Day 1 (London - Orlando)

One of the most stressful day of our lives!

It was a long long long day but we cannot be prouder parents. Alex was amazing despite all the waiting, waiting and waiting.

We all woke up at around 5:30am and left the house at 7:05am. Traffic was ... Well, what do you expect on a Monday morning? It was rather awful on the M3 but as soon as we got onto the M25, it was rather smooth sailing but not for the other lot at the opposite direction.

Alex was really excited about this trip. We prep him with social stories on the transport mode. First we go on car then bus from the long stay car park to airport. Then train (monorail) to boarding gates and the airplane to Orlando in that order. However, things are never what it seem in real life and social stories especially the author mainly the mum was not up to date with the travel arrangements. She thought it was the north terminal that we are flying from. Well duh! We flew Virgin Atlantic this time which flies from the South terminal (she previously flew on other airlines).

Anyway, Mummy the control freak likes driving and drove past the entrance to the long stay car park and ended up dropping Daddy with the luggage at the terminal. Thanks to Daddy's quick thinking about social story, Alex came with mummy to the car park to board the bus to the terminal.

When we were at the terminal, Alex kept saying "choo choo" but we had to tell him that we don't go on the train at this airport. He was really disappointed but he got over it after saying "choo choo" what seem like a hundred times.

Finally, on the plane! Cannot be prouder with our pain in the backside. He was very well behaved but very fidgety too. He didn't want to sleep and trick his dad and me a few times that he wanted to poo. Well, I knew he needed to as he let go a few smellies when he sat on me. It had to be me ..... aiyah yah yah yah!

By 4:30pm, five hours flying time and after tricking us six times that he wanted to poo, it's my turn to take him to the toilet. Imagine this .... in a small cubicle, my little boy on the bog, straining away while mummy knelt to see if he's doing it, plop came a long one followed by one squirt of 'eau de poo' and another long one and another squirt. The relieve on his face while mummy turned green.

It's strange how he does it like clock work, always at around the same time, not sooner not later.

Meanwhile, mummy and daddy had to endure a whole nine hours of "airport?" his way of saying "are we there yet?" Holy mo! For one limited speech boy, he sure can drive us crazy!

Can I say finally now? No ... but it was finally landed on American soil but not pass the immigration yet. You would think that we will be welcome with open arms but No! There seem to be an attitude with these guys. Considering we are bringing money into this country, we had better treatment from immigration from Atlanta the last time but these Floridians are a different species.

Queued for an hour with 800 other Brits, it was hot and noisy and we can't wait to get to the hotel but all these while Alex was a gem.

After waiting for our luggage twice, we finally had our rental car. Zap on our SatNav and key in the hotel address. "No Match for address" I told Jem to ring the hotel but he said, "we won't miss the hotel it should be along Vineland Road." After paying two tolls at the turnpike, drove along Vineland Road twice, we were no where near Marriott's.

We had to call the hotel and was told that they are at Vineland Avenue, 12 miles from where we were. Meanwhile, it was 7pm Orlando time and 12 midnight UK time, Alex finally fell asleep on the back seat. He was awake for 19 hours and did not complain while mummy and daddy biting each others head off.

Finally! Reached the hotel, checked in, ordered Chinese for dinner and hit the pillow straight after. Don't ask me what time but all I know it's not soon enough.

We cannot be prouder parents but we are ashamed of our own behaviour for snapping at each other.