The Baggot Family's END OF CHEMO END OF CANCER PRE Trip Report and Trip Report!!!!

[tjbaggott]

This Trip has been planned for more than a year now! I can't believe we leave in 3 weeks less a day! This trip was planned to Celebrate my now 18 yr old DD's End of Chemo/End of Cancer/End of post treamtent issues!
She was granted a wish through "The Chidlren's Wish Foundation" 3 1/2 years ago when she was only 1 year into a 2 1/2 year treatment protocol. We are about to revisit that exact same WISH but on our own dime this time! I never imagined we could do this on our own dime, but wow, what motivation, detemination and a lot of planning CAN DO! DD has been through SO MUCH, she SO deserves this Vacation as much as the Rest of us!

The CAST:
ME: Mom,
DH
DD18
DS16
DS12
and DS6

This is a Disney Land and Sea Vacation, NO FLIGHTS INVOLVED
This will be for all of us, a FIRST TIME DRIVING TO ORLANDO! Should be fun, it's a 23 some hour trip. Spreading the drive down out over 3 days, pehaps driving 8 hours a day give or take.

My DS6's Countdown chain:

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Tasks Completed up to this point:
ADR's
1 1/2 of 6 pirate cosutmes
Itinerary
FE Gifts
Packing started
Letters to the kids schools (see below how I wrote them up)

Older 3 are at the High School, so I did one letter for all three of them, and made copies for them to hand into the office and to each teacher.​

To: Holy Trinity Teachers For Taryn, Geoffrey and Daniel Baggott,

Our Family is going on Holiday this fall. We are taking our Children on a Disney Land and Sea Vacation to Celebrate our Daughters End of Chemo/End of Cancer! This vacation was booked more than a year in advance and time is now flying.
We are driving to Florida and will be leaving on Sunday Oct. 25th and will return Sun. Nov. 8th. Thus Taryn, Geoffrey and Daniel will be absent from school during this time.
As it is a lengthy trip, we will certainly have time for all our children to work on some school work so that they don’t fall behind.
I would love to take a package with us for Daniel, with any work the rest of the class will be working on in his absence. Please work out with Taryn and Geoffrey what they need to take/do while absent. There is plenty of time on the drive down and back, plus evenings in the hotel there and back, for the kids to do some work. If there are any tests scheduled during their absence, can it be arranged for them to either write them the Friday before we leave or soon after we are back?


Thank you.

And for my youngest​

To: Mrs. Walsh

Our Family is going on Holiday this fall. We are taking our Children on a Disney Land and Sea Vacation to Celebrate our Daughters End of Chemo/End of Cancer! This vacation was booked more than a year in advance and time is now flying.
We are driving to Florida and will be leaving on Sunday Oct. 25th and will return Sun. Nov. 8th. Thus Tim will be absent from school during this time.
As it is a lengthy trip, we will certainly have time for all our children to work on some school work so that they don’t fall behind.
I would love to take a package with us for Tim, with any work sheets ect. the rest of the class will be working on in his absence.
I have made up some bingo travel games with simple words of things he is likely to see on the way down, and a game of spot the license plate. I’ve also found online a printable “Sink the battle ship game” which will have him counting and plotting points on paper. He will be bringing his leap pad read and write board (he loves that thing), and some new books for it. If you are able to put together a package of work for him, that will round out his “School on the road” for him.
Tim will be in Magic Kingdom for Halloween, and is sure to have a blast. But he has said to me on more than one occasion that he has to wear black and orange to school that day. I don’t know if it’s the concept of time he’s not catching or if he really feels he is going to miss out on something by not being here. I’ll work on that with him.

Thank you.

Tasks TO BE Completed within the next 2 weeks
Finish 4 1/2 Pirate Costumes
Finish Packing
Clean my house!
Get Travellers cheques
MAKE FE!!!!
Finish up Door Magnets

The older kids are FINALLY getting excited about this trip, my youngest has been excited about it since we told him a year ago! He see's/Makes MICKEY HEADS EVERYWHERE!

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Next update will hopefully have photos of Completed Costumes and FE!

 

[ArmandXG]

Great start! Looking forward to reading the rest. I'm glad to hear your dd is at the end of her treatment. May she have continued good health!

I love your son's countdown board. What a wonderful idea.

Many years ago, we took my nephew to WDW for his 8th b-day. For one of his school projects, he got a passport from EPCOT and went around to the different countries and got stamps in his book. He also had to ask each CM to write in their native language (and also in English) what their country imported into the U.S. and what we exported to them. Just a little something to help him learn about each country visited. It was such a success that it took almost two weeks for him to bring the project back home, as his teacher was passing it around to other teachers! Disney's not just a vacation! Just don't tell them they are learning something in the process!

 

[Sand]

Wow! Congratulations conquering cancer!!
What a fantastic way to celebrate your victory. You are such a talented DISigner. LOVE your countdown chain. I hope you have a safe drive down and you have the best holiday ever! I look forward to reading more of your report!

 

[disneydance]

Wonderful Start!!
Also Congratulations to your Daughter on conquering cancer
Can't wait to hear more!

 

[ua1992]

congrats on your DD being cancer free ! That is wonderful news.

 

[OurOhana]

Congratulations, and great start to the report. Sounds like you have some great plans for fun, as well as some learning. I can't wait to read more.

ArmandXG - Great school project idea at Epcot. I may have to keep that in mind in a few years when my daughter is that age.

 

[MMitchell29]

Great pre-trip report . I'm so happy to your DD is cancer free. Now if they could just come up with cure already.

Did you guys do a cancer free party?

 

[tjbaggott]

Great pre-trip report . I'm so happy to your DD is cancer free. Now if they could just come up with cure already.

Did you guys do a cancer free party?

Thanks for all the kind words everyone!
As for a Cancer Free Party, originally we were going to do one, but while we were thinking of planning a BIG party and hold it in a Rental Hall, one of my daughters friends had a huge birthday bash at her home that didn't go nor end well. With Facebook and twitter, the party details were sent to many more than were invited. Strangers upon strangers showed up, SO MANY people to the point the girl and her dad had to call the police to get these people out of their house and yard and the yard of their neighbours ect.... Not a pleasant party. Then when we thought of doing somthing on a smaller scale, my DD was diagnosed with a blood clot in her arm (first clot issue was in her neck and was a result of the port that was implanted in her chest to feed Chemo into her body). So this time they had to put her on Heperin injections daily for 6 months. She did not feel like celebrating then. So once she was 6 months free of the morning injections and other issues, thats when I started planning THIS TRIP! When I told her about it, YES!!!!! THIS was how she really wanted to celebrate.
Now as of today we are 11 days from leaving! The countdown continues!

 

[tjbaggott]

SO, 11 days and counting, and hoping that the virus going through my house is finished by the time we leave! I was ill last weekend with headache, sore throat, achey bruisy all over. My daycare kids all have colds. This morning, DD awoke with a fever, headache and terribly sore throat. H1N1? Who knows.
Monday past was our Thanksgiving weekend and my two teens spent the evening working on our Fish Extender!!!! They measured, cut out the pieces, ironed on the interfacing and ironed in the pleats. Yesterday I assembled it all and was quite pleased with the finished product!

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Thinking of going into business making these things, after our cruise.
I also finished our T-Shirts for Boarding day:

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The green Mickey stick is to help others find me to check in for our Dis meet on board (in case no one notices the shirts?)LOL

I also did up Canadian Mickey shirts for our Epcot day, Star Wars Mickey shirts for DHS day, and Halloween shirts for two youngest DS's for Halloween Day. I'll post those photos later (got to take them first).
I've also completed DS7's pirate shirt which makes 3 of 6 complete. I've done some more organized packing, cleaned some of the house, made the rest of our door magnets and have bagged up all our FE gifts:

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SO Still on my "To Do LIst" are:
Finish packing
get travellers cheques
get CAA travellers insurance
Finish costumes

The only twist into our plans is that my son's employer (Walmart) has scheduled him to work the day we plan on leaving, hmmmm. He's trying to find someone to take the shift. I say "they were given plenty of notice of our vacation days therefor KNEW not to book him that day, Thus, it's their problem, not my son's". We'll see how that goes.
Oh, other news. DH want to go shopping somewhere along the drive down, IN A MALL! THAT is just SO NOT my DH! We are dressing up for formal night. I have a suit for DS7, DS16 and Formal dress for DD18 and something for myself. We still need to get dress clothes for DH and DS12. DH said, he wants to stop at a mall on the way down, and do some shopping there for those outfits. Hmmmm, that was a great surprise for me, as I LOVE shopping! So we'll look for some place to stop and do that, maybe wait till we are in Orlando or at least across the boarder into Florida.

 

[kindra657]

Count me in!!! Congrats to beating cancer!! My brother went through 2 years of that and it was aweful!

So what's the itinerary? How many days in WDW? how many nights at sea? ADRs? Resort? ...btw, what is FE??? Is it something cruise related? We are taking our first cruise in Jan and are still learning the ropes.

can't wait to read more!

 

[tjbaggott]

Gee, didn't even think of Posting an itinerary, but yes, that sounds great! I will do that sometime this weekend, and explain all about the FE stuff!
Currently, I'm just getting ready to take DD18 to the Doctors. She has CLASSIC FLU symptoms. Last week she had a horrible cold. Then last Monday she awoke with a sore throat and felt awful. That lasted a day and a half. For Wednesday and Thursday she was perfectly FINE. Then Friday afternoon, WHAM, Severe Headache, Chills, High Fever, Terribly aching joints, and nausea and extreme Fatigue. She slept all evening and night yesterday. So far today she is sleeping it away. Fever drops with Tylenol, but just before the 4 hours interval between doses, it spikes back up. She's not eating and is barely drinking (only enough to swallow pills). So I called the doctors office. When they heard her symptoms and the fact that our whole family leaves for Florida a week from TOMORROW, they told me to bring her right in, but wait till noon, when the crowds disperse. So we'll leave in a few minutes now. FLU shots here are not out in clinics till the end of the Month. That doesn't work for us. BUT I'm hoping the Doctors office has something they can give/do.

 

[ArmandXG]

The FE looks great... love the color choice.
Sorry to hear about the bug crawling through your home. I do hope everyone is feeling better soon and are full of excitement for the trip. Think good thoughts! Keep the healthy ones away from the sick ones and do what you have to do to keep it from spreading to anyone else.
hoping everyone stays well on the trip!

 

[tjbaggott]

Well, things are looking great! The Doctor said DD definately had the Flu and 97% likely it was H1N1. Because her symptoms were moderate and because of our impending vacation, he put her on Tamiflu. And it has worked! She is doing much better and will be back to school on Wednesday.

So, back to trip planning. I'm not doing too good on the rest of the pirate costumes, in fact I haven't done anything more, YET. Tomorrow I will buckle down and get to it. 3 shirts, two ladies vests, one pair of pants (maybe the pants, unless I can convince DD to wear something else already made). I would like to make myself the pirate Jacket, in case it's cold Halloween evening, but we'll see if there is time.

So, the plan:
Sunday October 25th - leave home by 9 am. Have the van packed the night before, have a leisurly breakfast, then hit the road. Stop for the night somewhere around between Fredericksberg and Richmond VA.
Monday October 26th - 2nd leg of trip. Plan is to drive as far as St Augustine? Would like to get a hotel near the beach, spend some time on the beach then get a good nights rest.
Tuesday October 27th - DRIVE TO KISSIMMEE! We have our Hotel booked here already. "Suites At Old Town". More like an Apartment, has a pool and sleeps 6 for under $50.00 a night! Has a living room, Kitchen and bedroom, and two tv's! The kitchen has a table set, refridgerator, dishwasher, microwave, stove top and coffee maker. It is under new management as of Jan. or Feb. of this year and since then, has had some pretty good reviews. Two nights will be spent here.
Wednesday October 28th - Morning will be spent shopping for the few clothes we've decided to buy there, and anything else we will need. Afternoon will be spent at DTD!!!!!

• Balloon ride
• Lego Imagination Centre
• Once Upon a Toy
• Candy Cauldron

and more, basically checking out all of the West side and the Market place, then head back to the hotel for a swim and a good nights rest

Thursday October 29th!!! - Up EARLY and check into CBR by 7:30, or at least drop off our luggage with the CM's and pick up our Park Hoppers. Then take Disney transportation to EPCOT. Whole day spent here.
Dinner scheduled at Les Chefs de France for 5:30pm

Friday October 30th - Up EARLY, breakfast at Chef Mickey's for 7:15 a.m. We will likely drive here ourselves, then we are off to DHS! Dinner is scheduled here for 6pm at Sci Fi Dine in Theatre. Park Hop Over to MK to watch WISHES!!

Saturday October 31st Up Early, Head to MK, drive ourselves? Take pirate costumes to change into later for MNSSHP!!! We'll be in this park from 9am till Midnight! Then back to CBR for some sleep before again, getting up early! SET THE CLOCKS BACK BEFORE GOING TO BED! At least we gain an hours sleep this night!

Sunday November 1st Up by 7:30 am, check out and on the road by 9 am. HEAD TO PORT CANAVERAL! We would like to be one of the first group of families into the terminal. Take lots of pictures in the terminal this time, Character meet and greets and photo OP'S! Board before Noon and then it's time to RELAX. Get some lunch then stake out a place by the pool. I'll sit back and put my feet up, while the kids play/swim. Dis Meet will take place in this area. Order Mickey Bars from Room Service for a bedtime snack (I know, not the most healthy snack, but hey, THIS IS DISNEY!

Monday November 2nd- sleep in..... a bit. Enjoy a leisurly breakfast, perhaps the free room service. Eventually we'll, or some of us, will head into NASSAU, explore the shopping district (of course), then catch the water taxi over to Atlantis. I've been told it's free to just walk around this area, though we won't have access to the water park (don't want the water park anyway). We want to see the aquarium and maybe the dinosaur dig. Then we'll take the water taxi back to the ship and explore the ship, let the kids play in the clubs. RELAX!

Tuesday November 3rd - CATAWAY CAY DAY!!! Hopefully we have Fabulous weather! TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES! DD18 and DS16 have a parasailing excursion booked here for mid morning.

Wednesday November 4th- SEA DAY!! Brunch at PALO'S! Relax, catch a movie with the kids (something in 3D most likely)

Thursday November 5th I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME!!!! Wait, we're NOT, oh yes, we are disembarking and heading to AK!!!! Spend the day in AK , and when it closes at 5pm, maybe head over to MK and watch WISHES again? We'll probably stay at Suites at Old Town again this night.

Friday November 6th - NOW we head home.
Saturday November 7th - Still driving home (maybe stop for a few hours and tour Washington D.C White House/Capital area)
Sunday November 8th - Home (maybe we'll have gotten home the night before if we didn't stop in DC.)

So there it is, our itinerary. Some things could change as nothing is set in stone (except our ADR's, lol).

Now to get working on the Pirate costumes.

 

[tjbaggott]

The FE looks great... love the color choice.
Sorry to hear about the bug crawling through your home. I do hope everyone is feeling better soon and are full of excitement for the trip. Think good thoughts! Keep the healthy ones away from the sick ones and do what you have to do to keep it from spreading to anyone else.
hoping everyone stays well on the trip!

Thank you very much! I can't even think about anyone else catching this! Today I packed into a travel bag all the meds I think we should take (Tylenol, Ibuprophen, Children's Motrin, Vitamins, Gravol and Benadryl tablets).
I think my DD caught this simply because her immune system just isn't what it used to be. Before Cancer hit her, she NEVER got sick. Since she's finished her cancer treatment, she picks up EVERYTHING that goes around, mostly thats just nasty colds, one rolls into another. But at least she's over the worst of this Flu.

Thanks too about the FE! Funny thing is, it took me a LONG time to choose the fabric. Then I was explaining to the sales lady what it was for and she thought that was pretty cool, but commented that that striped fabric was Really, WOW (I got the impression she didn't like it), she said it's hard on the eyes if you look at it too long. HMMMM, but I guess used in the right way, as the backing instead of the pockets was best, I LOVE IT!
Trying too to decide how and what to pack for clothes. The temps in Orlando seem to really have dropped this past week! Wasn't planning on taking long pants, but I guess now I'll have to. Crunch time is getting here!

 

[kindra657]

Well, things are looking great! The Doctor said DD definately had the Flu and 97% likely it was H1N1. Because her symptoms were moderate and because of our impending vacation, he put her on Tamiflu. And it has worked! She is doing much better and will be back to school on Wednesday.

So, back to trip planning. I'm not doing too good on the rest of the pirate costumes, in fact I haven't done anything more, YET. Tomorrow I will buckle down and get to it. 3 shirts, two ladies vests, one pair of pants (maybe the pants, unless I can convince DD to wear something else already made). I would like to make myself the pirate Jacket, in case it's cold Halloween evening, but we'll see if there is time.

So, the plan:
Sunday October 25th - leave home by 9 am. Have the van packed the night before, have a leisurly breakfast, then hit the road. Stop for the night somewhere around between Fredericksberg and Richmond VA.
Monday October 26th - 2nd leg of trip. Plan is to drive as far as St Augustine? Would like to get a hotel near the beach, spend some time on the beach then get a good nights rest.
Tuesday October 27th - DRIVE TO KISSIMMEE! We have our Hotel booked here already. "Suites At Old Town". More like an Apartment, has a pool and sleeps 6 for under $50.00 a night! Has a living room, Kitchen and bedroom, and two tv's! The kitchen has a table set, refridgerator, dishwasher, microwave, stove top and coffee maker. It is under new management as of Jan. or Feb. of this year and since then, has had some pretty good reviews. Two nights will be spent here.
Wednesday October 28th - Morning will be spent shopping for the few clothes we've decided to buy there, and anything else we will need. Afternoon will be spent at DTD!!!!!

• Balloon ride
• Lego Imagination Centre
• Once Upon a Toy
• Candy Cauldron

and more, basically checking out all of the West side and the Market place, then head back to the hotel for a swim and a good nights rest

Thursday October 29th!!! - Up EARLY and check into CBR by 7:30, or at least drop off our luggage with the CM's and pick up our Park Hoppers. Then take Disney transportation to EPCOT. Whole day spent here.
Dinner scheduled at Les Chefs de France for 5:30pm

Friday October 30th - Up EARLY, breakfast at Chef Mickey's for 7:15 a.m. We will likely drive here ourselves, then we are off to DHS! Dinner is scheduled here for 6pm at Sci Fi Dine in Theatre. Park Hop Over to MK to watch WISHES!!

Saturday October 31st Up Early, Head to MK, drive ourselves? Take pirate costumes to change into later for MNSSHP!!! We'll be in this park from 9am till Midnight! Then back to CBR for some sleep before again, getting up early! SET THE CLOCKS BACK BEFORE GOING TO BED! At least we gain an hours sleep this night!

We will be in the World at the same time!!! We arrive on the 30th (MK and then AK for EMH) and the 31st we will be at Epcot, the Boardwalk (for Halloween festivities cause we really can't afford the party--this is a last minute trip), and then back to Epcot for fireworks. YAY!!! I LOVE Disney around Halloween!!! SOO much fun!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Hi
I am really enjoying your pre - trip report so far - the T-Shirts are fantastic - would love to see the others you have made. That's some journey you have ahead of you, but a good way to see the different states that you pass through. It's amazing that your DD has managed to beat cancer and a wonderful way to celebrate.

Funnily enough my 18 year old DD is called Taryn and it is a very rare name here in the UK ( up to now we only know of one other Taryn so now we know of 2). I also have a DS (15) called Daniel, would you believe it!

Look forward to reading more about your planning and your adventures!

 

[tjbaggott]

Hi
I am really enjoying your pre - trip report so far - the T-Shirts are fantastic - would love to see the others you have made. That's some journey you have ahead of you, but a good way to see the different states that you pass through. It's amazing that your DD has managed to beat cancer and a wonderful way to celebrate.

Funnily enough my 18 year old DD is called Taryn and it is a very rare name here in the UK ( up to now we only know of one other Taryn so now we know of 2). I also have a DS (15) called Daniel, would you believe it!

Look forward to reading more about your planning and your adventures!

That is Funny! I have a cousin named Tara and I always loved her name, and my DH's name is Martyn spelled with a "Y". When we were expecting DD, we couldn't seem to agree on a name. Then I was reading the birth announcements one day and saw the name TARYN. I had never seen or heard that name before. I asked DH how he liked that. It was close to the name Tara that I loved so much, and was spelled with a "Y" like DH's name. Well, right off the bat, he loved it! Hmmm, seems thats how we've got each of our childrens names (the first one we both agreed on became THE name, LOL) Except our youngest, Tim. We lost two babies before him, a little boy in 1999, we named him Jacob (carried him half way through the pregnancy), and a little girl we carried to full term and she too was born still. Her name was Hailey. When we knew our last child was on the way, and found out he was a boy, we gave our DD the Honour of naming him herself. I think she picked a wonderful name!
We've met two other Taryn's, but even here, it's not a name you hear very often at all.

News of tonight, I've been so busy saving files for Journal, Activity and Autograph books (taking the files on disc into Staples tomorrow for printing and binding), that I still haven't gotten any further on the pirate costumes. I think at this point I'm going to post on my local FREECYCLE bulleting board, an OFFER to pay someone to finish them up for me. Basically it's just my daughters and my costumes that need doing. Two or Three of my kids need new sandles (what they had this past summer they've either already outgrown, or outworn). I assume the stores in Orlando still sell sandles at this time of year? I'm counting on it!
I will post more pictures tomorrow of the shirts and and Thursday I should have photos of the Staples booklets. The books are all done up with the help of Donatalie and Milliepie! (I was SO surprised to here my DD18 and DS16 tell me that they TOO want Autograph books!)
TTFN

 

[kindra657]

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!

Do you have an Old Navy near you or a Claires? My bf got us some flips from both of those places for $1!!! I know I am like the only fool running around in flip flops at Disney but if you are looking for some, you may be able to find some there for pretty cheap! Good luck getting everything together and finishing the costumes!!

 

[jordak]

Wow, your pre-trip report has me really excited for you! Have a great trip!

 

[tjbaggott]

Wow, I haven't had any time to update over the last couple days. Busy, busy busy! Got a lot of sewing done, but still a bit more to do. Leaving for the bank soon to get travellers cheques, then to the fabric store for the last few notions I need. A little more packing to do, then tidying up. Tonight we plan to have a nice family dinner then watch a Disney movie. The plan is to RELAX. I received the last of our travel documents via UPS yesterday. Package was filled with little glitter Mickey Heads! Below are photos of the last of the shirts I made up, and DS6 in his Pirate Costume. We leave first thing tomorrow morning so there might not be any more updates till it's time to write up my TRIP REPORT once we are back (I dont' even want to think about coming back right now )

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I also finished up the files for the Journal for Tim, his Activity book and Autograph books, and had Staples Business depot print them up and bind them for me (cost an arm and a leg, but for this trip, it was worth it!)

First, Tim's Journal and a few of the pages. (There is a set of pages for EACH Day of the trip as well as one page for each Country in World Showcase in Epcot:

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The Activity book will keep him busy on the drive down and back:

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And the Autograph books, each one different as each child had their own favourites. DS6 wanted Absolutely NO Princesses in his book! Surprisingly, DS16 actually wanted a book! And also wanted Princess Aurora and Mulan in his!:

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FE Gifts we are GIVING:

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