This post is full of self-pity. But it's short.

We still don't have our missing luggage!  

The airlines has called every day to "check in" with us on the "status" of our bag (um, hello: STILL LOST); it's driving me crazy because each time they have called they ask for more "specific information" about the contents of the bag.  When they called again tonight I felt like saying, "So let me see if I understand correctly.  You have found a large black suitcase with a light blue Pottery Barn Kids blanket in the front pocket along with a birth certificate for Elisabeth Durbin; inside there are a pair of men's Doc Marten sandals and black dress shoes and black belt, a girl's pair of pink sandals with flowers, boys' brown sandals, a grey GAP sports coat, men's khaki pants, a small black make-up bag with pink writing on the outside (full of make-up), a black toiletry bag containing a hair brush, an expensive electric toothbrush, contacts, toothpaste, hair product, and deodorant; a bunch of Huggies diapers size 6 and Pampers size 1, lots of children's and baby clothing; a black woman's hoodie, two children's swimsuits, and women's khaki pants and red zip-up sweater...and you want to know MORE SPECIFIC ITEMS to be sure that you have the right bag?????"

I'm starting to think they've lost our bag for good.

Ugh.  This sucks.  Poor me.  (See? Self-pity.)  

*Addendum: SK, it's not the make-up that kills me, but that's because I'm so cheap about make-up that I just buy the Maybelline "black" mascara and I'm good to go.  (Which I did this morning, walked with all three kids to CVS, to get make-up because we have a work dinner tonight.)  No, it's the clothes that kill me.  For starters, everyone knows when you go on a trip--especially for one day--to see friends you haven't seen in awhile and to meet Grandpa, you don't pack your "play clothes."  So some of my favorite outfits of the kids' are in there, especially a little sundress for Ellie and her cute little blue swimsuit, and Jack's Cubs t-shirt, and a darling little (Gymoboree!) outfit for Samantha that was a gift from a friend.  And a really nice grey sports coat of Eric's that is very versatile and he wears all the time...not to mention his black shoes that also go with everything (poor guy--not much of his wardrobe goes with his brown shoes, so he's had to be VERY creative this week!).

But selfishly, it's MY clothes that are really getting to me...  Any mom knows how hard it is to find well-fitting clothes during and especially after pregnancy...sometimes you wear maternity for a little while afterward, sometimes the lucky few fit into normal clothes again pretty soon.  I'm at an in-between period where some of my shirts are maternity still and some are regular, same with pants.  So both pairs of pants I took this weekend were my absolute favorite--one a pair of khaki maternity that still fits and looks good worn after pregnancy--and my only khaki pair!  The other was a gift from my dad, that I JUST GOT, a black pair that fit me perfectly and are SO comfy and go with almost all my shirts.  And then just last week I had finally gone and bought some new shirts for myself and found exactly what I needed and they all FIT (a miracle!) and mix and match well and I was so thankful...all of that, gone.  Sigh.

I know there are more important things in the world, but it's so frustrating when I can't afford to go out and replace all this.  So now, instead of being down the new clothes, I'm also down some of the old, and people, you don't want me to wear my black and grey yoga pants all the time.  Believe me.  Do you think they'll let me wear jeans to church?  Cause that's what I've got left.  Jeans and yoga pants, and some very old (i.e. from Jack) maternity shirts.  (Don't worry, SK, I didn't lose any of your stuff!!)

I'm also unsure what to do about Jack's blankie.  It's been his special blankie since he was little, and he is really missing it.  Every morning when Eric leaves Jack says, "Daddy go find Jack's blankie on airplane?"  :( :( :(  Today he was watching a Dora and they were going to the "Lost City" where all the lost toys go, and he turned to me and said, "Mommy!  Jack's blankie!" pointing at the TV.  :( :(  :(  Do I go out and buy him a new one?  Will he even want a different one?  Do we just let it go and consider this a good time to cut him off from his comfort item?  Last night he woke up multiple times just whimpering.  I think he was looking for his blankie.  

Sorry.  This is now a LONG post full of self-pity.  I don't mean to be so down about it all--it's just so frustrating; the airline called this morning and said now that it's been five days they are transferring our case to the AA Central Baggage Claim department in Dallas, and they are going to send us forms to fill out that we have to return within 30 days.  30 days!!  

I'm quickly losing hope.