Day 7

Day 7-EPCOT and Magic Kingdom
Our day began wrestling them once more into their car seats for the 5-minute trip to Mickey’s house. And, again, Evan and Will fell asleep. Bobby and I went into The Land to get us a little something to eat. It was an experience with that little guy zipping about! We somehow managed to get food and get back out to Bruce and the boys.
After eating, we headed over to the new Nemo ride. I thought they’d enjoy it, but I was wrong. Evan handled the ride okay, but Will attached himself to me. Bobby freaked out at the turtle part. Maybe the dolphins? Evan was excited. Will wanted out! Bobby was busy running around. The baby leashes were no real help with them spinning around us and heading in different directions. We got out of there as soon as we could.
We headed to The Land next to go on Living With the Land (a boat ride). They didn’t really mind this one too much, but we knew that time was limited. We got them back out to their strollers. EPCOT was not for them. Bruce and I were a little disappointed, but we understood just the same. After a little discussion, we got them some McDonald’s and decided that we would Park Hop back over to Magic Kingdom.
We got over there about 2:30 or so with babies that had not napped and a 4 o’clock character dinner at the Crystal Palace with Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore. We were worried. A parade was scheduled for 3 which we thought they would enjoy as they had the parade at Animal Kingdom the day before. I went off to get us ice cream. Can you tell I was in a daze? Hello? Ice cream an hour before dinner??? Anyway, by the time I got back, Evan and Will were asleep. Bobby shared our ice cream. The parade went by complete with drums as Evan and Will napped unmoving. Bobby had fun.

We moved along to the restaurant. We told them we were celebrating the boys’ birthday. Bruce and I woke up our little nappers. Everyone was in a good mood. When we got to our table we found it decorated with confetti and streamers! The boys were very excited to meet Pooh and friends. They especially enjoyed showing Tigger their Tigger forks. Will got very excited when he saw Piglet for the first time. In fact, he could barely get Piglet’s name out. When our meals were done, the boys were presented with cupcakes and birthday cards! Everyone sang Happy Birthday. It was very special, and I highly recommend the restaurant (which I have done in the past).
We finished our day with a ride on Small World. We had another busy day ahead of us with a character breakfast at Animal Kingdom. Since our realtor wouldn’t give us any more of his time, we added a last day to our tickets before we had to head home. It was a good thing, too, because the most amazing thing I’ve done in Disney World happened.

They're 2!

Happy Belated Birthday, Babies!!
Evan, Bobby and William (or Willmy as he is affectionately known) have gone and turned two years old on us! The day was indeed bittersweet. They have grown so much and learned so much that it makes all the bumps in the road to have them worth it. As Shelli mentioned in her blog not long ago, the joy of her adopted daughter has almost made her forget the pain of infertility. In my case, I have not only almost forgotten that agony (among other feelings), but I have also gotten past how scared and isolated I felt while my babies were in the NICU.

Having to ask permission to hold my babies and sometimes being told that I couldn’t was ridiculous to me. There were times when they cried and I knew they needed me, and I could do nothing but cry over their incubators with them. There were times when I was there by myself not allowing myself to leave the unit for any reason just in case something happened. I remember being there during rounds and interjecting to make sure that they had the boys taking the necessary hurdles to come home. Then the awful moments when Bobby caught the bacterial infection…. Bruce never felt that we could lose him, but I trembled and looked for my fellow NICU mommies-one of whom I had comforted just the day before when her baby turned critical. But then, we started taking them home and the excitement began. It’s been exciting ever since and I don’t expect that it’ll end any time soon.

Animal Kingdom

Day 6-Animal Kingdom
The boys love animals. I’ve never liked Animal Kingdom much. So, I set out to figure out a way to spend the day at Animal Kingdom. The place now has a major bonus for this mommy-Expedition:Everest! A new roller coaster! Bruce promised that I could ride.

So, we told the boys we were going back to Mickey’s house to see animals and wrestled them into their car seats. By the time we got there, Evan and Will were fast asleep. We plopped them into their strollers, and tried to get Bobby up to the day ahead.

We figured we’d head right for Everest. On the way, Will woke up and began to smile one of his famous Will smiles. Woo Hoo! Evan woke up next in a similar mood. I eventually rode 5 times! It was great fun!

It was today that the boys first experienced their favorite ride-Kilamanjaro Safaris. They pointed out all the animals-even the ones not always familiar to the under two set (rhinos and hippos and gazelles). People were impressed. Bruce and I were like two peacocks! We were there until closing at 5 just enjoying all the animals.

Real Estate

Day 5
The home search began. Unfortunately, we looked at homes for my parents mostly. There was a beautiful age-restricted community where friends of ours have a home. I would live there in a second. The folks will love it!

The homes we were shown were nothing like I asked about. They had property, but I didn’t like the neighborhoods at all. Still, central Florida has possibilities for us. We have three concerns: hurricanes, sinkholes and tornados. Other than the possibility of major destruction and devastation, it seems like a great place to be.

Disney World!!!

Day 4-Dreams Really Do Come True
When I woke up, I was bursting. I’d been dreaming of this day for years. It was the day I’d take my babies to Mickey. But, as usual, the day was not to go smoothly. As we tried to get them ready, the boys struggled with us. I imagine that every time we lead them towards the car they think we’re back in for a long journey. They even went as far as blasphemy (“No Mickey!”). My heart broke.

I plotted our route into the Kingdom as if we were headed to uncharted territory. We headed out, and once more, when they saw the sign came, “Diney World.” My hopes ran high once more. I purchased our tickets and we headed for the monorail at the boys’ request.

We pointed out the various sights. They were too short to see them, but we pointed them out anyway. Once we got through the gates, we saw Chip and Dale. They were excited. Jackpot!! Then, I was walking right down the middle of Main Street USA with my babies! I sang. They hid their little faces. We paid way too much for some food, and continued on. We headed towards Mickey’s house!

They ran through Mickey’s house to see him. There was almost no wait. As we got through the door, Bobby went under the velvet ropes and began waving and saying “Hi!” repeatedly to Mickey. This was worth the entire cost of the tickets! We got to the main mouse and they stared in awe. They felt right at home as if Mickey was there just for them. They exchanged low 5’s and sat down. That’s how our picture was taken.

We made it to Fantasy Land next. That’s where our excitement began. We parked the strollers and headed to Peter Pan’s flight. I turned back to put the diaper bag back on the strollers. Evan and Will tangled around Bruce. Evan somehow got a bloody lip. I took him back to the stroller for “medicine.” All was right with the world again. Evan, Will and I rode together. Bruce and Bobby followed in another boat. Evan and Will took the ride okay, but Bobby got freaked out by Hook. When we got off the ride, Bobby was crying hard. We were greeted by a friendly lady who informed us that we were a special family of the day.

Holy crap! I thought that we had won the night in the castle!!!! It turned out that we had won magical moments lanyards. I was thrilled to be one of the winners, and I did my very best to not look disappointed. It was a very cool thing!

Then, we rode Small World. The boys LOVED it. Then, after we got off, Bobby ran ahead of me and into a woman. We hit his little head on the ground. We shuffled him off to First Aid as quickly as possible. He was fine, but has a nice scrape on his head and a black eye.

The last piece of excitement came as I was getting us lunch. Someone tried to move Bobby’s stroller. Bruce was irate. Disney Security removed the offender.

The rest of the day went by fairly un-noteworthy. The boys got a little cranky and we went back to the villa to prepare for our real estate adventure the next day.

Day 3

Day 3-Orlando or Burst!
It shouldn’t have taken us more than 4 hours in the car…. Somehow it was longer.

We ate a late-ish breakfast at the hotel. Wrangling them back into the room and then into the car was an adventure. We also needed gas. Bruce thought he saw an Exxon station, but he was wrong and had to make a u-turn back towards the hotel. The boys started in. Back to the movies.

We made it to Florida finally. I hoped to be in Daytona Beach by lunch. We made it just to slightly before Daytona at lunch time. They ran around the play place for a bit. Then we fed them and once more wrestled them into their carseats. We didn’t have happy campers.

Once we got to Orlando, we exited I-4 for our villa, but we were cut off at the turning lane and had to make a u-turn. Ironically, we had to turn near the Marketplace. They saw the Disney World sign and I swear read it! There were three spontaneous “Diney World” calls from the back. I knew for sure then they are mine!

We got to our villa not long after (we’re 3 miles away from the Park). It’s a nice unit for the money, and I’ll admit it feels homey. Tomorrow, we are headed to the Magic Kingdom. I’m hoping they love Mickey.

Day 2

Day 2
We were now in a time crunch. We needed to at least make it to Georgia today. Bruce and I planned to leave the hotel by 7 to get on the road so we could stop at around 3:30 again. HA Again!

Bruce went to load up the van while I tried to calm the savage beasts. He came back just as I was about to call out the Guard. He announced that our tire was completely flat and would need to be repaired. Ack! So much for 7 am! The front desk gave us directions to the nearest car dealership. They opened at 8, but by that time it was almost 8 anyway. I got out of the car to try to get help a few minutes early. I put on my most desperate woman face and pushed it up against the glass door. From behind me, an employee came along and pushed open said door (our van clock was slow). The service manager nicely pointed us across the road to a tire repair shop.

Once more, I got out of the car with the face this time adding worried mother to the mix. I wanted them to feel sorry for me. Hell, I felt sorry for myself! I began to mentally beat myself up for even considering this long trip. Luckily, after pulling out the “baby triplet” card, they got us right in. Bruce got out of the van to supervise (he worked in tire repair, too (I’m telling you he’s like freakin’ MacGyver)), and I climbed in to keep the boys calm. As the car was jacked up right under Will, he started to grin his famous Will grin. He didn’t even flinch when the air gun was used to remove the nuts (he’s noise sensitive)! Go Will! I got out of the car to see what the damage would be, and I was shocked that it was only $10. We tipped the mechanic an extra 5 because he checked our other tires.

We had hoped to be baby movie free at least part of this leg of our trip, but Bobby was in such a foul mood that it was impossible to not put them on. Just imagine 8 hours of the same 3 twenty minute baby movies…. Mind numbing, isn’t it?

It appeared that we would make it to South of the Border by lunch. It was a little later than lunch time, but close enough. We went to Pedro’s Diner. A little less than stellar. After lunch we almost literally wrestled the boys into their harnesses so they could walk around a bit. One gift shop later we were wrestling them back into their carseats. Onto Georgia!

The boys fell asleep. No baby movies at last! Bruce and I got a little music and quiet. The two hours flew by. Baby movies were put back on. Finally, the Georgia Visitor’s Center. It was getting late. We were going to have to stop in Savannah. Eventually, we were booked at a very nice Hawthorne Suites (which I would very highly recommend). It was time to release the hounds! We ate a late Sonic dinner and called it a night.

Day 1 of our adventure

Day 1
We left the comforts of home at 7 am. I knew, of course, that we’d probably end up having to leave that “late.” Our boys are always up early but not the days we want them to. Bobby decided to sleep in, and I had to wake him to leave. We had even tried to quicken up our morning by putting them to bed in their clothes. Again, our Mr. Bobby threw a wrench into things by peeing through his shirt and his pants. This left me running around trying to find something comfortable for him to wear that was clean (good luck after packing half the house!). Then, it was off to our favorite local Dunk**’ Donu*s.

Bruce sadly parted with his coffee supplier, John, and we really hit the road. Things seemed to be going swimmingly. Then, we stopped for gas. I went into the back to adjust the boys a little and noticed spit up on Will. No biggie, I thought. HA! Just after we got into Virginia (and Will woke up from a little nap), he puked all over the place! We had little more than 10 minutes to cancel our hotel reservations for $25 as opposed to having to pay for the 5 days. There were intense discussions. It was finally decided that since Will was in good spirits and was not running a fever that something did not agree with his tummy and was now gone. Luckily, we were right. On with the trip!

As we neared the end of Virginia, it started to snow. The boys were excited. I was nervous. We had been in the car nearly 8 hours anyway, so we stopped for the night at 3:30. Someone told us as we got into the van to go off to dinner that our left rear tire looked low. We paid the gas station the $0.75 to get air. Remember when air was free???