Day 1: Friday, June 16, 2006,
I watched Andy’s kids from 8a.m. to 5 P.M.
Andy’s kids went with us to get Lora’s driver's license and to take Meadow to the doctor.
I did not walk today.
Day 2: Saturday, June 17, 2006
Went to O’Bryan’s for lunch, went to Walmart, the dollar store, and washed my clothes.
At 5:30 P.M., we loaded Lora’s car and headed for Orlando, Florida.
At 7:30 P.M. we were 10 miles outside of Birmingham.
I walked two miles today.
Day 3: Sunday, June 18, 2006
We arrived at the RMH in Orlando at 7:30 A.M. eastern time.
I drove from 1:30 P.M. until 7:00 A.M.
The Ronald McDonald House is located at 2201 Alden Road, Orlando, FL 32803 407-898-6127.
After Lora unloaded the car, Lora, Meadow and I took a nap. Madison and Buckeye went to the playroom to play.
We ate muffins for a snack then we took Meadow and Buckeye to the emergency room at Florida Hospital to see a doctor.
Meadow had to have several tests.
We ate supper at the hospital.
This was our first night at the RMH.
I did not walk today.
Day 4: Monday, June 19, 2006
Today is Meadow’s first day of Physical Therapy at Ability Plus in Melbourne so we had to get up at 6:30 A.M. to be at Meadows's appointment at 9:00am.
We had to take the interstate and at this time of morning, it was very busy with traffic we also had to pass through three toll booths for $2.50 a day.
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| Meadow getting Therapy |
Ability Plus Therapy Inc. is located at 4450 West Eau Gallie Blvd, Suite 208 Melbourne, FL 32904 telephone 321-255-6627.
Laura Joslin is the owner and she is also a therapist.
We arrive at Ability Plus at 9: A.M. where Meadow has three hours of physical therapy.
Roberta Neves is Meadow’s therapist. Roberta is very good with Meadow but some of the therapy Meadow does not like. Their motto is: EACH SMALL STEP IS A GIANT LEAP.
Roberta works with a rubber ball, horse, bungee cords, a suit, etc.
I walked around the strip mall, which was about 1/4 mile, which took me about 5 to 7 minutes.
We ate lunch at Steak and Shake, we stopped to buy a cell phone car charger because the one in Mr. Beasley’s van was broken and we had no way to charge the cell phones.
The one that I bought could be used by both Sprint cell phones.
Meadow had hyperbaric therapy at Doctor Bradstreet’s from (1:15 to 2:15).
Lora got into the soft chamber with Meadow.
We went to Melbourne Beach after Meadow’s therapy.
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| Melbourne Beach |
Lora, Madison, Marcus, Jr., and Meadow got into the Atlantic Ocean.
We stayed about an hour at the beach, then headed back to the Ronald McDonald House.
We took a different route back to the RMB to avoid the toll roads.
This was our travel every day from Ronald McDonald House to Melbourne, Florida for 4 weeks. Travel time 1 hour and 5 minutes.
1. west on East Princeton Street toward McRae Avenue.
2. Merge onto I-4 West via the ramp on the left.
3. Take the SR-408 Toll exit 82A
4. Take the East-West EXPY east exit
5. Merge onto FL-408 E/East-West EPXY (portions tolls)
6. Take the SR-417 Toll S exit 18b toward Int’L Airport
7. Merge onto FL-417 S/Central Florida Greenway (portions toll)
8. Take the SR-528 Toll E/bee Line exit 26 toward Cocoa/Kennedy
9. Merge onto Fl-528 E (portions toll)
10. Merge onto I-95 S. Via Exit 42 A toward Miami.
11. Take SR/518 Eau Gallie Blvd exit 183 toward Melbourne
12. Turn slightly left to take the ramp toward Melbourne
13. Turn left onto Fl-518 E /Eau Gallie Blvd W.
14. Ends at 4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd Melbourne, FL 32934
International Child Development Resource Center located at 1688 West Hibiscus Blvd Melbourne, FL 32901 321-953-0278.
This is the address where Meadow received Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for four weeks.
Day 5: Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Up again at 6:30 A.M. and on the interstate to Ability Plus; Meadow will be there from 9 to 12 P.M.
We ate lunch at Burger King.
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| Meadow getting therapy at Ability Plus |
Today was my first day to get into the hyperbaric oxygen chamber with meadow. (1:15 to 2:15).
Madison was sick all night throwing up and she slept all day long
Meadow was sick on the way back to Ronald McDonald's house.
We had Hawaii food for supper at the Ronald McDonald house brought by a Dance Club.
No site seeing today because of Madison being sick.
Day 6: Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Meadow had three hours of physical therapy with Roberta. (9:00 to 12:00)
Madison and I walked two rounds around the strip mall.
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| Meadow getting therapy |
We ate lunch at Olive Garden.
We went to Andretti Park after Meadow finished with her hyperbaric oxygen therapy. (1:15 to 2:15)
Lora, Madison, and Buckeye rode the ducks, Lora and Buckeye rode the cars, they played some of the games and rode other rides.
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| Riding the ducks in Andretti Park |
It was a very hot day so, Meadow and I found a shade where we sat watching Lora, Marcus, and Madison have fun.
The management had given us four tickets to play miniature golf.
Day 7: Thursday, June 22, 2006.
Meadow had physical therapy at Ability Plus (9 to 12).
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| Meadow getting therapy |
Madison and I walked two laps around the strip mall near Ability Plus.
We ordered a personal pizza from an Italian Restaurant, which made me sick to my stomach.
Meadow had Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy at (1:15 to 2:15) with Dr. Bradstreet. After the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, we rode to Dixie Stampede where we enjoyed dinner and a show.
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| Picture of us with the Dixie Stampede in Orlando, Florida |
We arrived a little early, saw the horses, and took some pictures.
The Dixie Stampede’s manager gave us free tickets, which included dinner and a show.
We ate chicken, corn on the cob, rolls, soup, and apple turnover.
Madison and Marcus were picked to be on the show and they were on the Union side where they had to go into the arena to chase chickens and after the show, they were given medallions.
After the show, we were taken inside the arena to have our picture taken with the crew members.
The picture was developed and we were given a copy.
Lora was also mailed another picture and a book of Dolly Pardon's coat of many colors.
The crew was very nice and we talked to them while the arena was being cleared of people.
The manager said he came from the Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Our ticket number was section C3-93363.
Day 8: Friday, June 23, 2006
Meadow had physical therapy at Ability Plus from (9 to 12 P.M.)
We ate lunch at Denny’s where I ordered a BLT.
Madison and I walked two laps today around the strip mall.
Meadow had hyperbaric oxygen therapy from (1:15 to 2:15) at Dr. Bradstreet’s.
We were given tickets by the management of Pinocchio Marionette Theater to see Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp at 6:30 P.M. today.
Lyrics were by David Eaton at Pinocchio Marionette Theater.
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| Pinocchio Marionette Theater |
They are located at 525 Semoran Blvd. Winter Park 32792.
The telephone number there is 407-677-8831 and the web address is www.pinocchios.net.
We talked to the management and they said that one of the puppeteers was from the Howdy Doody show. The kids bought souvenirs.
Day 9: Saturday, June 24, 2006
I walked from the Ronald McDonald House down Princeton Street to the Science Museum, along one of the lanes behind the Art Museum back up Princeton St.
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| RMH in Orlando, Fl |
I stopped in front of the Mennello Museum of American Art where I saw the oldest tree in Central Florida, which was over 300 years old.
I walked back up Princeton Street in front of the Science Museum back to the Ronald McDonald house.
Loch Haven Park is nestled between three lakes and is home to several museums of both the arts and sciences.
It is a cultural park of 45 acres. Some of the other attractions here are the Museum of Art, The Mennello Museum of American Art, the Orlando Repertory Theater, the Orlando UCF Shakespeare Festival, The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and Orland’s Science Museum.
The Ronald McDonald House staff gave us tickets for Orlando’s Science Museum.
Later that morning we went to Orlando’s Science Museum.
Lora had forgotten something of Meadows and had to go back to the van.
It was a good day for indoor activities because it was raining outside, so we went to the science museum.
Marcus and Madison had their faces painted, and we all got a free ice cream.
We watched the Wild Safari, Star Quest, and Greece IMAX movies on the CineDome.
There were six levels and the top was the observatory with a height-powered telescope.
We looked through the telescope but it was very cloudy and we could not see the stars but we could see the top of the city and in the distance, we saw a bird.
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| Science Museum at the observatory |
In the exhibit halls, we saw dinosaurs (DinoDigs), the human body, (Body Zone) turtles, and snakes, (nature Works) there was an under-road city sewer system, orange groves, a kids' play area, (Kids Town, electricity [Science City).
We saw the TechWorks, showbiz Science, Cosmic Tourist Earth and beyond, wired Science a serious science with a twist, etc.
This is a wonderful place and I would recommend buying yearly tickets if you live in or around Orlando, Florida.
The museum has a large café, which seats 200 people, where we each ordered chicken fingers and a drink.
Day 10: Sunday, June 25, 2006
Today we are going to Gator Land their hours are from 9 till 5 P.M.
The web address is: www.gatorland.com
They are located at Gatorland 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, Florida 32837 and the telephone number is 407-855-5496.
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| Gator Land |
We received 20% off for two adults and free tickets for Madison, Marcus, and Meadow.
We saw three shows: the Gator Jumparoo, Gator Wrestling, and Up-close Encounters.
We visited Alligator Island, Snakes of Florida, Breeding March, took the train ride, took the swamp walk, visited Allie's barnyard, saw Flamingo Lagoon, and at the gift, shop Lora bought Marcus a Gator tee shirt.
About 5 pm it started raining and it rained hard for about an hour. People were rushing to get into the dry and Madison got stuck in the crowd and was pulled away from us.
Lora went to look for Madison while Meadow and Marcus stayed with me.
The floodwaters started to rise and I decided we would make a run for the gift shop.
We ate supper at Ronald McDonald House.
Day 11: Monday, June 26, 2006
Meadows's second week of physical therapy at Ability Plus Therapy. (8:45-12:00)
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| Meadow getting therapy |
We had lunch at Smokey Bones Restaurant.
The week of (26-30) Meadow had to have two treatments a day during this time so Lora and I both were getting into the Oxygen Chamber twice a day.
Lora had an ear infection and Dr. Bradstreet gave her some medicine for her ears and he told her to not get into the chamber for a few days which meant I would be the one getting into the chamber with Meadow.
We went to the movie theater at Winter Park to see Monster House but the theater was full.
Marcus was very upset that we could not go see the movie.
We went back to Ronald McDonald's house and ate supper.
Day 12: Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Meadow has physical therapy from (8:45 to 12:00) today.
Madison and I walked three laps around the strip mall.
Meadow has hyperbaric oxygen therapy from (1:45 to 2:45) today.
We had lunch at Road House Grill.
We drove to Downtown Disney and ate supper at McDonald's in Downtown Disney.
Address: Walt Disney World ® Resort - Orlando, Florida 32830
Phone Number is 407-828-3056
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| Downtown Disney |
If you like to shop and you want the kids to have fun with little to no cost then take them to Downtown Disney.
They have a waterspout where the kids can get wet, a McDonald's where the kids can eat, a store where the kids can make their own potato head, a lot of shops for shopping, candy stores, a movie theater, and more.
We went two times and I bought two T-shirts at the Rainforest Café; Lora bought Madison 2 T-shirts and shorts; she bought Marcus one T-shirt and a hat; she bought Meadow a bib and for herself a T-shirt.
Day 13: Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Meadow had 3 hours of therapy (8:45 to 12:00) we ate lunch at Subway and Meadow had another hour of hyperbaric oxygen therapy from (1:45 to 2:45).
I walked two laps today.
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| Downey Splash Park |
We stopped at Downey Splash Park for the kids to cool off, they played in the water that was spraying up from the ground and they had buckets of water falling on their heads.
We walked down to the sandy beach so the kids could play in the sand.
Downey Park is located at 10107 Flowers Avenue Orlando, Al Orange Parks, and Recreations.
We ate supper at Ronald McDonald House.
Day 14: Thursday, June 29, 2006
Meadow physical therapy (8:45 to 12) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (1:15 to 2:15 and 6:30 to 7:30)
I walked two laps today.
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| This is the seat that Lora brings home for Meadow |
We ate at Aloha Eatery in Melbourne we had Mahai, pasta, and coke.
We went to Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida.
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| Madison lets a butterfly land on her arm. |
The Swallowtail Festival was going on, where we saw many different butterflies. Address: Brevard Zoo 8225 North Wickham Road Melbourne, FL 32940 407-254-3002.
All I remember about the zoo was that it was hot and smelly. We saw several different animals and after about an hour Meadow and I went to the gift shop to cool off.
We had grilled chicken salad for supper at the Ronald McDonald house.
Day 15: Friday, June 30, 2006
Meadow had physical therapy from (8:45 to 12) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy from (1:15 to 2:15 and 4:45 to 5:45). I walked four laps today and we ate hotdogs for lunch at Aloha Eatery.
Marcus was being ugly today.
We rode back to the RMH and went to bed early.
Day 16: Saturday, July 1, 2006
Meadow and I walked down to the Art Museum and back.
We all went to the art museum to see the "The Art of the Motorcycle.” Based on the landmark Guggenheim Museum exhibition, it explores the motorcycle as both a cultural icon and design achievement and offers a thought-provoking challenge to conventional assumptions about art and popular culture in the modern age.
The exhibition will run from Jan. 22 – July 23, 2006, and feature more than 70 historic and contemporary motorcycles.
Madison and Marcus did arts and crafts from (9 to 12) and then we rode down to Coco Beach.
Today is the day set to launch the Space Shuttle and we rode down to Cocoa Beach where we can see it launch.
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| Coco Beach waiting for the Shuttle to launch. |
Lora parked the car along the Banana riverbank, while we waited for the spaceship to launch the kids got in the water, where we saw some rays.
We met a family from Ireland and they wanted to take a picture of the license plate that was in our van.
We waited for over two hours and the launch was canceled because of the weather.
So we got back into our van and rode into Coco Beach stopping in at Ron Johns Surf Shop.
We ate lunch at Red Lobster.
Day 17: Sunday, July 2, 2006
Madison, Meadow, and I walked in Loch Haven Park for about one mile, where we saw three men sailing their boats in the lake.
We ate breakfast and lunch at Ronald McDonald's house.
We went to Winter Park to take the Scenic boat ride but we got were rained out.
Later that day we went to Winter Park where Madison and Marcus did some pottery painting at the Pottery Barn.
We left the Pottery Barn and walked to the Regency Theater and bought tickets to watch the movie Cars.
After the movie was over we rode to City Walk Universal Studios.
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| City Walk at Universal Studios Orlando, Fl |
Lora bought Madison and Marcus each a red T-shirt with writing that said, “Thing One” and “Thing Two.”
We wanted to eat dinner at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaretville but it was going to be an hour and a half wait.
We walked around looking inside many of the shops then rode back to the RMH.
Day 18: Monday, July 3, 2006
This is the third week of Meadow’s physical therapy.
Meadow has two sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy today one from (8:45 to 12:00) and one (from 1:45 to 2:45).
I walked three laps today around the strip mall.
Lora got into the oxygen chamber with Meadow.
After Meadow’s therapy, we rode to downtown Disney, and we ate dinner at the Rainforest Café.
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| Downtown Disney |
The kids got wet in the spraying fountains before we left Downtown Disney.
Day 19: Tuesday, July 4, 2006
No therapy today, today is a holiday, it is the 4 of July, so we rode to the Magic Kingdom where we spent the entire day. I purchased two tickets with unlimited dates and gave one to Lora. She bought Madison and Marcus a one-day ticket, and Meadow got in free.
We watched the Hall of Presidents, went into the Haunted Mansion, rode through the Small World, rode the take a flight with Peter Pan, and took a ride with the Mad Hatter in her teacups.
We rode the Guffy’s Barnstormer and the Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster.
We saw the Snow White Scary adventure, took a ride with Stitch on the Great Escape, and took the Astor Obiter transit.
We rode Buzz Light Year Storm Commander and saw Cinderella’s Spectra Magic.
We watched the grand fireworks show and ate turkey legs at Pinocchio eatery.
We went to Mickey’s House and rode down the speedway.
To end the day we watch the Magical Mickey Parade.
We left the park at about 11: P.M. Lora and the older kids walked ahead and I was pushing Meadow in her stroller while the crowd kept pushing us back. We finally reached the waiting area for the buses. Lora and the kids got onto the bus and I was left behind to fold down the stroller and load it into the bus but my thumb got caught in the handle of the stroller as I was folding it down.
I could not release the latch so Lora had to get off the bus and release the latch so I could get my thumb out and it was bleeding. Someone on the bus gave me a brandade and the bus left the waiting area and we were taken to our van.
We loaded into the van and Lora drove us back to the RMH.
Day 20: Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Meadow had physical therapy from 8:45 until 12:00 and hyperbaric oxygen therapy from 12:30 until 1:30 P.M.
I walked four laps today around the mall.
We ate lunch at Aloha Eatery and we ate supper at Ronald McDonald House.
Day 21: Thursday, July 6, 2006
Meadow had her physical therapy from 8:45 until 12 and hyperbaric oxygen therapy from 3:15 until 4:15.
We went to Walmart where we bought some chicken and found a park where we had a picnic lunch.
I walked three laps around the mall today.
In between Meadows appointments, we went to the Melbourne Greyhound Park where we watched the Greyhound race. The kids got to pet one of the greyhounds that was wearing an overlap that read, “Adopt Me.”There were rows and rows of empty seats when we were there.
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| Grey Hound Dog Track |
Day 22: Friday. July 7, 2006
Meadow had her physical therapy from 8:45 until 12:00 and her hyperbaric oxygen therapy from 2:15 until 3:15.
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| Meadow's nurses at Dr. Bradstreet's |
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| Meadow getting therapy |
I walked four laps around the mall. We ate hot dogs at the Aloha Eatery.
This was Meadow’s last day at Ability Plus.
They give Meadow an achievement card and a special seat to take home for her to use at home. They give Madison and Marcus a toy for being good.
Day 23: Saturday, July 8, 2006
We went to Sea World from 10:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. We ate lunch at Sharks Under Water Grill. We watched several water shows, took a helicopter simulator ride, and we saw polar bears, walrus, and manatees.
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| Sea World |
We ended the day by watching Shamu the killer whale perform.
Day 24: Sunday, July 9, 2006
Today we walked around the Loch Haven Park near the RMH. We rode to Winter Park and took the Scenic Boat Ride, and after the ride, we went to Regal Theater in Winter Park and watched Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest.
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| Scenic Boat Ride where I had taken off my hat to keep Meadow from getting too much sun |
Day 25: Monday, July 10, 2006
Meadow had hyperbaric oxygen therapy from 11:00 until 12:00 P.M. and from 2:45 until 3:45 no walk today. We went shopping at the mall and I bought Jake and my husband some shorts, Montana and Nevada, and Sierra a shirt. We ate breakfast at Ronald McDonald House.
Day 26: Tuesday, July 11, 2006
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| Monster Truck Ride |
Meadow had hyperbaric oxygen therapy from 2:45 until 3:45 we went to take an airboat ride at Boggy Creek and took the monster truck safari ride.
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| Boggy Creek Airboat Ride |
I walked twenty minutes today.
Day 27: Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Meadow has hyperbaric oxygen therapy y from 2:25 until 3:15 P.M. I walked twenty minutes in Loch Haven Park. We ate supper at the Ronald McDonald House the food was brought from the Hard Rock Hotel.
Day 28: Thursday, July 13, 2006
Meadow had hyperbaric oxygen therapy from 12:15 until 2:45 P.M. We went to Coco Beach, where
Lora and the kids got into the water and I watched Meadow.
Day 29: Friday, July 14, 2006
Meadow had hyperbaric oxygen therapy from 9:45 until 12:15.
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| Me inside the chamber with Meadow before the door is closed |
We left for home at 2 P.M.
We stop at Taco Bell on the way home for dinner.
Meadow ate some food from Taco Bell she had a reaction where she turned red all over.
Day 30: Saturday, July 15, 2006
Saturday we arrived home.
