The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 3

[tmfranlk]

What about Friday May 19- Monday, May 22

I just put in a Vacation package on expedia and got a quote that includes my airfare and a 2 bedroom villa - with beds for 4 people for $564 or a 4 bedroom villa with beds for 7 people at $683

if there were 4 of us - we could split the villa cost and each pay $100

if there were 7 of us - we could still each pay $100 and I could fly for free just kidding - we could $72 for the villa

that would be a great deal!! Would anyone be driving and have a car - really car rental should not be that much if we needed to do that!!!

Hmmmm....that's just a few days after my birthday. I wonder if I could convince Phil that a quick weekend is all I really want for my birthday.

Kate - I read your post about Steve to Phil and he said "I thought he was going to say 'Do you realize that I am a man and thus selfish'." I asked if that meant I could go and he said, "Well, I would love to say yes, but I am a man and selfish too. I wish that I weren't, but that's just the way God made me." (I'm thinking that may have sounded a little mean to Steve, but I didn't mean any offense by it.)

 

[my3princes]

Here is my character clipboard checklist

- I put this on the front


and this on the back

Very organized. You have characters on your list that I've never seen: bullseye, Dumbo, Flik, Frozone, Prince Charming and Shan-yu (I don't even recoginize the last name?). Are those characters out for autographs. I am an autograph junkie so I will have to track them down.

There are several that we met last october that are missing from your clipboard list. I know that we did see all of these so it might be handy to have pages ready for: Chicken Little, Abby Mallard, Power Rangers, Country Bears, Green Army Man, Jane Porter, Kenai and Koda, Launchpad, Miss Piggy and Kermit, and Shang.

Deb

 

[itdjbw]

funny I thought that earlier when I saw some of the names - I don't even know or heard of some of them, I am in need of a Disney fix!!!

 

[my3princes]

Hi, Kate.

I didn't post an update as I don't want to always be a downer, but, no, life is not good right now. Rees' surgery went well, but I am having a rough time with all his new diagnosis. We had a bad meeting with his specialist on Thursday, and she suggested he may be even further up the Autism spectrum. He is doing better with the anxiety. He starts his evals on Friday for Special Ed in Kindergarten. The team suggested a self-contained room instead of mainstream, so I am devestated. I don't feel that is appropriate for Rees, so it's off to battle again. Still waiting on a court date for the Medicaid, and he wasn't invited to 2 b'day parties this weekend. It's been tough.

We find out today if my grandmother has breast cancer (the biopsy was yesterday). Her sister had it 2 years ago. John's had the real flu for 8 days now (fever of 102 even with meds), and I've made myself sick with all this worry and am having terrible stomach issues. Oh, and the topper is DH works for BellSouth and they announced yesterday that ATT is buying them, so now that's a whole new set of crud.

Brantley-Kate and Davis are doing well. The boys start Karate on Thursday.

Thanks for asking, but I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear!

Denise

You know what is best for you kids, so put up a good fight. In our school district there are severely handicapped kids mainstreaming. In Nick's forth grade classroom there is a boy in a wheelchair, he has a vent, can not speak or write. I guess that each school district must come up with their own set of guidelines. I'm sure that Rees would do fine in a regular classroom. I'm so sorry that you are having stress from every direction. I hope that you can find time each day to do something to destress yourself. I wish I could be there for you and think of you often. .

Deb

 

[my3princes]

Am I overreacting to this - or would this bother you too?

This happened over a week ago and I really can't get it out of my head

Julia and I pulled in our neighborhood behind the school bus - a woman I know was waiting in her minivan for the bus to pick up her kindergartner

her van door was open and he hopped in the van - the van was facing towards the direction of her house and she had to drive about 10 houses to get home - the door to her van was not closed and her son stood behind her holding on to her headrest and she started to drive home - they went about one house and he saw some of his friends walking and he leaned out the car door to yell at them and talk to them - and SHE KEPT DRIVING!!!!

I came home and Julia kept asking me "why would she let him do that - doesn't she want him to be safe?" when DH got home she told him that she had something very bad to tell him - and told him the story

I can see her not making him buckle up for the short drive home - but not closing the door -

Steve and I have already made the decision that our children will not be allowed with this family alone again - but I just wonder if this is something she does all the time - what if he fell out and under the car?!? I just can't get it out of my head

so tell me - what do you all think of this?

It is definitely not something that I would do with my children. I can understand your frustration. It is so hard to explain right and wrong to your own kids when others don't share the same sense of right and wrong. Good luck with Julia.

Deb

 

[marcij]

Denise -- That is WONDERFUL news about your grandmother.

Kate -- prayers to the little boy. How scary!

 

[my3princes]

That's very sweet of you to think of me, but I seriously doubt I'd be able to join you all (even though I'll have an AP!). Don't make too much fun of me, but Kevin loves Disney too much and I could never go without him. I don't think I could leave the kiddos behind either. I know, I'm a wuss!!!

Amy

Amy, you're not alone. I read the posts to Chris and he wants to know what dope everyone is smoking? He loves Disney as much as me (the kids do too) and we don't have a trip planned until July 2007. There is no way that he would agree to me going alone.... . Oh well, It will be fun to hear you all planning.

Deb

 

[my3princes]

Okay - I need prayers - major prayers - for a family in my parish - I do not know him but he is a 3rd grader in our religious program -

they just called to tell me that Father could not make the classes I had planned for tonight b/c he has to go to give this little boy last rights

yesterday he complained that his spine was hurting - they aren't sure what is wrong with him but it is not expected that he will make it through the night

could you please just send him prayers -

I know that's I'm a little behind, but I hope that a few extra prayers will help.
Deb

 

[lovesdumbo]

What about Friday May 19- Monday, May 22

I've already got plans to be there 5/19 to 5/23.

Kate, you're looking at Beth's 6th birthday weekend, so I won't be able to make it. Otherwise I'd be REALLY tempted...

My Lizzie's 7th birthday is 5/22.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!! My grandmother's biopsy was negative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not even pre-cancerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT IS WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!! My grandmother's biopsy was negative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not even pre-cancerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That so nice to hear!!!!!

 

[my3princes]

WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!! My grandmother's biopsy was negative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not even pre-cancerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank God. One thing off your to worry about list. I'm reading through all the posts wondering about your grandma and still wondering about the little boy in Kate's church. I hope we get good news about him too.

Deb

 

[lovesdumbo]

Since I haven't been to Manchester I can't compare, but I'm not sure how Providence would be confusing. There is only one terminal building with 2 airlines on the left when you enter and a few on the left. There is only one security area to get to all of the gates. Then half of the gates are to the left and half to the right. I wouldn't worry about it at all. The drive in was even very easy.

I've actually driven a friend there and agree that part is very easy. A bit easier than Manchester. I did wait with her while she did curb side check in-there was long line and it was a bit confusing in that you had to wait for them to run your luggage through security-you don't do that at Logan or Orlando. I didn't check anything in Manchester so I don't know if you have to do that there.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Hmmmm....that's just a few days after my birthday. I wonder if I could convince Phil that a quick weekend is all I really want for my birthday.

When is your birthday? Mine is the 6th.

Let me know if you need a ride to the airport-I'll be going 5/19, returning 5/23.

Thanks for all your other advice! Can't wait to try Garden Grill! I better get started on those autograph cards!

 

[tmfranlk]

I've actually driven a friend there and agree that part is very easy. A bit easier than Manchester. I did wait with her while she did curb side check in-there was long line and it was a bit confusing in that you had to wait for them to run your luggage through security-you don't do that at Logan or Orlando. I didn't check anything in Manchester so I don't know if you have to do that there.

Yeah, we've had to do that security part on about half of our flights. It depends on the airline and airport combo and sometimes even the specific cities involved. That part was easy for us as the guy whole checked us in helped all of the way (I had a half asleep Terra in her stroller and just me). It was cold so he had me go wait just inside the door where it was warmer while he checked us in. He then brought over the tags for the bag and carried it into the scanners. That part is easy as you just have to stand there until it goes through the machine. No real extra work on your part, just a few minutes. On Southwest, you will have to do this again in Orlando, though there it's just a drop off. You don't have to stay and wait for it to got through.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Big news in our house tonight. Not sure I should really admit this but I'm just so excited. My "baby", DD 3 years on Jan 21 went to bed awake tonight for the first time EVER. She's always been a good sleeper through the night but we always put her down asleep. We just put her in a youth bed (longer than a toddler bed but shorter than a twin) last week. Her big brother had taught her how to climb out of her crib. I was always reluctant to let her cry it out because I was afraid she'd wake her siblings. Tonight I sat by her bed and read to her. Then I shut off the lights and stayed with her until she was out but it was still a huge step for us.

Finding a bed for her was a challenge. She's such a tomboy and insisted most everything looked too "girly". She wanted a plastic Thomas the Tank Engine toddler bed ($240 of plastic ) but I did get her to agree to this one from Ikea for $69 plus matress $35. She liked it because her brother already had the quilt. This is actually perfect as it is longer than her crib (63") so it should fit her for a few years and it fits in the room so much better than a regular size twin bed would. And she LOVES it!

 

[my3princes]

Big news in our house tonight. Not sure I should really admit this but I'm just so excited. My "baby", DD 3 years on Jan 21 went to bed awake tonight for the first time EVER. She's always been a good sleeper through the night but we always put her down asleep. We just put her in a youth bed (longer than a toddler bed but shorter than a twin) last week. Her big brother had taught her how to climb out of her crib. I was always reluctant to let her cry it out because I was afraid she'd wake her siblings. Tonight I sat by her bed and read to her. Then I shut off the lights and stayed with her until she was out but it was still a huge step for us.

Finding a bed for her was a challenge. She's such a tomboy and insisted most everything looked too "girly". She wanted a plastic Thomas the Tank Engine toddler bed ($240 of plastic ) but I did get her to agree to this one from Ikea for $69 plus matress $35. She liked it because her brother already had the quilt. This is actually perfect as it is longer than her crib (63") so it should fit her for a few years and it fits in the room so much better than a regular size twin bed would. And she LOVES it!

That is a huge step. Be sure to make a huge deal of it in the morning and hopefully tonight will be the first of many nights that she drifts off to sleep alone.

Deb

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Big news in our house tonight. Not sure I should really admit this but I'm just so excited. My "baby", DD 3 years on Jan 21 went to bed awake tonight for the first time EVER. She's always been a good sleeper through the night but we always put her down asleep. We just put her in a youth bed (longer than a toddler bed but shorter than a twin) last week. Her big brother had taught her how to climb out of her crib. I was always reluctant to let her cry it out because I was afraid she'd wake her siblings. Tonight I sat by her bed and read to her. Then I shut off the lights and stayed with her until she was out but it was still a huge step for us.

Finding a bed for her was a challenge. She's such a tomboy and insisted most everything looked too "girly". She wanted a plastic Thomas the Tank Engine toddler bed ($240 of plastic ) but I did get her to agree to this one from Ikea for $69 plus matress $35. She liked it because her brother already had the quilt. This is actually perfect as it is longer than her crib (63") so it should fit her for a few years and it fits in the room so much better than a regular size twin bed would. And she LOVES it!

That is a great step!!! Nick is hit or miss on falling asleep in bed!!

 

[tmfranlk]

When is your birthday? Mine is the 6th.

Let me know if you need a ride to the airport-I'll be going 5/19, returning 5/23.

Thanks for all your other advice! Can't wait to try Garden Grill! I better get started on those autograph cards!

Mine is the 15th. Thanks for the offer. That is so sweet. Seeing as how DH freaked out the night I worked in the afternoon, stayed for a work party and then went out with my co-workers for an hour. Somehow I'm not seeing a weekend away in my future.

Actually, I think I may get to spend it with the mouse anyway, just on the opposite coast. I think that I'm going to try to take Terra out to see Phil's family and our friends sometime in mid-May. When we go we stay with a friend that lives less than a mile from DL and head over a time or two during our stay.

That makes two of us in the Boston area! Any of your in neighboring areas every make it toward the city be sure to let us know. We can meet up somewhere.

 

[tmfranlk]

Big news in our house tonight. Not sure I should really admit this but I'm just so excited. My "baby", DD 3 years on Jan 21 went to bed awake tonight for the first time EVER. She's always been a good sleeper through the night but we always put her down asleep. We just put her in a youth bed (longer than a toddler bed but shorter than a twin) last week. Her big brother had taught her how to climb out of her crib. I was always reluctant to let her cry it out because I was afraid she'd wake her siblings. Tonight I sat by her bed and read to her. Then I shut off the lights and stayed with her until she was out but it was still a huge step for us.

That is great news! I didn't realize you had a 3yo too! Terra turned 3 on Feb 20. We're on the North Shore, but maybe we could get them together sometime at the Aquarium (we have a pass that will get 2 others in as well) or the Children's Museum some weekend.