December 13, 2008 Western Caribbean!! Let's get acquainted!

[PenskeSth1]

We slipped back to page 3 again, so I thought I would give us a little bump.

Were staying busy here and trying not to think about the cruise to much so time goes by faster. Hope everyone is doing well.

 

[Stinasmom]

Hey everyone!

So, I am looking into taking a cruise this October too... yes, that would make me spoiled. However, it will be on Carnival. Not exactly the same.

But, it would be with "the girls" from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera, an itinerary I have done before on Disney. The Carnival Pride is at least one of their newer ships only slightly smaller than the Magic.
I will have to be very diligent not to do too much comparing, lest I just come home disappointed!

The one thing I am reminding myself is that it is about 2 1/2 times cheaper on Carnival! Take it for what it is!

Have any of you ever cruised Carnival?

I checked the cruise meets "roll call" thread over at cruise critic dot com and only two people have posted--both looking for kids the same ages. Hopefully I will be traveling with enough people to not need a cruise meets group.

Has summer or at least spring finally hit for those of you in Northern states? We are finally getting warm weather. Sure took a while.

Marcy

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Congrats on the Oct cruise Marcy, Hope you have a great time!!

Katies last day of school was yesterday, she had it in her head that meant it was time for WDW and for the cruise, made for a lot of tears trying to explain it to her!!

Our weather is still pretty cool, we had an 80 degree day about 2 weeks ago, and since then back in the 50s and 60s. Supposedly its going to be in the 80s this weekend so we are looking forward to that, I need to get my veggie garden in already!!

 

[PenskeSth1]

Marcy,
We haven't cruised with anyone else other than Disney so if you do go with Carnival let us know how it goes. Dh would like to do an Alaskan cruise sometime. I only worry about finding a line that doesn't nickle and dime ya to death and has a kids program as good as Disneys. I know we would find it hard NOT to compare. Even though it is alot cheaper.

 

[tmk0730]

Just popping in to say hello to everyone. I'm getting so excited for this cruise! I actually have to keep myself from thinking about it too much so I get other things done! We have early seating because there is no way our DS (2 at the time of sailing) would make it to the late seating. Katiesmommy I know what you mean about excursions. We're having a hard time deciding what to pick since we have a little one with us. I personally would love to spend the day on the beach but Dh finds that kind of dull. Well we figure something out! I hope you are all doing well!!!

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Woohoo, there is still life in our thread Sorry,SAHM, too much time on my hands so I am on here everyday lol.



Tracy- my DH isnt into beaches either, he will think they are boring too, I have no idea what if any excursions we will be doing. Maybe stick the kids in daycare and go party Glad to see you back!! Maybe we will be in the same dining rotation, our two yr olds would have a blast lol

Right now am trying to figure our ADRs for our WDW trip, my 180 day window is coming up

hope all are well and you have a great holdiday weekend

 

[Skallywag]

Hi everyone from very wet south of England - sorry have not posted for a long while but still planning on the eastbound panama in August and it is coming round quicker now it seems.

All paid off for December and have daughters planning on excursions ready to book at the 90 day point.
Bren

 

[Stinasmom]

Hey everyone!
Still here too.
My October "girls" cruise planning just got put on the back burner as one of the gal's mom is hospitalized and not looking good. Funny thing about Carnival, though, sometimes if you wait, the cruise becomes cheaper!

Brenda-- as a CC member, don't you get to book excursions/palo/spa at 105 days or something like that? I was counting on that...

As far as excursions-- my DH really loves to snorkel, so we are going to do that at Grand Cayman. I think just exploring Key West on foot is enough and playing Cozumel by ear... Good weather and we want to beach it, otherwise, explore the town then play on the ship while it's empty.
I really love sea days. The Disney ships are such great destinations unto themselves.

Lucinda-- are you going to try to book MVMCP at WDW too? I am thinking about it. We will have a condo with a kitchen and DH likes to cook, so dinners will likely be there... limited need for ADR's, but I think I'll splurge and book the Christmas party.
STILL WAITING FOR THAT "KICKER" CHECK to get WDW tix!

Marcy

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Good to see ya Bren!!The Panama sounds like a dream cruise, I bet you are so excited!!


Marcy- Sorry to hear about your friends Mom, hope it all works out ok for her. We arrive at WDW on the 10th and plan to hit Studios that afternoon for Osborne lights and for Fantasia ( we missed it last time), planning on making a CP adr for that Thursday so we get into MK early and then I am just not sure when to do the MVMCP. I am afraid the kids will be whipped after a day at MK but I dont want to wear them ( and my old rear lol)out since the cruise is Saturday. Am wishing now I would have flown us in Monday instead of Weds... Maybe we will see each other at the party!! When are yall arriving in Orlando??
Our kicker check is GONE LOL , with the new house there was so much we needed done and his koi pond sucked a huge chunk of it up, amazing how quick $1800 can go lol

 

[SILLYANDI]

Hey everyone. I'm still here too! Just so much going on with the end of the school year and all the volunteer stuff I do.
I try to check in everyday, but I don't have much to say.
We have been dealing with our 8 year old's anxiety and it sure has taken alot out of me! She was recently diagnosed with "Panic Disorder" but she has been suffering since she was very young with panic attacks & general anxiety. It had become so out of control that she was getting sent home from school and nearly suspended for hitting a teacher. She gets like a crazed animal when she gets scared. The Dr explained that her "Fight or Flight" response is broken so she tries to fight or flee in very inappropriate moments. Something as simple as too many people in a room or a change in schedule was enough to send her into a rage. We really thought she was just very stubborn and defiant. The truth was she was scared to death, literally, and thought she was fighting for her life. She had even got to the point where she would cry and say "I don't want to be like this anymore. I want to die so I don't have to be scared anymore". That is a scary thing to hear an 8 year old say.
A few months ago (after 2 years of counseling and attempts with behavioral modifiication) I finally relented and decided to let her try meds.
I don't know if it was the stigma of "mental illness" or the worry of it being a lifetime sentance but I was really reluctant to put her on medication.
So after about 9 weeks of meds she is a totally different kid. Outgoing, fun loving and social again. I feel guilty now that I was so against it. The doctor said something that really made sense to me though. If she had a broken pancreas then we would want her to take insulin, why wouldn't we want to help if her brain was broken?
The plan is to have her take the meds through summer while she works on her calming techniques then slowly wean her from the meds after school starts next year. So it's not a life sentance (hopefully) after all.
So here's hoping that we are doing the right thing for her and that she won't have to suffer her whole life with this. It's so painful to watch your baby suffer like this.
Meanwhile, DS had his IEP and they are denying OT evals and services so we will have to play hardball with the school. I hate having to be mean to get what he needs. We will have to spend hundreds of $$ for an advocate and write strongly worded letters. I hate being that person but this is something I think will truly benefit him.
Being a parent is hard work!

 

[Skallywag]

Hi everyone,

Andrea I am sorry about your little girl and the panic attacks they really are very frighteneing as I know myself. I started to get them one day walking my little baby daughter in her push chair and I have never felt so ill. I could not leave the house for some time and you tend to bottle things up and not talk to anyone which is now I realise completely wrong. It is surprising how many people have these attacks and mostly women and talking is the best way out. I dont know about medication and really think the best way is to give support and if she has any little friends to talk to so they understand.

Just my thoughts on this and know it is difficult.

Bren

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Andrea, huge hugs honey. Panic disorders are really hard to accept and understand I am so happy the meds are working for your DD. Its hard to accept when our kids aren't exactly the 'neurotypical" that society expects, but in reality there are more ppl with "issues" than "NT". I have sufferred from them on and off since I was 5 and they extended into my sleep even with night terrors. Mine abated the older I got only to reappear with pregnancy, but the older she gets more she will learn to soothe herself and to cope with them. When I was in nursing school I did a whole paper on Panic disorders and was amazed to see just how common they really are. Dont feel guilty, you were just being a good Mommy not wanting her to have the meds at first, we all want to protect our kids. Huge hugs and prayers that she adjusts to the meds, pm me if there is anything I can do or if you need any med articles about the treatment or you just need to talk....
Sorry to hear that you are also having to fight to get the services your son needs, that is so BS. So far I have been lucky with Katie and her IEP and services, we just started Carrie into speech therapy, they decided to give her a developmental therapist instead of an OT/ST as she has a few other issues besides speech. Good luck with getting what your son needs!!!

 

[PenskeSth1]

Hello everyone! We have been very busy in our house too. Andrea I am sorry to hear about your daughters panic attacks, I have suffered from those every since I was a child also (mine just isn't quite as bad as your DD's though) Mine only usually happens around tight places and when there is just way to much noise or to many people. It's always painful to watch your child suffer and not understand or know what is causing it. At least now you know and hopefully it will be able to be helped with the meds.

On a brighter side I just wanted to share DD (19) good fortune. Short history...She is going to college for Culinary Arts and wants to become a chef and work at one of WDW's restaurants. She went in to WDW for a interview on Wednesday and she is now one of the newest Cast members at Magic Kingdom. They didn't have anything available right now at any restaurants so they put her at a walk up counter service so that it would be easier for her to transfer when any openings became available. She has dreamed of working at WDW every since she was little. She use to kid and say she would sweep the floors for Mickey.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

 

[SILLYANDI]

It really is surprising how many people have panic attacks & anxiety. You don't really know until it hits you then it seems like everyone around you has been touched by it personally in some way.


Michele, that is so exciting! DD8 (the anxious one) has always dreamed of being Cinderella at Disneyland, I can imagine how exciting it is to see your child's dream realized!

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Michele- how absolutely wonderful for your daughter!! THat is so awesome that her dreams are coming true!!!

Well I did something today that made me feel good, but, I dunno lol I went to a locks of love event and donated 19 inches of hair and got it colored also( I have NEVER done anything like that before) I havent had anything but trims or 3-4 inches taken off in 20 years, definately alot lighter and DH and everyone says it makes me look younger ( they are being nice lol) so here it is after a day outdoors all windbown and rough ....

 

[SILLYANDI]

WOW Lucinda! That is a very flattering cut/color!
It looks great. 19 inches?Your hair must have been really long because it still looks fairly long now!
I donated 11 inches about 6 months ago and it seems like my hair is just growing back. I had no intention of donating when I walked into the salon but the girl said "if you go just a bit shorter you will have enough for locks of love" so I went for it. I was SHOCKED at how short my hair was! It is an absolute worthwhile cause so I sucked it up but honestly I couldn't wait for my hair to get back to shoulder length!

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Andrea- ty, the pic really doesnt do the cut justice, I am so happy with it, the color, eh not so much lol in the back my hair was just about waist level, the front was shorter though. Sad part is there is no pictures of the back of it but I could take it by the ends and hold my arms straight out. I do admit though, the weight is nice to have gone and it takes just a few minutes to brush it now instead of almost 10 lol
this is the only recent pic of before taken in early Dec, I look like a huge whale in it cause of the huge hoodie, but you can see how long it was at least in the front

 

[PenskeSth1]

Andrea...DD may just be a princess at DL one day...You "NEVER" can tell!

Lucinda..I think your new hair cut looks fabulous! I like the color. It had to take alot for you to do something so drastic and cut all your long hair off. I think it is nice that you donated it to locks for love. (my neice does that every couple years). It is definitely for a wonderful cause.

I recently started Jenny Craig and hoping to loose a few pounds before our cruise. Hopefully I can add a haircut to my new look to. DH wants me to let my hair grow, But it is like horses hair and is extremely thick.

 

[SILLYANDI]

My neighbor and I have been weighing ourselves together every Friday for about 6 weeks now and I have lost about 10 lbs. She is going on the cruise too, so our goal is to be bikini ready by Dec! (I haven't worn a bikini in years by the way!)

I haven't changed my eating habits much but I do go to the gym at least 3 times a week. I find when I skip it I can't sleep and feel gross so I think I might be addicted!

 

[Stinasmom]

Ok, I am trying to keep up here...

Lucinda, I love your haircut! You do look younger and fresher ("up to date"?)... trying to make that sound complimentary! I have a haircut tomorrow, I only go about every 6 months because I really don't have much hair; I keep it long-ish, and tend to have to pony it up a lot. Not enough for "locks for love." I hope to at least come out looking "fresher" too!

Good luck on all the pre-cruise working out/dieting (or non-dieting-dieting!) I am also trying to drop a couple mostly because I don't want to buy new summer clothes! Saving $$ is always a good motivation.

Andrea-- If you burn out on the gym or want to spice it up a bit, try Jazzercise! I have been an instructor for 2 years now. It is a ton of fun. It is a program that could be best described as dance-aerobics, but you don't need a dance background. We get new music and routines every 10 weeks so we have lots of fun music and moves to chose from. Check jazzercise.com to see if there is a location near you.
Sorry guys if I just sounded like a commercial!

Can you all believe it is June already!

Marcy