Did you miss me?

[jbrostek]

I keep popping up after I fall off the radar! What a year it has been!! To catch people up, Caren and I split up in Feb 2017, we had a brief reuniting over the summer and split for good by end of 2017. After some time apart and focusing on our own happiness we thought maybe it could work out after all. Long story short it did not. However, C and I could stay friends and we still had a good time at the October 2017 trip. The food and wine festival was so much fun for me and I really had a great time. I even managed to score a EPCOT pass-holder button celebrating the anniversary even though I was not there on the one day event. I still had a great time!!

Fast forward into Winter 2017, the holidays where coming up, my nieces wedding in Seattle near the end of January, and then 2 weeks later Fort Wilderness. I had all these great things to look forward too!!! That is when fate decided to test my will or something. While putting up my Christmas lights and being too impatient to wait for someone to be around to help I had my ladder kick out on my and hurt myself really badly. I managed to shatter my heel bone, yes my heel!!!! The injury happened on December 6th and urgent care initially diagnosed it as a bad sprain and if the pain continued after 14 days see my Dr. Well I went to see him after 12, and 2 days later to an Orthopedic Specialist and surgery 2 days after that. If you are tracking, I had foot surgery on Friday December 22nd, it was not optimal but needed.



Bug took very good care of me the whole time I was laid up making sure she was comfortable on me and comforting me. Thankfully that massive thing came off after 2 weeks and I was in a cast for 2 weeks after that.



With some enhancements, it was ready to be shown off. Thankfully, that got removed just in time for my nieces wedding. However, I can tell you that was the most painful flight I ever had. I had no issues or delays and the folks at Alaskan Airlines where the best!!! They provided wheel chair service from the gate to the curb and back. However, 6 hours in a pressurized cabin and unable to elevate my foot was just absolutely painful. I made the flights and I was able to get out and about enough to be involved with the wedding but not much beyond that because it would exhaust me. I spent most of the trip in my room, resting and elevating



I was so glad I made the trip! I would have endured the pain again to make it and what a happy and beautiful couple they are.



The one thing this trip did teach me is there was no way I was ready to be driving, much less towing my RV, for 2 days down to FL and then scooting around Disney all day long. With that in mind and with a heavy heart I chose to postpone my Disney trip from February this year. However, there is some wonderful magic in play during this time. It just so happen that prior to leaving for Seattle and the wedding, I met someone new. Melissa met me when I was still in my cast and on a knee scooter. She is an amazing woman with a heart of gold. She knew I didn't need someone to take care of me, but she still cared and showed me so. Even when I chose to postpone my trip she was there to tell me it would work out.



She is a Disney addict too!!! Even to the point that at the local trivia night we like to frequent, we play under the team DisNerds!! Things are still new with us, but the dynamic is so different and amazing when compared to my past. Time will tell as always, but I'm hoping this chapter is one for the fairy tale books.

This past May we went to Disney together to celebrate my recovery!! DVC sent me a really good offer after I expressed interest. I stayed in a one bedroom suite at Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kadani Village side (AKL has been a bucket list item) with a Savannah View for less then a normal hotel rate for a standard room. The room and resort was amazing and so was the trip. While it did rain, it did not ruin our days one bit. We rolled with it and that really turned the trip around.



It was also the first time I been to flower and garden festival. I have seen them setting up for it near the end of my FW trips and it was amazing to see it finally!!!! I decided after we got back to join DVC. But don't worry, I am still planning on FW visits. I bought enough points to cover a week resort stay a year in a studio or a 1BR every other year. That leaves more then enough time and I hope money to make a FW stay too!!!

And we have already booked that as well. I already have a reservation for July 2019 traveling to FW with another family and their first stay!!! We are booked premium since he will have a toy hauler as big as my 5th wheel. And our first DVC stay will be December this year for Melissa's birthday!!! Melissa and the kids have never seen Disney at Christmas and I think as a treat I am going to get us tickets for the MVMCP while we are there.

This was a trip report of sorts and a chance to catch up!!! I am going to make sure I visit more often!!!

 

[garneska]

Hi J. Glad to see your heel is on recovery. Sounds like you have been through a lot but coming out on the other side of the rainbow. Hope you get a FW trip soon.

 

[tiggerdad]

Ouch! Calcaneus fracture! Very painful. We see these commonly when folks fall out of deerstands and land on their feet. Often they won't displace, making them hard to see on x-ray. CT scans are often needed.

Glad to know you're still around. Appreciate the update.

 

[jbrostek]

It was non displaced and that’s why urgent care missed it. The radiologist noted possible, but the PA never said go seek a specialist. The muscle recovery has been harder then the bone/joint. Next follow up is July.

I’ll get a fort trip in soon!! The adult trip is being discussed for Jan/feb 2019, don’t think I’ll make the full 2 weeks unless my job oks som telework.

Speaking of that. Been on the hunt, it’s time to move on and one potential job is full time telework. So we shall see.

Right now Melissa is on her way to Maine with the girls. A 2 week road trip stopping in NYC and Boston right now. I’m here planning an RV trip with them because they all like to camp. But they really love to RV camp now that they have gone with me.

I’m looking forward to the RV and future DVC trips as well!!

 

[PaHunter]

Glad to hear you are healing up and getting back to normal. Glad to see you are getting out camping. If you get up Gettysburg way, let us know, we may be camping down that way, or can make a day trip down to visit. Our camper needs to go in for warranty work, since we are in to the 2nd year and before the warranty expires. We are looking to camp in Gettysburg at some point with the nephews for a weekend, take them to tour the battlefields.

 

[jbrostek]

Thanks, it’s been a slow mend for sure but I’m getting back into the swing of things!! It’s surprising how much of my recovery is muscle more then the bone and joint.

I hear you on the warranty work. I’m two years past mine now and so far it’s only been minor maintenance items. But the RV gets used enough to keep the systems happy.

We been looking at Williamsburg, Gettysburg and then on to Hershey, or Cowan’s gap is another possible. Just a long weekend, between this trip and the two weeks the girls will be traveling with their dad, I don’t think the want another long trip. Plus saving my vacation time for Disney OKW in December, FW in Jan/feb, then back in July.

 

[PaHunter]

Thanks, it’s been a slow mend for sure but I’m getting back into the swing of things!! It’s surprising how much of my recovery is muscle more then the bone and joint.

I hear you on the warranty work. I’m two years past mine now and so far it’s only been minor maintenance items. But the RV gets used enough to keep the systems happy.

We been looking at Williamsburg, Gettysburg and then on to Hershey, or Cowan’s gap is another possible. Just a long weekend, between this trip and the two weeks the girls will be traveling with their dad, I don’t think the want another long trip. Plus saving my vacation time for Disney OKW in December, FW in Jan/feb, then back in July.

Well outside of Williamsburg, the others are in my backyard now. So even if our trailer is in for warranty work, we could hop down and visit for a couple hours. And we haven't done Hershey yet, since moving down Harrisburg way.

 

[tigger92662]

Glad to hear you are on the mend, foot injuries of any kind are never any fun.
Looks like you've met a very special gal. Surprising her and the kids with MVMCP is gonna be the best. Keep us up to date

 

[friendofeeyore]

Welcome back. Glad you are on the road to recovery!

 

[jbrostek]

Welcome back. Glad you are on the road to recovery!

Me too!!

Glad to hear you are on the mend, foot injuries of any kind are never any fun.
Looks like you've met a very special gal. Surprising her and the kids with MVMCP is gonna be the best. Keep us up to date

Oh man, I had no idea when I first got injured just how long a road I had. I think MVMCP would be such and awesome surprise for these special ladies in my life. They have never seen the decorations, so I am excited for them to experience it!!

Well outside of Williamsburg, the others are in my backyard now. So even if our trailer is in for warranty work, we could hop down and visit for a couple hours. And we haven't done Hershey yet, since moving down Harrisburg way.

Wow, I am out f the loop. A good move I hope?

Being that much closer I’d definitely have to hit you up. I though Hersey would be lots of fun with Melissa and the kids. Been a long time since my last time plus just a fun RV trip for them.