A Surprise Birthday Adventure!?!

Two weeks ago, John told me he couldn't keep it a secret any longer.  "I've got to have some help, so pack your bags and one for the kids.  I'm taking you somewhere tomorrow for your birthday."
He confessed that he'd thought about packing my bag for me and later telling me we were heading out for lunch and then realized that he would have left something out and that I would have been beyond panicked, not knowing what to expect. 

Second row parking at Epcot!

As my birthday was not for another two and a half weeks, a "surprise" was a little easier to pull off than if it were my actual birthday.  I had a couple of guesses but John went way beyond with planning.  He made reservations for a hotel, meals, and tickets.  I was astonished that he had put so much thought into making my birthday special! We went through a couple years when he didn't remember birthdays and didn't remember Christmas, Valentines day, or a few other occassions.  I suppose I gave him a bit of greif over this because he has made it a big point to make sure (even if early) that he remembers these days and celebrates them in some way. 

John quizzed me on where I thought we were going.  I knew he's wanted to go to the mountains to Octoberfest for a couple years, but we had never been there.  So, I told him I knew this was "out of his comfort zone" and I told him that I thought he had booked something in Orlando. Universal and/or Disney was my best guess.  It is the last couple weeks of Epcot's Food & Wine Festival and I knew he had wanted to go.  We took the kids last year and they were just plain awful.  They were tired, didn't want to be there, and they acted out horribly.  We swore we would never take the kids back when we wanted to eat and drink our way around the world.  Last year, Aston wore most of the foods on his clothes.  He had jerk chicken with mango chutney on his shorts, along with chocolate mousse and he had what was left of two pieces of chocolate cake from France on his shirt.

Shrimp, Lobster Chowder, & Mini Crab Cakes

John surprised me with La Nouba, the Cirque du Soleil, performance with seats in the fourth row.  He booked them on the drive down from my phone's browser and I didn't have a clue.  He made reservations at The Coral Reef restaurant at Epcot.  We debated park hopping but stayed at Epcot from opening to close!  John even made reservations at the Disney Polynesian's Kona Cafe.  We slept in and didn't make it, nonetheless the effort was there.  Just before going home, we played a round of mini golf at Fantasia Fairways.  It was awesome.  It is a mini shrunken course with "sand traps" and water.  I still managed a hole in one on the third hole.

I was exhausted from the drive there and back but we had a great weekend.  I was blown away by the thoughts that John put into making the weekend special.  He was determined that for the third year in a row, we wouldn't spend my birthday at the VA hospital for appointments or tests.  He wanted it to be memorable for me. 

Thanks, John.  It is still a few days away but this has been the best birthday in a while. 

(Friends and readers: I am now a Travel Agent complete with graduating from the Disney College of Knowledge and I'd love to help you plan a magical vacation.  Email me at aflener1@gmail.com and Find the agency on Facebook - Our services are FREE from quotes to park plans and dining with qualifying vacation packages)

Another Magical Disney Trip

October seems like the perfect time for a quick get away for us.  Crowds have gone down and the weather is cooler.  Orlando is now in John's "comfort zone" because it is so familiar to us.  Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party has turned out to be one of our very favorite Disney things.  We've loved our last two years' quick get always.  Why do we love the after hours parties at the Magic Kingdom? Its unique.  Its a little bit cheaper than daily park admission. You get candy (or cookies, apples, hot cocoa if it is Christmas).  What's better than trick or treating around the Magic Kingdom where everyone can dress up and let cast members fill their bags.  Kids (and adults) can dance and party with their favorite characters and the parade and fireworks are spectacular.  I think we actually like the fireworks at the Halloween Party better than any other day of the year!

While we really like family or friends to "tag along" with us when we travel, we have conquered the Halloween Party trips with just us four.  This year we chose to stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort in a Pirate themed room.  The beds were a bit hard and the room was the smallest we've ever had at any Disney Resort but it was still a great treat for the boys who played and imagined their beds were sinking ships under attack and all kinds other scenarios created in their imaginations. 

The resort pool was spectacular and the kiddie pool was the most awesome that I'd seen.  The Grand Floridian's new Wonderland tea cup kiddie pool area is a close rival, but for a moderate resort the pool at Caribbean Beach can't be beat.  A kiddie pool with three waterslides is just amazing and the big pool had multiple waterslides through its castle like fort walls. 

We try to take advantage of good days, and Disney has a way of creating awesome memories.  Lots of pictures and plenty of fun make for great things to look back on.  Everyone needs a little Magic now and then. °O°

(Friends and readers: I am now a Travel Agent complete with graduating from the Disney College of Knowledge and I'd love to help you plan a magical vacation.  
Email me at aflener1@gmail.com and Find the agency on Facebook - Our services are FREE from quotes to park plans and dining with qualifying vacation packages)

A week full of yuck? I was jumping out of a plane and I crashed...here!

Two weeks ago I posted that it was a "seizure free feel good week" and my exceptions were for another great week.  If I'd not posted that I likely wouldn't really recall what a good few days we had.  This week and the one before it has been far from desirable with a few exceptions.  Falls, dizziness, confusion, nightmares, and seizure after seizure.  Last Monday, John rolled off the couch and exclaimed, "I don't know what happened.  I was jumping out of a plane and I crashed....here!" I confess that I chuckled.  Later in the evening he had a seizure episode that was so bad he was not responsive and had quit breathing.  

He asked for help in the bath as typical last week but while I was helping to dry his legs off, he told me that I was the "best wife anybody could ask for."  It really is the little things in life to cherish.  I helped him to the bed and then we later proceeded to play a little bit of our game of Words with Friends while on the couch.  I made wraps for supper and while John was eating, I looked over and panicked.  He was holding his hand out as if clutching his phone, except his hand was empty.  His eyes were rolled back in his head so that only the whites of his eyes were viewable and what was worse was that he was in the middle of eating.  He had food crammed in his mouth and after not responding for bit, I proceeded to do a finger swipe in his mouth that most people only learn about in CPR and First Aid Classes.  He began to regain consciousness and I helped him clear his mouth out as he was choking.  He was obviously startled and I apologized and told him I had my fingers in his mouth because he wasn't responding to me and he just wanted "to go to sleep for a year" at that point.

I let him rest and I escaped to type, checking on him periodically.  It would be so easy to see last week and the last couple days as a bad week but we have our good moments and I suppose that is what keeps us going on the bad days.  Be thankful for the small things, the little things that put a smile on your face, and cherish life to the fullest.

Exciting Times - A seizure free, Feel good week

It has been a great week! John hasn't had any seizure episodes for over a week.  I really can't even tell you when the last time was that we have been a whole week without any sort of fall, increased confusion, or seizure. 

John spent the weekend riding along with a friend at the Sheriff Office to get his hours in for an internship he is doing for a criminal justice class he is currently taking.  We had talked about us leaving for Jesup for the weekend but he felt he really needed to get his hours in and urged me to take the kids and "Go." He tried to assure me that he felt "fine."

I hesitate to hear John use the word "fine" as he uses it when he's on the floor semi-conscious and obviously not "fine."  This time, I knew he had had about 3 good days and I felt comfortable leaving so in a hurry of about 15 minutes the kids (ages 3 and 5) dressed themselves, packed their own bags, I changed clothes, and threw some snacks in a bag, and took off. 

We left in such a hurry that I didn't even take my debit card so we ran by the bank and withdrew some cash and got gas and left on the almost two hours road trip there.  I called John back a time or two and told him we may or may not come home Friday night.  Maybe it would be Saturday but we would just talk and figure it out. 

While I was driving, I realized it had been over a year since I had left John alone for a weekend trip.  I recall very vividly hesitating the last time before the boys and I went to a shower for someone.  John forgot to take his medicines each day that I was not here to remind him. I had even left him a note on the television with the meds on the TV stand.  The note, I might add was on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.  It wasn't your average sticky note.  John had a bad weekend at work.  He couldn't find the patrol car keys, wound up trying to apprehend a criminal, and tazed himself in the process while the patrol car gently rolled into the building where he was trying to subdue the man. 

This weekend, I knew John would be riding and not driving.  He assured me he would take his meds, but I had heard that so many times.  He kept telling me he felt good and that I should stay in Jesup even saying at one point, "See you on Sunday afternoon." 

I can not even begin to say how much I have needed a break.  But this worked.  It felt good.  I really believed that he was "fine" and would be alright until I got back.  I even enjoyed being gone, being in church, visiting with family and friends, and playing with the kids.  It was a "be anxious over nothing" kind of weekend. 

John did take his meds and he was ok.

Thank you God for a weekend break of refreshing renewal and peace.  This week, I expect a good week. No, I expect a great week and a great month.  I'm looking forward to going on vacation in a couple weeks.  A much needed family break.  I believe that we can have the best vacation weekend in a while.  

Last October's "I feel good. Let's go to Disney tomorrow" Trip.