Dreams Do Come True (and we are not even there yet)!-Trip 4 Started-6/28

[jeremysdisneymom]

Charleston Princess:

I am glad you joined in for the fun! We will both have such magical vacations this year!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Let's Celebrate!!

As you can see I am in a super good mood today. Why, you may ask? Well.........I am down to 21 days or 3 weeks until I reach my happy place! That warrants some dancing doesn't it!

I also have some big news I wanted to share with you. I think it was several posts ago I mentioned that I had made some big decisions about my health but never elaborated on them.

For the last 13 years I have struggled with my weight. I was never super skinny but until my first marriage I was a size 12 and happy with it. I got married, was finishing up my last semester of college, and working full time and the weight started coming on. After two years, I was huge and in a marriage that was going nowhere. The point finally came when it was time to end things, I also ended the need for food. I lost a huge amount of weight, got divorced, and met the love of my life within two years. Jeremy came along 1 year and 1 day after our marriage and I struggled once again to get the baby weight off. With the help of Weight Watchers I about had all the weight off when life dealt my family a hard blow and stress eating kicked in.

I am from Kentucky but live in Ohio. My family all lives next to each other. I am the only one who moved away. We are close knit. Jeremy was 1 1/2 when my grandmother had a stroke. This woman who had been the most active, vibrant 70 + year old woman was now paralyzed on one side and we were caring for her. After a year she passed away. Six months later, my cousin who was like a sister to me as we are both only children and the only grandchildren, was in a major car accident. She hit black ice one morning going to teach in the neighboring county. She was so bad that they could not air lift her from the scene and had to get her to a local hospital to stabilize her before air care could transfer her. She was in a coma for three weeks but eventually came out of it. She evenutally came home with no physical problems but she is not the same as before in a lot of ways. I thought nothing more could happen and then 5 months later, my grandfather passed away after a brief illness. During all the stress and heartache, my weight came back on and has stayed there ever since.

I have tried everything to lose the weight. You name it and I can tell you all about it. It hit me a few months ago that I had to make a change as I had not been feeling well and having a lot of back problems. So, I made the call and am now in month 2 of the 6 month diet requirement for a lap band surgery. I have gone back to weight watchers and have lost 10 pounds in 2 months! I am exercising regularly and eating so much better.

Thanks to all the inspiring stories I have read on the Dis, and especially Mommy McQueen and Lady Lallie --you are awesome, I decided I wanted to try the Couch to 5K Challenge. I have never run a day in my life so I knew if I could get through just the first workout I could do anything. Well, I did it! I did the first workout last night at our local park and I feel great! Granted, I was huffing and puffing along the way, I ran/walked for 30 minutes! It was such a great accomplishment! Tom went with me and coached me along.

I truly love the Dis and all the friends I have met along the way. Thank you for letting me share my excitement with you this morning. I have kept the lap band pretty private at home-only Tom and 2 friends at work know about it! It is nice to have cyber friends to share things with!

Erika

Oh, and I promise another update this afternoon.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I know all about weight struggles. Having lap band surgery has been the very best thing I have ever done for myself. I don't regret a single thing about it.

Please, Please know that if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, someone to cheer you on, ANYTHING, you let me know. I'm here for you.

Congrats on the first workout of the Couch to 5K!! I'm proud of you!!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

I know all about weight struggles. Having lap band surgery has been the very best thing I have ever done for myself. I don't regret a single thing about it.

Please, Please know that if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, someone to cheer you on, ANYTHING, you let me know. I'm here for you.

Congrats on the first workout of the Couch to 5K!! I'm proud of you!!

Ahh, thank you. You have been such an inspiration to me! Thank you so much for the support. It means a lot to me.

You know that if you ever need anything, let me know as well. It is nice to have someone supporting you that is going through the same struggles.

Erika

 

[Lady Lallie]

Ahh, thank you. You have been such an inspiration to me! Thank you so much for the support. It means a lot to me.

You know that if you ever need anything, let me know as well. It is nice to have someone supporting you that is going through the same struggles.

Erika

It really is!! I have a blog about my weight loss journey. I'll PM you the link.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

One Month from Today (a little late) - Day 6 (July 6th)

The fun will begin this day at my family's second favorite Disney Park---Epcot!

We will have a wonderful breakfast of cereal and fruit all around in our comfy WL room and then head out for rope drop.

We will hit our all time favorites:

Soarin
Living with the Land
Test Track
Spaceship Earth
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush

We want to spend a lot of time at Innoventions. We discovered the trash game (not sure its name) last year and want to do that again. I want to try the Piggy Bank game. I want all of us to make a video game this year. Jeremy's is too cute from last year. All in all, I want to explore everything these buildings have to offer.

Along the way we plan to try a few new things:

Mission Space-tame side I will have to admit!
Journey into the Imagination with Figment (is that the name )
Captain EO

As for lunch this day, it may be at the Electric Umbrella unless we decide we want to explore some of the World Showcase. Then, we may eat our way around the world. More than likely, we will leave early afternoon and head back to WL for some relaxing time at the pool.

I have dinner plans this evening at the Garden Grill. My family really likes eating here. We enjoy the food plus Jeremy loves that the restaurant rotates. However, with us having the Water Park & More option on our tickets, we might head to a water park late afternoon and cancel our dinner ressie. We will have to see! I know we will back to Epcot the next day and possibly one more time on this trip. That is the great thing about staying 9 nights, there is always another day!

Up Next: Day 7

What fun will Jeremy have this morning?
What dinner am I really excited to try?

More later today....

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

It really is!! I have a blog about my weight loss journey. I'll PM you the link.

That would be great! Thanks!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Great plans, once again!

I've always wanted to go to Garden Grill but haven't ventured there yet. Someday, I'm sure.

 

[MeMom]

This day may be a Plan B option for a meet, if you can't make it the evening of the 2nd at Magic Kingdom. Jill and John have a lunch ADR at LeCellier, so there's a good possibility we'll all be in Epcot and then I'll be going back to the room for naps for the girls, or I'll be coming to Epcot with the girls when they wake up from naps. If you see that meeting on the 2nd is not going to work, we'll try to work something out for this day. I'll have to ask Jill what time her ADR is, but I know it is in the afternoon, because she planned for it to be during nap time.

Best of everything to you in your weight loss pursuits. I was a nice 114 pounder a long time ago, but time has not been kind to me.

Or I ate too much too often.

I held my own staying at a size 14 (I'm 5'9") until all my knee problems came along, and now I think it's just a lost cause. If I had a private pool, I would love to do water activities that wouldn't be hard on my knee.

We have not eaten at Garden Grill yet. We had an ADR there once for lunch, but they ended up getting rid of lunch before our trip, and we never did rebook it for dinner.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

This day may be a Plan B option for a meet, if you can't make it the evening of the 2nd at Magic Kingdom. Jill and John have a lunch ADR at LeCellier, so there's a good possibility we'll all be in Epcot and then I'll be going back to the room for naps for the girls, or I'll be coming to Epcot with the girls when they wake up from naps. If you see that meeting on the 2nd is not going to work, we'll try to work something out for this day. I'll have to ask Jill what time her ADR is, but I know it is in the afternoon, because she planned for it to be during nap time.

Best of everything to you in your weight loss pursuits. I was a nice 114 pounder a long time ago, but time has not been kind to me.

Or I ate too much too often.

I held my own staying at a size 14 (I'm 5'9") until all my knee problems came along, and now I think it's just a lost cause. If I had a private pool, I would love to do water activities that wouldn't be hard on my knee.

We have not eaten at Garden Grill yet. We had an ADR there once for lunch, but they ended up getting rid of lunch before our trip, and we never did rebook it for dinner.

This day may work better for us. I know that we are having dinner on the 2nd at Boma. I would like to get to MK that evening for the parade and fireworks but a lot will depend on how tired we are from driving the night before.

Why don't you look at Jill's ADR time and we can see if we would meet up sometime that morning. I will PM you my cell phone number. Beware, I am horrible at texting so if you text me the response will be bad!!!

We do have a pool at our house and I try to get some water exercise in but Jeremy always interrupts that. Nothing like have a fun loving mischievous 8 year old boy jumping all around you while in the pool!

Garden Grill is fun. The characters are cute decked out in their farmer gear. I like the food as well. Tom likes it for the sweet Tea!

Erika

 

[adisneymama]

Erika wow did you ever go thru a lot in a short period of time! Good Luck with the wait loss and with the surgery. Be sure to let us know how it goes.

Oh and I am thinking of doing the couch to 5k after the baby is born of course. I like you have never ran so this should be interesting!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Erika wow did you ever go thru a lot in a short period of time! Good Luck with the wait loss and with the surgery. Be sure to let us know how it goes.

Oh and I am thinking of doing the couch to 5k after the baby is born of course. I like you have never ran so this should be interesting!

Thanks, it was a very difficult time. It is so odd how life can change in just a split second.

I actually did okay with the running. I waited and ran late when not many people were at the park. I bet everyone thought I looked like Phoebe from Friends . I am a little sore in my hip today but other than that, I feel great.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

One Month from Today (a little late) - Day 7 (July 7th)

This is a sort of down day for us. There will be no making rope drop. No rushing to get to our favorite ride. It will be a day of exploring new Disney fun.

The day will start off with a breakfast of cereal and fruit for all in our nice comfy WL room.

Then, we will decide how we are going to get to the Yacht Club. Will we take a Disney bus to a park and then catch a Yacht Club bus? Will we take a taxi? Will we drive-probably not? That is all yet to be determined.

We just have to get to the Yacht Club! For you see, Mr. Jeremy is going to have a little adventure of his own this morning. He is going on the Albatross Cruise. The description states that Children will wear bandannas as they follow clues and sail to many exotic "ports of call" around Crescent Lake and Epcot looking for treasure. During the voyage, children will hear a reading of "The Legend of the Albatross." Jeremy is very excited about this. I have read that they go into the World Showcase before it opens. I hope that is true as I think he will love it.

Tom and I are going to explore the Yacht Club and possibly the Boardwalk while Jeremy is on his adventure. I would like to catch a glimpse of Stormalong Bay as I have heard it is awesome and would like to stay here sometime. I would also like to check out the Boardwalk. I guess we will have to see how much time allows and the distance from all these.

Once Jeremy returns, we will head to DTD. After our first time eating an Earl of Sandwich sandwich (these look amazing!) , we are heading on a little quest---a Disney Quest that is. We are going to Disney Quest for the first time. It is part of our Water Park Fun & More Option. Jeremy is really excited about going here (as is Tom). They like those sort of things. It will be interesting to see how long I last here. I may leave them and do some DTD shopping while they spend some quality Father/Son time.

We will head back to the room late afternoon to get freshened up and head out to dinner. I am looking forward to this evening as we are eating at Le Cellier for the first time. I can't wait to try the soup and mushroom filet. The pictures of the food here looks amazing. After a delicous meal, we will stroll around the World Showcase and watch Illuminations.

Up Next: Day 8---Breakfast with my favorite Disney Character! -Do you remember who that is?
Lunch at Jeremy's only request this trip! Will it rain on us?

More later on today!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

One Month from Today (a little late) - Day 8 (July 8th)


We will awake to wonderful HOT Florida sunshine today and head out to a breakfast I (yes me-not Jeremy) has always wanted to attend but always seems to cancel---Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House. For you see, my favorite Disney character is here---Daisy Duck. I love Daisy. She seems to never get the attention I think she deserves. She is not part of the Fab 5 and is sporadically out in the parks so I think it is great she gets to be a part of Donald's breakfast. It only makes sense, doesn't it?!

Another great thing about this breakfast is that we will be dining before the park opens so yes, there will be some great pictures taken of an empty Animal Kingdom this day!

After breakfast, we will wait for the rope to drop and then I want to hit the safari first thing. I want to check out the animals before the heat has set in and they are relaxing in the sun.

We will ride our family favorites as usual:

Expedition Everest
Kali River Rapids (I am sure that I will be hoping to be the one who gets soaked on this HOT Florida day!)
Primeval Whirl (I will take one for the team as Jeremy loves this ride but Tom refuses to ride it. Go figure! Tom will ride everything but won't ride this. Jeremy is leery of most rides but loves this ride! I don't get it.)
Tricera Top spin
take the Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch

We will watch our favorite shows:

Finding Nemo
The Lion King
It's Tough to be a Bug

We will find some lovely animals on the Pangani Trail and Majareh Jungle Trek.

And then there will be some new things:

Dinosaur (possibly - will have to see if Jeremy changes his mind)
Flights of Wonder
spend time on Discovery Trail (I want to explore around the Tree of Life)

We are having a late lunch this afternoon at a restaurant Jeremy has requested. He is very excited about eating here as he just learned all about this place at school. We will be eating at The Rainforest Cafe. I have not even looked at the menu to see what they offer. I guess it really doesn't matter. We will be going to enjoy the atmosphere and as a treat to Jeremy.

After our late lunch, I have nothing else planned for this day. We may head back into Animal Kingdom to catch the parade which we really like. We may head to the room and swim. We may play a round of Miniature Golf later on. We will just take it easy and see what happens.

Up Next: Day 9-Is dinner better than breakfast? I guess we will find out!

 

[MeMom]

This day may work better for us. I know that we are having dinner on the 2nd at Boma. I would like to get to MK that evening for the parade and fireworks but a lot will depend on how tired we are from driving the night before.

Why don't you look at Jill's ADR time and we can see if we would meet up sometime that morning. I will PM you my cell phone number. Beware, I am horrible at texting so if you text me the response will be bad!!!

We do have a pool at our house and I try to get some water exercise in but Jeremy always interrupts that. Nothing like have a fun loving mischievous 8 year old boy jumping all around you while in the pool!

Garden Grill is fun. The characters are cute decked out in their farmer gear. I like the food as well. Tom likes it for the sweet Tea!

Erika

Just sent you our numbers. One of those two - Magic Kingdom on the evening of the 2nd or Epcot on the 6th will work out. I'm guessing you'll be ready for bed early on your arrival night. I'll let you know what time Jill's LeCellier ADR is when she gets home from work.

I wish I had the money for a pool. I was a good swimmer when I was young. I used to win races at camp all the time. But it has been years since I have dared to don a bathing suit. If I had a lap pool behind a privacy fence, I could look a lot better.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

One Month from Today (a little late) - Day 9 (July 9th) and Day 10 (July 10th)

Can you tell I am on a roll today? I am determined to get caught up before I sign off the Dis this afternoon!

Day 9 will start off with breakfast in the room again.

Our plans are a little foggy this day. A lot will depend on whether or not we hit the Waters Parks in the afternoon earlier in the week. If not, then it will be easy to decide as we will head to Blizzard Beach.

I am really looking forward to this water park. I really like the theming.

I want to take the chair lift to Mt. Gushmore. I want to join my family on Teamboat Springs. I want to race my family on the Tobaggon Racers. I want o try Downhill Double Dippers and the Snow Stormers. I am sure Jeremy and Tom will ride Summit Plummit and Slush Gusher. I am not so sure about those so we will have see what my bravery level is that day! I know I will spend a lot of time relaxing on an inner tube as I float around Cross Country Creek. We will all enjoy the gentle waves at Melt Away Bay.

Dinner this evening will be a family must do every trip--Chef Mickey's! I am looking forward to seeing what is offered at dinner even though I am not a huge buffet fan. Jeremy loves the characters here but most importantly, he loves the monorail!

I have nothing planned after dinner. I think it woudl be fun to check out EMH hours at the MK but we will have to see.

Day 10 will start with breakfast in the room. I have no plans for this day. I think we as a family will choose where we want to go and what to do this day. It will be our last full day at Disney World.

I am thinking we might do the DVC tour today as recommended by our Dis friend Sooze (I hadn't forgot to mention your name Sooze when we go!).

The only other plan we have is our first time having dinner at O'hana's. Once again, another restaurant where the food pictures look amazing. I think it will be a perfect end to our trip.

Up Next: Day 11-The day I always dread on vacation!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Just sent you our numbers. One of those two - Magic Kingdom on the evening of the 2nd or Epcot on the 6th will work out. I'm guessing you'll be ready for bed early on your arrival night. I'll let you know what time Jill's LeCellier ADR is when she gets home from work.

I wish I had the money for a pool. I was a good swimmer when I was young. I used to win races at camp all the time. But it has been years since I have dared to don a bathing suit. If I had a lap pool behind a privacy fence, I could look a lot better.

The 6th would probably work out better. Let me know what time Jill's ADR is and I will make sure we are still in Epcot.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

One Month from Today - Day 11 (July 11th) Departure Day

Departure day is the day I dread the most! I hate it when I have to leave my happy place.

There are no plans for this day, except the long 14 hour drive back home. I have no idea if we will get up early and leave. I have thought about broaching Tom with the idea of spending a few hours at the Magic Kingdom and leaving around noon. That would put us at getting home in the wee hours of the morning. I just really don't know what we will do.

There is one thing I do know---the wheels in my head will be turning trying to figure out how I can get back to my happy place sooner rather than later! I know there will be an early trip in 2011. Tom and I celebrate 10 years of marriage in February and want to take a Disney cruise. We originally planned to go in February but I am not sure I want to take Jeremy out of school for 4 days. We know it will be on the new Disney Dream. Jeremy is excited about the aquaduck. Or, we may go over Spring Break and add a few nights at Disney World. I want to see the Flower and Garden Festival. I have been mulling the idea of a surprise (the surprise will be if I can keep it a surprise! ) trip the week after Christmas in 2011. I would like to go and stay at Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter.

Who knows what we will do!

Thank you for reading my vacation plans. I have a few more posts to make once I get some shopping completed and my tshirts made.

I am determined to finish Trip 3 and share with you Trip 4 in the next 3 weeks. It will be next week I am sure before I get those updated. Starting tonight, Jeremy has a ballgame every day for the next 5 days!

Have a great weekend!

Erika

 

[MommyMcQueen]

ERIKA!!!

CONGRATS on the 10 pounds loss! That is awesome! Congrats on the decision to do the Lap Band! AND CONGRATS on starting the C25K!!! I am seriously so excited and happy for you!!!

I am sitting here icing my shins from my run tonight and when I read your post I started to tear up I'm so happy for you! Great job getting out there and starting the C25K! The first step is the hardest and YOU DID IT!!!

So sorry to hear about what a struggle it has been over the years and all of the losses and difficulties your family went through. But glad that you've made the decision to make the change! I know I spent years wanting to lose some weight and just never did it. GREAT JOB ERIKA!!

If you have any questions or want to talk about anything on the C25K please feel free to PM me. And please post some updates on your run/walks as you progress through the program! I'll be here to cheer you on!

okay, now I have to go back and read your other updates - just had to comment on this first!
Karen

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

ERIKA!!!

CONGRATS on the 10 pounds loss! That is awesome! Congrats on the decision to do the Lap Band! AND CONGRATS on starting the C25K!!! I am seriously so excited and happy for you!!!

I am sitting here icing my shins from my run tonight and when I read your post I started to tear up I'm so happy for you! Great job getting out there and starting the C25K! The first step is the hardest and YOU DID IT!!!

So sorry to hear about what a struggle it has been over the years and all of the losses and difficulties your family went through. But glad that you've made the decision to make the change! I know I spent years wanting to lose some weight and just never did it. GREAT JOB ERIKA!!

If you have any questions or want to talk about anything on the C25K please feel free to PM me. And please post some updates on your run/walks as you progress through the program! I'll be here to cheer you on!

okay, now I have to go back and read your other updates - just had to comment on this first!
Karen

Karen:

Thank you so much for the show of support! Workout #2 was going to be last night but a late (and I do mean late 10 p.m. ) ballgame kept me from it. We play at home tonight and Jeremy is heading to his mamaw's afterwards. So, I will hit the park no matter how late it is! I have felt so good ever since Thursday. Granted, there has been some pain in my leg but overall, I feel great!

Erika