Make-A-Wish Day 2 part 1

We awoke on our 2nd day of the trip to a BEAUTIFUL 80 degree day! I absolutely LOVED the humidity:). The kids took a bubble bath in the enormous bath tub. They loved the bubbles. After that we all headed to the Gingerbread House restaurant inside GKTW. It was GREAT and Emma loved the Christmas tree so much that she had to hug it every time that we left:). You will see a picture of the awesome shaped foliage (the heart shaped bushes). Next, we went to the big Mushroom carousel, and Em loved riding the magical reindeer. Owen and I got to ride the rooster (it was the only 2 seater). Then we went in the castle of miracles. This is a magical place where the wish child gets to put a star in the ceiling that has their name on it (we didn't put Em's star up that day....I will post about that later). However, in the casle of miracles there is also a Pillow factory where both of the kids got to make a pillow for sweet dreams. They push all kinds of buttons, and it plays music and bubbles come out, then a pillow pops out of the bottom. Emma got a pink pillow with ballerinas on it, and Owen got a red pillow with dinosaurs. In the castle of miracles the wonderful volunteers also put on a puppet show for us, and Emma and Owen got to pretend they were the King and Queen for the day:).

Next, we were off to the Magic Kingdom (yes, this was a VERY big day!!....so much that I am going to have to make it 2 posts). Emma had her Princess Make-Over at the Bippity Boppity Boutique. Of all of the hairdos that she could pick, she chose.....are you ready.....the POP STAR PRINCESS that made it look like she had fireworks coming out of the top of her head. Who am I to stop a pop star princess, right?? Her make-over was in the Cinderella Castle, and it created a wonderful memory for all of us!!! On the way there we ran into a parade....where you will see Sebastian the Crab (love him). All of the parades at Disney are AMAZING!! UNBELIEVABLE!!

You will also see a picture of Em riding in a yellow sports car convertible:). Of course it is just a toy....but, they had it right outside of the main building at GKTW!! We laughed about that every day. It was too funny!

I will post more later today, but enjoy these pictures for now:).

Make-A-Wish Day 1

The best word that I can think of for our trip is WOW!!! It was absolutely magical, and I want to remember and share every detail of it. Emma was just a "normal" "typical" kid for a week. No hospitals, doctors visits, therapies. She was a princess in everyone's eyes that saw her. She just glowed the entire trip. She made memories that will be with her for a long time. WE made memories that will be with us FOREVER! I cannot say enough good things about the Make-A-Wish organization. The entire trip was flawless. Every single detail was thoroughly thought out and planned. WOW!

I hope to share on here in the next few days the highlights of every day of our trip. Day 1 was really a travel day. We left our house at 4 am and arrived in Florida at 4 pm (our time). It was a VERY long day, but our kids were troopers. I was very proud of how they traveled there and back. Give Kids the World (the place where we stayed throughout the visit....AMAZING place!) had a greeter (Ms. Dee) meet us at the airport. She helped us find our bags and took us to our rental car....then, we were off!!! Emma really thought we should have a yellow convertable race car, but she settled for our blue mini van:). OY! That girl's got some expensive taste:).

When we arrived at our villa (2 large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms...one with an enormous jacuzzi tub, a kitchen and living room...AMAZING) there were all kinds of snacks in the fridge for us.....and there were gifts for both of the kids! Emma got a plush Mickey and Owen got Shamu. There were also some other gifts there. The weather was fantastic!! 80 degrees...I LOVED it! Tim and I went to an orientation about GKTW that night....then we ran to Wal-Mart. It was the first of many REALLY late nights:).

Enjoy!

Difficult Situation

The perfect placement for my Em has turned into a difficult time in my life. We worked hard to get Emma placed at the school where I teach. I teach in a rural school. We only have 27 kids grade Kdg. through 5th, and it truly is a wonderful place. The kids at our school are like family to each other. Sure they bicker from time to time....but they also look out for each other, and that was the main reason that I wanted Emma to come to our school....that, and one of my good friends is the special ed teacher and I have always thought her to be one of the best. However, there are so many issues right now that just do not feel right....and it puts me in such an awkward situation. Why are there NO BREAKS when you are the parent of a child with special needs? Why do I always feel like I am walking straight up a mountain and conquering every single obstacle along the way. I am proud of where I have come from, and I am amazed that I have conquered the obstacles that I have....but, I need a break...I need some time to breath and I need some moments where I do not need to worry. I KNOW that those moments have been there and they will be there again....but, right now I feel like I am drowning. I feel so helpless, and I HATE to not feel like I am in control.

12 LONG days to go

"Only" 12 days until we take flight on the adventure of a lifetime. Yes, we have been planning this crusade for more than 6 months....so 12 days should seem like a walk in the park, right??? WWWRRROOONNNNGGGG!! The closer it gets...the closer Emma thinks it should be:). So, we made a paper chain to show her how many days we have until we leave to see Minnie Mouse...you know...so she can visualize it to SEE how many days there are until we leave. Well, tonight she came up with the brilliant idea (really it was quite savvy) that we can just, "Cut off all of those papers and we can leave tomorrow". Yep, what do you do with that one?

I am really enjoying watching videos about different characters on YouTube with Emma. Emma has always been petrified of anything that has a mask....and Santa Claus??? She is extremely excited about seeing Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, etc. But, I wonder when she sees them if she will freak? So, I am doing everything I can (hence the dressing them up as Mickey and Minnie for Halloween) to get her used to seeing the characters including size, costumes, etc. I really hope that it eases her anxiety because there will be many masked characters as we travel through the different parks.

OK, maybe I'm having a hard time about thinking about 12 more days too! For some reason I had it in my mind that we were leaving THIS Saturday. Do you think if I just cut those extra chains off of the paper chain that those days will melt away?? I don't think I'll try it though because I truly think that I NEED the visual also:).

Does it make me a bad mom?

Tonight....I got "the look"...you know the one...the look where other parents look at you like, "I would NEVER do that". I wanted to just yell, "Never say never!!!" and stick my tongue out at them:). That would be the mature way to handle it, right?

OK, here's the scenario...and I want your honest opinions on this. So, Tim had to work late tonight, and we got home later than usual. I was bound and determined to work out, so I did. Then I remembered that we had to pick up Emmas $850 (UGH!) medicine before 6:00. So, I got both kids in the car and I decided that I really wanted Subway for dinner. So, I drove to Subway and I parked right outside the window. I could clearly see my children (who were safely buckled in...and have not figured out how to get out), and I ran into Subway to order my sandwich. There was only one person in front of me. As it became my turn I looked out the window to see a car park next to mine. A couple gets out of the car, and they get their child (single child with 2 parents) out of the car. Then, they both look into my car to see my children and the mom shakes her head. They came into Subway and gave me "the look". Then, I noticed that the lady was pregnant. As I walked past the couple on my way out I just smiled at both of them and thought.....You just wait!

What do you think??? Bad mom??? It's OK tell me the truth...I have thick skin (wink wink).

Happy Halloween!!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
Mickey Mouse (and Minnie)
= SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

Marvelous...or Mortified???

Look at this sweet face....then, listen to this story....

When you are a parent, and you are told that your child will never speak you brace yourself. You mourn the future that you saw for your child, and you begin to reconstruct a new plan, a new path to travel to help your child in every way. You work, you cheer at each milestone, you shed many tears, and finally a tiny light is in the distance. The words begin to come, and you feel victorious. You have been your child's best cheerleader and biggest fan. Now, you see the voice coming to life and you are so incredibly proud.

Then, it happens.....the words that you have only spoken once (in a very heated argument with your husband because you VERY rarely curse) pop out of that sweet child's mouth.

The other day Emma was going out to recess and someone came by and popped the ball out of her hand, and she yelled at them...are you ready for this....."THAT'S BULLSHIT!!!" (Oh yes, she did....and remember that I'm the teacher too). So, I talked about how that is not appropriate. That night her dad talked to her about how we don't ever say those words because they are not nice words.

So, the next day we got home from school and Emma climbed up into her dad's lap. She looked up into his eyes and said, "I was a good girl at school today Daddy". He said, "That's very good Emma". She said, "I didn't even say any bad words". He said, "That is very good Emma. I'm proud of you". Then, she gives him the sweetest smile, and in her cute little voice said, "I didn't even say Bullshit Daddy". OY!!! What do you do with that?

So, the battle from within....I said that I would always be happy no matter what she said. or how much she said....as long as she would talk. I would never EVER take anything for granted. So, yes I am the mom who thinks my child is marvelous...even if she DOES say Bullshit, yet I am also the Mom (and teacher) who is mortified that my child said BULLSHIT!!