March 2012
got back from Florida on the 28th, only a few days ago and wish we were still there.
a few days before we went Owen started sicking blood up so we had to go straight to hospital as it was the first time and hopefully the only time, when we got to hospital we didn't have to wait like we usually do for hours on end we were put into an isolation room for an hour and then straight up to the ward back into another isolation room just to be safe if it could be something contagious, we were out later that night as the doctor said it was down to Owen taking ibuprofen, so i had to stop it, my first thought was at least he wont be sicking blood up any more and my second thought was he'll go back being in pain with his hips, Owen was put on ibuprofen to stop the pain he was having with his hips and any other pain, and it was a miracle and worked, so i was so scared that in a few days time we would be going on holiday with no actual pain relief, so we had to swap the ibuprofen for paracetamol which also isn't good to be having 3 times a day.
on the 19th march we set of at 1pm to go to Manchester as we were booked into a hotel for the night as the flight was early in the morning, we got to the hotel around 3:30pm, so once we'd settled and had a drink and got are bags into the room be decided to have a walk out, and just down the road were lots of shops so we just had a look around and headed back to the hotel, we had tea and then went back to are rooms were we watch TV for a little while before going to sleep.
up very early the next morning everyone dressed, all bags packed, we went and had breakfast at 6:30am and then straight to the airport, once we got to the airport we had to meet a man who meet and greet to take the car, we then had to get a trolley for are bags and i have to say it's very had having to push 2 prams with 2 children and a trolley full of luggage so me and my mum had some difficulty, once we were in the airport it was very easy to find the desk and because Owens' disabled we went straight to the desk to check in, it took a good half hour to check everything in, when we got to the desk there was a huge line in the normal queue by the time we had finished, it was gone, we got to the airport early so we could have a look around in the shops, but once we were there and checked in we had to go straight to the plane, we didn't have time to do anything, and once we were at the plane we waited 10 minutes before we were going onto the plane.
we were with all the other disabled people going on the plane so we all were put on the plane first before everyone else, and we would be the last of.
once we were one the plane the seating was wrong make a wish foundation told me we would be at the very back of the plane because of Owens' specialized seating but we weren't we were right in the middle of a 4 seater row, right in the middle of the plane, and the seating was useless for Owen, and it was just a basic seat in my eyes and it could not affect the telephones which is what make a wish told me it would and that's why we would be at the back of the plane, i was so upset that the seating was wrong and that Owen wouldn't be able to sit in it, i just started crying thinking this is the start to the holiday and it's ruined, we held the plane up half an hour once everyone on the plane was seated and everything was ready to go, it couldn't because of us, because the seating wasn't suitable, and we were trying to sort out what to do as Owen wasn't allowed to sit on my knee, so my mum and myself had to put him in a normal seat upright with cushions everywhere, which for Owen to be upright how he was was useless, and he was in so much pain he was screaming in pain for 45 minutes while we were going up, once we were allowed to take are seat belts of, Owen was on my knee, which if we did have a crash Owen would have being more secure on my knee than my mum and myself trying to hold him in a seat with no protection.
the flight felt like it was never going to end a whole 9 hours, as Owen was crying or moaning, there were 2 hours of peace and quiet when he had a sleep but he had to lay down which took up 2 and a half seats, so me, my mum, and my little sister were squished and had no room, i cannot fault virgin Atlanta staff though, they were fantastic, they help as much as they could and kept checking we were all ok, and when they saw Owen was uncomfortable or in pain the came to check, i could not fault them for anything.
it was such a relief to get of the plane, once everyone was of the plane we waited for a wheelchair so i could sit in it and Owen on my knee as Owens' pram that was meant to come for him had already gone through to the conveyor belt to be picked up, so while waiting for the wheelchair we had some time to sit in first class and we even met the pilot, and it was the same on the way back we sat in first class while waiting for his pram and spoke to the pilot.
once through customs , we were met by a greeter and a sign that had Owens' name on it, she then took us to collect are bags and to show use were we get are taxi, we waited around half an hour for a taxi but it was just so weird that we were finally in Florida, we then were heading to give kids the world village after dropping some other people of in are taxi at different hotels, we dropped a few men of at a huge hotel, I've never seen such a big hotel, we soon relished everything was big, the hotels we saw on the way to the village were giant.
we then arrived at give kids the world village and was given are intinery and told to go to orination in 45 minutes, we ten loaded are bags onto a big golf caddy and she took us round to are villa that we were staying in for the week.
we were right next to a lake on a corner and more or less opposite was the small swimming pool, we all had photos stood outside the villa as it had Owens' last name on the sign, my mum loved the villa, there was a kitchen dinner and living room all in one, all open plan, and the children's bedroom with the big bathroom were it had a shower, and a disabled shower, it was big enough to go in with a wheelchair and also 2 sinks, the adult bedroom was bigger than a king size bed and a parents bathroom allot smaller than the children's but everything you needed.
we then went to orientation and i was given all the theme park tickets, and extras. then we headed around the village to have a quick look what there was, there was a pool party on but we were so tired we headed back to the villa as it was around &pm there but the time difference was 5 hours.
i wont continue to babble on with what we did everyday as i could go into so much detail, but we went to the magic kingdom, universal studios, Hollywood studios, animal kingdom and sea world, we had are days planned out everyday, but for the universal studios they had done it for 2 days as it was giant you would need 2 days, but as my mum's birthday was on one of these days we decided to have a day of and just stay at the village, we didn't see most of the parks when we were there anyway we hardly saw anything if you look at the maps, as it was so hot 30*c and Owen and Beth were hot and Owen was sweating a moaning, so we left early each day to just enjoy the village and to go in the big swimming pool, Owen and Beth loved the pool, and Owen even moved hi legs, I've never seen him move them so much, he never moves his legs unless his having a spasm and is pushing back, the only disappointing thing was Owen seeing the dolphins, we went there for Owen to see the dolphins as he wasn't allowed to swim with them, and we got to go feed them, and all i wanted was a photo with Owen and a dolphin, which i gave my mum my camera but it was still on video mode and she didn't know and the professional photo's we got were useless as Owen had his hat covering his face, i was so disappointed i just started crying, but i kept thinking well i have a photo of Owen near a dolphin, you may not be able to see his full face but you can see his smile, and we have it on video camera, and we have the memories. altogether we had an amazing holiday we could not have ask for anything more except the seating as on the way home it wasn't sutiable either but we had to use it as there was more cushion with is, and the seating on the way home had to extra spare seats so my mum and Beth sat there once Owen was asleep so he could have 3 seats to himself, there was sever turbulence which got me quite scared at times and kept thinking the planes going to crash but I've never experience turbulence so that was something new.
give kids the world village is the most amazing charity, they provide everything you could imagine and more for children who are severely disabled, sick or terminal, everything on site is free except the gift shop. when we arrived there is already thing in the fridge provided to drink and presents on the table for the child, everyday Owen had a present waiting for him on the table, there's the ice cream palace you can have ice cream anytime of the day, there's ginger bread house which is were you go for breakfast and tea time and katies kitchen you can order takeaway to the villa or pick it up for dinner or tea time, julies safari theater is were you can watch movies, and they had mayor claytons party there and we met Santa there one night, caste of miracle and the enchanted carousel, Beth loved the carousel and Owen went on it once and didn't really enjoy it, the castle of miracle Owen went there to put his star on the roof and made a pillow, also there is a little spa for the children, they can have hand massages, manicure, pedicures, tattoos, Owen had a penguin tattoo, amberville train station is were inside there is a giant train set with lots of fun things to do, also there is a little train station outside were you can go for rides, and a little golf course and also little boats that you can move with a remote, happy harbor fishing lake, we didn't get to fish but we saw the lake, keatans forrel is were the horse's come twice a week and children can go on a horse ride, Matthews boundless playground, is the most amazing playground for children, it's even being designed for children in wheelchairs to be able to go up and enjoy all the fun, park of dreams is the big swimming pool. there was something to do every night for the children, if it was Halloween, or santa, or mayor claytons birthday party, pirates and princesses party, pool party, there was always something happening.