July 2013 White House Tour Cancelled? To DISNEY!!! NEW 4-8

[teachermommy78]

Hello Disney lovers! Welcome to my pre trip report! I am so excited to share my plans with you. I really enjoy reading other people's reports, and writing pre trip reports make my planning so much more fun. Allow me to introduce you to my family:

I am Stacey

My husband Scott

My 9 year old, Sophie

My 7 year old, Ethan

My 5 year old, Griffin (aka Finn)

The whole family in 2011

Extra bonus super cool picture! I got tapped on the shoulder in 2011 and asked if we'd like a special private meet and greet with Captain Jack Sparrow! Of course we were all thrilled!!!

Extra bonus bonus picture! Our kittens. They aren't coming with us, but they are Disney fans! Their names are Ohana (the orange one) and Figment (the grey one).

This is us! We may convince my MIL to come on the trip, but she's not sure yet. I will explain the details on how this trip came to be next time. Let's just say that I'm used to taking YEARS to plan a trip. This one will only be 4 months! I hope you enjoy!

 

[Jackiemarie21]

I can't wait to hear all about your plans! Yay for July 2013 travelers!

 

[teachermommy78]

I can't wait to hear all about your plans! Yay for July 2013 travelers!

Thanks for joining! We are soooooo excited!!!

 

[charsav]

Hope you have a great time on your trip! I can't wait to follow along and see what your plans end up being and how the trip itself goes. Of course, it'll be great...and how lucky that you'll be back again within the year!

 

[teachermommy78]

Hope you have a great time on your trip! I can't wait to follow along and see what your plans end up being and how the trip itself goes. Of course, it'll be great...and how lucky that you'll be back again within the year!

Hi Char!!!

 

[SMWfamily]

Hey fellow July goer, and fellow Stacy/Sophie9/little brother7 combo. lol..... Your family is BEAUTIFUL!


Look forward to chattin it up on the July boards.



Stacy

 

[Alysa]

Cute family! And eek, those kittens are adorable! Looking forward to reading more!

 

[teachermommy78]

Hey fellow July goer, and fellow Stacy/Sophie9/little brother7 combo. lol..... Your family is BEAUTIFUL!


Look forward to chattin it up on the July boards.



Stacy

It is so cool that our families are so similar!!! Thanks for stopping in!

Cute family! And eek, those kittens are adorable! Looking forward to reading more!

Aw thanks! The kittens are much bigger now! But still sweet and adorable!

 

[SMWfamily]

I was just stalking you, I mean reading through your 2011 trip report, and I see you were talking about height in one of your posts... I am also 5'9 and my husband is 6'1... how funny are these similarities?

 

[teachermommy78]

I was just stalking you, I mean reading through your 2011 trip report, and I see you were talking about height in one of your posts... I am also 5'9 and my husband is 6'1... how funny are these similarities?

That is too funny!!! Thanks for reading the TR. I didn't quite finish it. I think I had one more day and I fizzled. I'm so glad I did it though! The details definitely leave the memory quickly!

 

[teachermommy78]

Back in January, I started getting that "plan a trip itch." I knew WDW was out of the question. We agreed on an every 3 year 10 day vacation, and that would come in 2014. We played around with ideas, even considering driving to AZ and staying with friends, possibly hitting Disneyland. We ended up deciding to do a 2 week trip out east to Washington DC, NJ (to visit friends), and Hershey PA. I was satisfied and started planning.

A couple weeks later, I got just terrible news. My school would be closing due to low enrollment. My school is part of 3 private schools owned by the same person. My class (5th and 6th grade) as well as 3rd-4th grade would be eliminated. All my students would have 2 weeks to find a new school. I would be transferred to our preschool location, where I would take on the K-1st grade. Their teacher would move to preschool. All other staff was let go. To say my students and I were devastated was an understatement. Tears daily. Due to this obviously crappy situation, I started looking for another job IMMEDIATELY.

The Saturday after the news was announced, I sent in my résumé to a local museum for the store manager position. This museum is all about immigration and Swedish heritage, and I have always checked their openings. It was a dream to work there!!! I was called for my first of FIVE interviews!!! I interviewd all through my last two weeks, and was hired the day after I started working at the preschool location. The pay is quite a bit more per year, yet I now work summers. I'll get over it! I put in my notice, and was done on March 15th.

That day I started talking to my husband about the possibility of a Disney trip. I knew it was far fetched, but he told me to get a quote from a TA (we had never used one before, but were interested in the swag!). It was a big number, but when we did the math on DC, it wasn't really astronomical. Our travel agent ended up bein Mike Rahlmann from the Be Our Guest Podcast! I was star struck.

My husband ended up talking with him for awhile on Saturday, and we moved from 4 days in the park to 6 AND we decided to get annual passes since we will be going again within a year. We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside and doing quick service dining. This is a change for us, but I think we'll be OK.

I have so much more to share in terms of planning, but I don't want to freak anyone out with the length!!! If you made it this far, kudos to you.

 

[Scarlett824]

Hey Stacey! I'm subbing.

I love your new kitties, and their names too.

The kids are as cute as ever. Do they know that they are going to Disney, or do they still think they are going to DC?

Denise

 

[teachermommy78]

Hey Stacey! I'm subbing.

I love your new kitties, and their names too.

The kids are as cute as ever. Do they know that they are going to Disney, or do they still think they are going to DC?

Denise

Yay!!! Thanks for joining! We do well with surprises. We really, really do. However, Disney trumps all of my emotions and will power! We wanted to surprise the kids, but I lasted about 40 minutes after the trip was booked! Sophie only wanted to go to DC for Georgetown Cupcakes (now that they have one in Boston, I told her we can go next time we see her cousins). The boys were clueless about DC. But all were thrilled for Disney!!!

 

[anjalee6]

Hey Stacey. Terrible about the school closing, but wonderful that you were able to find a job so fast. That is truly awesome. The kids are getting so big. Can't believe Sophie is nine now. How is that possible? Can't wait to share in your planning.

 

[teachermommy78]

Hey Stacey. Terrible about the school closing, but wonderful that you were able to find a job so fast. That is truly awesome. The kids are getting so big. Can't believe Sophie is nine now. How is that possible? Can't wait to share in your planning.

You know, everything happens for a reason, in my opinion! I start the new job tomorrow and am SO NERVOUS! But having a Disney trip to plan made my nerves a bit better! Thanks for joining!

 

[teachermommy78]

I wanted to take some time here to share Finn's story. What he went through was a big part of why our family needed this trip!

We took Finn to his 4 year old well child check in November 2011. While there, they discovered that his blood pressure was elevated. The numbers escape me right now, but they were alarming and would rise as the weeks went on.

Initially the doctors feared it was his kidneys, so we went for numerous tests over the following months. We also kept going back for blood pressure tests. The last one we had at the regular doctor was 170/100. Just about double normal for a 4 year old. The last check was at the cardiologist.

Immediately the cardiologist discovered that he had no pulse that could be felt by hand in his lower extremities. They immediately did an echo cardiogram (basically an ultrasound of his heart) and discovered that he had a coarctation of his aorta. Basically his aorta was pinched in several places and blood couldn't flow through properly. We scheduled surgery a for a couple weeks later. Initially they would go through his rib cage to do the surgery.

A few days before his surgery he had a scan. During this scan they discovered that the constriction was over the entire aorta. Not just parts. Therefore, the surgery would have to be open heart. We were devastated. We said goodbye and he was gone for 12 hours before we were able to see him again. But the surgery was a SUCCESS! Blessings all around. He would be in intensive care for 5 days.

He did phenomenally with recovery, but we quickly discovered that his breathing was way off and his voice was abnormal. It was determined that during surgery, his nerve to the vocal cord was damaged and it was paralyzed. This was one of the complications we were very aware of as the nerve is virtually invisible and right next to the aorta.

He went through a year of intense speech therapy and 4 larygoscopies (where they put a camera in your nose and down your throat to view the vocal cords. At first the doctors were very sure there was a full and permanent paralysis. But then they started seeing movements through the laryngoscopies that we would have every few months. At the last one (just this past Wednesday), he was declared almost normal and onto full recovery! He graduated from speech, and will live a normal life. We just feel so blessed.

Anyway, due to these things, we felt that our family just needed a FUN BREAK!!! Finn needed a time to celebrate, and believe me...we will be getting him a special button right away!!!

Here are some pictures of his heart journey. Feel free to skip them. I don't think they are too disturbing, but I may be biased.


Here are all the tubes attached to him after surgery.

After his breathing tube was removed.

Sitting up!

5 days post open heart surgery...couldn't keep him still!

1 year later! This is Finn on Wednesday after his last larygoscopy! He's with his beloved speech therapist who we were so sad to leave!

Next time I'll talk about our disney dining plan dilemma!

 

[blessedmom4]

Hi!! Remember me? I just wanted to say hi and I am thankful Finn is doing so well. Those pics look very familiar to me..and I may be biased too, but they look quite tame compared to some I am certain you have!

Congrats on the new job. I remember when you were trying to decide about leaving your teaching job and that has been a while ago...that is when I first "found" you. So excited for your new adventures.

 

[teachermommy78]

Hi!! Remember me? I just wanted to say hi and I am thankful Finn is doing so well. Those pics look very familiar to me..and I may be biased too, but they look quite tame compared to some I am certain you have!

Congrats on the new job. I remember when you were trying to decide about leaving your teaching job and that has been a while ago...that is when I first "found" you. So excited for your new adventures.

Of course I remember you!!!! You were actually a calmness to me during that tough time last year. I would read your wish report and would be full of joy. How is everything going with your family? I need to check your signature for any TRs!!!

And, oh yes...the not so tame pictures are kept on my ipad as a reminder. I still look at them and cry. The breathing tube pictures especially. We still have a battle ahead of us with our other son, Ethan, but so far his echoes look good! The doctors are hopeful that he will be an adult before he has to have his surgery (bicuspid aorta). Perhaps by then advances will be made where open heart won't be necessary!

Thank you for joining in. It really means so much. You truly are an inspiration to me!

 

[ZFamily5]

A little late but you know I'm here!

I'm so excited for you guys to get to go back to Disney so soon! I'm so glad Finn is doing well now. Amazing story about the recovery in his vocal abilities!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[DMGeurts]

Hi Stacey! Just stopping by... I don't even know where to begin.

Your family is adorable.

And wow - that had to be so hard to figure out what you were going to do when your were informed about the job switch. I am very happy for you that you were able to find something that you've dreamed of doing and still uses your teaching skills. I hope you still like it.

And Finn... How precious. I can't even imagine how scary that must have been for all of you. So relieved that everything worked out OK, and he is back to normal.

I agree - all of that definately warranted a trip to Disney! I look forward to hearing all about the rest of your plans.

D~