, a good experience if you must go at all. 

One of the things the doctor prescribed at Kinder-Permanence was what I came to call "The Magic Suppository." Don't ask me what's in it, but it's a little suppository that stops nausea and vomiting for 24 hours. She told me if Coco was still sick in the morning to go ahead and give it to her before we left for the airport. Sadly, it was necessary. But then, much to my surprise, everything went really well! Our flight to London was easy. She slept during the layover and the flight to Seattle could have been a lot worse. She was fussy, didn't want to sleep much and I spent most of the flight walking her around in the Ergo, but she didn't throw up once. 

Once we got through Seattle and on our Spokane flight, I was so relieved that I had made it through the whole trip without a change of clothes for myself. Isn't that just how it goes when you're a mom? You pack two extra outfits for your baby and none for yourself. ;) I was slightly euphoric boarding the plane and stopped to take that photo of the sunset. Isn't it gorgeous? The wind smelled like salt from Puget Sound and I was so happy to be in my beloved Pacific Northwest! 

Well. For the record, let me just say that the magic suppository lasted 21 hours, not 24. :(

Just after we landed in Spokane, Coco threw up all over me. Actually, at first, she just threw up on my jeans. Then the flight attendants quickly handed me a wad of paper towels and Coco threw up on my shirt. Then, she threw up again and it was happening so fast! In a moment of total and utter lack of brilliance, I thought I would stop the vomit with the paper towels. So I held them up to her mouth gently thinking that maybe the paper towels would just absorb all of the puke? Of course not! It sprayed everywhere. Vomit all over my face, in my eyes, in my hair. With everyone taking their things out of the overhead bins and watching on in horror! It was my worst nightmare. I honestly thought I would cry. And for some strange reason, the absolute nicest guy in the world was sitting next to me all the way from London to Spokane and he stuck with me, people! How ridiculously lucky is that?! The flight attendants gave me wet paper towels and he actually held puke-covered-Coco while I cleaned the throw up off of my face. He talked me through it, carried my bag and helped me at baggage claim. Oh my God. Sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am. 

So here we are. Coco slept a fitful sleep for short stretches last night and at 3 am got hungry and had a little bowl of banana and rice cereal. She's been napping most of the morning and I think she is finally in the clear. J just sent me a string of alarming texts from Permanence. He's got it, too, and said it's the worst pain he's ever experienced. Poor J! I think by this time tomorrow, if I haven't gotten it yet, I probably won't. But major apologies to everyone who was on any of our flights yesterday. Oops. Maybe trip insurance is a good idea once you have a baby. I'm curious, do you buy flight insurance? Have you ever used it to cancel and re-book? Was it a hassle or did they come through as promised? I would love to know! ;) xo