The Super Top Secret Birthday May PTR (Updated 4/24)

[LoriABil]

Welcome to my Pre Trip Report for May 2011! This is a Super Top Secret PTR, as my 7 year old son does not know about this trip - - - because we're leaving him at home!

Not really!!! This is for his birthday! So he has to come.

The plan is... A 3 Night Disney Cruise to the Bahamas on the Disney Dream...followed by a few or more days at WDW. And he knows nothing of it! So far... This is because of a super top secret code my DH and I have been working on. Such as calling Dolphin Swims "That Fishy Thingie." Yes, a hard code to crack, but with a little luck, and this PTR, you might just master it.

So you know the Why and the Where...now for the Who. Whom? Anywho...

Me: My name is Lori and I'm a Physical Therapist. I am blessed to work part time so I can be home with my DS after school twice a week, and doubly blessed with an awesome husband who fixes his schedule so he can be home with DS the other two days a week. Friday, DH is off, so he also gets "Mom duty" (his words) that day while I run an Outpatient clinic with great co-workers and management! In our household, I'm the planner. Well, at least when it comes to our vacations. Otherwise, I fly by the seat of my pants. Which lie in a heap in my closet because I forget to hang them up. Yep, that's me - The Disorganized Planner...

That's me with my two favorite guys-who-aren't-people-or-relatives...

My next planning adventure was to be for 2012 - A Grand Gathering - which is appropriate, because my DS calls his Grandfather "Grand." In fact, I was considering starting a pre-PTR, talking about the fact that my extended family is already checking out guidebooks, websites and the like, and getting very excited. They may not find out we're going back without them.

So who is going with me? Well, that would be my other two favorite guys-who-are-people-AND-relatives...

Bobby: My DH of 8 years. He is a Professor of Political Science. He is surprisingly interesting, though, despite his profession. I know this trip was in the works when, after being home from WDW for only 1 week, he asked, "If we went back, which restaurants would you go to? Top 5. Go." I love this man! He is getting quite excited about our first ever cruise, and I often hear YouTube videos coming from the office with the ship horns! I haven't told him that this is a new horn!!! He is definitely the Yang to my Yin...Organized and analytical to a fault!

Z: My 7 year old son will be 8 on this trip! My how time flies! I won't wax nostalgic, but I think he's a super kid! A little mischievous and a little short tempered and a little like his father...hmmm. Oh, yes, but he is great!

Bobby and Z in front of their favorite ride!

The plan is to give him clues as to where we are going, like a scavenger hunt. So at his birthday party the week before, I hope that a patient of mine (who is an actor and does kid's parties) can help out and be a Pirate for me. The plan is still forming, so who knows? Throw ideas my way if you have an inclination!

So what do we know so far? Well, cruise is booked...May 19-22. We are staying on the 6th Deck, Starboard (Code for Right, apparently). We will stop in Nassau first, then Castaway Cay (code for "Key"). I have never been to either, so...can't wait! Hotel portion is not booked, but the plan is to book at POR. We have never stayed there, but it looks like a fun place, and that was sort of the plan for the GG in 2012, so we could scout it out. But if Disney sends out a Pin to us, or if there is some sort of sale (code for "40% off), we would consider the BC again. DS and DH love the Beach Club!

So that's all for now. I will continue researching "Field Trips" (code for Excursions) into "Fishy Thingies", "Water Parks", and "Petting Zoos" and will hopefully figure out if I can bring a "Flat Iron" with me. Happy sailing, and remember, Super Top Secret...

 

[LoriABil]

Darn Disney and their cool mailers! It is hard enough to keep this secret, but Disney is not helping matters any! Neither is DS being off for Christmas. He loves to get the mail...

So a "Welcome Aboard" packet came in today. DH said DS saw it and wanted to open it immediately..."Mom ordered a DVD. She said she would!" He made him wait to open it and I'm glad he did!

It was the reservation confirmation and info...the first page said "Thank You for choosing Disney Cruise Lines..." and the other paper was a confirmation number and sail date! So I "hid" the packet under a platter to take back to our neighbor's house. Well, he found it and showed it to me after I came home from some Christmas shopping! I don't think he's put it together. He thinks it is pictures and telling you about Disney cruises in general. I hurried and hid the small confirmation number thing. He liked the pictures so much, he didn't read it closely, so disaster averted...maybe...

I have to go now and order the DVD to keep him off track. I told him that this was the information that said the DVD was on its way... I think the next thing we have to worry about is the Magical Express package. He KNOWS what that bus means!

In other news, Captain Jack is "in" on our little treasure hunt, but more on that later!~

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah to all!

 

[LoriABil]

I'm having a hard time sleeping...

So I will try to relate the past week's events, which might or might not relate to our upcoming trip. If nothing else, they make up realize how fragile life is, and that we are truly blessed in so many ways. The least of which is ignorance, because it is indeed bliss.

Wednesday, I am searching frantically for my DH and DS (DS should have been dropped off at my workplace so DH could go to work, as our dear son had a cold and we kept him home from school). As I am turning off to go to the house (hoping a note was left), I get a call. It is DH. "I have bad news. I have a blood clot and they are making me go to the Emergency Room." What?!?!

First, a little history. DH has been on medication for high blood pressure since before we were married...maybe 2000? He has never had problems until this October, when his doctor went up from 5mg to 10mg - because it was "a little high." By this, we mean 150/90 range. Each time he took his 10mg pill, his blood pressure went up - to the point that one day it was 200/112. Not good. They tried lots of drugs; none worked. Last Sunday (the 22nd) DH starting complaining about a sharp pain in his thigh (not the groin).

Monday, he decides it is a pulled muscle and runs to work it out. No change in pain. Monday night, I show him stretches. Severe pain with every position except legs elevated. At this point, I am getting suspicious and irritated with requests for massages. I am thinking high blood pressure, leg pain...eh, no massage for you. I am worried about blood supply, but there is no swelling, redness, heat... "I'm not massaging it until you talk to the doctor." Tuesday, has not spoken to doctor. I am more irritated. I tell him to apply heat, and he did! BAD PT!!!! No change in pain.

Wednesday, he has an appointment to talk about BP anyway, so he tells the doctor. The doctor says, "You don't have typical signs of a blood clot. No swelling in the legs, no redness...you aren't sedentary. You haven't taken long flights... We'll do a test anyway. It will probably come back normal, but better to be safe." Thank God for DH's doctor.

DH's doc finally finds a place to test on short notice, and Wednesday afternoon at 1:15, DH is at the test with DS (home sick with a cold.) I am at work and have no idea what is going on. A blood clot is found, and DH WALKS across the street to the ER.

So now, we are back to the phone call. I meet them in the ER, where my poor DS is confused, but not bothered by the situation. He is a curious fellow who loves science and medical stuff, so the hospital has never scared him.

DH was admitted, and would be monitored and placed on coumadin. Meanwhile, more testing. Thursday morning, I wait at the hospital in an empty room, having just missed him going down for a CT scan. They kept him for another hour, then another. Finally, the nurse comes in. "The doctor wants to place an IVC filter. He'll come in and talk to you about it."

Then physician comes in. "Your husband has had pulmonary embolisms (PE). Several." My heart sank. From my experience, PE = instant death. "We are going to put in a filter...I plan on doing it around 4." It is around 10 at this point, so I sit down, relieved that the PEs are likely small. Of course, after a few hours of testing that should have lasted one hour, you start to fear the worst.

The nurse came in after another hour. She explained they were doing a procedure to break up and suck out the blood clot in his leg. He would be back in an hour. 2 hours later, I get a call. It was a nurse downstairs, telling me I needed to consent for them to do DH's IVC placement now. Now? I think it was 1:30 or 2. My mind is racing, but I gave consent... What happened that they couldn't wait until later?

Finally, DH is back in his bed, awake and groggy. What is the first this he says after his near-death experience?

"I guess this does it for the Beach Club."

So many things went through my head.

1. No wonder your blood pressure was so high. You were pumping molasses through your veins.

2. This doesn't happen to runners. This happens to people with major surgery. Elderly people. Sedentary people. Not you...

3. You don't even realize that you could have died from this.

4. I could have killed you. Heat! To a blood clot! Thank God I didn't massage it...

And a million other things...but never once did the insurance deductible, the cost, - the Beach Club??? - cross my mind!

Only DH. So yes, we will be staying at CBR instead of the Beach Club...but we will be there...together...God willing and the creek (and INR) don't rise...

 

[LoriABil]

DH is doing well, although a little down it seems. I don't want to use the big "D" work (depression, not divorce) (or Disney), but he was definitely not himself. But over the past week he seems to be coming back!

I had the flu this month, and now Z (DS, 7) is sick as well!

But enough about sickness! We have had some good things happen this month, too! Z made the local paper for the school's President's Day program (he was Bill Clinton). I have now gotten everything I need to craft my Fish Extender gifts. Oh, and we are going to WDW!

Which on Sunday did not look good...As we were doing our taxes, it kept saying that we owed $9,000. I don't remember ever owing... but I thought it was because Turbo Tax hadn't taken out deductions, yet. Nope. Finished taxes and still owed! Which is bad enough, but owing when you are not expecting it is worse! Our savings would be eaten and no more WDW!

But, we found that the problem was our accountant (that would be me ) had made a mistake. Apparently, when Turbo Tax imports something, you don't have to put it in again manually.

So we are getting some money instead of paying a lot! Which sounds great until you realize the government is not a big ol' Santa Clause handing out checks. They are just giving us back our money. But hey, at least they are giving it back, right?

So, to celebrate, we upgraded to the Beach Club. I am not too happy about this, but Bobby and Z love that place, and I like it, too. Just seems frivolous after a cruise, when you are at WDW to stay deluxe. But that's just me. But we might save money, not having to purchase water park tickets with the big slide and all, right?

We have gone from POR to CBR to BC. I need to work on ADRs and make sure they are good. I kind of want to wing it this time, but I know that is impossible with the dining plan, which we decided to get. I am afraid we will be so use to everything being all included that we will balk at the meal costs if we pay OOP.

Hopefully I will have pictures of FE gifts soon. All I need is some kind of cool gift bags, but I am waiting a bit because DS's birthday party is the weekend before we go, and he still hasn't decided on pirate party or beach party. I did get the "Treasure maps" for the clues! Yay! Now I have to get those creative juices flowing and think of some clues to lead him toward our destination, without him figuring it out. I know the first one will be about the beach...we are flying to Houston first, and the only time we have been there is to take him to Corpus Christi. He still talks about that beach! We found tons of great shells (conch and others) and saw a washed up Man-of-War (out of season!) He has asked to go to a beach for vacation. I keep telling him maybe

Well, I'm off to give Z his medicine...poor guy. It is awful stuff. Oh, and we discovered last night that a spoon full of sugar does not help the medicine go down. It just clumps up in your mouth. Get it right, Poppins.

 

[LoriABil]

March came in like a Lion and out like a Lamb...Like a lamb with an ear infection. Z had his first ear infection at the age of 7. I still don't know how it happened, but it is draining like crazy and he is crying all night! I think we are all ready for wellness and better days ahead!

I think April will be coming in like a Lion as well...winds up to 60 mph tomorrow. Ick! I need to get to Michael's and get T-shirts - on sale 5/$10 tomorrow. We have to have at least one day for matching T's, right?

April is the month I have planned all the crafty-stuff for the cruise. There is a lot to do, but it is a lot of small stuff...like

1) Print Magnets (Designs are done and in folders. Just have to print and cut without the 7 year old getting suspicious)

2) Make T-shirts...again, Designs are done, except for one. I would like a Celebrating my Birthday...one for DS, but they all look little kid-ish. Maybe that's a sign that he is too old for matching shirts!

3) Make FE...the only thing I have to buy is the dowel to hang it on. I still haven't decided sew or no sew...

4) Bag FE gifts. These are made and ready. I probably won't show them until after the cruise...

5) DS's treasure maps

I think that's all the crafty stuff I have to do. Gee, and I have a whole month! Easy, right?

The end of the month, I will get DS's gift basket ordered (something small, but it is his birthday, and he loves sand toys). I also need to decide on a cake from WDW. The mini wedding cakes look perfect, but girly. I will call and see if they can man them up . I will call this week and book the WDW package (our savings account is now ready to be emptied). The good news is, I will keep filling it, as long as I can go to work and am not stuck at home with a sick kiddo. Believe me, I have a whole new appreciation for parents who have little ones with constant ear infections. I can't imagine having a baby in that much pain, unable to verbalize what is wrong...then again, maybe it's a blessing in disguise.

 

[LoriABil]

So, I am trying to figure out how to print all of the cool magnets, make all of the cool T-shirts, and somehow assemble FE gifts when a little boy is getting curious as to why I am on the computer all of the time!

Basketball season ends this week for his league, so that will free up Saturdays to get stuff done, again. Everything is ready, just needing to be printed, ironed on, and put into gift bags.

Also, found DS a birthday gift. He has been begging for a big boy digital camera. Well, Target has Vivitar on sale for $29.99. Perfect! One store was out, so I will go tomorrow on my lunch break to one near my workplace. We will get him that and a "Big Boy" suitcase. He still carries a 16" cars rolling bag, and packing space will be tight - so it's time to move on. I will pack everything for him - which is a blessing, because each time we have gone to WDW in the past, HotWheels and little plastic dinosaurs seem to stow-away in his bag. But, hey! Who could blame them? I mean, if I was a little plastic T-Rex, with tiny little arms, I'd want to go to WDW too! Maybe meet my hero from Toy Story...

So no toys will be making this journey...but a new camera and his binoculars will be packed along with the necessities. I can't wait. The excitement is building.

My To-Do list is growing!

This week I will have magnets and most Tees done, and the FE gifts in their bags. I read a thread on shipping FE gifts to the ship, but we have a small group (29 people). I think it should be fine...until I run out of room in our bag! Thank goodness for Southwest!

 

[LoriABil]

Happy Easter to all!

We are visiting my parents, and I'm finding it hard not to talk about our upcoming trip and cruise! I called on Thursday and went ahead and added tickets and DDP. Then I paid for it! But Friday, I got paid so I "borrowed" from myself to pay off the credit card.

What with new tires for the "Mommi-van" (after a blowout!), hospital bills and an unexpected ear-infection for DS, we were a little short in savings. But it should be paid back before we leave. If not, I work extra hours in the summer, so I will put all the extra into savings.

I really don't foresee any more trip related expenses. There was a great sale at Kohl's. DH and I laugh, because Kohl's must have 40 different "Seasons" as every other sale advertises "Lowest Prices of the Season!" Whichever season we were in, I finally found a swimsuit cover-up and DH got a couple of rash guard shirts. He wears them because he is still of blood pressure medications, and he burns easily. DS got some new sandals after putting on his size 4 sandals and discovering his toes were over the edge! Size 5 - that's almost adult, right?

I also was very sneaky and went back to get DS a carry-on suitcase, so goodbye little Lightning McQueen, hello real suitcase. It's kind of sad. This will be the first time Lightning doesn't go with us to Orlando. We bought him for our first trip in 2008. I guess we can bring him just for DS's monster shoes! (I'm one to talk - I wear an 11)

DH is in Tucson, with DFiL who had back surgery. It actually sounds like he is doing much better - he has been in pain for a while. As I approach my birthday, I realize we have a lot to be thankful for. So I will leave you with my "Pre-Bucket List" There were 23 things to accomplish before I turned 40 - I made the list when I turned 30. It's a fun way to set goals, and then I take it out every birthday and see how I'm doing. At this point, I have 7 things left and 7 years until 40, so I think I can do it. I'll share the 7 remaining things to do!

1. Get a certification in Maitland (an orthopedic physical therapy approach)
2. Take my niece to WDW
3. Go para-sailing
4. Go on a cruise (almost there!)
5. See the Pacific Ocean (I never have)
6. Ride Space Mountain (after 4 attempts, I still can't do it!)
7. Take my son to see an NBA game

So, there you go...
I hope you all have a blessed Easter and stay safe with the crazy weather out there!

 

[LoriABil]

Well, the Disney store has shipped our Americana shirts, and I got one set of shirts made.

I worked on the bleach-spiral Mickey shirts, but the dark blue just wasn't bleaching out at all! I think 100% cotton (instead of the blend) might have worked better. I think I'll make us one more set of matching shirts, and I still have my Doof shirt to make...I'll post them when I have time!

On a lighter note, someone's turning...well, older, on Friday. But I'm more excited about the cruise than that!

 

[tnshsms]

I just saw this post..we'll be on the same cruise. And we're staying at POR after the cruise. Have fun and Happy bday to Z!

 

[LoriABil]

I just saw this post..we'll be on the same cruise. And we're staying at POR after the cruise. Have fun and Happy bday to Z!

Thanks! There is a meet with some DIS-ers at 3:00 at Currents, if you are interested! Have you seen the thread on our Cruise meet?

 

[LoriABil]

I know this is a WDW pre-trip reports, but I just had to brag that I am done with cruise magnets and FE gifts!

Tomorrow I start packing!

 

[LoriABil]

I'm within a week...I can't believe it! I am having the hardest time concentrating at work. I can't imagine what Z would be like at school, so I'm glad he doesn't know!

So with 1 week left It's time to take inventory of What is Done...and What is left to Do!

What's Done...

1. Snacks bought
2. Birthday gifts bought
3. Clothes bought and laundry done
4. Fish Exchange Gifts made!

What's left To Do...

1. Packing
2. Making Fish Extender (someone is putting it off...)
3. Cleaning House
4. List for Pet Sitter
5. Photocopies of Documents!

The maps for the "treasure hunt" have to be assembled. We have made "clues" to lead Z to each leg of the trip. I'm sure he will think WDW as soon as we get to MCO, but we will be making a side-trip!

Here's the first clue...


There are just two more days
Until you’re turning 8
So your Mom and your Dad
Wanted your present to be great!

These gifts are just for you-
First, A Treasure Map of clues
Each of them leading
To Happy Birthday to You!

And there is one more Gift
That you often have asked for
It’s already full of clothes
So let’s go out the door!

First stop, we’re going north
For our Adventure to begin
Just a little past the place
That you Dance with all your Friends…

The second gift is his big boy suitcase, the place he dances with his friends is the country club (all of his friends like to have dance parties for their birthdays...
He never dances, but he does at the Beach Club!!! The airport is just north of the Country Club.

On another note, Mom, Dad and the family have decided on WDW - staying on site, shooting for October of 2012! Wooohooo!

But first things first. I have to suck it up, get out my old nemesis they call a "sewing machine" and Extend a Fish... Wish me Luck!

 

[LoriABil]

A quick update, then off to finish my Fish Extender.

The weather looks nice, until we actually get to WDW~
Monday, 91 degrees 60% chance of Thunder Storms
Tuesday, 92 degrees, 60% chance of Thunder Storms!

So, at 91 degrees and 1000% humidity, does the rain cool things down, or does it just feel like you're standing outside, fully clothed while taking a hot shower??? I guess we will find out soon.

And while I may be hot and miserable and hot and sweating, and, oh yeah, hot and rain-soaked...I will be miserably hot in the Most Magical Place on Earth~ and that's a great place to be!

On other notes (ones that involve air conditioning) the luggage situation is looking grim. We were hoping to pack a 21-21" suitcase for each of us and one to check (I think it's 26" ???). Even with the laundry plan (doing laundry between cruise and WDW) I am having a hard time. It's the Fish Extenders...Wonder if I should check a separate box. But luggage handlers have me scared.

10 days plus swim gear, dress up gear, my etc. stuff - well, it's hard for me to pare down. And I haven't even attempted the shoes, yet!

I HAVE done something productive, though. I saved our itinerary/daily plan to PDF and put it on (or is it in?) DropBox. Now I can get it from my phone!~ I'm sure it's been done before, but I came up with the idea on my own. And for someone who isn't technically savvy (some might say absolutely barbaric) that is quite a feat. Yay, technology. Now if I could figure out my DVR...

Here's a sample of my magical skillz... (not the updated one. Like I could learn to replace a file!)
Animal Kingdom Daily Plan

PS, I had High Def for 6 months and complained that the picture was no better and a waste of money. I was going to cancel, until my brother realized that I didn't actually have an HDMI cable. Yep, that's me, Mrs. Technology!