We're Going to Disney!!!!

 

Walt Disney World

Steve's got his Supply-Chain 50 summit in November and it's at Walt Disney World! An email was sent out yesterday with the dates and information that made it a possibility for Gus and I to join him on this very special trip!

The summit is being held at The Grand Floridian Resort INSIDE the park. Of course it is right??? Apparently, the Grand Floridian is one of the best resorts that you can stay at inside the Magic Kingdom. It's a top-notch hotel. Steve will be staying in the hotel for free during his summit. Then... to make things even more enticing, the resort has offered the summit guests, additional nights (before or after the summit) for $200 a night. The rooms for this resort are usually $600-$800 a night... so this is an INCREDIBLE savings!

So we talked about it and I posted something on FB about Disney and my very good friend Krissy (she's my sorority sister) messaged me about Disney. She LOVES Disney (always has) and has gone with her baby (yes, baby) four times this year already. She goes all the time and knows the ins and outs of the Magic Kingdom.

Krissy said that The Grand Floridian is the nicest resort at Walt Disney World. She said it doesn't get any better than that. :-)

 

The Grand Floridian

She offered to help me plan our trip! I gave her our dates (November 13-18) and told her that I'll be with Gus on the 14 and 15 and then Steve will be with us on the 16 and 17. There are two things that I REALLY want to do while we're there.

1) Character Dinner (or breakfast if I have to) at Chef Mickey's

 

Chef Mickey's

I think Gus would LOVE this!! He absolutely LOVES Mickey Mouse and I think the food looks incredible on their dinner menu (it's a buffet). Because Gus is under three, he's free at just about everything (not sure yet if we have to pay for him at the buffet).

2) Very Merry Christmas Party

 

Cinderella's Castle with Christmas lights

This party is epic. There's snow on Main Street USA when you enter the park, it's a special event that requires tickets and it's from 7pm-12am. The park is open the whole time and there are rides open and it's pure magic with all the parades and characters and even Santa. I think Gus would love it, but I KNOW I would love it!!

I'm so excited that we'll be at WDW before Thanksgiving, but we'll still get to experience the holiday decorations and beauty. According to everything that I've read, September through the week before Thanksgiving is considered the BEST time to visit WDW. After Thanksgiving and into Christmas and New Year's is the busiest time to visit- so we'll miss all the crowds.

The plan is to drive down on the 13th and then spend the night in the hotel. Depending on what time we arrive, we could head into one of the parks, or even just go swimming at one of the two pools at the resort (the temps in November are usually around 80).

Krissy is planning out a schedule for me so I can see what options I have. I'd LOVE to have family join us on this trip. My mom is going to be at WDW from November 27-December 4th and so we'll just miss seeing her. My dad maybe would have come if my mom was there at the same time, but since she's not, he's not going to come for this.

I'm hoping that maybe Steve's dad and Sue Ann would want to come down. Steve's Uncle Randy lives in Orlando and I'm sure Steve's dad and Sue Ann could stay with him if they wanted and then come meet us at the hotel. We'll see. I'm obviously able to take Gus by myself each day, but it'll be so much more fun with Steve and if others were with us.

It's been 25 years since I was last at WDW. I had not planned on going to the park until Gus was at least five, but being under three is perfect. He'll have just turned 2.5 and I think will have a good time AND he's free! We won't have to pay for him to get in at all, and food is free at buffets. I think there's a reason this presented itself to us like it did and I can't wait!!!

 

There's a monorail that runs right to our hotel! 

Krissy was saying that Hollywood Studios has a Disney Jr. attraction that her daughter loves. I think Gus would love it too, and I've never been to HS, so I think we'll do that on one of the days that Steve is with us. Krissy also said that there's a bus that runs from the GF to Hollywood Studios and usually the people who stay at the GF don't have to wait very long, because Disney likes to keep those guests quite happy. :-)

 

As if it wasn't already an awesome opportunity, I found out that you can bring in your own snacks and water to the park. We can bring in food to our hotel too, so we'll probably get some breakfast stuff for me and Gus to have instead of eating out. Neither of us eats much for breakfast anyway.

There's also something called Extra Magic Hours and because we'll be staying at the Grand Floridian, we'll get into the park an hour before everyone else! So we can get in at 8am and from 8am-9am it's reserved only for guests staying at selected hotels! How cool is that!!!

In case you can't tell, I'm super excited about this!!! I'll keep everyone posted as we get closer to November, but I am stoked and so thankful that Krissy is helping me with the planning!!!

:-)

A New Toy!!!

 

My new iPad 3

Yesterday we found out that our much awaited, highly anticipated tax return was deposited into our checking account. HUZZAH!! We were able to get a nice refund through the Adoption Tax Credit (after countless hoops to go through), and as a result, we were quite pleased with our return.

We discussed what we needed to do with our money, mainly pay off some bills, including Steve's Mustang, and put the rest into savings. We still have a house in NC that we're paying on and our funds are dwindling.

However, we had talked before about putting a little bit aside to get ourselves a splurge gift. So last night, we talked about our financial plan and what we're going to do, and we decided to go today and get each of us the iPad 3. We will give Gus Steve's old iPad (he has the original) and put all his apps on there and make it as kid-friendly as possible.

I had wanted to get him the Leap Pad for Christmas (they're $100 and then more with accessories). Now we don't have to do that. I want to get the Fisher Price iPad case for it, so if he drops it, nothing will happen to it, but he'll be all set with his very own iPad.

It's kinda ridiculous that our two year old will have his own iPad... don't think that concept is lost on me. Anyway, I absolutely LOVE it. It's like a giant iPhone and all my apps that I have on my phone, transferred over to my iPad (and are still on my iPhone) and didn't cost anything to have them on two devices.

Today was a very good day and I am a very happy girl.  :-)

Child Training Bible

 

Gus's Bible

Not too long ago, I saw a post about the Child Training Bible. It was on one of the homeschooling blogs that I follow and I was intrigued. I decided to look into what it was and I really liked what I saw.

While we were in Michigan, I talked to my mom about it and she said she had a children's Bible that she wanted to give Gus. It's the coolest Bible and one that is kid-friendly. I thought that since I now have a children's Bible for him, I should order the Child Training Bible kit and put it together for us.

Here are a few pictures of his completed CTB:

 

You need your own Bible, highlighters and tabs, and then the kit comes with the cards you see above

 

The Bible is color coded to represent different areas of discipline and then scriptures that correspond to each area

 

The various discipline areas are seen on the main page and then you just pick a tab and read the verse that goes with that area

I really enjoyed reconnecting with the Bible. I'm not an overly religious person, and there are definitely things about the Catholic Church that I disagree with, but I am a firm believer in God, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. 

As a Catholic, we don't really grow up learning Bible verses and aren't taught or encouraged to memorize them. So the Bible isn't something that I've ever put a lot of importance in and I've always viewed it as the inspired word of God. I don't want to debate anyone on this, it's my view and I'm entitled to see things as I choose. I do think it's an incredible book though, and I really enjoyed going through it to highlight verses and put the tabs in their right spots.

I want Gus to have a solid foundation in the Catholic Church. I want him to know Jesus, God, and The Holy Spirit and I do not feel that he has to be older to make this connection. That's where I as a Catholic, have views that differ from others.

We don't go to church right now, because it's impossible to get Gus to sit still and he likes to be loud. When he's a little older, I fully intend on taking him to Mass each week and when he's school-aged, he'll be going to formation classes. I want him to have moral aptitude and to know that we're all here because of God. I want him to know that Jesus loves him and is always there for him.

Anyway... I wanted to share what I bought and put together for Gus. I do have one complaint... and that's that it is all negative stuff. I'd love to see something similar that talks about the positive things that come with childhood and verses that coordinate with them.

:-)

A Year of Gratitude #138

 

A Year of Gratitude #138: Spare Cat Food

Tuesday night the cats were going CRAZY. They were out of food. 

You can always tell when they're out of food because they become obnoxious and annoying. They won't leave you alone, and try to trip you as you walk. They do whatever is needed to get you to notice them, and they all gang up together and make it FIVE TIMES WORSE than just one annoying cat.

I had wanted to go to the grocery store yesterday after my run, but Michelle was coming over and I wasn't in the mood to deal with lugging Gus into the store after being strapped in the stroller for my run. He hates the transition from the car to another thing and back to the car... so I try to minimize it as much as possible. I had to hit the post office, so that was too much.

The cats would have to wait.

If you've never seen my cats, let me just clue you in on a secret. They're FAT. They can go a day (or two) without food and be just fine. Don't tell them that though... they think they're starving if they can't gorge themselves on the cat feeder.

So, when I had a chance to talk to Steve last night, I asked him if we had extra cat food anywhere (I had been looking all day). Thankfully, we had about 1/4 of a bag left and it was in the office closet. MIRACLE!!!

I was able to fill the feeder and I didn't see the cats again until this morning. I'm so thankful that we had extra cat food and I didn't have to endure ANOTHER night of them driving me crazy. >^..^<

What A Day

 

Our Morning Captured in a Picture

We had Gus's two year appointment today. I was quite eager to talk to the pediatrician (Dr. Bear) about his speech and language development, and just to get more info on how he's doing. 

We waited in the lobby for maybe five minutes and this is what Gus looked like while we waited. FUN. And we had not even gone back yet. 

Now, you'd think that his reaction is from associating getting shots (pain) and the doctor, but he hasn't had a vaccine since his appointment in November, and he was just in last month to see Dr. Bear. So I don't know what caused the crying, but he was not a happy boy as we waited to go in.

Once inside, he cried as I undressed him. He cried while the nurse tried to weigh him. In fact, she tried to get me to hold him and weigh myself and then weigh myself without him. I passed on that... no thanks!!

In the end, he was able to get on the scale and he weighed in at 29 pounds. This puts him at the 63rd percentile. His height is now 36 inches (THREE FEET TALL!!!!) and that's the 87th percentile. Lastly, his sweet little head is 18.9 inches, which is the 32nd percentile.

Here are some pictures while we waited for Dr. Bear to come into the room.

Today we discussed Gus's eating, she said he's exactly where she wants him to be with his weight. Not too big and not too small and she said to keep up the great work on that. That's a HUGE relief actually.

Then we talked about his behavior and she said that the "terrible twos" are caused by their brains working quicker than their mouths and their not able to speak their thoughts, so it causes a lot of emotion and stress and frustration. She said the baby sign is helpful and obviously it helps Gus get his needs met.

I told her I was worried about his language development, so she recommended we get his speech and hearing evaluated to be on the safe side. She said she's 99% sure he's okay, but it's better to find out and be 100% sure than to risk not catching something sooner. He has fallen a few times (could it be balance or just being a toddler??) and hates a lot of loud noises (he can obviously hear... but is there something else causing this??). 

I called the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and made appointments for a hearing evaluation (it's an hour long) for June 7th and then he'll go for a speech evaluation on June 20th. The speech eval is two hours long!!

Then we talked about vaccines. I'm so glad that we did, because now the info that I have and the info that they have is aligned. We're moving to a catch-up schedule with Gus and I'm totally fine with that. He'll go back in November for an appointment with the nurse to get his Flu shot and another round of catch-up vaccines. Then when he goes in for his three year appointment, he'll be caught up. :-)

Today they drew blood from his finger (every year they do a Hemoglobin check) and then he had the Pediarix (a combo of DTaP/IPV(Polio)/HepB) and then the Hib (meningitis).

I just got a new train app the other day and I'm SO GLAD I have it. It's just video clips of trains but Gus was sucked into it. He watched while the nurse pricked his finger and drew blood and while he didn't like the blood draw (who does???) he wasn't screaming as I expected.

She was fully expecting him to fight her on the vaccines, but he was watching the train videos and was fine. He cried a little (maybe ten seconds at the most) and then was okay. It was incredible. He cried and cried when he was being weighed and they got his head size and height... but nothing for the real pain.

So we left the doctor's office and headed to Costco so I could get some cat food, tp, ground beef, and snacks. We left and went across the street to Wal-Mart and I picked up a few things as well and we headed home.

While I was at Wal-Mart, Dr. Bear had called and left me a VM. Gus's blood work was back and she wanted to talk to me about the findings and wants him to come back in three weeks to check it again. She said I could call her and talk to her, or just call for an appointment. Hmmmm.

I called her as soon as I was home and waited on hold for about ten minutes. They said she'd have to call back because she was with a patient. Fortunately, her nurse (that did the vaccines) called me and said that Gus's white blood cell count was low. They don't know what's the cause. It could be anemia, could be Leukemia, could be nothing. The protocol is to go in again and have it done and if there's STILL an issue, we go see a blood doctor for more work.

I'm trying to stay positive, but it's still pretty scary. I just pray that he's okay and healthy. I literally do not know what I'd do if there was something seriously wrong with him.  :-(

After we got home and I unpacked the groceries and Costco goodies, Gus took his nap and I talked to my mom on Facetime. We talked for a while and then I hung up and started to attempt to clean the house a bit. It's a disaster.

Gus got up from his nap and we called my mom back so she could see him. We're excited to see her in two days!! WHOO HOOO!!! It's been nine months since I last saw Scott, Christie and the kids and it's been four months since I last saw my mom and dad! It's a long-overdue trip!!

It was like 5:30 and I wasn't sure what I was making for dinner yet. I decided to call Christie and get her enchalada recipe, but I got her voice mail. I decided that by the time she called back and I got started with dinner, I could have been at Taco Thursday and home already. :-) So Gus and I headed out for a date night.

We had a great dinner together. We played trains, cars, and drew together. He seemed to really enjoy himself. He ate well and it was a very enjoyable experience!

 

Nosey Walker

 

Choo Choo!!

 

My date

We headed home and shared a strawberry milkshake. :-)  It started to really rain so we went to the front door and watched the rain. It was a perfect ending to a stressful day.

We are more than ready for daddy to get home tomorrow afternoon. It's just not the same when he's gone, and hopefully he won't be traveling away from us for a long time.