July 31, 2013
We are all doing well and having lots of fun this summer.
Drew just had another MRI 2 weeks ago and everything looks good.
Yesterday marked a year since Drew's last dose of chemo. After missing out on 2 full summers the last 2 years after diagnosis, surgery and all through treatment, we are taking advantage of it this year and squeezing in all kinds of fun!
Drew turned 5!
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Drew's 5th Birthday |
We got his cake through an organization called Icing Smiles which is a nonprofit organization that provides custom celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by the critical illness of a child. They find a local baker willing to make a special cake for theme of the party. Drew's party was an army guy theme and he was so excited when surprised with this amazing tank cake from Cutie Patootie Cakes & Cupcakes. She did such an amazing job and it was the hit of the party!
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Party at Chuck E. Cheese |
Shooting guns at the farm
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Randy & Drew |
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Randy & Dallin |
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Randy & Drew |
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Randy & Brooke |
Mastering the Bike
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Training wheels don't cramp his tough guy style |
Baseball
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Cancer Survivors Day at the Kane County Cougars game |
New Baby - no not ours!
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My sister Debbie had a new baby boy and here are all of our kids visiting him in the newborn nursery |
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Miniature golf |
Camp TLC
We really didn't know what to expect from this camp, but had heard it was great. It is the only camp in Illinois for cancer kids that allows them to bring a sibling along. This was the first year Drew was old enough to go and Brooke went along too. I was a little nervous about sending Drew off to an all day activity everyday for a whole week. When we checked in on the first day and they called out his group and counselor (they have an almost 1:1 counselor to camper ratio), his counselor was our good friend Brian! We couldn't believe it! We didn't know Brian was going to be at camp and he didn't know we were going to be there and the people in charge who paired them up had no idea that we knew each other! Brian is a 10 year brain tumor survivor and he and his family are good family friends of ours from church. To say this week of camp was the highlight of their summer would be an understatement. It is sponsored by the Lombard Junior Women's Club and was absolutely amazing!
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Drew & Brian eating ice cream |
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Drew after 5 minutes in the car after first day of camp. He was so hot he ripped off his shirt and was out cold! |
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Carnival Day at camp |
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Brooke & Drew (siblings) with counselors and friends Brian & Patrick (siblings) |
Shedd Aquarium
Kelsey turned 2!
Another amazing cake for the birthday girl from Icing Smiles. So special that each sibling gets to participate and receive a cake on each of their own special days. This one was done by Ta Dah Cakes for Kelsey's Minnie Mouse party and was so much fun to sample all kinds before picking a flavor.
Brookfield Zoo
Cantigny Tank Park
Morton Arboretum
More fun at the farm
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Drew in the Dune Buggy |
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Kelsey and Ghost |
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Brooke on Butch |
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Brooke washing Butch |
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Blake & Drew getting ice cream |
4th of July - Kids Fireworks
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Drew & Dallin |
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Drew & his Blackhawks hat. It's rare that you will find him without it on these days. |
Brain Tumor Family Camp
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This was the first year we were able to go to Family Camp up in Wisconsin. |
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We enjoyed spending time with families we've met along the way and meeting new families that understand the journey. |
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Roasting marshmallows at the campfire |
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S'mores |
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Ice Cream |
Visiting the hospital because my nephew Trevor broke his femur!
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Drew was actually excited to go to the hospital and visit and have it not be about him! |
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Trevor in his body cast |
Run for Gus
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Dallin, Connor & Drew after the Kids race |
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Minor trauma - Brooke took a spill at the turn during her heat of the Kids race |
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Drew & Connor - both brain tumor survivors on their dads shoulders These two were in treatment together at the old hospital and were back to back appointments during radiation treatment and have become good friends. |
DuPage County Fair
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The kids love the fair and look forward to it every year. |
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Kelsey's first corn dog - trying to figure out how to eat this huge thing |
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Dallin was pretty excited about his huge corn dog |
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Blake & Drew |
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Papa with Kelsey & Brooke
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Summer's not over yet!