Tyler's Wish Trip - Nov. 20-25, 2009 / Dream Factory

[kdzbear]

ohhhhh nooooo! Im sorry you guys arent feeling well! I will be crossing fingers and toes that you get to go camping too.

I just found out that 2 of the kids who were at our Halloween party have the flu so im a lil freaked out.

I hope Hayleys stays minimal and she doesnt start wheezing. Isnt it a mess? Im sooo ready for summer to come back

Gosh - I am sorry you guys are sick!

I hope you feel better very soon!

I feel much better this morning after two doses of antibiotics. Hayley is back to her bouncy and happy self. Tyler is still running a high fever that does not want to come down. My husband has finally made an appointment to go and see the doctor this afternoon. He has been sick since Friday and probably got the rest of us sick.

Breanna, my little trooper, is still healthy and she needs to stay healthy so she can go on the camping trip this weekend. I started making 15 cute little swap bags and one of the serger threads came unthreaded. I tried my best to rethread it, but I can't. My husband said he would look at it again this morning. I will post pictures of them when I am done. Swaps are little knick-knack like items on pins that the girls trade at camp. We are making cute Indian corn ones. I will post pictures of those too. At meeting today we need to make 140 of them! At least there are 13 girls making them. I feel sorry for the troops with only four girls that need to make that many.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

We are back from our trip. We had a wonderful time, but it sure was warm.

I am so glad to see the kids liked their shirts and they fit them!

I hope you are all feeling better soon.

 

[inkedupmomma]

uhm..ok.. I swore that I subbed to your PTR!! I am smoking something?? Didn't I make a post on here??

Ugh.. I am losing t, or am entirely so busy that I don't know what I am doing anymore!

Just wanted to say, I hope Tyler is feeling better!! Was it swine?? Sick kids are the worse!! BUT, let them get it all out right now! then you can all be a-ok for your upcoming trip!

Also, how fortunate for you to get such AWESOME big gifts gives! or big give gifts..LOL! der.. I obviously can not type either lol! I am truly so happy for you guys! Your son reminds me of my nephew so much! Although, and I know this is going to sound terrible, your boy "looks" more normal than my nephew. Please do not take offense to that! I just mean, if I saw him, I would never think, oh there is something wrong. My nephew however, clearly looks like something is off. But e is the cutest thing, god love him!

I wish my sister would be smart and try to participate in something like you have done for Tyler! she could surely use some goodness in her life!

Can you please explain this weighted blanket? what are they for?

and SUBBING fer real fer real now lol!

 

[kdzbear]

We are back from our trip. We had a wonderful time, but it sure was warm.

I am so glad to see the kids liked their shirts and they fit them!

I hope you are all feeling better soon.

Thank you! We love the shirts! They are so cute and you are so talented!

uhm..ok.. I swore that I subbed to your PTR!! I am smoking something?? Didn't I make a post on here??

Ugh.. I am losing t, or am entirely so busy that I don't know what I am doing anymore!

Just wanted to say, I hope Tyler is feeling better!! Was it swine?? Sick kids are the worse!! BUT, let them get it all out right now! then you can all be a-ok for your upcoming trip!

Also, how fortunate for you to get such AWESOME big gifts gives! or big give gifts..LOL! der.. I obviously can not type either lol! I am truly so happy for you guys! Your son reminds me of my nephew so much! Although, and I know this is going to sound terrible, your boy "looks" more normal than my nephew. Please do not take offense to that! I just mean, if I saw him, I would never think, oh there is something wrong. My nephew however, clearly looks like something is off. But e is the cutest thing, god love him!

I wish my sister would be smart and try to participate in something like you have done for Tyler! she could surely use some goodness in her life!

Can you please explain this weighted blanket? what are they for?

and SUBBING fer real fer real now lol!

It was not swine flu. I am glad you are here now! Weighted blankets are used to calm down children when they have sensory overload. They are often used at night time to help children feel more secure and the weight helps them to fall asleep. They are used as lap blankets in classrooms for kids with special needs since just the little bit of extra weight on their laps helps them to concentrate! They are fairly easy to make and Tyler's blankets have been lifesavers. He would be up all night before he had his. A friend's church was making them for a local charity and she helped me make the first one and then I purchased a serger to make his heavier one. Hayley also has one that she sleeps with, but hers is not a necessity. They are also great for babies when made with the proper weight since the babies can't pull them up over their faces or get stuck in them like they can with traditional blankets. There are blessings and detriments to Tyler "looking normal". He can tend to blend in, but when he has a meltdown, which is frequent people just, stare at you like why aren't you doing anything. I just have to wait for the melt down to stop. He also can't talk well and people just assume he is shy. Diapers are a whole other issue. I get more rude comments from strangers wondering why he is so big and still in diapers. Your sister should check out Unique's website. They specialize in chromosome disorders and can give her a good starting point. We were lucky that the hospital sent us Rainbows, who provided Tyler with physical and speech therapy from the day he came home from the hospital. I have also learned that you have to be proactive or a special needs child will get lost in the bureaucracy. I have learned to fight for his needs and to never take no for an answer when he needs something.

Everyone with the exception of Breanna is still sick. I am finally starting to feel a little better, but I spent all last night coughing. Aaron is still spiking fevers and he has been sick since last Friday. Tyler and Hayley are still running fevers and their antibiotics are giving them the runs so we had to call the doctor and get additional medication for them to help alleviate the new problem that the antibiotics were causing. We hope that everyone will be well again soon. I do not remember the last time my husband missed a day of work so the fact that he has missed a whole week in unheard of. Everyone tested negative for both flu viruses and the doctor is not sure what we have other than then initial virus caused ear infections and sinus infections. I can finally breathe, but I am weak and tire easily. I am still trying to figure out how to go camping this weekend. I know lots of people are praying for our family and we thank you for this!

 

[kdzbear]

A new Big Give package came tonight. The return address says that it is from Stephen in NC. The box was filled with amazing goodies!

There were little photo albums for each child. There was a Disney ball for each child and Tyler and Hayley were having fun with the balls. The box contained Disney activity books. There were beautiful customized autograph books for each child.

The box continued to hold more treasures. There is a Disney bag that had each family member on it with special Disney Ear hats. Tyler’s had Stitch ears and Breanna’s had High School Musical ears. My husband loves that it has the Dream Factory logo on it. It is too cute!

Then the final three pieces made Tyler’s eyes light up! They were custom made Stitch clothes. When we began the Wish process Tyler could sign Stitch, but he could not say, “Stitch”, but now he can. He loves the clothes and did not want to take them off. He is not smiling since he is still sick. You can see in the pictures that Tyler and Hayley are still under the weather. I am hoping that Breanna stays healthy through the campout this weekend.

My husband commented that the autograph books look professionally done. He also wants to participate in the Big Give from the giving side after Tyler’s trip. You all have made a huge impression on him! Thank you again for all of the gifts. It means a lot to see Tyler, Hayley and Breanna smile so much!

 

[pipersmom]

Such cool big give stuff! Keeping my fingers crossed that all will go well for the camping trip this weekend, I was a GS until I graduated from high school and have many wonderful memories of swaps and camping trips and visiting places I otherwise would never have been able to. Only two more weeks for you!!

 

[StefaniLyn]

Great pictures! The autograph books DO look professionally made. And the Stitch pirate outfit - ADORABLE!

Whenever I tell my my DD8, Kennedy, that something she made, cooked, or created is exceptionally good, she tells me it's because she added a secret special ingredient . . . . LOVE.

I can see that all of the BIG GIVE items are made with that same special ingredient as well. A lot of LOVE

 

[inkedupmomma]

It was not swine flu. I am glad you are here now! Weighted blankets are used to calm down children when they have sensory overload. They are often used at night time to help children feel more secure and the weight helps them to fall asleep. They are used as lap blankets in classrooms for kids with special needs since just the little bit of extra weight on their laps helps them to concentrate! They are fairly easy to make and Tyler's blankets have been lifesavers. He would be up all night before he had his. A friend's church was making them for a local charity and she helped me make the first one and then I purchased a serger to make his heavier one. Hayley also has one that she sleeps with, but hers is not a necessity. They are also great for babies when made with the proper weight since the babies can't pull them up over their faces or get stuck in them like they can with traditional blankets. There are blessings and detriments to Tyler "looking normal". He can tend to blend in, but when he has a meltdown, which is frequent people just, stare at you like why aren't you doing anything. I just have to wait for the melt down to stop. He also can't talk well and people just assume he is shy. Diapers are a whole other issue. I get more rude comments from strangers wondering why he is so big and still in diapers. Your sister should check out Unique's website. They specialize in chromosome disorders and can give her a good starting point. We were lucky that the hospital sent us Rainbows, who provided Tyler with physical and speech therapy from the day he came home from the hospital. I have also learned that you have to be proactive or a special needs child will get lost in the bureaucracy. I have learned to fight for his needs and to never take no for an answer when he needs something.

Everyone with the exception of Breanna is still sick. I am finally starting to feel a little better, but I spent all last night coughing. Aaron is still spiking fevers and he has been sick since last Friday. Tyler and Hayley are still running fevers and their antibiotics are giving them the runs so we had to call the doctor and get additional medication for them to help alleviate the new problem that the antibiotics were causing. We hope that everyone will be well again soon. I do not remember the last time my husband missed a day of work so the fact that he has missed a whole week in unheard of. Everyone tested negative for both flu viruses and the doctor is not sure what we have other than then initial virus caused ear infections and sinus infections. I can finally breathe, but I am weak and tire easily. I am still trying to figure out how to go camping this weekend. I know lots of people are praying for our family and we thank you for this!

WOW! Being sick sucks! I am so sorry! I am glad it is not the swine flu though! I'm not scared like everyone else is about it, but still, any flu stinks! Will continue to keep you guys in our prayers!!

As for the looking normal thing, my nephew is tallish, but kind of hunched over. But looks his age some what, and honesty like I said, you can tell something is up, and people STILL do the same things they do to you! I guess fine or having an issue isn't the case? You are just supposed to kep your kid in check no matter what! I hate society most times! I guess God graced me with two very healthy kids for the protection of others..cause I would open up a can of whoop..well you know what, if someone even looked at me slightly funny about my kid! I'm quick to say something if someone says something about my nephew too!

I am super interested in these weighted blankets now! Idk, if you know, but my Jack was "tested" for autism If you met him, you could clearly see he is not. BUT, man is he a handful! Doesn't sleep through the night, aggressive, but can be sweetest kid ever! and smart as a whip! But he DOES NOT sleep through the night! He still gets up mid way through and hops into our bed! I wonder if a weighted blanket would keep him satisfied and sleep through the night!! We also have an appointment set up for a sleep specialist at CHOP (Children hospital of Philadelphia) , so maybe they have some ideas!

Anywho, happy Friday, and please keep us updated about your sickies!

 

[inkedupmomma]

oh wow! the big give is so wonderful! congrats!!!

 

[NiniMorris]

You know...I've never thought about weighted blankets.... my DS8 does not sleep through the night. The most I can hope for is 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Since he sleepwalks too, and hubby works nights...well sometimes it is MUCH less than 4 hours.

Since he has many 'symptoms' of autism,I don't know why I didn't think about this! I mean they do use weighted blankets in his therapies...DUH!!!


Thanks for the idea!

Nini

 

[Momofwishkid]

Hi, I finally got all caught up on your PTR and got some wonderful ideas for our DFN's. I hope you are all doing better soon. All this stuff going around is horrible. Congrats on all your Big Gift goodies their all so wonderful.

 

[kdzbear]

Thank you for all of the wonderful compliments. The weighted blankets are really a life saver! I want to reply to each of you, but I am still under the weather. I took 13 girls camping this weekend. The weather was in the mid 70's! It can and often does snow this time of year here so it was a great surprise. Today it is 59 and raining! Breanna came down with this crud at about 2 am on Saturday morning. As soon as everyone was up I called my husband and had him come to camp to pick her up. I had to stay with the other girls. I think maybe staying in bed would have been a better plan. The girls loved the trip and on Sunday morning a second girl in my troop came down with a fever! : scared1: I guess they will now all be sick soon. I took Bre to the doctor today and her symptoms are a lot less severe than what the rest of the family had, but maybe that is why she resisted it so long. She seems to be doing much better today while mine has settled into my lungs. The doctor said that her husband had the same thing and his lasted three weeks. I cannot survive another week and a half of this stuff. I need to be better now!

 

[kdzbear]

Tyler went back to school today after missing all of last week. He received a package on Saturday and my husband made him wait until I got back from the camping trip to open it. It is from Wendy! Thank you so much!

He loves it! It is so cute. I have tried to get him to try it on, but he was tired yesterday. Then today when he came home from school, he had some lunch and then fell asleep while I was changing his diaper. I guess he is still pretty worn out!

Hopefully, we will all be feeling better soon!

Here is an extra bonus photo:

Hayley took Tyler’s Baa-Baa and his blanket and fell asleep on the couch with them. Tyler found her about a half an hour later and instead of being mad, he just kissed her on the head and laid another blanket of his on her. It was too cute!

 

[billwendy]

Tyler went back to school today after missing all of last week. He received a package on Saturday and my husband made him wait until I got back from the camping trip to open it. It is from Wendy! Thank you so much!

He loves it! It is so cute. I have tried to get him to try it on, but he was tired yesterday. Then today when he came home from school, he had some lunch and then fell asleep while I was changing his diaper. I guess he is still pretty worn out!

Hopefully, we will all be feeling better soon!

Here is an extra bonus photo:

Hayley took Tyler’s Baa-Baa and his blanket and fell asleep on the couch with them. Tyler found her about a half an hour later and instead of being mad, he just kissed her on the head and laid another blanket of his on her. It was too cute!

Awww - poor little guy is getting back on track - I can certainly wait for a picture of that cute little boy!! Sounds like he loves his little sis too!!!

 

[StefaniLyn]

Here is an extra bonus photo:

Love the photo of Tyler riiiiippppppping it out of the package! He looks so excited, and for good reason! Wendy did an amazing job on the overalls!

Awww. . . a little sleeping beauty!

 

[inkedupmomma]

he is sooo sweet!

 

[kdzbear]

Wendy, I tried my best and here is how the photos came out. He is being cheesy today!

Then there are a couple new trip planning developments. I received an email from the Dream Factory’s travel planner to let me know that Tyler’s, Aaron’s and Breanna’s flight had been changed. Apparently this did not set off a red flag with her as it did with me. They moved three of my family members to another flight! I contacted Delta and after 32 minutes on the phone with them we are all on the same flight again. However, we are now seated in 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A. Does anyone else see a problem with this? I am not worried about it. I know that the flight attendants will put us all back together once we are on the plane. The part that had me worried was that the first flight that they moved them off of only had 7 open seats when I pulled it up. Now, according to this new Delta representative all of our parties travel arrangements on Delta area all tied together and they cannot move one of us without moving all of us. I did not need that extra little scare right now.

I also came across some good news. I am trying to wait to make a final decision to see if we are given any expense money from our Wish organization or not. Disney is offering a discount on its pirate packages for resort guests. The package is half of list price so the most basic Pirate’s league package would be $25. I would need to let at least both Tyler and Breanna become pirates. Here is what it includes:

There are 3 packages available - each includes a sword and sheath, earring and eye patch, tattoo, pirate coin necklace, map case folder, and a personalized pirate oath!
The First Mate Package at $49.95 plus tax also includes:
• Bandana (reversible)
• Choice of Facial Effect look: Cursed Pirate, Captain Hook or Captain Jack
• Fake Teeth
• One (1) 5x7 picture

What do you think? Should I try to get appointments?

 

[billwendy]

Wendy, I tried my best and here is how the photos came out. He is being cheesy today!

He looks ADORABLE!! Im so glad that they fit!!

And for the other person that mentioned it - Im ashamed to say that they are store bought!!!

 

[kdzbear]

Thank you to each and every member of the Big Give Family!

I am simply overwhelmed with your talent and generosity. Just when I thought that the mail would go back to being normal mail another package arrived! The return address just says, “Engler” so I do not know your first name or Disname. Hayley is in heaven! She loves Tinkerbell. I cannot get the outfit off of her!

Tyler started to open the package and immediately turned to Hayley and said, “Baby” as he handed it to her. He now either calls her baby or by her middle name. He can’t seem to pronounce Hayley yet.

Hayley discovers it is Tinkerbell!

Then she wants to show off her new outfit!

Then Tyler wanted more pictures taken of him too, but he keeps closing his eyes!

 

[pipersmom]

Okay, I don't know how I got so behind on your TR! Stop posting so much..lol. Seriously though, the outfits are too cute. Eek! At the flight arrangements, so glad you got it worked out. The pirate league packages sound like fun..if you think the kids would enjoy it, I would say go for it, esp with the price cut. Your trip is sooooo close, hooray!