5:30 am the call came that we werent one of the lucky ones. Our flight was leaving Orlando on time. I had so much packing to do. We needed to be out of the Village by 8:30 am.
Steve and I got up and started packing. I woke Meagan and told her our flight was on time and she needed to get up and packing too. I once again made the 5 minute Jacuzzi announcement and didnt have to wake any of the little kids again. Steve headed to the Media Center to pick up the video we had taken and to check us out. He came back a half hour later to let me know that we had to be all the way out of the villa before he could check out. The breakfast cart came by. Steve loaded up the van while I grabbed a quick shower and we were off.
It was already 9am. GKTW was very understanding of our need to hurry and got us checked out in record time. We made a drive-thru at the gas station and headed for the airport. Why on earth do they insist on having the car return as far from check-in as they can? Trying to race to the counter with all our bags in tow and keep track of the kids was less than exciting. It was now after 10 am. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 11:10.
We got our bags checked and they tag them with LATE. They tell us theres no guarantee our bags will make our flight seeing as we are scheduled to leave in less than 45 minutes. We raced over to security. They wouldnt let us move to the front of the line. We waited and waited. Of course they also insisted on thoroughly checking Drew. Leaving Seattle they just let him walk right through. Here they patted him down, checked his pant legs, checked the bottom of his feet, etc. I felt so bad for him. The kids DVD player was also left in their carry on when it was scanned so they had to search that bag. The yogurt from the breakfast cart is 3.5 ounces. The limit is 3 and yogurt is considered a liquid. They even took the cream cheese. It was a larger container but only had about a teaspoon left in it.
We caught the tram and made our way back to our gate. When over the loud speaker we hear Final call for flight xxxx Rogers party of 6, Turner party of 1 Meagan & Ryan booked it down the last five gates. Steve and I hurried the rest of the kids along, bags in tow. They shut the door behind us.
Good-bye Florida, land of sunshine and dreams, granter of wishes, home of healing.
I was so exhausted. I slept most of the way to Denver. My poor mom was left to deal with the little kids. Steve was sitting a few rows up.
Thankfully when we got to Denver we just had to walk across the lobby to the gate for our connecting flight. I checked my phone to see if I had a call from my friend Joy. Steve walked up and got us all more McDs and we just sat for a bit.
The kids enjoyed watching it snow.
It was soon time to board for home. Mom made sure we knew she was NOT watching all the kids on this flight LOL. Just to be fair we had Brittany and Meagan sit with her. Zander and Ryan sat with me & Drew and Madilynn sat with Steve. This flight seemed to drag on. I was so cold.
We had received a message that our Wish Grantor was snowed in and we were on our own. We headed down to claim our bags and were more than ready to be home. The kids were all hungry.
Grampa Bobs expertise came into play here. I piled those bags up like he had and off we went to catch the shuttle. The kids and I sat on the bench while Steve went to let them know we were there. He came back to let me know they were only doing Hotel drops due to the snow. The hotel they were willing to drop us off at was no where near our home and I in no way wanted to spend a night in a hotel. Steve tried to reach the grantor that was scheduled to meet us and when he couldnt reach her he called the other. Thankfully he was able to reach Ken and he got right on it trying to figure out how to get us home. We sat and sat in the parking garage.
After about an hour sitting there the airport relations lady stopped to ask us how we were doing. That was a mistake! I let loose. It was now after 8pm. Our plane had landed at 5:55. She went to see what she could do. Ken called back to let us know he had a few calls into the Coordinator and was waiting on a call back. After some more waiting she came back to let us know that she had gotten clearance from her boss and they would indeed drive us home. Just as we were loading into the van Ken called back to let us know he had gotten us a van. We told him the shuttle had come through and thanked him.
An elderly couple that lives down in the valley was trying to get home too. It was a tight fit but we were all more than happy to squeeze in to make it home. I was amazed how bad the roads were. We slipped and slid more than a few times. Thankfully we never got stuck. Just after 10pm we walked through the front door we were HOME. And we had S.N.OW.(these pictures were taken the next morning when it was light out)
Steve and the boys carried the bags upstairs to the playroom and then Steve ran to get Subway Sandwiches and Pizza for us for dinner while the kids and I emptied the bags and got laundry going. I was so glad when the day was over.
I lay there and thought back about our week. So many things we had done. So many memories made. I thought of all our Wish Trip Friends and how each of our trips is just as different as our children and families are. Each of our trips has different magical moments. Different moments etched in our hearts forever. I thought of all our Big Give Blessings. Often times our children left out you brighten their days. How wonderful you all are and what an amazing example you are to your children. What an impact you are making on all of our childrens hearts and what a difference you make for our trips. How a bit of you all joins us on each and every one of our trips.
I thought about my son. About his face lighting up when I asked him if his wish had come true and the biggest smile that shone on his face when he told me YES! I thought about how healing this trip was for my heart. From the moment we drove through the gates at GKTW that first early morning how we felt lifted wherever we went. How we had spent a whole week without any great worry. How I was able to hug and hold my son while he seized and feel blessed instead of fear or despair. How not once the whole week did I see stares or hear whispers from strangers while we waited seizures out. How when we walked through the village and were greeted by other smiling parents and children our hearts understood. It didnt matter what had brought us there we were family. I thought about all the volunteers that serve our children and families. I wonder if they all realize what a great act they are doing. I hope they realize the difference they are making daily in the lives of so many.
I thought about Henry Landwirth. What an amazing man he is. He is definitely a doer and a giver. Hes made an impact on so many children and their families. A difference that will last much longer than a lifetime.
I thought about all the people that care for and help us with Drew. How blessed we were for my mom and Brittany to join us on this trip of a lifetime. Any time I have sat at the doctors with Drew my mom has either been with me or watching my other kids for me. Drews life has just as an effect on her as it does me. Im forever thankful for all she does. She is definitely a blessing to us.
And finally I thanked God. Thanked him for our new friends, our new GKTW family, our doctors, Ken, Laurie and Trina (our MAW grantors and coordinator), our church family that lifts us up and encourages us and for family. For each one of my children that blesses my life each day. How lucky I am to be there mom.