Gab's Wish Trip, Part 1: Give Kids the World Village

Run yeterday, 5 easy miles, last .25 of each at 8:8:13-7:57, splits 10:17, 10:34, 10:11,10:10, 9:57. Surprise progression run? Left hamstring is a little wonky. That's new.


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As part of Gabby's Wish trip, we stayed at Give Kids the World Village. GKTW opened in 1989, and serves to provide a place to serve families with special needs on their wish trips.

Our flights to Orlando were super delayed - we didn't end up arriving in Orlando until almost 10pm. A GKTW greeter met us at the gate to help us collect our baggage and pick up our car rental. By the time we arrived at the House of Hearts (no, really) for check in, it was after 11. Gifts for everyone at check-in...


 
They had also arranged for food to be brought to our villa, and waived the normal 11:30pm visiting hours cut-off to let my in-laws come and see the girls for a few hours.



Accomodations
The village is set up to provide a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom villa to each wish family (I saw one with the same name on both sides of the duplex, so I'm guessing that's what they do for larger families).


Home :D



Hello, Mayor Clayton

Each villa has a full refrigerator, 2 burner stove, and dishwasher - plates, cups, coffee, coffee maker, microwave, all included.

The kids' bedroom - 2 twin beds, 2 dressers, and attached handicap accesible bathroom.

And a giant tub with jets. (warning, naked babies ahead...)




I know. It is REALLY EXCITING.

The second bathroom is standard and normal. Second bedroom has a dresser and king size bed.

They include a crib, an extra bed that folds up and I know there's a word for this but I cannot think of it, and a fold out couch. I think, all told, you can fit up to 7 people. We had some cousins stay over a few nights, and there was plenty of space.

They also aren't joking when they say to pack an extra suitcase. The Gift Fairy comes for a visit every.single.day.




The Grounds
During our planning, I was admittedly a little bummed that we weren't staying at a Disney resort. We've always stayed on Disney property, and I just love it. I kept seeing other people recommend leaving a day open to explore the Village, and kept thinking there's no WAY I'm taking a day out of the parks to hang out at a resort.

I was super, duper wrong.

I totally should have planned more time at GKTW.

I'm sure I'll forget something, but... on the 70 acre property... mini-golf, remote controlled boats, fishing, 2 pools, horseback riding, train rides, movies (in a theater), character greetings, arcade with pool tables, WII/PSsomething, and basketball, a nature trail, basketball courts, a "spa" to get your nails painted or a hand massage... There are also multiple planned activities every day - Real Life Candyland Game, cookout at the pool, Pirate and Princess Party, Halloween themed party, Christmas party, Mayor Clayton's Birthday... we didn't manage to hit any of them, and I wish we had (disclaimer, I planned on doing the Christmas party, since it ran until 9pm on Thusrday when we arrived, but then our flights were delayed).

And it's totally, totally runnable. You could probably loop through it for a good 1.5 miles? Maybe? I didn't try. But it's safe enough. The property is enclosed, with manned gates to let people in - you have to either swipe your meal card, or, if you're visiting, be buzzed in and announced to the villa you're visiting.

The layout was a little confusing for me at first, because I'm directionally lame that way, but once you realize everything is centered around the House of Hearts, it's super easy to navigate.








 

You can't hear it, but they're yeehaw'ing. You know. Because they're cowboys...

Eating All The Things
A stay at the village includes food. A lot of food.

Gingerbread House serves hot meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A continental breakfast opens a little earlier than the regular dining room, as well. And, there are these semi-creepy dolls hanging over your head in one of the rooms...




Katie's Kitchen serves Boston Market for lunch and dinner, either for eating at the picnic tables there, or take out to the pool, your villa, the car, whatever.

And, best of all, the Ice Cream Palace is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.



Ice Cream Palace also has unlimited sodas, and coffee, and express breakfast options earlier than Gingerbread House.


Castle of Miracles
Every family at GKTW attends an orientation, to review the amenities, learn how the Magic Pass works, get park tickets, etc. In our welcome packet was a star. The star is for the Wish kid to decorate, however she wants, and then bring to the Castle of Miracles for placement, where the Star Fairy will fly away and hang her star.

Decorating with a picture of herself :D



Cute, right?

But, dude.

The new Star Tower, where Gabby's star is - they ran out of space in the Castle.

 That's a LOT OF STARS.

I took some pictures of the star fairy and the whole ceremony, but I kind of don't want to spoil it for anyone who might stumble through here.

A few days later, you get a postcard with a barcode, and an invitation to come see your star in it's permanent location. This is also super, SUPER cute, and I'm not spoiling it.

But I might have cried. Just a little.

Vacation Hangover

So, if you're new to this game, we just returned (last night!) from a Make a Wish trip to Florida. Gabby (this kid here) was granted a wish, and wished to be friends with Cinderella in the giant castle.

I'm a little conflicted on how much to blog about our trip, vs how much would be incredibly boring, but I kind of don't want to forget things, and I kind of want to put some of the details out there for other Wish families looking for information.

But it's my blog, so I'll probably blog it in pieces, and you can skip the boring parts, eh?

After I sort through the thousands of pictures.

Here's a few to start...

REALLY peppy for 6:45am

Really, REALLY peppy

Gabby, you're laying on the floor. "I know. I'm tired of standing". Okay, then.

It's raining! THAT'S MY FAVORITE!

The quick and dirty recap: Limo service Thursday morning for our 10 minute drive to John Wayne airport, flight delays led to a 4 hour later arrival (boo) at Give Kids the World Village. A few hours of sleep, met up with my brother-in-law and his daughter, spent the early part of the day in Animal Kingdom, then dinner with Cinderella and Prince Charming at 1900 Park Fare, then closed down Magic Kingdom. Saturday, Universal Studios Islands of Adventures with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law. Early night in. Sunday, Downtown Disney and a quick run to the outlet mall, then the afternoon/evening exploring the Village. Monday: Breakfast at Akershus in EPCOT with the Princesses, then reserved viewing for Illuminations. Tuesday: Magic Kingdom. Wednesday: Breakfast at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary. Fly home. Today: Work.

Missing from that week? Running.

That was nice.

Chapman 5k Winner!

So, turns out the 40 minute connection in Phoenix that I was super concerned about? No worries. Our flight to Phoenix was super delayed. So instead of OC->PHX->MCO landing at 6, we're OC->DEN->MDW->MCO at 9:15. Whee.

Anyway.

7 SoCal locals entered the Chapman 5k giveaway, and the winner thanks to random.org is Barb!

Barb and her husband Sevan own a fantastic jewelry company, viiad.

Congrats, friend. I'll shoot you an email with the details.

The Kindness of Strangers

Hey, wanna run a 5K? I'm giving away an entry to the Chapman University 5K! Click HERE to enter, ends Wednesday night!

PFTW....
Last week:
Tuesday: 3 miles easy
Wednesday: Woodbridge 5K, 50 second PR!
Saturday: 18 miles, easy pace <--wtf, why is this easy pace my MGP and I sucked at MGP in actual practice? LAME.

This week:
Yesterday: 13.1 treadmill half marathon <--for real, I did that, and it was 3 seconds off my second best half marathon time, AND IT WAS EASY.
Today: 5 miles easy pace, maybe. My achilles (?!) is being wonky.
Tomorrow: 10 miles easy pace
Thursday: Fly to DISNEY WORLD
Friday: ANIMAL KINGDOM
Saturday: something Harry Potter that's not Disney
Sunday: rest

That's kind of a lot of miles for a few days, but I'm desperately trying to avoid running in swampy Florida. I'll see how my achilles feels later tonight, and make a call on the 5 miler. If I bump it, I guess it's not going to actually KILL me to run 5 miles in the heat. And humidity. And mosquitoes. I GUESS.

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On Saturday (after I ran 18 miles, naturally), our Make a Wish volunteers arranged with our neighborhood Chili's to host Gabby's Wish Presentation Party.

One of the Chili's servers, on her own dime, went out and purchased the princes decorations, and came in, on her day off, to decorate.

People amaze me, sometimes.

We FINALLY got our trip information, and flight details (FINALLY, man, that isht made me antsy).

While one volunteer, A, went over our trip with us, her husband, B, went through the contents of Gabby's new Dora backpack...



 

Everyone at Chili's was fantastic. The Wish volunteers were fantastic. I don't even know what else to say.

Magic, yo.

Gab's at the clinic this morning for one last blood check, and.... yeah. 48 hours from now we'll be... in the air. Well. In Pheonix, changing planes frantically (really, 40 minutes between flights with three kids, zoinks). But close enough.

#runalltheraces = 5K Giveaway, and Woodbridge 5K recap

Giveaway first!

Back in September, Team Sparkle posted on their Facebook page about putting together a team to run the Chapman University 5K. It was a week out from my goal half marathon, but I am a sucker for the sparkle, so I registered myself and my two oldest kids.

The race was GREAT. Tons of swag, fun course, super flat, tons of community support, including a dude playing the trombone on his porch, bazillions of volunteers, two (TWO!) water stations, fantastic oatmeal bar at the finish. Plus, the shirts are nice (I actually wear mine!) and you get a medal.

Point is, it's a really well run event, and a fast course, IMO - Kid #1 PR'ed there, and took 2nd in her division with 22:08.

I registered the same day I saw that registration was open. I think right now registration is only sitting at $35, which is pretty typical for 5K's in SoCal, and a great deal for a race this good.

Chapman is letting me give away ONE entry to the 5K this year!

The race will be held Saturday, October 6th, at 7:30am. Race day pick up avaialble!

Obviously, you've gotta be local(ish) or willing to travel to OC for a 5K (Becka?) to win this entry.

Small, local races like this are my absolute favorite. And honestly, I love the food at Corona del Mar, but this is probably my favorite 5K yet.

Interested, leave me a comment below telling me your favorite type of race - big? small? chip timed? don't care just let me run? -  before Wednesday, July 11th at 11:59pm, and I'll post the winner on Thursday July 12th before we leave for DISNEY WORLD.

Maybe I'll even toss in a sparkly surprise - on my own dime. Hint, hint.

disclaimer, I don't know if this even needs one, but just in case, I'm getting zippo out of this, I've already paid for my registration, so everything I've said here is my own opinion, and the race really is rad. You should run it, even if you don't win. But just in case, you might as well enter. If you're local, that is. That's a long way to travel for a 5K, yo.
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Recap second....

This is going to be quick. Like my race. Ha.

So, my goals were.... 26:57 (I'll tell you a secret - that was 1 second faster than Becka's PR), or PR, or just don't puke/die (<--these are kind of synonomous for me).

The race started at 7:15, down the street from my house. I LOVE THAT SO MUCH.

The H was all froggy and woke up before me, and then I stumbled out of bed a minute later, and had coffee. Mmm. Coffee. Woke up #1... who always thinks she wants to race, until it's actually the morning of a race....

There is a 5K and a 10K, with separate start lines and different courses, but they start at the same time.



Pretty!

The 10K ran a part around the lake, I think. Or the mile kids' races. I can't remember.

Started close to on time, but honestly not sure - #1 had my phone, and it was not chip timed. So... I don't know. BUT, my garmin says I ran mile 1 in 8:39, exactly where I wanted to be. Mile 2 at 8:26 <--that might be my fastest mile ever. I mean, I haven't tried to run a mile time trial since I started running, so there's that. Mile 3: 9:28. Shit. My shoe came untied (I DOUBLE KNOTTED!), then there was a little bit of a gradual uphill, and I couldn't hold pace. Oh well. And .1, 7:55. Bah.

Anyway. I wore my red Adidas Adizero's, the same shoe I wore at CDM. I wanted to think they're my new PR short distance shoes.... but not only did they come untied, they did this...

What the hell. Jerks.

Oh well. B goal, crushed.

Becka, you're still faster than me.

Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.

5K Goals

I know I just PR'ed a 5K a month ago, but I'm going to try again.
Goal A: 26:57 <-ambitious, and crazy
Goal B: PR (current PR 28:11)
Goal C: Don't puke or die

Goal A is an 8:40ish pace. I've certainly never attempted this pace for any length of time - I did 1600's, like, forever ago, and hit that, but I had a RI in between. Doesn't really count. I did run mile 10 of my 11 miler Sunday at goal pace, and didn't want to die OR puke, so I guess it could happen. We'll see. I know it's kind of a stretch, but might as well give it a shot - it's a great course, and my legs feel good and recovered.

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Have I ever mentioned that I am a gigantic Disney obsessed freak?

For years, I've been a member of a Disney message board - I am normally the type who researches crowd calendars and counts down to the 180-day mark so I can make my dining reservations. I plan out what Fast Passes to get when (which is moot now, since they changed the FP rules at WDW, zoinks). It gets pretty intense around me when Disney planning is happening.

Anyway, they have a forum on these message boards dedicated to Make a Wish trips, and tips for families with special medical needs, which of COURSE I've been obsessively reading since we started planning.

On this board, though, there's a group of people, who select families going on Wish trips, and throw a little (or a lot....) of extra Pixie Dust their way...

By way of....

We've been receiving and opening Mickey Mail for weeks, and man, how stinkin' blessed are we.

Gabby is pretty much FREAKING OUT EXCITED every.single.day. The H said he woke up to her counting down yesterday. She advised me as soon as I walked in after work that we only had NINE DAYS LEFT.

I'm guessing today we'll have only EIGHT DAYS LEFT.

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Speaking of Gab.... It's been awhile since I've talked about Gabby.

The truth is, there's nothing to report. She's happy, healthy, and a typical 5 yr old kid.

I guess that's kind of the best report of all.

She had to get stitches a few weeks ago, after a playground incident. Can't get much more normal than that, eh?

The stitches came pretty soon after her chemo doses were increased - chemo is dosed based on the child's weight, mostly, and how they're reacting to their current dosage. Her weigh in at the clinic bumped her up to the next threshold, and doses went up. Not a ton, but enough to mess with her counts for a few weeks.

Chemo, in general, lowers her counts - white blood cells, platlets, red blood cells. All those cells you need to heal when you get cut, right?

So, long story short, her chemo was increased, which led to counts dropping, which led to the creepy stitches being removed but her leg not totally healed, so it was kind of an open wound and puffy, and she got an extra med to prevent infection. More chemo, and an extra med.

Like dominos, man.

Because her counts have been low, she's going to clinic again on Tuesday to make sure her counts have rebounded, before we leave for her Make a Wish trip.

What does that mean, exactly?

If her counts are still low, they'll "just" lower her chemo for the week and give her a transfusion.

You know. No big deal. Just lower chemo and blood transfusions.

Anyway.

The point to all this rambling, is today is Tuesday. Already this week, I've had two of my employees in my office, in tears, about children in their family with cancer.

I'm a private person, and I don't share my personal life with work. My employees don't know about Gabby and her leukemia. I've been here almost a year, and one of them just last week asked if I had any kids. They had no reason to come to me expecting anything more than a manager approving their time off.

TWO people, TWO kids with cancer. In TWO days.

What the fuck.

I don't know. It pisses me off. I hope I was helpful to them, somehow. I know I was terrified the first few weeks... and it takes a LOT to worry me.

It pisses me off that I'm so blase about "just" changing the dose of chemo and giving her a blood transfusion. I mean. Those are kind of serious things, right? I don't know how I'd function if I reacted as if things like that are a big deal, but maybe I should. And how incredibly lucky are we? How did we get SO fortunate.

I don't know. I don't really have a point here. I'm just mad.

RnRSEA, post mortem, and PFTW

Last week:
Tuesday: 3 mile run, 4 mile bike. Jerk Shin was being a little shady, so I played it safe, and cut my 4 mile run, then threw in the bike for kicks.
Thursday: .5mi walk, 4.5 mi easy run
Sunday: 11 miles, easy pace, with 1 mile @ potential goal 5k pace.....

This week:
Tuesday: 5 miles easy
Wednesday: Woodbridge 5K, going for a PR. I know, I just PR'ed a 5K. But I felt like I had more in me, and this is a WAY easier course. I have some lofty goals, and a reasonable one JIC.
Thursday: 6 miles easy
Saturday: 18 miles easy

So I guess recovery has gone well?

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Random thoughts post-marathon...

*I felt super rough Saturday night, and a little sore Sunday if I stopped moving. But otherwise, everything has felt FINE.

*Obviously, I could have pushed harder. And now I know that for next time.

*I didn't carry my handheld, and I didn't die. The weather was mostly fine for using on course aid.

*Fueling was okay, until I hit mile 20 and decided I was done. WTF, brain. You're not the boss. Stop that.

*Except that RnR insists on NOT using bottled water. WTF, RnR. With as much money as people pay for registration at your events, you can't provide bottled water? LAME.

*This will likely be my last RnR event. I don't like to say "never", but I just wasn't impressed enough to shell out that much cash again. Disney, they charge a billion dollars, and put on an immaculate race, every time, WITH BOTTLED WATER. I'm just saying.

*I'm not making any real goals for SFM in 26 days - just to finish, have fun, and take pictures.

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T-9 days to Gabby's Make a Wish trip to Disney World.

"I'm FREAKING OUT EXCITED!"

The look of someone "freaking out excited"

#crazyeyes