So I need to make certain decisions.
How am I supposed to know if I am making the right ones?
Which path to choose?
I have been really down this week, and I think if I can get past certain decisions I have to make I will feel better.
I am going to start batch cooking again soon...I have been lazy since back from Disney....
In other news...K, my oldest, is thriving since we got him on ADHD meds. I never wanted to medicate my child, but the difference is so great. He is making great grades in school! He can sit still (enough) to learn and remember, his penmanship is legible, and he looks forward to school!
However, A is not doing better. We put him on an antidepressant and it did absolutely nothing. In fact some of his behaviors got worse. He developed a new tick...he now makes a weird sound in his throat when nervous or anxious, which is ALL the time... He doesn't want to go to school anymore...not that I can blame him.
I got his interim report and for the Reading section it said "Child is very below average, contact teacher" Well DUH! He is mentally 4 years old, and they have him in a regular 1st grade class for reading...kmngrwsnm;pweampfnio....that was me hitting my head on the keyboard!
Still haven't had an IEP meeting....still no speech therapy....he came home and told me that he can't eat luch at school because by the time he sits down it is time to pick up...oh and they told him he can't eat yogurt for snack time...owejiowfeoHNIROI...again my head banging in frustration!
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Blogging LIVE from Disney
We are here!
I know, I haven't posted much in a while. I have been too stressed out since Hurricane Isaac.
Ok so real quick for this morning....
A is on a semi hunger strike. I knew he would do this, and I am not fighting it or forcing him to eat. He says his tummy hurts, and I see that look in his eye. The look of not knowing where he is and being terrified about it. His moods have been OK. Much better since we got in and he was able to buy his first toy last night. A Star Wars gun. It is really cute to see him and K, my oldest stalking around with their toys gun shooting imaginary dinosaurs and Storm Troopers...
Hopefully he will eat something today.
Oh and as a PS...
We have been here less than 24 hours and already I saw an irate women tell her son that she "really couldn't even stand to look at him right now!" He looked about 10. Now I don't know what happened right before that, but minutes later she told her daughter off for playing with a rock...she might have been 8.
Come on lady you are on vacation at one of the most expensive places on earth...try to have some fun!
Oh and PPS...
We met a women with her mother and two daughters. One of her daughters was in a wheelchair(the kind that looks like a stroller so you know this child has been in it for a long time). After a discussion we learned that her daughter had brain cancer. She said they were having a great time, but some people gave her looks when she and her family used another entrance to get on a ride...a look that reads "must be nice that they get to cut all the lines"...The lady went on to say that she felt like telling them she would gladly trade her daughter's brain cancer for waiting in any line, any day...
I know, I haven't posted much in a while. I have been too stressed out since Hurricane Isaac.
Ok so real quick for this morning....
A is on a semi hunger strike. I knew he would do this, and I am not fighting it or forcing him to eat. He says his tummy hurts, and I see that look in his eye. The look of not knowing where he is and being terrified about it. His moods have been OK. Much better since we got in and he was able to buy his first toy last night. A Star Wars gun. It is really cute to see him and K, my oldest stalking around with their toys gun shooting imaginary dinosaurs and Storm Troopers...
Hopefully he will eat something today.
Oh and as a PS...
We have been here less than 24 hours and already I saw an irate women tell her son that she "really couldn't even stand to look at him right now!" He looked about 10. Now I don't know what happened right before that, but minutes later she told her daughter off for playing with a rock...she might have been 8.
Come on lady you are on vacation at one of the most expensive places on earth...try to have some fun!
Oh and PPS...
We met a women with her mother and two daughters. One of her daughters was in a wheelchair(the kind that looks like a stroller so you know this child has been in it for a long time). After a discussion we learned that her daughter had brain cancer. She said they were having a great time, but some people gave her looks when she and her family used another entrance to get on a ride...a look that reads "must be nice that they get to cut all the lines"...The lady went on to say that she felt like telling them she would gladly trade her daughter's brain cancer for waiting in any line, any day...
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Open House
Tonight is one of those nights that I wish and wish and wish my kid was not in Special Education...
Open House at my kids' school was tonight. Most of it was been there, done that. A couple of changes that sort of irk my nerves, but nothing major. ie New rule: if a kid forgets their lunch at home, they are SOL. You can no longer bring it to them/to the office for them...supposedly it's all about holding them accountable.
We went to our oldest son's class first. His teacher is very nice. I told her that we are taking him out of school next month and that I would fully explain in an email. She gave me a knowing smile and nod, and said that K has been telling her all about it! I asked her how he was doing and she said she would fill me in when I emailed her. I figure it can't be anything too pressing since she didn't want to schedule a conference like she did with some of the other parents.
So we moved on to A's teacher. Let me stop here and mention the goings on of A's first few days of school. As I mentioned in another post, I brought him to his 1st grade class on the first day of school. I told his teacher who he was and that he should be spending some time in the Special Ed room as well as her class and that we need to adjust his IEP because he needs to start Speech Therapy as well.
Well, as the week goes on, I ask A how school is doing. One day he comes home and tells me "School is OK, but I didn't get any candy today..." I asked what he meant, and he said "Teacher said if we make our numbers we get a candy, but I couldn't do my numbers, so I didn't get a candy." I asked him if he had someone helping him (I even referred back to last year's Aide) or if he asked for help and he said "No one was helping me, I asked for help but no one was helping me..."
Um...What?! He is supposed to have an Aide or Para....why would she give candy to some and not all...why is she giving out candy at all...why would she single out a SPED student???
I then ask if he has been going to his other class and he says "No I spend all day in Mrs----'s class.
Again WHAT?! A full 7 hours in a regular 1st grade class when my son is mentally about 4-5 years old!
Then the straw that broke the camels back...the note cards. In 1st grade they write note cards in class so the kids can practice certain spelling words. Well with no help this is what A came home with
Those I could make out...these below I could not...
Now look I get it. A doesn't "appear" different from most first graders. However, as soon as he starts talking you can tell that he is a little behind. His has an IEP. Plus I sent his new evaluation in the first week, so it's not like the school doesn't know! Per his homework, he was to study these cards for a test in a few days. How were we to get him to study if we couldn't even make out what they were supposed to be?! Not to mention A can barely write his letters and numbers, let alone words on his own.
So I complained to Facebook, and waited to call the teachers until I was much calmer.
I call Mrs---- the 1st grade teacher, and leave a message. She calls me back and says she doesn't know why A is in her class all day, but she will contact the SPED teacher and find out. She calls back later to say starting the next day A will be in the SPED class and 1st grade class 50/50. No explination, no further instructions, nada. OK
A keeps coming home with regular homework, no modifications...so we have spent every night painfully getting through this work. The only way A can write a word or whatever is to have us write it out for him, then below that make dot outline or write it in highlighter and have him trace over it. After every 3 or so letters he starts "Idontwannadothisitstoohard" and usually goes limp and falls to the floor a few times. This process takes about 1 1/2-2 hours!
So I had really hoped to talk to his 1st grade and SPED teachers to find out ways to make this better, plus we really need to update his IEP and get him in Speech.
So we go see his 1st grade teacher and she looks right at us and says "A doesn't really come in here at all much, just for journal time and then he spends the rest of the day in Mrs==='s class." and turns away.
Um SERIOUSLY?! WTF! Just totally ignored us. Before we left I walked up and told her that we were taking him out of school the last week of September...as I am saying this her eyes bulge and a look of disgust? maybe washes over her face. I told her I would email the details, and left. Really?! UGH
The SPED teacher was out sick, so I didn't get anything resolved and now I am just pissed off all over again. The most frustrating part is that this school is the best school for SPED in the parish...and I have never had a major issue before!
So for now, I am just going to...
Open House at my kids' school was tonight. Most of it was been there, done that. A couple of changes that sort of irk my nerves, but nothing major. ie New rule: if a kid forgets their lunch at home, they are SOL. You can no longer bring it to them/to the office for them...supposedly it's all about holding them accountable.
We went to our oldest son's class first. His teacher is very nice. I told her that we are taking him out of school next month and that I would fully explain in an email. She gave me a knowing smile and nod, and said that K has been telling her all about it! I asked her how he was doing and she said she would fill me in when I emailed her. I figure it can't be anything too pressing since she didn't want to schedule a conference like she did with some of the other parents.
So we moved on to A's teacher. Let me stop here and mention the goings on of A's first few days of school. As I mentioned in another post, I brought him to his 1st grade class on the first day of school. I told his teacher who he was and that he should be spending some time in the Special Ed room as well as her class and that we need to adjust his IEP because he needs to start Speech Therapy as well.
Well, as the week goes on, I ask A how school is doing. One day he comes home and tells me "School is OK, but I didn't get any candy today..." I asked what he meant, and he said "Teacher said if we make our numbers we get a candy, but I couldn't do my numbers, so I didn't get a candy." I asked him if he had someone helping him (I even referred back to last year's Aide) or if he asked for help and he said "No one was helping me, I asked for help but no one was helping me..."
Um...What?! He is supposed to have an Aide or Para....why would she give candy to some and not all...why is she giving out candy at all...why would she single out a SPED student???
I then ask if he has been going to his other class and he says "No I spend all day in Mrs----'s class.
Again WHAT?! A full 7 hours in a regular 1st grade class when my son is mentally about 4-5 years old!
Then the straw that broke the camels back...the note cards. In 1st grade they write note cards in class so the kids can practice certain spelling words. Well with no help this is what A came home with
So I complained to Facebook, and waited to call the teachers until I was much calmer.
I call Mrs---- the 1st grade teacher, and leave a message. She calls me back and says she doesn't know why A is in her class all day, but she will contact the SPED teacher and find out. She calls back later to say starting the next day A will be in the SPED class and 1st grade class 50/50. No explination, no further instructions, nada. OK
A keeps coming home with regular homework, no modifications...so we have spent every night painfully getting through this work. The only way A can write a word or whatever is to have us write it out for him, then below that make dot outline or write it in highlighter and have him trace over it. After every 3 or so letters he starts "Idontwannadothisitstoohard" and usually goes limp and falls to the floor a few times. This process takes about 1 1/2-2 hours!
So I had really hoped to talk to his 1st grade and SPED teachers to find out ways to make this better, plus we really need to update his IEP and get him in Speech.
So we go see his 1st grade teacher and she looks right at us and says "A doesn't really come in here at all much, just for journal time and then he spends the rest of the day in Mrs==='s class." and turns away.
Um SERIOUSLY?! WTF! Just totally ignored us. Before we left I walked up and told her that we were taking him out of school the last week of September...as I am saying this her eyes bulge and a look of disgust? maybe washes over her face. I told her I would email the details, and left. Really?! UGH
The SPED teacher was out sick, so I didn't get anything resolved and now I am just pissed off all over again. The most frustrating part is that this school is the best school for SPED in the parish...and I have never had a major issue before!
So for now, I am just going to...
Once a Month Cooking...August
Sorry I haven't posted this sooner but with the start of school I have been preoccupied!
I decided to give Once a Month Cooking another try. I had a few issues with last month's recipes and how much money I spent on food, plus the amount of food I wasted.
So this time I read all the recipes first. I got them here. From that list I decided to make Roasted Tomato Bisque, Dijon Baked Chicken, Crockpot Mongolian Beef, Spinach Stuffed Chicken, BBQ Meatballs, Orange Teriyaki Pork, and Chicken Cacciatore, plus I had some left over pork chops so I made an addition Pork marinade. The other recipes just didn't appeal to me this month, so I skipped them and made these to 6 servings.
I decided this time to do my shopping at Sam's to save money on certain bulk items. From there I purchased a large pack of chicken breasts (containing 6 VERY large breast, that I portioned out for 6 meals), a large pack of THICK pork chops (enough for 4 meals), a package of Flank Steak (which had 3 HUGE steaks, enough for 2 meals plus I cut up the last one for breakfast...steak and eggs!), about 6-7lbs ground chuck (enough for 2 meat loaves AND I portioned the rest into 4 ground beef servings to cook later), and 2 roasting chicken that were on sale...Add in most of the produce, eggs, milk, and diapers, etc and I spent $250. I did have to go to Winn Dixie for a few things I didn't need in bulk, but I only spent a little over $50. So strictly counting the food for these recipes I spent about $225.
Altogether, this yielded me 14 meals, plus 4 servings of ground beef left and 2 whole chickens! Minus the soup, because I only cooked half, which was still a HUGE pot and between my husband, my oldest son and I we ate a whole pot of it in less than a week. That figures to about $16 a meal or $4 a person...and it really is a bit less because of the soup!
I thought it went really well, and I really liked the recipes I chose. In the next few days I will go through each recipe!
I decided to give Once a Month Cooking another try. I had a few issues with last month's recipes and how much money I spent on food, plus the amount of food I wasted.
So this time I read all the recipes first. I got them here. From that list I decided to make Roasted Tomato Bisque, Dijon Baked Chicken, Crockpot Mongolian Beef, Spinach Stuffed Chicken, BBQ Meatballs, Orange Teriyaki Pork, and Chicken Cacciatore, plus I had some left over pork chops so I made an addition Pork marinade. The other recipes just didn't appeal to me this month, so I skipped them and made these to 6 servings.
I decided this time to do my shopping at Sam's to save money on certain bulk items. From there I purchased a large pack of chicken breasts (containing 6 VERY large breast, that I portioned out for 6 meals), a large pack of THICK pork chops (enough for 4 meals), a package of Flank Steak (which had 3 HUGE steaks, enough for 2 meals plus I cut up the last one for breakfast...steak and eggs!), about 6-7lbs ground chuck (enough for 2 meat loaves AND I portioned the rest into 4 ground beef servings to cook later), and 2 roasting chicken that were on sale...Add in most of the produce, eggs, milk, and diapers, etc and I spent $250. I did have to go to Winn Dixie for a few things I didn't need in bulk, but I only spent a little over $50. So strictly counting the food for these recipes I spent about $225.
Altogether, this yielded me 14 meals, plus 4 servings of ground beef left and 2 whole chickens! Minus the soup, because I only cooked half, which was still a HUGE pot and between my husband, my oldest son and I we ate a whole pot of it in less than a week. That figures to about $16 a meal or $4 a person...and it really is a bit less because of the soup!
I thought it went really well, and I really liked the recipes I chose. In the next few days I will go through each recipe!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Been a busy week
Where to begin? Well now that the kids are back in school, I am working 5 nights a week. If you didn't know I am a cake decorating instructor. I normally teach at one account 3 nights a week, now I am teaching at a second account for an extra two nights a week.
I started last week at the new account, and it was the breath of fresh air that I needed. First off, I am replacing someone. Very weird/crazy circumstance that I can't go into here. Let me just say that everyone is glad I am there now, and the students were very thankful that I am shall I say normal!
The kids started school last week. I brought them to there classrooms, and I think the teachers must think I am nuts! First to K's class. I met his teacher and in all of the chaos tried to explain to her that he is newly diagnosised with ADHD. That maybe she should sit him next to her, and that his doctor also suggeseted giving him tasks to do throughout the day that required him to get up. I know I sound strange, but I just want the school year to start off on the right foot.
She kind of nodded and then turned away. I hope to talk to her again soon.
Then to A's class. Now normally he checks in with the Special Ed teachers and they bring him to class. However he wanted me to bring him this time. So we get to his class and again amid the bustleing halls I try to explain to his teacher that he has Asperger's and this morning he decieded not to bring his blanket to school for the first time ever. And how he uses his blanket to calm himself when he has panic attacks...and where can I find his SPED teacher so I can repeat all of what I just said to her...
Again I get a nod before she turns away. I get it...it's the first day of school. I look like that crazy mom not willing to let her babies out of her sight...
I assure you, I am really not that mom.
I started last week at the new account, and it was the breath of fresh air that I needed. First off, I am replacing someone. Very weird/crazy circumstance that I can't go into here. Let me just say that everyone is glad I am there now, and the students were very thankful that I am shall I say normal!
The kids started school last week. I brought them to there classrooms, and I think the teachers must think I am nuts! First to K's class. I met his teacher and in all of the chaos tried to explain to her that he is newly diagnosised with ADHD. That maybe she should sit him next to her, and that his doctor also suggeseted giving him tasks to do throughout the day that required him to get up. I know I sound strange, but I just want the school year to start off on the right foot.
She kind of nodded and then turned away. I hope to talk to her again soon.
Then to A's class. Now normally he checks in with the Special Ed teachers and they bring him to class. However he wanted me to bring him this time. So we get to his class and again amid the bustleing halls I try to explain to his teacher that he has Asperger's and this morning he decieded not to bring his blanket to school for the first time ever. And how he uses his blanket to calm himself when he has panic attacks...and where can I find his SPED teacher so I can repeat all of what I just said to her...
Again I get a nod before she turns away. I get it...it's the first day of school. I look like that crazy mom not willing to let her babies out of her sight...
I assure you, I am really not that mom.
I guess all of this is also compounded by the fact that in a week I am going to tell the teachers that I am taking my kids out of school for a week to go to Disney World. I just know I am going to be their favorite!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Planning a Disney vacation...aka....Universal is not part of Disney World
As you may have heard, we're going to Disney World in less than two months. I have been planning this trip since March.
I heard a statistic that 70% of all people traveling to Walt Disney World (that's the one in Florida) are "Once in a Lifetime" visitors. Meaning that those people go to WDW once and that's it. I have an idea why those people never go back.
Sure the easy answer is money. Disney is freaking expensive...more on that later....
I truly believe the reason most people only go once is because of poor planning.
For instance, if I want to go to the beach...All I have to do is book a hotel room, and pack my swimsuit. Done. No planning, right? Of course that isn't how I would travel to the beach...I would spend hours scouring the inter-webs for the best accommodations for our budget, research the best spots of beach to visit in that area, look into what restaurants they have on the way and nearby, and also plan a day trip to something educational as a back up/when my kids are tired of being at the beach!
Disney is NOT this kind of vacation.
I always hear from people returning from Disney, that it was too hot, too crowded, lines too long, no availability at the restaurants(character meals, dinner shows, and signature restaurants fill up 6 months in advance!!!), and everyone was tired and miserable on the 1 hour drive back to the hotel that claimed to be "minutes" from the main gate! Oh and our ticket to Disney didn't include Universal Studios!
I get it. Walt Disney World is huge, 47 square miles...twice the size of Manhattan! It's confusing! It has 4 theme parks (none of which are Universal Studios), 2 water parks, a huge shopping and dining area, and over 20 resorts (all with different themes and levels of amenities).
Overwhelmed yet? Look at it this way...if you were going to throw down a couple of grand on anything else, you would do your research first! That is the best was to approach a Disney trip.
Now take that into consideration, then add a toddler, a child with Asperger's, and a child with ADHD. Yes it does take me 7 months to plan a Disney vacation for my family.
Over the next few posts I will walk through what I go through to get ready for a vacation like this.
I heard a statistic that 70% of all people traveling to Walt Disney World (that's the one in Florida) are "Once in a Lifetime" visitors. Meaning that those people go to WDW once and that's it. I have an idea why those people never go back.
Sure the easy answer is money. Disney is freaking expensive...more on that later....
I truly believe the reason most people only go once is because of poor planning.
For instance, if I want to go to the beach...All I have to do is book a hotel room, and pack my swimsuit. Done. No planning, right? Of course that isn't how I would travel to the beach...I would spend hours scouring the inter-webs for the best accommodations for our budget, research the best spots of beach to visit in that area, look into what restaurants they have on the way and nearby, and also plan a day trip to something educational as a back up/when my kids are tired of being at the beach!
Disney is NOT this kind of vacation.
I always hear from people returning from Disney, that it was too hot, too crowded, lines too long, no availability at the restaurants(character meals, dinner shows, and signature restaurants fill up 6 months in advance!!!), and everyone was tired and miserable on the 1 hour drive back to the hotel that claimed to be "minutes" from the main gate! Oh and our ticket to Disney didn't include Universal Studios!
I get it. Walt Disney World is huge, 47 square miles...twice the size of Manhattan! It's confusing! It has 4 theme parks (none of which are Universal Studios), 2 water parks, a huge shopping and dining area, and over 20 resorts (all with different themes and levels of amenities).
Overwhelmed yet? Look at it this way...if you were going to throw down a couple of grand on anything else, you would do your research first! That is the best was to approach a Disney trip.
Now take that into consideration, then add a toddler, a child with Asperger's, and a child with ADHD. Yes it does take me 7 months to plan a Disney vacation for my family.
Over the next few posts I will walk through what I go through to get ready for a vacation like this.
Monday, July 30, 2012
It's a Zippidee Do Da kind of day
We are going to Disney World.
Again, yes again.
I have been to the World 4 times on vacation, and dozens more while working there, first on the College Program in 2001-2002, and then for 4 months after Katrina hit in 2005-2006. Disney is my happy place. My drug.
I fell in love with the World as a 12 year old in 1995. I was supposed to go before that. My grandfather was going to take me. My dad was going around the same time, but because he thought I was going with my grandparents he didn't take me. Then my grandfather's trip fell through. So on Christmas day, 1994, when my aunt and uncle asked me if I wanted to go for Mardi Gras, I was a bit skeptical.
My mom and grandparents scrounged up the me for me to go. Funny story: My grandmother won $700 on a slot machine two weeks before we left for this Disney trip. She gave every penny of it to my uncle, for him to split between my 5 year old cousin and me. She said God gave her that money for to go and have fun. I love her!
Not knowing better, my mom packed me up, with mostly t-shirts and shorts, and a pair of Keds. I don't know if any of yall know what Keds are...but they have maybe a 1/16 of an inch of material between your feet and miles of walking! Not great Disney shoes!
Normally, my uncle likes to drive in the early morning hours, a tradition I would continue! However, this trip got delayed. My aunt and uncle owned a poboy(New Orleans style subs) shop at this time, and they had to open, and work through the lunch rush before we could leave. I remember my cousin Markie and I waiting that day. It seemed like it took forever for us to finally get on the road. I think we left sometime around 3pm.
My uncle doesn't like to stop. In fact he is one of those travelers that likes to "make good time". We eat in the car, and only stop for gas, which is where we pee as well...
We arrived around 1-2am. We stayed at Disney's All Star Music Resort, Calypso section. I was so excited. As I sleepily walked to our room, I took in the all the wonderful sights and colors...a 2 or 3 story tall pair of maracas, and everything was bright orange and pink!
I don't remember too much about that trip except for a few details. Markie and I fought like brother and sister the entire trip! I remember him singing "It's a Small World after all.." over and over again, all day, just because I told him to stop.
I remember going to eat at the Coral Reef, a restaurant that shares an entire wall with the Living Seas, a huge ass aquarium. The restaurant makes you fell as if you are dining under water. Ass you step into the restaurant, you have to step down 4 or 5 steps. On the side of these steps used to be bubble machines. Markie, who was in front of me, got distracted by the bubbles(what 5 year old wouldn't?) and to be honest so did I and he stopped mid step, and I tripped over him and landed on top of him.
Disney cast members quickly ushered us to First Aid to make sure I didn't break his arm! Almost 20 years later and I still haven't lived that one down!
I remember renting a watermouse, falling asleep at the Luau,and not wanting to ride scary rides(Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion) until they made me ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (I LOVED IT!). I remember my uncle getting sick after riding the Teacups, and I remember hearing Phantom of the Opera for the first time on the drive up there and back(my aunt and uncle had seen it recently and bought the cd, I LOVED IT, and still do!), and I remember going to mass at the Polynesian(it was outdoors and one of the most peaceful services I have ever been to!).
Most of all I remember having to get a wheelchair on the 3rd day because those wonderful Keds I wore gave me blisters on every area of my feet...I couldn't even tie the laces, let alone walk! Another thing that I haven't lived down yet!
This trip started a lifelong love affair for me with the Mouse. In my next few posts I will talk about my first trip with my husband, our first trip with our children, and planning our current trip-a trip with 8 y/o with ADHD, a 6 y/o with Asperger's, and a toddler!
Again, yes again.
I fell in love with the World as a 12 year old in 1995. I was supposed to go before that. My grandfather was going to take me. My dad was going around the same time, but because he thought I was going with my grandparents he didn't take me. Then my grandfather's trip fell through. So on Christmas day, 1994, when my aunt and uncle asked me if I wanted to go for Mardi Gras, I was a bit skeptical.
My mom and grandparents scrounged up the me for me to go. Funny story: My grandmother won $700 on a slot machine two weeks before we left for this Disney trip. She gave every penny of it to my uncle, for him to split between my 5 year old cousin and me. She said God gave her that money for to go and have fun. I love her!
Not knowing better, my mom packed me up, with mostly t-shirts and shorts, and a pair of Keds. I don't know if any of yall know what Keds are...but they have maybe a 1/16 of an inch of material between your feet and miles of walking! Not great Disney shoes!
Normally, my uncle likes to drive in the early morning hours, a tradition I would continue! However, this trip got delayed. My aunt and uncle owned a poboy(New Orleans style subs) shop at this time, and they had to open, and work through the lunch rush before we could leave. I remember my cousin Markie and I waiting that day. It seemed like it took forever for us to finally get on the road. I think we left sometime around 3pm.
My uncle doesn't like to stop. In fact he is one of those travelers that likes to "make good time". We eat in the car, and only stop for gas, which is where we pee as well...
We arrived around 1-2am. We stayed at Disney's All Star Music Resort, Calypso section. I was so excited. As I sleepily walked to our room, I took in the all the wonderful sights and colors...a 2 or 3 story tall pair of maracas, and everything was bright orange and pink!
I don't remember too much about that trip except for a few details. Markie and I fought like brother and sister the entire trip! I remember him singing "It's a Small World after all.." over and over again, all day, just because I told him to stop.
I remember going to eat at the Coral Reef, a restaurant that shares an entire wall with the Living Seas, a huge ass aquarium. The restaurant makes you fell as if you are dining under water. Ass you step into the restaurant, you have to step down 4 or 5 steps. On the side of these steps used to be bubble machines. Markie, who was in front of me, got distracted by the bubbles(what 5 year old wouldn't?) and to be honest so did I and he stopped mid step, and I tripped over him and landed on top of him.
Disney cast members quickly ushered us to First Aid to make sure I didn't break his arm! Almost 20 years later and I still haven't lived that one down!
I remember renting a watermouse, falling asleep at the Luau,and not wanting to ride scary rides(Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion) until they made me ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (I LOVED IT!). I remember my uncle getting sick after riding the Teacups, and I remember hearing Phantom of the Opera for the first time on the drive up there and back(my aunt and uncle had seen it recently and bought the cd, I LOVED IT, and still do!), and I remember going to mass at the Polynesian(it was outdoors and one of the most peaceful services I have ever been to!).
Most of all I remember having to get a wheelchair on the 3rd day because those wonderful Keds I wore gave me blisters on every area of my feet...I couldn't even tie the laces, let alone walk! Another thing that I haven't lived down yet!
This trip started a lifelong love affair for me with the Mouse. In my next few posts I will talk about my first trip with my husband, our first trip with our children, and planning our current trip-a trip with 8 y/o with ADHD, a 6 y/o with Asperger's, and a toddler!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Overboard
I feel like I have been thrown into the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and I am drowning. I don't know where to begin.
Wow, Stephanie...melodramatic much? Your kid doesn't have cancer, AIDS, or some other incurable and horrifying disease...he isn't dying. He doesn't need a feeding tube. He doesn't need a wheelchair.
And yet, I still want to mourn the loss. I still need to be angry and sad. I've done denial. Thenmaybe I can I will move to acceptance.
Can I also say that I hate the fact that the amount of therapy my child receives is based on what my insurance company decides...
Wow, Stephanie...melodramatic much? Your kid doesn't have cancer, AIDS, or some other incurable and horrifying disease...he isn't dying. He doesn't need a feeding tube. He doesn't need a wheelchair.
And yet, I still want to mourn the loss. I still need to be angry and sad. I've done denial. Then
Can I also say that I hate the fact that the amount of therapy my child receives is based on what my insurance company decides...
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Staring.....Me
I have to remind myself that this is NOT a Lifetime movie, and is just my life! I am a 29 year old wife and mom to 3 boys. My boys are 7, 6, and 1. I love all things Disney, Glee, and cake decorating. I love movies. When I was little and wanted to escape, I used to imagine that life was just a movie....sometimes an overly dramatic, with ridiculous plot twists Lifetime movie! Any moment it was going to be the 3rd act and everything was going to be OK!
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