Jan/Feb Blake Update

Blake had a great time playing in the ball pit!

Showing his tap out skills!

Enjoying Alexia's birthday party!
Blake has remained fairly healthy all winter! He had a 3 day bout with RSV right after Christmas, which was treated quickly and caused no issues. The only other health issue he had this winter was an ear infection, which was also treated very quickly and hasn't caused any additional problems!

We are very blessed because many of the kids with Blake's condition and other forms of cancer have gotten very sick this winter and many of them have been hospitalized at least once this winter. We thank God and everyone who prays for Blake that he has not had to spend any time in the hospital as an inpatient so far this winter!

It is so nice to have such an amazing medical team. They are very reassuring and remind us that we are doing a great job with Blake! If you had told us a year ago that we would be at this point now we might not have believed it.

Blake is thriving. He really enjoys sports and plans to start soccer and t-ball with other kids his age! Sometimes it is hard to believe he is only three years old. He seems so insightful for his age.

We sure love him and really appreciate all of the prayers and the hard work of the medical staff at Children's!

Disney World!!!!!!!!! Day 6

Getting ready to go back to Universal Studios!!!

We got to meet some of the Who's

Blake got to meet the Grinch

Daddy can't keep up with Marmaduke!

Blake shows off his muscles with Popeye!

Waiting to meet the Marvel Superheroes!

He got to meet SPIDERMAN!!!!!!!!!!

AND Wolverine, Captain America, Cyclops, Rogue and Storm!

Blake with SpongeBob SquarePants

Blake and Woody the Woodpecker

Who is knocking at the door?!

It is Miss Mary to tuck Blake in!!!!
We had another great day at Universal Studios!!!!! Blake had a blast going on all of the rides again! He met lots of amazing characters!!!! I think the highlight of his day was when one of the workers pulled us aside and asked if Blake wanted to meet the Marvel Superheroes! OF COURSE Blake wanted to meet them! He is only Spiderman's biggest fan!!!!!

Once we rode all of Blake's favorites from yesterday and also a few new ones like Jaws, which Blake LOVED, we were ready to call it a day! We were very happy to get back to Give Kids the World! We ordered in from Katie's Kitchen (FREE Boston Market), then Miss Mary came and tucked Blake in!

Another amazing day! What a wonderful, unforgettable trip!!! Give Kids the World and Make-A-Wish have more than fulfilled Blake's wish! He could not have imagined it better than it has been!!!!

Disney World!!!!!!!!! Day 5

We got to meet Alex and the Penguins of Madagascar!!!! Blake loves them!!!!

Blake and Daddy getting ready to go on the Woody the Woodpecker Roller Coaster!

Blake with Scooby Doo and Shaggy!

Blake and Alexia

Blake and Daddy on the One Fish Two Fish ride at Universal Studios

Another view of the ride

Blake with Mayor Clayton, the Mayor of Give Kids the World Village!

Blake with Miss Mary, Mayor Clayton's wife!

Mayor Clayton with Alexia

Blake next to the gingerbread house made by the kids at Give Kids the World!

The smaller version of the live action Candy Land game they have at Give Kids the World.

Blake on the giant teddy bear

King Blake

Blake's star is the very last star on the blue beam!!!!! It will always be there for us to find when we go back to volunteer!!!

The only clock of its kind!

Funny Puppet Day 5 was chilly (60 degrees) and there was a pretty high chance of rain, so instead of going to Sea World, like we had planned, we decided to go to Universal Studios!!!!! It was a blast! We went to both Universal parks.

When we got to Universal Studios we went on the ET ride first!!! Blake loved it and so did we!!!! It was really neat to feel like we were in the movie we grew up watching!

Blake really enjoyed the Woody the Woodpecker park at Universal Studios! He also enjoyed walking through the Curious George storybook! We went on the Jimmy Neutron Rocket ride a few times!!! Blake really liked that one!!!! We also went on the brand new Simpson's 3D rollercoaster! It was really neat!

We crossed over to Universal's Islands of Adventure side of the park and went straight to the Dr. Seuss area! We rode the Cat in the Had ride, in which we rode through the pages of the story of the Cat in the Hat, then we went on One fish, Two fish. After that we rode the Trolley Train ride in the sky.

Once we were done we went to the Jurassic Park area and rode on the Pteranodon Flyers, which takes you on a little tour flying above the park dangling from a pteranodon. We were very impressed that Blake was not scared by that at all!

We headed to the Marvel Comic section of the park and rode on the Spiderman 3D adventure about 4 times! Blake loved that ride! He is a BIG Spiderman fan!!!!

We headed back to Give Kids the World at about 6pm! We had a wonderful dinner at the Gingerbread house, then hung out at the Ice Cream Palace for a while before heading back to our villa!

Today was a great day! While Universal is somewhat less geared toward little kids than Disney World, it was still a lot of fun for all of us!

Disney World!!!!!!!!! Day 4

The family with Pluto

Blake with Mickey and Minnie at Give Kids the world

The Christmas Tree in front of Disney's Hollywood Studios

Blake meeting Mike and Sully

The live action Playhouse Disney show

Little Einsteins

Watching the Playhouse Disney Live Action show!

Disney's Epcot Center

Blake and Alexia with Donald Duck

Blake outside of the Nemo ride!!!

Blake eating his burger!

Meeting Mrs. Santa Claus

Goofy

Pluto

Donald

Making a Gingerbread boy

Lots of frosting

Blake's Gingerbread man and Alexia's Gingerbread snowman

Blake and Alexia with Santa

Blake with Daddy

Alexia with Mommy!!!

All of us on the train

Blake in the rocking chair on our porch

Mommy and Lex

Blake and a Gingerbread Man

Pluto, Goofy and Donald

Blake got to hug and thank Henri Landwirth, the founder of Give Kids the World, what an honor!

Mommy got to shake his hand and thank him!!!!!!

The kids playing with their gifts from Santa

Blake ready for bed!
In the morning there we quite a few Disney characters at the Give Kids the World Village! Blake got to meet Mickey and Minnie again and they autographed his stuffed Mickey, which was a gift to him from Give Kids the World!!!

We decided to hit both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Epcot Center today since there were only a few things at each park we thought were age appropriate for the kids! The kids had lots of fun meeting Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc and watching a live action show of Playhouse Disney! At Epcot the kids got to meet all of the Disney Characters again and rode the Nemo ride a few times and went to the show Turtle Talk with Crush! It was a blast!!!!

We left in plenty of time to make it back to Give Kids the World in time for their Christmas Tree Lighting and festivities!!!! First we had dinner at the Gingerbread House!!! Followed by cookie decorating with the Culinary Students at the Ice Cream Palace! After that the kids got to meet Santa Claus and he gave them each a gift!!!!

We headed back to the Villa to drop the gifts off, then we went back to the Village for the Tree Lighting Ceremony!!!! Little did mommy know that she was standing right next to Henri Landwirth, the founder of Give Kids the World! What an honor it was for Blake to give him and hug and tell him thank you for all of the amazing things Give Kids the World has done for our family! What an honor it was for Daddy and Mommy to hug him and shake his hand! He is such an amazing man and has been through so much and still finds time to dedicate to children like Blake!!!!!

After the ceremony we were all pretty tired, so we went back to the Villa and went to bed!

Another amazing day! We missed Mama Corinne and Papa Mark, but are having fun as a family of four!!!!

Disney World!!!!!!!!! Day 3

Blake and Daddy took a nice walk in the morning

They went inside the Amberville Train Station

Blake got to drive a boat

Just a little toy boat of course!

They saw ducks

Then we all went to the Gingerbread house (FREE food provided by Perkins)

Blake really enjoyed breakfast!

Blake and Alexia arriving at the Animal Kingdom

Miss Di-Vine

The Animal Safari

Blake and Mommy waving at Daddy

Blake and Daddy

Blake with Daisy

Blake with Goofy

Blake with Donald Duck

Blake with Pocahontas

Blake with Miss Bunny

Blake and Alexia with Chip and Dale

Chip and Dale signing autographs

Back at the Villa in our Toyota Sienna

The porch of our Villa

Blake is big and strong like the elephant

Blake and Alexia getting ready to go swimming

Blake and Mama Corinne

The whole family

Queen Alexia

King Blake

Blake on the Carousel

Blake with Mama Corrine

Alexia on the Carousel

Blake playing in the sand

Splashing in the water

More Water Fun!!!!

Riding the train back to the Villa

Eating Dinner

Going inside to put Blake's star in the star fairy box and make a pillow!

One of the Volunteer Angels helping Blake make his pillow in the big machine

Just push a few buttons and turn a few nobs

And play in the bubbles AND.....

You made a pillow!!!!

Alexia made a pillow too!!!!!

One of the volunteer angels showing Blake the one of a kind clock!

Blake sliding inside Ol' Elmer!

Blake on the free car ride!
AND the free elephant ride

The most amazing place in the world!!!!!!

We spent the day with Papa Mark and Mama Corinne again! We all went to the Animal Kingdom! Blake met Mickey and Minnie Mouse again, He also met Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Chip and Dale, Miss Bunny (Thumper's girlfriend) and Pocahontas!!!! He had lots of fun going on the Wildlife Safari! We then headed down to watch the Lion King live show! While Blake and Alexia watched the show with Papa Mark and Mama Corinne, Mommy and Daddy snuck off to ride on Expedition Everest!!!! It was a blast! Then we all got back together. Blake rode on a raft ride with Papa Mark, Daddy and Mommy and also went on Dinosaur with us as well!

Through the whole ride on Dinosaur Blake clung to my arm. When we got off the ride he said, "I held on really tight to Mommy's arm to protect her." I thought that was the cutest, bravest thing!!!!

We left Animal Kingdom and headed back to Give Kids the World to show Papa Mark and Mama Corinne how amazing it was. They saw our villa and even went swimming with us before they headed back to their hotel. We were sad that they were leaving to go home the next day, but so happy that they got to come at all!!!!!

Once they left we went to eat dinner, then headed to the the Castle of Miracles to make Blake and Alexia's pillows and to put Blake's Star in the Star Fairy's box, so we could find it on the ceiling of the Castle before we leave on Sunday!!!

The kids really enjoyed making the pillows and putting Blake's star in the box! One of the volunteer angels showed Blake an amazing one of a kind clock that talks and interacts with the kids! He LOVED it!!!!

The entire castle is a wonderland for kids. There are all kinds of drawers and doors that make cool noises and there is a wishing well that makes sounds like it is bottomless!!! Inside Ol' Elmer is a cute little "bee hive" and a play area! Both kids had a blast in there!!!!

After that we went to get Blake his "white milk" at the Ice Cream Palace. Then Blake rode on the car ride and the elephant ride and we went back to the Villa to rest!

Disney World!!!!!!!!! Day 2

The view from the ferry on the way to the Magic Kingdom!!!!

Daddy, Alexia and mommy

Blake and Grandma on the Ferry

Taking pictures of each other on the Train to Toon town

In Mickey's house, almost time to meet Mickey Mouse!!!

Blake is waiting with great anticipation! This was his wish and he is about to meet Mickey!!!!

It brought tears to our eyes!!!!!!!!! His excitement to meet Mickey was contagious!

Blake with Mickey and Minnie

Blake at Minnie's sewing machine

Blake and Mommy in Minnie's gazebo

Blake with Daddy on Blake's first roller coaster ride

Blake driving a race car with Daddy

Blake meeting Winnie the Pooh and Tigger

Blake inside Winnie the Pooh's house

Flying on Dumbo with Mama Corinne

Riding It's a Small World with Mama Corinne, Mommy, Daddy and Alexia

Watching a live performance about wishes coming true

Blake was so excited

Alexia was very interested as well

Peter Pan and Captain Hook (And Smee)

Lilo and Stitch, Blake loves to watch their movie!

Blake on the safari with Daddy

Blake and Mommy with a REAL PIRATE after the Pirates of the Caribbean ride!

Blake and Mommy after the big splash on SPLASH MOUNTAIN!!!!!

Blake even put his hands up and loved it so much we went on it over and over again!!!!

Mary Poppins in the Very Merry Christmas Parade

Mickey and Minnie Mouse!!!!

Eeyore and Tigger

Kanga and Roo

Donald and Daisy Duck

Alexia's favorite princess (And the prince is already trying to wink at Alexia)

Bashful was living up to his name!

Blake LOVED having front row seats to the Very Merry Christmas Parade!!!!

Goofy riding his bicycle!

Claribel making goodies.

Toy Soldier

Cinderella's Castle right before the fireworks.

One Sleepy Boy!!!! What a day!!!!
Wow, I have never posted this many pictures on the blog before!!! The day was so amazing!!!! We woke up and drove the short distance to the hotel where Mama Corinne and Papa Mark were staying. They decided to take their winter vacation at the same time we did and went to Orlando a day before us!!! They paid their own way and we are SO thankful that they could share with Blake in this amazing dream come true!!!!

We then drove to Disney World's Magic Kingdom for Blake's first full Make-A-Wish day! We rode the train around to the back of the park. Toon town, where Blake got to tour Mickey Mouse's house and he got to meet Mickey and Minnie. The moment he met them was amazing. He was so excited and it seemed like he didn't think it was real, he was so thrilled and gave them both HUGE hugs!

We also toured Minnie's house, then Blake went on his first roller coaster. He went on Goofy's airplane roller coaster, which is geared toward younger children and he LOVED it!!!!! He then got to drive a race car with his daddy! We all went on Dumbo, Blake rode with Mama Corinne and Mommy and Daddy rode together!!!!

After riding Dumbo and playing in the play area for a moment we decided to grab something to eat! Both kids decided it would be a good time to nap, so while Mama Corrine and Papa Mark were still eating and the kids were napping on them, Daddy and Mommy decided to go on the Haunted Mansion ride! It was a lot of fun! We met back up with the rest of the group. Everyone except for Papa Mark went on the It's a Small World ride. Then we went on the Peter Pan ride and the Winnie the Pooh ride!!!! Blake and Alexia loved all three rides!!!!

We had to go pick up wristbands for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (they were closing the park at 7pm to everyone without a wristband and having a big party and a parade followed by a show and fireworks at Cinderella's Castle). After we picked up the wristbands we stayed at Cinderella's Castle for a live show about dreams and wishes coming true! It was wonderful! Even the adults were entertained!!!

We went to the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, then on the Safari Boat Tour and rode Pirates of the Caribbean twice! After that, Mama Corinne and Papa Mark took Alexia for a walk while Daddy, Mommy and Blake went on Splash Mountain (Blake was JUST tall enough to ride) and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster! He LOVED both rides and wanted to go over and over again!!! We were both thrilled that he enjoyed them so much! We both love to ride roller coasters, so it is GREAT that he does too!!!!

Once we were done we met Papa Mark and Mama Corinne for dinner, then found front row seats for the Very Merry Christmas Parade! The parade was wonderful! All of the Disney Characters, right there in front of us! Some of them even came and shook Blake's and Alexia's hands!!! The prince from the Princess and the Frog even winked at Alexia!

After the parade we watched the fireworks, then took two very tired kids back to the Villa to get some rest!!!!

What an amazing day that was for all of us!!!!

Disney World!!!!!!!!! Day 1

In the Escalade stretch limo at 3:30 am on our way to the airport

The limo had 3 flat pannel televisions and were all playing Return to Neverland (one of Blake's favorites)

Blake and Mommy in the limo

At our Villa at Give Kids the World! The place was amazing!

The Mickey Mouse lamp in Blake's bedroom!!!!!

A FREE banana split at the Ice Cream Palace at Give Kids the World

Blake eating his ice cream

Making fun of the clown

The bird is attacking Blake's head, oh no!!!!! (Good thing it is a fake bird)

Blake sitting on a bench at Give Kids the World

Blake getting ready to surf ;)

Blake's going surfing with Mayor Clayton and Miss Mary

The amazing pool at the Give Kids the World village

Blake in the train (no they did not really let him drive it)

Our first day was absolutely amazing! We were picked up in an Escalade stretch limo at 3:30 am and made it to the airport, got checked in and took off at 5:30 am. We connected in Atlanta, Georgia and had just enough time to run from one end of the airport to the other for our connecting flight. We were in Orlando by 11:30 am and were greeted by one of the volunteers from Give Kids the World village.

We were given a complimentary rental by Hertz. We got an amazing Toyota Sienna minivan. It was fantastic and had tons of cup holders!!!!! We were greeted like royalty at the House of Hearts, which is the welcome center and media center at Give Kids The World. They showed us to Katie's Kitchen, which is actually FREE food provided by Boston Market. They gave us a wonderful Boston Market meal for four and showed us to our Villa! We stayed in Villa 115! It was a very short walk from the center of the village. Blake says villa in such a cute way! It sounds more like "Billa". So CUTE!!!!!

The Villa is AMAZING!!!!! It is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom ranch style villa. The entire thing is handicap accessible and the bathroom off of Blake's room was bigger than our master bedroom at home!!!! There was a kitchen and dining room and a living room as well as a washer/dryer! It was just like having our own home! Give Kids the World made a lasting impression with us in the first 15 minutes we were there. The staff and volunteers made us feel like we were loved and they truly seemed to enjoy every moment of it!

Blake and Alexia are in HEAVEN! They love the village and the villa! There is a train that gives people rides from their Villas to the different parts of the village! It truly is every child's dream! We spent about 3o minutes running through the Villa discovering all of the amazing things!

Once we were done unpacking and getting settled we toured the Village a bit more. We went to the Ice Cream Palace where Blake ordered his own ice cream and white milk! The volunteer angels were so kind and helpful!

We walked around and found Ol' Elmer, the GIANT elm tree that snores when you walk by! We also found the amazing pool and sprayground!!!!!

We were all pretty tired from getting up so early and we had an amazing day planned the next day, so we went to bed pretty early!!!

More pictures and info soon!!!!!