Let's do this all over again...Update 12/6 7:00 am @ MK

[eandesmom]

Weekend came and gone. I did a lot of yard cleaning. Next week will be a very busy week.

DW and I are going to Philly tomorrow for a KISS concert. Gosh...the last time I saw KISS was in 1977. It is going to be rocking great!!

Tuesday would be a very rough day. I have to go to NYC for two specialist appointment with my mom back to back. She is going to need medical clearance for a brain tumor removal surgery. The good news is the tumor is not cancer. The bad news is it already cause some vision problem. Hopefully, after the tumor removal, her vision might come back. I've been going back & forth to take her all over the city for doctor's visit in the past few weeks. It was a lot of traveling. Right now, the target date for her surgery is at the end of October.

The most difficult part is trying to deliver the news to my sister and her family who live at Vancouver, BC. My sister and mother hasn't been seen or spoke to each other for years. I can't even remember how long. I already told my nieces and nephew about the news but still dragging my behind email my sister on the news. I don't even know where to begin. I better get this done by tomorrow.

Have fun at KISS. That would be wild.

Can they give her steroids or anthing to get the swelling down? I went through brain tumor surgery twice with my ex (him not me) and that really helped with the symptoms prior to surgery. While it is a blessing that it isn't cancer, I know how scary it all is.

I will be thinking of you. Just tell it like it is, that is all you can do. The rest is up to them.

 

[topdog]

Kiss!! Hope you guys have a blast!!

Bummer about your Mom's surgery but glad to hear that it is not cancer. Hoping her vision goes back to normal after the surgery but a little bit of messed up vision is better than cancer I would think. Hope the surgery happens when you guys want it to and that everything goes well. Will be praying. Keep us updated. That also sucks that your Mom and sister haven't talked in so many years. I'll be praying that you are able to find the right words to tell your sister about what is going on with your Mother.

We had a great time at the KISS concert. They still put up a great show after all these year.

It's really hard to see my mom and my sister are like that for decades. I don't know what to do. I did email my sister tonight. Let see how that works out. My mom's surgery is very dangerous due to her age. The only comfort level I have is she will have an excellent team of surgeons to work on her and they are all very professional.

Have fun at Kiss! I hope everything works out with your mom and the surgery.

The KISS concert was awesome and thank you for the kind word.

Have fun at KISS. That would be wild.

Can they give her steroids or anthing to get the swelling down? I went through brain tumor surgery twice with my ex (him not me) and that really helped with the symptoms prior to surgery. While it is a blessing that it isn't cancer, I know how scary it all is.

I will be thinking of you. Just tell it like it is, that is all you can do. The rest is up to them.

The KISS concert was more than wild. It was the bomb. After all these years, they still put up a great show.

My mom is already taking some kind of steroid because her hormone is all messed up. However, surgeon said the tumor must be remove. It's not an option at this point. There will be risk but it's about 2 to 3%.

I did email my sister tonight. Let see what happen. I also email to my nieces and my nephew last week and they already called their grandma. My niece met her grandma when she was barely 10. My nephew never met his grandma. This is the first time he ever talks to her. My mom was so happy she gets to talk to them including my grandnieces who is only 19 months old. What little thing can thrill people.

 

[topdog]

The KISS was totally awesome. It was beyond awesome. It's beawesome!!!

However, I think I've seen enough air guitarist and air drummer that last me a life time.

Sorry. I only have my cellphone with me. This is the best I can do.

 

[eandesmom]

My mom's surgery is very dangerous due to her age. The only comfort level I have is she will have an excellent team of surgeons to work on her and they are all very professional.

The KISS concert was more than wild. It was the bomb. After all these years, they still put up a great show.

My mom is already taking some kind of steroid because her hormone is all messed up. However, surgeon said the tumor must be remove. It's not an option at this point. There will be risk but it's about 2 to 3%.

I did email my sister tonight. Let see what happen. I also email to my nieces and my nephew last week and they already called their grandma. My niece met her grandma when she was barely 10. My nephew never met his grandma. This is the first time he ever talks to her. My mom was so happy she gets to talk to them including my grandnieces who is only 19 months old. What little thing can thrill people.

The KISS was totally awesome. It was beyond awesome. It's beawesome!!!

However, I think I've seen enough air guitarist and air drummer that last me a life time.

Sorry. I only have my cellphone with me. This is the best I can do.

You were there! That's what counts. MAN that looks like a huge crowd!

That is so wonderful about your nieces and nephews. YOU did that, you brought them together. I know it is awful, the reason, but what a blessing all around.

It isn't a little thing at all.

Hopefully whatever issue your sister has, can be put aside. You've done all you can and more than many would do.

I know how hard family can be, we've got all kinds of weird stuff between DH's Dad (who is sick), his Mom (who is divorced from his dad) and his brother (who is also sick). Poor DH keeps getting drug into the middle and it's awful. It also makes me a little mad.

Your mom is in my prayers.

 

[Leger13]

We had a great time at the KISS concert. They still put up a great show after all these year.

It's really hard to see my mom and my sister are like that for decades. I don't know what to do. I did email my sister tonight. Let see how that works out. My mom's surgery is very dangerous due to her age. The only comfort level I have is she will have an excellent team of surgeons to work on her and they are all very professional.

Glad you had fun!

I can only imagine. My FIL is like that with his family. He just doesn't talk to them. It's sad really. Maybe this will be the thing that brings them back together. I'm glad you have peace with the team of surgeons your Mom has.

 

[topdog]

I am so happy tonight.

I called my sister tonight. She told me she just got off the phone with mom after almost an hour of talking. I almost fell off my chair.

I know they will never make up from whatever the argument that had but at least they talked. That's all I want. I just want them to talk at least once before the surgery. That's some serious weight off my chest.

Now I can focus on getting mom through the surgery. She will be getting her full medical exam Monday. Then all we need is her primary doctor to sign off the medical clearance and she's ready for surgery.

 

[eandesmom]

I am so happy tonight.

I called my sister tonight. She told me she just got off the phone with mom after almost an hour of talking. I almost fell off my chair.

I know they will never make up from whatever the argument that had but at least they talked. That's all I want. I just want them to talk at least once before the surgery. That's some serious weight off my chest.

Now I can focus on getting mom through the surgery. She will be getting her full medical exam Monday. Then all we need is her primary doctor to sign off the medical clearance and she's ready for surgery.

This just gave me chills.

I am so happy for you, for your mom and for your sister!

 

[Leger13]

I am so happy tonight.

I called my sister tonight. She told me she just got off the phone with mom after almost an hour of talking. I almost fell off my chair.

I know they will never make up from whatever the argument that had but at least they talked. That's all I want. I just want them to talk at least once before the surgery. That's some serious weight off my chest.

Now I can focus on getting mom through the surgery. She will be getting her full medical exam Monday. Then all we need is her primary doctor to sign off the medical clearance and she's ready for surgery.

oh I am SO happy to hear this too! What a load off of you I'm sure.

 

[GoofyFairie]

Topdog, I am catching up today, but wanted to say, that you and your family are in my prayers. As hard as it is, try to spend your time really talking to your mom instead of worrying about something you can't control or change. You are being a wonderful son to your mother and she loves you for it I'm sure. I hope all of you can find comfort and strength in your faith.

 

[Brave teacher]

I am so happy to hear that your sister gave your mom a call. That is so great! I do pray that everything goes well.

That crowd looks amazing. I am certain it was a blast!

 

[topdog]

Thank you everyone. I've been busy for the past couple of days. Office has a new project wants me to pay attention. I have to commute to Hartford, CT yesterday for a 5 hours long meeting. 3.5 hrs to go there and then another 3.5 hrs to come home. It was a long drive.

Anyway, mom is doing fine. She has her full physical test yesterday. Report should be come out Thursday for her medical clearance. If everything pass, next Tuesday is the big day.

Let's go back to do some planning. One of my goal for this trip is to try some new photography skill I don't normally shoot, panorama shot particular. I saw a few shot from our fellow DISer, Great Biscuit, which I thought was awesome. So I did a little research and digging and I found this engineer firm out at CA that make a camera bracket specifically for panorama shot. After a few months of waiting because I wasn't sure if I really want to have on or not. I finally broke down and order one last week.

The bracket finally arrived this week.

Here is what it look like to mount it horizontally. The whole thing would then mount on top of the tripod.

Mount it vertically.

The whole bracket can rotate 360 degrees in increments base on the color dots on the bracket. It's a very cool attachment. Well...at least for photographer fan.

One other thing we want to do is to re-shoot some of the photo we took back in 1995. Here are a few samples.

Even DW has a few of those old picture she wants to reshoot. This ought to be fun. Believe it or not, I still have and wear those same clothes and shoes today.

 

[eandesmom]

Great Biscuits panorama shots are something else. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

UGH on that commute!

And hey, if the shoes, shorts and shirt still fit and aren't falling apart, more power to you is what I say!

 

[GoofyFairie]

Is there room in "the bag" for another gizmo?

 

[topdog]

And hey, if the shoes, shorts and shirt still fit and aren't falling apart, more power to you is what I say!

We shall see. The clothes might be a bit snug. The spare tire just keeps on growing.

Is there room in "the bag" for another gizmo?

The bag always room for more gizmo. Since most likely we will be driving this time, I might bring the kitchen sink as well.

 

[topdog]

Okay...sorry I haven't been doing much Disney planning lately. I am trying to focus on mom's surgery. After weeks of doctors' visit, today...I was inform by the surgeon's office that mom's medical clearance has passed. She is good to go for surgery as schedule. The big day will be Tuesday @ 7:30am, 4 day from today. This is it. We are finally at the point of no return now. Hopefully, every thing goes according to plan.

As for Disney planning, DW did add some more iternary for the trip such as steam train tour, MVMCP and the Osborne light show. She did mention about the Segway tour but still not sure about it. I did say I have to watch a few show this time like Finding Nemo and Beauty & the Beast. Lion King is a maybe. I did want to try the Wish dessert party also but not sure if we are able to eat that much. It does look very good though.

We did kinda sort out our travel arrangement. Right now, the plan is drive unless there is something that change our mind. The more I've been read about how lousy the airline operate like plane over shot 150 miles from destination or plane sat on runway for 6 hours and airline blame every one but themselves. I am getting sick and tired how poor airline operate these days. Yet, they keep charging more & more for the luggage. Enough is enough. No flying unless we absolutely have to.

Therefore, we plan to leave on Thanksgiving day morning and head to my SIL at LaGrange, NC. We then leave Sat morning to stop at Jacksonville for a night. We will then arrive WL by Sunday afternoon. That will give us time to just relax at the resort for the whole day and go to DTD for lunch and/or dinner. We can then be fully charge for Monday morning "Power Disney"!!!

 

[eandesmom]

Your mom will be in my prayers on Tuesday.

Your travel plans sound good!

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite show

 

[topdog]

I've been MIA for quite a few days. That's because I was busy making arrangement for my mom's surgery.

I am happy to say the surgery was a success. The surgeon was able to get at least 80% of the tumor out. She was in the ICU after the surgery for about day and a half. Then she got transfer to regular room afterward. In less than 24 hours, she got discharged. So she is home recovering for the rest of the way.

We have to monitor her closely for the next few month and making sure there is no spinal cord fluid leak or stroke. As for now, all it left is a lot of doctors' follow up appointment. I am burning all my vacation days like there is no tomorrow. I better have enough left over for our Disney trip next year. LOL...

 

[GoofyFairie]

So glad to hear that everything went well. I will continue to pray for her recovery.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Hope her recovery continues along smoothly.

Of all people who could eat enough to make the Wishes dessert party worth it my money is on you.

 

[eandesmom]

Hope her recovery continues along smoothly.

Of all people who could eat enough to make the Wishes dessert party worth it my money is on you.

I'd have to agree with Diamond on that!

Glad to hear that things went well.