Oliver Update

He sees me pull out the camera and hides under the blanket!

Then this is the look I get! Sticking his tongue out at me!

Sweet boy

Papa's kisses are the BEST!

This is the look I get from Ollie when he thinks I've said or done something idiotic. I see it several times a day...

Finny sneaking in a hug.

I 'must-ache' you a question...

Hugs and loves from Finny boy

Fancy chocolate covered strawberries... um... yum. Also... notice his shirt my mom got him the other day. Ollie has always reminded me of Yoda -- short and full of wisdom.

Addison and Jaren

Jaren giving some crazy loves, Oliver and Uncle Chad

Natalie picking Uncle Ed's boogeys.

He's learning how to use the potty!

We received a package of ice cream from Cincinnati, OH and I KNEW it was Elena's ice cream! Elena was a sweet little girl that passed away from DIPG, the same brain tumor as Oliver. Her parents founded a pediatric brain tumor foundation called 'The Cure Starts Now' and this is her special ice cream!

You can tell by the look on Finny's face that he loves to wear girlie shoes!

On Sunday evening Oliver started having horrible stomach pains again and this time Ed and I figured it was his bowels again... the 'bowels of hell'. I can't hardly stand seeing him tilting his head back, closing his eyes and yelping out in pain. We didn't have anything for him, but Tylenol so we gave him that to try and help with pain and called Hospice to see if they could help us get something to help get him going, but they said they couldn't. His pain stopped for a while, but started again and so we ended up taking him to the ER because we just didn't know what else to do. We didn't have anything other than the stool softener we'd been giving him. They did some blood work and took an x-ray and confirmed that he was full of crap again. Poor kid. Last time they had given us some stuff for him to drink that really cleaned him out, but unfortunately they didn't give us any this time. They gave him a soap enema and that helped him out a little bit 'We need a cleanup in aisle (room) 6!" They told us to try and give him an enema and call our doctor in the morning who ended up prescribing him some Miralax. It was after midnight when we left the ER. We stopped by Walgreens and I ran in to pick up some apple juice and enemas while Ed and Ollie stayed in the van. Ollie was so tired after dealing with the pain. As I walked out I heard a noise that should not be coming from our parked van. I could tell that Ed had been having a hard time trying to start the van. AWESOME. So it's after midnight and we are stuck at Walgreens. Thank goodness Ed's brother and his family are visiting from California so he came to pick us up and take us back home.

The next day Ollie had a little pain and no bowel movements even after an enema. He hadn't eaten anything in a few days, but had some apple juice with his Miralax mixed in. Poor kid. He told Ed that he was ready to die. He's so sick of his body not working. He's been telling us many times that he wants a new body. I told him I would like a new body as well. So, after a few days he had a small bowel movement and has finally started eating a little bit again. He still chokes on everything, even his own saliva, and coughs for a bit until he can get it under control.

- Choking on food, liquid, saliva
- Makes weird noises in his throat
- On oxygen most of the time
- Can no longer walk
- Can no longer hold himself up when standing or sitting (he needs to be propped up with pillows)
- We are feeding him now.
- Wearing depends, using a urinal
- Sleeps more
- Can't understand much of what he says
- Can't type things out on the iPad because his fingers don't work anymore.
- Having headaches

Today (Wednesday) Ed asked him if he had a headache and he said no. Then Ed asked him if he was lying and he said yes. I know he doesn't want to worry us. Today it's been REALLY difficult to understand him, but I understood when he told me that he wants to die. He's trapped in a useless body. A body that is slowly falling apart. His ability to communicate is horribly diminished and he knows it. He is completely aware of everything that is going on. We tell him that he will not have to worry about his body in the next life, that everything will be restored. I just can't imagine what goes through his mind... he's 10 years old and knows WAY too much... is going through WAY too much. He is an UNBELIEVABLY amazing kid. Seriously.

When we aren't going to the ER or sitting in the Walgreens parking lot, we've been watching a lot of movies when he's awake. It's nice to lay in the bed along side of him and snuggle with him. He usually asks for Ed or I to come and sit or lay by him. I usually just lay my head on his shoulder and rub his arm, hold his hand and run my fingers through his hair. He's such a sweet boy.

His cousins have been visiting and they've been reading to Oliver and playing some games together. It has been really nice to have them here. Eden hasn't been going to school the past couple of days because she just needs to be home spending time here with us and Oliver. There are so many signs that point to the end of life being near that we've kept her home. I need to see what she's learning in school so she can keep up with her schoolwork at least. She's such a good student so I have no fears of her falling behind. Her counselor had talked with my mom and said that she's been a little more quiet than usual. She knows that Ollie doesn't have much longer. I can't imagine how she feels. They've been together for so long... her and Ollie are only 17 months apart and have played together forever it seems. It's been good to have her cousins that are her age here to play with her and have a bit of fun.

We've had several visitors in and out lately which has been nice. Lots of family have been in and out. Ed's coworker friend brought cookies by today and a sweet woman I met online brought by an awesome Harry Potter cake that her and her sister made. It was AMAZING!

Heather and her kids brought over the cake her and her sister made. Isn't it awesome?!

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Our Dance Marathon Family Rep came by with some Valentine goodies for the kids and stayed for some Butterbeer and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. I had made some Pumpkin Pasties a few days ago, which are like small pumpkin pies that look like empanadas, but Ollie didn't care too much for those. She also played play dough with lots of the younger kids. We had fun visiting for an hour or so.

Giving Ollie his valentine.

Jaren modeling his sweet new hat Katelyn brought him.

I love seeing Phineas lay with Oliver and try and give him hugs and help him with everything. It's so stinking cute. There is so much love there.


I've been going through lots of old photos and there are so many darling pictures of Oliver holding babies -- mainly Finn and Jaren when they were younger as well as many friend's babies and his younger cousins. He's always loved babies which is just another loving trait of his that shines through.

During some quiet times I will read Harry Potter to him. We are in book 5 now and have quite a ways to go yet. I've also been reading him the Valentine's that people have sent him as well... to the 'Lovable Oliver Palmer'. He's been sleeping a lot, but we try and do as much as we can with him when he's awake, whether watching movies together or playing cards or board games... things he can still do while sitting propped up in his bed. He totally kicked mine and Ed's butts playing the Harry Potter Scene It board game and loves playing Scrabble on the iPad with Uncle Bryan. He always beats Grandma when they play each other as well. He's always been a great speller.


He also likes playing Family Feud on the computer as well. Ed and Uncle Jared have been asking him the questions and everyone shouts out answers. He's also really good at Wheel of Fortune. Seriously... if I were ever on a game show, I'd bring him! :O) Today the girls found a scary story book that had stories like 'The Hook' on the car door handle and so they sat around Ollie and Eden read aloud to him. They were so sweet with him. Ed has been reading several articles and the scriptures with him and talking about what to expect in the next life. I hope that has helped Oliver feel more at ease. He'll start to say things and then whimper and his lips start quivering and he'll start to cry and talk about death. Although I don't understand this trial I do feel like I will see him again and I hope that he knows that. I just don't want him to be scared or in pain in any way. I can't bear to see it. So we just keep plugging away and make memories. What else can you do at this point?