Theo woke up at 5am the day our travels were to begin.  After a while he went back to sleep but I was too jazzed up to fall asleep again.  We spent the morning cleaning the house which was now staged for going on the market.  We left our house on time with no problems yesterday.  Theo had a good morning nap but we had to wake him up to leave.  Both boys were a little sleepy in the car on the way to the airport.  Once we got to the airport, the fun started!  We got through security and headed for the United club members lounge.  As soon as we checked in, (I was holding Theo) I felt a very warm, liquid sensation spreading down my side.  Theo had somehow peed through his diaper!  We headed up to the special family lounge, inside the regular members lounge, and it was empty, clean and perfect for our needs.  Joe went to get snacks & treats for the boys (& wine for us) while I changed Theo's diaper & put the only extra pair of pants on him.  Joe reappeared with the snacks and the boys were loving it!  The room was big, had a couple toys, and a glassed in overhead view of the people in the airport below.  We couldnt help but feel a little bit like the Jolie-Pitts.  The boys were in great spirits and began trashing the place.  Joe was gone buying some last minute things.  Theo pooped, then Joseph started to panic when he had to pee.  I couldn't get him & Theo to a bathroom soon enough so I just had him sit on the trash can and pee in it.  Joe reappeared and took the trash bag of pee & poop & got someone to clean it up.  This is all before even boarding the plane! Our flight was over an hour delayed.  By the time we got on the plane it was 4:30pm Houston time.  It wasn't a full flight so we were lucky enough to get the entire bulkhead section of the plane.  One young guy came up and sat down nearby, then noticed our kids & moved away.  The boys were pretty good.  Theo was very active and Joseph insisted on playing with the microscopic Legos that kept falling on the ground and I'd have to comb the floor looking for them to quell a tantrum.  At some point (I think around 7pm) I realized everyone on the plane was asleep but us, maybe because all of the lights in the cabin were on until then.  But the lights being off had no effect on the boys.   I was tired, having been up since 5.  But my boys were both going strong and decided they didn't want daddy, only mommy would do.  We kept trying to pass one of them off to Joe but for some reason they were dissing on him big time.  So Joe finally went to sleep.  I figured at least one of us should be well rested.  Everytime Theo would get calm and start to nod off, Joseph would rile him up again.  They installed a bassinette, but try as I might, Theo hated it.  Finally at 10pm Houston time (4am Paris time) Theo fell asleep.  Joseph proceeded to ask me every question that came into his little head for the next hour & a half. I answered patiently as I fought to keep my eyes open.  Finally at 11:30 pm (5:30am Paris time) Joseph fell asleep.  I was nodding off but I couldn't fully relax because I was holding Theo and he kept stirring.  At 7 am the lights came back on with no warning which immediately woke Theo up.  He was so tired and confused.  It was daylight outside the plane windows and they started serving breakfast which I gobbled down even though it was technically 1am Houston time mmmm croissants (when in Rome...). Thankfully Joseph slept until midway through the descent, but he also woke up grumpy & confused.   We got through the airport, various trams & shuttles, Joe loaded down with all the bags & gear and me with the babies, without too much trouble.  But of course, Theo was in the Ergo carrier strapped to my back and I once again felt that familiar warm sensation spread down my back.  Really?  Yes.  Twice peed on in 12 hours.  We arrived at the hotel, exhausted and grumpy.  Our suite was close to the airport in the small town Roissy outside of Paris.  As soon as we got to our room things started falling apart.  Maybe it had to do with me being awake for 24 hours while caring for two small children in a 4 foot x 2 foot space?  But I started not being able to function.  I needed sleep, bad.  But it was 11am local time.  Joe suggested catching a train into Paris to check out Notre Dame.  I told Joe to take the boys out to find a playground while I got some rest but of course Josey wanted Mommy mommy mommy and Theo was about as tired as I've ever seen him.  In the end I ended up just passing out in bed with the baby and Joe & Joseph (after a massive, screaming, thrashing 3-year-old tantrum) left.  Ah sweet sleep.  After a couple hours I woke up feeling 100% better but realized I had only been asleep for 2 hours.  I found Josey playing quietly by himself (miracle!) while Joe napped nearby.  I couldnt believe how much better I felt after only 2 hours of sleep in the last 24, and couldnt believe Joseph was still going, refusing to nap, after only 3 hours of sleep.  Finally when we were all awake we headed out to explore the small town.  It was chilly outside but sunny and beautiful.  Spring was just starting to appear with flowers and buds on all the plants.  We went to a playground and watched the boys as they played alongside the French children.  Theo pooped.  We didnt have any diapers so Joe took him back to the hotel and changed him while Josey & I stayed at the playground.  When they returned we walked some more and bought a fresh croissant (only because Josey touched it in the case) which we all split.  Bye bye diet.  We struck out finding a restaurant open - it was 6pm Paris time and finally got a pizza to go.  We took it back to the playground and dined al fresco.  Theo had had enough by then so we scarfed our food and headed back to the hotel alongside a screaming baby.  Josey was even (finally!) showing signs of tiredness.  Both boys went to bed without incident and eventually so did a very tired mama & dada.   I can't believe anyone would want to read this?  I'm writing it anyway so I don't forget it.  Especially since Theo won't even remember this trip and Joseph may or may not.  I'd say this trip will not be without its challenges but if the rest of it goes like this first very long day went, I think we will survive.