"Personally, I think I would make a great stripper!" 8/10 The End

[PrincessOliviasMom]

Dawn, Oh Dawn ....

Where could you be?!

Hope all is well in your world.

Waiting patiently for another update!

 

[Practically_Perfect]

Whew - I'm back. I've spent the last couple of days reading through your other two trip reports. Your family seems like so much fun!! That Space Mountain picture had me giggling for a while - not good when you're at work (wait, no...I'm never on Dis when I'm at work...not even now...yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it ) and supposed to serious. Then I come across the "Wanted" picture with the CM...

I'm amazed at how well you were all able to pull together for Baylor, and also helping Treyner and Carsyn navigate through the last years of HS, first years of college. You really do seem like a great mom, and Dan seems to be a great "bonus" for your kids.

Can't wait to hear more about this last trip!! Like PPs, I hope all is good as you haven't posted in a while..

 

[cheerful chickadee]

LOVE the pics of the kids! Carsyn looks beautiful, love the nails too, so cool. Baylor looks great, I like the suspenders!

My ds has his 8th grade formal in a week and he's all black and red. Black pants, black shirt, red bow tie, red belt and red converses, oh yeah and red sunglasses and a red fitted hat!

 

[Dizneydawn]

Hi guys - I will respond in a few to everyone...and I am sitting here till I get some updates in!

We are hoping to settle Baylor's Burn claim this summer and I am playing as his attorney so up to my eyeballs making sure I have all documentation for the claims adjuster from medical records. fire marshal statements, social worker statements and then the fun on compiling all the debt we have paid out and to whom for compression stockings, RX's, med co-pays, parking fees etc.

I also am collecting statements for witness testimony to how he got burned and his statements how it has affected his life as well as statements from the other kids as to what they have seen as a difference in him.

I am using some of what I wrote here, some from the Coping/ Compassion blog I utilized and there is a ton still to do. But hiring an attorney would mean 1/3 of Baylor's settlement and with the advice from family who are attorneys, I can navigate it myself and make sure he gets what he deserves and is fair.

I had been told if we did not hire a private attorney, in MN, the home owners insurance agency would have to have one represent Baylor. I have since found out that literally, that attorney will only be in court for the judge to sign off on what we agree to for Baylor. If we do not agree, he would be the attorney in court fighting for Baylor. But all the leg work is on the parents. Which would be me.

It is just time consuming and I want to make sure I do the best for Baylor so I am leaving nothing to chance. So anyway, that is where I have been.

I am uploading the last 500 pics from the rest of our trip so I can just write now and kick out the rest.

Baylor has a Mohawk BTW now. A short one. His brother encouraged his creative side and offered to do it last night. He says he looks like some Ultimate Fighter guy. Chuck Lasareise or something like that.

He likes it.

I am okay with it for summer but I adore his hair when it is long. So hopefully it will grow out some before our next trip. I cannot believe how much he looks like Treyner. Treyner has shaved his hair gone the last 2 summers (not this year yet) and I am finding myself doing double takes. I am not a fan of the hiney and never shaved my kids hair short but if the hair is the only thing he wants to express himself with I know I am lucky and not going to complain about a thing!

I think Baylor thinks he looks like a bad @ss and is a distraction to his leg when people look at him. If it helps, I am all for it. Heck, I will dye it neon green if it makes the summer and hiding his grafts from the sun easier.

He also informed me he wants to play Rugby next year for a league and take up boxing this summer. Pent up aggression and a positive outlet so we will have to look into it.

Pics and posts coming up soon!

 

[jessrose18]

Wow! Good luck with all the legal issues! Sounds overwhelming.

 

[lovegrumpy]

Hope everything works out with the law suit.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Wow! Good luck with all the legal issues! Sounds overwhelming.

Emotionally - draining. Re-living everything is not a fun experience and Baylor has not talked a lot about certain aspects of that day until now and seeing him cry/get mad is beyond frustrating and heartbreaking for me.

I shared on my WISH site that Baylor is feeling guilty that he will get a settlement since some of his friends who were burned worse did not due to location of their accident.

I explained that the money he will get will be his to make choices with and talked about philanthropy.

He decided he wants to take one of his BF's on a trip when they graduate (same age) and then he wants to sponsor a kid for burn camp each year. I was really proud of him to not be self centered and only thinking about what he wants to do with his money for himself.

Hope everything works out with the law suit.

It is strictly with the homeowners insurance policy so I am hoping it goes easy.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Installment - 5

After Eating, we went back to the van and headed to the opposite side of the island to find Mallory Square. None of us realized how far Duval street went and knew we only explored a small fraction of it! Going back is an absolute must!!

Taylor happy to know there is more shopping to be found in Key West and Treyner glad we found it too late in the day!

We found Mallory Square quite easy and then it took a bit to find parking. People were not kidding when they said everybody shows up to watch the sun set at the USA's most southern point!

We walked to the square and people watched. There were a ton of B&B's and just beautiful historic homes and the eclectic beauty.

Not a one of us was in anything but a glorious mood and the carefree attitude was refreshing. We laughed, acted silly and noticed things you do not see everyday in Minnesota!

Roosters were everywhere! Streets, yards and the road!

Sitting on a ledge for a photo op, ignoring the signs saying please don't sit!

Stunning Trees

Impromptu Dancing in the Streets!

The House itself.

We walked through a mall into Mallory Square and got the most amazing Toffee ever and Taylor began her love affair with Frozen Key Lime Pies on a stick!

Then, as we walked into the square, I just could not believe how beautiful it was. Stunning.

There were street vendors selling their wares, magicians and acrobats and food carts. We all split up and went exploring, knowing we had a good hour before sunset itself.

Dan waiting for me.

Baylor in his new "Hangover" movie t-shirt he found there!

Up next: Sunset Photos

 

[Dizneydawn]

Installment - 6

We also watched one last street performance from a Ralph Machio look alike who impressed us at his drive at such a young age to find a job and help support his family.

The three amigos - still love each other after all!

I had spotted a glass blower selling their wares earlier in the night and waited too long to decide and buy a square serving dish.

They ended up running back to their car for me and getting a different one which I bought and adore although not as much as the first one I spotted! The funny thing is we had got to talking (I know - imagine that!) and found out they were from MN and lived 10 minutes away from us until all their kids graduated and they hit the road for their love of sun and the beach.

Dan and I talked with them a long time and it even more impressed upon us our desire and want to move when Baylor graduates. They loved their life and their kids loved having an awesome place to visit!

(I will have to take a pic of the "Dish" and show you guys it a bit later.)

As we headed out, back to the highway and Marathon, a car turned in front of us and guess where the were from?

Now what are the chances of finding the only other lunatics, crazy enough to drive from MN to the Key's?

 

[DisneyJo]

Dawn if anyone can get the best for Baylor it would be you, fingers crossed everything works out

The sunset looks beautiful and how funny about the other mad MN people

 

[Dizneydawn]

Baylor before the shave job!

Almost done and yes it is too late to change your mind!


Looking tough and not at all like my Baylor.

The back.

For comparison:


Treyner last summer with head shaved:

 

[Dizneydawn]

Dawn if anyone can get the best for Baylor it would be you, fingers crossed everything works out
Thanks for that sentiment and I appreciate all crossed fingers and toes!
The sunset looks beautiful and how funny about the other mad MN people

We all did a double take and I am sure they wondered why the paparazzi was following them with camera flashes!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Dawn - Love the sunset pictures! I love what you said about everyone being happy to be there together and all. I hope when my kids are teenagers that I can say the same about our family!

Baylor looks older and definitely more like Treyner with that new do! Very handsome!

Love the MN car! and that you found fellow MN folks there. We belong to that group of crazy MN people who drive to FL. We just haven't made it all the way to the keys yet. Ft. Myers is as far as we've driven.

Dawn - please let me know when the court date is and if it is at my courthouse, I will do whatever I can to help make it easier and support you. I'm sure everything will go just fine but I'm sorry that you all have to relive it.

 

[Dizneydawn]

I hope when my kids are teenagers that I can say the same about our family!
They will! You are a great MOM!!
Baylor looks older and definitely more like Treyner with that new do! Very handsome!
Crazy isn't it!
We belong to that group of crazy MN people who drive to FL. What route do you take and do you go drive straight through?
I will do whatever I can to help make it easier and support you.

Totally know you would!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I'm here for ya!!

This last Dec when we went we drove through Chicago (bypass) and then I65 to Indianapolis and Louisville, across Tennessee to Atlanta and south from there. I missed most of it since we drove straight through overnight. We left MN around 5 or 6 p.m. Think we got to WDW around 7 or 8 p.m. If you're going to drive straight through, I like the starting at night. At least if you're not doing all the driving and can sleep! DH drove all night for us. I was only awake long enough to pay tolls in IL and woke up every few hours in a different state!

 

[praisehisname]

Absolutely gorgeous photos of the evening and sunset! DH liked those frozen pies, too, but I preferred the regular ones.

Good luck on the settlement; you are personally vested and will fight like no attorney could!

 

[tinkgurl]

Haha, I love that Hangover shirt!

 

[praisehisname]

Haha, I love that Hangover shirt!

Me, too!

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Prayers for you and your family. I can only imagine how tough this is on all of you.

I LOVE your sunset pictures. I am a sunset freak. I might enjoy sunrises just as much, but I hate getting up early. And yet I applied for first shift at the Dunkin here...yay for 6:00 a.m.

My junior year, the entire defensive line of our football team decided to shave their heads and get mohawks for one of their games. I had class with a bunch of them, and the entire class about fell out of their chairs when they walked in. It was kind of funny though, because one of them, who's my best friend, had gotten on me the week before for dying my hair red and how it was a huge change for him to take in.

Isn't funny how no matter where you go you run into people from your home state? We found people from NC when we went to Indianapolis. And then had a waiter try to explain to us what Carolina style barbecue tasted like...that made us laugh. (why is there no simply giggling smiley? Do we only have the choice to rotfl?)

 

[Dizneydawn]

3rd Contest:

We had 2 different t-shirt themes while at Disney. One of them I created with the help of one of my favorite characters.

Which character do you think was utilized as the main theme for shirts I made?

***BTW - if you add in the reason why you think I chose that character and you are right - you get an extra prize!!!!!

The first person to get it wins and if nobody does, whoever is closest in Character relation will be the winner. (Ie: If you do not guess it but that character has a close affiliation with the one I used, you win.)

This contest will run through Tuesday, June 8th!!!!