We landed in Orlando, FL and jumped on our buses that pulled right onto the tarmac. We were continuing to get the royal treatment. This is what we saw as we pulled up to Coronado Springs Resort in Disney World! LOTS of people cheering, holding up signs, and taking pictures. It was crazy awesome!
There were more people welcoming us inside and there were mini games for the kids with prizes. Daddy (Glen) came to meet Luke there while Nana and the 3 other siblings who came from home to meet us were in the room. We headed off to our room and found Gregory sleeping and the girls still up very excited to see us. Luke's IV fluids were not there as I thought they would be, but I figured we would push the fluids he drank and would have them by early the next day.
The next morning at breakfast.. all together again.
Thursday was a free morning for most of us so off we headed to Disney Magic Kingdom!
Stitch with the children... this picture is missing Logan.
Stitch, Gregory, Kyara, Luke, Carline, and Makayla
Luke was so excited to go on the race cars!
We also did Space Mountain for the first time with the 4 older kids... most liked it.. Luke won't be doing that one again for a while!
It was so neat to see everyone at Disney having a great time. Spotting fellow Champion families was lots of fun!
We were all meeting to watch the parade together and our family found a spot on Main Street. We just happened to be in the right place as the child who was chosen to be one of the Grand Marshals for the parade did not make it to the meeting spot in time. Since Luke was there he was taken to fill in.
Luke with Rylee from Utah before they were in the parade.
Here they come. And who is Luke sitting next to... Miss America of course!
Luke and Laura (Miss America) in the back seat and Rylee in the middle front. Laura told us that Luke had a great time as it was setting up and loved to tease the characters.
After the parade we went off and did some more rides then met back at the castle in a couple of hours for the Move It, Shake It parade.
Many of the Champions before the parade (Luke is towards the right in the front row with a blue shirt).
Luke, PA Champion of 2012 in front of Cinderella's Castle.
Many of the Champions in front of the Castle. Luke is to the far right in the front.
After the second parade we went off to get dinner and find a spot for the evening parade.
Logan, Gregory, Carline, and Luke - Pirates!
As we were waiting to see the fireworks an all out downpour happened! Luckily we were right near this overhang and quickly moved under it. Those who didn't find an overhang were SOAKED!
You can see the large raindrops in the picture.
Family picture in front of the castle.
That night I was going to run extra IV fluids with what came to make up for what he missed the night before. He had only peed two times since he woke up so I knew he needed them. Disney could not find the package. It was overnight mailed and they said they had the other packages of medical supplies, but did not have the most important one- the IV fluids. I was very upset but it was late very late so what could we do. Disney kept saying we can take you to a pharmacy.. I don't think they got it.
Friday AM we had breakfast with the Champions and families then headed off to the Pin Exchange. This is where all those attending the CMN conference (many from corporations that raise funds for CMN) go to each child and give them a pin and the child stamps their name in the CMN Champions 2012 book (complete with their pictures and a mini bio).
Walking into the room which once again had lots of cheering people!
Luke sitting at his table. Logan and Gregory went with us and many people also gave them pins. Luke personally signed his baseball cards that were made for him to give out here at the conference.
Tony from Rhode Island and Luke.
After the pin exchange was over I went to the front desk to find his IV fluids. During the pin exchange I had called the home IV company and the tracking number had a signature from the day before (same person who signed for the other boxes). So I was very upset because it was sitting there the whole time but someone either didn't take the time to look carefully (it was the only box in the refrigerated store room) or they never looked as they told me. I wanted to make sure this did not happen to another family. This could have landed Luke into the hospital especially with the heat. And it now meant he would have to sit out of pool time for a few hours to get his IV fluids. With Luke attached to his IV fluids, we headed out to the pool for an afternoon of fun. When he had received enough of his IV fluids, Luke had a great time swimming with his brothers and sisters!
Luke and Makayla.
We headed back for dinner and Luke caught a picture with Jordin Sparks .
Jordin, Luke, and Perry the Platypus!
After dinner there was a great surprise for the kids- many of the characters came. Disney took pictures that we will be able to have for free too!
Luke, Minnie, and Kyara
Luke meeting Mickey.
Luke gave lots of hugs and made many friends this week.
Luke and Jayla (Missouri).
Luke and Adham from California.
Luke and Keilana (Washington). Keilana was one of the first people Luke met. He was so excited to meet her because she is also 11 and is his height (about 48 inches). They hugged every time they saw each other.
Tony (Rhode Island) giving a ride to Luke!
Christopher (Mississippi) and Luke. Christopher was one of the "little ones" that Luke just loved to hug!
The Champions then wait outside until it is their time to receive their medal.
Waiting until it is time.
All the kids waiting and having a good time together.
The camera crew would often post video from backstage. While Luke was in Magic Kingdom he decided he wanted to give Laura (Miss America) something special to remember this special week. He saw a Mickey Mouse shaped ring and said, "It is PERFECT!" Here he is backstage with her just after she gave it to him (I didn't take a picture fast enough of him giving it to her). He was so excited about it when we saw her the afternoon before the Medal Ceremony he told her he got her a ring!
This is Luke on stage receiving his Medal.
Luke came and sat with us and Kyara gave him a big hug...
and kiss on the cheek!
Luke and Daddy relaxing for the rest of the ceremony.
At the end Jordin Sparks sang Celebrate (She sang Faith earlier in the evening) and invited all the Champions to come up and dance. She did a great job especially because there were some sound glitches.
The Champions all had a great time. Luke is behind Mateo (on the left) with his Perry the Platypus (which he made sure to ask Jordin's permission to allow Perry to dance with him up there).
The Champions all dancing away! (Luke is on the right side in the front)
The Champions took group pictures with many of the people who help CMN. Nick Cannon (Master of Ceremonies) is in the back right-middle. Luke is 2 children in front of him in the blue shirt.
Laura (Miss America) with Luke showing off her ring!! Afterwards she Tweeted that she was now off the market and there would be a long engagement!
There was a part of the ceremony that was in 3D and the boys had some fun with the glasses afterwards!
Gregory
Logan
Kyara always loved being a princess. She wore a little tiara in her hair and wanted to get a picture with Laura (Miss America). That night Kyara would not take off her tiara to go to bed until I told her that Miss America takes off her crown and puts it into a box at night. I had to find a little box from something we bought in Disney and she now has a tiara with a case just like Miss America!
Gabi Wilson, Carline, and Maggie Chapman who both sang Last One Standing at the ceremony.
The other great thing about this week was the time the siblings were able to spend together. Logan met a great friend... another brother of a Champion named Logan (from Alaska). They were always looking for each other no matter where we went.
Brandon (brother to Emma from FL) and Luke
That night it was raining so off to bed we headed. We initially were going to go back to the pool for a late night of swimming with the families, but every time Luke swims we have to take his needle out of his chest and then when he is done he has to have the needle put back into his port in his chest. He was really not happy about needing another needle stick and the rain helped us all to decide to just hang out in the room.
Saturday we got up and packed up all of our bags and got them into our rental van so we could check out. We then headed over to the pool to have a fun pool day and to enjoy the water slide at the pool.
Luke had such a great time swimming. The heat started to get to him and I am not sure if it was the missing IV fluids that just caught up to him. He was having dizziness and not feeling well. We made sure he was drinking and kept him cooled off in the pool.
Luke loved the water slide! All the kids did and even Kyara went on it.
Luke and Daddy hanging out in the pool.
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