Come to the Dark Side...4 Weekends of Fun with the Force(Updated 11/12)

[lovethattink]

Love all the pixie dust and the great interactions you guys are getting with the characters! So much fun!

Lol, the interaction was great. I'm sure it helped him egging it on and exclaiming how awesome it all was. The jawas were his favorites this year. We never knew what we were missing before.

a fun day meeting "long lost friends" and great pixie dust from the Jawa, hmm wonder what you could of gotten if you traded JJ a lifetime AP? love he was having so much fun with the characters

Haha, yeah, I wonder what the going rate of a Star Wars fan is?

 

[lovethattink]

Weekend 2 started totally different than the other SWW. It started with a doctor appointment for JJ, immediately followed by a DIS meet at Sea World with Mickeystoontown and family!

Our families were very comfortable with each other. It felt like we've always known them. Guess it's all those awesome TRs.

Hunter wanted pizza and it was very easy to convince JJ. So we set off to find the pizza buffet.

JJ loved Hunter. He did everything he could think of to show off for Hunter. He even said grace. We never know what will come out of his mouth. He doesn't hold back.

After lunch we set off for the sharks. Lisa and her Jon got a big earful about the fish. He took bits and pieces of information from every fish his brother had ever told him about. He crammed it all into the shark tank, and informed Lisa and family about every fish there. Some of the information was accurate and some of the information...well..wasn't.





After our lesson of shark education we headed inside to the shark exhibit.



JJ loved Hunter's Boba Fett phone.



Hunter was pleased with his picture. It was JJ's turn.





He was pleased with his picture too





It was too hot for us to stay at Sea World. Dh had to get to work, JJ and I wanted to check into the motel, and Lisa and her family were off to Shamu.



I'm so glad we had the opportunity to meet them for lunch and spend some time together at Sea World!

 

[blessedmom4]

How I wish I was there with you all, Lisa is on my Must meet list...since I have already met you and JJJ (and DH too). Love the guys inside of the shark, haven't seen it, but it goes along with that movie Sharknado that is taking over with the young-uns. (says the old lady, lol). You and Lisa both have me wanting to go to Sea World now!


PRAYING JJ is feeling better today!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Yay! Our Dis Meet at Sea World! It was so fun meeting ya'll and spending time together. Like you, it felt like we had known each other forever. That JJ is a hoot! I loved his fish facts (and fiction )

 

[lovethattink]

How I wish I was there with you all, Lisa is on my Must meet list...since I have already met you and JJJ (and DH too). Love the guys inside of the shark, haven't seen it, but it goes along with that movie Sharknado that is taking over with the young-uns. (says the old lady, lol). You and Lisa both have me wanting to go to Sea World now!


PRAYING JJ is feeling better today!

That would have been so great. I'm sure one day you will both meet.

I guess I'm ancient. I have no idea what sharknado is??

Who knows, maybe things will pan out for Sea World. Are you too far north to be a good neighbor state? Sometimes they extend FL resident specials to those in good neighbor states?

Yay! Our Dis Meet at Sea World! It was so fun meeting ya'll and spending time together. Like you, it felt like we had known each other forever. That JJ is a hoot! I loved his fish facts (and fiction )

I'm so glad we were able to work it out this time. There had been a few other times where we were at the WDW at the same time, but you were zigging while we were zagging.

JJ is something else!

When he was little we had to ask if things were for real or in his "I". (I=imagination).

 

[reelmom]

How I wish I was there with you all, Lisa is on my Must meet list...since I have already met you and JJJ (and DH too). Love the guys inside of the shark, haven't seen it, but it goes along with that movie Sharknado that is taking over with the young-uns. (says the old lady, lol). You and Lisa both have me wanting to go to Sea World now!

PRAYING JJ is feeling better today!

The kids informed me that we are watching Sharknado tonight. I am not sure if it is appropriate for 10 and 11 year olds but I told them we would try to watch it. I have no idea what it is about. I can only imagine based on some of the stuff on the Sci/Fi channel.

ETA: We are 27 minutes in to Sharknado and just Wow! No other words are needed. This is such a goofball movie yet we can't stop watching.

 

[pwdebbie]

How great that you and mickeystoontown's family were able to meet up for just a bit. I know my dh would think it totally weird for me to do that. (Although I did have breakfast today with someone I met on an email list, lol.)

 

[WDWRids]

Wow...some great pixie dust! Loved the long lost friends. Jawas was a bit of a character.....how fun for JJ!! How's he doing today?

Your Oct dates sound fun. What a great time to be there! I love the Halloween decorations!

 

[momabaarjo]

I have a lot of catching up to do....but just seeing JJ and his smile makes my day brighter!

 

[lovethattink]

I had to take JJ to urgent care on Friday afternoon. He was excited about going to the beach and watching the Teen Beach movie. So excited that it caused him to have many throat ticks. Got him checked out. They said he was fine. I had called his neurologist to let them know the latest development. His neurologist decided to add a new medicine that is specifically for tics. He had to learn how to swallow pills since they don't come in liquid form.

Saturday we went to Clearwater to the beach. We spent the morning there. Rented lounge chairs and a huge umbrella. The weather was perfect. It was overcast and even had a light rain. We didn't have to worry about him overheating until the sun came out around 12:30. We left the beach by 1pm. He had a blast digging for clams. He met a little friend at the beach too.

Yesterday we went to the MK and met up with a friend. Once I get pictures downloaded, I have a salad to show you. It was the best salad I've had at Disney. I swear the dressing on it was incredible. I wanted every single bit of it. I was temped to lick the bottom of the bowl, but didn't. I could go for another one today. But we are headed to Epcot for a couple hours today.

JJ choked twice before we got to the MK. Once was before we left home. The excitement of meeting up with a friend at Disney caused more tics. In the car, he had another tic. There was no where to pull over on I-4 where he had it. Today we'll make sure we have a garbage can. He gets an influx of saliva, but obviously can't swallow when he is choking. The ticks almost sound like the noise a dolphin makes before he starts choking. He has a few seconds to a couple minutes warning before it starts and he lets us know it's coming.

This weekend he did some school work too. Double digit adding and subtracting, simple multiplication. Some reading. Took a geography test. Practiced some cursive letters. And took a spelling test.

He is on a wait list for Occupational Therapy. It may help with the tics. Also for counseling to see if that can help with his anxiety issues.

The kids informed me that we are watching Sharknado tonight. I am not sure if it is appropriate for 10 and 11 year olds but I told them we would try to watch it. I have no idea what it is about. I can only imagine based on some of the stuff on the Sci/Fi channel.

ETA: We are 27 minutes in to Sharknado and just Wow! No other words are needed. This is such a goofball movie yet we can't stop watching.

I take it you liked Sharknado. Maybe we will have to check it out sometime?

How great that you and mickeystoontown's family were able to meet up for just a bit. I know my dh would think it totally weird for me to do that. (Although I did have breakfast today with someone I met on an email list, lol.)

It was such a pleasure to meet up with them. Ah you rebel. What did he think about breakfast?

Wow...some great pixie dust! Loved the long lost friends. Jawas was a bit of a character.....how fun for JJ!! How's he doing today?

Your Oct dates sound fun. What a great time to be there! I love the Halloween decorations!

The characters really were characters, huh?!

JJ had a bad day on Friday. Good day Saturday. Some tense moments yesterday. So far, today is starting out great!

I have a lot of catching up to do....but just seeing JJ and his smile makes my day brighter!

Ah, thanks for being so sweet and checking in. Always nice to hear from you all.

 

[reelmom]

Don't watch Sharknado! I let the boys watch it but probably shouldn't have. Lots of people eaten by sharks. Not realistic looking but still people being eaten. The plot is so bad but it is what you expect from a sci/fi movie.

Sorry to hear JJ is still having problems with the tics. Hopefully, the new medicine will start working. Sounds like a great time at the beach. Where did you stay in Clearwater? The boys want to go to Busch Gardens. I told them we could sneak in the beach if we went. I have heard the area around BG is not that great so we would stay near the beach.

ETA: it just dawned on me that you probably just drove to Clearwater for the morning and then drove back home. Do you have any recommendations for places in the beach or places near BG?

 

[ladylyons]

Sorry to hear JJ is still having problems with the tics. Glad you were still able to have a nice beach day and meet up with friends at Disney!!

Still here, still reading. Just been pretty busy around here with Dr's appointments for my pregnancy (which is progressing nicely thankfully!), swim lessons for the kids, play dates and now trying to get a jump start on back to school shopping (we start back up Aug 27 but it'll be here before we know it!!).

 

[lovethattink]

Don't watch Sharknado! I let the boys watch it but probably shouldn't have. Lots of people eaten by sharks. Not realistic looking but still people being eaten. The plot is so bad but it is what you expect from a sci/fi movie.

Sorry to hear JJ is still having problems with the tics. Hopefully, the new medicine will start working. Sounds like a great time at the beach. Where did you stay in Clearwater? The boys want to go to Busch Gardens. I told them we could sneak in the beach if we went. I have heard the area around BG is not that great so we would stay near the beach.

ETA: it just dawned on me that you probably just drove to Clearwater for the morning and then drove back home. Do you have any recommendations for places in the beach or places near BG?

Oh Yikes, guess we won't watch that.

His night time sleep is better. He us to have myoclonic twitching almost all night. He hasn't done that in two night. I sure hope the meds will help with the tics. I hate for him to choke and he says the tics in his throat are painful.

We drove back home. We have never stayed at any beach in Florida except Daytona and St. Augustine. The place we stayed in Daytona was destroyed in 2004. In St. Augustine we've stayed at the Ocean Sands Inn, though I it appears no longer to be AAA approved. Or rather I should say it's no longer in their Central Florida book with a rating.

I have friends who recently stayed at the Trade Winds. It had a lot of activities for kids, but it's pricey. You also have to pay for parking.

I can ask around and see if anyone has any recommendations.

Years ago, I stayed at the Quinta near Busch Gardens. It was clean.

Sorry to hear JJ is still having problems with the tics. Glad you were still able to have a nice beach day and meet up with friends at Disney!!

Still here, still reading. Just been pretty busy around here with Dr's appointments for my pregnancy (which is progressing nicely thankfully!), swim lessons for the kids, play dates and now trying to get a jump start on back to school shopping (we start back up Aug 27 but it'll be here before we know it!!).

The littlest signs of stress or excitement are triggering the tics.

So glad to hear the pregnancy is progressing nicely. Swim lessons sound like fun as do the play dates. I bought a few school supplies. I need to start looking for sales. JJ started back up with school. He is starting to really love reading. We switched to books that have arrows showing witch way to read. He gets so confused between math and reading and where to start. The arrows are really helping for now. Hopefully with more and more practice he won't need them.

 

[ladylyons]

The littlest signs of stress or excitement are triggering the tics.

So glad to hear the pregnancy is progressing nicely. Swim lessons sound like fun as do the play dates. I bought a few school supplies. I need to start looking for sales. JJ started back up with school. He is starting to really love reading. We switched to books that have arrows showing witch way to read. He gets so confused between math and reading and where to start. The arrows are really helping for now. Hopefully with more and more practice he won't need them.

At least you know what is causing them so hopefully you can try to keep them to a minimum.

I just knew I had to get started now and start getting what I can because I know as these next few weeks progress we are going to just get busier and busier. The kids are so excited about the pool party because it's for Jeremy's Kindergarten Teacher's son and they've really missed seeing her (and her kids). She went out mid April due to health problems and wasn't able to return before the end of the year like she wanted. From what I've been able to find out she is doing better (I still don't know what happened.) Most of our play dates are with our neighbors so we don't have to go far. We're also trying to get the kids together who are going into Kindergarten together next year (Sarah and 2 of my neighbors that live in our same building, both girls!) So it's been fun seeing them get together and become friends. I like the idea of the books with arrows in them. Jeremy get's confused at times too when he's trying to read so for now we are just using our finger to keep our spot.

 

[annmarieda]

I have never been to 50's prime time. I have an ADR for January though! Looks like a great meal.

Love 1900 PF! Have an ADR there too.

And the characters that you got to see at MK! I am so jealous!

I recently put a deposit on a stay at AoA...and I was a bit shocked at the room rate. I too hope for a discount...or it will be a pricey stay at a value.

The trading between JJ and the star wars character (sorry, I don't know ...I can't keep them straight) was very cool.

Yay on the dismeet! Always so fun!!!

Poor JJ! Those ticks sound so scary and bothersome!!!

 

[lovethattink]

I had hoped to post an update a SWW update and I downloaded the pictures from Clearwater, MK and Epcot from the last few days. But JJ had a really bad day today with his ticking. He keeps asking when they are going to stop.

At least you know what is causing them so hopefully you can try to keep them to a minimum.

I just knew I had to get started now and start getting what I can because I know as these next few weeks progress we are going to just get busier and busier. The kids are so excited about the pool party because it's for Jeremy's Kindergarten Teacher's son and they've really missed seeing her (and her kids). She went out mid April due to health problems and wasn't able to return before the end of the year like she wanted. From what I've been able to find out she is doing better (I still don't know what happened.) Most of our play dates are with our neighbors so we don't have to go far. We're also trying to get the kids together who are going into Kindergarten together next year (Sarah and 2 of my neighbors that live in our same building, both girls!) So it's been fun seeing them get together and become friends. I like the idea of the books with arrows in them. Jeremy get's confused at times too when he's trying to read so for now we are just using our finger to keep our spot.

The pool party sounds like fun. I hope the teacher is doing better from whatever happened.

I have never been to 50's prime time. I have an ADR for January though! Looks like a great meal.

Love 1900 PF! Have an ADR there too.

And the characters that you got to see at MK! I am so jealous!

I recently put a deposit on a stay at AoA...and I was a bit shocked at the room rate. I too hope for a discount...or it will be a pricey stay at a value.

The trading between JJ and the star wars character (sorry, I don't know ...I can't keep them straight) was very cool.

Yay on the dismeet! Always so fun!!!

Poor JJ! Those ticks sound so scary and bothersome!!!

We love 50's PTC. Go expecting nothing. We've had some very mellow and some over the top experiences. All were fantastic in their own way. I suggest getting the sampler platter and a PB&J milkshake.

1900PF I'd go back to in a heartbeat more often if it was in the budget.

It was great seeing those Long Long Friends. We could have seen them on Sunday, but it was just too hot and humid to stand in line.

Trading guy is a jawa. It was a lot of fun. JJ was quite the character with them too. He loved them!

I saw a discount code for AoA this summer, but nothing for the fall. I hope you get your price break too.

The ticks stink. Wish they didn't hurt him or cause him to choke. His new medicine will take some time to work. But I was hoping to see some improvement by now.

 

[jane2073]

If I may ask, what kind of tic medicine is JJ taking? My daughter has body tics as well. While some of them are more noticeable than other, they don't seem to bother her. We go see her doctor about them every six months.

My daughter loved trading with the Jawas so much that she wants to be a Jawa for Halloween. She says this would be the year to do it since she is about the same height as them.

I am really enjoying your trip report. Except for the second weekend, we were at SWW at least part of every week. I am interested to see if we some how crossed paths.

 

[lovethattink]

If I may ask, what kind of tic medicine is JJ taking? My daughter has body tics as well. While some of them are more noticeable than other, they don't seem to bother her. We go see her doctor about them every six months.

My daughter loved trading with the Jawas so much that she wants to be a Jawa for Halloween. She says this would be the year to do it since she is about the same height as them.

I am really enjoying your trip report. Except for the second weekend, we were at SWW at least part of every week. I am interested to see if we some how crossed paths.

Thanks for joining in. I assume your name is Jane?

He started taking clonidine on Friday. I have not seen an improvement in the tics yet. Does your daughter have tourettes? Do you know where I can find out educational information about tics? This is all new to me.

Yesterday he had tics and choked every time he thought of the four page math test he has to finish. He still has one page to go. I know for the next one if it's that many pages, I will tear them out of the book and give them to him one by one over a couple days and not let him know how many pages total. He has a 100% so far, so it's not that he doesn't know the material. It's the shear volume of it giving him anxiety.

That's great that she enjoyed the jawas! They were fun. A jawa for Halloween sound like a good choice. Though it could be a hot choice here in FL.

I remember my son talking with a dinosaur loving girl at the MK while playing Sorerers of the Magic Kingdom. By any chance was that your daughter? I have no idea when it was, but it would have probably been in the winter or spring when the weather was cooler. We tend to avoid it on hot days.

I know we recognized many people weekend to weekend at SWW. Over the years we have met some really fantastic people. I love the sense of community between Star Wars fans. We saw even more of that at Star Wars Celebration last year.

 

[jane2073]

We tend to go to MK the least of all but I know we were there on the last day of the first Long Lost Friends back in February.

We did see the same people during all of the SWW. It was a lot of fun!

I really think she is going to be a dedicated cosplayer when she grows up. Costumes and heat does not bother her. She wore her Jedi robe several of the days. She has been a dinosaur (different incarnations) for the past three years for Halloween.

She has had body tics in some way shape or form for three years. Usually it is mild like excessive blinking, clearing throat, etc... She will usually have one for a couple of months and then it goes away and is replaced by something else. She had a bad spell about a year and a half ago (head shaking, arm movement) that worried me enough to take her to a neurologist. He said that the tics come when a child is nervous or excited. He said if it is not affecting her self esteem (it wasn't) he doesn't want to put her on anything.

My name is Jennifer.
I started using Jane years and years ago when I was new to message boards. At the time I thought they would be full of weird-o's and didn't want my real name out there.

 

[lovethattink]

Hello Jennifer and welcome.

We had seen a fantastic nurse practitioner at the neurologist's office for the results of his last VEEG. We were quite relieved it wasn't seizure. She had seen video that I had taped at home of the end of one. We just talked calmly to him. She said that's the trick. Don't make a deal out of it. He knows when it's coming. During the long ones, his eyes roll up in his head, his lips turn purple and it's hard not to freak out then. He's had 3 of these in the last hour.