tinytreasures
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2008
- Messages
- 1,696
Kade's Wish - MAW
- Thread starter MitoDadMO
- Start date
jessica52877
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2004
- Messages
- 6,518
Glad to see you made it home safe! Don't you love wifi on airplanes! It always entertains me!
tinytreasures
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2008
- Messages
- 1,696
Glad you are home. Your trip sounded amazing so glad you shared on facebook 
lilsk8nmac
Sweet Cream Cheese pretzel addict!
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2011
- Messages
- 301
Hi, I just came across your thread today. I loved following along, and seeing all of the love sent out to your two adorable sons. I am so glad that ya'll were able to be granted the trip. I will be sending a request on FB with my dis name. Cant wait to see all of the fun and happiness from your trip.
I just posted audio from a radio interview I did last week about MAW and GKTW. goto our family website www.ourfamilyof4.com
/
mommy2mrb
Mama to a Princess - But I'm A Scrap Princess!
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2004
- Messages
- 19,634
what a great way to get the word out! hope it helps you raise even more $$$...we made our donation to our newest charity "GKTW" yesterday!!!
March 16 5am - Annette and I are in bed and hear Kade making his "happy noises" from his room. We were both really surprised because about 16hrs earlier the poor kid had to have an abscessed tooth pulled. We went into his room and sure enough he was wide awake and ready to go, he was feeling MUCH better, but his face was still a bit swollen from the infection and extraction. We were were also surprised that Kade was awake before Jackson, because Jackson was SOOO excited that we were going to Disney, he didn't wake up until about 5:45. Both boys ate breakfast and we did some last minute packing and the waiting started. First we waited for Nannie, Pawpaw, Grandma and Grandpa to show up. They would be following the limo to the airport. They all arrived and Nannie and Pawpaw were leaving their dog at our house so our neighbor kids could watch our dog and their dog. Next thing we knew GG and Grandpa B (my grandparents) showed up to see us off and to wait for the limo. The waiting was killing us! Jackson was glued to the front window waiting for the big black limo to show up. Finally it did, and our driver Rico was excited to get us packed and on our way.
After some pictures with the limo, we were on our way and we were all packed into the limo enjoying the ride to the airport. Jackson could not sit still and was pushing every button, opening every lid and testing out each seat. Meanwhile Kade was enjoying riding on Annette's lap, she put him down on the seat so he could stretch before the airplane ride. We got to the airport and made our way though security just fine. The TSA agents were great with Kade and his wheelchair. They offered to let Kade stay in his chair and be check but Annette took him out so they could inspect the chair. We got to our gate and waited for the grandparents. Grandma, Grandpa and Nannie showed up, but no Pawpaw. Turned out Nannie had put a big bottle of lotion in her carry on and the TSA agent would not let it pass. Her options were to check the bag it was in or throw it away. She opted to check it, but made Pawpaw check it for her. He took off to the ticket counter without shoes on to check the bag. The bad news was he would have to wait in the TSA line again. When he got back in line Nannie asked a TSA agent to get him out of line to get through the line. This freaked Pawpaw out because all he knew was a VERY LARGE TSA agent was singling him out to get checked. We all had a good laugh about that, Pawpaw did not think it was funny.
We were allowed to pre-board our plane since Kade was in his wheelchair. We got on the plane, gate checked his chair, got situated and off we went! Kade got to use his Cares harness to allow him to sit in a seat all by himself (to read more about the Cares harness see this post). Kade did fine during the flight, even took a bit of a nap. Jackson did well too and got to look out the window the entire time. We got to the Orlando airport and we had a greater from Give Kids the World (GKTW) waiting for us with a sign with Kade's name on it. She took us to baggage claim and made sure we met our rental car person. We got our luggage, and were introduced to our van for the week. I say introduced because it was a lift van, since we don't have one at home we had a bit of learning to do. We also found out that our rental car company had paid for all of our tolls for the week! That was so nice, because we did not have to worry about loose change etc.
We arrived at GKTW and went into the main lobby. We were given a quick orientation by Ingrid and shown to our villa for the week (or so we thought - funny story). Our villa was #225 and was in a perfect location between the pool and Matthew's Boundless Playground. After unloading our luggage it was time to explore the grounds. We walked around and made it the Gingerbread house for dinner. This was our first encounter with the AMAZING volunteers that work there. The volunteers that night were Disney employees that volunteer a few times a month at the village. After dinner we went inside the castle and saw all the stars from prior wish kids that are forever on the ceiling of the castle, it was an amazing site to see! On our way out of the castle Jackson found out he could get a free tattoo from the girls working in the boutique, so he and Kade both got airbrushed tattoos. After the tattoos dried the boys rode the carousel several times and Kade LOVED IT. We got to meet Mayor Clayton (the mayor of the village who is a bunny) and his lovely wife Ms Mary. The kissed and loved on the boys.
After we pried the boys off of the carousel we headed to bed since we knew we had a early and busy next day.
To see the rest of the photos from Day 1 click this link
Coming up - Day 2 Animal Kingdom
After some pictures with the limo, we were on our way and we were all packed into the limo enjoying the ride to the airport. Jackson could not sit still and was pushing every button, opening every lid and testing out each seat. Meanwhile Kade was enjoying riding on Annette's lap, she put him down on the seat so he could stretch before the airplane ride. We got to the airport and made our way though security just fine. The TSA agents were great with Kade and his wheelchair. They offered to let Kade stay in his chair and be check but Annette took him out so they could inspect the chair. We got to our gate and waited for the grandparents. Grandma, Grandpa and Nannie showed up, but no Pawpaw. Turned out Nannie had put a big bottle of lotion in her carry on and the TSA agent would not let it pass. Her options were to check the bag it was in or throw it away. She opted to check it, but made Pawpaw check it for her. He took off to the ticket counter without shoes on to check the bag. The bad news was he would have to wait in the TSA line again. When he got back in line Nannie asked a TSA agent to get him out of line to get through the line. This freaked Pawpaw out because all he knew was a VERY LARGE TSA agent was singling him out to get checked. We all had a good laugh about that, Pawpaw did not think it was funny.
We were allowed to pre-board our plane since Kade was in his wheelchair. We got on the plane, gate checked his chair, got situated and off we went! Kade got to use his Cares harness to allow him to sit in a seat all by himself (to read more about the Cares harness see this post). Kade did fine during the flight, even took a bit of a nap. Jackson did well too and got to look out the window the entire time. We got to the Orlando airport and we had a greater from Give Kids the World (GKTW) waiting for us with a sign with Kade's name on it. She took us to baggage claim and made sure we met our rental car person. We got our luggage, and were introduced to our van for the week. I say introduced because it was a lift van, since we don't have one at home we had a bit of learning to do. We also found out that our rental car company had paid for all of our tolls for the week! That was so nice, because we did not have to worry about loose change etc.
We arrived at GKTW and went into the main lobby. We were given a quick orientation by Ingrid and shown to our villa for the week (or so we thought - funny story). Our villa was #225 and was in a perfect location between the pool and Matthew's Boundless Playground. After unloading our luggage it was time to explore the grounds. We walked around and made it the Gingerbread house for dinner. This was our first encounter with the AMAZING volunteers that work there. The volunteers that night were Disney employees that volunteer a few times a month at the village. After dinner we went inside the castle and saw all the stars from prior wish kids that are forever on the ceiling of the castle, it was an amazing site to see! On our way out of the castle Jackson found out he could get a free tattoo from the girls working in the boutique, so he and Kade both got airbrushed tattoos. After the tattoos dried the boys rode the carousel several times and Kade LOVED IT. We got to meet Mayor Clayton (the mayor of the village who is a bunny) and his lovely wife Ms Mary. The kissed and loved on the boys.
After we pried the boys off of the carousel we headed to bed since we knew we had a early and busy next day.
To see the rest of the photos from Day 1 click this link
Coming up - Day 2 Animal Kingdom
disneymomof1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2006
- Messages
- 664
What a great start to the trip. Can't wait to see more pics and hear all about it. 
mommy2mrb
Mama to a Princess - But I'm A Scrap Princess!
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2004
- Messages
- 19,634
so happy to hear the harness worked well for Kade and that he did well with the travelling 
what cute photos! love the boys "tat's"!!
to funny about the TSA and Pawpaw, he must of thought ohoh
souns like your first day was wonderful and fun!
will have to catch up on the rest of your trip after we get home from our WDW trip!
what cute photos! love the boys "tat's"!!
to funny about the TSA and Pawpaw, he must of thought ohoh
souns like your first day was wonderful and fun!
will have to catch up on the rest of your trip after we get home from our WDW trip!
babynala
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,645
How sweet of your grandparents to see you guys off. Riding in the Limo must have been so much fun. The pictures of the stars on the ceiling are amazing. It looks like those bunnies really liked Kade and Jackson. Looking forward to your report from Day 2
tinytreasures
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2008
- Messages
- 1,696
Sounds like a great day 
fulseasmama
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2010
- Messages
- 365
Sounds like a good day of traveling! Love seeing Ms. Merry and Mayor Clayton in there St. Patrick's Look...really fun. Looking forward to reading more.
Mom2mitokids
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2010
- Messages
- 1,583
It was great to meet you and your family. The boys are such cutie pies. Great start to your TR.
mom2pixies
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2011
- Messages
- 695
A great Day 1! Looks like the boys were already having a blast! Can't wait to read your other stories....and loved the Mayor Clayton and Mrs. Mary were dressed in shamrocks!
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