A Wish in the Making

[dlewish]

I would assume the expense would be enough for your entire family, but I can't say for sure. Each office/chapter does things their own way. Example... Along with our debit card MAW gave us a breakdown budget sheet that showdd spending money per person/per day, plus gas money. That is how they determined our amount. Maybe that is the way our office does it... they have a pre-determinded breakdown per person.??

Also, we did not receive nor know the amount of our expense check/debit card until about 1 week before our trip. Maybe MAW likes to keep it as a surprise????

If the amount is a concern to you ask your MAW office about it. I did something like that. I asked our office if we are on our own when we go to the park for lunch/dinner and making ADRs for character meals. (It seems some chapters make a character meal ressie or give special $ for that, but ours did not.) Our coordinator said we can go ahead and make our own ADR and MAW will give us an expense check to cover lunch(meals) at the park. She did not say how much and I did not inquire. I figured I could adjust things as needed.

I'm sure other chapters do things different, but at least that might give you an idea.

HTH

ETA; are your dates confirmed yet? They might not say anyting about a check until you have dates. Once you have dates you can start planning for meals/ADRs and maybe bring up the expense check then.

 

[ms_mckenna]

Thank you! You know we decided to take in the kids that in order to make a difference in THEIR lives. We had no idea how much they would make a difference in OUR lives. We have been so truely blessed by each and every one of our children.

I love this statement! It is so true! I cannot wait for you guys to get to go! Love Tiana here too!

 

[Emilyswish]

Hi Heather,

What an amazing family you have! We have 4 kiddos and we'll be at GKTW during Christmas break, I hope you get to go then! They did tell us back in September it might be hard to get us in, but the letter came and we got in, hopefully you all will too and we could meet up. You can read Emily's trip report, the link is in my signature. Good luck!

 

[HeatherSP]

I would assume the expense would be enough for your entire family, but I can't say for sure. Each office/chapter does things their own way. Example... Along with our debit card MAW gave us a breakdown budget sheet that showdd spending money per person/per day, plus gas money. That is how they determined our amount. Maybe that is the way our office does it... they have a pre-determinded breakdown per person.??

Also, we did not receive nor know the amount of our expense check/debit card until about 1 week before our trip. Maybe MAW likes to keep it as a surprise????

If the amount is a concern to you ask your MAW office about it. I did something like that. I asked our office if we are on our own when we go to the park for lunch/dinner and making ADRs for character meals. (It seems some chapters make a character meal ressie or give special $ for that, but ours did not.) Our coordinator said we can go ahead and make our own ADR and MAW will give us an expense check to cover lunch(meals) at the park. She did not say how much and I did not inquire. I figured I could adjust things as needed.

I'm sure other chapters do things different, but at least that might give you an idea.

HTH

ETA; are your dates confirmed yet? They might not say anyting about a check until you have dates. Once you have dates you can start planning for meals/ADRs and maybe bring up the expense check then.

Thanks so much for the great info! Sounds like things will work out just fine.

Hi Heather,

What an amazing family you have! We have 4 kiddos and we'll be at GKTW during Christmas break, I hope you get to go then! They did tell us back in September it might be hard to get us in, but the letter came and we got in, hopefully you all will too and we could meet up. You can read Emily's trip report, the link is in my signature. Good luck!

Wow that sounds wonderful! I hope you guys have a great time. If we don't get to go at christmas we will be relying on you to post lots of great pics!



Lhea is home sick today (she goes to public PreK for "needy" kids. They only take 18 kids in our city. Lhea got in due to minor developmental delays, medical history and her foster care background). She only has a slight fever so she is running around playing. When she saw me on the computer she ran up and climbed on my lap and asked me to show her pictures of disney world. I think I am going to look at some trip reports and show her the pictures

 

[smileycrissy]

Lhea is home sick today (she goes to public PreK for "needy" kids. They only take 18 kids in our city. Lhea got in due to minor developmental delays, medical history and her foster care background). She only has a slight fever so she is running around playing. When she saw me on the computer she ran up and climbed on my lap and asked me to show her pictures of disney world. I think I am going to look at some trip reports and show her the pictures

Aww, sorry she isn't feeling well. But how cute is she asking to see pics of Disney World. I hope she feels better soon and she saw lots of pics of stuff that she's hoping to enjoy.

 

[ms_mckenna]

Lhea is home sick today (she goes to public PreK for "needy" kids. They only take 18 kids in our city. Lhea got in due to minor developmental delays, medical history and her foster care background). She only has a slight fever so she is running around playing. When she saw me on the computer she ran up and climbed on my lap and asked me to show her pictures of disney world. I think I am going to look at some trip reports and show her the pictures

Poor little one! I hope she is feeling better and enjoyed her Mommy and me day!

 

[HeatherSP]

Aww, sorry she isn't feeling well. But how cute is she asking to see pics of Disney World. I hope she feels better soon and she saw lots of pics of stuff that she's hoping to enjoy.

Thanks! She is feeling better now. She still had a fever this morning so she stayed home another day. By this afternoon she was well. She loves looking at disney pictures. Everytime she saw a GKTW picture she thought that was disney world too.

Poor little one! I hope she is feeling better and enjoyed her Mommy and me day!

Thanks! Much better now. Mommy enjoys her home too. This is the first time she has been in school so I miss her a lot. I think my seperation anxiety is as bad as hers.


Yesterday was parent teacher conference day. I was surprised when Lhea's teacher was concerned about her. I expected to go in and be told Lhea is doing well. Instead, the teacher said that she is concerned about her fine motor skills but even more concerned about her memory. The teacher said she teaches the kids a letter a week and then reviews the "old letters" daily. They are up to F but Lhea doesn't know any of them. She forgets them so easily. I'm not sure if any of this is related to her LCH. It is also a possibility that it is related to her birth mothers cocain use during pregnancy But either way they will keep working with her and will wait until she is in kindergarten before they do any official testing.

 

[Happy Dreams1]

Heather, if only every mother in the world had your heart!

 

[ms_mckenna]

Thanks! Much better now. Mommy enjoys her home too. This is the first time she has been in school so I miss her a lot. I think my seperation anxiety is as bad as hers.


Yesterday was parent teacher conference day. I was surprised when Lhea's teacher was concerned about her. I expected to go in and be told Lhea is doing well. Instead, the teacher said that she is concerned about her fine motor skills but even more concerned about her memory. The teacher said she teaches the kids a letter a week and then reviews the "old letters" daily. They are up to F but Lhea doesn't know any of them. She forgets them so easily. I'm not sure if any of this is related to her LCH. It is also a possibility that it is related to her birth mothers cocain use during pregnancy But either way they will keep working with her and will wait until she is in kindergarten before they do any official testing.

I think I am going to have the same problem with my youngest. I do not envy you at all.

Hugs to you Jack and Noahs bio mom used as well. I know I can tell such differences already between them and our other children. It is so frustrating that they were subjected to that isn't it I hope it is something that she can overcome.

 

[HeatherSP]

We haven't heard anything from Make A Wish since their visit. I'm assuming this means we won't be going during christmas break. Unless I hear otherwise I will assume easter break will be Lhea's trip.

Everyone here is doing pretty well. We had a great Thanksgiving at home.

We have been dealing with a new issue lately. Lhea has talked in her sleep for years. Well, now I think she is sleepwalking. The night before last she had wet her bed so I wasn't surprised she was up. I changed her sheets and got her back to bed. Then last night I saw her roaming around my room. I was worried she was wet again but when I checked she was fine so I sent her to the bathroom. Instead she went to her room and put on her water shoes. She came back and again I sent her to the bathroom and she left again. She came back and I asked if she had gone potty. She told me she couldn't get her pants off. (she was wearing a long nightgown and underwear, no pants). I told her she didn't have pants on and to go potty and she cried and insisted she can't get her pants off. I helped her then she came back to my bed and fell asleep immediately. I took her shoes off and carried her back to her bed. This morning she didn't remember any of it and couldn't understand why her water shoes were in my floor. There have been other times she was up and wondering around but I couldn't really tell if she was awake or asleep. Now I'm pretty sure she is sleepwalking.

 

[ms_mckenna]

We haven't heard anything from Make A Wish since their visit. I'm assuming this means we won't be going during christmas break. Unless I hear otherwise I will assume easter break will be Lhea's trip.

Everyone here is doing pretty well. We had a great Thanksgiving at home.

We have been dealing with a new issue lately. Lhea has talked in her sleep for years. Well, now I think she is sleepwalking. The night before last she had wet her bed so I wasn't surprised she was up. I changed her sheets and got her back to bed. Then last night I saw her roaming around my room. I was worried she was wet again but when I checked she was fine so I sent her to the bathroom. Instead she went to her room and put on her water shoes. She came back and again I sent her to the bathroom and she left again. She came back and I asked if she had gone potty. She told me she couldn't get her pants off. (she was wearing a long nightgown and underwear, no pants). I told her she didn't have pants on and to go potty and she cried and insisted she can't get her pants off. I helped her then she came back to my bed and fell asleep immediately. I took her shoes off and carried her back to her bed. This morning she didn't remember any of it and couldn't understand why her water shoes were in my floor. There have been other times she was up and wondering around but I couldn't really tell if she was awake or asleep. Now I'm pretty sure she is sleepwalking.

Well at least it gives you more time to plan right? Plus will be awesome weather.

Hugs to yall do you guys think she will need a sleep study? Do you think she is having the nightmares too or just the sleep issues?

 

[HeatherSP]

We have been waiting to hear back from MAW since veterans day when the volunteers came to visit. Finally about 2 weeks ago I called the local office and left a voicemail but didn't hear back. So Monday my husband called and spoke with someone and left a message. Yesterday we finally heard back and were asked for copies of birth certificates for all 5 children, drivers licenses and insurance information. I faxed all of that so hopefully we are straight now. But they told me that Princess Tiana doesn't do a meet and greet so that Lhea's wish of dancing with princess Tiana isn't going to happen However they will still be sending us to disney world and they are still aiming for spring break (with 5 kids in school I really need to try and do it while the kids are on break). Hopefully Tiana will be somewhere at MK and we will atleast get to meet her. So once again we are getting excited

 

[ms_mckenna]

I hope you got it all straight! Spring break would be great. I hate that she won't get to dance with Tiana though

 

[tinytreasures]

We have been waiting to hear back from MAW since veterans day when the volunteers came to visit. Finally about 2 weeks ago I called the local office and left a voicemail but didn't hear back. So Monday my husband called and spoke with someone and left a message. Yesterday we finally heard back and were asked for copies of birth certificates for all 5 children, drivers licenses and insurance information. I faxed all of that so hopefully we are straight now. But they told me that Princess Tiana doesn't do a meet and greet so that Lhea's wish of dancing with princess Tiana isn't going to happen However they will still be sending us to disney world and they are still aiming for spring break (with 5 kids in school I really need to try and do it while the kids are on break). Hopefully Tiana will be somewhere at MK and we will atleast get to meet her. So once again we are getting excited

I have seen other MAW kids with Tiana
I am sure you can find her somehow, I just don't know where she is

You have a beautiful family, what a lucky mommy you are, I am so glad your kids found you. I know as a foster parent you hear all the time your kids are so lucky but they are soooo wrong, we are the lucky ones.

 

[cogero]

Tiana has a meet n greet spot behind the Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square near the Hall of Presidents.

 

[brookerene]

Hi, we are going April 18-24th barring anything else coming up to change it!
I know it's going to be busy but can't wait to go. So is your spring break earlier or later in April?

 

[HeatherSP]

I have seen other MAW kids with Tiana
I am sure you can find her somehow, I just don't know where she is

You have a beautiful family, what a lucky mommy you are, I am so glad your kids found you. I know as a foster parent you hear all the time your kids are so lucky but they are soooo wrong, we are the lucky ones.

Yes WE are the lucky ones! I have been very blessed!

Tiana has a meet n greet spot behind the Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square near the Hall of Presidents.

Thank you! We will definately be looking for her!

Hi, we are going April 18-24th barring anything else coming up to change it!
I know it's going to be busy but can't wait to go. So is your spring break earlier or later in April?

That is the same week as my kids have off from school. I hope they send us that week.

Our most recent update is that Make A Wish has received all of the paperwork they needed and has now sent off a paper to the doctor that asks if Lhea is healthy enough to go to disney (which she is). Hopefully they will get that back soon. Things seem to be moving very slowly for us but I am so sure it will be worth it. I had just told my husband today that I am glad we didn't go at christmas because now it would be over and we would have nothing to look forward to. So for now we all still get to be excited

 

[snubie]

April will be here before you know it.

 

[brookerene]

Ooops I forgot to sub.... here I go

 

[sl_underwood]

Subbing! You have a beautiful family. As a foster/adoptive parent, I know you must thank your lucky stars that each of these children were placed with you!