I am a work at home mom and a mother of two. I have created this blog to discuss my journey with Epilepsy. I'm hoping that it can bring awareness as well as educate others about this neurological disorder. And maybe let someone else living with Epilepsy know that they are not alone.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Epilepsy and your pet
A little late in the day but better late than never! Ironic that my doggy was diagnosed yesterday with the same neurological condition. :-( help spread epilepsy awareness this month!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Scentsy Fundraiser for Epilepsy Awareness
In honor of Epilepsy Awareness Month, I'm using all of my commission for the month of November to donate to the Epilepsy Foundation!! Now is the perfect time to shop! Check out our BOGO FREE Foams along with our sales on Scent and Warmer of the month! Adorable Holiday warmers as well! When you visit my website at www.mycandlebiz.scentsy.us please click on "Epilepsy Awareness Fundraiser" under the "events" to shop under that party. Please let me know if you have any questions! And please feel free to invite friends and share this event! Thanks! :)
NO DRIVING.... AGAIN!
Well, I called my Neurologist yesterday to inform them of all the seizures I've had over the last couple of months. My original diagnosis was JME (Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy). This is a form of epilepsy that causes you to have seizures within the first two hours of waking up. I thought they were crazy when they first told me that. lol But it actually exists. All of my seizures over the past 6 years have been in the morning. My most recent seizure, last week, occured at about 10pm just after I got into bed.
After calling my Neurologist, they told me absolutely NO driving. Suprise, suprise. :( I had also tested positive for Lupus a couple of months ago when my primary physician ran a full blood panel. However, he told me it was possible to get a false-positive. I informed the Neuro nurse of this as well. She said, "oh good". lol Then explained that she wasn't saying oh good as in great. But oh good as in maybe we have an explanation for your seizures afterall. Thousands of people with Epilepsy have no cause. I am one of them. I don't WANT to have Lupus. But I DO WANT an explanation. Personally, one of the biggest problems I have with it is the fact that I have no reason or cause or explanation.
The nurse said that the doctor wants to see me on Monday. I guess there could be a few different things he could want to do. I'm guessing either 1. Change my medication again (I'm already on Lamictal and Keppra) 2. Do another MRI and EEG 3. Get to the bottom of the Lupus diagnosis and hope that if we start to treat that, it could help the seizures. Or 4. Discuss other options. I'm not really sure. But as long as I have a Neuro that is willing to keep trying, I can't complain.
After calling my Neurologist, they told me absolutely NO driving. Suprise, suprise. :( I had also tested positive for Lupus a couple of months ago when my primary physician ran a full blood panel. However, he told me it was possible to get a false-positive. I informed the Neuro nurse of this as well. She said, "oh good". lol Then explained that she wasn't saying oh good as in great. But oh good as in maybe we have an explanation for your seizures afterall. Thousands of people with Epilepsy have no cause. I am one of them. I don't WANT to have Lupus. But I DO WANT an explanation. Personally, one of the biggest problems I have with it is the fact that I have no reason or cause or explanation.
The nurse said that the doctor wants to see me on Monday. I guess there could be a few different things he could want to do. I'm guessing either 1. Change my medication again (I'm already on Lamictal and Keppra) 2. Do another MRI and EEG 3. Get to the bottom of the Lupus diagnosis and hope that if we start to treat that, it could help the seizures. Or 4. Discuss other options. I'm not really sure. But as long as I have a Neuro that is willing to keep trying, I can't complain.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Happy Veteran's Day!
I WEAR THE RIBBON
I
have 449 friends on Facebook. 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in
their lifetime. That means 17 of them will end up with Epilepsy at some
point in their lives. 1 in every 10 people will have a seizure in their
lifetime. That means almost 45 of them will have at least 1 seizure!
Will it be you? Why wait? Help support Epilepsy Awareness NOW! Please
be kind enough to change your profile picture to this photo or any other
epilepsy awareness photo for the month of November. If you can do it
for breast cancer awareness, you can do it for this! Brains are just as
important as boobs!!! :)
Sunday, November 11, 2012
THAT IS EPILEPSY- INJURIES
My epilepsy injuries have consisted of 1 hospital stay with severe concussion, severe punctures to the tongue, chipped teeth, severe lacerations and abrasions to hands and feet, 1 black eye, 5 rides in an ambulance, and an ER visit for my son....... That is epilepsy. Support epilepsy awareness month!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
No caffeine or chocolate? Say it isn't so! :(
CHOCOLATE AND CAFFEINE
I've been doing some reading online this morning to see what some food triggers may be for epileptic seizures. Unfortunately, caffeine was at the top of the list. I'm horrible when it comes to this department, as I usually have 3-4 cups of caffeinated coffee every morning and several sodas throughout the day, along with my all time favorite, sweet tea.
KETOGENIC DIET
I've also read that a Ketogenic Diet can lead to a reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures. The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children. The diet mimics aspects of starvation by forcing the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Normally, the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into glucose, which is then transported around the body and is particularly important in fuelling brain function. However, if there is very little carbohydrate in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source. There is some evidence that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet, and that a less strict regime, such as a modified Atkins diet, is similarly effective. However, research in this area is regarded as having provided insufficient data to produce clear practice parameters for clinical protocols.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet
GLUTEN FREE???
As you can see, everyone seems to have great ideas on the subject. I'm sure different things work for different people, as everyones body is different. I think I'm going to continue to do some research and then take some ideas to my physician and neurologist to see what we can come up with. Hopefully they will have some ideas for me to take into consideration. I highly recommend that before you commit to any change in diet to help control seizures, consult with your doctor first. I'll try to blog my research and progress as often as possible.
I've been doing some reading online this morning to see what some food triggers may be for epileptic seizures. Unfortunately, caffeine was at the top of the list. I'm horrible when it comes to this department, as I usually have 3-4 cups of caffeinated coffee every morning and several sodas throughout the day, along with my all time favorite, sweet tea.
KETOGENIC DIET
I've also read that a Ketogenic Diet can lead to a reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures. The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children. The diet mimics aspects of starvation by forcing the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Normally, the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into glucose, which is then transported around the body and is particularly important in fuelling brain function. However, if there is very little carbohydrate in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source. There is some evidence that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet, and that a less strict regime, such as a modified Atkins diet, is similarly effective. However, research in this area is regarded as having provided insufficient data to produce clear practice parameters for clinical protocols.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet
GLUTEN FREE???
As you can see, everyone seems to have great ideas on the subject. I'm sure different things work for different people, as everyones body is different. I think I'm going to continue to do some research and then take some ideas to my physician and neurologist to see what we can come up with. Hopefully they will have some ideas for me to take into consideration. I highly recommend that before you commit to any change in diet to help control seizures, consult with your doctor first. I'll try to blog my research and progress as often as possible.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Deaths From Epilepsy
November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. Did you know that more than 50,000 people die each year in the U.S. from seizures?
Monday, November 5, 2012
Epilepsy- The Diagnosis
I am 31 years old, happily married, a mother to a 2 year old, and a step-mom to a 14 year old bonus daughter who lives with my husband and I. I've been living with epilepsy for the past 6 years and suffer from Grand Mal Seizures as well as Peti Mal Seizures.
I was first diagnosed in December of 2006 at the age of 25. I had stayed the night at my friend Ambers' apartment and had went outside that morning to talk on the phone. All I remembered was trying to get back in the door not knowing what had happened to me. I had wedge sandals on and my feet were covered in blood as well as my hands and mouth. She immediately became hysterical asking me what happened. I could hardly talk, not knowing myself what had happened. The first thing we had thought was that maybe someone had jumped me. How else do you explain not remembering a single thing and being covered in blood?
She drove me to the hospital emergency room where they immediately admitted me to the hospital. Of course, they had asked my friend several questions about me including drug use and alcohol. She had told them that I had been drinking a lot lately. She left out the part that I had went on a 4 day cruise. So yes, I had been drinking a lot lately. lol They immediately thought I was some sort of alcoholic and began doing blood and urine testing as well as an EEG, which stands for Electroencephalogram. This is a graphical record of electrical activity of the brain. After several tests, they ruled out drug use and alcoholism. (I could have strangled her for that one lol). They then came to the conclusion after the EEG that I had suffered a Grand Mal Seizure. I had a severe concussion so they kept me in the hospital for several days. The blood on my feet and hands were from my muscles clenching up and digging my toes and hands into the pavement.
At that time, I did not have medical insurance. They had prescribed me Lamictal, which was a new medication and was around $1,500 for a 1 month supply without insurance. At that time, there was no generic form of that drug available. Obviously, that was NOT in my budget. I was, however, lucky enough to acumulate a $10,000 hospital bill.
I did not suffer another seizure until mid September of 2007. My then husband, from my previous marriage, and I were on our honeymoon. I had woke up that morning, went to the bathroom, remember walking back to the bed, and that was it. I woke up hanging off of the bed with my then husband on the phone with my dad. I had suffered another seizure. This time, I was not covered in blood. But I did have a pretty good black eye from hitting my face on the safe in the hotel room. He got dirty looks the whole cruise. I can only imagine what they had thought. Though I hated to tell them that if either of us needed to be worried, it would have been him. lol
After we had got married, I was then eligible to be on his medical insurance. I then began taking about 500mg (if I remember correctly) of Lamictal, which was finally covered under a prescription plan. In November of 2008, I had another morning seizure. This time I was in bed on the computer. Needless to say I had busted the screen on the computer. This one was more difficult when I became conscious. I was home alone, with no one there to help clue me in as to what just happened. The first thing I thought of was my ex boyfriend. In that moment in time, I honestly thought he was my current boyfriend. I found my phone, actually remembered his number and called him, and began trying to explain what I thought just happened to me. I remember his voice. He said, "Tris, is this Tris?". I screamed in to the phone in frustration, "YES, it's Tris.... I need you to come home". He replied, "Tris, I think you need to call your husband". I asked him what he meant. I wasn't sure of the year or the month. All I had remembered was him. He then reminded me that we had been broke up for quite some time. He stayed on the phone with me for a few minutes until I calmed down and began to remember where I was, and eventually who my husband was. I can't even begin to explain how embarassing that was. I never told my ex husband the part about me calling an ex boyfriend. Not only was it embarassing. But I felt like I was literally going crazy. How do you forget something like that? Like being married?? Maybe it was a sign. lol Because we later divorced.
My current husband and I became pregnant in 2009. I had not been on seizure medication for the past year because I had lost my insurance through my last divorce. And once again, could not afford the prescriptions. When I was finally put on my husbands insurance, my OBGYN strongly recommended that I go back on my seizure medication while I was pregnant. The side effects of Lamictal while pregnant included a high risk of birth defects. I was not willing to take the medicine. I decided to leave that in God's hands. In the last trimester of my pregnancy, I had 5 or 6 grand mal seizures, all resulting in an ambulance ride to the hospital. I had one of the seizures in the shower. I was getting ready that morning to go to a checkup at the doctor. My husband, Thom, heard a loud crash. I had collapsed in the shower, broke the faucet off of the wall, and had hot water shooting out over my body when he ran in. I'm not sure how he did it. But he had managed to get me out of the shower, into the bedroom, and fully dressed by the time the ambulance arrived. All of this while I was unconcious. The rides in the ambulance seemed like they took forever. Each time I was praying to God that he would save my unborn child. Not only did the ambulance ride seem like an eternity, but I felt like I couldn't breath until we got into the emergency room and hooked up to the monitors for them to check the baby. Each time we were blessed with good news. I realized that not everyone with epilepsy had been so lucky and can't imagine the pain those mothers and families had went through.
On January 2nd of 2010 I gave birth to a healthy 8lb 10oz baby boy. When Kyland was 2 weeks old, I was sitting up in bed feeding him early in the morning. My husband was in the kitchen. He heard the baby crying and ran into the room. I had begun seizing with my 2 week old baby dangling from my arms hanging off of the bed. Thankfully Thom was able to get the baby out of my arms and make sure he was safe. After I came to, he told me what happened. I could see a red mark on my sons head where he hit the night stand next to the bed. We rushed to the hospital, where the E.R. nurses asked me if I really had seizures or if I was really just abusing my child. After going several rounds with the nurses and them requesting my medical records to ensure that I did infact have epilepsy, Kyland was checked out and released. They said that he was perfectly fine. Later, his pediatrician told me that I should never be left alone with my son. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone that can put their life on hold to stay at home with me while my husband is at work every day. I became terrified to pick up my own baby, to hold him, to even be left alone with him.
When Kyland, my son, was a few months old, I had another seizure. I remember the events prior, but not during or immediately after. I had been sitting at the computer desk in the kitchen, with Kyland in his bouncy chair in the floor right next to me. The next thing I know, I'm laying in bed, Kyland is laying on the bed on his boppy pillow right next to me and is tucked in perfectly. I jump up and go look in the kitchen. His chair was bent and items on the bottom shelf of the desk were scattered all over the floor. It was obvious to me that I had a seizure. It was apparent that I had fallen on the baby since his chair was bent. How did we both get to the bedroom and how was he tucked in perfectly right next to me. Some say it was probably instinct for me to get us both to the bedroom and make sure he was ok. I honestly have no clue. But what I do know is that the good Lord and some guardian angels were looking over both of us that day. They had to be. How do you even begin to explain that???
After that incident I've had several more seizures over the past couple of years. They had actually diagnosed me with JME, which is Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. This is basically a form of epilepsy where your seizures occur within the first two hours of waking up in the mornings. I thought the doctor was crazy at first. Of course, the first thing I did was sit down at a computer and try to do research myself. But it made perfect sense. ALL of my seizures were within two hours of me waking up in the mornings. They had added another prescription to my Lamictal. I am now taking Keppra as well as Lamictal, both daily. About two months ago, I had begin having severe pain in my hands, arms, and legs. It would come and go every so often. My primary doctor ran a blood panel and told me that I had came back positive for Lupus. So I've now been referred to a Rheumatologist. I have not been for that appointment yet. But I'm now starting to wonder if one has to do with the other. I've read that seizures can be a symptom of Lupus. But if I had Lupus when I was first diagnosed with Epilepsy, wouldn't they have found that when they did blood panels before? I'm not sure.
A few nights ago as we got in bed, I begun to play around on my ipad, as I usually do when I first lay down. The next thing I knew, my husband was trying to wake me again telling me that I had a seizure. If my diagnoses was JME, then why am I now having seizures at night BEFORE I go to sleep. I have a feeling there is more to my story then what I already know. And am hoping that by posting this blog and documenting my journey, I will meet others that have the same disorder. I would love to share my story as well as hear others, so that we may learn from each other. I can only hope that my blog does not only let others know that they are not alone, but helps to increase Epilepsy Awareness. If only by one person, I will feel like I've accomplished something. November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. Wear your purple proudly!
All I ask is that if you comment on my blog please be respectful. Other than that, please let me know if you have any questions or any advice! Thanks so much and feel free to subscribe!
I was first diagnosed in December of 2006 at the age of 25. I had stayed the night at my friend Ambers' apartment and had went outside that morning to talk on the phone. All I remembered was trying to get back in the door not knowing what had happened to me. I had wedge sandals on and my feet were covered in blood as well as my hands and mouth. She immediately became hysterical asking me what happened. I could hardly talk, not knowing myself what had happened. The first thing we had thought was that maybe someone had jumped me. How else do you explain not remembering a single thing and being covered in blood?
She drove me to the hospital emergency room where they immediately admitted me to the hospital. Of course, they had asked my friend several questions about me including drug use and alcohol. She had told them that I had been drinking a lot lately. She left out the part that I had went on a 4 day cruise. So yes, I had been drinking a lot lately. lol They immediately thought I was some sort of alcoholic and began doing blood and urine testing as well as an EEG, which stands for Electroencephalogram. This is a graphical record of electrical activity of the brain. After several tests, they ruled out drug use and alcoholism. (I could have strangled her for that one lol). They then came to the conclusion after the EEG that I had suffered a Grand Mal Seizure. I had a severe concussion so they kept me in the hospital for several days. The blood on my feet and hands were from my muscles clenching up and digging my toes and hands into the pavement.
At that time, I did not have medical insurance. They had prescribed me Lamictal, which was a new medication and was around $1,500 for a 1 month supply without insurance. At that time, there was no generic form of that drug available. Obviously, that was NOT in my budget. I was, however, lucky enough to acumulate a $10,000 hospital bill.
I did not suffer another seizure until mid September of 2007. My then husband, from my previous marriage, and I were on our honeymoon. I had woke up that morning, went to the bathroom, remember walking back to the bed, and that was it. I woke up hanging off of the bed with my then husband on the phone with my dad. I had suffered another seizure. This time, I was not covered in blood. But I did have a pretty good black eye from hitting my face on the safe in the hotel room. He got dirty looks the whole cruise. I can only imagine what they had thought. Though I hated to tell them that if either of us needed to be worried, it would have been him. lol
After we had got married, I was then eligible to be on his medical insurance. I then began taking about 500mg (if I remember correctly) of Lamictal, which was finally covered under a prescription plan. In November of 2008, I had another morning seizure. This time I was in bed on the computer. Needless to say I had busted the screen on the computer. This one was more difficult when I became conscious. I was home alone, with no one there to help clue me in as to what just happened. The first thing I thought of was my ex boyfriend. In that moment in time, I honestly thought he was my current boyfriend. I found my phone, actually remembered his number and called him, and began trying to explain what I thought just happened to me. I remember his voice. He said, "Tris, is this Tris?". I screamed in to the phone in frustration, "YES, it's Tris.... I need you to come home". He replied, "Tris, I think you need to call your husband". I asked him what he meant. I wasn't sure of the year or the month. All I had remembered was him. He then reminded me that we had been broke up for quite some time. He stayed on the phone with me for a few minutes until I calmed down and began to remember where I was, and eventually who my husband was. I can't even begin to explain how embarassing that was. I never told my ex husband the part about me calling an ex boyfriend. Not only was it embarassing. But I felt like I was literally going crazy. How do you forget something like that? Like being married?? Maybe it was a sign. lol Because we later divorced.
My current husband and I became pregnant in 2009. I had not been on seizure medication for the past year because I had lost my insurance through my last divorce. And once again, could not afford the prescriptions. When I was finally put on my husbands insurance, my OBGYN strongly recommended that I go back on my seizure medication while I was pregnant. The side effects of Lamictal while pregnant included a high risk of birth defects. I was not willing to take the medicine. I decided to leave that in God's hands. In the last trimester of my pregnancy, I had 5 or 6 grand mal seizures, all resulting in an ambulance ride to the hospital. I had one of the seizures in the shower. I was getting ready that morning to go to a checkup at the doctor. My husband, Thom, heard a loud crash. I had collapsed in the shower, broke the faucet off of the wall, and had hot water shooting out over my body when he ran in. I'm not sure how he did it. But he had managed to get me out of the shower, into the bedroom, and fully dressed by the time the ambulance arrived. All of this while I was unconcious. The rides in the ambulance seemed like they took forever. Each time I was praying to God that he would save my unborn child. Not only did the ambulance ride seem like an eternity, but I felt like I couldn't breath until we got into the emergency room and hooked up to the monitors for them to check the baby. Each time we were blessed with good news. I realized that not everyone with epilepsy had been so lucky and can't imagine the pain those mothers and families had went through.
On January 2nd of 2010 I gave birth to a healthy 8lb 10oz baby boy. When Kyland was 2 weeks old, I was sitting up in bed feeding him early in the morning. My husband was in the kitchen. He heard the baby crying and ran into the room. I had begun seizing with my 2 week old baby dangling from my arms hanging off of the bed. Thankfully Thom was able to get the baby out of my arms and make sure he was safe. After I came to, he told me what happened. I could see a red mark on my sons head where he hit the night stand next to the bed. We rushed to the hospital, where the E.R. nurses asked me if I really had seizures or if I was really just abusing my child. After going several rounds with the nurses and them requesting my medical records to ensure that I did infact have epilepsy, Kyland was checked out and released. They said that he was perfectly fine. Later, his pediatrician told me that I should never be left alone with my son. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone that can put their life on hold to stay at home with me while my husband is at work every day. I became terrified to pick up my own baby, to hold him, to even be left alone with him.
When Kyland, my son, was a few months old, I had another seizure. I remember the events prior, but not during or immediately after. I had been sitting at the computer desk in the kitchen, with Kyland in his bouncy chair in the floor right next to me. The next thing I know, I'm laying in bed, Kyland is laying on the bed on his boppy pillow right next to me and is tucked in perfectly. I jump up and go look in the kitchen. His chair was bent and items on the bottom shelf of the desk were scattered all over the floor. It was obvious to me that I had a seizure. It was apparent that I had fallen on the baby since his chair was bent. How did we both get to the bedroom and how was he tucked in perfectly right next to me. Some say it was probably instinct for me to get us both to the bedroom and make sure he was ok. I honestly have no clue. But what I do know is that the good Lord and some guardian angels were looking over both of us that day. They had to be. How do you even begin to explain that???
After that incident I've had several more seizures over the past couple of years. They had actually diagnosed me with JME, which is Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. This is basically a form of epilepsy where your seizures occur within the first two hours of waking up in the mornings. I thought the doctor was crazy at first. Of course, the first thing I did was sit down at a computer and try to do research myself. But it made perfect sense. ALL of my seizures were within two hours of me waking up in the mornings. They had added another prescription to my Lamictal. I am now taking Keppra as well as Lamictal, both daily. About two months ago, I had begin having severe pain in my hands, arms, and legs. It would come and go every so often. My primary doctor ran a blood panel and told me that I had came back positive for Lupus. So I've now been referred to a Rheumatologist. I have not been for that appointment yet. But I'm now starting to wonder if one has to do with the other. I've read that seizures can be a symptom of Lupus. But if I had Lupus when I was first diagnosed with Epilepsy, wouldn't they have found that when they did blood panels before? I'm not sure.
A few nights ago as we got in bed, I begun to play around on my ipad, as I usually do when I first lay down. The next thing I knew, my husband was trying to wake me again telling me that I had a seizure. If my diagnoses was JME, then why am I now having seizures at night BEFORE I go to sleep. I have a feeling there is more to my story then what I already know. And am hoping that by posting this blog and documenting my journey, I will meet others that have the same disorder. I would love to share my story as well as hear others, so that we may learn from each other. I can only hope that my blog does not only let others know that they are not alone, but helps to increase Epilepsy Awareness. If only by one person, I will feel like I've accomplished something. November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. Wear your purple proudly!
All I ask is that if you comment on my blog please be respectful. Other than that, please let me know if you have any questions or any advice! Thanks so much and feel free to subscribe!
Friday, August 3, 2012
My opinion of Chik-Fil-A... eat more BEEF!
With all of the Chik-Fil-A controversy, I thought it was important to attempt to spread awareness. I came across this link, which is very well written. Please take a look. There's so much more to the story than someone saying they are against same sex marriage.... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-badash/chick-fil-a-5-reasons-it-isnt-what-you-think_b_1725237.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=1247372,b=facebook
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Disney World 2012
Growing up, I went with my father and step-mother many times to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We lost my father and step-mother in a tragic Motorcycle accident on October 9th of 2011. This year I was able to go with my husband, 14 year old step-daughter, and 2 year old son. It was truly a blessing.
We had been talking about going for a few months. I would often hear, "he's too young for Disney, he won't remember it". I've always said that I didn't care if he remembered. I would! And I still believe that.
Being military, we were able to get 40% off of our resort stay as well as a HUGE discount on the 4 day park hopper tickets. Not to mention, my son was FREE! And free is ALWAYS good!
As we walked through the parks, all I could think of was being there with my parents for the last time when I was my step-daughters age, and my little brother, Logan, was my sons age. I would point out to Thom, my husband, when we would walk by something familiar to me. "We took a picture in front of the castle, but we stood over there", "We ate at this restaurant", "Dad and I rode this ride together", I would constantly say. Probably to the point of annoyance.
Each night we sat on the dock of the Boardwalk Inn Resort and watched the fireworks. I caught myself beginning to let tears fall a few times. My heart was overwhelmed with the thought of doing this exact thing with my parents that I'm now doing with my own family. I only wish that they could have been there to see my children's faces light up the way they saw my brother and I's.
You see, this vacation to me, was not about Mickey Mouse, Roller Coasters, or a Disney Performance. But for me, it was about creating everlasting memories with my own family, the way my parents did with me. And for that, I'm proud to say, mission accomplished! ;)
We had been talking about going for a few months. I would often hear, "he's too young for Disney, he won't remember it". I've always said that I didn't care if he remembered. I would! And I still believe that.
Being military, we were able to get 40% off of our resort stay as well as a HUGE discount on the 4 day park hopper tickets. Not to mention, my son was FREE! And free is ALWAYS good!
As we walked through the parks, all I could think of was being there with my parents for the last time when I was my step-daughters age, and my little brother, Logan, was my sons age. I would point out to Thom, my husband, when we would walk by something familiar to me. "We took a picture in front of the castle, but we stood over there", "We ate at this restaurant", "Dad and I rode this ride together", I would constantly say. Probably to the point of annoyance.
Each night we sat on the dock of the Boardwalk Inn Resort and watched the fireworks. I caught myself beginning to let tears fall a few times. My heart was overwhelmed with the thought of doing this exact thing with my parents that I'm now doing with my own family. I only wish that they could have been there to see my children's faces light up the way they saw my brother and I's.
You see, this vacation to me, was not about Mickey Mouse, Roller Coasters, or a Disney Performance. But for me, it was about creating everlasting memories with my own family, the way my parents did with me. And for that, I'm proud to say, mission accomplished! ;)
Hollywood Studios
Animal Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Epcot
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