Thank you all.

[Wisconsin Beth]

April 11 - back to Animal Kingdom.  I woke up kinda early and discover my Kindle is on the floor by the foot of the bed, with a crack running from the upper right corner to the middle left side which renders about 1/2 of the touchscreen useless.  I'm heartsick.  We have Fast Passes for Kilimanjaro Safari at 9.  I think we were a bit late due to DH trying to get a GF, DF muffin before we left.  But the Safari ride was excellent.  Cabe is chattering a ton about the animals, the teens behind us opt to be amused by him instead of annoyed, which I appreciate.  DH is working the video for this one.  Keira hadn't wanted to ride it.  She wanted roller coasters.  Cabe hadn't wanted to ride it.  He was afraid it would be scary.  Overrode both of them.  Get off and start down Pangani Trails.  Keira is being sullen.  Talk to DH.  Agree that K and I will take his and Cabe's writstbands and they will finish up the trail, then go back do the Safari again.  We go to do Everest/Yeti ride twice as it's FPed again.  Find suggested place for lunch on way.  Keira is in somewhat better mood.  Meet up with the boys.  Get lunch and move on to Kali River Rapids, our final FP for the day.  Keira and I ride it twice.  DH and Cabe do the Maharajah Jungle Trek.  Keira and I do a quick trip though it after 2nd time on Kali River Rapids.  We got completely soaked on 2nd trip and I am actually feeling comfortable for a change.  Head to Dinoland because Keira wants to do a ride there.  Scott desparately wants a beer so I take both kids on Primeval Whirl.  Get 1/2 though ride and Cabe decides he doesn't like it.  Those whirls and sharp turns are the reason.  I get it but there's we can't stop the ride and get off.  Ride's over and we're going back to resort for pool time.  Can't find Scott (actually this is not the first time we've lost each other in the park, picking out meeting places is not our forte.)  Head back to buses.  Cabe is just dragging.  Every 10 feet is a fight.  He's about 65 lbs - I can't pick him up and carry him anymore.  It's a painful process of coaxing, bribing and reminding him of pool time once we get back.  We're out of water too.  Finally get back to bus stop.  Get on bus and Cabe falls asleep leaning on DH for the last 3 minutes or so of trip.  We start back to resort from bus stop and Cabe pukes repeatedly just outside the doorway to the Zawadi gift shop.  The ladies working there are absolute saints and angels.  They help clean up.  They provide water.  They call 911 to get a paramedic out there to check on Cabe.  And they get us inside to a little cubicle until the paramedics get there.  Cabe, basically, is over stimulated, probably dehydrating and we all agree a quiet night and keeping an eye on him is the way to go.  One of the ladies is some kind of manager because she also helps me reschedule our dinner plans.  We were supposed to go to Sanaa.  End up in Mara place instead.  I'm trying to ride herd on both kids, figure out dinner for 3 of us and explain why they can't have Doritoes for dinner.  Finally say Fuck this to Scott and walk out of restaurant to go sit on a rock.  I'm tired, I'm hot, I'm stressed, I want a drink.  And I want everyone to just shut up so I can think things though for a couple of damn minutes.  And I really need Scott to stop obsessing about HIS diet issues and just focus on getting the kids fed.  And I want my Mommy because SHE would be helping me.  This was the worst day so far.  I am just done.  After a couple of minutes outside, kids are subdued (great, now I'm ruining their trip) and we go back in and order.  Thank God this place sells wine.  Go sit down with kids.  Scott shows up after talking to chef.  Asks if I'm opening wine here or taking it back to the room - which may be the dumbest question he's ever asked me.  Finish eating and go back to room.  At some point we got the kids to take baths. 

[seriousthistime]

Wow, Beth.  I read every word of your Disney adventure story.  It's too bad you're paying all that money and having such a hard time.

I guess my kids must have been a bit older when we went to WDW.  We had no puking, no fussing, and no arguing.  For us, it was the Happiest Place on Earth.  We stayed at the Dolphin and got early entry to the park so the kids and I got up really early and got out of the hotel room in time to get to the gate when the park opened. XH slept late and met us later.  The kids and i ran to Star Tours, did that ride, liked it so much we got back in "line" (there was no line that early) and did it again, then did it a third time. Great memories!  

I bet you'll be amazed how the kids talk about the great things at WDW once they get home. Sometimes it's hard to see what a great time they're having amidst all the whining and crying. 

BTW -- in all the travels with the kids and XH, the person who made it most difficult was XH.  He kept thinking we should have an adult vacation.  That was impossible.  So he'd be whining about all the great places to eat that he couldn't eat at because the kids would be too noisy and unhappy there.  I was always caught between what the kids wanted and what he wanted. I had no preference on most stuff and just wanted them to agree on something.  Anything.  By far the best times I've had traveling were with the kids and without XH.  

Keep the updates coming.  And sorry about your Kindle.


 

[Wisconsin Beth]

April 12 - Epcot.  ON the up side, no one puked in the night.  We got to Epcot a bit after 0900.  Kids are tired and whining.  Cabe is worried that the Seas with Nemo will be fast and/or scary.  Keira is afraid it WON'T be fast or scary.  Tell DH I need him to ride with one of the kids.  It's not fast, it's not particularly interesting and it is dark but it does lead into the Seas Exhibit which I've been looking forward to.  Cabe likes the Seas Exhibit.  He'd have liked to see more sea creatures but overall he's happy enough about it.  Decided to do the Turtle Talk with Crush.  OMG - I just about died of laughter in that - they asked Keira a couple of questions and then moved to her parents.  So we're interacting with Crush.  Dory shows up and it moves to speaking whale.  Crush calls out DH to talk like a whale.  Scott just let loose with his best remembered whale sounds and I practically pee'd in my pants laughing so hard.  I so badly needed that show.  BAck later. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

Apr 17, 2015 7:35:46 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Wow, Beth.  I read every word of your Disney adventure story.  It's too bad you're paying all that money and having such a hard time.

I guess my kids must have been a bit older when we went to WDW.  We had no puking, no fussing, and no arguing.  For us, it was the Happiest Place on Earth.  We stayed at the Dolphin and got early entry to the park so the kids and I got up really early and got out of the hotel room in time to get to the gate when the park opened. XH slept late and met us later.  The kids and i ran to Star Tours, did that ride, liked it so much we got back in "line" (there was no line that early) and did it again, then did it a third time. Great memories!  

I bet you'll be amazed how the kids talk about the great things at WDW once they get home. Sometimes it's hard to see what a great time they're having amidst all the whining and crying. 

BTW -- in all the travels with the kids and XH, the person who made it most difficult was XH.  He kept thinking we should have an adult vacation.  That was impossible.  So he'd be whining about all the great places to eat that he couldn't eat at because the kids would be too noisy and unhappy there.  I was always caught between what the kids wanted and what he wanted. I had no preference on most stuff and just wanted them to agree on something.  Anything.  By far the best times I've had traveling were with the kids and without XH.  

Keep the updates coming.  And sorry about your Kindle.


 

YES!!!!  I sometimes think I shield DH from the needs of the kids too much.  Sometimes I think it's not enough.  But yeah, trying to balance out his needs/wants, the kid needs/wants and me sucks.  Each and every time.  And I almost always end up feeling like a failure.  And wondering why he can't seem to think about MY needs and wants - which tend to end up last.  After we were home, he asked me if I bought anything at Disney for myself.  Nope.  Didn't have time to look around much for me.  I did find something I liked but was trying to get the kids to do their shopping. 

And you are correct in that the kids already say they want to go back and that it was great.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Snort, I did not display a ton of patience while there.  I was frustrated, impatient and used the excuse "not driving" more than I should have...

Yeah, we got back Tuesday night.  On Wed. we went out and got a new washing machine.  Delivery is next week Tues. 

I'm torn between wanting Disney to ask me for a review and giving them one regardless.  It's not their fault the weather was 85-90 degrees and sticky.  It's not their fault we (for a variety of reasons) didn't get our butts in gear in a timely fashion every day.  It's certainly not their fault Caleb puked on 2 different days.  It's not their fault it stormed our last night and DH and I used that as an excuse to get out of doing the fireworks show.  It's not their fault we didn't find the character appearance times for most of the parks. 

But it IS their fault I ended up packing up all our shit and moving rooms at 9pm one night due to noisy pipes.  It IS their fault Anna was a snotty bitch.  It IS their fault the waitress forgot to bring the hot part of our breakfast at the Princess Brunch in Norway and then when it did finally come had cross contamination of dairy and probably gluten.  It IS their fault 2 different chefs disagreed on whether or not a meal was GL and DF.  (Chef #2 was right,, she showed me the label.)  It IS their fault the pool closed 2 afternoons because the water wasn't clear enough for the lifeguards to see the bottom.  I'm not arguing with the decision but it's Florida - your pools should have the right filters to handle lots of sunscreens and if you really wanted to, you'd have a fun little bunch of sprays set up to lead into the pool and have it run to a different set of drains to keep the grunge and sunscreen out of the pool, esp. since YOUR rules say "shower first" but you don't have showers in the pool area.  It is their fault that Space Mountain was down both days we were in Magic Kingdom.  And the monorail was down at first but was up after dinner at Chef Mickey's. 

It's also their fault/credit that Goofy and Donald at Chef Mickey's were AMAZING with the kids.  And Glen the waiter there was one of the best we'd had during the trip.  Disney gets fault/credit for that too.  And I watched Queen Elsa be absolutely phenomenal with a shy 3 year old who was hiding in the corner.  And take TONS of pictures with a group of tweens and teens.  She made their days.  They get that one too. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

I'm broke as all hell right now.  Disney ran around $7500, give or take a bit.  Washer is $700.  Doctor bills for my gall bladder are trickling in and we're at $600 so far for that.  We replaced my phone with a Galaxy 5 mini and I need a case and screen protector for it yet.  And then there's my Kindle. 

We promised Keira a kid party and have to figure that out and we're running out of time to do it pre-surgery.  I'm guessing that's going to be a couple hundred at least. 

But yes, a night to drink is a good thing. 

[taz157]

I'm glad that the kids remember it as a great trip even if the parents always don't.  

I'm thinking of taking DD (3.5 years old) to Disney for a few days next month.  I think she'll actually meet the characters and get her picture taken.  Hopefully Anna isn't a bitch then. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

I've gotten 2 emails from Disney since we got back about a survey.  Jeez, we've been back a week. 

Started filing it out today.  Wrote up a fairly detailed bit about the pipe issue and decided I wanted to talk to DH about it.  So I clicked ont he handy "save and resume later" button.  Blew my post away.   

I'm about 28% done with the survey, counting the stuff I have to retype...

[CCL]

Sorry your trip didn't go well. One thing I learned a long time ago about vacations, Disney in particular, is don't plan too much, especially when the kids are involved. We never take trips during busy season. I know, tough to do with school and work. We only go to the parks every other day and spend the alternate days being lazy.

I recommend you complete the survey. Disney has always been very good to us. They may surprise you.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Yeah I'm still working on it.  I think I'm about 90% done. 

[debthaven]

Wow Beth you're a saint. I'm sorry that you're always taking care of everybody else. 

[plugginaway22]

OMG I just read your Disney reports and I can so relate!  We made 2 trips with our kids and I only went the 2nd time so DS would remember it.
I never need to go again.  Our kids also enjoyed it, but probably won't go back until they have kids.  Everything is crowded, overpriced and I guess we just didn't get why so many people LOVE it.  Our first night on arrival, my then 5 year old DD jumped from one hotel bed to the other and didn't make it.  We had to rent a stroller for 2 days because she hurt her ankle and could barely walk.  I also still laugh at a pic I took of the kids with castle in background and DD2 is pouting and looks miserable!  But what fun family memories you will have.  We still joke about jumping on hotel room beds.

[MJ2.0]

Disney is alright if you go in Jan/Feb (slow and cheap season). But that was when X and I went without kids yet. Going with really small kids sounds like something I'd do if the only alternative is stabbing myself with a rusty fork. I know that sounds weird, but a grown-up trip to WDW can be pretty nice. For now DS and I are sticking to beach and local amusement park vacations.

[bean29]

Yeah Beth I am sorry your Disney trip was such a struggle. I prolly missed the thread where you made plans for this trip, but it is nice that the restaurants tell you what is gluten/dairy free. I am lactose intolerant and eating on vacay can be a struggle.

I never took my kids to Disney, they are 18 and 21, If they felt deprived, they would surley give me a hard time, but nada. We did Universal Studios in late Oct/Early Nov when kids were 12.5 and 17, weather was beautiful, we planned nothing ahead of time. I am sure you get more of an experience that way, but also probably likely that the planner gets very harried if things don't work out. DH gets motion sickness on rides. It was always something he ate. He kept telling my kids "your Mother dosn't like amusement parks." I was like wtf? The only ride I have a serious aversion to is the ferris wheel. He didn't fool my kids anyways.

I felt like leaving my husband in Minneapolis and returning home alone one time, I stayed b/c I felt if I left, the kids would have to deal with him on their own (Dd is his personality-she would be fine, DS is more like me, and that might not turn out so well).

I get the feeling like you need a drink to relax. I still drink, but have cut way back, it just felt like, it was too important.

[Wisconsin Beth]

And it keeps on coming.  My friend, the one I joined FB so I wouldn't stalk her house, she passed away on Sun. night/Mon. am.  I found out last night.  We've been friends since we were 2.  She told her mom there's a necklace she wants me to have. 

I am such a mess right now.  I thought I could tell my boss without crying but nope, couldn't do that.  I fully expect my doctor, whom I see today for a pre op thing, to put me back on antidepressants and/or send me back to therapy. 

[seriousthistime]

So sorry to hear it, Beth.

I understand how you feel.  

[Wisconsin Beth]

Thanks. 

Got a bit of good new just now - my "2nd mom" published a book. 

[Deleted]

So sorry to hear about your friend 

What is a 2nd mom?

Gosh, your Disney vacation sounds like my vacations as a single parent. Not fun, more of a chore and no breaks, so very stressful. Was your son sick (as in from germs) or is it possible he is also gluten intolerant (or even both kids)? Random but regular throwing up, diarrhea, and super crabby behavior were the tip-offs for my granddaughter. Life has been so much better for everyone since the doctor figured that out!!! She turned into super-b*tch this weekend & I am pretty sure the restaurant got the GF bun on the wrong burger friday night. Not fun when people turn medical issues into a fad so restaurant doesn't take it seriously. I am going to send them a complaint because their failure to ID the dish from the kitchen probably led to the server mixing up 3 plates that looked the same. I guess from now on if we go there we will just order GF for everyone. Although it is extra cost, making her feel poorly for 2 days isn't worth the few bucks it will cost to make sure.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Thanks.

My 2nd mom is a lady I started working with around the age of 18 or so.  She was 20 years older than me.  She used to call me her daughter (she was kid free by choice) and I could go to her with ANY question/issue/problem I had and she'd help me work though it - and she did this with tons of other people too, although I don't think she called them her kids.   My Mom was kind of jealous of how close we were for a bit but didn't bring that up until she was well over it.  So she's my 2nd mom. 

I really think it was a combo of  nerves/excitement/overheatedness/overstimulated/overtired/etc. that caused him to be sick. 

[taz157]

I'm sorry about friend Beth.

Great news for your second mom!

[Wisconsin Beth]

I talked to her parents last night.  I just stopped by their house and ended up staying over an hour.  I've offered to help clean out C's house with them.

If there are cats to rehome, DH and I talked - he's ok with taking one, if necessary. 

C didn't have a will so her Dad and brother are dealing with probate.  It was just C, no s/o, no kids.  She'd have been a good YMer - she had retirement accounts and invested.  Her house was probably close to being paid off.  She tended to be conservative with her investments and investing in the stock market made her very uncomfortable.  I know she did $17K into it about 12-20 years ago.  I'm not sure if she stayed the course or not though.  She had good health insurance so her OOP max was around $3K. And she was a pharmacist, making 6 figures for at least 15 years.  She did like her travel.  And to shop.  But she was also decent about getting rid of clothing. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

Keira wrote out invites last night for her party.  We bought enough princess themed party stuff to make one puke but she's thrilled beyond belief about it all. 

Family party for her is Sunday.  I need to order a cake. 

FMLA paperwork got screwed up so I'm trying to get a new set done.  At least I have time on this.  And I've got the leave time, everyone involved in this process knows that, it's just the frigging documentation that sucks and is a nightmare.

I found a FB post today about a 2nd or 3rd cousin passing so I called Mom to make sure she knew - this is one of her cousins.  She hadn't heard.  It's not unexpected as J has been in assisted living for 3 years or so.  I think she was in the locked down area due to wandering issues but I could be wrong on that.  That funeral is out of town on Sunday.  So I'm going to C's funeral on Sat. and we've got kid stuff all weekend, including hosting the party for which I need to order a cake, so we are clearly not going to be making that funeral.   

The Channel 10 Great TV Auction is going on now, we keep it on because DH and I are auction junkies.  Keira saw an 18 doll, with book and outfits and begged for it.  I caved and we won it for under $140.  I picked it up and it's an Our Generation doll and like 50 outfits for her.  Seriously, it all barely fits into a 25 gallon tote.  Only the original outfit has tags so I suspect the rest were homemade.  There's like 30 pair of shoes too.  But Keira is in heaven with it all.  We told her it's her b-day gift from us. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

1 more hour and then I'm off for 13 days! yeah, there's surgery involved but still 13 days!

I'll be logging off in a bit so no worries if you don't see me, ok?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Hi everyone,

Sorry about not checking in, but my Kindle doesn't play well with proboards.

I've had my 1st followup. I'm not cleared for work until 6/1/15. So another week off w/ pain meds.  

Worst pain in around my belly button - I found out today that that is where the biggest incision was, which is why it's still hurting like crazy. Hurts to bend, hurts to take deep breaths and it hurts to hiccup even.

I'm down around 5 lbs. from the surgery date - nothing tastes right and while I'm not nauseous or constipated, I'm not very interested in food. I'm trying to make sure I eat and drink enough. I'm still overweight so you don't have to worry abut me wasting away right now. 

Love to you all,

Beth

[Wisconsin Beth]

I'm back to work now.  So far, so good - no pain.  And I'm slogging though the work. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

Kids are done with school now.  We've got care set up for the next 6 weeks or so.  And we're IN the before school care program for fall.  So kids are sort of set.  I shifted my hours for the summer to 8-430, so they can sleep a bit later in the mornings and then I'll drop them off on my way to work.  They're beyond excited about being at H's on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

I think there's a Target shopping trip in our future.  I want them each to have a 2nd swimsuit, they both need sneakers and new Crocs. 

We spent the weekend in Door Co.  I posted some pictures on FB while we were there. 

And I just dropped my phone into the sink in the bathroom.    Doesn't look like much water got into the casing. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

My phone seems perfectly fine now. 

I think DH and I are starting to hit the sweet spot with having kids.  Apparently for us it's 5+.  Who knew?

DH started the kids on Three Stooges shows.  It started with the Hello, hello, hello bit from the dragons on Sofia the 1st.  K giggles like a loon the entire way though and C's not far behind.  I guess they like slapstick comedy. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

I hate our house.  The layout isn't what I want.  The kitchen is crap.  The bathrooms need work.  There's a lot to be painted.  I walk into the house and feel depressed and unhappy.  Which I then take out on DH and the kids. 

I told DH about this again last night.  I told him I'm going to start by finishing up the projects already started.  Adn that I may have to hire help.  He didn't have a whole lot to say.  He knows I hate that house.  And we both know we really can't afford to move OR hire a lot of workers to fix things.  And we're not really capable of doing it ourselves.  But I'm going to try. 

So there's probably going to be an expensive trip to Home Depot/Lowes to buy a belt sander so I can finish off that damn wallpaper in the big bathroom.  Then prime with the mold killer bathroom/moist rooms primer.  Then maybe prime it again. 

1. Buy belt sander.
2. sand down remaining wall paper and areas above tub where paint has bubbled and cracked. 
3. prime and paint. 
The big bathroom needs new flooring and to be regrouted where the wall and tub meets.  Probably wouldn't hurt to deal with the tiles too.  I am NOT doing one of those suround things that just covers up the problems.  DH would like to replace the single sink with a double sink and new cabinet.  Last plumber we had in suggested a new toilet.  IN short, it feels like we'd be damn near gutting the room.  But I'm going to focus on the damn wallpaper for now. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

  Sometimes I really truly KNOW that DH doesn't have a clue of what I do or how I do - about anything and everything, which includes stuff around the house. 

Yesterday afternoon, he calls me from work.  He's been asked to take on a special project, after hours.  He's salary and they're offering an unknown bonus for him to do this.  I'm going to assume that the bonus is going to be as little as they think they can get away with paying him and will end up being insultingly low.  They have asked him for a rough estimate of hours to complete this so maybe they're going to take hours to complete x hourly pay = bonus.  But he's not going to be available much for nights and weekends the rest of August. 

He also tells me that he'd like to get to the land over Labor Day.  Which means I'm going to get stuck dealing with packing up all the camping gear again.  Funnily, I told my immediate supervisor just yesterday morning that I thought we were done with vacations until Christmas.  She covers for me when I'm out and this year every trip has had me out when the payroll needs to be done so she's been scrambling to learn everything and then get it done by Monday am for payroll.  she was happy to hear that.  Now I get to break the news to her that I was wrong.   

I'm also contemplating taking the kids back up to Door Co. for the Perseid shower next week.  And I'm toying with seeing if K's best friend can come along too.  The girls would keep each other occupied but will undoubtedly exclude C from some of their games.  But I think I can keep him amused some.  But I really want to take the kids up for this.  My parents, who own the trailer, might come too.  If that's the case, having another kid is a no go. 

Anyway, this all puts a crimp in my plans to start working on the big bathroom again. 

[taz157]

I'm not sure what you had tried to remove the wallpaper with anything, but something I've used in the past that worked was using liquid fabric softener and water.  It is 1/3 part fabric softener and 2/3 part hot water.  Combine them and spray on the wallpaper, and let it stand for 15-20 minutes.  It should loosened it so it can be peeled off or scrapped off using a scraper.  If it's vinyl wallpaper, score it before you apply the solution.

Good luck removing the wallpaper!