Summer's Health Update

Summer went on a very early morning adventure with Daddy this week.... they were out of the house by 6:30am to head to Dupont Children's Hospital for a follow-up with her ENT and audiology. 

Backstory: The winter that we started daycare, Summer had an insane amount of sinus & ear infections that I don't know if we could even count due to the fact that no amount of medicine would make them go away.  I've been told by her doctors that she must have a high tolerance for pain because she never complained and I actually had to watch her behavior to tell she was sick.  After months of being sick, she had surgery to put tubes in her ears and remove her adenoids (Feb 2011).  The tubes worked beautifully but before long the sinus infections came back.  So she started seeing an allergist who put her on Zyrtec, Flonase (nose spray) and saline spray.  It was like a miracle!  After about a year, I decided to switch allergists which was mostly due to Cole's asthma and the lack of anything that I felt our allergist had done after the first appointment.  I started taking Cole to CHOP so I decided to take Summer there as well.  Due to nothing coming back on the initial allergy tests (false negatives in young children are apparently usual), I was advised to back down her daily medications and wait for symptoms to start before putting her back on them in order to try to find a pattern to her symptoms.  Around the same time, she failed her 4 year old hearing test at her annual physical.  We went to the ENT that had done her surgery for a check.  She failed the test there in her left ear as well and had a terrible amount of wax in her ear that prevented the doctor from fully examining her.  We did several weeks of drops and when we went back in November it was determined that her tube had fallen out and her eardrum was 30% ruptured.  The doctor said it will hopefully heal on its own and we are waiting for a year and if it doesn't heal she may need surgery to patch her ear drum. 

Then just a couple of days before her follow up with the specialist, her ear started oozing.  I was able to get an emergency Saturday visit with her pediatrician and was told that due to her allergies that we had pulled back her medications for, her sinuses were draining out of the hole in her eardrum.  Talk about gross! He also said that she is most likely allergic to trees since that is the pollen that is very high right now.  He had us put her back on just her Zyrtec and not her nose spray and said to come back in a week if her nose was still disgusting.  He wanted to hold off on antibiotics until the ENT saw her.

Back to her Tuesday visit with Daddy... she was a chatty Kathy all the way down and breezed through her hearing test.  She only couldn't hear the lowest tones.... so woohoo on hopefully no permanent hearing loss once her eardrum is healed.  The bad news is that her ear is severely infected.  He told us to put her back on all of her allergy medications, which include zyrtec, prescription nose spray and saline spray, plus ear drops for a week to clear the infection.  We go back in a month to hopefully see improvement and get ear plugs for her to wear in the pool during the summer months.  We need to keep her ear clear if we want it to have a chance of healing.  Oh and no one can believe that with the size of her tonsils that she doesn't snore or complain of pain, so I'm sure at some point in time they will need to come out but for now we just watch.  Keep Summer in your prayers that her eardrum heals on its own.

My battle with infertility

We are approaching the end of National Infertility Awareness week and I simply can't believe it's now been over 5 years since finally hearing the words uttered over the phone that I was pregnant.  After 2 years of hoping, praying and trying... we were finally successful! 

As much as I wanted to say that I would not make myself crazy while trying to get pregnant... that can only last so long.  Especially when I didn't get my period for 6 months when we first started trying.... do you know how many pregnancy tests you can take when you think... well hey, maybe I miraculously ovulated and immediately conceived and that is why I still haven't gotten my period?! Yup... I peed on a LOT of sticks in those 6 months.  After some testing, I was referred to an infertility specialist, but how could this be??? I was only 25!  However, I consider myself lucky to have a very easily detectible problem because otherwise I would have had to try unsuccessfully for 2 years before treatments would be covered due to my age. 

The majority of my battle was a very dark time for me.  I grew up with a lifelong fear of doctors, needles and panicked at the thought of blood work.  And now I was volunteering myself for frequent early morning doctor's appointments complete with internal ultrasounds, blood work and medication schedules to be followed meticulously.  I felt sad, alone and completely violated by what I was going through.  There was nothing remotely romantic about these methods of conceiving.

People who knew what I was going through were telling me not to worry that I had plenty of time to have a baby... I was young.  I started absolutely dreading holidays or large celebrations of any type, because I had to put on a happy face and pretend that everything was fine since only those closest to us knew what was going on.  As more and more seemingly well meaning people asked us when we were going to have a baby and I remember one drunk distant relative even jokingly saying.... you know how to get her pregnant right Jim?! I wanted to scream out we are trying!  I was injecting myself (me... the person who hated needles) every day of each cycle with hormones that were making me even more of a crazed lunatic than I already was.  What more could I possibly do!

I was so sad every time I heard of an unplanned pregnancy... because I had become so obsessed with facts about getting pregnant that I knew that a normal healthy woman only has a 20% chance of conceiving in any given cycle.  20%!!!!  That probability made it so hard for me to fathom how a pregnancy could be unplanned.  Looking back, I now wish I could have enjoyed the rest of my life more during this time instead of being so depressed and blaming myself for my infertility.  I'm pretty sure that I cried just about every night for at least a year.  I thought I was hiding this pretty well until my best friend told me shortly after I had the twins that she hadn't seen me that happy in a long time. 

I now am very open to talking about my struggles because after 6 failed treatment cycles, we decided to make a big step and try in-vitro.  I remember walking out of the doctor's office after sitting through a powerpoint presentation detailing the journey we were about to embark on.  Jim was excited and I was terrified!  It was INTENSE!  Now not only did I have to give myself MORE shots and have almost daily blood work and then sit by my phone for the rest of the day for possible medication adjustments, but I had to get an IV and anesthesia and have a surgical procedure to remove my eggs.  At this point I started talking to a friend that I had found went through the same process successfully and I talked to a relative that went through it unsuccessfully.  Just talking to someone who really knew the path that I was stumbling down made me feel so much more positive and less alone.  I went into that treatment cycle with a more positive outlook and told more of the important people in my life what was going on.... and I felt a weight off my shoulders.  I no longer had to hide and pretend that there wasn't a problem. 

Ultimately we were successful and now I am thankful for the struggles that I had to endure in order to have our twins.  It made me a stronger person and ultimately a better mother because I had to work really hard to get those two little miracles. 

If you are struggling with infertility... know that you are not alone.  And you don't have to be embarrassed or be secretive about your struggles.  Having someone to support you will help, whether it is someone you know, a support group or a professional.... it doesn't matter, just talk to someone. 

Where to sleep in Disney.... staying on property or off?

There are definitely no shortage of options to sleep in and around Disney world. 

Bay Lake Tower

The first decision to make is whether to stay on Disney property or off.  We have done both and while both have their advantages, we decided not long after we got married to buy into the Disney Vacation Club so that we can continue to be able to stay on property.  On property you can stay in accommodations ranging from value resorts to deluxe villas with kitchens and multiple bedrooms.  Off property the options are countless... tons of varying hotels, timeshares, and even private homes with their own swimming pools.   Disney provides their resort guests with several exclusive extras during their stay to entice you to stay with them. 

Advantages of staying on property:

1) Extra Magic Hours - each day one of the parks has extra magic hours.  What are extra magic hours? The park either opens 1 hour early or stays open up to 3 hours late only for Disney Resort guests to enjoy.  Although we haven't been taking advantage of the late magic hours since we had the kids (they usually run until midnight or 1am), we did take advantage of them quite a bit before kids.  You are able to get on so many rides in a short amount of time, which is especially beneficial at more crowded times of the year.  The early morning hours (which we definitely take advantage of more now with young kids) give you the advantage of getting a head start on the parks and getting fast passes for rides before they open to the rest of the public. 

2) Disney Dining Plan - this is a prepaid meal plan for Disney Resort guests that can be added to your room and park ticket package.  There are different plans for different appetites.  What we like about the dining plan is that it is prepaid ahead of our trip so we know exactly how much we are spending on food.  (Gratuity and extras are not included in the price of the plan.)  These plans are certainly not for everyone, but we do like the regular dining plan and usually get it for our stay.  This plan includes 1 Quick Service Meal, 1 Snack and 1 Table Service Meal per person, per night of your stay plus a refillable drink mug to use at your hotel (coffee, tea, soft drinks).  I would only recommend the plan if you are not planning to spend full days off Disney property as only Disney restaurants are included in the plan.  This is also probably not for you if you would prefer to bring your own food or not eat a large sitdown meal each day. 
Here is where the dining plan options are described along with which restaurants are included:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/
Here you can find up to date menus with actual prices to see what you'd actually be paying for the meals:  http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm
One more added benefit of dining if you are staying on property...  the general public can book dining reservations and other experiences up to 180 days ahead of time.  However, if you stay on property you are able to book for the entire length of your trip (up to 10 days) 180 days from your check-in date so you get a head start on your meal choices.  Because of the popularity of the dining plan it is really best to make reservations for any table service meals that you'd like to enjoy during your stay. 

3) Disney Transportation - Disney will provide you FREE transportation to and from the airport (Magical Express) and between your resort and the various parks just for staying on property!  This enables you to fly into Orlando and not need to rent a car if you so choose.  Or if you drive, you don't have to drive to the parks.  And since we've traveled with larger groups, even if you do have a car and drive into the parks... if someone decides they want to head back to the hotel early or stay late or even head to another park they can take Disney transportation. 

4) Proximity to the Parks - you really just can't stay closer to the parks by staying off property.  This means shorter travel times to the various parks, which especially when traveling with young ones... this is invaluable because let's face it, they are only happy for so many hours before they are ready to crash!

5) Disney Hospitality - Disney is the happiest place on earth!  And their staff go through some of the most sought after training in the world.  The "cast members" really go out of their way to make your vacation more memorable.  I really just can't say enough about them and just love when we drive through our resort gate and the security person says... "Welcome Home Mrs. Hazlett!"

6) Free Parking - If you do rent or bring a vehicle and decide to drive to the parks instead of taking the Disney transportation, you will receive a FREE parking pass.  This is a $14 per day savings!

7) Souvenir shipping - If you purchase souvenirs in the parks and don't want to lug them around all day and carry them back to your room.... NO PROBLEM.  You can fill out a form and have it shipped back to the gift shop at your hotel free of charge! 

Traveling to Disney.... Flying or Driving

We just booked our 15th trip (since 2002) to Disney World for September and I decided what better topic to do a blogging series on than planning and traveling to the happiest place on earth.  Of course I typically blog about what we do on our actual trip, but I thought it might be a good idea to discuss various decisions that I make in the planning phases of the trip and why I make them (and why you may choose differently).  In 2005, while planning our 6th trip... we decided to buy into the Disney Vacation Club, which is Disney's timeshare program.  We really love the flexibility that their point system gives us to travel at different times of the year and with different size groups, etc.  I will go more into it's benefits when I post on staying on property vs. off.  Today, I'm going to talk... getting to Disney.   

The majority of our trips were before kids and we quickly learned that what worked before kids doesn't necessarily work after kids (especially young kids)!  Before kids we swore we would NEVER drive to Florida!  Well guess what?? We have.  Twice in fact and we'll be driving again in September.  Here are some major considerations to make before deciding whether to drive or fly.  (Please know that I am not telling you what the right decision for you and your family is.  I'm telling you what I have learned and take into consideration when deciding what works best for my family and some of the lessons that I've learned along the way.)

In my opinion the biggest thing to consider when choosing your mode of transportation is COST! 

We've flown MANY times to Disney.  We've gotten some amazing deals on flights.  I believe we scored some $29 flights from Spirit and we've definitely scored plenty of $59-$79 flights through Southwest.  I recall stalking the airlines for when our travel date prices would be released to get the very best prices on flights especially since we sometimes traveled several times a year.  Multiply that by 2 adults, who can carry their own bags to the airline counter to be checked and who can walk themselves through the security line and remove their own shoes and jackets, etc and the price is not so bad. 

Fast forward to our most recent flight (1st flight with twin 20 month olds) in May 2010... We had to buy not only tickets on Spirit that were not $29 (luckily the kids were still young enough not to require their own tickets), then there was a fee to pick our seats together on the plane, a fee to check bags (and now there is even a fee for carry-ons that don't fit under the seat!).  Tonight I decided to price out just what kind of deal I could quickly find.  Using the $9 fare club, I was actually able to get a pretty good deal that would only be $690 for 2 adult and 2 child tickets (which required me spending $59 for the annual membership that saved me $240 on the tickets for my travel dates) + $80 ($20*4 bags) + $40 (approximately to pick our seats together) + $25 to have 1 larger carry-on = $835 not included airport parking if you choose to do that. 

Here is where I tell you that the first time we drove, we spent $150 for gas to drive 4 people to Disney World.  Now I will tell you that is probably not realistic for most people since we drove my Toyota Prius Hybrid that gets 45-50 MPG.  We drove straight through on the way down so no additional hotel room and did stop on the way back, but stayed at my aunt & uncle's house so again no hotel room cost. I can also tell you that driving a more realistic small SUV (RAV4) that it cost about $250, which is still a HUGE savings in my opinion. 

The next factor (which can also factor into the COST) is whether or not you will need a car while in Disney.  For many of our pre-children and our first post-children trips we did not have a car for our stay.  We were staying on Disney property and used their free transportation around the "world".  This is a great option if you fly to majorly cut down on the cost of renting a car.  You can get a magical express bus from the airport to your hotel.  They even send you these fabulous luggage tags to put on before you depart and then Disney claims your luggage for you!  Once at your hotel you have different transportation options depending on where you stay, but some combination of buses, boats and monorails.  We have LOVED these options for many years/trips.  However it was more of a struggle on our trip when the twins were 20 months as we stayed at Saratoga Springs which only has bus service to the parks.  This particular resort has 5 bus stops and since our room was at the first bus stop, we got dropped off first when getting back to the resort but we had to wait through 4 more stops (about 20 minutes) to get out of the resort and head to the parks.  This really wasn't a big deal when we didn't have small children, but when you have little kids that only have X amount of non-cranky hours.... taking 45 minutes to an hour to wait for and take the bus to a park is a big deal.  Also, you need to fold your stroller and carry it up the bus steps to take it on the bus.  Doing this and juggling multiple small chidren can prove a bit difficult.  Especially if you decide to split up and conquer the task on your own.  If you stay on property and have a vehicle (rented or your own) you receive a FREE parking pass to use at all of the parks ($14 a day savings).  If you rent a car, you also need to decide whether you will fly with your own carseats or rent them with your car.  I can really lend no advice here as I have never done either.  If you stay off property, you would probably need to rent a car unless wherever you stay provides transportation. 

The last major factor that I would include in your considerations is how much stuff do you need to take with you?  When it was just the two of us, we could easily get away with 1 or 2 suitcases and a carry-on for our trip.  Now with the kids there is more stuff to bring, which equals more suitcases which equals more money on most of the airlines.  By driving, we have been able to bring a whole case of diapers when needed without squeezing them in a suitcase.  We also have been bringing a case or so of water and snacks because you can bring a small cooler into the park and also to have in our room.  It's also not a big deal to throw some extra toys in the car for the kids to have to play with in our room.  We are also able to bring our own stroller without worrying whether or not the airline will break it (as I know several people that this has happened to).  The kids are now a little big for the pack n plays that our hotel will provide for us and with our own vehicle we are able to bring their toddler sized air mattress beds so that they are comfortable.  There are several companies in the Disney area that you can order groceries, etc from or if you rent a car you can go to a store and make similar purchases to what we choose to bring with us. 

I'm sure once the kids get older or on adult only trips to Disney we will reevaluate driving vs. flying, but for now we are pretty set on driving.  If it was our once in a lifetime trip I might also plan differently and be willing to spend the extra money.  However, since w go about once a year or every other year.... the savings really adds up from trip to trip.  Summer also has had some pretty severe issues with her ears and we've been advised that flying is probably not a good idea for her at this time.  Happy planning....

This is Summer passed out from screaming bloody murder for
half our flight... it was so bad that I almost cried too.

Next Disney topic will be staying on propery or off :)

Mommy's boy

Sleeping or lack thereof has not been a huge problem for us since the twins have been born. Don't get me wrong, we get less sleep than we used to (Jim can probably tell you exactly how much less). But in the grand scheme of what we feared when we found out we were having twins... we've had more sleep filled nights than sleepless nights. Until recently that is...

Cole has always been a mommy's boy, but recently he's been even more clingy than usual. 

Then he started having trouble sleeping. 

We put him to bed and then after Summer falls asleep he starts wandering around.  Sometimes you can just hear him walking around upstairs.  Sometimes he's at the top of the steps calling for me.  Sometimes he comes down to find me to see if he'll be allowed more snuggle time.  And I'm talking 10:30 many nights... one night it was even midnight! 

We've been pretty strict with bedtime since the kids were born.  They were in their crib from day 1 home from the hospital.  They slept a 6 hour stretch from midnight to 6am by the time I went back to work at just 8 weeks old (3 weeks adjusted).  We did sleep training, have a pretty solid bedtime routine and other than a very rare occasion they do not sleep in our bed.  (This is not to criticize anyone that does not take this approach, but it is what needs to happen for our schedules) 

I called school one day to see if maybe he was finally ready to give up his nap.  I discussed with the teacher the issue we were having at home and that even though he was falling right asleep at nap time and usually sleeping the entire allotted time... that I needed her to attempt to keep him up for at least a week to see if that helped.  The first week went beautifully and we were all back to our usual nighttime schedule.  However, the next week did not go so well.  Again he was up.... and if he was up, I would quiz him on whether or not he had fallen asleep at naptime that day.  When I found out he hadn't .... I was at a loss for what the issue was. 

This past Sunday night.... he again waited for Summer to fall asleep (which doesn't take long) and then began wandering down for me to put him back to bed.  As I tucked him back in, he began to cry about how he missed me.  He wanted me to lay with him... so I asked him if he wanted to sleep with the blanket from my bed and he said yes.  So we gave it a try and I told him that he could use it until I went to bed..... AND IT WORKED!!!!!  Not only that, but it worked every night last week!  One night I didn't go up for the bedtime ritual and he came down a bit after bedtime and I thought.... oh no it stopped working..... but he just came down to tell me that Daddy forgot to give him my blanket. 

Hopefully this continues to do the trick and for now seems to be a just a case of the mommy's boy clingy Cole! 

Snuggled up with my blanket

A cooking lesson from Mickey Mouse

It took me awhile to upload the pictures... so this story actually took place last Saturday :)

We have been working on taking away Cole's nap because he is staying up way too late at night so we've been sending in other quiet time activities for him to work on during nap time at daycare.  This week one of the things he took was a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse book.  Last night he showed me one of the pictures and asked if we could make fruit kabobs like Mickey. 

Today while Cole & Jim were getting haircuts, Summer and I went to produce junction to get some supplies.  Here is our bounty:

 

They wanted to help me chop, so I assigned them tasks that steered clear of the knives.  Summer was the wipe up girl if we had a spill and Cole was the trash man.  They thoroughly enjoyed their jobs and reminded me if I did one of them by accident.  We talked about each fruit as I chopped.  What color it was, if it had seeds, etc.  Once the items were chopped and in bowls, we got the skewers.  They had lots of fun selecting from the different bowls and making patterns with the chopped fruit. 

 

Once their creations were completed... they enjoyed their yummy lunch and have already requested more for breakfast!

Creating a new play space...

I've seriously been in a rut at home lately...  believe me I am NOT a neat freak and I'm ok with that, but it has gotten way out of hand even for me.  The basement is just about the only room that I would say is pretty good right now.  We have spent a great deal of time getting it in shape and making it the playroom, except that now that we've added the TV that I got Jim for Christmas, a bluray player and fixed the gas fireplace... we kind of decided that we like the space for more than just a playroom and Jim and I have been hanging out down there in the evenings after the kids are in bed.  We don't want it to get overwhelmed with all of the toys.... plus it would be unrealistic to not have any toys on the main floor.  Even though I am more comfortable letting them play downstairs without me there every minute, I don't want them down there too long without supervision. 

The PLAN...  to create a space that contains the toys that the kids use on the main floor. 

We are now into toys with lots of tiny pieces and they are driving me crazy all over my living room floor and constantly getting kicked under the couch.  (Note to self: next time I am furniture shopping, I will select only things that toys can't scoot under!)  We have a nice sized area to the side of our living room that has been the toy area, but they tend not to stay there and have taken over the entire living room.  The main floor conists of an entry way, powder room, kitchen (that lacks room for a table), dining room and living room that are separated by a step and a railing.  My thought is to move our dining table into the side of the living room and to move all of the toys into the dining room which would serve as somewhat of a toy corral. 

I'm also hoping to create an art center possibly in the corner of the living room.  The kids are super into creating and we have accumulated quite a bit of art supplies, so I'd like to organize everything so that they can cut and glue and color to their hearts content!

Wish me luck... it is a work in progress already so no before pictures.... when it is the way I want it... I'll post after pictures.