Gavin's Wish Comes True!! MAW

[cantwaittoseemickey]

Ok a few questions for all the post trippers out there. How many outfits do you pack for the kids?? Im trying to pack light since they have a washer but Im thinking were still going to need at least 7 outfits? Plus it looks like it might still be fairly cold in the evenings so warm clothes and cool clothes.
I read on GKTW website that have toothpaste and sunscreen there, is this true?
For all you Big Givers out there. Can the appliqued (sp?) shirts be washed, dried,iorned??
Is the Wal Mart there comprable in price to others or do they raise prices sine there so close to the parks?
Sorry for the rambling, Im starting to get nervous now.

Im having a hard time packing too lol. What I'm going to do is 2 pairs of shorts 1 pair of capri's for the girls 1 pair of jeans and about 4 tshirts for everyone. 2 long sleeve shirts and one sweatshirt each. Oh and i have a jacket and poncho for everyone.

 

[StefaniLyn]

Ok a few questions for all the post trippers out there. How many outfits do you pack for the kids?? Im trying to pack light since they have a washer but Im thinking were still going to need at least 7 outfits? Plus it looks like it might still be fairly cold in the evenings so warm clothes and cool clothes.
I read on GKTW website that have toothpaste and sunscreen there, is this true?
For all you Big Givers out there. Can the appliqued (sp?) shirts be washed, dried,iorned??
Is the Wal Mart there comprable in price to others or do they raise prices sine there so close to the parks?
Sorry for the rambling, Im starting to get nervous now.

Here is how I packed for our last few trips and it has worked quite well for us. I take the outfit each child will be wearing on each day. For example, take those ADORABLE!!!! Spongebob outfits. Then I add all the undergarments, socks, and hairaccessories to the pile. Everything except the shoes. All of the outfits are then put into a plastic shopping bag and loosely double knotted closed (you could also use those really big zip lock bags but plastic bags are cheaper). I then label the bag with the Theme Park (Universal Studios/IOA) as well as the day we anticipate going to that park (Ex: Day 3 - Monday, March 1). If DH and I had matching shirts, those would be put in the bag as well. Each evening, I would take out the bag and lay out the kids outfits for the next day. It was so nice to have them all together in one place!

Each day of our vacation had a bag of clothes and I also added 1 sweatshirt, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of khaki shorts, and 2-3 extra undergarments for each kid. Pack the suitcases loosely because you will need the extra space for souveniers and gifts. Your expense check will include money for checked baggage fees. We actually packed one filled suitcase inside another empty one and still had difficulty fitting everything on our return trip!

They do provide toothpaste and sunscreen at GKTW. Ask the desk if you run out.

The Wal-mart prices were comprable to other ones. There is actually another wal-mart even closer to WDW and their prices were similar as well.

 

[Thumper321]

So sorry to hear about the MRI and genetic testing. I am glad that they are following him closely though and that you know things ahead of time instead of in an emergency situation. Any word on the wheelchair yet? I really hope that you'll have it before your trip. I also wanted to tell you that MAW asked us if Aidan would need a wheelchair on his trip. They were going to provide him with one if needed. Maybe that would be an option with Gavin?

As far as packing, I am not the one to be asking! My husband has told me that I always overpack, so he'll do all the laundry if I'll pack light. But with iguanas falling out of the trees here lately, how in the world do I know just what to pack?! I'm thinking I'll probably wait to pack clothes until about a week before we leave just so that I can check a forecast and hopefully have a better idea of what to pack. I do not want to imagine what my living room is going to look like the weekend before we leave.

 

[Momofwishkid]

Thanks ladies! I know it will all work out no matter what I pack or forget. I tend to stress over the little things sometimes. Miranda, no we havent heard anything yet regarding Gavin's wheelchair but we go in for therapy tomorrow and I should be able to find out something.

 

[The Lurker]

I have just finished reading your great pre-trip report. I live here year round and volunteer several times a week at GKTW.

Mardi Gras is every night. There are shows and a big parade with lots of floats and people throwing beads - lots of beads. I went one time and had a great time - but then, I didn't have any kids with me - except my hubby. It is very popular with the local young adult set so weekends are much wilder than week nights. The rides remain open, so if things get wild - head for one of the rides.

I believe you said your departure day will be Tuesday. Please stop by the carousel if you have time as I will be there. Also the Nick characters are in the Castle but only from 8:30A until 9:15. They are quite adament about the 9:16 departure. A while back someone asked about which of characters come and I asked. They never know who is coming. One of their supervisors announces it each week.

Hope I get to meet you and your family.

Katie

 

[The Lurker]

I have just finished reading your great pre-trip report. I live here year round and volunteer several times a week at GKTW.

Mardi Gras is every night. There are shows and a big parade with lots of floats and people throwing beads - lots of beads. I went one time and had a great time - but then, I didn't have any kids with me - except my hubby. It is very popular with the local young adult set so weekends are much wilder than week nights. The rides remain open, so if things get wild - head for one of the rides.

I believe you said your departure day will be Tuesday. Please stop by the carousel if you have time as I will be there. Also the Nick characters are in the Castle but only from 8:30A until 9:15. They are quite adament about the 9:16 departure. A while back someone asked about which of characters come and I asked. They never know who is coming. One of their supervisors announces it each week.

Hope I get to meet you and your family.

Katie

 

[Momofwishkid]

I have just finished reading your great pre-trip report. I live here year round and volunteer several times a week at GKTW.

Mardi Gras is every night. There are shows and a big parade with lots of floats and people throwing beads - lots of beads. I went one time and had a great time - but then, I didn't have any kids with me - except my hubby. It is very popular with the local young adult set so weekends are much wilder than week nights. The rides remain open, so if things get wild - head for one of the rides.

I believe you said your departure day will be Tuesday. Please stop by the carousel if you have time as I will be there. Also the Nick characters are in the Castle but only from 8:30A until 9:15. They are quite adament about the 9:16 departure. A while back someone asked about which of characters come and I asked. They never know who is coming. One of their supervisors announces it each week.

Hope I get to meet you and your family.

Katie

Hi Katie Im so glad you posted and so happy to hear Mardi Gras is every night. I could have sworn I read it was only weekends. Yes, we leave there Tuesday March 9th. I will definetley stop by the carousel. We would love to meet you. Thanks so much for the info.

 

[Momofwishkid]

We got lots of good news today First, Gavin's wheelchair was approved It wont be in before we leave but they are getting him a rental until we get the permanent one and it will be in next week.
We also picked up Gavin's new glasses today and he is so handsome in them. This is his first pair so he's trying to get used to them but he loves them. He picked a cool blue pair. WE also heard from our Wish granters today to set up his Send off party!! Im so excited. Still not sure of an exact date but it's going to be at Chuck-E-Cheese's (pizza,fun zone kinda place) and it will just be the wish granters and our imediate family.
We got another Big Give package today! I so thought we were all done so this was a wonderful surprise Unfortunatley there was no name on the package for who sent it so whoever you are We LOVE LOVE them!! I can tell how much work went into these and you did a great job! Thank you so much

Sorry Kia's looking away, Daddy was pestering

A few of Gavin with his cool glasses

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

So glad to hear Gavins wheelchair was approved! How awsome they have a loaner for you. I love love love the outfits!

I love Chuck E Cheese. I hope you all have a great time!

Gavin is an awsome dude in his new glasses! I love the blue frames Ty had a pair of blue frames in the past too

 

[StefaniLyn]

Love the new big give outfits!! That Tink shirt is so intricate and gorgeous!

I'm happy to hear his wheelchair was approved!

The send off party sounds like a blast!!! The kids will have so much fun at Chuck E Cheese! And that means that your trip is just around the corner!

Nice glasses Gavin! He looks so cute. When I was in middle school, I was always jealous of kids that had glasses. So much in fact that I bought a pair of 'fake glasses' and wore them all the time. They were blue too!

 

[froggy33]

Hi! I sent those, I am so sorry I didn't put my name or anything else. I was really worried about getting the package out on time!! I am so glad the kids liked them. I'm also really glad they fit!!! I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip! Disney is my favorite place on earth, because I think it a place you can go and just be happy-forget about any problems and be a family. Enjoy!!!

 

[Momofwishkid]

So glad to hear Gavins wheelchair was approved! How awsome they have a loaner for you. I love love love the outfits!

I love Chuck E Cheese. I hope you all have a great time!

Gavin is an awsome dude in his new glasses! I love the blue frames Ty had a pair of blue frames in the past too

Thanks, I was so happy they approved his chair and we will have one for the trip. We love Chuck E, well honestly they could care less about the mouse but love the play area

Love the new big give outfits!! That Tink shirt is so intricate and gorgeous!

I'm happy to hear his wheelchair was approved!

The send off party sounds like a blast!!! The kids will have so much fun at Chuck E Cheese! And that means that your trip is just around the corner!

Nice glasses Gavin! He looks so cute. When I was in middle school, I was always jealous of kids that had glasses. So much in fact that I bought a pair of 'fake glasses' and wore them all the time. They were blue too!

Isnt Kia's outfit great, She put so much work and little details into all of the shirts. We just love them! That's so funny that you wanted glasses. I've had to wear them since 3rd grade and hated it! Gavin thinks they are very cool though and has always wanted some so that makes it easy.

Hi! I sent those, I am so sorry I didn't put my name or anything else. I was really worried about getting the package out on time!! I am so glad the kids liked them. I'm also really glad they fit!!! I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip! Disney is my favorite place on earth, because I think it a place you can go and just be happy-forget about any problems and be a family. Enjoy!!!

Im so glad you wrote and I can give you a proper Thank you!! You did an amazing job on the outfits they are perfect! Thank you soo much.

Gavin say's Thank you to all of you that commented on his cool new glasses!

 

[yinyanggirls]

Cute, cute, cute Big Gives!!!

I'm sorry about the DNA testing. Phoebe's been through several tests and they still can't find info in hers. Is his condition something that is always genetically linked or can it sometimes be a "random mutation" that just happens on it's own? It will be good for you guys to know what's going on in the DNA for the other kids and for Gavin's future. But I understand being nervous about it. Hurray for a loaner wheelchair! It will be nice to have a way for him to rest when he needs it.

 

[Momofwishkid]

Cute, cute, cute Big Gives!!!

I'm sorry about the DNA testing. Phoebe's been through several tests and they still can't find info in hers. Is his condition something that is always genetically linked or can it sometimes be a "random mutation" that just happens on it's own? It will be good for you guys to know what's going on in the DNA for the other kids and for Gavin's future. But I understand being nervous about it. Hurray for a loaner wheelchair! It will be nice to have a way for him to rest when he needs it.

Hi Melissa, glad to see you back on. Hope all is well with you.
Thanks, yes it is something that can just be a random mutation. We already kinda knew that they would find the familial gene because almost all who have multiple masses have it but were still hoping that wouldnt be the case. So yes, now we test DH and myself and if neither of us have the marker than we know it is something that just started with Gavin but it will now affect any future kids. Which I guess means he wont ever be able to have children without the risk of them having it. Im still not really sure how it works and Im sure will find out alot more when we meet with the geneticist. We had a March 1st app. but changed it to after we get back. I just didnt feel like dealing with it right before our trip just in case they decide to run a test on the other kids. I know it is going to freak Kia out. Im so happy we were able to get the rental chair for our trip and hopefully his new one will be ready by the time the rental goes back.

 

[pnutallergymom]

Hi Jennifer!!

The new Big Give outfits were AMAZING!!! Loved them!!!

I can't believe your trip is almost here!! Are you guys getting super exicted or what????

 

[kellyw8863]

I'm loving all the pictures! I really need to be better about using my camera more. That's great about the wheelchair being approved. We were recently approved for MassHealth secondary, so we're hoping to go down the adaptive stroller route soon. What are you looking at?

 

[Momofwishkid]

Hi Kelly, we were initially thinking of the special needs stroller but Gavin's PT thinks a manual wheelchair will be better for him so he has the independence of being able to move himself without depending on someone to push it.

 

[Momofwishkid]

Wow! We got another package yesterday from Leanne and family (leamom2princesses) Thank you so much Laeanne The kids loved all the pixie dust you sent and I loved the scrapbook stickers and pen! She sent the kids Disney cups, and candy, and glow in the dark stuff.Kia got a very cute Ariel tote bag and 2 shirts Ariel and Tinkerbell. The boys got a Buzz and Woody toy and some very cool huge coloring books with books.

Here's Gavin enjoying popping the packing bubbles

And his first look into the box! Wow look at all that stuff!

These are so cool! Glow in the dark earrings!! I've never seen those.

It looks like I forgot a pic of Kia's tote. It is so cute and now her and I have matching totes, except I have tinkerbell and her's is Ariel. Thanks you so much Leanne, Joe, Lindsey, and Josie!!

We also got our GKTW packet yesterday!! I was so happy to finally get it.

 

[Thumper321]

Yay for more Big Give stuff! Gavin looks quite excited looking into that box. I'm glad you got the GKTW packet, too. I was so happy to get ours yesterday, too. I just wish I could take a picture like the one of Gavin with the brochure. I'll be glad when Aidan is 'in' on all of this. Seems like the postal service was carrying extra pixie dust yesterday!

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

whoa there are lost of goodies in that box! Love the tink shirt!! Those cups are too cool! I didnt know there was glow in the dark earings either. I like those!

I love the pic of Gavin popping those bubbles!

When we were looking at Ty's wheelchair ordering the DME had brought some strollers for us to try out but ended up not getting them out as he thought the self propell would be better. For Ty we arent really liking that there arent any supports and it doesnt recline in the least little bit. All things I wish I had taken into consideration but at the time his energy had seemed a little better.He has his old one that has some supports on it that we can use if needed.Just wanted to mention that in case it helped