Magic Kingdoms and SpiderMan....

Oh My Word!! Going on a vacation with 3 small kids sure can take it out of you. I almost feel like I need a vacation to recover from the vacation.

As you all may know, Brac was granted a wish from the MAKE A WISH foundation. He choose Disney World. And let me just say, it truly was the trip of a life time!!

We left on Sunday morning bright and early. The kids were wide awake and ready to go. Brac stood by the door with his brand new Mickey mouse carry on (courtesy of Nana) and waited for the "long car".

Zoe wasn't sure what was going on, but just watching big brothers excitement got her all excited. She knew she was going to see "mouse" but that was about the extent of her knowledge of the weeks events.

When we got to the airport, we were bummed to find out that  our flight that the foundation had booked for us had been cancelled and we had to have another flight that left much later in the afternoon and included a lay over in Atlanta. 3 kids plus a lay over, getting on and off a plane, this does not equal fun for anyone.

But once in Orlando we got first class service.

We were greeted at the airport by a Give Kids The World greeter and she was super nice. Made everything much easier. She went with us to get our luggage and then took us to get our rental car... and let me just say that van was soooooooo hard to give back.

We drove to the village and our super nice, worry free week began. GKTW village... there are not enough words to describe the awesomness (yes, I am aware this is a made up word) of this place. The entire place is ran by volunteers, wonderful people that give up their free time to make sure families like ours get the best service ever.

We absolutely loved our Villa and couldn't have felt more at home. Brac called it our "other house". Every morning we went to the Gingerbread House for an amazing breakfast, this place was so awesome that we didn't even have to carry our trays to our table, they had people to do that.AMAZING!!!

I could go into every day but this post would easily become a book.

So I'll sum up the days as best I can.

Monday, started with a yummy breakfast, followed by a carousel ride and then we were off to a private meet and greet with Ariel. Oh goodness, how fun was this. Braxton was so shocked he even got a kiss from the Little Mermaid. After that we headed off to ride some rides and to meet Buzz Lightyear. We later met up with JR, Stef and my nephews (Brac was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his best buddies)

Tuesday, we had a blast on the Boggey Creek Airboat tours and then we were off to feed the dolphins at Seaworld!!! Being with the MAW foundation and GKTW Brac was able to go to a special place and feed the dolphins a tray of fish and to touch them. It was AMAZING!!!

Wednesday, after another amazing breakfast and another carousel ride, we were off to Gatorland to SEE not FEED the gators. Brac has been obsessed with Gators and where they live lately. He enjoyed this park lots. After that we went to Animal Kingdom where we saw more animals and took a Safari ride.

Thursday, it was just our little family of 5, we went to Universal this day. And let me just say we had an AMAZING time.  This was probably the only day that I was really having to choke back tears. Brac's all time favorite superhero is Spiderman and he was able to meet him. Spidey told Brac that he was going to get his 5 friends and to look for him on the street. Well sure enough Spidey left and came back with Captain America and 4 X Men... While trying to chase them down, a very sweet lady from Universal, named Vanessa, stopped me and asked if he would like to meet them one on one behind the stage....WELL, YES!!! About an hour later at there afternoon street show the same superheros came out again. I had Brac stand out on the street as they came in and Captain America saw him and said "Hey Braxton, I'll see you in a little bit behind stage".... Brac looked up at me with big eyes and said "mom,he knew my name." Later he would meet them all and have them sign his wish shirt. What an amazing day this was. Braxton will remember that for the rest of his life I'm sure.  He told us later, groggy and half asleep that Spiderman said that he was his side kick and that he had to look out for bad guys and then he drifted back to sleep a very happy little boy.

Friday was our last day of parks, we went to Hollywood Studios and this was another day of dreams. Brac was able to meet... Buzz, Woody, the Toy Soldiers, Lightening McQueen and Mater. He even got to watch a stunt show with Lighting McQueen. He rode another Toy Story ride and then he got to introduce the Little Mermaid live show. That night we went to Arabian Nights and he sat with his Papaw and watched as the horses put on a show.

On Friday he also placed his Star in the castle at the Village. Saturday we were able to find out where the Star Fairy put it and that is where it will be forever.

Saturday was our day to travel home, it was so sad to go but we were all so ready to home and back in our own beds. We left for the airport about 2:30 and raced to our flight. We got back home about 9 that night. Let me just mention this, we got to ride home in another "long car" this time a stretch Excursion... FUN FUN

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Also, while in Florida, I got a very nice treat. I was able to reunite with an Aunt that I have not seen in over 20 years!!! It was so nice to see her again and to meet my uncle and my super sweet cousin Victoria.

Lisa is super super sweet, she came bearing gifts for the kiddos and lots and lots of hugs for me. I was so glad to get to see her 2x before we left. I am already planning another trip down to see her soon.

Two days is just not enough.

Many thanks to everyone that helped to make my little heros dreams come true. The look on his face was truly priceless. It really was a wonderful and worry free week.

I'm the boss.. that's why!

Why he chooses to tourment her... is only understood in the Big Brother handbook

STOP PULLING HER HAIR... DON'T PINCH HIM.... DO NOT PUT YOUR SISTER IN A HEAD LOCK.... DON'T YOU DARE BITE HIM!!!!

I am a referee about 98% of the day. Any mother of more than one child can tell you that this is what we do. On rare (very rare) occasions you may get those children that get along wonderfully... not me.

I always wanted a big brother but after watching them I am really glad that I am the oldest.

I can remember all the fights that my sister and I had growing up. We were four years apart and from day one I think I picked on her. Starting with a bite on the fingers.

We would fight and then make up. And NO ONE else was allowed to pick on the other. We had a love/hate relationship for years. I can remember the things we threw. The annoying ways that I would antagonize her (i.e. jumping on her bed until she woke up, knowing she was a "bear" when you woke her up) But we were so very close and still are to this day. We had to stick together and we did. Now, she's 500 miles away and I miss her so very much.

My 2 oldest are a handful. It will be something to see how Caleb fits into the bunch.

For tonight they have both been put to bed earlier because of a brutal fight (that I'm pretty sure my 2 year old won). I am in much need of a pint of chocolate ice cream and a massage ;)

I pray everyday for wisdom as a mother and that I can raise them as strong children with morals and good common sense and that one day all the fighting will stop. ;)

Bring on the water works....

OK... so those post-partum hormones are in full swing. I cry at everything.

I love being a mommy. With the single thought of my kids and I am in tears. I am wondering if these emotions get worse with each pregnancy. With Brac I was fine, after Zoe I was too busy with Brac to cry and now maybe it's just all catching up to me.

I was thinking about Brac and I usually cry anyway when I think about what God has done in his life. I am so thankful that we are coming to an end with his treatment. I know of so many kids that are fighting still with everything in them and Brac is almost done. To look at him you would never know that he was sick.

And then there is my sweet Zoe... I can't help but wonder am I spending enough time with her, hoping that she doesn't feel left out. She doesn't seem to be starving for attention. But she is still so little and I am hoping that she doesn't think that I have "abandoned" her for the new baby. She is so funny and makes me laugh so much, and with her being my only girl, I think about the relationship that I am going to have with her as she gets older and YES!! This makes me cry.

And of course I cry about everything concerning Caleb. Every precious sound that he makes, I worry about him sleeping and if he's eating enough. Now I worry about his little hip and if that is going to be OK...

Geesh... it never ends. :)

Worry, Worry, Cry, Cry, Laugh and Cry some more... it's a roller coaster like no other.  I will be glad when it passes. Tissues always on hand :)

Mr. Sandman send me a dream.....

At what point in life did I turn "old"... I'm grumpy without at least one cup of coffee, and I value sleep more than some things in life.

Since Caleb was born I feel like I have slept about 2 hours in 2 weeks. I have that "she desperately needs a manicure, massage and the tropics" look. I am so glad that the little guy is here but I guess I wasn't prepared to miss sleep this way.

I have actually turned into that mom... you know the one that I'm talking about. As a young chick with no kids or even just one, I would always be quick to look at that mom who brought her kids into Walmart in there PJ's with messy hair. She, herself, looked as if she hadn't slept in weeks, showered sporadically, and had just thrown what ever smelled clean on and threw her hair into a bun.... yep, that is me now.  I would always say to myself "I can't believe she would go out in public like that." Now I am like those guys on motorcycles that see another and wave... I see that other mom with kids hanging off the cart, grin and nod, with a reassuring and understood "I get it" look.

I took my kids out the other day in there PJ's and told Brac he could wear whatever he wanted (that consisted of rain boots, brown carhart overalls and a character shirt of some sort, accompanied with a cow lick) I have sank to a new low. I did make him put on a hat that, in no way matched his chosen ensemble.

I have a whole new respect for SAHM's. Probably because now I am one. It's a tough job!! It's 24/7 on-call. I clean and wash clothes, I make meals and referee fights. I am a nurse without the agonizing clinicals. I am a secretary for the husband that's at work, who believes that I am sitting at home eating bon bon's and reading romance novels. And then I start all over again the next day. I am MOM... wouldn't trade it for all the world. Although I would love to pull my hair out some days. ;)

I need some get up and go. Hopefully this trip to Disney will rejuvenate me or be the straw that broke the mama's back. We will have to wait and see.

So for all you mom's that feel like your alone in the "I'm slap dab worn out club" you're not, you actually have a new member.... "Hello, My name is Amanda and I am TIRED... SLAP DAB worn out"

OK so now I am going to fix me a ginormous cup of coffee and try to scrounge up something sweet to give me some small amount of energy. Maybe I'll fit in a vitamin or too.

I

CAN'T

WAIT

FOR

NAPTIME

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On another note. ... I know that some people read this for updates

on Brac. Chemo on Monday went wonderfully. His counts are wonderful and he is ready for Disney. 10 more treatments to go!! It's been a long road but he has proven to be a fighter. We are more and more proud of him everyday. An amazing little boy that God has so graciously blessed us with. He has shown us the true meaning of faith and perseverance.