Ok, so just to bring everyone up to speed - this is our first Christmas trip and my in-laws first trip ever. Then a couple months ago, FIL fell and fractured three vertebrae in his neck. He had surgery and began a slow recovery. He's currently in a neck brace.
I immediately started making contingencies plans and eventually split the whole plan into A (with inlaws) and B (without inlaws). At first I focused on A and just did the bare minimum for B. Then a couple weeks ago MIL told us the recovery was going slowly and FIL was frustrated. She said they see the doctor on the 27th and they would make a final decision then. But it sounded like, barring a miracle, he wouldn't be up for it. So I started focusing on Plan B.
So totally bizarre side note - this morning I had this really vivid dream. I dreamed we'd been at Hershey park for a few hours. And it was the next day and FIL was telling me how he was fine and had lots of energy to go back, so he'd be fine at Disney. And in the dream I realized I had to shift my thinking back to Plan A. Then I woke up and was really confused. Amusing foreshadowing there.
So they came home from their FL house this week. Family get together today. (We took the kids to see Wreck-It-Ralph.) So FIL told me about his current state. He is steadier ( though the brace still affects movement and he can't see his feet.) but his stamina is low. But he described how he can walk around the grocery and how he can go most of the day before he wears down. During this description it became very clear to me that he wants to go. Really wants to go. But he wouldn't make it half a day in MK. So then I threw out the wheelchair idea. DH and I had discussed this option, but knowing how frustrated he is when he's not independent, we didn't think he'd go for it. But once I explained it, he totally jumped on it. And MIL explained that she'd been pushing him around a lot in FL and was comfortable doing it. With three able-bodied adults we can handle two wheelchairs. So that combined with afternoon naps and an already slow pace should make it work. He also made it clear that when he needs to go back for a nap or skip something, he doesn't expect the rest of us to stop. And really surprising - MIL piped up and said she would accompany him back to the resort, but then join us back in the park. Remember, this is the same woman who "doesn't do rides" and I wasn't sure even wanted to go.
One other thing came up - they may shorten the trip. I told them that was fine as long as they did it before the trip ( by the 27th) so that I could make appropriate changes. If they do that, I will probably tell them about the split stay. Just so they know what they're giving up.
We talked about how the plan differed from A to B. I think MIL was worried we would be doing things for them we didn't really want to do. But I reassured them with the example of DHS. We aren't fond of DHS, but FIL being a big movie buff, we're looking forward to seeing it through his eyes. I also admitted how much I had stressed myself out trying to make the trip perfect. So we all really cleared the air and agreed that there will be other trips. So in theory, we're going to go with the plan and adjust as needed. In theory. In reality, I need to review Plan A for the updated hours and some other adjustments i've made over the past couple weeks. I'm also thinking I should generally lighten the plan even more than it is.
Honestly, just writing this post took me two hours. I had to keep stopping to absorb. I came home from my SIL's by myself to get things done. But now I'm just so tired. Tomorrow I'm sure Ill be excited but now Im just drained.
MIL did remind me when I left that they still could cancel. Final decision is still Tuesday. But right now it looks like Plan A is the choice so Im running with it.
