RumoFamily.com

Right, so before I launch into my crazy story for the day, here is a snapshot of the last week.

• pulled over for speeding to find out my license has supposedly been suspended for 2 years, yes 2 YEARS, oh and did I mention my mom was in the car with me?
• Our auto loan company randomly decided to take out $1,300.00 out of our checking accout, unauthorized obviously.  It seems they just put it in some account out in oblivion for no apparent reason.
• American Airlines almost put us both in the nuthouse, story to follow
• In the craziness of packing 200 pounds of supplies i forget; my make-up, a brush, my sneakers, my PHONE and my computer cord.  I could cry!!!!

And YES, to answer several people, I really DID go off my anti-anxiety meds 3 weeks ago!!!!!

Ok, so now the American Airlines story….
A lovely adoptive mom (Lila) let us know about an American Airlines credit card that defers payments for tickets up to 6 months so we applied.  We were immedialtly approved and told we could use the number right away to purchase our tickets.  I bookmarked the page with our card number thinking I would go right back and get the tickets after checking with Paul.  Well, when I went back, of course the page was gone along with the number (understandable because of security.)  I called American Airlines and was told that they could not give the number over the phone but they had mailed the card and it should be here in two days.  This was on the 15th.  Come Friday, the 19th, we still had no card and no tickets.  I called American Airlines again and was told to go to the airport or a travel agent and they could get the card number and get the tickets for us.  Hang in, here is where it gets good (is that the right word for it?)

The American Airlines airport ticketing agents had never heard of their own company’s card and refused to help.  So home we went to wait for the card over the weekend.  No card arrived.  SO, Monday we went to our AAA office.  An amazingly wonderful women assisted us ( now known as Jill) and the insanity really began.  After explaining the situation she got the tickets ordered which had now risen from around $700 ea. to $1100 ea. since Friday.  She gets to the point where she needs the number and calls the American Airlines card customer service as we were instructed.  After she gives the explanation she is told if she were an American Airlines agent at an airport she could have it but they won’t give her the number.  REALLY!?!? I AM PRETTY SURE WE TRIED THAT ALREADY!!!!!!!  So I get on Paul’s phone and dial the SAME number to speak with another person.  After much explanation and being put on hold so she could check with “who knows who”, my agent says she will give the number to Jill. WAIT, at the EXACT same second the agent Jill  is on with tells her there is NO WAY WHAT SO EVER they will give out the number.  Again, REALLY!?!?  Someone at the same number JUST DID!

Not over yet folks…  Paul gets on Jill’s headset to (excuse me) “have words with” the other American Airlines agent and she actually hangs-up on him.  So we think we are set but no…  The American Airlines card is not a regular credit card, it only has 13 numbers and no expiration date so AAA’s system won’t take it.  Our amazing Jill will not give up, she calls American Airlines directly.  We are now on hour 2 since our arrival at AAA.  Jill again explains everything and the agent gets our tickets ready to be purchased.

Side-note: when we arrived at AAA our direct flight from JFK to PAP was available, an hour later it is sold out, did I mention I wanted to cry???

Ok, back to the story, we are ready to purchase and the American Airlines agent asks for an expiration date.  THERE IS NONE!!! Their card DOES NOT EXPIRE! It is her company’s card, you think she would know this, not so.  She refuses to put the tickets through and Jill hangs up.   I am now beyond insane.  I move to the next desk to call the afore mentioned customer sevice number.  I explain ONE MORE TIME!!!  At the same time Jill decides to call American Airlines back and pretends she never called in the first place, she goes through the whole process and low and behold the agent ACTUALLY knew what she was doing and processed our card and tickets.  I hung-up!!!!!  Jill is our newest angel in this crazy journey.  For anyone who uses AAA travel sevices, please ask for her at the Cicero office, she was amazing.  I always felt my AAA dues were a waste before now.  Now, I will never question them again.

Just as a kicker, Paul has an American Airlines Master Card for work purposes that acrues points.  He is eligible for FIVE first class upgrades.  GREAT, right?  Oh no, not so, our flights are “K” flights and we can only use his upgrades for B flights.  Of course he can turn in 15,000 points and pay $50.00 and they will upgrade us on ONE flight.  You can only imagine the words flying around our heads!

Enough for now, how could there be more.  I will update tomorrow before we leave.  We thank EVERYONE for all their help, donations prayers ect.  You are all amzing and Thank You seems not enough!!!!!!!!!  Sorry for all of the mentions of American Airlines, just trying to get their attention

Just wanted to give a quick update. It looks like we have an appointment at the US Embassy in Haiti on Monday the 29th. We will be leaving on Friday the 26th as there are no direct flights on the weekends and given the load we will be carrying we do not want to connect and risk lost supplies. We will be staying until Wed July 1st so we can give the boys some good nutrition and lots of love for 5 whole days. So far the mom is staying put. We have had some amazing response as far as supplies go. We are still working with the airlines to take as much as we can. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to everyone who haas reached out thus far. When all is said and done and I can think straight I will write some of the amazing things that have happened through all this. One thing I do want people to know is that the supplies that we collect are going to be split between our boys and 3 other children in need of immediate care as well. I was blessed to be able to meet these three and their mom’s during my trip. I am really happy to be able to help these families as I know they would do the same for ours.

I did think of an odd request but if anyone out there has any MP3’s that they do not use and would like to donate, the boys, especially Mackenson really loved my IPOD and I thought it would be fun to put some music on for them to listen to when we are there. We will not leave them there but will bring them home with us and keep them for future trips.
On a non adoptive topic, I am so proud of Paul as he finished a 200 plus bike ride to raise money for Special Olympics. Let me just say I think he is looking pretty darn hot!!!!!

Last, thanks to whomever dropped off the stuff for the boys on our doorstep. Not sure who it was but we appreciate it very much.