There and back again... A disney addicts tale- Updated 9/18

[happybratpack]

Jumping on board to follow along!

 

[DisMomAmy]

You're off to a great start. Can't wait to read more!

 

[sl_underwood]

Welcome happybratpack!
Amy- Good to see you here!

 

[sl_underwood]

Take off was uneventful. Tigger sang the Little Einstein’s theme as we took off, did the pat pat pat, it was cute. I expected Tigger to have ear troubles but they never came. He watched out the window as everything got smaller. The entire flight, he sat, listening to his headphones and watching out the window. Occasionally, he would grab my hand and point to something or make a comment. He got a bit scared when we landed because it was pretty bumpy but he never cried, just told me he was scared (for us this is a major breakthrough as Tigger rarely uses words, especially when upset). Dh and Lilo slept. Tink listened to her MP3 player and I watched Tigger. Once at the airport, we headed for our connecting flight. Tigger carried his bag proudly and told everyone we met that we were on our way to Mickey’s house. We made it to our connecting flight with just minutes to spare. This time DH made Tigger go potty before we boarded. You live and learn, lol. As with our first flight, this one was just as calm, we were off to a good start. I never did get to sleep. Dh tried to let me on the second flight but I was to excited!

Lilo on the plane

 

[Trentmom]

Sounds like Tigger did really well on the flights

That is too cute about him telling everyone he is on his way to see Mickey

 

[sl_underwood]

He did great. I lost tons of sleep worrying that a flight with Tigger became my worst nightmare. I really was surprised at how well he did through the entire trip. In fact, he was a different little boy. Last night he asked if we could move to Disney World and I actually thought about it There was minimal stimming, few tantrums- mostly on busses, and he seemed to be more alert and talked better. WDW is the best place on earth for him. It truly brings out the best in him.

 

[sl_underwood]

Once we landed around 11:40, we headed to the Magic Express Check in. Check in went fairly quickly. While in line, I checked my messages and there was one from Tigger’s social worker. She stated she needed to talk to me immediately regarding the hearing that had just taken place. This was a closed hearing that I was told not to attend regarding the birth fathers paternity. Of course, I was thinking the worst, knowing they established paternity. Would they give my son to this man he has never really known just because he donated the sperm to create him? Would my son’s fate remain in limbo while we battled for him? I never expected the news I received. Tigger’s birthfather gave up his parental rights, stating it would be best for Tigger to remain with us, as we are his family. I cried like a baby and told my family the news. It was an amazing moment, one I will never forget. The people in line probably thought we were crazy, hugging, crying, and carrying on. Though it wasnt Disney Magic, it certainly made our trip so much more magical!

 

[mari360]

That is GREAT news... I guess his biological father knew he was better with you guys... and you know what he was right..... Congrats on the process being that much easier...

 

[DisMomAmy]

That is wonderful news! I can just picture all of you crying in the ME line! I'm tearing up a bit myself!

 

[Trentmom]

Wow......That is such awesome news


I bet you felt the weight of the world lift off your shoulders at the moment and were able to enjoy your Disney Vacation fully

 

[who said?]

sub.

 

[Msslaydbug]

I can't wait to hear more about your trip. Sounds like Tigger is doing awesome so far on the trip and glad you got the great news !!

 

[sl_underwood]

hi, Msladybug, glad you are enjoying my report!
Who Said- my ds is a big Hannah fan, he thinks he is going to marry her but then again he is only 5.

As for the news, it pretty much kept us from multiple court dates and a fight. Our attorney assured us that we would have kept Tigger in the end (the dad will be in prison till Tigger's 16- that is if he is paroled for good behavior) so no one on Tigger's legal team was worried but I certainly was. We had another child in our home, got him at birth and then had him taken away at 2 because we werent of native american descent. We were told that one was a done deal too. So there is this overwhelming fear with adopting. People think we adopt because we are selfless, so not true, we adopt because my body refuses to carry a child no matter how much I want it to! I would really like another but DH doesnt want to go through this again.

 

[sl_underwood]

Here is Tigger on the ME Bus. He was still extremely excited but a bit tired too by this point. We checked in, got right on the bus but then had to wait on others. This was the hard part. Tigger kept telling the bus to take us to Mickey! He was tired of waiting but held it together pretty well. The bus was noisy and full of excited people which added to Tigger's distress. Thankfully, with the help of DH and the video, Tigger saved that brewing meltdown for a bit later.

 

[Msslaydbug]

What a cute picture !

 

[Trentmom]

What a cutie!!

I am with Tigger...

Get that bus moving.,..why do we have to wait for others


Mickey is waiting

 

[dreamer17555]

Hopping on board. You are so ahead of me. I am just unpacking! I can't wait to hear about your trip. I thought the crowds were okay but I will have to wait and see what you came across.

-Becca-

 

[kileybeth]

Excellent news about Tigger and the paternity hearing. been there done that. Only apathy on our end tho,no real fight ever. But oh the worry.

Don't you just love that ME bus? I will never go to an airport again without thinking of the absolute ease of moving on through w/o retrieving my luggage!

3 cheers for Tigger for holding it together as long as he did! I am usually the one melting down by this point of the trip!

We all did not get the flu, just 2 little ones. And the DS5 only had it for 12 hour period and then was good to go. The littlest one DD2 always takes forever to get over anything so we are actully pretty used to it.

come on check in! Can't wait to hear how it all goes!

 

[sl_underwood]

Dreamer- Glad to see your back! It wasnt the crowds that posed a problem for us, it was all the blasted RAIN but I will get to that later in the report.

 

[sl_underwood]

We finally arrived at POR and went to check in. Tigger was barely hanging on by this point and of course check in couldn’t have gone slower. POR somehow lost Tigger on the reservation and didn’t have him listed at all. I showed them my paperwork and after 45 minutes with a manager, they fixed the error. Tink colored with Lilo and Tigger while they waited on us to finish checking in. Check in took over an hour. They assigned us a room in building 16, not what I requested but Tigger couldnt wait for a room any longer and this one was ready. When we were almost through checking in, Tigger started melting down. He was hungry and tired and it was not pretty. Several guests stared in horror as DH picked him up and carried him, kicking and screaming, to our room. Tink and I grabbed us all some food from the Riverside Mill to bring to them. After lunch, Tigger was much calmer. The kids wanted to swim so we headed to Old Man Island. We must admit, we really enjoyed this pool. Lilo loved the slide and Tigger liked the kids’ pool a lot. After a few hours of swimming, we went back to the room and I headed back to the food court to buy the kids some dinner. While I was gone, Tigger fell asleep. He was so tired.