Is it December Yet?? Cancelled with a Heavy Heart!

[WDWJonasGirl]

I can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

We're BACK and had such an amazing time!!! The kids all had huge smiles on their faces all week & today brought lots of hugs & tears as we had to say good bye. I'll have pics & share what we did once I get things put in place here at home (and get all the pics organized).

Looking forward to catching up on everyone's PTR's as soon as I can!!

Welcome home! Glad you had a great trip

 

[DizNee Luver]

Welcome home!!


I can hardly wait to hear all about it!!

Welcome Home!! This reminds me of my freshman orientation and also on the seniors last day.

Welcome Home!!!

can't wait to hear the details

I can't wait to hear all about it.

Welcome home! Glad you had a great trip

Thanx everyone!!! It's taken me quite a while to organize 2 camera's ....... I'm really frightened to even think about our WDW trip where we'll have 3 full time camera's going & 1 part time!! Gonna be a lot of work putting all those pics in order!!

 

[kaoden39]

Thanx everyone!!! It's taken me quite a while to organize 2 camera's ....... I'm really frightened to even think about our WDW trip where we'll have 3 full time camera's going & 1 part time!! Gonna be a lot of work putting all those pics in order!!

Admit it you love every moment of it!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Our Mini Trip Report!!
Camp Attitude 2012

DAY ONE:
We left for camp on Sunday afternoon. The kids were ready to go!!

We've arrived!!!

You are greeted by the staff at check-in, and told where to park. The "Buddies" surround your vehicle & empty all your stuff into your cabin!! We were in one side of a large cabin that had 3 bunk beds and 3 trundles under the bunks. We had a comfy chair, rocking chair & huge bean bag chair in our side. The other side of the cabin had 4 bunks with trundles. The cabin also had a large bathroom that was wheelchair accessible.

After settling into the cabin, we ventured out to check out the camp!!

The kids all noticed the large playground. They had regular swings, a toddler swing and then 4 sets of specialized swings: 2 for wheelchairs, 2 large chairs with seat belts, 2 lg plastic seats with 5 point harnesses, & 2 lg plastic ones with a plastic shoulder harnesses. These swings accomidated all the kids up to adults. The twins decided to ride together in the chair swing.

The smaller playground had a climbing structure with tire swing, 2 reg swings, a slide, swinging bar & monkey bars. Addy went to check it out.

Anthony helped swing the twins.

All the kids shifted to the structure to play & slide.

Michayla wanted to swing again, so we tried her in one of the chairs with the 5 point harness (we just left the over the shoulder strap off since she wasn't tall enough & it went around her neck wrong).

During this time the "buddies" start seeking out a kid to partner up with for the week. We ended up with 2 teens both from the same church & from a church I attended when I was a teen!!! Elizabeth attached to Michayla, while Shyann picked Tony. As Shyann was playing, Elizabeth took me & the other 3 kids over to the Mini Farm. They had a pig, pigeons, snakes, guinea pigs, rabbits & chickens.

This was on the side of a trailer on the property.

When we got back over to the play area, we found Shy playing & running with a bunch of other kids & buddies in the field.

We had a nice dinner & the cooks specially made foods for Shyann due to her allergies to eggs & wheat. The food they served all week was very good & Shy got to try foods she had never eaten before: bread, buns, muffins & cookies!!

After dinner, we had music & introductions, announcements, etc. They lay out mats & big pillows for the kids to sit on, right up at the stage. The twins LOVED the music. Lots of dancing!!

We turned in & had lights out by 10pm.

 

[kaoden39]

Oh Laurie I teared up reading about the camp. What a wonderful opportunity for your family!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Admit it you love every moment of it!!

Oh Laurie I teared up reading about the camp. What a wonderful opportunity for your family!

I like having that many photos.....I just get quite irritated when I'm trying to put them in order.......it's like pulling my hair out!!

It was an amazing opportunity!! I have 5 more days to share!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

DAY TWO:

So we wake up around 7am to rain.....good old Oregon rain.

The kids didn't care, they wanted to swing anyways.

After breakfast, the group is split in two with half going to crafts while the other half does adaptive sports. The twins didn't really seem interested.....they just wanted to play outside.

The camp has a lot of wagons (and different kinds to work for kids off all sizes) and Shyann didn't want to ride in it....she wanted to pull it with Tony in it.....lol

Elizabeth was so good with Michayla.....she took her for walks in her stroller & took her to the different things at the camp. Mike found them over at the farm and got this pic.

One of the volunteers came by & he had already become Shy's friend, so she & Addy joined Frank in his golf cart for a picture & a hug!

After dinner, the campers got to do Laser Tag. My kids have never done this (I'm not a fan of guns.....even play ones like these) but Anthony, Addy & Shyann got to play a couple rounds.

Shyann actually won both of her rounds, she never got "hit" (and yes, they would shoot at the little ones)!!

The rain had returned during the laser tag and the girls were muddy and cold, so we took them back to the cabin to bathe them. Since they only had showers, we used our plastic tote we had taken. I couldn't believe they both could fit in it. They had a blast in it!!

 

[Bertnie20]

I'm reading this and guess what... I'm going to be at pop century from dec 9th to the 16th and hoping to stay at aoa for a couple days before hand

 

[DizNee Luver]

DAY THREE:

The morning came & I was majorly dragging. Due to my fibromyalgia and the mattresses on the bunks.....I wasn't sleeping. I knew I couldn't keep going this way. Also, a family that came to camp late was a nightmare to share a bathroom with. They were extremely messy and never cleaned up after themselves. I walked into the bathroom the night before to get ready for bed.....they had showered prior to this & I went in & my clothes got soaked & my pj's were soaked. They had water everywhere in that bathroom (including the counters).....I was not happy!! We decided since we lived an hour away, we'd just drive home every night to sleep & return before breakfast each day.

Any ways.....let's get back to the action!!

We got the kids up & dressed and they all headed out to breakfast with the buddies. Mike followed & I dragged my aching, tired body out of bed and eventually joined them.

After breakfast, the girls actually went to do crafts.

Michayla sat there happy as a clam!!

The girls skipped doing the adaptive sports and Shy went to do her new favorite thing.......basketball!! She played this a lot during the week!

So there is a family that comes and spends the entire summer at this camp and has their horses there that are trained to give special needs campers rides. This particular horse is Goliath. He was used on the tv show: Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

The rain finally seemed to be leaving us & the sun poked out. The campers were allowed to go to the fishing pond to fish. They stock the small pond with 250 trout that the kids can catch & release.

Anthony was in heaven!

Addy was pretty happy too!!

While we were down at the pond, the skies opened up......AGAIN!!! So we headed into the cabin for a bit & waited for the rain to stop.

This is the sign & flag pole at the camp.

The kids are taken to dinner by the buddies while the parents are treated to a parent's dinner. We were served a wonderful chicken dinner with yummy sides. We got to chat with other adults about our lives and hear what they face on a day to day basis. It was wonderful to have that time together.

When we were done, we went to find our kiddos......guess what they were doing.......Swinging again.....lol

As things wound down, we headed home to get some sleep.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm reading this and guess what... I'm going to be at pop century from dec 9th to the 16th and hoping to stay at aoa for a couple days before hand

Welcome!!! If things go as planned, we'll stay at the Pop on the 6th, then go to POFQ for the 7th to the 15th and AofA on the 16th. Which AoA area are you hoping to stay in??

 

[Trentmom]

Camp sounds wonderful. The twins look like they are having a blast. You can just see the joy in their eyes

That is a shame that the other people in cabin were slobs

 

[EeyoreJen]

I'm so glad I subscribed to your thread.

I'm glad you all had so much fun at camp. I just want you to know that I think you are pretty amazing people with so much love in your heart to give. You are what we would call "good people".

Jen

 

[Bertnie20]

Welcome!!! If things go as planned, we'll stay at the Pop on the 6th, then go to POFQ for the 7th to the 15th and AofA on the 16th. Which AoA area are you hoping to stay in??

Most likely little mermaid as its just me and my dad so we don't need a suite

 

[DizNee Luver]

Camp sounds wonderful. The twins look like they are having a blast. You can just see the joy in their eyes

That is a shame that the other people in cabin were slobs

Camp was a very special place and the girls were ear to ear smiles most of the week!!

I'm so glad I subscribed to your thread.

I'm glad you all had so much fun at camp. I just want you to know that I think you are pretty amazing people with so much love in your heart to give. You are what we would call "good people".

Jen

I'm glad you're here too!! Thank you so much!! We try to do our best and feel blessed to have these kiddos!!

Most likely little mermaid as its just me and my dad so we don't need a suite

That's what we're looking at as well. We have to do 2 rooms and we'd like to be together.......doing 2 suites would be overkill (and expensive).

 

[DizNee Luver]

DAY FOUR:

We arrived at camp at 8:30am and the sun was shining bright today......finally, a summer day and it picked a great day to be beautiful.......LAKE DAY!!!!!

Good morning Addy.

Hi Michayla!

After breakfast & announcements, everyone loaded up and headed to the lake. We ran into Sweet Home (which is about 10 mins away) to get a cooler and beverages for the day and then went to Foster Lake for a day of water fun.

Michayla found the water right away.

And so did Shyann!

Anthony found a large tube/raft to relax on.

Addy found the sun to feel good.

The twins and their 2 buddies floating in the water.

Anthony's raft runs into the fence pole (that marks a wading area).

Anthony getting to do a Jet Ski ride with the driver & his buddy, James.

Our group watching Anthony going out on the Jet Ski.

Shyann being held by Ed.

Michayla, Addy & I taking a ride on the ski boat.

Michayla didn't really react to spinning circles and hitting the wakes.....but she loved it when she got a face full of the wave that came over the boat!!! Guess my baby will love riding Kali River Rapids in AK!!!

When we got back, it was Mikes, Shyanns and Anthonys turn on the ski boat.

While they were out, the rest of us waited & enjoyed the sun & watching the boats & jet skis.

Here they come back.......Shy's eyes were shut due to the wind, so Mike gave up his shades for Shy to wear & then she was all smiles!!

More of Day 4 to come.

 

[lovethattink]

Looks like an awesome camp!! We are thinking of Camp Boggy Creek in October for their Epilepsy family camp.

 

[DizNee Luver]

DAY FOUR CONTINUED:

Addy down at the boat docks.

Anthony down at the boat docks.

The 3 buddies with Addy & Anthony at the docks.

Time for the kids to ride in the tube, while Mike & I with the twins in the boat.

Riding the waves in the tube (Elizabeth, Anthony, James & Tony hanging on for dear life on the back)

Michayla on the boat ride.

Shyann on the boat ride.

Change of tube riders......Mike with Anthony, Addy & Elizabeth.

Poor Anthony......the ride in the middle is very different then it is on the sides.....he was scared to death & Addy kept sliding down to almost laying flat.

After a very fun day at the lake, it was time to pack up & head back to the camp for dinner & evening music. We got back & the twins headed right to the swings.

During dinner, Michayla relaxed in her stroller.

While Shyann chillaxed with her shades & milk.

They brought the horses out for rides, but the twins were tired from the day, so we opted to wait on riding until the next day......but Shyann did get to meet & pet one of the horses.

What a really fun day, but once things slowed down......we headed home where we all fell fast asleep once we hit the beds.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Looks like an awesome camp!! We are thinking of Camp Boggy Creek in October for their Epilepsy family camp.

It was a wonderful camp where all different "diagnosis" could come together and experience things that these kiddos don't usually get to do.

I hope you get to go to your camp......they are life changing!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

DAY FIVE:

We arrived about 8:15am back at camp & rolled in to see this!!! They have a guy that drives up from Escondido, California to do hot air balloon rides for all the campers. The basket has one side that removes to allow people in wheelchairs to roll right into it. They tether the balloon to 3 pick ups and float up and then come down.

When we got there, Michayla's buddy Elizabeth was on it for a ride.

The camp director had us go right after we arrived. I really hadn't planned on going on it (I'm deathly afraid of heights)....but I walked right on with Michayla & up our family went. Tyler got to join us for the day & I'm so glad he got to experience this with us!!

The view......I didn't really look...but did point & shoot with my camera & Mike took pics too.

Looking up inside the balloon as he added flame.

After our balloon ride & breakfast.....it was time for.....SWINGING!

We got the kids to head to crafts again this morning......Shyann using glue for the first time.

Anthony showing us all the ink on his hand.

We finally had a day with sunshine (that wasn't the lake day) to get our group photo done. The camp photographer was lifted high above us on a platform.....but Ty took these from the ground (you can't see us, we were in the middle)

More Day 5 to come.