Dress Like a Cow Day!

Ok, technically this happened before our trip, but I was so excited to post Disney pictures I forgot all about it. Once a year Chick-fil-a has "Cow Appreciation Day". If you go to any of their restaurants dressed as a cow you get a free meal. So, I got crafty and resourceful and Roo and I had free dinner!

I printed out the starter pages from the Chick-fil-a website. That gave me cow spots, ears, and the end of tail. I glued the spots onto a white shirt for both of us. Then I found each of us headbands to pin ears to. Since Roo's shirt was huge on her I added a tutu to her ensemble. Then I used her leopard tail from a past dance recital for a tail and made us each a bell necklace.

The Journey Home

Overall the kids did great in the car. Much better than I expected. Being prepared on the snacks and activities front certainly helped. We left Disney behind and visited a friend for her birthday before heading home. On the way they made use of the stickers and markers. I'm sure the kids collaborated on this piece of art. I know I'm biased, but I think it's pretty great.

Miss Roo made up her own ride. The video speaks for itself. Post theme park playing pretend is fascinating.

Day Three: Formerly MGM

What was MGM when I was a kid is now called Disney Hollywood Studios.

This was one of the first stops we made, that morning. Oh, the cuteness. Someday, a girl will accept a marriage proposal from Isaac and I will have so many wonderful videos to show her! We enjoyed the things we did at Hollywood Studios, but it was our least favorite park hands down. They had a lot of stuff Riley was too short for (by an inch for the most part). I think she got bored a few times because she kept asking when were going back to Disney. The people there were rude (other guests) and the staff seemed ineffectual. By the end of the day we had seen more abuse of rental wheelchairs, line cutting, cursing and general bad behavior than you'd except at a high school field trip to Walmart. In the evening we witnessed two children tear a flower out of a planter! We were horrified that anyone would allow their children to behave that way anywhere let alone some where as meticulously landscaped as Disney World.

We did play on the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, see the 3D Muppet Movie, become pirates and ride the great movie ride twice though. Isaac was the rebel spy on Star Tours twice! We also got some great pictures and video.

Riley insisted on wearing her sunglasses so she "looked like a racer." I like how Isaac cozies up to Vanellope like "hey, how you doing" and Riley takes one look and giant Wreck-it Ralph and starts backing up slowly.

Day Two: Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow

I bet some of you had no idea that's what Epcot stood for! Disney Nerd, right here. My Nerdelmiers and I LOVED Epcot! Let me count the ways we loved Epcot:

1. Less Crowded
2. Nemo Ride and Turtle Talk with Crush!
3. The Disney employee who made Riley's Minnie Ear squeak with "Disney Magic"
4. Isaac got his wish to go to China & Riley met Mulan!
5. Captian EO!
6. Journey into Imagination
7. Spaceship Earth
8. Inter-active computer program on spaceship Earth
9. Innovations
10. Isaac was trained for space travel
11. Riley saw Minnie!
12. The Land (awesome green house)
13. Viking ride
14. BEST DINNER EVER
15. Character visits at dinner (Tear-jerker of a video from that)
16. Fireworks
17. Nicest People (staff & guests)

Despite a small set back upon arrival our Epcot day was magical. When we first arrived Roo and I high tailed it to the Ladies room where I flipped my chair with her on my lap while reaching back to close the stall door. It was embarrassing and painful. I was wearing a dress with no pockets so the first thing I did was stand Riley up and hand her my phone. It was in my hand because the "My Disney Experience" App was my park map. After everyone was done in the bathroom I was still stunned and made it all way to the front of the line for the Nemo ride before I realized I didn't have my phone.

After the ride Mike took the kids to talk with Crush and I went racing back to the bathroom to retrieve my phone. It was there, thank goodness. Other than the fact that I had the video camera and Isaac's conversation with Crush didn't get recorded everything was fine. I told them I was glad we had our bump in the road early and now we were done. We had a great morning and then headed to the hotel for lunch and nap/swimming. We were back for our 4:35 dinner reservation.

Booking us a dinner in the park early on our Epcot night was totally the right call. We ate at the Garden Grill which gets all of its produce and fish from their amazing greenhouse on the property. We rode through the greenhouse after we ate, it was something else! It was family style dining so they brought us a large fresh salad to share. The main course was beef, fish and pork (unlimited). There was a berry skillet cake with fresh whip cream for desert. Riley had chicken, broccoli and mac and cheese with gold fish crackers on top!

I'm not a foodie by any means, but knew I'd dream about that food after we left. The waiter was as fabulous as you'd expect at any sit down dinner at Disney. He arranged the plates into a Mickey and spoke to the kids with respect. He was very prompt with refills, but he was upstaged big time!

Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale were making the rounds that night. That was the other reason I picked that restaurant, quality time with the characters. It was absolutely heartwarming! I'll post some videos, be warned you may cry. Mickey and Riley were so sweet. Isaac danced with Pluto too. First trip to Disney memories (:

While Isaac and Mike did Mission Space Riley and I ran into the the character spot (with no wait) and saw Minnie Mouse!! It was a huge deal. They admired each others dresses and hugged. It was beyond adorable. I couldn't have planned it better! To think we were just ducking in out of the rain. After that we met back up with the boys. We decided to get settled into our spot for fireworks. While we were waiting for them to start we had a nice long chat with the girl in charge of the wheelchair section. She told us the actor who does Tigger's voice narrates the firework show among other things. The fireworks were as awesome as we expected. When they were over we shuffled back to our hotel beds.

Epcot Videos

Meeting Mulan

She practiced her smile in line. She said to Mulan "I watch your movie EVERY TIME!" Mulan did not disappoint. She told Riley she was a beautiful princess. She also insisted that Isaac was a warrior and he should high five her.

Meeting Mickey

Riley was star struck. It was adorable. You can't see it very well on the video because I'm in the way, but after Riley hugged him she bent over and kissed his nose. What a job to be hugged by adoring children all day.

Pluto

We saw Pluto a lot throughout the trip, but this was the silliest.

A Video Clip from Our Disney Trip

Isaac had been so excited to ride the monorail and due to me forgetting to put the camera in the right bag we have no video from the morning at all. This was us returning to the park after our car picnic lunch. Later he told his grandma the monorail "wasn't that great." Ha!

Disney Day One: The Magic Begins

Despite a false start in the morning we did make it to the park shortly after they opened. Also, despite it being a Wednesday it was pretty crowded. As we rode the ferry over and got our first glimpse of the castle the excitement really began. We split up briefly so Mike could (as I was advised) run over to Peter Pan for a fast pass while the kids and I ambled over to the teacups. An iconic ride that we could all do together to start us off. Also thanks to the "My Disney Experience" app I knew Alice would be there. I thought a picture of Roo with one of her favorites in front of the tea cups would be a special way to start the day. After some initial excitement she informed me it was not worth waiting in the rapidly growing line. The tea cups on the other hand had no wait!

We bounced around Fantasyland hitting all the big stuff Dumbo, Small World, Peter Pan, the carousel, PhilharMagic and Little Mermaid. We even bumped into Pluto while we were walking around and since there was no line to hug him, he waved us over. Between good research and luck we did well most of the morning. The line was so short for Small World they offered to let us ride a second time! We declined because it was during our fast pass window for Peter Pan. Miss Roo loved that we were flying in a Pirate ship. Also, the black lights in there made all the lanterns on her Rapunzel shirt glow! Timing was on our side for our first princess encounter too. I think we waited less than ten minutes to see Miss Ariel.

She has a beautiful sparkly tail and is seated on a pink clam shell! While we were waiting I got all choked up and had to get in the picture too. Ariel noticed the lights on Riley's Doc McStuffins shoes (Disney head to toe!) and asked if she had glow fish in there. She called Riley a princess and wished her a wonderful day of adventures in the world above. It was awesome.

We took a snack break after that and then jumped in the Haunted Mansion line. I was super excited for the kids to experience this one. I sat with Isaac and Mike sat with Riley. We assured her several times it was pretend and just for fun, like Halloween stuff. The hitchhiker ghost in the mirror was not her favorite, but overall we all enjoyed it. They even gave her a special card when we left that had a picture of Mickey and Pluto and boasted she had been brave enough to ride. She talked the most about the blinking gravestone we saw waiting in line and the stretching pictures from right before you get on. Then we took the monorail for a spin to get back to the car for a picnic lunch. It was peaceful and the impending rain cooled things off quite a bit.

After lunch we found a spot for the parade. That's when the dark clouds really started rolling in and they announced they couldn't do the regular parade. Instead they did their "Rainy Day Cavalcade" it was completely adorable! After that we rode Pirates of the Caribbean which to my delight now features Capt Jack. That was it for us as the weather was terrible and the lines were becoming ridiculous.

We went to check in at the hotel. They had a heated pool and much to my delight a hot tub. Mike took the kids in the pool while I soaked away the rainy weather and all the sitting in the car. Then we went back to the room I gave Riley the Disney princess dolls I brought from home to play with (Rapunzel and Belle). A little bit later I gave her the new dresses and accessories I bought for her dolls at the after Christmas sale. I was a hero! I popped a family sized lasagna in the microwave for dinner and the kids vegged out watching Disney cartoons. I think it was a great day.

I didn't ride my very favorite ride, Big Thunder Mountain, because the line was over an hour and Riley was a few inches shy of the height requirement, but all in all it was a good day. I was surprised how well behaved the kids were even with all the excitement and schedule disruption. I stayed up long enough to check out the pictures, but I think we were all out by 9pm.

Off to Disney (A Poem by Katie Calahan)

Miss Roo and the rest are carefully packed.
This magical day waits to be attacked!
We've stocked the backseat with things to engage us.
We'll scurry around like Jaq and Gus-Gus.
Like vines up castle walls, anticipation grows and climbs.
It's like Christmas a million times!
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! Our pumpkin will become a coach and whisk us away!
Tell Goofy and Donald we're coming to play.
To the home of the mouse we'll journey today.
There may even be a few Mickeys hidden, to find on the way.

Say Cheers!!
Mousketeers, don your ears!
Stand proud and declare it's Disney or bust!
Don't forget to smile, it's a must!
Pose for a picture, then off to the car
Remember anything can happen when you wish upon a star!
Happy un-birthdays to all!
No reason left to stall.
Like pirates with a map to treasure, we've a GPS so clever to show us the way
I hear the hotel has a breakfast buffet.
Mom and Dad armed with cups full of coffee have sat.
Ready to navigate traffic as tricky as the Cheshire Cat.
Seat belts buckled, remember to keep hands and arms inside!
We agree the Tea Cups will be the very first ride
Jeepers, it's still dark outside
Oops! The camcorder left at home still plugged in!
We'll have to retrace our steps, before the trip can begin

We've dotted the T's and crossed the I's.
The kids can't wait to shrink to a tenth of their size
We'll spin in teacups and fly on elephants
Take some pictures while we hug our character friends.
Back to the car for some Mickey themed food
Then to the parts of the park we haven't yet viewed
The happiest place on the Earth, almost there
Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair!

Disney Reveal Scavenger Hunt

We decided to take the kids to Disney World for their first time ever, but we didn't want to just tell them. We kept it a secret until the night before. They knew we were leaving, but not where we were going. I gathered Disney related shirts, toys and stickers from party store and Disney store clearance sales and hid them away for the reveal. It was two birds really because it made finding out exciting and eliminated the need to visit any gift shops on Disney property (Amen!). I wrote a list of cute rhyming clues. Mike helped me fine tune and re-write them so that they led to each other.

There were three clues per child and then one clue to follow together and the answer card. I just used bright colored index cards (pink for Roo, green or orange for Isaac and yellow if it was for both of them). I also stuck a Disney character sticker to each one. The first clue was in plain sight when they came through the door. I had told them when I picked them up from camp/school we were going to do a scavenger hunt to find out where we were going on vacation. The first clue led to Isaac's first prize and a clue for Riley. They alternated from there and we tried to pick hiding spots that befit the item: Monster cup in the bed, Rapunzel shirt up high, etc.

The Hunt

Isaac's First Clue:

Isaac, it is time to flee to your lair,
to the place where you might go to get forty winks,
Be careful if you lay your head down not to scare
any lurkers that might have been having a drink.
Location: His Bed
Prize:
Monsters Inc cup

Roo's First Clue

If fun and fashion are what you seek,
You'll find this bucket in your seat.
Location: Her chair at the table
Prize:
Minnie's Bow-tique Bucket (to hold markers, etc in the backseat)

Isaac's Second Clue:

Before you find out where we're going,
you'll have to find this book.
In the place you'd go to find a towel
is the first place you should look.
Location: Towel shelf in the bathroom
Prize:
Monster's Inc Look & Find Book (Where's Waldo style)

Roo's Second Clue:

One of the furry friends you know has
a headband you'll love with a pink and white bow
Location: The teddy bear on her bed was wearing it.
Prize:
Sparkly Minnie Mouse Ears Headband

Isaac's Last Clue:

First find the throne, and open the lid.
Balloons fly high, so check the back on instid.
The granter of wishes won't be making a splash
but please take him with you to your big summer bash.
Location: Toliet Tank
Prize:
Oz the Great and Powerful Shirt

Roo's Last Clue:

Riley, Riley,
Let down your hair
I'm on top of the lamp!
And your almost there.
Location: Diningroom lamp (with a nice sturdy chair next to it for her to climb up and reach)
Prize:
Tangled Shirt

Clue for Both

Now BOTH of you slink down to the ground
where toys can look you in the eyes,
go to the beast that makes the most sound
there you'll find your last surprise.
Location: Leeloo's Crate
Prizes:
Slinky Dog Toys (from Toy Story)

Answer Card:

Tomorrow, it's time to say goodbye
to Leeloo and our Little Brown House,
and spend some time
at the happy home
of Mickey and Minnie Mouse!
DISNEYWORLD!!

I was really impressed how well the kids did following the clues! I got some smart cookies. Despite the Disney prizes and stickers on the cards not even big brother figured it out before he read the answer. This is the sign I made using a paper towel roll to stamp Mickey heads.

P-P-P-Packing

A few weeks ago Mike gave me a choice: get my car fixed right away or go on a vacation in about two weeks. I miss my car a great deal, but my sanity demanded a break. I chose vacation without hesitation. We've got all our ducks in a row, but the kids don't know where we're going yet. It's so exciting! I started my least favorite part of traveling today: the packing!

Do you think the kids will be ok in there until Wednesday? It's super convenient that I have a suitcase that fits each of them. I'm just kidding! It's not like we're flying. I think the over weight limit fee on checked baggage was about 1/10 the price of a ticket last I checked.

Riley was helping me pack later in the day and every article of clothing she brought me she'd say "Here Mom. Now are we ready? Can we go on the vacation now?" My sentiments exactly, kiddo!

It reminded me so much of this:

What's Gonna Work...

Ok, Ok NOT teamwork. How about waiting patiently and praying? I think those did the trick. There's been this pattern of events and I hesitate to say lately because when I think back it's pretty much life long. Whenever things get really hard and I feel like an old teddy bear coming apart at the seams and end up (by my unceasingly high standards) unprepared I am provided what I need. To be clear, it is always what is needed not always what I wanted. God's mysterious ways or kharma whatever you choose to label this phenomenon it has always been present in my life.

Now, I'm afraid I've given to dramatic an introduction to my mundane, but none-the-less exciting news. With all the running around this summer, car issues, medical drama, etc I suddenly became anxious about school starting in the fall. Not unlike when I applied early decision to college: I knew Roo couldn't stay where she is currently and I had a first choice, but not a single viable back up plan. I sent an email in May after I visited the school adding her to their "interest list." Then I waited.

The paperwork they provided described the usual first spots to continuing students and siblings. I was only told I'd be notified when enrollment opened. I put it out of my mind for months and suddenly it seemed like August was days away and I had no idea what I would do if she didn't get a spot. I emailed to confirm the information I was given and then I waited some more.

Thursday an email arrived at 11am that enrollment had opened! I printed and filled out that form, wrote the check and drove over before even 30min had elapsed thanking God the whole way. When I arrived at the conveniently located campus the doors were locked. I began to sweat. Had I misunderstood? I checked the email on my phone no other address was listed. I stood in front of the glass doors dialing the director of the preschool's number for about 30 seconds before an attractive brunette woman swung the door open and politely inquired if she could help.

She was the principal of their elementary school (which I hope Riley will also attend). She invited me in to sit as I apologized for disrupting the tour she was giving to a perspective student. I sat quietly on a chair watching the minutes tick by and knowing I had to retrieve Isaac from camp by noon which added a whole other level of anxiety to the mix. When the family who had taken the tour left she returned to me still smiling and told me she had sent a text to the preschool director to get permission to take the paperwork from me. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. I was worried she'd send me to drop it off far away. In which case on top of being late to collect Isaac there probably wouldn't be any spots left.

You have to understand this is a charter school whose closest campus had been half an hour away before they announced they were opening their doors quite literally around the corner. Hence, the 90's sitcom like behavior (and resulting situation). Finally, the word came down that the principal would hand deliver Roo's paperwork in the morning. She's in! Yay!!

The Not So Exciting Conclusion

I apologize for letting this post sit in my drafts box, but after everything was said and done I just didn't want to talk about it anymore. In fact, I explained the situation to Riley and let her fill people in when they called that day.

It turns out I have a hormone imbalance that causes very large cysts to grow and subsequently burst every month. Apparently it's common in "skinny girls" according to the Dr. The pain change I felt was the latest one bursting. They saw it clearly on the MRI and confirmed it had burst. The answer at this point is to start taking the pill to prevent ovulation. I'm not sure how long it will take my body to right itself, but I am grateful it isn't more serious. It's such a bummer to have to regulate your hormones when your no longer worried about contraception.

The Dr. maintains removing the whole apparatus or even part, would either do nothing or cause more harm than good. I will follow up with her in six weeks. After my appointment I expected a sense of relief to wash over me, but mostly I feel disappointed. I hate that I subjected my body to that process for a year, I hate the solution and I super hate how long it took to get to it!

So, now I am on the roller coaster of crazy that is restarting the pill after having been on it a decade and off it for four years. Poor Mike. At least I'm (hopefully) done with intense pain waking me up in the middle of the night because that really is the kids job after all. I'm not going to lie I am looking forward to more predictable clear skin too.

Pain Changer

I have been content, well content is too far...more like resigned to living with a degree of abdominal pain that would bring most grown-ups to an emergency room. Every month at least once sometimes two or even three times the pain level would turn up like the volume on an angry teenager's music. It felt like being stabbed in one spot. It was horrible and unrelenting for anywhere between 30min and an hour. I would get sweaty and stay bent over myself. It sucked. But now there's this appointment on the horizon so of course, it changed.

Today shortly before 2:00pm a different pain happened. This time it felt like there was metal in there and I couldn't sit up let alone bent over. Horrified, I called the Dr. My old "friend" the nurse answered and sighed. She told me there was nothing anyone could do for me until I had the ultrasound. She continued with "If you really can't stand it go to the emergency room." I didn't argue with any of this not because I agreed but because I was stunned. Then she said (and I'm positive that this is a direct quote) "If the Dr thought it was serious she'd have asked you to come in by now."

This is when I found my voice and replied "Do you think maybe this information might change her mind?" This is the point where she took down the information and told me she'd speak to the doctor and get back to me. The minutes stretched on for days as I waited with waves of pain crashing over me. Then as is custom when waiting for an important call, I missed it.

I left two tearful messages and hung up on her voice mail once, but still the time stretched out like a surrealist landscape. When I got her on the phone it was clear that emotions were running high on both sides. She told me the doctor can't do anything for me until I get an ultrasound and there isn't a single opening until my appointment in TWO DAYS. I said I could understand the doctor thinking that I'd made it a year so what's two more days, but I wasn't reporting my pain to anyone because they told me it was GI related and I didn't have a GI. Also, IT CHANGED. Hello! Consistent for a whole year and now it's different. Why am I the only one who cares?!?

I don't remember exactly what was said after that point, but the bottom line is I have to wait in pain for my appointment. If I go to the emergency room I will be told to see my Dr. and given a prescription for pain medicine (that I do not want) to the tune of a few hundred dollars. The nurse did offer me 800mg Motrin, but it's not worth the effort since I have Motrin at home. She did also tell me a horrible personal story that scared me more than comforted me. I just need to get one on one with the damn Dr. I have to admit it's surprising how little consideration they gave their misdiagnosis and my pain. It seems to me I should have seen the Dr. on Monday bright and early.

I did find someone to come with me to my horribly timed appointment from which I will be rushing to get Miss Roo from school, sigh. If only I could pause everything else and just deal with this.

Getting Ready for the Next Round

Last night I started really thinking about discussing my test results with the doctor. I had flashbacks of the first time this happened and that even in the emergency room setting I felt like no one was listening. Even after they had gone in laparoscopically for a picture of the mass no one was listening to me. They wanted to send me home doped up and hope it went away on it's own. I fought harder and they agreed to remove it. I'll never forgot the doctor standing at my bedside apologizing to me. Thank God I pushed. The thing is the whole ordeal was supposed to be one of those freak events almost never happens. So why is it happening again?

Even before the pain started I complained that something was wrong. I listened when she said it was nothing, but I refused to go on anything to regulate my hormones. I believe the exact sentiment was "if it bothers you, go back on the pill." Then the pain started and I was sure I knew the score. The clear ultrasound threw me for a loop and doomed me to months and months of more suffering. I stalled under the erroneous belief that it had to be a GI issue.

Now a year out from when the pain started I know I was right and I am terrified. I'm absolutely horror struck that it went on this long. I had to fight to get my results from the cat scan in the right hands. It doesn't bode well for me. I was told things that can't possibly be right in the absence of my doctor.

Today I left a message asking if the Dr. had seen my results. Gloves on, although I've lost track of the round number. The nurse I've grown so disdainful of after the faxing of results fiasco called me back after an hour. The moment of hope I felt glancing at the caller ID was dashed when I answered. Even the sound of her cigarette riddled voice tightened my stomach. "The doctor wants you to have an ultrasound."
[Long conversation about repeating the test when showed nothing at the beginning of the process. Mostly, me making valid points while she repeats her original statement in different ways]
In the end I relented. I will have ANOTHER ultrasound in a few days. The difference is this time the Dr. will see me as soon as am done to discuss all of the results from the scan and the ultrasound.

I'm hoping we have a plan we can agree on by the time I leave, but I'm afraid there will be a long boxing match first. "This the most common cause...." "but this is my history" "True, but the odds..." "The odds of having it the first time..." "It maybe slower this way..." "I've already been dealing with pain that would have sent me to the ER if I did have to work out kid logistics for a year! Now's not the time to hope it goes away..." etc...

This time I have my age and the fact that I've already had a baby working for me rather than against me at least. Maybe I'm paranoid, having not yet actually spoken to the doctor it's hard to know what she thinks. I'm still grateful that at least the fight for answers is over and now it's about a plan.

Abdominal Angst and Answers

Last 4th of July I had a horrible pain in my abdomen. I thought it was terrible cramps, but as it persisted I became convinced it was another fibroid. I had one removed from my uterus 2yrs before I had Riley. It seemed to be effected by hormone levels and I'd only felt that intensity of pain with the necrotic fibroid all those years ago. Despite my certainty I waited months before seeing the doctor.

They took my claims seriously and did an ultrasound immediately. They told me a few days later that it was clear. I was stunned. They told me to go see a gastro intestinal specialist (ick). I waited months and in that time the pain became more frequent and intense. The GI wanted me to go for a scan immediately.

As it turns out, I got my results almost one year to the day from when the pain started. Surprise!! My GI tract is fine. What they saw that alarmed them was a mass on my left ovary. Deja vu! That is exactly how this presented last time. Also "I FUCKING TOLD YOU SO!" As an added bonus the hardware in my back is coming loose! Do I have any pain in my upper back? God yes! Damn my old ortho to hell!

An all day game of phone tag with the GYN has resulted from trying to get them the results. They were faxed at 9:30, but the fax line was down. Then the GI was at lunch so I couldn't give them the new number. Since they re-sent the results I've tried calling the GYN, but have only been able to leave messages.

I hope they take this thing out really soon. It's been hurting me for a long time.