Here we go!

We just finished packing.  We fit both car booster seats into one bag that will be checked, along with beach towels and larger-than-four-ounce toiletries. We have two carry-on roller bags with all of our clothes and rain gear, and two backpacks with books, snacks, and activities.  That's it!  I'd say that's light packing for a family of four (perhaps my minimalist brother will disagree).  :)

It was strange packing all of my cancer-patient accoutrements, which I decided to carry-on to avoid the potential issue of them being lost if the checked bag gets lost.  I put my syringes filled with 10 milliliters of sterile saline into a 1-quart ziploc baggie to get through security.  I started to count out all of my pills, but then realized that security probably requires me to keep my pills in their original bottles.  A google search confirmed this fact.  I now have eight or so bottles of pills rattling in my carry-on.  Also, I almost forgot to pack any head coverings.  That would have been interesting.

Today our trip was slightly modified in the best of ways.  One of Ian's colleagues found a program that offers free park passes to Universal Studios for folks like me.  It's called Compassion Partners, and it doesn't look like they have their own website but you can find the contact information for this and other wish-granting programs here.  Today I sent them a doctor's note and a request for free tickets, and my wish was granted!  Our 2-day Gold (front-of-the-line) pass will be waiting for us starting on Sunday.  We're still planning on going to Disney's Magic Kingdom, but we are now thrilled to take the girls to Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure.  Seussville!!!!!!  I hope that Eleanor is 40 inches tall so that we can all go on the Spiderman ride.  That is the best ride I've ever been on.  

I must admit that getting ready for this trip has thrown me a bit off-balance.  I don't think I realized it before, but I have a recovery protocol that includes early bedtimes, lots of resting, and evening walks with friends.  Trip preparation, from folding laundry to getting the free tickets mentioned above, has taken a lot of time and slightly disrupted my recovery protocol.  I'm so tired.  I'm not at all complaining or concerned, but let's just say I'll be relieved when we get on that plane tomorrow.  Then I can strike a new balance of resting at the pool, walking along the beach, and going to theme parks.  That sounds like a life-loving protocol if I ever heard one.  Don't worry, we won't wear me out.  We're not going to be on a mission to see everything, but rather enjoy everything about what it is that we see.  We're going to avoid full speed and instead take a Sunday drive through the experience.  (Yea...I can't wait to tell you how well this strategy worked.  Heh.)

We calculated that we need to get up at 3:30 am to leave by 4:00 to catch our 6:14 flight, so I'd better run.  Hugs!