Commencing Operation Christmas Miracle Trip 2010: PTR

[PoppyGirl]

Just found your report!!!! Your trip sounds AWESOME! We'll be there from Dec. 7-12, but our only park day that's the same as yours is DHS on the 11th Maybe we'll see each other LOL.....

Thanks and to my PTR. So, what will you be wearing? I'll look for you!

i saw you post that on FB about sitting at starbuck's - sounds heavenly!!!

so glad DH is feeling better too- hope the appt goes well.

and huge congrats on the weight loss, i put on like 10lbs after our december trip last year and have been struggling with it all year long. i know how hard that fight is- congrats!!

DH has lost about 15 lbs since the heart attack....just by eating healthy. It's so unfair that it's so easy for him! He's lookin' pretty darn good! My total goal is 30 lbs. So only 22 more to go. I'm ok if it comes off slowly....but geez....a little faster would be awesome!

Glad DS is feeling better and DD skipped the bug. I too am getting paranoid about getting sick (we leave in 12 days). Last night at Cub Scouts there were a few boys just hacking. I tried to keep DS out of their group.

Sitting at Star Bucks sipping a peppermint mocha as you do your WDW planning sounds heavenly right now. I did buy some peppermint mocha half'n half to go with my morning java as I catch up on the dis. It's overcast and cold here too.

Enjoy your day of planning, packing and shopping! Hope DH has an A+ report from the cardiologist.

I get SO paranoid about sickness before vacations. The kids and I almost always get something in October but this year it hasn't been too bad. I'm trying to keep the faith!

Sitting at a Starbucks have a yummy muffin and drink sounds amazing right now. We have had one of those cold, rainy, fall days too. Its been yuck!

Yaaaaa!!!! Congrats!!!!! That is awesome news!!!

Thanks! It's a little far away, but I'm so happy that he found something HE is happy with. His new apartment is waterfront and he's really excited about that.

Congrats to him, that's awesome. Corpus is really nice- i have family down there. We vacationed down at Port Aransas and drove over to Corpus 2 years ago. Actually my mom's cousin that lives down there does a lot of work with the animal shelters and stuff too- i always see her posting up on FB about it and trying to adopt out dogs!

He lived in St. Kitts in the Caribbean for vet school for several years, so he likes it HOT. Maybe DSS will meet your mom's cousin.....

Like I said, it's a little far, but hopefully somewhere that we can visit him. DS and DD adore him and will really miss him. It's neat that we've been able to have him living with us these past couple of months. (even though having an extra person in the house gets to me sometimes..... )

 

[PoppyGirl]

Just back from DH's follow-up appointment with Dr. B. (the cardiologist) (LOVE THAT MAN! )

His EKG is already showing improvement thanks to meds. He will continue on the meds as they are for another month at least--some he will be on for a year and some for life. Dr. B feels that DH's case was very unusual, and the way he explained it, it was like the plaque caused a traffic jam for the blood flow and then opened up a wide spot in his artery beyond the blocked area where a clot then formed and caused his heart attack. His heart is still healing. He is not to do any lifting for the next 2 more weeks (heavy lifting that causes him to not breathe easily) as this can cause changes in his blood pressure. He is cleared for work otherwise (as if he wasn't going to work....geez...does this man know ANYTHING about dairy farmers?) He said DH's case was different than the other 98% of people who have heart attacks. Leave it to him to bust up the odds.


We are cleared for the trip to Disney but no roller coasters for DH (he's not disappointed about THAT at all...but that means guess who gets to ride with DS on every single one!) Apparently the up and down can again cause too many changes in blood pressure (who knew?). He doesn't really like roller coasters anyway. Now he just has a legitimate excuse.

And...NO fast food. Dr. B says we can't even walk into a fast food place. No more dollar menu at McDonald's for my husband. It's going to kill him. I'm really proud of him though because he really is trying with the eating aspect of all these changes. It's a good thing we have free dining on this trip.

I'm relieved. Feeling a little teary and emotional but relieved. And SOOOOOO ready for vacation. So ready! 20 days. TWENTY. DAYS.

 

[disneybarbie]

That is fantastic news! ...and just 20 days to go .. we are at 21 today - not many days to tick off my lovely Disney countdown calendar now!


Emma x

 

[jenseib]

So happy for DSS! And great that DH is doing better.

I know to well about trying to lose weight. I think I've gained. DH told me he lost 14 lbs over the last year...and he didn't even try...I was silently thinking...I might've gained 14 lbs, and I didn't even try either. I really need to get back at it hard. Some of my jeans are so tight I can't breath.

 

[2kids2luv]

Wonderful news x 2!

So glad your hubby's follow-up went well. Now you get to have all the rollercoaster fun.

Congrats to DSS on his new job. Now you have a new place to visit on your way to WDW.

 

[PoppyGirl]

That is fantastic news! ...and just 20 days to go .. we are at 21 today - not many days to tick off my lovely Disney countdown calendar now!


Emma x

I know! It's amazing how quickly time seems to be going now when it seemed like FOREVER at first!

So happy for DSS! And great that DH is doing better.

I know to well about trying to lose weight. I think I've gained. DH told me he lost 14 lbs over the last year...and he didn't even try...I was silently thinking...I might've gained 14 lbs, and I didn't even try either. I really need to get back at it hard. Some of my jeans are so tight I can't breath.

Thanks Jen. I know what you mean about gaining without even trying. I'm SO good at that!

Wonderful news x 2!

So glad your hubby's follow-up went well. Now you get to have all the rollercoaster fun.

Congrats to DSS on his new job. Now you have a new place to visit on your way to WDW.

I'm not sure Corpus would exactly be "on our way" to WDW....but I could probably make that work! "Honey, we really need to go see Dan...oh, and by the way, how about a stop at Disney while were out there?" Yep, I think I can make that one work!

 

[PoppyGirl]

I'm so hyper today! All of a sudden I am bursting at the seams with excitement! My TA called me yesterday (we didn't get the travel docs for our room only reservation because Disney apparently didn't send them....and she called to talk to me about it) and we talked for about 40 minutes. She is so awesome! She gave me a couple of tips for making our trip really special. Her husband also has gone through a heart attack and so we were comparing notes.

We did finally get Mickey Mail but only for the second half of our trip. But Wendy the Wonderful told me how to make it work if our other docs don't arrive in time. It's all good.

Tonight DD is having a sleepover for her birthday. Only 3 girls coming and only 2 are staying over so it shouldn't be too crazy. After this, it's Thanksgiving....and then hair and nail appointments, a couple more work days...and on our way to the Happiest Place On Earth!

 

[exwdwcm]

good luck with the slumber party tonight! i am having my nephew over tomorrow night for the first time----a 3yo and 4yo boys.....um, what have i done?

so glad DH is on the mend and looking good! yeah, the roller coasters are a bad idea with the BP changes, but glad he doesn't care anyways. My DH could take them or leave them too. sorry on the fast food- but at least disney does have a ton of healthy options around, especially in the sit down restaurants and many snack carts have fruit and stuff too.

 

[PoppyGirl]

Day 7.....A Magical Day...A day full of favorites and new things and fun things!

It's not really over until the fat lady sings.... or at least until the scrapbook is finished! So I'll try not to be too sad while I'm writing about our last full day at WDW.

After our late night at EMH at MK (which just got extended until 1am!), we'll probably have a leisurely morning and eat a bowl of cereal in the room just to tide us over until we arrive at EPCOT and Sunshine Seasons (my favorite CS in all of WDW). We'll have brunch there and then begin our tour of World Showcase.

I absolutely LOVE WS! I could spend all day there. I found a list of the Santa's and the times they are scheduled to appear in each country so we could try and see them all, and I made Holiday Passports for the kids. I really want us to see the American Adventure and do the ride in Mexico (two things we've never done). And of course, there's the shopping. I love shopping in WS. Very fun! I love all the bright colors and talking to the CMs from around the world.

We'll take the monorail over to MK at around 4:00 because we have MVMCP tickets. We get to have dinner with Pooh at Crystal Palace. I SO love the food at CP too! We have a funny story about our last dinner at CP. DD had rolls and butter. That's it. Rolls. And BUTTER. Lots and lots of butter. She could have cared less about the characters or all the yummy food. Just butter. I try not to think about how much we paid for her to have rolls and butter!

After dinner we'll go walk around a bit and watch the castle lighting ceremony. Since we will have been at MK all day the day before, I think the kids will be ok if we do party stuff and don't ride too many rides. So I'd really, really like to get a photo with Snow White and the prince AND the dwarves!!! That would be AWESOME!

We may go around and see some other characters or see the show in Tomorrowland.

At some point we'll stake out a spot in front of the Plaza to see the fireworks and just hang out there until our dismeet for the parade. I'm looking forward to meeting some of the fun people I've met on here!

We'll stay until everyone's had enough and we're tired and then take that final bus back to our resort for our final sleep at AKL. *sigh*

I'm sure we'll all be full of good memories from the week. After everything our family has been through recently, we really need some fun and some happy memories!

 

[stephielela]

Love your plans! I was super excited to see all the extensions to the schedules as well. I also LOVE WS, especially the shopping, and lately the snacks and adult beverages as well.

 

[disneyfan55]

Your plans sound really great. We will be there next Sat for the week and go to MVMCP on Thurs. We picked that day due to our AP discount on the tickets as well as we really didn't want to do that on our last night since we have a long drive the next day and have to pack up the car and go to breakfast at Kona. We drive and I'm really glad about that with all the new searches etc. We leave on Fri morning very early from NJ and plan to drive to just outside Savannah. Leave early the next morning and get to WDW earlyl afternoon. We decided to drive in one car since gas prices have gone up so much and my son in law was laid off from his job. It iwll be fun with our old minivan and all 5 of us! Have a great trip and Thanksgiving!

 

[Tinkermom76]

I will be heading to the Plaza about half an hour before the fireworks to try to grab a spot and I will get snacks so we can hang out there till the meet!!!

I will be wearing a Lime green Tink shirt!!! Keep an eye out for me!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Love your plans! I was super excited to see all the extensions to the schedules as well. I also LOVE WS, especially the shopping, and lately the snacks and adult beverages as well.

They added an extra Fantasmic! show on the night we are at DHS and I was very excited about that--I think we'll still go to the first show, but it gives us more time to see the Osborne lights after! And hmmmmm....adult beverages in WS. I don't think I'd get very far around the world if I was partaking of adult beverages! (too much of a lightweight! )

Your plans sound really great. We will be there next Sat for the week and go to MVMCP on Thurs. We picked that day due to our AP discount on the tickets as well as we really didn't want to do that on our last night since we have a long drive the next day and have to pack up the car and go to breakfast at Kona. We drive and I'm really glad about that with all the new searches etc. We leave on Fri morning very early from NJ and plan to drive to just outside Savannah. Leave early the next morning and get to WDW earlyl afternoon. We decided to drive in one car since gas prices have gone up so much and my son in law was laid off from his job. It iwll be fun with our old minivan and all 5 of us! Have a great trip and Thanksgiving!

That WILL be fun! Hope you have a great trip! I totally understand about not wanting to be too tired the next day. Sounds like you chose the best night for your group!

I will be heading to the Plaza about half an hour before the fireworks to try to grab a spot and I will get snacks so we can hang out there till the meet!!!

I will be wearing a Lime green Tink shirt!!! Keep an eye out for me!

I'm SO excited that you get to come to the dismeet! I'm going to post a photo of the sweatshirts I made for our family. We will be wearing our totally cheesy matching white sweatshirts and I plan to wear my lime green Mickey scarf. So maybe we will see you for the fireworks too!

 

[PoppyGirl]

In 2005 I put my psychologist's license on "inactive" status to be a full time stay-at-home-mom. I wasn't sure if I would ever go back, but I wanted the option if I needed to later. I decided LAST year to renew my license this year which meant earning 20 CEUs and paying a bunch of money to the state of Maryland. So.....today, while I was home with a fever (the family went to church and then Bible quizzing) I completed a 6 hour online CEU class and I'm done! WOOT!

 

[disneyfan55]

In 2005 I put my psychologist's license on "inactive" status to be a full time stay-at-home-mom. I wasn't sure if I would ever go back, but I wanted the option if I needed to later. I decided LAST year to renew my license this year which meant earning 20 CEUs and paying a bunch of money to the state of Maryland. So.....today, while I was home with a fever (the family went to church and then Bible quizzing) I completed a 6 hour online CEU class and I'm done! WOOT!

Great. Once you have a license you should always keep it. My husband was a licensed electrician before being in law enforcement for 25 yr. He kept up that license up and now he has to go 40 hr. every 3 yrs. to keep it up here in NJ. Well worth it when you are able to keep it!

 

[PoppyGirl]

DH called me at the office today.

Me: Hello?
DH: Hi--it's me.
Me: Oh, happy anniversary honey!
DH: What? Oh crap...is that today?
Me: Ummmm....yes. So......I guess we don't have a big date planned for tonight?
DH: (long pause)
Me: Ok. Love you!

Later, with the kids at the grocery store...
Me: DS, call daddy and ask him where we should meet him for dinner.

Later, after dinner out with the family (very NICE dinner, BTW)

I took the dog out and was in the kitchen turning off all the lights. DS came out with the video camera and nodded to someone around the corner.
Me: What's going on?
DH: (wearing a Zorro costume & coming around the corner) "Your fantasy awaits....it's me, Zorro! (carving a Z with the giant sword he had borrowed from DS).
Me: Only 13 years and my fantasy finally came true!

So, it wasn't a traditional anniversary, but we had fun!

 

[Tinkermom76]

cute! I hope you both had a great anniversary!!!!

I hope we see eachother for the fireworks too!!!

 

[PoppyGirl]

cute! I hope you both had a great anniversary!!!!

I hope we see eachother for the fireworks too!!!

You'll have to be sure and ask DH about his adventures as Zorro!

 

[stephielela]

DH called me at the office today.

Me: Hello?
DH: Hi--it's me.
Me: Oh, happy anniversary honey!
DH: What? Oh crap...is that today?
Me: Ummmm....yes. So......I guess we don't have a big date planned for tonight?
DH: (long pause)
Me: Ok. Love you!

Later, with the kids at the grocery store...
Me: DS, call daddy and ask him where we should meet him for dinner.

Later, after dinner out with the family (very NICE dinner, BTW)

I took the dog out and was in the kitchen turning off all the lights. DS came out with the video camera and nodded to someone around the corner.
Me: What's going on?
DH: (wearing a Zorro costume & coming around the corner) "Your fantasy awaits....it's me, Zorro! (carving a Z with the giant sword he had borrowed from DS).
Me: Only 13 years and my fantasy finally came true!

So, it wasn't a traditional anniversary, but we had fun!

That's so cute! Happy Anniversary!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

That is so cute!! Happy Anniversary!!!