visitingapril09
DIS Veteran
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can't wait to read more......subscribing.
Squirrels, Ducks and Coconut Butts!!! A Wish Trip Report *LATEST UPDATE 05/2011**
- Thread starter yinyanggirls
- Start date
MickeyisBeast
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- Apr 25, 2009
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Joining in!
TokyoDina
DIS Veteran
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Geez I've been so busy! With worth and getting ready for the Disney trip. I didn't get to be first to reply haha!
I can't wait to read the rest of your report!
And thank you Melissa for taking both of those girls into your lives. They now live full lives because of you and Tim. They have someone to love and care for them and attend to their needs and what you do is even bigger than what me and DH do times a million! I appericiate what you've done for those girls and I know they mean the world to you two!
I can't wait to read the rest of your report!
And thank you Melissa for taking both of those girls into your lives. They now live full lives because of you and Tim. They have someone to love and care for them and attend to their needs and what you do is even bigger than what me and DH do times a million! I appericiate what you've done for those girls and I know they mean the world to you two!
Millie12591
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2007
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- 3,735
I'm glad I made it in the first day!! Can't wait to hear all about it! 
The girls look beautiful by the way. 
The girls look beautiful by the way. 
GeminiAngel
Wherever you go, there you are.
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- Aug 5, 2003
- Messages
- 2,329
Great Intro!! 
yinyanggirls
DIS Veteran
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- Sep 27, 2009
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- 1,872
If you were with me at the end of my PTR you'll remember that I was very proud of myself for having started packing WAY before departure day and was confident that I would NOT be up ALL night before we left. I even had a tiff with DH when he proclaimed that I was NOT that far along with the packing and predicted I WOULD be up ALL night. You see where this is going don't you?
Here are the emails exchanged between Ann Brown (Elke's mom, also arriving at GKTW on Sat 4/17) and I.
ME: 4/16 10:56pm (PST)
Just sayin' a quick hi! It's 11 here and we're going strong. Hoping we're getting to the end, but you know how it is......
Ann: 11:27pm (= 2:27AM EST)
Of course I’m up. Doing meds (haven’t even gotten to E’s yet, but that will wait until morning when we get the cooler out. Whoops, it’s almost morning now).
E is not feeling great. Just gotta hope.
I am going to be a zombie tomorrow.
ME: 11:50pm
Tim just gave up. Went to bed. Annoyed at me. It's not even midnight here and I think I did great! I have airplane snacks and a couple of bills to pay. Maybe I'll be in bed in half an hour? Yippee!!!
Ann: 11:52 (2:52AM EST)
Jake just went to bed too. But it’s almost 3 am here.
Airplane snacks can wait until 7 am....
ME: 11:55PM
My lofty goal is to have everything ready to go out the door. That way when our car arrives I can still be getting ready in my room while DH helps the driver and gets the kids dressed. In their pre-assigned clothing all laid out for him, of course.
Ann: 7:36AM (10:36 EST)
2 1/2 hrs sleep. We're at airport now.
Safe travels!
I believe I actually got into bed at 3AM. It wasn't so much the packing as the bills and other random things I forgot to plan for. I got about 2 hours of sleep also. Oh well.
I had heard so many TR's start with the limo being late or getting lost that I was optimistically hoping that ours would too, but NOPE, right on time at 5:30AM. We were flying out of Tucson Int'l Airport at 7:50AM but don't let that Int'l part fool you. TUS is a TINY airport and check in is always quick, not to mention security, the walk to the gate, etc. It's about a 20 min drive and I figured getting there at 6:30 would be plenty of time, so I didn't feel TOO bad making the limo wait a few minutes for us to take some pics. Then I ran back into the house to finish getting ready while DH helped the driver figure out where all the stuff was going to go. The luggage fit in the trunk but the backpacks, and car seat went on the back seat while the wheelchair had to come apart and went up front with the driver. He was nice but wasn't overly friendly. He asked "So are you guys going to Disneyworld or something?". Um, yeah.
Tessa was a little awe struck by the limo. I don't think she's ever seen one before. Phoebe was thrilled, which I thought was funny since I never would have thought she'd notice a difference. Maybe she was just excited to go somewhere.
After we got settled in the car Phoebe had a seizure. Nothing out of the ordinary, and we were in a comfortable place where Tim could hold her for a couple of minutes until it was over.
I think the funnest part of the limo for the kids was being able to move around. Phoebe loved sitting next to us.
Tessa liked watching out the windows.
So we get to the airport and Tim asks me "How much do you tip a limo driver?" to which I replied "I have no idea". Tim pulled some of the MAW cash out of his pocket to hand the driver who quickly refused to take any of it. "It's all taken care of" he said.
We quickly accepted the help of a curbside check-in guy, who gladly accepted the tip Tim gave him
, and he delivered us to a shorter check-in line than the very long one we saw as we first walked in. There were a couple of older ladies in line behind us who asked about the shirts and said her nephew had gone on a MAW trip years ago and how wonderful it was. They were very sweet, even if they did make fun of us for all the luggage we had. They seemed a little more understanding when I explained that we were actually going to be gone for two weeks. We had 5 suitcases (2 large 3 small) plus the carseat. None of the bags were stuffed full because I had been warned that we would need extra room on the way home. With SWA's luggage policy of two free bags per ticket, we were well within the limits. Man I was glad that I asked MAW (who originally had reserved a full size car for us) to move us up to a larger vehicle!
The Southwest desk person told me to talk to the gate people about preboarding, but we all had our WISH shirts on and I had also called ahead to ask for an aisle chair so I felt pretty confident we wouldn't have any problems.
Security went as planned, with Phoebe actually being allowed to sit in her wheelchair while they tested it and patted her down. The TSA screener who did it was named Phoebe too, which I vaguely remember meeting in the past. She thought it was the neatest thing to see a little Phoebe and was super sweet to her, and all of us. Once we got to our gate we looked around for food. I grabbed a coffee and Tim grabbed a breakfast burrito. We had gotten a table and he and Phoebe eaten half of it when they started talking about boarding at our gate. He scarfed down the rest and we ran across the way to our gate.
There were several other wheelchairs pre-boarding with us (we live in a retirement area) so we sat "near" the front, but I was just glad that we had a minute to get settled before everyone else stormed the plane. It was a full flight. With the rows split into three seat each we decided to split up two and two. Tim sat with Phoebe since he ended up carrying her on board (they didn't have the aisle chair ready but we told them it was fine as long as we didn't have far to walk). I sat with Tessa who was thrilled to be on an airplane. She's flown many times in her short life but it had been a while. The flight attendant gave her a set of wings that she really didn't care much about. Viewing the Tucson landscape as we take off.
Phoebe's eyelids fell shut with the force of the engines during take-off and Tim got to enjoy a nice nap along with her.
Tessa watched some movies...
and played her Leapster.
She kept me awake because she kept wanting to switch movies and games and have a snack. No nap for me.
Phoebe woke up and enjoyed a snack, as did her shirt.
This is her sad face, we call it Beaker (from the Muppets), or sometimes it's a precursor to a smile if she's just not sure about something.
I still don't understand what thoughts were going through someone's head when they booked us to fly from Tucson to CHICAGO to Orlando, but oh well. At least I got to "see" Oprah. I'm sure she was down there somewhere.
Tessa decided on this trip that she did not like the shades up while flying, sometimes to the dismay of the people flying with her. Thankfully when we start to land she's interested in looking out. I LOVE looking out at the scenery. I like wondering what people are doing and who lives in that house, how old is that church, etc.
We had a long enough layover in MDW airport to take our time, which is a good thing. I realized at this point that I had forgotten to put a couple of extra items in my carry-on. I had plenty in my suitcase but none in my carry-on. And I only need about one more days worth. Anyone wanna guess what it is? Feminine supplies.
I was really annoyed with myself because now I had to pay outrageous airport prices for a whole box when I really only needed a couple to get me through the day. Probably TMI for everyone but I include it because it is the beginning of a trend. 
So we get three different trips to the girls' restroom out of the way and then find some lunch. We found a really yummy deli restaurant called Potbelly Sandwich Shop and order some lunch. I shared a turkey with the girls and Tim had A Wreck (?) which had salami, roast beef, turkey, ham and Swiss. We both agreed they were delicious but Tim regretted not getting pizza once it dawned on him we were in Chicago. I wished I had packed a change of shirt for Phoebe because this one was looking pretty gross. Darn it. Item number two I forgot to pack.
Phoebe falls asleep during our meal and Tessa declares she needs to go AGAIN so I send Tim off with her (he was done eating). They didn't have "family" restrooms so I don't know what he did but frankly I don't care. He's a smart guy, I'm sure he figured something out. In a year or two Tessa will be able to handle a trip to the bathroom solo but for now people can deal with us doing what we gotta do.
We make it back to the boarding area just in time to stretch our legs before they begin lining up for boarding. When we get Phoebe out of the wheelchair to walk around for a minute she gets excited which triggers another seizure. Tim holds her until it's over and then they start calling out info on the loudspeaker. Another full flight makes the waiting time stressful for Tim as he tries to keep me and the kids orderly and quiet.
We get on the plane without incident, again no aisle chair but we pre-board and sit near the front. Guess who sat with whom? I thought Phoebe would sleep some more so I ask Tim to trade with me. This flight it is Tessa who naps and Phoebe is cranky. Oh well. No nap for Mommy today. 
Coming up next: We've FINALLY arrived!
Here are the emails exchanged between Ann Brown (Elke's mom, also arriving at GKTW on Sat 4/17) and I.
ME: 4/16 10:56pm (PST)
Just sayin' a quick hi! It's 11 here and we're going strong. Hoping we're getting to the end, but you know how it is......
Ann: 11:27pm (= 2:27AM EST)
Of course I’m up. Doing meds (haven’t even gotten to E’s yet, but that will wait until morning when we get the cooler out. Whoops, it’s almost morning now).
E is not feeling great. Just gotta hope.
I am going to be a zombie tomorrow.
ME: 11:50pm
Tim just gave up. Went to bed. Annoyed at me. It's not even midnight here and I think I did great! I have airplane snacks and a couple of bills to pay. Maybe I'll be in bed in half an hour? Yippee!!!
Ann: 11:52 (2:52AM EST)
Jake just went to bed too. But it’s almost 3 am here.
Airplane snacks can wait until 7 am....
ME: 11:55PM
My lofty goal is to have everything ready to go out the door. That way when our car arrives I can still be getting ready in my room while DH helps the driver and gets the kids dressed. In their pre-assigned clothing all laid out for him, of course.
Ann: 7:36AM (10:36 EST)
2 1/2 hrs sleep. We're at airport now.
Safe travels!
I believe I actually got into bed at 3AM. It wasn't so much the packing as the bills and other random things I forgot to plan for. I got about 2 hours of sleep also. Oh well.
I had heard so many TR's start with the limo being late or getting lost that I was optimistically hoping that ours would too, but NOPE, right on time at 5:30AM. We were flying out of Tucson Int'l Airport at 7:50AM but don't let that Int'l part fool you. TUS is a TINY airport and check in is always quick, not to mention security, the walk to the gate, etc. It's about a 20 min drive and I figured getting there at 6:30 would be plenty of time, so I didn't feel TOO bad making the limo wait a few minutes for us to take some pics. Then I ran back into the house to finish getting ready while DH helped the driver figure out where all the stuff was going to go. The luggage fit in the trunk but the backpacks, and car seat went on the back seat while the wheelchair had to come apart and went up front with the driver. He was nice but wasn't overly friendly. He asked "So are you guys going to Disneyworld or something?". Um, yeah.
Tessa was a little awe struck by the limo. I don't think she's ever seen one before. Phoebe was thrilled, which I thought was funny since I never would have thought she'd notice a difference. Maybe she was just excited to go somewhere.
After we got settled in the car Phoebe had a seizure. Nothing out of the ordinary, and we were in a comfortable place where Tim could hold her for a couple of minutes until it was over.
I think the funnest part of the limo for the kids was being able to move around. Phoebe loved sitting next to us.
Tessa liked watching out the windows.
So we get to the airport and Tim asks me "How much do you tip a limo driver?" to which I replied "I have no idea". Tim pulled some of the MAW cash out of his pocket to hand the driver who quickly refused to take any of it. "It's all taken care of" he said.
We quickly accepted the help of a curbside check-in guy, who gladly accepted the tip Tim gave him
, and he delivered us to a shorter check-in line than the very long one we saw as we first walked in. There were a couple of older ladies in line behind us who asked about the shirts and said her nephew had gone on a MAW trip years ago and how wonderful it was. They were very sweet, even if they did make fun of us for all the luggage we had. They seemed a little more understanding when I explained that we were actually going to be gone for two weeks. We had 5 suitcases (2 large 3 small) plus the carseat. None of the bags were stuffed full because I had been warned that we would need extra room on the way home. With SWA's luggage policy of two free bags per ticket, we were well within the limits. Man I was glad that I asked MAW (who originally had reserved a full size car for us) to move us up to a larger vehicle! The Southwest desk person told me to talk to the gate people about preboarding, but we all had our WISH shirts on and I had also called ahead to ask for an aisle chair so I felt pretty confident we wouldn't have any problems. Security went as planned, with Phoebe actually being allowed to sit in her wheelchair while they tested it and patted her down. The TSA screener who did it was named Phoebe too, which I vaguely remember meeting in the past. She thought it was the neatest thing to see a little Phoebe and was super sweet to her, and all of us. Once we got to our gate we looked around for food. I grabbed a coffee and Tim grabbed a breakfast burrito. We had gotten a table and he and Phoebe eaten half of it when they started talking about boarding at our gate. He scarfed down the rest and we ran across the way to our gate.
There were several other wheelchairs pre-boarding with us (we live in a retirement area) so we sat "near" the front, but I was just glad that we had a minute to get settled before everyone else stormed the plane. It was a full flight. With the rows split into three seat each we decided to split up two and two. Tim sat with Phoebe since he ended up carrying her on board (they didn't have the aisle chair ready but we told them it was fine as long as we didn't have far to walk). I sat with Tessa who was thrilled to be on an airplane. She's flown many times in her short life but it had been a while. The flight attendant gave her a set of wings that she really didn't care much about. Viewing the Tucson landscape as we take off.
Phoebe's eyelids fell shut with the force of the engines during take-off and Tim got to enjoy a nice nap along with her.
Tessa watched some movies...
and played her Leapster.
She kept me awake because she kept wanting to switch movies and games and have a snack. No nap for me.
Phoebe woke up and enjoyed a snack, as did her shirt.
This is her sad face, we call it Beaker (from the Muppets), or sometimes it's a precursor to a smile if she's just not sure about something.
I still don't understand what thoughts were going through someone's head when they booked us to fly from Tucson to CHICAGO to Orlando, but oh well. At least I got to "see" Oprah. I'm sure she was down there somewhere.
Tessa decided on this trip that she did not like the shades up while flying, sometimes to the dismay of the people flying with her. Thankfully when we start to land she's interested in looking out. I LOVE looking out at the scenery. I like wondering what people are doing and who lives in that house, how old is that church, etc.
We had a long enough layover in MDW airport to take our time, which is a good thing. I realized at this point that I had forgotten to put a couple of extra items in my carry-on. I had plenty in my suitcase but none in my carry-on. And I only need about one more days worth. Anyone wanna guess what it is? Feminine supplies.
I was really annoyed with myself because now I had to pay outrageous airport prices for a whole box when I really only needed a couple to get me through the day. Probably TMI for everyone but I include it because it is the beginning of a trend. So we get three different trips to the girls' restroom out of the way and then find some lunch. We found a really yummy deli restaurant called Potbelly Sandwich Shop and order some lunch. I shared a turkey with the girls and Tim had A Wreck (?) which had salami, roast beef, turkey, ham and Swiss. We both agreed they were delicious but Tim regretted not getting pizza once it dawned on him we were in Chicago. I wished I had packed a change of shirt for Phoebe because this one was looking pretty gross. Darn it. Item number two I forgot to pack.
Phoebe falls asleep during our meal and Tessa declares she needs to go AGAIN so I send Tim off with her (he was done eating). They didn't have "family" restrooms so I don't know what he did but frankly I don't care. He's a smart guy, I'm sure he figured something out. In a year or two Tessa will be able to handle a trip to the bathroom solo but for now people can deal with us doing what we gotta do.
We make it back to the boarding area just in time to stretch our legs before they begin lining up for boarding. When we get Phoebe out of the wheelchair to walk around for a minute she gets excited which triggers another seizure. Tim holds her until it's over and then they start calling out info on the loudspeaker. Another full flight makes the waiting time stressful for Tim as he tries to keep me and the kids orderly and quiet.
We get on the plane without incident, again no aisle chair but we pre-board and sit near the front. Guess who sat with whom? I thought Phoebe would sleep some more so I ask Tim to trade with me. This flight it is Tessa who naps and Phoebe is cranky. Oh well. No nap for Mommy today. Coming up next: We've FINALLY arrived!
dawnbu40
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2008
- Messages
- 5,462
It sounds like travel day was a long day for you! You must have been beat by the time you arrived!
The picture of Phoebe sleeping is so sweet! Your girls are both so pretty and photogenic! Can't wait to see the "real" trip pics because they look adorable on the plane!
Looking forward to hearing about your arrival at GKTW!
The picture of Phoebe sleeping is so sweet! Your girls are both so pretty and photogenic! Can't wait to see the "real" trip pics because they look adorable on the plane!
Looking forward to hearing about your arrival at GKTW!
Present!
Can you do a trip report for me while you're at it? You're off to a good start. You should have seen our limo driver trying to figure out where to put all of our bags. We ended up with some under our feet and on the seats inside the limo. On the way back the limo company wised up and sent a van. Not luxurious, but it sure did the trick!
Can't wait to hear more, and possibly see a photo of Elke actually SMILING. (She smiled plenty as the trip went on, but we never were able to catch it on camera!).
Can you do a trip report for me while you're at it? You're off to a good start. You should have seen our limo driver trying to figure out where to put all of our bags. We ended up with some under our feet and on the seats inside the limo. On the way back the limo company wised up and sent a van. Not luxurious, but it sure did the trick!
Can't wait to hear more, and possibly see a photo of Elke actually SMILING. (She smiled plenty as the trip went on, but we never were able to catch it on camera!).
wish_upon_a_star35
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2010
- Messages
- 414
YAY!!!!! I've been waiting for your TR!! I am so excited and ready to read more!! The girls are so gorgeous!! I LOVE Phoebe's sad face :lol: Too cute!! Also I know I will be posting many pics of "Messy Marvin" ala Chase when I get to do my TR! He is sooo messy but cute!!
I am subbing! Wooh hoo!
I am subbing! Wooh hoo!
noahsketomom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2010
- Messages
- 700
Great start -- YAY!!
So sorry to hear about the seizures while traveling -- it's can be tough in public- but it sounds like you guys handled it like champs!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the pics of Phoebe on the plane -- she looks gorgeous! And Tessa, as always, looks charming!
Can't wait for more!!!!
PS - Funny but our "tips" went in reverse -- the limo driver accepted it, but the skycap said..."Aren't you with Make a Wish? No thanks, spend it on the kids!"
So sorry to hear about the seizures while traveling -- it's can be tough in public- but it sounds like you guys handled it like champs!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the pics of Phoebe on the plane -- she looks gorgeous! And Tessa, as always, looks charming!
Can't wait for more!!!!
PS - Funny but our "tips" went in reverse -- the limo driver accepted it, but the skycap said..."Aren't you with Make a Wish? No thanks, spend it on the kids!"
addictedtothemouse
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2008
- Messages
- 1,043
Great start to the trip! Your girls are just adorable. 
I was looking into flights from Dallas and OKC and wondered why they would go to CHicago then Atlanta before getting to Orlando.
Umm, could I have a direct flight please? 
Your girls are just adorable. I was looking into flights from Dallas and OKC and wondered why they would go to CHicago then Atlanta before getting to Orlando.
Umm, could I have a direct flight please?
TokyoDina
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 5, 2009
- Messages
- 639
Creepy! I have to say, we are going from Tucson to Chicago then to Orlando too. Same flight I suppose. I would like to know why we have to fly all the way up there and then south. Makes no sense but it was the earliest flight I could get. 
Gonna try that Potbelly place you report about now. 
Whee I can't wait to go!
I love Phoebe's beaker face! It makes me giggle when I see it!
I'm glad most of the first part of the flight went okay.
TMI but it's okay we're all adults here we understand when we forget important things like that! I know I've forgotten a number of important things like that. Some of which could have potentially been a very unlucky out come if things had gone differently that trip.
Gonna try that Potbelly place you report about now. Whee I can't wait to go! I love Phoebe's beaker face! It makes me giggle when I see it!
I'm glad most of the first part of the flight went okay.
TMI but it's okay we're all adults here we understand when we forget important things like that! I know I've forgotten a number of important things like that. Some of which could have potentially been a very unlucky out come if things had gone differently that trip.
jenniferkeala808
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2010
- Messages
- 652
Hey Michelle! just found your TR!!! Can't wait to read all about it!!!
Alrighty, all caught up! I’m so glad you started your TR!! Pheobe is a little angel…as is Tessa, in her own way right?! LOL!! They are sooo adorable! I’m glad you got to “see” Oprah! LOL! So funny! Well, can’t wait for the next installment!
Alrighty, all caught up! I’m so glad you started your TR!! Pheobe is a little angel…as is Tessa, in her own way right?! LOL!! They are sooo adorable! I’m glad you got to “see” Oprah! LOL! So funny! Well, can’t wait for the next installment!
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