Saturday, November 12, 2016

All Things Disney

I think I might be slightly obsessed with Disney! I mean every vacation I take has a destination of Disney. Every movie I buy , every toy I get my daughter, Most of her birthdays are Disney themed! (she grew up mommy doesn't decide anymore) Well you get the point like I said "slightly" obsessed ... 

So I decided to share a few of the freebies I've gotten Disney related.

First if you don't already know there's a website called disneymovierewards.com. Every time you purchase a movie there's a code inside the dvd case that you can enter in this website once you registered (for free)  it gives you a certain amount of points . When you go to the theater to watch a Disney movie make sure to save those ticket stubs.  You can receive points for these by taking a picture of the stubs and uploading it the website for more points. Disney music CDs have codes as well . They even email you free points every month for being a member. Now here's what you can do with those points ... Get rewards!!! They have a list of rewards like toys, movies, Posters, memorabilia, coupons for movies, printing pics, and Disney trips etc.  Below are a few of the cute things I've gotten with my rewards! 
 The next great Disney freebie is that the Disney Stores usually hold events for the kiddos for free.   They have coloring time, they have free movie viewings, story times with characters, etc.  so head over to your nearest Disney store for a schedule of their monthly events! 
Now if you're in Disney world here are a few great things that are free !  First I would say don't miss going to downtown Disney or now the newly renovated Disney Springs!  At 2pm every day the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique that's inside the World of Disney Marketplace brings out the princesses they've made over to parade around the springs.  The fun part anyone can participate boys or girls wearing princess dresses or not!  They parade around waving to the onlookers and then they ride for free either on the train or merry go round :).  
Also while in Disney Springs don't forget to stop by the Ghiradelli Shop and ask for free samples !  I mean who doesn't want free chocolate right?! 
Disney Springs also has a huge Lego store with an outside play area where the kids can play and Built toys for fun,  Sometimes they even hold a friendly competition.  
 My favorite gift shop on the Springs has to be the Once upon a Toy marketplace it is huge!!!  It has 12 different departments and it's beautifully and magically decorated !  Look up to the ceiling and you'll see !!! The kiddos will have fun just running around and looking at all the toys!
One last freebie ill mention which happens to be the hubbys favorite is inside Epcot.  Club cool Soda!  In here you can try free samples (as many as you'd like) of sodas from all around the world! Whenever we're exhausted from the heat and the long lines we stop in there and of course the hubby and the munchkin have to try the same soda twice because they can't "figure"out which one was their favorite last time the were there!    
I have so many more freebies to list from restaurants to hotels so stay tuned for my next blog and I hope you enjoyed this list :)

Monday, March 21, 2016

Clubfeet Parent Knowledge and Support

When I found out 8 years ago that my daughter would be born with bilateral-clubfoot I was unaware of what this deformity was.  I remember going home crying and typing away on google but no results would populate.  My entire pregnancy I spent it in the dark when it came to clubfeet.  When my daughter was born we were referred to an amazing orthopedic who began treatment on our very first visit to him.  He was the one who explained to me what Clubfoot was, and the method he would be using to correct it (The Ponseti Method)  he also referred me to a website with more information on this method.  I felt so much better being able to understand what my daughter had and knowing what method of correction was being used as I hadn't been able to make a choice on her treatment due to the lack of knowledge on the matter.  I think there's nothing scarier than blindly handing over your child to a Doctor and not know what is being done to your child.  Once I went home and was able to research through the website the orthopedic provided I was able to understand what clubfeet was and I felt more comfortable and at peace with how the Doctor was correcting her feet.  I also found other parents who were using this same treatment or had used it on their now older kids.  It was amazing reading all these amazing stories of success!! What a great feeling to be able to slowly comprehend what may have caused this, what could be done to fix it, and what her life might be like due to this deformity.  I'm so glad that now parents can type in clubfoot in google and get so many amazing websites with informational material.  You can also visit countless mommy blogs that provide you with amazing tips on daily activities with a clubfeet baby you'd never think would be challenging.   Below you can find some of the challenges I encountered with my clubfeet princess and how I dealt with them.  you will also find informational sites and other mommy blogs to help you along this wonderful journey you're about to embark :)  Take a deep breath everything will be alright :)

- the biggest challenge was sleep.. Every week when her cast were changed she would cry just about the entire night.  The only thing that help was holding her all night which was exhausting! And then my wonderful mother found this swing that had this curb where here little legs were perfectly propped up and she loved it and slept almost through the entire night :)

When we noticed this helped we made sure whenever we placed her in the crib we rolled up little blankets and propped her legs on it this helped with the weight of the cast

- second challenge was bathing her with the casts on.  How did we handle it? We Placed plastic bags over them hehe sounds funny but it was simple and worked for us.. cast didn't get wet, she could moveall she wanted and we were able to give her a good wash.

- third challenge was clothing.  Thankfully our little clubfeet baby was a girl so she spent most of her time in dresses.. However when I did put on pants I made sure they were always a size bigger to fit over the casts.  Unfortunately her cast were a plain white I hear some orthopedics do cast with designs you get to choose :) .  Night gowns were always either a long sleeve onsie cast were hot enough to have to sleep through the hot Miami nights in them.  I was gifted a lot of nighties with the footies all I did was cut the little foot part off and hand sew the seams.

You will find that there's a solution out there for all of these things.  Below is a great blog of some other things you might encounter as your clubfoot baby grows up as well as some emotional challenges

http://lanamayes.com/top-10-challenges-with-clubfoot/


Here's a link that will explain clubfeet and the method most internationally used to correct it with a great success rate.

https://www.uichildrens.org/to-parents-of-children-born-with-clubfoot//

Here are a few blogs of mommies of clubfeet babies

http://www.faithfeetandlove.com/p/dealling-with-clubfoot.html?m=1

http://apeachtreecitylife.blogspot.com/p/our-harper-was-born-with-unilateral.html?m=1






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