VWL Lovers & Groupies thread: It all started with a Moose

[stopher1]

Sorry for what your FIL is going through. It is great your DW got to go see him. It is great he is smiling now and eating better. We will keep you all in our prayers.

Thanks. Again I'll say, attitude and environment sure do help! Here he is this morning, enjoying the patio outside his dining room. The view, even though not super broad, is unable to ever be changed since there is a public access stairwell right across the street going down to the beach - 110 steps - certainly nothing he can do any longer, but still, it provides a lovely view. His hospital bed is situated inside, facing one of the two sets of sliding glass doors, looking at this same view, except more to the left of this shot, from his living room.

Thanks again guys & gals for the prayers and support. I had a nice conversation with DW late this afternoon, and she is feeling very good right now, even about coming home on Saturday. I asked if she wanted to extend (again), but she said no, not now. But perhaps she'll go back out for a long weekend in October, which is cool with me.

They've had some nice conversations over the past couple of days, and she's feeling very good about the situation at this point. She also said that he seems to be coming to grips with it all more, and while very hopeful, is finally realizing the severity of it, and is openly talking about plans of different kinds. One "plan" he has (though she doesn't see it happening, of course), is to try and have the whole family take a big trip together - he's talking Hawaii, or Alaska, or some such big, "memorable" trip ...something like that. While she indulged his thoughts, we don't see anything like that happening. But the docs and hospice folks have all said not to discourage that kind of talk, and if he feels up to it, and can manage his pain effectively, they are actually encouraging of partaking of such a thing. While nice in theory, it's probably more just for his own mental well being to let him go through the paces of such thinking. But no matter. If it makes him happy to think about, that's great.

Earlier I said he'd have someone in 3x per week to help with his personal needs - well that was only part of the story. Apparently there are 3 different people, all doing something different, who will be in at least 3x per week. One medical, one physical, and one spiritual - plus all of those other volunteers to entertain if he so chooses. Plus there's someone always on call 24/7 if there is an emergency situation that needs attending to, just a phone call away. And then if family absolutely cannot be present for something, they can call and someone will come sit with him for up to 4 hours at at time, though they discourage this except in the most extreme of cases as they really want family to be the first line of action. But he cannot be left alone, for fear of falling again, or breaking something else, so there might be an instance or two when they need to utilize it.

But this picture, which my DW just posted on FB this afternoon, makes me smile. He's thinner than ever before, and sitting in a wheelchair, but he's just happy as a lark right here, so again I say it was entirely worth it to send her out west for a while.

 

[jimmytammy]

twokats

Continued prayers for you, your mom and your family.

Stopher

Thanks for sharing that pic of your FIL. Seeing that view warms my heart with him looking onward that way.

It is so great that we can share our ups and downs of life here on the groupies. No other place, even at church, have I been surrounded by such a caring group of people other than my family. We got something special here folks!

 

[AnnaS]

Thanks for sharing the picture of your FIL. I think he is smiling

 

[stopher1]

Prayers for you and your mom continue twokats.

 

[DaveH]

Dave I am so sorry for what you are going through. I did in-home hospice for my mother, last year. It was the best thing for her! While we knew she was dying (she was in a bit of denial) I know that it made the end for her as good as it could be. My father, who we also lost last year (3 months earlier) it was a better option for him to be in the hospital. It's so different for each patient. Good luck and praying for you and your family.

Thanks, but we went through this a couple of years ago. It does give me a different perspective.

Chris that is a great photo. He looks so relaxed and content.

 

[franandaj]

stopher,
Your FIL looks like he is at least at peace with himself. That is more than I can say that our situation was, you are blessed in that aspect. Things will happen as they are intended, and we just need to realize that there is a greater plan and we will all fit in somewhere.

Best wishes to you and your family and everyone else out there suffering with family difficulties. It's always difficult, we went through about 5 yrs with DPs parents, and my parents are probably 8-10 years away from revisiting this situation. to everyone!

 

[Dizny Dad]

When we know, we can pray . . . This is a good place to share things.

 

[Granny]

A few pix to get us to our happy place...

 

[Muushka]

Thanks Granny, I needed that.

When we know, we can pray . . . This is a good place to share things.

Ok, an update on our continuing saga.
Well, my groupie friends, I made the hardest decision I have ever had to make yesterday. Each of the last four chemo treatments have made Mom weaker and weaker and she has been such a trouper getting through it to go through it again and again. She is really bad this time and was ready to suffer and take the shots and get built up just enough to go at it again, but I prayed and prayed ( I told everyone I even talked to my Dad at the same time, lost him in '75) for two days and when we saw the Dr yesterday, I waited til he had checked everything out and then I told him I thought Mom needed a break from the chemo. I said, she can't take anymore right now and needs a break to get some strength until at least the first of next year. He agreed, so that is where we are.
We will start treatments up again in January and do what she can and when she starts getting weak, then I feel I will ask for another break and so forth and so on. That will be our life until the disease finally wins. I just did not see why she should die from the cure before the disease actually got her. But is was oh so hard to do.
Thank ya'll for your thoughts, prayer and pixie/moose dust. Now we will really start looking forward to the cruise in December which according to my countdown is only 104 days until we leave!!!

That is a hard decision. My husband's grandmother has lymphoma. She was getting so sick on the chemo that she said ENOUGH! (She is an old RN so she knows of what she speaks). Her docs were so mad at her that one even discharged her. That was 4 years ago! It gets down to a quality of life thing. I personally would go for quality any day. But I can imagine how hard it is when you are so close. Prayers for you and your dear Mom.

twokats

Continued prayers for you, your mom and your family.

Stopher

Thanks for sharing that pic of your FIL. Seeing that view warms my heart with him looking onward that way.

It is so great that we can share our ups and downs of life here on the groupies. No other place, even at church, have I been surrounded by such a caring group of people other than my family. We got something special here folks!

I love this picture. Thank you Stopher, for sharing your FIL with all of us.

 

[tea pot]

Hello Groupies

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've been on the boards.
Life does tend to get in the way sometimes for a number of reasons and to say that I missed you guys is an understatement.

I'm in St Pete Beach now at my daughters for the rest of the week.
Yes Yes we did just have a family visit with the Mouse
Sorry but I won't be able to post pictures till I get back home.
As always being in the World is Magical. It was/is very HOT 90+ with 80+humidity (less humid here at the beach )
Still we did have a great time. Labor Day weekend was very busy and crowded but we all had Fast Passes from the Give a Day get a Day Volunteer Program. We made Linus Blankets for an organization in Maine, so we were able to ride Toy Story twice when the wait time was 90 min.... Sweet as the kids would say.
One of the best treats was the Main St Electric Parade.

Now Time to catch up on ???? Pages

But need to send Warm Thoughts and Prayers to Stopher's FIL and family and Kat and her Mom.

Stay well my groupie friends

 

[ethansmommy]

Im not sure if this is the correct place to post this but I have a question about what location to request at the villas. My family and I will be staying at the villas in a studio for the first time this november. We have stayed in the main lodge several times before. Can anyone give me suggestions for good room requests? We would like to be near the pool/not to far from the main lodge with maybe a view of the lake is this possible?? Thank you for any help you might be able to give.

 

[wildernessDad]

Im not sure if this is the correct place to post this but I have a question about what location to request at the villas. My family and I will be staying at the villas in a studio for the first time this november. We have stayed in the main lodge several times before. Can anyone give me suggestions for good room requests? We would like to be near the pool/not to far from the main lodge with maybe a view of the lake is this possible?? Thank you for any help you might be able to give.

Check out the floor plan at the link below.

http://www.jeffreyandjennifer.com/wlvillas_map.pdf

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Anybody here ever done Keys to the Kingdom Tour? We are seriously considering doing it this Dec., kids are over 16 now. Also saw the Backstage Magic Tour, and it looks interesting, but 7 plus hrs may be beyond what we could handle

Any thoughts on the tours?

We did the Keys tour when we were there in June and really liked it. We learned some things we hadn't known. We enjoyed seeing the utilidors and backstage stuff but I think it can take some of the magic out of things for some people. And we enjoyed our lunch at Columbia Harbour house but you only have certain meals you can choose from.

I'm back from my first stay at the VWL and I have to say I was quite impressed

The kids loved the pool and I loved the whole atmosphere -- felt like an oasis away from the craziness that was this trip (we suprised the kids for a quick weekend and I think covered more ground in 2 1/2 days than most people may do in a week!)

Would stay there again in a heartbeat!

Thank ya'll for your thoughts, prayer and pixie/moose dust. Now we will really start looking forward to the cruise in December which according to my countdown is only 104 days until we leave!!!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Twokats!

Thanks. Again I'll say, attitude and environment sure do help! Here he is this morning, enjoying the patio outside his dining room. The view, even though not super broad, is unable to ever be changed since there is a public access stairwell right across the street going down to the beach - 110 steps - certainly nothing he can do any longer, but still, it provides a lovely view. His hospital bed is situated inside, facing one of the two sets of sliding glass doors, looking at this same view, except more to the left of this shot, from his living room.

But this picture, which my DW just posted on FB this afternoon, makes me smile. He's thinner than ever before, and sitting in a wheelchair, but he's just happy as a lark right here, so again I say it was entirely worth it to send her out west for a while.

Our really good friends live in San Clemente!! They don't have quite the view your FIL has though. Just a bit of the ocean from one of their windows. It was fun to visit them though and go to the beach. It is really nice there. I'm glad to hear he is home and in good spirits. I will continue to keep him in my prayers.

 

[stopher1]

Our really good friends live in San Clemente!! They don't have quite the view your FIL has though. Just a bit of the ocean from one of their windows. It was fun to visit them though and go to the beach. It is really nice there. I'm glad to hear he is home and in good spirits. I will continue to keep him in my prayers.

Thanks Allison. Yeah, it IS really nice there. When we still lived out there, we were just a half hour north in Orange (10 min from DL - driveway to parking lot). We would often weekend down in San Clemente. He used to be in a big rambling house that was much more than 1 person needed by himself, up in a huge neighborhood across on the eastern side of the 405, but sold that house and bought this place instead. That house had a tiny glimpse of the ocean, from just one side of the upper balcony, if you strained your head just so. This one is so much better! The places across the street have the REAL view, but none of us complain about this at all. It's simply gorgeous. It's really fun at times, with the binoculars, to watch the dolphins playing from time to time.

Even when he wasn't living in the condo for a while, he insisted on keeping it as the family vacation home. He's insisted that after he's gone, it be kept. He wants his kids and grandkids to be able to enjoy it as much as he has, even if just as a weekender. For us it's no longer a weekender, of course, but does provide a nice place to stay when we're out there. Many business trips I've enjoyed a night or two there, and as a family we've enjoyed multiple days to a week at a time. So that right there, is our own little version of DVC - San Clemente style. We love it there. I would love to live in that community if we ever moved back, but we cannot afford it... at least acquiring the real estate. Even though much of CA real estate values have plummeted, that ocean frontage property just hasn't.

 

[jimmytammy]

Im not sure if this is the correct place to post this but I have a question about what location to request at the villas. My family and I will be staying at the villas in a studio for the first time this november. We have stayed in the main lodge several times before. Can anyone give me suggestions for good room requests? We would like to be near the pool/not to far from the main lodge with maybe a view of the lake is this possible?? Thank you for any help you might be able to give.

Yes, all these are possible, but very few rooms give you all these views at once. The shorter wing nearest the main Lodge area is most likely for all you are wanting. I would ask upon check in for this area, higher room giving better view towards lake. There are lots of trees, so most lake views are obscured. The peace and tranquility of VWL is the best part of being there IMO.

BTW, welcome to the Groupies. You are more than welcome to join in on the fun anytime. Enjoy your trip!

 

[wildernessDad]

I am very happy today. I was told by my boss that my review was good. At my age, I wondered if I were being grand-fathered out. But I am still good!

Oh, btw....

80 days until the Lodge embraces me!

 

[eliza61]

I am very happy today. I was told by my boss that my review was good. At my age, I wondered if I were being grand-fathered out. But I am still good!

Oh, btw....

80 days until the Lodge embraces me!

Marvelous simply maarvvelous

 

[Muushka]

Hello Groupies

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've been on the boards.
Life does tend to get in the way sometimes for a number of reasons and to say that I missed you guys is an understatement.

I'm in St Pete Beach now at my daughters for the rest of the week.
Yes Yes we did just have a family visit with the Mouse
Sorry but I won't be able to post pictures till I get back home.
As always being in the World is Magical. It was/is very HOT 90+ with 80+humidity (less humid here at the beach )
Still we did have a great time. Labor Day weekend was very busy and crowded but we all had Fast Passes from the Give a Day get a Day Volunteer Program. We made Linus Blankets for an organization in Maine, so we were able to ride Toy Story twice when the wait time was 90 min.... Sweet as the kids would say.
One of the best treats was the Main St Electric Parade.

Now Time to catch up on ???? Pages

But need to send Warm Thoughts and Prayers to Stopher's FIL and family and Kat and her Mom.

Stay well my groupie friends

Hello TP! Good to hear from you. Away from us for a month How'd you do it girlfriend???

Linus blankets. Love it. Glad you got to The Mouse.

I am very happy today. I was told by my boss that my review was good. At my age, I wondered if I were being grand-fathered out. But I am still good!

Oh, btw....

80 days until the Lodge embraces me!

Good job WD! 80 days!!!

 

[wildernessDad]

Marvelous simply maarvvelous

Good job WD! 80 days!!!

Thank you! And yes, 80 days!!!!!!

 

[ethansmommy]

Check out the floor plan at the link below.

http://www.jeffreyandjennifer.com/wlvillas_map.pdf

Yes, all these are possible, but very few rooms give you all these views at once. The shorter wing nearest the main Lodge area is most likely for all you are wanting. I would ask upon check in for this area, higher room giving better view towards lake. There are lots of trees, so most lake views are obscured. The peace and tranquility of VWL is the best part of being there IMO.

BTW, welcome to the Groupies. You are more than welcome to join in on the fun anytime. Enjoy your trip!

Thank you both. I think I am going to put a request in for an upper floor room near the main lodge. We cant wait to check out the villas, it will be so nice to have the toaster and micro for breakfast in the mornings.

Can anyone tell me if the refridgerator is the same size as the one in the main lodge or is it bigger? Also does it have a small freezer in it?? One last question, do they provide plates, silverware etc..?