wishin' on a star
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2010
- Messages
- 512
I know, I know...we've been home almost 2 weeks, and it's time to get this TR started!
First, a little introduction, in case you didn't know us before we went to Disney.
Me, Laura. I'm mom. Turned 40 (gulp!) in May. I used to be a RN in the ICU and Burn unit in a big trauma center in Washington DC. Now, I'm a stay at home mom to three beautiful kiddos. I keep myself very busy volunteering at their schools.
Hubby, Dave. He's 39. Yes, the younger man. And he loves to remind me of that. He works for a large hotel chain doing procurement for the architecture and design division. He plays baseball, coaches baseball, and watches baseball.
No seriously, he's a fantastic dad and husband who spends most evenings and weekends in the backyard playing ball with the kids.
Carmella. She's 8. She's my preteen drama queen. I love it when she remembers she's still a little girl, and I love how going to Disney allowed her enjoy being the kid she is! She's beautiful, smart, and a fantastic big sister.
Catherine. She's 6. The "wish kid". Goes through more than her fair share of issues on a daily basis. She's just finishing kindergarten, and I've watched her really mature this year. She's strong-willed, and works so hard for everything she achieves. She never has trouble making a friend.
And John. He's 5. Starting kindergarten in the fall. He doesn't remember the great majority of Catherine's lengthy hospital stays, so a lot of this doesn't make sense to him. He has asthma, and has actually been in the hospital more than she has in the last couple of years. He loves to talk...and talk...and talk.
He's on a t-ball team so he can learn to play baseball like Daddy!
So, how did Catherine get to make a wish? I'll try to bundle it all up here in a few short sentences. I think there's more detail in my PTR if you want more. I had an uneventful pregnancy, but following Catherine's birth there were MANY surprises. She was born with a major bowel defect and complex heart defect. With time, it was discovered that she had hydrocephalus, only one kidney, and congenital eye muscle fibrosis. In the first two years of her life, she had 8 major surgeries and several cardiac catheterizations. Things did settle down a bit after that, and when she was 4 she had stents placed in her pulmonary arteries. THis has allowed us time out of the operating room. As she grows, she will need more surgery...basically nothing in her heart grows with her. I guess it suits her well to be 34 pounds at almost 7 years old. Her bowel condition requires daily medication, and a constant watch that it's all working correctly.
For us, this was a perfect time for a wish. No current issues to be panicked about, and time to celebrate how well she is doing, while at the same time acknowledging all the struggles she has endured.
So, our adventure began. The wish granters came in February. We live in the DC area, and were pummeled with snow this winter, so they had to cancel once. But, Catherine knew exactly what she wanted to wish for! Once she made the wish, it was another month before we got the confirmation that it was all going to happen in May! The excitement in our house leading up the trip was unbelievable. We were asked to participate in the Big Give...boy I can't say enough amazing things about this. Check out my PTR if you want to see how much this made my kids smile.
You will see many of the amazing outfits in my TR also! Catherine also had an awesome wish party hosted by Maggiano's restaurant during their MAW promotion month. She was the star of the show from beginning to end.
Next up...waiting for the "shuttle bus".
First, a little introduction, in case you didn't know us before we went to Disney.
Me, Laura. I'm mom. Turned 40 (gulp!) in May. I used to be a RN in the ICU and Burn unit in a big trauma center in Washington DC. Now, I'm a stay at home mom to three beautiful kiddos. I keep myself very busy volunteering at their schools.
Hubby, Dave. He's 39. Yes, the younger man. And he loves to remind me of that. He works for a large hotel chain doing procurement for the architecture and design division. He plays baseball, coaches baseball, and watches baseball.
No seriously, he's a fantastic dad and husband who spends most evenings and weekends in the backyard playing ball with the kids. Carmella. She's 8. She's my preteen drama queen. I love it when she remembers she's still a little girl, and I love how going to Disney allowed her enjoy being the kid she is! She's beautiful, smart, and a fantastic big sister.
Catherine. She's 6. The "wish kid". Goes through more than her fair share of issues on a daily basis. She's just finishing kindergarten, and I've watched her really mature this year. She's strong-willed, and works so hard for everything she achieves. She never has trouble making a friend.
And John. He's 5. Starting kindergarten in the fall. He doesn't remember the great majority of Catherine's lengthy hospital stays, so a lot of this doesn't make sense to him. He has asthma, and has actually been in the hospital more than she has in the last couple of years. He loves to talk...and talk...and talk.
He's on a t-ball team so he can learn to play baseball like Daddy!
So, how did Catherine get to make a wish? I'll try to bundle it all up here in a few short sentences. I think there's more detail in my PTR if you want more. I had an uneventful pregnancy, but following Catherine's birth there were MANY surprises. She was born with a major bowel defect and complex heart defect. With time, it was discovered that she had hydrocephalus, only one kidney, and congenital eye muscle fibrosis. In the first two years of her life, she had 8 major surgeries and several cardiac catheterizations. Things did settle down a bit after that, and when she was 4 she had stents placed in her pulmonary arteries. THis has allowed us time out of the operating room. As she grows, she will need more surgery...basically nothing in her heart grows with her. I guess it suits her well to be 34 pounds at almost 7 years old. Her bowel condition requires daily medication, and a constant watch that it's all working correctly.
For us, this was a perfect time for a wish. No current issues to be panicked about, and time to celebrate how well she is doing, while at the same time acknowledging all the struggles she has endured.
So, our adventure began. The wish granters came in February. We live in the DC area, and were pummeled with snow this winter, so they had to cancel once. But, Catherine knew exactly what she wanted to wish for! Once she made the wish, it was another month before we got the confirmation that it was all going to happen in May! The excitement in our house leading up the trip was unbelievable. We were asked to participate in the Big Give...boy I can't say enough amazing things about this. Check out my PTR if you want to see how much this made my kids smile.
You will see many of the amazing outfits in my TR also! Catherine also had an awesome wish party hosted by Maggiano's restaurant during their MAW promotion month. She was the star of the show from beginning to end. Next up...waiting for the "shuttle bus".
I'm looking forward to reading your trip report. 
I had to jump in the car and drive here to catch up....did I miss the party????? So excited that you started the trip report!!! Wonderful start so far....hilarious about the Mickey D stops!!! Glad the plane trip was uneventful. Its so funny that you said Catherine is a nervous Nellie!! My youngest is the same exact way.....she frets about everything and if its a new situation...forget it...she stresses. So I feel for you. Can't wait to hear more!!!!
