Team Drew: Summer 2013

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!

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!

Party at Chuck E. Cheese

Shooting guns at the farm

Randy & Drew

Randy & Dallin

Randy & Drew

Randy & Brooke

Mastering the Bike

Training wheels don't cramp his tough guy style

Baseball

Cancer Survivors Day at the Kane County Cougars game

New Baby - no not ours!

My sister Debbie had a new baby boy and here are all of our kids visiting him in the newborn nursery

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!

Drew & Brian eating ice cream

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!

Carnival Day at camp

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

Drew in the Dune Buggy

Kelsey and Ghost

Brooke on Butch

Brooke washing Butch

Blake & Drew getting ice cream

4th of July - Kids Fireworks

Drew & Dallin

Drew & his Blackhawks hat. It's rare that you will find him without it on these days.

Brain Tumor Family Camp

This was the first year we were able to go to Family Camp up in Wisconsin.

We enjoyed spending time with families we've met along the way and meeting new families that understand the journey.

Roasting marshmallows at the campfire

S'mores

Ice Cream

Visiting the hospital because my nephew Trevor broke his femur!

Drew was actually excited to go to the hospital and visit and have it not be about him!

Trevor in his body cast

Run for Gus

Dallin, Connor & Drew after the Kids race

Minor trauma - Brooke took a spill at the turn during her heat of the Kids race

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