~How TWO trips became...who knows? ~ It's a TRIP! and an upgrade.... 4/22

[All7OfUs]

OK, now my interest has gone to new heights!! What could this possibly be??!!!

 

[maroo]

Still talking about DECEMBER!

Friday Plans -
Well...Friday. This will make a little more sense in a bit, when I explain why we have a empty Friday.

We have...well...no plans for Friday.

Well...maybe that isn't exactly true...

I do have 2 ADR's. One is for Boma breakfast. The plan is to really sleep in. I figure we will not get back into the room until 1AM or later and we will need to sleep in. So I have a late breakfast ressie at Boma.

Then the next thing on the agenda is a reservation at 1900 Park Fare for Dinner. I believe this is around 7:00 and is for all 7 of us. (Wow- Liesa, I just totally stole your user name!)

Otherwise...the general plan is to significanly split up. Joyce will have MPS (the disease that Rachel has - this is the purpose of the trip) meetings on this day. She will have to head about pretty early to attend those. Ellie and her family are going to have a Family Day - they can do whatever they want and not have to worry about us. Rachel, Rosemary and I will have the day pretty much to ourselves.

What will we do??

We have NO idea! Probably really rest. Or maybe hit a park?


Random thoughts from Maroo.

This brings me to some random thoughts. I had a good Thanksgiving break. I went with Rachel and her Mom to their condo in Destin, FL. We made a full Thanksgiving meal and had some of their local friends over. I am still stuffed!

I also got to experience...again...first hand...how difficult, time consuming and generally slow it is to travel with someone with a significant disability. I have traveled with Lauren and experienced how long it takes to get ready and out the door when we are on vacation...and how frequently we have to make stops and how long those stops usually take.

Generally, Rachel and Joyce move a lot faster than Lauren's family. Rachel has a lot more use of her hands, so she can do a lot more things for herself. And they don't worry so much about putting on a bunch of make-up (Rachel is out of those teenage years when everything has to be "just so"). But it still takes a while. To get loaded up to go somewhere. To find the accessible entrances. To stop for restroom breaks - no in and out for us. And her medical stuff takes a while at the end of the day.

A typical family may get back to the room and just fall into bed - after a quick change of clothes and maybe a quick shower - with everyone taking care of their own needs and able to move fairly quickly.

That is not how it works for us, though. It takes a while to take care of the regular day-to-day stuff.

This weekend served as a not so gentle reminder that we are going to have to pad our plans with time on each end of the day to take care of things and have time to rest.

So, I am glad we have Friday free. I am glad that we are going to take it easy. We may really need the break.

 

[jordanyosh]

do nothing days are the most overlooked part of OCD WDW planners planning.

We forget that vacations are also for relaxing and sleeping in and doing nothing except enjoying the surrounding.

It warms my heart to know that you understand the importance of resting!!!!!

I can't imagine dealing with all those issues. I need to be more thankful

 

[maroo]

do nothing days are the most overlooked part of OCD WDW planners planning.

We forget that vacations are also for relaxing and sleeping in and doing nothing except enjoying the surrounding.

It warms my heart to know that you understand the importance of resting!!!!!

I can't imagine dealing with all those issues. I need to be more thankful

Every time I think I have it bad...or my friends have it bad...I run into someone else that has it worse.

I am thankful each time I eat a meal (with my own two hands) or drive to work or just get dressed in the morning. Thankful that I can do that on my own with no help.

Even with all of lifes difficulties, it all could be so much worse.

What these families go through to just get from point A to point B in the simplest of life moments is amazing and something you just have to go through to really get...It is amazing how much these families go through to help their kids live the most productive lives possible.

 

[All7OfUs]

A healthy dose of perspective for our evening.

Thanks, maroo!

 

[maroo]

A healthy dose of perspective for our evening.

Thanks, maroo!

Goodness...you could certainly give us a lot more perspective!!!

 

[that's nice]

I just watched that video you posted and when it was over I wished for the last 10 minutes of my life back. That was horrible.

LOLOL

 

[StefaniLyn]

Yeah...the magic ... it is going to have to wait until I return. For a few reasons...not the least of which is that someone may be lurking on here and read about it. But I also don't have everything ironed down yet for it....So...yeah...we will have to wait on that one. But if it is half as cool as I think it is going to be........It may require it's own little trip report.

are you really going to do THAT to us again? I don't think I have enough kleenex left! Time to stock up!

 

[All7OfUs]

One never knows with maroo; it's like she's a personal genie, wish-making machine!

 

[maroo]

I just watched that video you posted and when it was over I wished for the last 10 minutes of my life back. That was horrible.

LOLOL

Yeah...wondered if I should take it off? But it is so funny!

are you really going to do THAT to us again? I don't think I have enough kleenex left! Time to stock up!

Me? Make you use tissues? Nah.......

One never knows with maroo; it's like she's a personal genie, wish-making machine!

 

[maroo]

2 WEEKS!!! 2 WEEKS!!! 2 WEEKS!

2 Weeks from right now......

We will probably be just getting on the road after spending the night in FLORIDA!! Just hours away from checking in at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. By now I am probably very nervous that we are not going to make it on time (we do have a Le Cellier ressie at 2:00 PM) and that they won't have all of the Handicapped Accessible stuff we need at AKL...but I am sure I will get over it.


So...in honor of our less than 14 days until we leave mark...I have pictures for you....

First...my favorite. We found one of Rachel's hats from her last Disney trip. Here she is trying it on.

The fact she is even here...is honestly a miracle. But to see her smiling and so happy - really brings tears to my eyes. Her health was deteriorating months before her hospital stay. And for those of you guys just joining us - she really almost died in the hospital. The Rachel you see here...is as happy as I have ever seen her.


Then a good friend of mine on the DIS made us some shirts! They arrived today...and we LOVE them!!! Thank you TK!

And you should see Ellie's....it is SOOOO cute! So tiny! I love it!



And I made us some sweatshirts. We may wear these to the Christmas Party - depends on the weather. I am hoping that it is warm enough that we only need the sweatshirts and can all be matchy, matchy!

A kind DISer designed these for us. Oma is Rachel's Mom's nickname. We also have Ray-Ray (Rachel), Rosie (Rosemary), Big Boss (Ellie's Mom - there is a story behind that), Grumpy (Ellie's Dad - who refuses to wear a matching shirt - I made him one in case he gets in the Disney spirit!), The Boo (Ellie - for Ellie Boo), and maroo. That would be me.

And I love this picture of Joyce modeling her shirt. As you can see above, it is on straight...but here she is leaning and it looks like I ironed it on completely crooked.

However, we have someone that is breaking rank. He refuses to wear a matching shirt...so we made this one for him. This is from the BACK of the shirt...

Notice the tape on the shirt...looks like we taped it on him. That one I did do a little sideways so it looks like it was taped on there.


We had fun with this!! Just imagine how much fun we are going to have in DISNEY!!!!!!

 

[jordanyosh]

all the shirts and sweatshirts came out great!

wow 14 days! how nice is that?

I don't think we'll be wearing matching t-shirts. wendy probably could do it, but she's so busy. plus, I don't think I'm a matching shirt kinda a guy either...although I'm sure I could be swayed...

 

[If U Had Wings]

The shirts look great. I love the Grumpy one. Cute!

 

[maroo]

all the shirts and sweatshirts came out great!

wow 14 days! how nice is that?

I don't think we'll be wearing matching t-shirts. wendy probably could do it, but she's so busy. plus, I don't think I'm a matching shirt kinda a guy either...although I'm sure I could be swayed...

Ha! Well, maybe we will have to make you a Grumpy shirt?

I bet if you had a 4 year old little girl that she could convince ya! I bet Ellie convinces her Dad. We will see!!

The shirts look great. I love the Grumpy one. Cute!

Thanks!!

 

[jordanyosh]

Ha! Well, maybe we will have to make you a Grumpy shirt?

I bet if you had a 4 year old little girl that she could convince ya! I bet Ellie convinces her Dad. We will see!!

HA! I'd wear it IF you made one.

My cousin, wendy's kids haven't figured out the whole T-shirt thing yet so shhhh don't tell them or you're right, you will see pix of us in matching T-shirts.

 

[maroo]

HA! I'd wear it IF you made one.

My cousin, wendy's kids haven't figured out the whole T-shirt thing yet so shhhh don't tell them or you're right, you will see pix of us in matching T-shirts.

I would be glad to make you guys some shirts!!! Seriously. PM me. I can make you matching shirts or even almost matching...like each name looks different...if that makes sense. And would even make you a Grumpy one.

 

[All7OfUs]

maroo's on a roll- she's a shirt making maniac lately!

 

[twinmum]

Hello Maroo: I just popped in to check out what was happening on the Wish Tripper board, and with your trip(s). I spotted your comment about the effort is takes to travel with a family member who is disabled.

We've been thinking about planning a vacation, maybe change things up a bit, but what I told my hubby I really needed was to go somewhere I knew would "work." And that means WDW to me! With school, hubby's work commitments and a previously arranged ski trip for him, it's looking like the best way to have a trip sooner rather han later may be for me to take the boys myself. Maybe.

The thought of doing it on my own is on the one hand liberating...but I also know that it's tiring too. Your comment helped ease my guilt about how few trips we take, how unadventurous we can be. It's a lot of work to pack everything up, wheel Mark, assist with transfers etc, and find ways for every member to have fun...and maybe even relax (OK, I'm still working on that one for myself!).

So we have no plans, but I hope we will. But I'm not feeling guilty about it anymore. We'll do what we're able to do, and it's not because I'm not trying hard enough.

Did you tell us that there's an issue with your December trip? Flu? (We had a rotten bout of H1N1 throughout the house in November...all clear now!)

Take care,
Alison

 

[maroo]

Hello Maroo: I just popped in to check out what was happening on the Wish Tripper board, and with your trip(s). I spotted your comment about the effort is takes to travel with a family member who is disabled.

We've been thinking about planning a vacation, maybe change things up a bit, but what I told my hubby I really needed was to go somewhere I knew would "work." And that means WDW to me! With school, hubby's work commitments and a previously arranged ski trip for him, it's looking like the best way to have a trip sooner rather han later may be for me to take the boys myself. Maybe.

The thought of doing it on my own is on the one hand liberating...but I also know that it's tiring too. Your comment helped ease my guilt about how few trips we take, how unadventurous we can be. It's a lot of work to pack everything up, wheel Mark, assist with transfers etc, and find ways for every member to have fun...and maybe even relax (OK, I'm still working on that one for myself!).

So we have no plans, but I hope we will. But I'm not feeling guilty about it anymore. We'll do what we're able to do, and it's not because I'm not trying hard enough.

Did you tell us that there's an issue with your December trip? Flu? (We had a rotten bout of H1N1 throughout the house in November...all clear now!)

Take care,
Alison

Hello Alison! How is your family doing? I am glad everyone is finally over the flu!

I got H1N1 after my last trip to Disney in Sept. Two days later. I am sure it was the plane. Never Disney.

Since I missed 3 days of work, it cut out my vacation time and I had to cancel part of my December trip.

I totally get it...trying to travel is really difficult. I think it helps to just change your expectations some...I read some TR's (and trips I have gone on myself) and think about all that I can accomplish in a day - and then to think about this trip coming up...I just have to remind myself that it is going to be slower...we will have bumps in the road that we would not normally have.

But it is also going to be so rewarding to see her do things she can't do anywhere else.

If I can get her on Soarin'...and watch her face as she "flies".... That will be awesome! She could never do that except in Disney.

And she is expecting to have to sit out for the rides. The last time she went, she was still walking. She doesn't realize how many rides have a wheelchair car...I think she is going to be pleasantly surprised!

Can you bring a friend with you? Even if that person can't help with the medical stuff...they can help with other stuff. Packing. Unpacking. And it helps emotionally...to have someone there. Even if they just hand you stuff...or carry a bag...whatever. Seems to really lighten the load.

Thanks for posting!

And let me know when you are going...you never know, I may be there! My friends all tell me I should just give it up and move there.

 

[StefaniLyn]

:
However, we have someone that is breaking rank. He refuses to wear a matching shirt...so we made this one for him. This is from the BACK of the shirt...

Notice the tape on the shirt...looks like we taped it on him. That one I did do a little sideways so it looks like it was taped on there.


We had fun with this!! Just imagine how much fun we are going to have in DISNEY!!!!!![/COLOR][/SIZE]

I MUST steal that t-shirt idea next time we take G-pa to Disney!