Back in action

We've been out of the blogging world for a while lately and all for great reasons. Spring is here and we are back in action!!
Thanks for all your prayers and concerns about getting home after the Skybus ordeal. Amtrak helped us out immensely. The thought of renting a car entered my mind for a short while, but I didn't realize they have one-way rentals, so I passed over the idea. Better to have someone else doing the driving, than myself...I think.
My nerves really worked me over as we waited in the Milwaukee station. I asked my SIL to pray for us when she dropped us off there. I felt like I was going to be surrounded by weirdos on the train. I called my friend who had done this before for reassurance about our safety. I also envisioned having to identify people after they committed some crime against my boys and me. So I used my camera phone and took pictures of a few people in the waiting area, just in case. Yes, I have to admit, I was the biggest freak on the train. I was giving them all something to worry about, I'm sure!
The boys did a great job riding the train. On a passenger car to Chicago, the first lurch out of the station was exciting. After that, the boys were all about their Leapster and watching videos on my iPod for the next hour. They weren't as enthralled as we expected.
Once we got off the train in Chicago to hop our train bound for Cleveland, the "adventure" began. I was really nervous about making that connection. As we left the passenger car, a man was waiting on a little transportation cart-type thing. I asked him where our train was and he said it was quite a walk. So we boarded his cart with our carry-on bags and experienced the boys' favorite part of the entire trip! This little cart whipped in and out on the narrow walkway between the trains. He was honking at people to get out of the way and making the boys laugh with every move. The driver said that most boys rarely want to get off his cart, b/c it's so much more fun than the train. Let's just say, I'm glad that he wasn't operating the train, however!
The attendants on the trains were very helpful and we were led to our assigned sleeper car. It was the size of a small walk-in closet, but the boys transformed into monkeys and found ways to move in that thing that amazed me. Suddenly they had urges to go potty about 4 times in a row, just so they could use the cool toilet and sink in our car.

Brooks is standing above the toilet and the bunk bed is to the right of his head. The "pink" sink pulled down out of the wall and then drained when you pushed it back into the wall. Funky stuff.

"When does this train leave?"
This is the sleeper and the 2 chairs turned into a bed for Brooks and me.

The other passengers peeked out of their sleepers and were so friendly and accepting. I suppose we provided the entertainment for them as we waited to depart. Most of them were professionals and shared their stories about where they were bound. I felt very comfortable after meeting a couple of them.
I still had apprehensions about how the sleeping arrangements would work out. Around 10 pm we left the station. The bunk bed had been pulled down from the ceiling and the bottom bed was made. The boys settled in and fell asleep quickly. I sat and watched out the window and talked on the phone with my mom. (extra reassurance needed from her too) Finally I squeezed myself on the "bed" next to Brooks and drifted in and out of sleep. It wasn't quality sleep by any means, as I felt every move of the train. I startled awake any time there was a loud bump on the tracks. At some points, the train seemed to float back and forth and I felt like we were going to crash. This is when I wished I were in control and driving! :-)
The train rolled into Cleveland around 6 am. The attendant woke me up and I woke the boys up out of their surprisingly deep sleep. So glad they had more faith in that train ride than I did...they slept like rocks! Our gracious friend, Angie, picked us up at the station at 6:30 am. and taxied us back to Columbus.
All in all...it was a great alternative to paying $1,500 to fly home. Will I ride a sleeper car again? Most likely not. Unless it's the size of a small country and has pillow top mattresses.