Not even a brain tumor can keep me away from WDW!

[sl_underwood]

Just poppin in for a quick update. I start radiation next Tuesday and will be doing it for 15 weeks. I am really nervous about this, but hoping it isnt too bad. I am really not vain but I dont want to lose my hair. It seems silly to say it outloud. I should be worrying about so many other things.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Just poppin in for a quick update. I start radiation next Tuesday and will be doing it for 15 weeks. I am really nervous about this, but hoping it isnt too bad. I am really not vain but I dont want to lose my hair. It seems silly to say it outloud. I should be worrying about so many other things.

Stay positive!! Just be mentally prepared to cut the hair short....it will be less traumatic for you to take control of how & when you "shorten" your hair, then to see if fall out. Go for a cute pixie style.....it will be easy to care for during your treatments. And don't feel bad for not wanting this to happen. I think we all would feel the same way if in your shoes. You & your family will be in my prayers during this time!!

 

[Lidian]

Just poppin in for a quick update. I start radiation next Tuesday and will be doing it for 15 weeks. I am really nervous about this, but hoping it isnt too bad. I am really not vain but I dont want to lose my hair. It seems silly to say it outloud. I should be worrying about so many other things.

We're all thinking about you! I'm still praying you'll have minimal side effects. Honestly, there's nothing wrong with being upset over hair loss. It's a natural part of us. Please keep us posted on how you're doing!!!

 

[cogero]

Oh (((HUGS)) can't imagine what you are going thru and I can understand the loss of hair. Just take each day as it comes.

 

[Moodyzblu]

I'll be praying that all goes well for you. Hopefully the side effects will be minimal and the treatments successful.

 

[lovethattink]

Lora, you know we'll be praying for you!! Do you have someone to watch Luke after radiation treatments? Someone to take you to and from? I sure wish I lived closer!

 

[GrammytoMany]

[/IMG]

QUOTE]
Oh my, this is what I learned to sew on...my grandmother gave it to my Mom when she bought an electric machine. Then after my grandmother passed away by Grandfather gave Mom the electric one. So Mom moved the old treadle one into my room and I had fun learning to sew on it. Then when I took Home Ec in Junior High and the machines were electric I kept putting my feet in front of me to paddle instead of putting my knee on the bar underneath the machine
Just started reading your PTR...how exciting that you are planning a trip to Disney. Good Luck with the sewing.
Sheila

 

[sl_underwood]

Thanks everyone... it helps just to have you all here knowing you are praying.

Tink, I have support but I am hoping not to have to leave Luke with anyone. He just does so much better when he is with me. Jerome, my brother, has offered to watch him on Tuesdays since that is his day off and between my mom and Kara he will be taxied to all his therapies. I also have a friend who runs a home daycare who agreed to let him come if I need it. Stephen contacted a maid service that is coming out Monday to give us a quote on cleaning my house which really helps.

Sheila Glad to have you here. I love that old antique machine. I have yet to do any sewing. I keep planning to, life just gets in the way.

 

[sl_underwood]

Got Mickey Mail today! Got our new 2012 planning DVD! Luke has watched it twice today. I also ordered one for Jerome, hope his shows up soon. We cant share because Luke refuses to loan his copy out

I think Jerome really needs to see this. Last night we were talking about our trip and he said "seven nights, are you sure we wont get bored?" Yeah right! I tried explaining that we have been several times and still havent seen and done all there is but he seems skeptical. He also seems like he wants to do it all- Bippity Bobbity Boutique, Cindys castle meal, etc. I know his funds wont hold up for everything. I think I am going to have to help him more than I thought I would.

 

[lovethattink]

Got Mickey Mail today! Got our new 2012 planning DVD! Luke has watched it twice today. I also ordered one for Jerome, hope his shows up soon. We cant share because Luke refuses to loan his copy out

I think Jerome really needs to see this. Last night we were talking about our trip and he said "seven nights, are you sure we wont get bored?" Yeah right! I tried explaining that we have been several times and still havent seen and done all there is but he seems skeptical. He also seems like he wants to do it all- Bippity Bobbity Boutique, Cindys castle meal, etc. I know his funds wont hold up for everything. I think I am going to have to help him more than I thought I would.

Hurray for the DVD!!! I need to order one to see if JJ is still in it. He has consistently been in it since 2005. I've been in and then mostly out. DH has been in it since he is holding JJ in the piece they keep in. It's under the extras for children, the baby care center.

 

[Lidian]

Got Mickey Mail today! Got our new 2012 planning DVD! Luke has watched it twice today. I also ordered one for Jerome, hope his shows up soon. We cant share because Luke refuses to loan his copy out

I think Jerome really needs to see this. Last night we were talking about our trip and he said "seven nights, are you sure we wont get bored?" Yeah right! I tried explaining that we have been several times and still havent seen and done all there is but he seems skeptical. He also seems like he wants to do it all- Bippity Bobbity Boutique, Cindys castle meal, etc. I know his funds wont hold up for everything. I think I am going to have to help him more than I thought I would.

Thanks for reminding me to order mine! I saw this post, so alt-tabbed to order my DVD.

Poor Jerome... thinking of the possibility of boredom! Even if you don't do a park every day, there's still sooo much to do! You guys are going to have a blast! I've still not been able to convince DH to let us eat at Cindy's Table. Maybe one day ... maybe one day.

 

[Lidian]

Hurray for the DVD!!! I need to order one to see if JJ is still in it. He has consistently been in it since 2005. I've been in and then mostly out. DH has been in it since he is holding JJ in the piece they keep in. It's under the extras for children, the baby care center.

Oh that's awesome Tink! I need to go back and re-watch last year's to see if I can find you guys!

 

[sl_underwood]

We will look for it Tink!

I hope we can make it an amazing trip. I think Jerome will be overwhelmed when he realizes how much there is. He wants to do everything. I think he tries to overcompensate because his babies are without a mother and he feels some guilt over it (not that it is his fault at all but you know how we parents are- we want it all for our kids and he really wanted his to have a great two parent family and instead they only have him and his extended family)

 

[lovethattink]

Oh that's awesome Tink! I need to go back and re-watch last year's to see if I can find you guys!

I'm changing his diaper and you just see the back of me. They had a really nice fade in/fade out of DH and JJ after that. He was just a few months old. We snuck over to the AK to get a LE pin for Grumpy while he was at school. It was suppose to be a surprise and he'd never know we were there. It was our first time being that far away from him when he was at school. And we got caught on film, rofl!!! It was a stitch pin and years later he traded it for a Chip and Dale pin.

We will look for it Tink!

I hope we can make it an amazing trip. I think Jerome will be overwhelmed when he realizes how much there is. He wants to do everything. I think he tries to overcompensate because his babies are without a mother and he feels some guilt over it (not that it is his fault at all but you know how we parents are- we want it all for our kids and he really wanted his to have a great two parent family and instead they only have him and his extended family)

I'm sure it will be an amazing trip!! When we took my mom for the first time she was overwhelmed by the size of WDW. She thought you could walk from Epcot to MK. She was shocked when she saw how far away from each other the parks are, and how big each park is. Maybe he can make a list of his must do things, a bucket list of sorts. If you can't get it all done, then maybe another trip in a couple years? Who knows maybe by then you'll live near Disney?

 

[sl_underwood]

So I left off with our second trip in the works. Many things happened that nearly derailed this entire trip, the biggest being a permanency hearing scheduled at the last minute which happened to fall on our arrival day. Thankfully, I was able to write a letter to the judge declaring our intentions and we were allowed to go on our trip with the knowledge that it might postpone Lukes permanency plan.

We headed to WDW on April 1st and stayed until the 6th. We stayed at POR this time. This trip had so many emotional moments and a whole lot of pixie dust! The first little bit of magic didnt take place at Disney but at the OKC airport. We arrived around 5:30 am for a 6:50 AM flight and we were greeted at the security checkpoint by the head of security and a special TSA agent who had a great understanding of autism. She personally checked us through and brought each of our kids a stuffed disney character. She was amazing. She also made arrangements at our gate for us to board early so Luke could explore the plane a little. This was Luke's first flight and I was so nervous. How would I deal if he melted down on the plane? But my worries and sleepless nights were for nothing. He loved the ride, was quiet as a mouse and just stared out the window the entire flight. As we got off our plane, the couple in front of us commented on how well behaved he was.

As we arrived in Orlando, we made our way to the ME check in. While in line for our bus, we got news that really made this trip. Luke's social worker called and told us that while she went into court with the intention of rescheduling, Luke's birth father arrived and agreed to sign the papers relinquishing his parental rights as long as we were the family who was adopting Luke. It was an amazing moment. I started bawling, sharing the good news with my family and there we all stood in the ME line crying and laughing like loons. People probably thought we were nuts. It was the perfect start to our vacation.

Sorry for the lack of pics. Kara was taking pics and only a few really turned out.

More to come...

 

[sl_underwood]

312 Days till my next WDW vacation!

 

[Lidian]

I'm changing his diaper and you just see the back of me. They had a really nice fade in/fade out of DH and JJ after that. He was just a few months old. We snuck over to the AK to get a LE pin for Grumpy while he was at school. It was suppose to be a surprise and he'd never know we were there. It was our first time being that far away from him when he was at school. And we got caught on film, rofl!!! It was a stitch pin and years later he traded it for a Chip and Dale pin.

Well, that's Murphy's Law for you. I'll need to dig out my WDW video this weekend and see if I can spot you! (That's really awesome that you're in it!!!)

312 Days till my next WDW vacation!

WOOHOO!!!

I loved your update. It brought tears to my eyes! How wonderful that someone at your airport came and spent time with you to make your boarding as de-stressful as possible! I'm also glad that you got that amazing call from the social worker!!! Looking forward to more!

 

[Corrine 1973]

Just loving your past trip update. I also had tears in my eyes and a big old smile on my face when you got to the part where you recieved the call from the social worker. What a great way to start a trip. And the extra considerations you got at the airport was just great, glad that Luke like airplane rides.

Congrats on 312 days . . . well that would be 311 days today.

 

[DMGeurts]

Loved the update... I had tears as well - what a magical moment to start a magical vacation. Luke is so lucky to have you as his family.

D~

 

[sl_underwood]

I had tears in my eyes remembering it. I am so lucky to have Luke and my girls! Today, Luke has just been awesome. I wasnt feeling well so he did school work on his own which is a real challenge for him. Then he asked to play a game and I decided on charades- he would act something out and I would guess it. It worked well as I didnt have to move and movement this morning was awful, got very dizzy every time I moved even a little. He made us lunch (heated up some leftovers) and we ate while watching his favorite show (Phineas and Ferb) and then he did all the dishes in the sink and cleaned the family room. I am feeling better now and he is playing Wii. I am so lucky to have such a great kid who even though he has trouble being flexible cares enough to help me when I am feeling bad.