Lexi's pre-trip report for Dream Factory wish trip! June 18-24, 2009

[BeckySob]

praying for you now......

 

[sammie girl]

O.K.! I made it through my first day away (I mean totally away) from my kids. This was the first true break away from my dd since diagnosis. My brother took them around 11 yesterday and only had to call me one time (and it was about my dd's food intake). My dd and ds had a blast
Me on the other hand was happy , sad , and worried all mixed together.
Really though my dd did very good with my brother (and his girlfriend). They took them to ride horses (scared me with my ds's new diagnosis of asthma), to a picnic and to play with a family friend at her house. My ds shut the car door on me when I was trying to tell them by I guees they needed a break from me also. This just might turn into a once a month or every other month thing for my kids. My brother's girlfriend was really good about everything and also learned how to care for my dd. I am truly being blessed.

Now, what did I do while my kids were gone for 5 hours with only 1 phone call??????? (Even the school calls me about my dd around 4-20 x a day).
I went to see a movie (my phone was on vibrate LOL). "Knowing" and it was a very goood movie I highly suggest it. Also the first movie without my kids since diagnosis. My dh was working overtime so my mom went with me. Then I went to Old Navy and took advantage of their 1 $ flip flop sale, then it was home to clean with an empty house and start on getting our pool opened. (It is actually at my mom's house and she only lives a couple of houses from us, she bought it for my kids last summer, I will post some pics of my kids in it).

It was a pretty good day for me and my kids. They are already asking when they will get a break from mom again..

Today we are headed to a park here in town (they have a lagoon with fish and it is a pretty big drive through park, they also have cattle, buffalo, deer playgrounds, trails tunnels and more) we have reserved a shelter and grilll for our memorial day picnic and my nephew's b-day celebration all in one.

I am also in the progress of making countdown sticker sheets for the trip. I got the idea from another thread and totally love it. I will post pics of them later.

Also thanks everyone for all the prayers. I think we are going to meet with our preist (wish us luck). That really was good advice. My dh isn't to keen on airing our struggles but I have persuaded him into it. DH is worried that our priest willl say no because he is so about money and that is one thing he talks about every time we have contact with him (in a group or otherwise). He hasn't been to our parish but for a couple of years and has changed so many school rules and info on money. We are giving throughout the year about twice as much as the old priest and principal had asked. We will see and keep our fingers crossed.

 

[teresajoy]

Just wanted you to know I'm reading along! I love that your daughter named her dog Giselle!!! We love that movie!!!

 

[sammie girl]

Today we got some very very exciting news and I hope I am able to share with everyone soon. I will let you know when I get the o.k.

My dd was wishing that her dog was all white so she could name her Snow White but settled on Giselle all on her own.

Can you tell we are a definite Disney family here.

I read were alot of people are doing Disney movie nights and such. It is kinda sad to say we own every disney movie there is (between my mom and Mother in law). We watch a disney movie every night before bed (the kids watch it as they fall asleep) (and they both sleep with me). So the movie night is out for us but I do like the idea of themed food and may have to try some of that out. I am not a creative cook and all so we will see how it works out.

My dd is soooo excited her trip is coming up. We had a bbq today and everyone kept asking her about it and she never tired of telling them over and over again

I called the wish granter today to find out about some times and such but she hasn't called back yet. I suppose with the holiday weekend and everything it will probably be Tue. before we hear back.

Can't wait to start the actual planning of our days.

 

[sammie girl]

Also wanted to add that her BG has been pretty regular for the most part so it seems her illness is finally leaving her body

My ds's asthma seems to be doing really good with his breathing treatments. Thank you God for taking such good care of my kiddo's.

Thank you for all of your prayers we wouldn't be this far without that power.

 

[sammie girl]

Today we have decided to put a little more disney in our day
I didn't know this was possible as my 2 kids have been up and playing peter pan for the last 3 hours. They have made a fort like the lost boys and of course my dd is wendy and my ds is none other than Peter Pan. So what were we going to do

I have decided that we will watch peter pan while they are acting it out! Then we will continue on with the acting (my kids love to role play) we are going to do a Snow White play. I have to be the evil queen of course

Today is going to be role play day and acting. Now I have to think of something to do tomorrow. Maybe I will try one of the themed dinners.
Anyone know something good to put with High School Musical?

 

[jessica52877]

I've been reading but guess I never commented so I'll say hello now! Your kids are so cute. I just love disney families!

 

[sammie girl]

Thanks Jessica.

We did role playing all day today and I have an idea for tomorrow.
We are going to get up and I will suprise the kids with a cinderella breakfast. I borrowed my mom's cinderella waffle maker so that is what we will eat at breakfast. I haven't decided what else to throw in for the day but since we are so close to going I figure we better try to do something at least every other day (time permitting).
We are still doing great with BG's and breathing treatments. Hopefully this will happen during the trip as well. I had pneumonia, pharyngitis and sinusitis last week but didn't seem to have spread it to the kiddos and I am finally feeling like a human again. Thank God I didn't spread it to them.

Any suggestions or ideas for things to do disney are very welcome, I appreciate all the things I have been informed about.

Thanks for reading everyone.

 

[sammie girl]

The cinderella waffles were a huge hit. My ds thought only grandma could make these I also played Cinderella music (my dd has a cd with a few songs on it from Cinderella). I wasn't going to tell you all this but my ds is obsessed with Cinderella. He carries her pic around and tells everyone that is his girlfriend. He can't wait to talk to her at my dd's lunch with the princesses. (hopefully she will be there). It is really cute and he has been doing this since before he was 2 (he is now 4 1/2). It was a really good breakfast for him.

Now on to some not so great news. My dh met with our priest this morning and it is a no-go for outstanding circumstances. I really wanted to believe that we could maybe catch a break here but my dh hasn't been so keen on the idea of asking.
Some of my friends had my daughter a benefit to help with medical expenses after her diagnosis. (We had around 7,000 in med bills for our part to pay). They did a great job and raised almost 3,000 dollars When it was asked of the school and parish to help with the cause by even just coming to the events it was also a no-go. Only 3 families out of the parish showed up and that is because they are some of my good friends. It really hurt my dh's feelings because he has been a member there since he was little and even went through school there. O-Well God will make things work, I truly believe this.

So we have decided to not go to the wet n wild park for a few reasons.
1. After reading these reports and such I want to keep it as much disney this trip as possible.
2. I just don't want to give one of the parks up to spend a day at the water park when we could always go there.
3. This is the biggest reason. My husband had a twin brother and when they were 14 they were vacationing with their dad and step-mom. To make a long story short while on this vacation my husband watched his twin drown in a lake. That is why my mom bought my kids a pool but keeps it at her house. Less worry for the DH, even though she is only a few houses away. I could tell the water park was kinda bugging him a little and didn't want to bring back any memories for him while we are on this trip. He is really a good sport and has taken the kids to Great Wolf Lodge before (a family christmas gift from my mom). He did o.k. there but I could tell it was a little stressful for him.

With that being said I should also tell you that our kids are like fish. They want to be in water all the time. I think we will do a big water park like that when my DH isn't with us.

Tomorrow morning I am going to surprise the kids with mickey mouse pancakes. Wonder how a minnie mouse one would turn out???

Today we are going to get ready for our garage sale, that is why I chose a breakfast instead of supper. I just don't know how much time I will have.

 

[kdzbear]

Your Cinderella breakfast sounds like it was fun. Good luck on the garage sale! I am sorry your priest was not more helpful. I am surprised at that. Can you appeal to the dioceses? Good luck with the trip planning!

 

[sammie girl]

I am done with the garage sale for now. Time for a little family fun since my kids have been playing on their own all day They didn't mess up to much stuff, mainly dragging out what I was trying to sell
We are doing family fun night tonight. We are having spaghetti and playing Disney Bingo and Disney Scene it?. These are my dd's favorite games and she most always wins at them She really is a disney pro. So that is what is on for tonight and tomorrow it is starting the day with the mickey pancakes. I left my camera at my mom's so I will post some pics tomorrow.

 

[sammie girl]

It is 2:30 am. We have been up for over an hour. I guess I had mom's intuition. I woke around 1'ish and couldn't sleep. Something told me to get up. I got up to get a drink and woke my dd up in the process. We got a drink and went to lay back down. My dd started crying because her site hurt. After turning on the light and adjusting out eyes we could plainly see why. Her tubing in her site had pulled out of her and was bleeding and causing havoc. (This has never happened in the middle of the night. Just mind boggling.) Poor thing, I think the blood freaked her out (which amazes me as she sees her blood all day every day). I put her in the bath to help remove the taping around her site and off I went to prepare a new tube etc. So we put in a new site and I rubbed her back till she fell asleep (just now). I have to stay up for awhile because her BG's are high since she wasn't getting the insulin into her, it was still giving insulin but not into her body. And thank you God for getting me up or things could have turned out alot worse.......

I think tomorrow we may just sleep in and skip the whole pancake thing. Cereal is looking pretty good right now. We will have to do the mickey cakes on Thursday.

 

[jessica52877]

Thank goodness for mom's intuition. Your DD is such a trooper through all of this.

 

[sammie girl]

Thank you! Yes she is a trooper. I think all of these kids are. We are up and ready to go early this morning because after trying to go back to sleep I realized today is Wednesday and we have to take the dog's in for thier shots
We are off to the vet's. My dd loves to take her dog here and thinks it is cool her dog has to get shots also. Sounds silly but I think it makes her feel normal.
My DH is off work today (yeah his first break in over 10 days).

 

[sammie girl]

We have our times for the airlines.
We will leave home at 7:30 am and arrive in Orlando at 10:45. (I think this is a non-stop flight).
We don't have to leave Orlando to fly home until 7:30 p.m., a whole extra day at GKTW.

Not so good news is that they weren't able to schedule a lunch with Snow White. Any tips for making this happen would be appreciated. If it doesn't happen I am sure we can meet her in the parks somewhere.

Now I will be busy setting up a temporary schedule. With kids we know things change and especially with a special needs child. Just making sure we get all the have-to's scheduled and go to as many as possible.

More to come with some pics. I am really tired from a rough night with my dd so didn't feel like fooling with two many things today.

I want to send a thanks to Jessica. I wouldn't have gotten a phone call without your help. Our wish granter said she never recieved my message but was calling to find out about your email. Without it she wouldn't have called us. She was so sweet on the phone and very informative. She must have alot going on and she did tell me she is trying to get a wish trip planned for someone to fly to China. She is probably just overloaded with commitments.

 

[sammie girl]

I didn't know if I should post this or not but after reading some other trip reports it seems to be the norm so hope it is o.k.

My dd has been chosen for the Big Give. I really really couldn't believe it. We joined this board so close to our travel dates I really had no idea. What a bunch of wonderful people. To think we thought we were going to Disney World and staying in a hotel at the beginning of this. My dd better never forget how special and wonderful this trip is for her. (Oh-yeah I won't EVER let her forget it ).

I haven't told her about the Big Give or being chosen so she has no idea. I want her to be totally surprised when goes to get the mail and sees something for her.

Again Thank You to everyone who donates their time and resources for this, I am at a loss for words and promised my dd I wouldn't shed anymore tears, even happy ones. Don't worry I have shed so many happy tears the past few weeks that I had to explain to her sometimes we can't help crying and it is o.k.

I can't wait to see her excitement. I also want to thank you all for not leaving out the siblings. I do sometimes think they get left on the backburner (unintentionally of course). My ds is so happy to tell everyone he now has asthma. It makes him happy to have something wrong with him to. One day he will understand.

 

[Corrine 1973]

I am so glad that your family was chosen for the big give. I'm sure that it will make your trip to WDW even more special.ixiedust:

 

[sammie girl]

I am so glad that your family was chosen for the big give. I'm sure that it will make your trip to WDW even more special.ixiedust:

Thank you. I can't believe how good of a trip it is going to be. Maroo was right in warning that you never know what surprises will be in store. This has been a very special journey I will never forget. I have already bought my dd and ds a scrapbook just for the disney dream trip. I think with everything so far I may need to do 2 books I am big into scrapbooking and love to put together things for my kids that will help remind them as they grow.

 

[Matt1026]

Hello - I just starting reading your TR and have really enjoyed it!!! We are currently in a holding pattern ! We have been approved and we are still waiting for our dates. Our last contact with MAW was that we should have our dates within a few weeks. It is exciting to get caught up in your report and you getting ready for your trip.

I loved your ideal for the special breakfast. That is my children's favorite meal of the day!!!

Can't wait to read more

 

[sammie girl]

Hello - I just starting reading your TR and have really enjoyed it!!! We are currently in a holding pattern ! We have been approved and we are still waiting for our dates. Our last contact with MAW was that we should have our dates within a few weeks. It is exciting to get caught up in your report and you getting ready for your trip.

I loved your ideal for the special breakfast. That is my children's favorite meal of the day!!!

Can't wait to read more

Hi and thank you. This Dis Board is by far the most useful information I have looked at so far. Nothing could have prepared us better than all of the wonderful people who are willing to spend their time giving all the info and stuff on here. You will truly have an amazing trip. Good luck with all of your planning and if I can help with anything let me know.