Bouncing Back to the Bayou --- an August 2013 PTR

[Victoriasmom98]

Glad to read you are on the mend. Hope you feel 100% soon.

Thanks Shannon! I think I'm just about there now, thank goodness!!!

I am so sorry to hear of all the ER visits and sickies that have hit you guys! I'm glad you are feeling better now!

I laughed at the picture of cutie on top of Victoria in the chair! TOO CUTE!!!

I wouldn't do a Disney-envelope for the tips, probably. YAY for DTD and fireworks from the beach! I LOVE that you are sneaking some Disney in your March trip too!

Oh yeah, Cutie thinks she's a lap dog and will try to get into your lap if you let her! She was soooooo good during the party. It was her first time being around a crowd of people and she behaved beautifully (well, except for begging for food!)

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I love that your hens are laying eggs... That is too cool...

I'm so sorry about the illnesses... and the trips to the hospitals...... not a big fan of them and I can understand why you wouldn't be thrilled... It takes a bit to feel like yourself again when you get an illness smack down... I remember having the flu several years back and I didn't begin to feel anything like normal for at least a month... Your immune system becomes compromised also so be extra careful...

Love your Merida

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

The Rockettes show looks amazing! I must go see that one day! I’m glad that you and your family had such a nice time in NYC. Congrats on getting put on the short list for the interview! and to you so that you get it! That is so egg-citing that your chickens are laying eggs! OK, I know that was super corny, but I couldn’t help myself! I’m sorry that you guys had such a bad bout of the flu! Horrible! At least you made it through Christmas pretty much OK. That was wonderful that you got to host Peter’s family and made that nice meal! That pork pie looks good! I’ve never even heard of such a thing, but it seems delish! That is so cool that you brought a Merida doll for yourself. At least you’re honest about it. Remember, I brought the doll for myself, but I said it was for True Merida is awesome, though! OK, I am typing this as I am reading along and I just noticed that you also said “eggciting” ! Now I don’t feel as corny! All the cool people are doing it

 

[JDailey]

It sounds like you have had a very busy past couple of months!! I am glad you and Peter are both feeling better.

 

[marDgreen88]

HELLO! So I just wanted to let you know that I'm definitely joining in but it will probably take me a good while to catch up hahha. BUT YAY!

 

[FancyNancy]

I'm in! Getting ready to get all caught up with your PTR!
Did you realize that Southwest is going to start flying out of Portland on April 14th 2013? You may not have to transfer the rewards to Air Tran after all!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I hope that you are all feeling better now!! It looks like you had some rough going for a while there.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I love that your hens are laying eggs... That is too cool...

I'm so sorry about the illnesses... and the trips to the hospitals...... not a big fan of them and I can understand why you wouldn't be thrilled... It takes a bit to feel like yourself again when you get an illness smack down... I remember having the flu several years back and I didn't begin to feel anything like normal for at least a month... Your immune system becomes compromised also so be extra careful...

Love your Merida

OH, the illnesses in the house were horrible! I am feeling 100% better now!! The hens are laying about 3 eggs per day and I've already had to give away 2 dozen as we just can't eat all the eggs!! We are having such fun raising them. Although, to go out and feed them & give them water tonight will suck as it's already only 2 degrees out with a bitter wind chill of I think minus 20!

The Rockettes show looks amazing! I must go see that one day! I’m glad that you and your family had such a nice time in NYC. Congrats on getting put on the short list for the interview! and to you so that you get it! That is so egg-citing that your chickens are laying eggs! OK, I know that was super corny, but I couldn’t help myself! I’m sorry that you guys had such a bad bout of the flu! Horrible! At least you made it through Christmas pretty much OK. That was wonderful that you got to host Peter’s family and made that nice meal! That pork pie looks good! I’ve never even heard of such a thing, but it seems delish! That is so cool that you brought a Merida doll for yourself. At least you’re honest about it. Remember, I brought the doll for myself, but I said it was for True Merida is awesome, though! OK, I am typing this as I am reading along and I just noticed that you also said “eggciting” ! Now I don’t feel as corny! All the cool people are doing it

Yes, Erin, we are the "cool" people for sure! I'm in the middle of scrapbooking the NYC trip but I haven't gotten up to the Rockettes yet. I just can't believe how awesome that show was! We are still having fun with our chickens!!

It sounds like you have had a very busy past couple of months!! I am glad you and Peter are both feeling better.

Yes, that flu that went around this year was a particularly nasty one. I've heard a lot of people even if they had the flu shot got sick. Now we are in the "deep freeze" along with a large part of the country. I hate the cold, but I live in Maine, so I have to put my big girl panties on and deal with it!

HELLO! So I just wanted to let you know that I'm definitely joining in but it will probably take me a good while to catch up hahha. BUT YAY!

Don't worry about it!! Take as much time as you need. I'll just keep stalking you on Twitter!!

I'm in! Getting ready to get all caught up with your PTR!
Did you realize that Southwest is going to start flying out of Portland on April 14th 2013? You may not have to transfer the rewards to Air Tran after all!

Yep, I certainly do know that SW if flying out of Portland starting in April. You didn't actually think I'd let a detail like that fly (get it --- fly!) by me, now did you. It was too late for our weekend in March, but I am definitely going to book SW for our August trip. We already have enough points for 3 one-way flights so I can guarantee we'll go, but maybe not be able to come home.....I wish!!

I hope that you are all feeling better now!! It looks like you had some rough going for a while there.

It was definitely rough, but we all made it through!!! Now just waiting for ADR time to come around.....patiently waiting.....NOT!!!!

 

[marDgreen88]

Okay, SO! I finally got caught up! Woohoo!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Here we sit at 200 days….ugh! This vacation is taking way too long to get here! Yes, I have the quickie weekend trip to Orlando in March (53 days I think??) but I want/need my 11 day vacation! ADR day is coming up in February and I think I have all those decided on! I’m comparing them to Erin’s as I think it’s been about 3 or 4 years now that we’ve been reading each other’s reports and we’d really like to have a Dismeet this time around, as we’ll both be in Disney at the same time. (Finally!!)

So, my schedule looks like this:
8/18 flying in --- dinner at Planet Hollywood
8/19 EPCOT --- dinner at Cape May
8/20 Animal Kingdom –- Tusker House for breakfast
8/21 Hollywood Studios --- O’Hana’s for breakfast
8/22 Magic Kingdom ---- I have written down lunch at Be Our Guest, but I’m still fuzzy on this one
8/23 break day --- dinner at 1900 Park Fare
8/24 Hollywood Studios --- dinner at Sci-Fi Diner
8/25 EPCOT ---- dinner at Garden Grill
8/26 Sea World
8/27 Magic Kingdom ---breakfast at Crystal Palace
8/28 Choice Day --- undecided
8/29 Flying Home --- breakfast at Chef Mickey’s

I need to decide on 2 more table services….Decisions, decisions. Now, let me look up Erin’s schedule…..8/24 I may see her at HS after dinner….Oh look, on 8/25 I may see her in Epcot after dinner…..Alas, those are our only chances….BOO, HISS!!! Erin ---- are you still planning on staying at POP??

I BROKE!!! I COULDN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE and now both Peter and Victoria know we are staying at POR! I just couldn’t keep that secret for that long! I think I did pretty good holding out for 5 months! They are both VERY EXCITED about going back. Peter’s only issue was the walk and I told him that I have requested building 14 which is the closest to the food court and preferred, so hopefully we will get the Pixie Dust we need and get assigned that building.

Peter and I both have our W-2’s and other tax info so now it’s a matter of doing our taxes. Yuck! But the sooner I know what the refund will be, the sooner I will be able to budget the remainder from my paychecks! Hopefully it won’t be that much, but you never know. The great news is now we have enough Southwest points for all three of us to fly down. It’s getting back that is in question…..BUT….if I do the taxes with Turbo Tax online I will earn 1,000 points. And, we are also planning on buying Victoria a new laptop (as hers is dying a slow and painful death) at Best Buy. If we do this through Southwest partner site, we would earn up to 10 points per $1, so if the computer was $500 let’s say (we don’t know which one yet) that would be 5,000 POINTS!!! Yep, that would just about get us all back home. So, I’m really working hard on not having to pay for the airfare, even though Southwest is really inexpensive, relatively speaking….

In other news, Victoria has now been put on Prozac to help her depression and anxiety issues. Oh, you cannot imagine how upset I was to have to put her on medication, but I will do anything to help her and this is what the Dr said was the best plan. That, and to continue to go to counseling. It’s really been a struggle with her lately, she’s missed quite a bit of school and thus I’ve been pretty stressed out. I try to hide my own feelings so I can help her with hers. I just keep praying to God to get us all through this. I miss my happy girl! I would love to hear about other’s experiences with their children if any of you are willing to share. Or even your own experiences. I’m just glad I have you all to vent to. She’s such a smart girl and this is one big hurdle for her to get over.

I’ll leave it at that for right now!!

 

[FancyNancy]

Those sound like some good adr's right there! You will have to tell me about the Southwest points system sometime. Now that they are flying out of the Jetport I might fly with them on an upcoming trip. Not my April trip but I always have something in the works.

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

We are going to have a Dismeet for sure! I was looking at your schedule and thinking the same thing, “We’re all in HS on the evening of the 24th and we’re all in EP on the evening of the 25th!” My plan is to stay at POP, but I’ll be honest and tell ya that I was looking at Kelli’s (Lovemy3babes) TR and I fell in love with the Royal Rooms at POR! I just got my W-2s as well, so I am not planning on booking until I see what my refund is looking like this year. Usually, I get very little for a refund, but I think I will get a larger refund this time since I was unemployed for a while last year. In any case, I absolutely must book by mid-February, so I’ll let you know what I decide! (in case you can’t tell, I’m leaning toward POR )

I am glad that Victoria has a treatment plan in place, even though I know it is hard to see your kid go on meds. It was a very difficult decision for me to let Coy go on meds, but he wanted to try it for his anxiety issues. He also suffered from depression, as you know, and he was put on a medication that I cannot recall right now. It didn’t work for him and he didn’t stay on it long. He was later put on Prozac, and it helped a little, but it mostly made him extremely tired. He eventually refused to go to therapy and he was missing a lot of school. We may have eventually found the right dose of Prozac for Coy, but it wasn’t going to do much if he was avoiding therapy and avoiding his anxiety trigger (school). Right now, we are doing well because he is being homeschooled (and doing great BTW! ) so his depression/anxiety trigger is gone. That doesn’t mean his problem is gone, though, because I’m fairly sure that if he went to public school next year, he’d be back at square one. He still refuses therapy, but he understands that I am allowing him a break right now and he will eventually have to go back. He’s obviously not on meds since he isn’t being monitored by a psychiatrist. So what we are going to try next may seem a little unorthodox, but I have heard it works for some people. I’m going to take him to a chiropractor.

From what I have heard, anxiety issues can be caused by strain on your spinal cord. When there is strain there, your adrenaline can get all wonky and cause anxiety issues. Apparently, there is something called “straight neck” , and it can be caused by being on the computer too much! Um, hello! That is totally Coy! So, I am going to try to see if getting Coy adjusted by a chiropractor helps with his anxiety issues. I don’t think that his computer habits gave him anxiety, but, if he does have straight neck, I’m sure it hasn’t helped! So we’ll see if going to the chiropractor a few times a month helps him.

I’m actually going to go too! I think I have only touched on my anxiety issues here on the boards, but I used to suffer very frequent panic attacks. It got to the point where it was affecting my driving. I would have a full blown panic attack if I had to drive on the highway! My panic attacks were so severe that I legitimately thought that I had a heart condition. Thank goodness, I didn’t, but it became clear that I needed something to help me cope. I was put on Xanax, but I was taking it every day! I found out later that Xanax can cause anxiety bounce backs. You know how they say that certain pain meds relieve the pain for a few hours, but then the pain just bounces back to exactly where it was? The same thing can happen with anxiety and Xanax. So I was on a rollercoaster for a couple of months before I said enough was enough. Surprisingly, my panic attacks decreased once I stopped the Xanax. I know not everyone is like this, but this was my situation. That is also the reason I cut back on my caffeine – too much caffeine (for me) triggers anxiety. I miss my Mountain Dew though! Also, I cut out drinks with aspartame – such as Coke Zero – because aspartame has been shown to trigger panic attacks in people who are already susceptible to anxiety issues. So two of my favorite drinks, GONE! Ugh! But it has helped me a lot. Now, when I feel any anxiety coming on, I do breathing exercises and things like that to avoid a panic attack. That has helped me a lot. So I am definitely going to take Coy to the chiropractor to see if this alternative medicine will help us. I hope that this will be a step in helping his anxiety issues so that he will feel more comfortable with going back to therapy to treat his depression.

I’m so glad that the boards give us a place to talk about these things I’ll keep you posted on Coy’s progress and I hope that Victoria does well with the therapy and the meds

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ann! I know you are 200 days out, but you should update more, I miss you when you don't!

ADR's look good, no suggestions b/c I have no idea what you guys like! We like exotic stuff, our favorite recent meal was at Sanaa. LOVED it and plan on going back there next time!

You are such a great Mom, I know that Victoria will get through this time and be so grateful to have you. I went through some difficult times as a teen and things WILL get better! Erin has some fantastic words of wisdom.

Erin,I'm so glad the homeschooling is going well and what you said about triggers is true! Don't worry, they don't HAVE to be exposed to those triggers to learn to deal with them...he will grow out of it as he gets older!

Oh and I am utterly JEALOUS that you two are finally going to get a DISMEET! NO FAIR!!!!! Why can't you guys come to Disney next week and meet me and Savannah?!?!?

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Oh, and Ann, with my long rant about my family’s mental health issues, I forgot to ask you about Sea World! You know how I am when I get on a roll! So, anyway, what is your opinion of the food at Sea World? Is it mostly regular theme park type fare? I see that they have a couple of sit down restaurants there, but I’m not sure they are worth our time, so I was wondering if you guys have ever eaten there.

As far as a Dismeet, I say we just drop everything and meet Karen down there next week! Don’t I wish! Karen, we’ll all have a meet one day. I just know it!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

We are going to have a Dismeet for sure! I was looking at your schedule and thinking the same thing, “We’re all in HS on the evening of the 24th and we’re all in EP on the evening of the 25th!” (in case you can’t tell, I’m leaning toward POR )

Oh, I really, really hope you are at POR, that way there’s even MORE of a chance of getting together, even though we’ll be at the AB section. As I said, my family is so happy we are going back there. They are undecided about being in AB rather than the Mansions, but the walk is going to be so much easier to get to Riverside Mill. You will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the food court there. I thought the food was awesome, especially the “make your own pasta” section.

Right now the doc has Victoria on the lowest dosage – 10mg - of Prozac, so we’ll see how she does. Victoria says she likes therapy and the therapist but she also says that she doesn’t feel it is helping her. The one good thing about Victoria is that she talks…and talks…..and talks, so whether she thinks so or not, I feel even just talking will help. My brother Michael has severe anxiety issues and he’s trying to teach her coping skills. He lives about 3 hours away but has been calling Victoria. One trick he told her is that if she feels a panic attack coming on, she should say in her mind something like, “bring it on, I dare you”. He states that can sometimes work well as if to challenge yourself. Hey, if it works, do it! There’s also something else called EMDR. I got this definition from Wikipedia: “Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a proprietary[1] psychotherapy in which the patient first recalls traumatic material and then free associates on their own ("just let whatever happens happen") to sequences of linked material, both traumatic and non-traumatic, all while simultaneously attending to inner thoughts and sensory stimulation from a rhythmic, bilateral source.” I really don’t understand what that all means, but I’m going to do more research on it. I’ll have to ask her therapist if this is one therapy she uses. Victoria called me to come get her at school today as she was vomiting. I don’t know if it’s anxiety-related or not, but I went and she’s home now. Poor pumpkin!

I think school is a trigger for her, but I don’t have the option of home-schooling her. I know you are making it work, Erin, with True and Coy, but I just think Victoria would withdraw into herself more and it wouldn’t be good for her. I don’t think my own health issues would allow me to work full time and then go home and do schooling with her. We can’t afford for me NOT to work full time and quiet honestly, I can’t go without the health insurance my job provides. She just needs to learn better and more coping skills.

I don’t have to worry about Victoria drinking caffeine --- she’s a water junkie, thank goodness. I wasn’t aware your anxiety went into full blown panic attacks. Ugh! Maybe a chiropractor would be a good thing for both you and Coy. That’s not something I’m willing to try with Victoria. And yes, I am sooooooooo glad you guys let me air this stuff out on the boards. It helps TREMENDOUSLY!!!

Ann! I know you are 200 days out, but you should update more, I miss you when you don't!

ADR's look good, no suggestions b/c I have no idea what you guys like! We like exotic stuff, our favorite recent meal was at Sanaa. LOVED it and plan on going back there next time!

You are such a great Mom, I know that Victoria will get through this time and be so grateful to have you. I went through some difficult times as a teen and things WILL get better! Erin has some fantastic words of wisdom.

Erin,I'm so glad the homeschooling is going well and what you said about triggers is true! Don't worry, they don't HAVE to be exposed to those triggers to learn to deal with them...he will grow out of it as he gets older!

Oh and I am utterly JEALOUS that you two are finally going to get a DISMEET! NO FAIR!!!!! Why can't you guys come to Disney next week and meet me and Savannah?!?!?

Quite honestly Karen, I haven’t felt like posting anything. Having Victoria depressed and anxious just puts my depression higher and I just want to escape the world. Ugh! I will try to be better, but hey, once you are in Disney, I doubt you are going to be reading ptr’s --- you’ll be having too much fun!!

As for ADR’s my family is pretty plain ---- don’t go too far out of our comfort zones and definitely don’t give us exotic foods! The best meals for us are buffets or family style where everyone can take only what they want to eat! I think we’ll pick another resort table service. I just have to decide which one. We liked Whispering Canyon, so maybe a trip to the Wilderness Lodge is in order. I don’t know yet and there’s always the restaurants at DTD!

Don’t be jealous, Karen! You get to plan your trips with Hope and have Disney Days with her. I don’t have anyone to do that with, so I’m jealous of YOU!!! Sorry, I just can’t make it to Disney next week….but hey, since Erin and I will be there in August, you should come meet us!!! You could even stay in my resort room in the drop down bed!! Hahahahaa!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Those sound like some good adr's right there! You will have to tell me about the Southwest points system sometime. Now that they are flying out of the Jetport I might fly with them on an upcoming trip. Not my April trip but I always have something in the works.

I was wondering where my Maine buddy was....I thought you had figured out I'm quite boring!!! Yes, I will definitely fill you in on SW points....there's actually a whole thread about them in the Transportation Board.

Oh, and Ann, with my long rant about my family’s mental health issues, I forgot to ask you about Sea World! You know how I am when I get on a roll! So, anyway, what is your opinion of the food at Sea World? Is it mostly regular theme park type fare? I see that they have a couple of sit down restaurants there, but I’m not sure they are worth our time, so I was wondering if you guys have ever eaten there.

As far as a Dismeet, I say we just drop everything and meet Karen down there next week! Don’t I wish! Karen, we’ll all have a meet one day. I just know it!

Wow...Sea World. Apparently no restaurant knocked my socks off as I can't remember any. Yes, it is the typical theme park food, though. At Sea World we only eat counter service.

Ok, my carryon is packed so we can meet Karen at her resort room. There's 2 beds.....we can share!!

Okay, SO! I finally got caught up! Woohoo!

So, have I totally bored you to death, Marissa???

 

[Victoriasmom98]

So, let's talk about something fun, shall we? Look and see what one of my co-workers brought in for a treat....ONLY IN MAINE, folks!!

And another thing only in Maine......sweaters FOR CHICKENS!!!! (No Erin, I'm NOT buying these for mine!

Then, I went onto the Creative Dis and found a t-shirt design that I altered a bit for me:

Isn't that awesome!!! I cannot wait to make up a new t-shirt for me!!! Oh look, that smiley works perfectly in here!!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

How the heck did I miss that you started this pre-trip report? Going back to read!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Awww, no sweaters for your chickens Ann?!?!?

LOVE the Brave DISign!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Okie dokie, thanks to your handy dandy chapter links, I'm all caught up. Then I went to the last couple of pages and read the chit-chat. Well, great....I forgot what all I wanted to comment on.

Your mother looks so sweet in all of the New York City pictures. You can tell that she's as pleased as punch to be there. Wonderful memories!

What else was I going to say? Oh yeah, what in the world were you thinking going shopping on Black Friday in New York City? My gosh girl, were you running fever? Seriously, it looks crowded but even the stores were all decorated and pretty.

Moving on...your Christmas dinner looks so good! I could go for anything on your table right now. That Slim Fast that I drank this morning has long gone and my tummy is rumbling something fierce.

I'm sorry to hear about Victoria's struggles. It's so hard for a parent to watch their child go through trials and tribulations. I'll say a little extra prayer for her today.