Rolling thru the WORLD in a wheelchair on a WISH trip! 8/12 NEW UPDATE*CR CAPTIVES!!

[LeeLee2U]

We are SO on the same wavelength...because I almost wrote the same thing.

You can squeeze Jon...but he'd probably turn around and say, "I don't like to be touched thank you."

At least he uses his manners!!!!!!!

Leah, you're doing a great job so far on your report. I'm glad you got the hotel room issue all sorted out. That must have been so frustrating!

Denise

Thank you! You know the funny thing is DH was the one thaht was like How are we going to fit? I was just trying to figure out if I could get enough covers to make a pallet or something??
I didn't want to complain because after all this was not my money being spent and I was very very gratefull for the trip. But it being Braetons trip and he wasn't feeling well I would have been the one on the floor sooooooo....
But you know Mr. Frank was so cool he told us that anytime thngs wern't right, even if they didn't feel right and we weren't sure if that was how things were to be or not, to call him, that that is what they were there for. He must have called me 4 or 5 times before we met them at the airport the next morning to make sure things were o.k. and when we got to DW I had messages from him checking in. They wanted this trip to be nice for us and you know it.......................
You'll have to wait and see!!!

 

[LeeLee2U]

To all you future wish trip families I will mention this later, but am afraid some of you will be gone by the time I get to this so I would like to give you a single bit of advice/information that proved to be probably the best piece of info I recieved off the DIS boards.
GET A GAC!!! I had read about and researched this on the DISboards and if any of you reading this haven't found the DIS ability thread you need to look over it. It's got lots of good info on it. Anyway I had read about getting one and then I had read that with your WISH or GKTW button youreally didn't need it. While this may be true for some......
I wasn't planning on getting one since I knew we would have buttons and shirts when 5Dwarves pmd me right before we left and one of her many WISE comments was how the GAC proved to be more helpfull that even their GKTW button when it came to lines. So we got the GAC(Guest assistance card). It is like having treasure.
It saved us countless minutes in the heat. And in the lines. Now we didn't always use this unless we felt like we needed too. But the funny thing is except for @2 maybe 3x the times we didn't use it is when someone would come talk to Braeton notice his button and move us up.
If there is one thing I can impress on you it's too (sung to the tune of William Tell's overture)

GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC, GAC, GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC, GAC, GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC, GAC, GAC
GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET
THE GAC, GAC, GAC,



also while you are in Guest relations getting this get your 1st visit button, if it is anyones 1st visit, and Birthday.Anniversary buttons if you have any you are celebrating. We got 1st Visit buttons for all of us, since it was our 1st time and Shannon and Tyler had B-day buttons since we celebrated while we were there. Their B-days are this Week end and we knew with Braetons surgery we wouldn't really be going anywhere!!!

 

[LeeLee2U]

I love your TR!! The suspense...

I can't believe I didn't respond to this!! Thank you! I am so glad to have you here!!
Everything is so CRAZY right now, that I'm mainly getting on the DIS to escape I think So I feel really scatterbrained and Dont' feel I'm doing a great job wording this TR right. I'm functioning (well actually I don't think I'm functioning at all ) on very little sleep ths last week, but that's o.k. Because
I AM WOMAN
and
I will Survive
dun dun dun du du dundundundun

 

[Momof2wCF]

I'm functioning (well actually I don't think I'm functioning at all ) on very little sleep ths last week, but that's o.k. Because
I AM WOMAN
and
I will Survive
dun dun dun du du dundundundun

You go, Mom!! BTW, have you seen the William Tell Overture Mom from YouTube? Maybe you could use her to help with your *Mommy Mode*
I'm really enjoying your TR, of course I'll be reading it, I'm ADDICTED

 

[Momof2wCF]

GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC, GAC, GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC, GAC, GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC
GET THE GAC, GAC, GAC
GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET
THE GAC, GAC, GAC,

Yes, Ma'am! We WILL get the GAC.
Thanks, actually. I was wondering about that. I've gotten conflicting messages, but YOU are the expert, so I will make sure we do that.

 

[Bill_Lin]

LeeLee, I just got your PM about your TR. I am AMAZED at how much activity you already have on here. You are going to LOVE doing this. Great job.

How about January 2009 for a Wish Trippers Reunion?

Hey, Momof2... Accept this from the start... Something will go wrong on your trip... just learn to focus on what goes right. For every setback there will at least one amazing miracle that comes together. The trip kind of gets out of your control in into God's so that the magic can happen. Just keep thinking, "It is AMAZING that we are on this trip."

We had several setbacks... like our DS26 cancelling out at the last minute and disappointing our Wish Trip Girl, or me forgetting to arrange for a greet with Piglet (her #2 choice), or DS13 loosing his bag at Stitches Great Escape, or one of our pre-paid debit card getting accidentally cancelled, or our Wish Trip check having a hold placed on it by the bank (that would not come off until AFTER we left), or some of our favorite rides being down for refurbishing . None of this ending up diminishing the magic in any way. If I had allowed my perfectionism to take control it would have driven me nuts, but my wife helped me laugh when I needed to. Most of our problems ended up getting worked out and those that did not were outweighed by the amazing things that happened. When you step into a land of magic, you have to lose control to experience the wonder.

To read how things worked out read our TR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1545182

Keep up the good work LeeLee. I will be checking daily.

Bill

 

[wendygrace]

Great report! Loving it!! BTW, started that community thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1606643

 

[LeeLee2U]

Yes, Ma'am! We WILL get the GAC.
Thanks, actually. I was wondering about that. I've gotten conflicting messages, but YOU are the expert, so I will make sure we do that.

I had also got conflicting messages but I'm so glad I listened to 5dwarrves and the way I saw it is Hey it doesn't hurt to get it even if you find you don't have to use it often. The first couple of days I didn't but the last few I really needed it. Especially when Braeton wasn't feeling good and on Shannons Dialysis days. It doesn't take but a few minutes to stop in at guest relations and get one. You can use the same one at all the parks and trust me you want to get that button if you can. We got more attention from the 1st Visit and the B-Day button I think than the WISH button. Tyler got picked like CRaqzy for ...Well for stuff! and then After they wold make a big deal about his Birthday, some of them would notice his WISH button and ask who the wish child was. We all had button naming us a a wish recipient family member and then Braetons named him as the WISH recipient.

LeeLee, I just got your PM about your TR. I am AMAZED at how much activity you already have on here. You are going to LOVE doing this. Great job.

Thank you Bill and I do love this. It's actually very good therapy for mental stress!!! That's my excuse anyway!!!
And all of you that haven't read Bills report get over there and read it NOW! Ignore the horrible pic of me in it and read it!!! The link is acouple of post above this one!

Great report! Loving it!! BTW, started that community thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1606643

Thanks Wendy! I'm so glad you started it!!! All of you past present and future Wish trippers, get your tails...err...fingers over there NOW!!!

 

[Trentmom]

Just looking for an update.


Look Left........................ Nothing

Look Right................Nothing...


Okay, be back later

 

[Goofyluver]

I agree 100% with getting the GAC if you need it. Although we weren't Wishers, it helped us immensely. Without it, the kids never would have lasted. I will NEVER do a trip without it.

 

[Disneymommom]

LeeLee, I am so happy to be here. I'm already hooked on your TR and I have to say am teary eyed, but ask Trentmom I cry easily anyway but your family is tugging at my heart strings. It sounds like you are all a very deserving bunch and I am truly happy you got to go on this trip.

As far as pics go, you better have pics, I love pics and I love people in them.Scenery is nice but we've all seen Disney and love it but we love it more when we see parts of disney with the pics of our DIS friends in them, so get them uploaded and posted and I'm there!!!

 

[Disneymommom]

O.k. for those of you wondering what my kids are like I'm going to tell you. They are the sweetest, kindest most angelic boys ever!!!
SEE?????????????

FONT]
This was at Sunday School. We were there a little earlier than Tylers teachers so he was waiting in his brothers SS room.
No they really are sweet but they are definatly all boy!!!

Well as you may recall in all my ramblings earlier, that the day I was thankfully told to FILL OUT THAT APPLICATION!!!!!!! was the day we met my nephew at the airport. Here is a pic of my dirty,smelly (hadn't had a shower in 3weeks!!!) never looked better than at that moment to us, nephew and my boys of course!!

that is one of my favorites. Look at the expression on Braetons face! He loves his Matt-Matt as he calls him!!! And Do you see what's on his head?
YEAH I'm parapooter too now he yelled! Yes he can now say paratrooper, but I think the other was cuter and boy did we need that laugh!!!
Now this is the pic the Texas Wishing Well Foundation used on Braetons Banner, or rather one of the two

FONT]

Great pics of your adorable boys!!! They look very sweet and I absolutely love the one with your nephew Matt Matt and Braeton in his had. How sweet! I am thankful that your nephew came home from Iraq safely. I think you said on the first page that he had to go back? If so I will keep him in my prayers.

So glad Braeton's surgery went well and he can now wear glasses and a hat! I''ll also be praying your DH gets his kidney transplant and gets well soon. You are all so deserving!

 

[Disneymommom]

Love the pics, the hotel looks great, nice pic of you and the boys!!!! So sorry about the hype over a transplant and then the disappointment. At least you still had the trip to look forward to. I hope the transplant comes through real soon for DH!!!!

Good report so far, keep it coming!

 

[Disneymommom]

I can't believe I didn't respond to this!! Thank you! I am so glad to have you here!!
Everything is so CRAZY right now, that I'm mainly getting on the DIS to escape I think So I feel really scatterbrained and Dont' feel I'm doing a great job wording this TR right. I'm functioning (well actually I don't think I'm functioning at all ) on very little sleep ths last week, but that's o.k. Because
I AM WOMAN
and
I will Survive
dun dun dun du du dundundundun

You are doing a great job and are wording things just fine. Don't worry, we are all loving it and enjoying it very much!

 

[dismom9761]

Just checking back in.Hope Braeton is still doing well.

 

[LeeLee2U]

Just looking for an update.


Look Left........................ Nothing

Look Right................Nothing...


Okay, be back later

Look DOWN and you will see..................


an update...................

coming soon............

I'll try to get one on today... It may be brief but something will be on!!

I agree 100% with getting the GAC if you need it. Although we weren't Wishers, it helped us immensely. Without it, the kids never would have lasted. I will NEVER do a trip without it.

Yours was the report that made me research to see what was a GAC! Kinda sounded like a mix between YACK and GAG to me so I had to check that thing out!!!
I had written it down to get one based on your report and then started reading conflicting messages regarding WISH trippers!!! Ya'lls TR really helped me out a lot!

Great pics of your adorable boys!!! They look very sweet and I absolutely love the one with your nephew Matt Matt and Braeton in his had. How sweet! I am thankful that your nephew came home from Iraq safely. I think you said on the first page that he had to go back? If so I will keep him in my prayers!

Disneymommoms here!!! I have the royal family!!!!
Thank you for the compliments!! I couldn't make the pics of Matt any bigger Oh Well!! Yes He was on a 2 week leave and had to go back. He originally left last Nov for a 4 month tour which stretched to 6 months then to 12 months. Now he just got extended to March and even that is not a guarantee he'll come home then . We appreciate all the prayers we can get. Matt is more like a younger Bro to me than a nephew.

Just checking back in.Hope Braeton is still doing well.

Howdy. Well yesterday was an off day. His sensory disorder was in full effect! Then last night was pretty rough. We cam home last night to try to sleep here and Well let's just say I'm going back to my Mom's tonight!! He is feeling more like hissself so he's trying to act like normal which includes sleeping on his side. With dome like bandages on your head that gets a wee bit uncomfortable. Also something happend and his ears bled a little bit more, but since they havn't in the last 5 hours we are just watching to see what happens. He has a great surgeon and I have his cell phone # to call after hours or on the weekend so that makes me feel a little bit better. I haven't used it yet, but I have it if I need it!!!
So my Dad cam and got Braeton for a few hours so I could clean house, rest or whatever untill I have to get Tyler and take him to the DR for a nasty cough he's had since we came back. Am I resting????? Am I cleaning??????? Am I getting clothes together for tonight???


I'm DISsing!! That's mental rest ya know!!!

 

[LeeLee2U]

O.k. so where was I?? Oh yes we are in the Lobby at the Marriot. So we take some great pics, which I don't have and you'll find out why later!! And some not so great pics which I''ve posted a few. We head for breakfast. Now coming down the glass elevator that morning we could see the Buffet all set out and smelled it coming off of the elevator. UMMMMMM it looked and smelled wonderfull. So we go and fill plates. sit down to take a bite. "Mommy I need to go Potty" O.k. Braeton and off we go. Come back and Mom I've gotta use the Bathroom! O.k. Shannon?? Yes Huff Huff Come on Tyler I'll take you. So I go sit down and try to help Braeton . At this time I didn't have a plate yet I was trying to help Braeton and he was determined he was going to walk around and do it his self!!! Tyler was being very picky and I think all he got was a bowl of cereal and then I convinced him to try the french toast. Anyway Tyler and Shannon comes back. I go to try to get something to eat. Braeton is falling down in the booth. It's important to mention that Braeton had started feeling bad Sat night. I was very nervous. YOU CAN"T GET SICK It's your WISH TRIP!!!!!!! He has an unknown metabolic disorder that causes him to get extremly fatigued and very, very floppy. The whirlpool and the swimming helped him a lot and if I had it to do over I think I would just climb in the pool skirt and all where we could have really done his exercises!
Anyway Between bites it was up and down. Mommy I forgot juice, Mom I don't like this I want to try this. Shannon was on the inside of the booth so it was more convenient for me to jump up and get it plus I'm WAAAY faster than my poor DH so I was just gonna "Git it done"
I take a bite of mky now cold eggs and I hear "MOM MOM MOMMIE puncuated my the kicking under the table. What's wrong Braeton???
I gotta GO!!!
And off to the Bathroom we went wher he
didn't do anything

Again!!
This happend 5 times. So now it's an hour and 15 min later. I still haven't managed to take more than a couple of bites and we really need to be loading the van.
Moooooom


and my DH says here I'll take him!

Sweet right?

Yeah I think he interrpreted the harassed look on my face correctly!!!

So I quickly eat. All I can remember is the cantaloupe wasn't the best, but the strawberries, oatmeal, eggs and biscuits and gravey were good and the potatoe whatever was reeeaaallly good. Of course I only got a few bites of each!!
I grab the boys each an apple and off we go to the room.
I'm throwing things into the bags and trying to seperate what we need on the plane and what we can check. I only took in what we had to have that morning, but some stuff we didn't have to carry on and I knew that the WISH foundation was giving the boys some stuff for the plane.
Out the door we go.

OH NO!!!

We go back in the room where I grab Braetons stuffed dog!

Out the door we go again!

AAAAGHHH!

In we go and I grab the forgotten meds that I had taken out of the refridgerator and placed on top of it!

O.k. look around do we have everything? Check under the beds! O.k. Let's go!!

Open the door and I proceed to drop everything. Pop goes my purse and boy oh boy do I have a lot in that little ole thing!

Pick it up, out he door down the elevator, back up the elevator, pick up the meds that I had put by the TV when I dropped everything. Out the door we go! Throw th stuff in the van buckle everybody up. Take the stuff I need out of my purse put itin the back pack, seperate everything and Shnnon starts to drive out.
Mooooom I don't have my camara!!!

Bak in the Hotel to the desk, get a key and up the elevator we go. AHHa the camera is inbetween the folds of the bedspread!!!

Back to the van, where Braeton is frantacally kicking the back of the seat. Yep he had to GO!!

So off to the bathroom we go
where
he
did

YES! YES!! HE DID!!!

Run to the van and the phone rings.
Oh yeah I forgot to mention that 30 min earlier Mr. Frank calls to tell me they were runnig late! No problem we are a few min. behind our selves. We're just walking out the door!
Well we did walk out the door several times!!!

Ok. so we are dashing tothe airport and we turn the wrong way!

O.k. so we turn around and Yes there is the airport. Now which parking garage did he say to use???

I'll have to leave off here. Got to run Tyler to the DR. More later So please stay tuned to find out?
What kind of gifts did the boys get?
The Ice cream Party
And Going throu security!!!!!

 

[kindakrazy2]

I see you've mastered the cliffhanger!

Don't you hate mornings like when you are running in circles and accomplishing nothing?

Lets hope its smooth sailing from this point out....but I've got a feeling there is something more about to happen.....

Keep it coming Leah!

Hope your little guy is feeling better. Both of them!

 

[wendygrace]

 

[LeeLee2U]

O.k. So the phone rings again...It's...................Yep you guessed it Mr. Frank By now it's 10:15 Our flight was scheduled for 11:35 and we were supposed to have an ice cream party WISH sendoff and tirme for the dreaded security . Now I believe I should mention that I am the only 1 of us 4 that has flown before and the last time I flew I believe I was 18 So it had benn a few years. Anyway Yes Mr. Frank we're here, trying to find the parking garage.
"Make sure you park in, such and such garage. We parked on the 4th floor. 3rd looked like it had some handicapped parking and 2nd was full. O.k. Now where is that garage???
Shannon this is where he said to park, but I don't know it's short term parking with hourly fees.
So where do we park Leah?
I don't know Long term parking is down there.
RING RING Yep Mr. Frank
Yes we are parking now.
O.k. So we park in the garage he had said. On the..............
2nd floor In a regular spot that a security lady who had been trailing us flashing her lights led us too. Yep that's a whole story in itself, but If I don't hurry up I'll never get us to Fl. Of course that is how I felt!!!!
Anyway we park in this really wierd spot with our tail end hanging out and right on a curve. Oh Lord please protect this van. We reaaly need it to be just like it is now when we come back Unless of course Lord you'd like to send anangel or 2 to fill it up with Gas and detail it for us. But Lord i'd really be happy if you could just surround it by an army of angels and keep it from being crashed into while we are gone>


Uhhh Leah? WHat are you doing?//

I'm praying!

O.k. Can we unload noow ??

I guess. Let's unload!

So here we go into the airport. I wish I had a pic but just use your imagination. We have. Braeton in his wheelchair holding his backpack and everpresent stuffed dog Katie with his piggie neck pillow around his Well around his neck!!
I've got bvackpacks, other purse and small backpacks hanging off the wheelchair with me pushing it and pulling a large Duffel suitcase. Dh is pulling 2 suitcases on top of each other w/ another one and his dialysis bag. Tyler is pulling the 2 small carryon type suitcases tied on top of each other and his backpack.
We come pusffing in the airport and there at the main door is ...........Mr. Frank so we have to take some pics
Braeton and our wonderfull wish giver Mr. Frank!!!

Mrs. Rebecca The co founder of The Texas Wishing Well and Mr. Franks wife

[/IMG] And then pics of the family. The extra girl in this pic is Mr. Franks Daughter. She is a sweet heart!!

[/IMG]
And then my batteries finally die!!! And we took some more pics on the disposable camera, which I will explain

Later!!!

O.k. why The pic w/ Mrs Rebecca is sideways I don't know. I obviously did something to it before I uploaded it into photobucket. I was going to change it, but you know it kindof explains how my day was going!!!!

O.k. I don't have the pics but next they hand over a huge giftbag to Braeton, then a tad bit smaller bag to Tyler and then Yep me AND Shannon recieved to med. gift bags!!!! Now I wasn't expecting that how sweet.
I have a pic I will post later of all our stuff spread out on the bed when we get to our room.
So we have 2 shirts each plus buttons. then we have magazines for me and hubby. Disposable cameras plus a waterproof one for the waterparks which we didn't go to!! handheld elctronic games for all of us. 2 cd players for the boys, one of which was an mp3 player. A portable DVD player, a ton of DVDs, a ton of CDs and GUM in all the bags for both plane rides. They give us our Disney packet with our luggage tags and tickets. Yep I didn't have any of that yet. Then they proceed to give us our spending money in


CASH!!!!

O.k. The amount was GREAT and I was very relieved because there were things we needed for this trip but were not able to buy until we recieved th money and you know Disney prices!!! but I'll just say the all cash scared me to death. I just knew someone was going to pick my DHs pockets. I tried to get him to put it in his underwear, but he wouldn't!!!


O.k. I really didn't try to get him to put it there, but I did nag him to divide it and don't you dare lose it!!!!

Anyway Mrs Rebecca looks at her watch and says it's 11:00 We got to go!!

So nope no ice cream, but that's o.k.
The vollunteers had ended up in Austin Texas for another childs fundraiser and not all of them were back and I was really scared of hyper kids on the plane!

So we rush to drop our luggage off and off to security.
Take the shoes off. Oh yeah Everrybody take off those buttons I just had you put on!!
Tyler stay next to your Dad, AAgghhh Where's Braetons Katie Dog. On the Floor. OH THE GERMS!!!

Open the DVD player. Get out my quart sized bags. Oh The Liquid meds. AAAGGGG Braeton. Take off his shoes and braces Roll him through. Ma'am you can just walk through with your son. No Ma'am you need to walk through here and then walk with your son. No Ma'am you needto stick with your son.

Yep that was 2 people talking and then they ended up arguing. Well she can't leave him. We have to get a male cavity searcher. BLAH BLAJH BLAH

UmmmYa'll Can't I just let him walk through the detectors and ya'll can check out hte wheelchair??

NOO!!!
YESS!!

He can walk???
this from a 3rd person.

Yes if I get him out he can walk the short distance under.

Anyway we FINALLY get through and we have




10 min till departure!!!

So we rush to our gate and get put in line. 2nd family on!!

The flight was prety good. We had a little turbulence but we had a great captain and the stewardess' were great. Tyler poor thing had a lot of trouble with his ears and despite the Gum chewing and constant swallowing had tears in his eyes from all the pressure. Braeton was not feeling good and fell asleep in my lap. And then OH NO "Shannon"... I turned my head as he and Tyler were behind Braeton and I. Yep 2 people had sat beside me and Shannon leaving us blocked in our seats, I was buckling Braeton when a lady just kind of bumped me and sat down in the aisle seat. While Shannon had sat beside Tyler and a lady asked him if she could sit on the aisle. Anyway he leans up
"What's wrong??"
Braetons runnig fever!!!
How high?

I don't know the thermometer is above my HEAD!!!!!

So after a few sips of sprite, Braeton falls asleep untill right before we landed!
YES!!
Right before we landed the flight attendant asked us to wait while everyone disembarked so they could get the wheelchair. No problem

Then when there were about 10 people left on the plane they come ask us to follow them and said leave your stuff we'll help you get it. The captain would like to meet the boys. So off we go to the cockpit! They make a big deal to the boys about the honor of flying Braeton on his wish trip and how the Boys made this trip special and then they gave them their WINGS. No tears now..All right Now the DISNEY magic is going to begin!!!

Right????

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