The trip we thought would not happen

[KatMark]

After returning home from our Disney trip last September, we talked about going again in 2007. A week after we got home, we found out that my husband was getting a pay cut...and not a small one and would possibly lose his job in January. We thought we could still maybe do Disney if we could get the free dining and went from a moderate to a value hotel. Then in January of this year, he got yet a second pay cut (but was keeping his job) and a day later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our first thought, after worrying if I would be okay, was "there goes our Disney trip." We figured there was no way that we would be able to afford a trip this year with the paycuts and putting two boys through college (one in his last year...but at a private college and the other son in his second year of a five-year plan due to an injury in the sport he participates in), hospital bills, etc. We put the thought of Disney out of our mind. My husband started doing his "summer job" which is umping baseball games whenever he could...nights, weekends, holidays, etc. There were times he did eight games on a weekend. He gave no indication to me of how much he was getting paid for these games at the time and put all the checks away where I couldn't see them (kept saying he wanted to deposit them all at one time). He probably did about 30 games from April through May when he said to me, "call Pam and make Disney reservations as planned; I'm taking you for your 50th birthday." With the money he had made up to that point and the games he still had in June and July, it would pay for our entire trip (room/tickets, airfare, car rental and souvenirs). So, we leave September 1 and return home on September 9. I could not have asked for a better husband or a better 50th birthday present. We will dine at several places we have not yet tried (Liberty Tree Tavern, Restaurant Askershau and Boatwright Dining Hall) and at several of our favorites including Cyrstal Palace, Le Cellier and Mama Melrose. We are counting down...it's getting closer and closer.

 

[dseth]

Sounds like you need some Disney Magic! Love to hear about a man that loves baseball as much as we do! You definitely have a keeper in him

Glad you are going. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[KatMark]

Thanks so much. We are very much looking forward to the trip. The kids will be back at their respective colleges, my dad is coming home from the hospital tomorrow after some minor surgery and I am feeling great. Can't ask for better than that...except being at Disney. Hope you have a great time too!

 

[Wannabe Belle]

Your pre-trip has been great so far, please keep it coming!! (My Mom's name is Kathy!!)

And I am soooo glad you are going to be able to go, Disney has a way of making everything seem right. Have a great time!!

And if you have treatment I pray it goes well!!

Got to go do !!!!

 

[KatMark]

Your pre-trip has been great so far, please keep it coming!! (My Mom's name is Kathy!!)

And I am soooo glad you are going to be able to go, Disney has a way of making everything seem right. Have a great time!!

And if you have treatment I pray it goes well!!

Got to go do !!!!

Thanks. I finished radiation treatments end of April and am now on Tamoxifen for five years. Just had my six-month follow up and all looks great. Another reason to celebrate with Disney Magic! Have a great time on your trip (I will read your pre-report later today after i get settled at the office).

 

[KatMark]

After returning home from our Disney trip last September, we talked about going again in 2007. A week after we got home, we found out that my husband was getting a pay cut...and not a small one and would possibly lose his job in January. We thought we could still maybe do Disney if we could get the free dining and went from a moderate to a value hotel. Then in January of this year, he got yet a second pay cut (but was keeping his job) and a day later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our first thought, after worrying if I would be okay, was "there goes our Disney trip." We figured there was no way that we would be able to afford a trip this year with the paycuts and putting two boys through college (one in his last year...but at a private college and the other son in his second year of a five-year plan due to an injury in the sport he participates in), hospital bills, etc. We put the thought of Disney out of our mind. My husband started doing his "summer job" which is umping baseball games whenever he could...nights, weekends, holidays, etc. There were times he did eight games on a weekend. He gave no indication to me of how much he was getting paid for these games at the time and put all the checks away where I couldn't see them (kept saying he wanted to deposit them all at one time). He probably did about 30 games from April through May when he said to me, "call Pam and make Disney reservations as planned; I'm taking you for your 50th birthday." With the money he had made up to that point and the games he still had in June and July, it would pay for our entire trip (room/tickets, airfare, car rental and souvenirs). So, we leave September 1 and return home on September 9. I could not have asked for a better husband or a better 50th birthday present. We will dine at several places we have not yet tried (Liberty Tree Tavern, Restaurant Askershau and Boatwright Dining Hall) and at several of our favorites including Cyrstal Palace, Le Cellier and Mama Melrose. We are counting down...it's getting closer and closer.

As a follow up to our pre-trip report, we leave in six days and are getting very excited. We have both kids moved in at their respective colleges, have done all the shopping, and made our list of what to pack. We got a little scare the other day and thought we might have to cancel...and, believe me, it would take a lot for us to cancel. My boss, who I have worked for for 33+ years (he is 81 years old and still comes to work three days a week and is writing his 5th or 6th book), suddenly became ill. He had to have emergency quadruple bypass surgery on Friday (he had a pacemaker put in 10 years ago and is a severe diabetic). He is, however, making a great recovery. He is still in intensive care, but the doctor says his recovery is right on schedule if not ahead of schedule. I spoke to his wife last night. He had her call me to see how my dad was who had minor surgery a week ago and he wanted an update on how he was doing. I told them how my dad was doing and then told them if we needed to cancel the trip if I was needed here that I would do it in a heartbeat. I could hear my boss in the background saying if I cancelled he would DISOWN me. Since we have been together 33+ years, he is like my second dad and I am called his "local" daughter since their three daughters are in Boston, Washington and California. So typical of him. So, unless something takes a turn for the worse, we leave next Saturday bright and early in the morning and we can't hold in our excitement. Some prayers for the boss man are welcome...he is a terrific guy and one of the "old school" who believes that family comes before anything else in life. I used to go to the office when the kids were sick and he would lecture me because I was not home with them (my dad would be taking care of them); he felt I should be with them. He would allow me to leave every day at 2:00 or 3:00 when the kids had a sporting event from middle school or high school, etc. He just is one terrific man! Thanks all.

 

[jordanyosh]

You have a great husband. I aspire to be that kind of husband to a wife someday. Wait I'm 45.....I better start looking for that wife.......

 

[TandT]

WOW....what a great hubby!! I can ALMOST relate. Hubby and I are going to WDW in 14 days!! Sept 8-15. We ALMOST had to cancel our trip due to my illness. I have restrictive cardiomyapathy(heart condition)
I'm only 30 years old and was born with this condition. I had spent a week in the hospital and came home VERY weak. Before that I was doing strength traing to build myself up for my trip........then I got sick again. UGH!! But I'm home now and trying to recover and gain back my strength..........hopefully by Sep 8th


Good luck to you and your trip!!! Best of health to both of us!!

 

[KatMark]

Thank you! And get healthy soon and have a great trip to Disney. Here's some Pixie Dust to help you get well quicker.

 

[KatMark]

Well, it is almost time. In about 17 hours, we will be on the plane from Chicago to Orlando for my celebration. We can't wait. We packed last night except for the few items we need in the morning to get ready; we have our Mousekeeping envelopes filled out and ready, we have our travel money and all of our papers and books, etc. We can hardly stand the wait. I will try very hard to remember to take pictures of meals, rides, etc., and will try to do my first ever Trip Report some time after we return to Chicago on September 9. To all those who have just come back, glad you had a great time. And to all those going soon or in the future, have a blast. And be a kid again!

 

[jordanyosh]

Have a great time. Look forward to hearing how the trip went......

 

[dseth]

Have a wonderful time!!!