8/17/2008 Double Dip 4-day Wonder

[Willem]

Thanks for the tips everyone, guess we won't book any excursions and take the time to relax. I think we will make a short walk in Nassau and then go back to the ship.
Lynda, it would be fun to meet you on board. We will bring some guidemaps and stuff from DLP. If anyone else wants them, just let me know. We're used to pack them when we visit other Disney destinations
Disnutz, hope you'll have fun in Europe. Paris is my favourite city ever. How much time will you spend in each city?
Okay, gonna watch some tv now. Tonight is the night of the first semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Don't know if you ever heard of it, but here it's quite big. Every European country sends one artist and off course we hope Belgium finally wins, however i don't like our song

 

[Lynda Silk]

We'll have to have a DISmeet onboard at the beginning of the cruise and then we can meet everyone in person! Aklthough considering Coach Rick's last count, we'll need a big area to meet in! I was just telling a friend today that we're so lucky that so many nice people are going along with us on this cruise! Makes a wonderful vacation even more magical!

 

[disnutz]

I agree about the meet on board - especially since we will all be wearing our Shirts!!!

We'll be in each city for about 4 days, with 2 days in Normandy. I have never been to Europe, but I am so excited. I will not really be a "chaperone" but just a helper when needed, so I plan to do some touring on my own as well. We are going to see Spamalot at a West End Theatre the second night. I wish i could make it to DLP, but probably not this trip. It is on my list though!

 

[lovedvc]

Count us in for the first leg only 8/17 and our friends.
Me(36), DH(40), DS(9), DS(7)
DW(40), DH(40), DS(9), DD(6)

After the cruise we'll be at AK for 4 nites.

 

[disnutz]

Welcome!! I see you have 2 9 yr old boys going - my son is 9 too!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hi All,

I'm sitting here typing with a cast on my leg up to my knee.

Sorry I've been MIA for the past month but we've had one of those "bad things come in 3's" kind of month.

I had my foot surgery on May 5th. All went well with the surgery. In fact, better than expected because the MRI I had taken a few days before showed way more damage than initially thought.

But it turned out not to be the case. The broken toe was repaired and I now have a metal pin inserted through the tip of my toe. The damaged ligament was cut in half and grafted on itself to shorten and strengthen it. Plus a nearby ligament was cut and grafted onto the shortened ligament to help stabilize the ankle joint.

Needless to say my poor foot has been traumatized.

To be blunt - the recovery has been awful. Way worse than I expected. The first week I was in incredible pain. The toe was the worst - it felt like it was on fire. I could feel where the skin was cut open and how the pin is pushing apart the bones.

I was prescribed pain pills but all that did was make me sleep a lot and then feel groggy and nauseous.

That lasted about five days and then the pain gradually went away.

I'm in a cast up to my knee and am on crutches.

Being on crutches is just horrible.....horrible, horrible, horrible. All your body weight rests on your hands and forearms and those body parts are just not designed to take that kind of weight.

Its exhausting just getting around the house. Plus, you've lost the use of your hands so you can't do things like cook/clean/etc.

Fortunately, my mom stayed with me for the first five days and she did everything for me.

When she left, I went to a medical supply store and rented something called a "kneel walker". It has literally saved my life. It looks something like a razor scooter where I rest my knee on it and just push myself around.

I use the crutches when outdoors. But let me tell you, public places are extremely unfriendly to people on crutches. Doors are too heavy to open, wheel chair ramps are no where near the front doors, curbs are extremely high and steps are everywhere.

I had no idea how important it is to have two working legs. Everything is exhausting. Here I was thinking that I won't be doing much and I'll gain weight and lose my strength because I can't work out.

Wrong!!!! My arms and good leg take all my body weight and I'm so exhausted I don't feel like eating so I'm losing weight.

I cannot wait until this cruise so I can eat and eat and eat and eat.

I've got two more weeks on the crutches then two weeks in a surgical boot.

So we're halfway there.

And just to add to the misery......DD was hurt in a bicycle accident. She and her best friend and DH were riding in our neighborhood when a speeding car came around a corner and didn't see DD. She had to swerve to get out of the way and lost her balance and fell off the bike. This happened on a hill.

She didn't break any bones but she was literally covered in blood from the neck down from road burns and a bad laceration on her arm.

Fortunately, our neighbor is an EMT so DS ran and got him and he came over and cleaned up DD enough so we could take her to the hospital.

No broken bones, no internal injuries and four stitches to the left forearm.

But one of the wounds got infected so back to the doctor and DD got put on antibiotics. That actually helped heal all the wounds a whole lot faster.

It could have been a whole lot worse.

Then last week we discovered DD has Lyme disease. She pulled two ticks out of her a few weeks ago. Then last week she got the bulls-eye rash.

Back to the doctor again. More antibiotics.

So we've had one heck of a time here.

Welcome to everyone who has joined this cruise thread. We, too, are staying onboard for the 3-night Wonder cruise.

I booked all my excursions. Do not understand why the teen "wild side" is only being offered on the 2nd CC day. So we booked that for DS.

For the first CC day we booked the bottom fishing tour.

We'll be staying onboard on Nassau day and enjoy being on the ship.

I didn't have any problems booking excursions. We're in a suite so I was able to book early and I must have picked a day when the suite guests on the EB repo cruise were not booking their excursions.

 

[Coach Rick]

Hi All,

I'm sitting here typing with a cast on my leg up to my knee.

Sorry I've been MIA for the past month but we've had one of those "bad things come in 3's" kind of month.

<Snip - Lots of pain>

WOW....Well, welcome back Ski and Sea...We missed you...

I hope you feel better soon, and rest assured, things come in 3's, so you are done...

Well, DD will be on that "wild side" tour too...

Some bad news...My B-I-L had to cancel, so we are now down to 11. Still enough to have a blast...

Anyhow, welcome back and heal fast...

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

WOW....Well, welcome back Ski and Sea...We missed you...

I hope you feel better soon, and rest assured, things come in 3's, so you are done...

Well, DD will be on that "wild side" tour too...

Some bad news...My B-I-L had to cancel, so we are now down to 11. Still enough to have a blast...

Anyhow, welcome back and heal fast...

Thanks...its been quite an ordeal but I'm so glad I have the cruises to look forward to. We timed the surgery so I will be all healed by August.

And best news of all is that I will be 100% back to normal when all is done. The doc said the MRI showed irreversible damage so he was so happy that it turned out not to be true.

BTW....I called Concierge about why the wild side is not offered on the first CC day and even they were surprised by that.

 

[Dizzyworld]

I booked all my excursions. Do not understand why the teen "wild side" is only being offered on the 2nd CC day. So we booked that for DS.

For the first CC day we booked the bottom fishing tour.

First of all, happy healing to all of you. I'm glad that you will be ready to go in August.

As for the teen Wild Side, I was wondering if there is something wrong in the computer? I just looked at the Navigators posted from a recent 4 day- double dip, and it was listed only on CC's second day Navigator. I wonder why? I wanted to use this as a day for the kids to sleep in since it is the night after Pirate Night.

I also booked the fishing excursion on the first CC day at 9 AM for my DS and myself. Not sure I want to do this again, but it might be one of the last times I get to fish with him there. (Yeah it will only be my second time to fish. Can you tell I'm not really into fishing but I am into my kids.)

 

[Lynda Silk]

Sea-and-Ski, so glad to have you back, but I'm sorry you've been through so much! As Coach Rick said, you're right that things come in 3's and now you're done! And at least you will be fully recovered for the cruise. but I know how gruelling crutches can be. I had to use them many years ago and I too was amazed at how physically taxing they were to use. Sounds like your poor DD has had some challenging experiences as well. But thank goodness, she was able to swerve out of the way.

Dizzyworld, I loved the way you said that you really weren't into fishing but you were really into your kids....what a nice thing to hear!

 

[Dizzyworld]

Dizzyworld, I loved the way you said that you really weren't into fishing but you were really into your kids....what a nice thing to hear!

Isn't it amazing what we will do for our kids? (BTW..this is the same child that got me to pet a shark.)

 

[Lynda Silk]

LOL! I know....I take my DD to horseback riding lessons at least 2x a week, wait for her in a freezing barn for 2-3 hours during the winter, and take puffers and down Clariten like mad because I'm severely allergic to horses. But it's all worth it because she's such a great kid and I feel it's all a part of being a mom!

That's the main reason why I'm so looking forward to this cruise; I have such a good time with both my DD and DS. I consider myself very lucky. Looks like there are lots of people in that same boat (no pun intended) on our cruise!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

We're booked for the bottom fishing on the first CC day at 9:00am!!!!

I wanted to do it in the afternoon but it was already booked.

I, too, wish the Wild Side was offered on the first CC day. I wanted the last CC day to be very relaxing and we could sleep in.

Also, did you all notice that for the double dip cruises that we leave Nassau at 5pm and not 7pm. That is way too early. Glad I don't have anything planned that day.

It has been a glorious Memorial Day weekend here weather-wise. Boy, after such a cold and rainy May its amazing how warm 70 degrees feels.

Ordinarily I would be marching in our local Memorial Day parade with my Girl Scout troop. DH is taking DD this time.

Funny story.......the weather was outstanding yesterday: sunny, no clouds, no humidity....so I was lounging outside reading in the sun when all of a sudden my foot starting hurting and I realized the sun had heated up the metal pin that is inserted in my toe!!!!

So I had to rush inside and get out of the sun.

 

[guzwoman]

Hi all...

Well last week, I did it! I graduated from Law School. One major hurdle jumped, next the Bar then I get to enjoy/relax at WDW and a cruise with my little girl and forget about the damage that I did during the hardest exam of my life.

My little girl is getting so excited and so am I! She is so cute b/c she is saving as much money as possible. Me...Knowing that I get this trip to look forward to makes, me so excited and helps ease my angst over the BAR. This trip is my happy place. When I am stressed, I keep thinking go to my happy place, the sun and a icy cold mixed tropical drink. LOL!

question for the vets out there: I am worried that I might forget to sign up of activities b/c I am so darn busy, do they fill up? Or is it easy for them to accomodate those of us who are slow on the Reservations?

Hope all of you are well...

I am off to study again. YIPPEE, 100 multiple choise questions to do to day! LOL!

mary grace

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hi all...

Well last week, I did it! I graduated from Law School. One major hurdle jumped, next the Bar then I get to enjoy/relax at WDW and a cruise with my little girl and forget about the damage that I did during the hardest exam of my life.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is a huge accomplishment.

Whenever DD can't fall asleep at night I tell her to think about all the wonderful things we'll be doing on the cruise.

So we know what you mean about being excited.

Today's weather is perfect beach weather and its really making me excited about the cruise. This morning I was listening to the soundtrack from the Pirates movies. Definitely gets you in a mood to visit CC.

Yes, DCL does leave openings for excursions available to book onboard. The key is to go to the shore excursion desk as soon as you board to check availability. People are always canceling so openings to pop up.

I've made a banana-strawberry smoothie and I'm off to sit outside (in the shade) and catch up on some reading and reeeeeeelax.

 

[Lynda Silk]

Guzwoman, congrats from me too! Wow, that's an incredible achievement. What a great role model you are to your DD!

I was just telling a friend of mine that I was getting through the daily challenges by focusing on the upcoming cruise but I like your description of it being your happy place better!

I just paid off my balance so I am poorer but now able to book ressies so that's exciting!

Sea-and-Ski, hearing about you and your smoothie in the shade sounded so wonderful! Enjoy! Won't be too long before you can do that at CC under a palm tree!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

The bartenders on CC will custom make frozen drinks for you. They all have their own favorite recipes and they are soooo delicious.

Its a necessary indulgence on CC and I recommend it highly!!!!

 

[Lynda Silk]

Yummmmm, sounds so good; I'll definitely have to remember to do that!

 

[disnutz]

Count me in - I love me some yummy frozen drinks. One of my favorites memories from last cruise - laying on a lounger, waiter serving me drinks while DH and the kids snorkeled. Ah the life!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Count me in - I love me some yummy frozen drinks. One of my favorites memories from last cruise - laying on a lounger, waiter serving me drinks while DH and the kids snorkeled. Ah the life!

(this is what makes double dip cruises so good)