Wow.
How do I sum up this experience?
Blair and I both discussed how this Disney trip was full of both extremes; really, really tough lows and amazing highs-the kind you wait your whole life to have.
I won't sugar coat it, the first few hours at Disney Blair and I looked at each other and wondered if we made a mistake by bringing Deak. He was a little freaked out by the crowds and rides and noise; he was also still on Prednisone, which I think made a huge impact on his ability to control his moods. Honestly though, can you imagine going to Disney with no understanding of what to expect? We threw him on Peter Pan, hoping he would love it (which he did eventually); I think he thought we had lost our minds.
(Okay, to his credit, I had just accidentally clocked him with my camera in this one...)
After a few experiences of screaming (yes, he screamed the ENTIRE way through "It's a Small World." We received many glares of distaste from parents who obviously know what it's like to be in our shoes), I truthfully felt pretty defeated. Blair and I decided we would enjoy the day for Abby, whether Deak chose to scream or not.
He loved Nemo.
We all loved Nemo.
I cried.
I watched his mind begin to process this experience: "We get in line for a minute, sit with Mom, Dad and Abby, ride around in something weird, see fun things and sing fun songs. Okay, I think I can like this..."
It was beautiful.
After the Nemo experience, we were re-energized and excited to show Deak all that Disney had to offer him. He loved it.
He did not always love the waiting (which was cut very shortly due to the ability pass that Disney offers - it is amazing - and the absolute ONLY way Deak could enjoy himself), and he did not always love the stopping of the stroller for crowds, but he loved the rides and LOVED the characters.
Deak shared his pretzels with Tinkerbell, I think he was smitten.
Deak wanted to touch all the characters he saw. He'd squeeze his little shoulders high into the air, smash his neck down, giggle and smile with his whole face. He'd point to the characters when we got close and attempt to climb out of our arms and into theirs'. It was so fun to watch.
The Disney Junior Show was by far Deak's favorite. He was mesmerized the entire time. He clapped, yelled with the kids and hopped around, attempting to touch the MC.
Even though both of these pictures depict otherwise, Deak loved Buzz and Toy Story 3. He loved Buzz so much, he grabbed the gun from my hand and began shooting the targets himself.
Yep, I cried. Again.
Deak's not loving the packaged life...
Even as I type this, I am in tears.
I am just so dang proud to be her mom.
She was amazing. She was sweet and young enough to want to visit Tinkerbell and Rapunzel, yet wise and mature enough to understand that Deak and his imminent demands sometimes had to come first.
She did not complain once.
Not once.
She was kind and gracious and thankful and energetic.
She was genuinely happy when she saw her brother happy.
She is just so awesome.
Um yes, I waited in this line over an hour and a half...but, considering all things, it wasn't terrible. Blair, Ab and Deak used Deak's golden ticket to go on about 10 rides in FantasyLand during the interim.
Abby was tall enough and brave enough to go on all the cool rides with Blair and I this trip. Thanks to Blair's parents (Marilyn and Craig, without whom we would not have survived the trip), Blair and I were able to enjoy an afternoon alone with Ab. We went on Big Thunder Mountain, Matterhorn, Space Mountain and the Tower of Terror (she went twice:). After each ride, she'd promptly exclaim with exuberant joy, "THAT ONE IS MY FAVORITE! I LOVE THAT RIDE!"
(Outside the Tower of Terror)
As we got on Space Mountain together, I turned to Abby with tears (a common thing for me) and told her about the times I came to Disneyland as a little girl, growing up in California. I told her how Space Mountain was my favorite ride-my absolute favorite. I looked into her stunning crystal blue eyes and said, "This is very, very special for me. It makes me so happy to have you with me enjoying something I loved as a little girl."
Full circle. Love those moments.
Blair's parents came with us, and they were amazing. I don't know how we could travel to a place like Disney with Deak, without help. They were so willing to help and follow as we did all the bossing around and leading. Abby and Deak loved having them there, and so did we.
We were especially grateful for their help while Deak and Blair made an emergency visit to the local Orange County Children's Hospital on Sunday morning. I was extremely nervous, as Deak had been up all night, agitated and in some sort of pain. We had gone to dinner the night before with my long, long time friend, Veronica (we grew up in the ghetto together) and her boyfriend, Ramon. Deak cried and cried and began rubbing his eye profusely...to the point where Blair actually left dinner early and took Deak back to the hotel to calm down. By Sunday morning, his eye was swollen shut, and if opened slightly, the entire eyeball was red and bloodshot.
I knew it wasn't pink eye, I've seen that 789 times working in Elementary Schools, and I became worried. My gut told me he needed to be seen. Unfortunately, he needed to be seen right when Abby was competing (her second performance) for a National Title. I knew Abby needed me, and trusted Blair could handle the visit (the first I've not been to since Deak has been born, crazy, I know.) After waiting forever, the doctor diagnosed Deak with a severe, severe corneal abrasion, meaning he had deeply scratch his cornea. The doctor said these abrasions are not just painful, they are extremely, extremely painful; and it did not surprise him that he screamed the entire night. Thankfully, the diagnosis did not require an admit to the floor, and Blair literally ran to Abby's side as they announced awards for her division.
It was traumatic, and inside I was a mess. I was stuck between fear for my son, and heartbreak that Blair didn't get to watch Abby. I was torn between feelings of worry and selfish jealousy; jealousy of all the other families who get to go to Disneyland and not have to worry about hospital visits. That being said, I was immensely grateful that Deakon's condition could be treated and he could attempt to enjoy one more day at Disney with us.
We were able, thanks to Marilyn and Craig, enjoy a fun morning eating breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. Deak's favorite, by far, was Pluto, and Abby loved the Genie.
We spent the entire last day at Disney, about 12 hours, and assumed the kids would be worn out enough to sleep through the night. We had plans to get up early and drive the 11 hours home straight through; I needed to be back for work early Wednesday morning.
Well, thanks to Deak and his yucky painful eye, we were not-so-kindly awakened by his incessant screaming at 2:30 am. He became inconsolable. So, with everyone up in our room (and most likely our floor, sorry people), we decided to pack up and take off. The second Deak was buckled into his car seat, he began repeatedly signing, "Bye Bye" and "More". Essentially telling us, "Yep. This is what I wanted. Take me home."
Thanks to a few energy drinks, while the rest of us slept, Blair drove straight through. We made it home by 3:00 in the afternoon. He was pretty proud of the time we made.
Nothing like returning to your own bed and pillow after a vacation.
We had such a wonderful, wonderful time.
Highs and lows, yes. But, as I overly-state on this blog, I wouldn't trade a thing. My lows bring me highs that most of this world cannot comprehend.
And, for that, I am grateful.
(And, yep, I am going to leave out the story where due to an unexpected separation, I ended up carrying my 40 lb Deak around California Disney 2x. I'll stick with the gratitude:)
