Iowa Hawkeye Football - Kid Captain!

The ability of University of Iowa Children's Hospital to offer top-quality care in a welcoming environment is due, in part, to support from generous supporters. With your help, we can do even more to help children and their families. Be a part of UI Children's Hospital by making a gift online at www.uifoundation.org/kidcaptain.

2011 Kid Captains are...

MEET THE 2011 KID CAPTAINS

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Upon learning about this great experience these young kids could get to be a part of, I kept checking back to the website to see when they would finally be taking some applications. I figured that I'd send one and nominate Oliver to be one of the 13 Kid Captains that are chosen out of over 200 applicants. I couldn't believe it when they chose Oliver. He is so thrilled about it!

On his birthday, a large group came to set up and interview us for a piece on Oliver and the Children's hospital down there in Iowa City. They asked us several questions and then Oliver sat for a bit and answered some questions about what he like about the hospital. I'll send a link to the video when I find that it's finished.

Next on our to do list is happening tomorrow morning. We'll be on the way to Mt. Vernon to see a photographer for the Kid Captain head shots. I guess they line the streets near the hospital and stadium with all of the kids and Oliver's sweet face will be on one of the flags! :O) That will be so strange to see him smiling at everyone passing by! :O)

I'm super excited for it as I honestly didn't think he'd get picked with so many other applicants sending in their nominations. I was so thrilled to be able to tell Oliver, because I had kept it a secret from him in the first place! :O) He's so excited!

This is the day that Ollie gets to be the Kid Captain!

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011 -
IOWA HAWKEYES FOOTBALL VS. PITTSBURGH

"Nominate a Kid Captain"

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II"

Oliver and my mom and I went to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" on Tuesday night. If you haven't seen it yet, you may NOT want to read my following blog about some of the scenes. Let me start out by saying that I have not read the books, but have seen and enjoyed all of the movies up to this one. I am now going to start reading the books. We started listening to them in the van going down and back to Iowa City for Oliver's radiation treatments. I saw this one and enjoyed it as well. Oliver said it was "awesomely spectacular!!!" as we were leaving the movie.

I have to say that in each of the movies a character, often times, Dumbledore, will say something that either really makes me think and ponder or really hits home. This movie in particular made me cry more than once... resulting in Oliver elbowing me and asking me, "Are you CRYing?!" in his soft whispery voice. In the movie, near the end Harry is surrounded by his friends and parents that have all passed away. He asks them if death is painful... "Does it hurt?" Then Sirius Black said it was 'as quick as falling asleep'. This immediately makes me think of Oliver (and so many other kids that are passing away) as he asked me the same thing during the course of his radiation treatments.

The other day, he saw me crying while sitting at the computer and asked if any of the boys that also have DIPG (two boys he met in Illinois in March) had died. He then asked if he was going to die. I just told him that we all will die someday and that Heavenly Father is the only one that knows when we will die. This just kills me to have to answer a question like that. It's like someone just punched me in the gut.

There are so many moments in the movie that draw me back to what we are going through right now with Oliver. Movies get to me when the are about death and dying, funerals and such. It's hard seeing that played out in a movie, realizing that it is playing itself out for us in our real life. It's been difficult.

Anyways... it's a good film and it was one that I hoped Oliver would make it long enough to be able to see it and finish out the series. A fellow cancer mother just blogged about her daughter making it to see the movie as well. It's weird how our goals change. Whenever I see a movie trailer that I think Oliver would enjoy seeing, I pray that he makes it to that date to be able to see it. The new Spider-man comes out next year. Will he make it to see it?

He talks about Harry Potter A LOT now and is planning on being him for Halloween this October. We are currently awaiting the arrival of Harry Potter's wand (Barnes & Noble).

Ollie just HAD to have it. He googles spells and charms online and then writes them all down on a sheet of paper so he has them to memorize. I just found this online as well... Harry Potter Spells Ipod App. He makes me laugh so much sometimes.

Also.... back to the movie... I told Oliver that I think Voldemort's nose is a horcrux. It's missing and it may be hiding somewhere with part of his soul living in it.... ;o) Ollie thinks I'm a bit of a nerd and never lets me forget it! We had a fun night. Also... when we got there, Oliver surprised me and my mom with candy for the show. What a sweetheart! He is so thoughtful in that way. He also bought his little brother, Jaren, a new matchbox car and some Crabby Patty gummy candies at the store because he wasn't able to go with them. He's just a sweet kid. Always has been. :O)