A Sweet Surprise

A few days ago, my brother, Chad was driving home from work around 5:30 and drove by four little girls selling brownies and lemonade. The sign they had out front said that it was for Oliver Palmer. He drove home and picked my mom, brother Bryan and Oliver and I up to go meet the girls. Ollie of course was shy, but he told them hi and thanked them for doing this for him. They had brownies packaged up individually and lemonade available to buy. They also had some sweet looking pens that they decorated with bright tape in all sorts of colors and patterns. On a day where I needed a nudge -- a reminder that someone cares -- we find these sweet girls. One gal and her sister lived in Waterloo and the others lived in Wisconsin and were just visiting their grandma. I didn't have my camera so I didn't get a photo of them with Oliver. It was fun to see them and just touched my heart so much to see the young children out doing something for Oliver. As we drove away tears filled my eyes... we have so much to learn from our little children...

Picnic @ Lowell

Friday, June 24, 2011

My friend Andrea asked invited us to Lowell for a picnic with her family as well as a little girl in the area that is also fighting an inoperable brain tumor. My friend will be her first grade teacher next year at Lowell. We met Rose and her mom at Oliver's benefit and she was a little doll! She warmed up to me quickly and was giving me hugs while I was chatting with her mom. I hope that we can be a support for each other during these difficult times. It helps to know that we aren't alone, although it sickens me as to why. It was nice to get out in the sunshine and play. Rose was a little camera shy so I didn't get a picture of her playing. We'll have to get together again this summer! Thanks for the invite, Andrea!

The kids had fun arm wrestling!

Even Finny got in on the action!

My little blondy boy!

Jaren

A New Year is Here...

Hope everyone had a happy new year. This new year is different than the ones before. Last New Year's Eve marked Ollie's first radiation treatment, shortly after his diagnosis of a deadly brain tumor. We were in a fog almost at that point. Hearing the horrific news and coming to terms with it, while getting him to his radiation therapy and appointments with several different doctors down in Iowa City, trying to take care of the other two children, plus a 3 week old infant. Such a whirlwind of life changes happening in such a short time. Oliver had come home not feeling well, vomited and complained of a headache. Ed and his brother gave him a blessing (a special prayer) and he felt well enough after that to play with his cousins that were visiting us during this difficult time. Such a cloud was over us at that point.

The year went on, not knowing how much time we'd have with him. Trying to create many memories and taking many photos of him with the other kids. Like a fellow mother of a child with DIPG just said that we've been smiling through the holidays not knowing if it would be our child's last one. Feeling vacant in our own skin. We've been lucky to be able to talk via a DIPG support group online and meet others who have lost their babies, as well as parents of children in the fight like Oliver. More and more children are diagnosed every day with this disease. It makes me sick thinking of the children you hear about passing away. More parents questioning when to get hospice involved. Children diagnosed after Oliver passing away before him. It's a horrible place to be... I sit and just bawl when I think of what the families are going through. I read their words and feel as if I could have written so many of them. We are all at different points in our journey, but we have a love and connection that is such a support to me, even via the internet. It is so strong and I appreciate their love, support, kind words and prayers for Oliver as well as our entire family.

I was planning on being a part of a pediatric cancer awareness group through St. Baldrick's foundation, the '46 Mommas' (46 children are diagnosed with cancer each day) and was going to be shaving my head with other mothers to raise awareness and funding but have since bowed out due to several recurring thoughts and prayers. I figure since I can't give 100% to Oliver and the rest of my family and 100% of my time and energy for St. Baldrick's, something's gotta give. Since my family is my number one priority, I have to wait until the time is right for battling this beast, childhood cancer, on a higher level. It's hard to feel like I'm 'quitting', even though I'm doing what is best for me and my family. NO ONE has traveled in MY SHOES and so I have to remember that and not worry myself with what someone else think I should do. *SIGH*... easier said than done. I'm sure another momma is waiting in the wings, ready to start planning and fundraising so my stepping aside won't be in vain! :O) Many well wishes to the other mommas and hope that they can meet their personal goals they set! If you'd like to check out the mommas for 2011 and their stories go to the 46 Mommas website! There are many mothers that are honoring their children that have battled DIPG, like Oliver. I wish I could have shared this experience with them. Oh well... I'll be there in spirit. :O)

The Dance Marathon in Iowa City is coming up this next weekend and the kids can think of little else! I still need to make a poster honoring Oliver. The posters are one way of keeping the students focused on why they are dancing and doing what they are doing. It makes it more personal to see photos and read about the children. They also have families on stage sharing their stories to keep up morale during the 24 hour event. They can't sit for 24 hours! It was so much fun... so much energy... so much commitment, selflessness and love. I thought of how awesome it was that the young kids, who you would think are completely self absorbed at that age, would do this for our children and for our families. I couldn't help but think that they are dancing for us today, but it may become a reality for them in the future if one of their children is diagnosed. Words really can't describe the feelings I felt there. It was an AMAZING experience.

DANCE MARATHON 2011

I'm still playing catch up on the blog. So if you have time you'll have to keep checking back in and reading about what fun things we've done the past year! We hope to make many more memories together! Again... thank you for your prayers for Ollie and our family.

Davenport Thanksgiving Parade & Visiting friends

November 2010

*THANKSGIVING PARADE in DAVENPORT*

We've been wanting to go to the parade in Davenport for the last couple of years, but never made it down there. This year we decided that we had to go and see the BIG balloons they had! We went down with my mom and brother, Chad and were able to stay at the Radisson, right on the parade route. Something was messed up with our reservation and they changed our room, upgraded us to a suite so that we could watch the parade from our window and keep the kids in from the cold. What a great treat! It was a lot of fun.

Oliver and Jaren being goofy right after we got there.

Finny admiring himself in the mirror.

Our room and the window we watched the parade out of.

The other room and window where we could also see the parade. It really was a great room!

The boys getting comfy.

The bridge to nowhere where Ed, Eden and I walked to at night when it was dark and the lights were on. It was pretty cool to see the lights reflecting off the river and the lights inside the walkway.

Eden overlooking the Mississippi River on the bridge to nowhere.

Santa and his reindeer! My cousin and her kids, who live in the Quad City area, are actually in this picture and I didn't even know it!! How crazy is that!?

Grandma and Jaren

Raggedy Ann looking a bit too raggedy. I think her and the traffic light got into it and the traffic light ripped her a new hole... literally. They had to deflate the rest of her right outside our window on an off street.

'A room with a view'

Ollie yells, "It's Barack Obama!!!"

Finny and Ollie

I love these bikes. It makes me think of the TV show, "American Pickers" which is based out of Le Claire, Iowa. We actually drive through Le Claire to go to our friend's house in DeKalb. One of these days we'll have to stop by and see if we can find Mike & Frank! Le Claire also has a tug of war, TUG FEST, with the town across the Mississippi River each August. I went once when I was a kid and would love to go back again. Complete tangent... anywho... this guy must have some crazy abs!

It's Willie! My mom has a dalmatian at home.

*DEKALB VISIT*

This visit we had the chance to meet the newest Gillespie, little Ayla, who was about a month old. Oliver just LOVES babies!

Eden and her baby 'sister' Ayla! Eden so wishes for a baby sister so since she doesn't have one, she gets all the 'sister' time when we visit good friends!

I don't know if Oliver could handle another sister. Little Briea is sitting on his head at this point! Cullan and the kids love to wrestle with Oliver and he lovingly obliges!

Cullan, Briea, Kael and Eden. I love how Eden's arm is around Kael.

Jaren misses his friend, Kael, so much. You can just see the fun they have together.

Fruit snacks and friends. What more could a boy ask for? Nice face here, Oliver!

Close up of Oliver's 'heming' job... ahem... scotch tape! I think I have a little MacGuyver on my hands!

Finny sitting on Garran's lap just chillin'

Kael, Briea and Finny. I could just squeeze Finny's chubby legs all day long!

Oliver and Briea. I think she likes older men! Watch out, Ollie!

Ollie and Ayla

I love this picture of these two! Too sweet!

Who would think that the end of November, we'd hear the tornado sirens going off?! Only in the midwest! We were going to leave, but didn't want to leave when the clouds were looking so ominous so we stayed and then the sirens were going off. We got the kids together in the bathroom, but luckily the only thing we saw was a rainbow. Yeah... we stayed an extra night.

*CLINTON*


Whenever we travel to see our friends in Illinois, we always try to stop in Clinton to see my grandparents, which is the halfway point of our trip. This time I got a picture of Oliver next to the height door at my grandparents house. I remember always getting out the ruler and sharpie to mark how tall we were and the date. It's fun to look back and see that even the cats and dogs were measured and added to the door!

Pretty sunset on the drive home

OCTOBER 2010

HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES - 2010

Halloween is my favorite holiday and I have so much fun helping the kids with their costumes each year. Oliver has been wanting to be YODA for the longest time and I could never find the costume in the store so we ordered it online several weeks before Halloween to ensure that it was here in time. We also ordered a green light up light saber online, but at the school Halloween party at Grandma's school, a kid busted it. He held it together and didn't cry which was a difficult thing for him with his emotions being easier to trigger nowadays. I ended up finding the other green one that he's had for a while, although it didn't light up, he was okay with it. We seriously have like 10 light sabers in this house!!!



I found a darling Garden Gnome outfit for Jaren at Target and thought it was hysterical so I bought it for him. Well, I got home and tried to wedge him into it and boy it did not give at all! Plus, it was like 3 inches too short, but I think that added to the overall hilarity of the outfit. He wore it to the church trunk-or-treat and then Finny puked all over it which I couldn't wash because it would either... A) shrink into nothingness or B) fall apart. He ended up being Batman for the rest of the Halloween festivities!




Phineas was going to be either a NINJA, which Jaren was a few years ago, or a PIRATE. Turns out he was a little of both. He wore the Ninja costume to 'Trunk or Treat' at church and the pirate costume to the nursing home. My mom kept him for us while we went trick-or-treating since it was pretty cold out. I figure he's too young to remember it now anyways! He got in on all the candy action when we got home anyways!




This year Eden wanted to be the evil vampire, VICTORIA, from the 'Twilight' series of books turned into movies. Although I am a fan of "Twilight" she came up with this ALL on her own. I just helped to make her costume come to life! We ended up with two wigs because the one I bought online wasn't here in time and so I bought another one at the store only to come home the same day and see it on our front porch. Oh well... we get use out of wigs and dress up in this house! The reddish wig looked more like The Little Mermaid and the darker auburn colored wig was curly, but too dark. Most people thought that she was Wilma from the Flintstones.

This is the Victoria from "Twilight" and "New Moon" and is the photo that I based Eden's costume off of. Notice the necklace in a few photos and the studded black leather bracelet with feathers. Obviously a long sleeved black shirt instead of a tank top.

Victoria from "Eclipse" & Victoria from "Twilight" and "New Moon"

The hair would seriously be good for an Ariel costume!

Eden getting all VAMPED out!

*SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARTIES*

Originally the 4th and 5th graders couldn't dress up or participate in the parade, so Ollie went to school with Grandma so that he could have fun and participate in the festivities at her school. I went to school and found out that he could have dressed up for the party at his school, but I didn't know in time. I wish he could have spent some time with his friends at school, but I know that he had fun with Grandma making memories there with her and her students! (I'm waiting for pictures from my mom to post!)



These cute girls are Sayde, Eden and McKenzie. They have been best friends since preschool!

*CARVING PUMPKINS*

Oliver laughing about something!

Grandma and Bryan came over to help! Whoa... take it easy Eden!!!

Phineas and Uncle Bryan's howling wolf turned out pretty awesome!

Jaren and his ghost pumpkin that Grandma helped cut out! He didn't like touching the guts of the pumpkin!

Eden and her pumpkin she carved all by herself! It's a sad pumpkin. Why are you wearing a Superman costume?! Getting in the Halloween spirit, I guess! ;o)

Oliver and his angry pumpkin that he also carved for the first time by himself! I love that smile!

Our jack-o-lanterns all aglow!

So proud of their creations!

Mummy pizzas, monster toes, yellow goblin teeth. Oliver couldn't eat it. He said it was too gross!

*TRUNK OR TREAT / HALLOWEEN DANCE*


Finny as a ninja!

Oliver - Yoda, Uncle Chad - Obi Wan Kenobi, Jaren - Garden Gnome, Eden - Victoria

Eden and Haylie

Ninja boy bustin' up the joint!

Have you ever seen two vampires doing the tango?

"Mom... we're drinking blood!" - Eden. Well... that's what vampires drink I suppose!

*TRICK OR TREATING*

These are the kids trick or treating bags that I finally got around to making this year!

Jaren like going to each door and getting candy! He loves all the suckers he gets! We went to my dad's neighborhood this year and did a lot of walking! It was so funny because Chad would go hide somewhere when Ed would take Jaren up to the door and then Chad would jump out and scare the crap out of Jaren and he LOVED it! I can't believe how much he loved getting scared. He would ask him to hide over and over again!

We took the stroller because we figured Jaren would get pooped walking so far and didn't even think about bringing the wheelchair for Oliver because he's been doing so well lately. He ended up sitting in the stroller the majority of the time. I keep forgetting that when we walk more than just around the house, he gets winded and wiped out a lot easier. We cut it short, but had a lot of fun together.

Oliver and Jaren