The Happiest Place on Earth! (debatable...) PT 1: the plans are laid

A few months ago Spencer and I realized that an undeniable opportunity was upon us: he had an extra week of time off he needed to use before summer started, we were in a great position to go do something cool because the baby was just the right age (not too small to worry about but not big enough to need independence constantly), I wasn't pregnant and was post-baby enough to be feeling great, and the girls were the PERFECT ages to really get sucked into the magic of Disney.  We have waited and waited for this day, not wanting to throw down the $40 bazillion dollars it costs until all ciurcumstances were perfect.   Well, the time finally came.  (note, the older two have been to Disneyland, but not since they were babies.  Cadence vaguely remembers our last time, when she was two and Campbell was 2 wks.  Back then we had So Cal family that paid for us).

The trip consisted of a two-day road trip (18 hrs total, but with our lot we know it's best broken up), six nights camping at Disney's Fort Wilderness Campsites, and 5 days in the parks.  Spencer's sister Caitlin called and said, "Oh, by the way, I'm going on a mission to Brazil!" and could she come visit us before she leaves.  We figured she'd have more fun coming along to Disneyworld than hanging out here in Bville while life goes on as usual.  I think we were right.  So Caitlin came along.  We also invited Spencer's mom, knowing she would want to be involved in such a trip.  She did, indeed, and planned to come to the back half of the trip.

So, all the plans were laid into place.  The camping was essential to the plan because a) we thought it would be fun and more memorable than a hotel, and b) it is by far the cheapest way to stay AT Disney (thus being allowed into the parks early, access to the free transportation, etc) and we wanted to be close to all the action and not have to find a cheap hotel and all that.  In a few minutes you're going to be saying, "YOU CAMPED?!? ARE YOU STUPID?!?" so remember this paragraph.

After plans were carefully laid, we decided to tell the kids.  We waited until we were about a month out.  They were SO excited!  There is probably nothing we could have said that would have been better. They counted down the days, they told perfect strangers, they watched only Disney for a month straight.  Also remember this paragraph in a minute.  THE KIDS WERE ECSTATIC.

After we told the kids and made all plans and flights were purchased for Caitlin and Mammaw, we got a little bit of surprise news.  Ezra is going to be a big brother, and much sooner than we thought!  Well, we were absolutely thrilled, albeit shocked, to discover this, but it did throw a kink in the "Perfectest Ever Disney Plans".  I told myself I'll just not get sick this time,  I just mustn't.  I just won't.

Well, as the trip neared and it was quite clear that I WAS going to be sick this time, my mind started to envision this perfect trip.  Camping.  Smelling.  Bathrooming.  Showering.  Magic Kingdoming.  Lunch Packing.  Smelling.  Camping.  Bathrooming. Public bathrooming.

After much discussion, however, we decided we must proceed as planned.  We absolutely couldn't tell the kids we weren't going.  The trip was possible because we were camping, thus being able to afford going in the first place.  So we left all plans in place and thanked our lucky stars we had planned on having some extra adults.

It was T-6 days to take-off (drive-off) and we were enjoying a lovely Easter evening with our good friends the Smallwoods and the Flemings.  It was a perfect day and the kids were enjoying the outdoors. Several times somebody would come running to the door and say, "so and so is crying!"  And the parents were all taking turns soothing sore knees or egos (except me because I was sick on the couch).

Then Layla started crying.  My skin crawled and I was anxiously awaiting an adult to carry her in.  I could hear Spencer telling her she was ok and to stop being so loud.  This is a typical response of a male, I've realized.  They know how dramatic such an event can seem to a child and they know they must teach them to let it go.  I've heard this cry before though and I made him bring her to me.  She couldn't stop screaming in pain, which is very unlike her, and so, after about 25 minutes of no relief for the little thing, Spencer and I carefully loaded her into the car and took her to the ER.  The Smallwoods and Flemings got the kids to bed, cleaned up the kitchen, and then Tara stayed until we got home.  We are so blessed to have family-friends like these!

I was absolutely confident in my diagnosis of a broken bone in her leg, although I couldn't have told you exactly where.  After waiting here and waiting there and a little nap in Daddy's arms, she was calm and even a little chatterbox again.  Her cheerfulness threw ppl off and I don't think the hospital staff believed me.  I think Spencer was pretty certain, too, though.
The x-ray was performed and Layla had to straighten out her leg, which made her scream in pain and call out for me.  I was sitting outside the room because the pregnancy, and pictured myself running through the walls and pushing people out of my way to get to her side and scoop her up.  I hated that moment.

she hardly even took a breath while these guys were in the room, on account of she had sooo much to say.

The break was at the top of the tibia, it went about 90% through the bone, it seems.  They splinted her while she talked incessantly about colors and princesses and the Easter Bunny.  Then I almost passed out from being upright for too long and a nurse brought me crackers and juice and we all somehow got out to the car all right.

So... now we had this to weigh in to our Disney plans.  I admit that I was thinking, "Perfect! We have an out!"  But we waited to see what the Dr. who was going to cast it said.

Four excruciating days of pain in that splint.  I was so mad at the orthopedist.  Why!?!  She was in such pain!  At night she'd lie down and it would hurt so bad.  I'd try to help her fall asleep.  She'd finally drift off only to do that little "jump" thing right when sleep starts to take over, and in doing so, would jar her leg and send herself reeling in pain again.  It was so sad.

Thankfully Spencer worked from home a couple of days to help because she needed to be carried everywhere, particularly to the bathroom.  I was too sick to do this so having his help was essential.  On thursday the cast was placed, from her toes to her upper thigh.  Because it was so big, the use of water proof lining is forbidden (water gets trapped inside too easily when it's so long).  So there goes our swimming plans at the campground.  Layla was super thrilled about the cast though, and we heard a few people tell us that having a cast at Disney is actually helpful.  So, we carried on!  We figured that at the very least, it would be better than having her sit at home and not be able to play.

And so, we spent our evenings frantically packing and praying that all would still go well!  And then the day finally came.