DAY 1: HEADED TO VEGAS ON MY BIRTHDAY!

Ok, the time has come. We booked a late day flight because 1) it was a non-stop flight there and figured that would make things easier on "Karl" not to have to transfer so many times and 2) it also gave us most of the day to prepare to arrive at the airport. Things would not be so simple this time around and took some additional planning.

Our departure time for this trip was 7:40pm for a 4 hour and 40 minute flight estimated. Now think about this, there are several time changes along the way. We would arrive in Vegas at 9:20pm. However, this meant (to us) it was actually going to be 12:20am!! 😲 Oh my, what have I done? "Karl" usually goes to bed around 9:30pm. He is going to be so worn out. I guess my last minute planning wasn't a good plan after all. Oopsie! I told him to just take a nap on the plane and when he woke up, it would actually only be 9:20pm (Vegas time). After thinking about it, returning home wouldn't be much better with leaving Vegas at 5:10pm and arriving at home around 11:55pm. Double Oopsie! These darn time changes! It's not my fault I swear. 😜

Sakari went to pick up "Karl" from his house and brought him over so that I could repack his clothes and supplies into our bags. Traveling with him now involves a suitcase for clothes and a suitcase for medical supplies. We are only going for 4 days "Karl", why do you look like you are packing for a week? "Well, you never know" he said. I guess he's traveled with us long enough to know there's always the unexpected that happens whenever we go. (Both land vacations have resulted in being in a hurricane in St Croix and a hurricane passing by in St Maarten while we were there. Then of course we've also been in a Tropical Storm in St Thomas. I guess we are the lucky ones playing this vacation roulette game. Flight delays and cancellations follow me where ever I go).

I'm a very punctual person and we usually leave the house around 2 hours prior to our flight. I kept checking the TSA app to see how long of a wait there would be and how bad the lines were. It kept telling me a 0-15 minute wait. But, my anxiety got the best of me and we decided to head out at 4pm instead. We really didn't know what to expect with "Karl". Better safe than sorry I guess. I also forgot to factor in it was a Friday and rush hour traffic as well. Oopsie!

Our plan was to drop off "Karl" and Sakari at the doors to the airport along with all of our luggage. We figured that would be better than our usual... going to the parking lot and catching the shuttle to the airport. Less transfers for "Karl" and less hugs he'd be able to give to the hubby (being carried during transfers). I know they were both disappointed. 🤣 We dropped the kids off and they headed inside for some warmth and waited on us. The hubby and I would drive over to the parking lot, catch the shuttle, then make our way to the airport to meet up with them. I have ALWAYS taken a picture of us waiting on the shuttle with our luggage. I guess that would no longer be the norm. No picture this time. 😞

The airport wasn't very busy at all and we were able to get our luggage tags from the kiosk and immediately went up to the counter to check in. Then off to TSA where we would be the second in the TSA line. Of course with "Karl" being in a wheelchair, this meant a longer wait to pass through security. They would need to find someone to scan him with their magic wand, check under his cushion, in his pockets and conduct a thorough investigation on his equipment. It took awhile is all I can say. Eventually they released him from interrogation and we were on our way.

I would have to make up for my no-picture-standing-at-the-shuttle-stop with this picture instead:

Don't he look so happy? Just look at that face. I knew he was excited for this "getaway". It was both a mini-vacation for him to get out of the house and also a vacation for his mom who quit working to take care of him 24/7. She is a strong woman who is also having her own health issues and her husband has had multiple knee surgeries lately and been in and out of the hospital. She has been having to deal with all of this at once and taking care of everyone in the household. She also deserved this little break.

We stopped to get a few snacks before boarding the plane and Sakari, or Kari as we've called her at times since she was little, managed to find snacks with her name on it:

She was so excited and yes she bought them. (Although I'm sure it said Kar's but the apostrophe was a * which made it look like it was a fancy way of dotting the end of the r, which made it Kari*s and I wasn't about to bust her bubble) 😆

We did talk to the staff at the gate to let them know we would need transfer assistance and since he was the only one who actually needed this, we would be the first to board the plane. As we rolled down the passenger boarding bridge "Karl's" chariot awaited him. Now it was time to transfer to his new ride. He absolutely refused to bring his slide board with him (although he had brought it to the house) and said he was going to rely on my hubby to help with the transfer and...his words, not mine..."we are going to become really close this vacation...come here and give me a hug" 😁

Ok, he was all buckled in and ready for his short trip onto the plane. We were lucky that there wasn't anyone sitting in either of our rows. Sakari let him sit by the window so that she would not have to crawl over him to get out for potty breaks. We are ready to roll!

It was a long grueling flight and "Karl" did not heed my warning of napping on the plane and instead decided to watch movies the entire trip. I was very happy with our seats and with the "extra leg room" seats we purchased made all the difference in the world compared to previously and also the crammed seats on Spirit that we've been flying recently. They also have built in chargers on the seats. What a great upgrade.

Oh my gosh can this flight get any longer? We were finally seeing the lights of Vegas and I was so relieved.

Ok, time to do this in reverse:

I do have to say being able to be the very first people to get on the plane is wonderful. However, there's always a drawback to that scenario...you are also the last one to get off the plane. At least by the time you get off, your luggage is ready for pick up.

Once we gathered our luggage, we headed out of the airport to find a taxi. I had read up prior to coming that they did have ADA taxi's. We told the guy at the taxi stand we would need an ADA taxi and he called them for us and they quickly arrived. "Karl" was loaded up in the back along with our luggage. The moon in Vegas was out in full force if you know what I mean (see pics below with yellow dots). I had to block some of that moon as it was blinding my eyes.

It is a short ride over to the hotel but would cost us $32.34, which of course included fee's that they charge.

Flamingo had kiosk that you could self check in and it was a breeze that way instead of waiting in line at customer service. It gave us a ticket with our room number listed on it and spit out 2 room key cards. Easy Peasy!

We were going to be on the 9th floor at the habitat section.

We had arrived at our room and it is time to check it out...after all we had to get "Karl's" approval. We let him go around and see how accessible it was for him. Honestly, we would find that the only "accessible" feature was the shower/bathroom space. The bathroom sink was not the greatest as he was unable to roll up under it all the way to "spit" when brushing his teeth. I will say I liked the size of it though.

As for the beds, they were also normal height, which would make it hard for him to get into it by himself and would need lifted into bed each time. I'm not sure the "rules" but he said they have to be a certain height for ADA and they were much taller than that.

Isn't this lamp the cutest!

There was a neat little picture by the door that was made out of multiple pictures that were cut into strips and put together to make a picture. Sakari was excited to see something like that and studied it for awhile...the artist in her coming out.

Ok, we were all starving and needed to find food. It wasn't that late but in our minds it was well after midnight to us. So, we didn't want to go far and just headed out to the walkway strip outside our hotel to find something.

The kids seen a pizza place and they always want to eat at a pizza place every vacation no matter where we go...why break that tradition now right? Pizza it was! We ordered 2 pizza's and garlic bread to share. It was really really good...especially the garlic bread. Yummy!

We were stuffed...however, it is my actual birthday and I wasn't leaving without having my "birthday cake". I'm a big cheesecake lover so I decided on the pumpkin cheesecake. It was amazing is all I can say. 😁

With our bellies full, it was time to head back to the hotel and get "Karl" to bed. Once we were back at the hotel "Karl" was ready for his "hug" from the hubby while he put him in his bed. Awww the love in the room. Sakari, don't be jealous. TIME FOR SOME SLEEP! 💤 FINALLY!

Although we have just arrived, there's still a lot of steps involved just walking in the hotel and to get food. Whew!