Athens ROCKS

Yesterday Athens held what is described as the "World's Largest Bone Marrow Donor Drive" with over 1,300 people joining the registry!

I encourage anyone who hasn't yet joined to visit marrow.org and order a kit. It is as simple as swabbing the inside of your cheeks. There are some age & health restrictions. There are usually 2-3 times during the year when there is no charge for joining, otherwise it is $52. I will be sure to let everyone know when the next drive takes place.

Tuesday's Marley pics

Maybe Samantha is not the only one who is crazy about this puppy......

Samantha is in LOVE

With Marley. She can't get enough of this puppy. Almost makes it worth the drive...... She is a sweet pup & very cute.

This picture was taken February 2006 at the boy scout's Blue & Gold Banquet. Christian & Cameron were enjoying a magic show. This was his only year of scouts. Somehow I ended up being the Tiger Cub Leader. I am glad we had that time together.

February 2005. I can't remember what they were engrossed in watching. Must have been something good. Notice that Samantha had her usual 2 pacifiers - 1 in the mouth & 1 in the hand.

I went to Mason's memorial service yesterday. It was a touching service.

Introducing......

MARLEY!

Marley is a Great Pyrenees pup. She was born on January 6th. 20 miles from Indianapolis. So today, we drove nearly 4 hours each way to pick up this little (for now) pup. Samantha is so thrilled. She has been begging for a dog. We were never able to have one before due to Cameron's restrictions & so much time away from home.

This dog is going to be huge. Her parents are 110 & 130 pounds. She was so sweet on the ride home - never made a peep.

We were planning to get Sam a different breed of dog & have the Easter Bunny deliver her. Unfortunately, that pup didn't make it. We scrambled around looking for puppies, found this one & decided to swoop her up.

Sam got to name her so she picked Marley after the movie. She will ultimately be an outside dog, but at least for tonight she'll be sleeping in a little pink pillow bed. Acutally, right now she is in Sam's Tinkerbell tent a bit overwhelmed.

Me too.

Our trip to the hair salon

Samantha & I had appointments to get our hair done yesterday. She just got a slight trim across the bottom to even up the ends. I didn't have my camera, so no pictures of this adventure.

Those who know Sam know that she likes to talk and she likes to dance. She was certainly giving Roger an earful as he went about her trim. At one point, she turned to the teenage boy who was in the next chair getting his hair cut. She said "Are you a brother? I used to have a brother. He's in heaven now. Diseases are bad." I simply froze. The looks on the faces of that boy, his mother & the stylist were a mix of shock, sympathy & maybe a little embarrassment because they didn't know what to say. Fortunately, Sam went right on & told them that she likes to dance with poles & that "my mommy is always naked." Great.



These pictures were taken in February 2006:



I realize that Sam was 1) too old for a pacifier and 2) too old/too big to be in a crib. But both made my life a wee bit easier. Cam liked to climb in the crib to snuggle with her. We had to put it away when I got concerned that their combined weight would break it.

Cam's school always does a session of square dancing in gym class. After the kids all learn a dance, they put on a show for the parents. The kids all dress up in their Western wear.

Sometimes I wish Samantha was still this shy.

Happy Late Valentines.....

Valentines Day 2006.





Valentines 2007. Cam was about 3 weeks post-1st-transplant. That is why I'm wearing surgical gloves. I was breaking multiple transplant room rules by being too close and having bodily contact with him. I may have even touched his bed.

This is Samantha's friend. He brought her a special pink elephant for Valentine's Day. He is a real sweetie.

Sam has not felt great yesterday & so far today. She has a runny rose & a cough. I'm glad it is not that stomach flu that is going around. She has been having a great time playing with "Mia" her American Girl doll with ice skates compliments of our friend Jennifer Chichester. Samantha particularly likes this doll because "she has hair like me."

Lori

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I've had some emails & other questions about how to leave a comment on this blog as opposed to the caringbridge site. There are no restrictions for comment on either site - but if you are mean, I might remove it.

- On here you, click on the word "comment" at the end of any given post. It should take you to another page with a box for you to type in. I believe it says above the box "Post your comments" or "leave a comment."

-There may (or not) be a box for you to type in the letters that you see. If you don't have a google user id, check the "anonymous" block and you can leave your name at the end of your comment so I'll know who it is from.

-Finally, click on "publish your comment."

If this doesn't work, let me know. If you notice that I have missed a step, let me know that as well.

Party at our house?

Shopping list:

Glitter
Cheese
Shampoo



Sound like fun? There is never a dull day here.


I have a book of lists that some guy in Wisconsin compiled from grocery store lists he randomly found. One of my favorites included liquor, fire and chocolate. It has made me more aware/conscious of my own odd lists. I think tonight's list was a good one.

Ballerina fun

Samantha had a load of fun with her tutu craft book from Joe & Sue. She was very proud of her efforts.

Mommy, am I still a sister?

Yes Samantha. You will always be a sister.


There are literally a thousand more like these.


Taken when Sam was 8 days old. Cameron was the ever proud big brother.

Flashes of Hope Photography, January 2008.

Walking up the sand dunes at Nags Head (Outer Banks, NC), July 2006.

Acting silly, May 2007.

Ronald McDonald House, February 2007.

Just about to leave for church, January 15, 2006.

Snuggling together, both sound asleep. April 2006.

Who doesn't love their back washed? August 2005.

Feeling crummy, just out of the PICU, Samantha giving a little love. Dec 6, 2006.

They picked flowers for Mommy. October 2, 2006.

First day of 2nd Grade, August 2006.

Lori

Coraline..... & Gratitude Award

is a bizarre & slightly disturbing movie. I won't give anything away here. It is certainly not on my list of recommended movies, especially for Sam's age group. The previews were slightly deceiving, they made it look like a kid's animated movie. In reality, the plot was odd at best & a little scary.


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Thanks to the Whites from New Zealand for this award.

Here are the details of the award:
This award is for those who show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE! if you are given the award, then put the logo on your blog or post. next, nominate at least 5-10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE! be sure to link to your nominees within your post. let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

And now I nominate:

The Alfriend Family: http://tyleralfriend.blogspot.com/
Lauren/Jude's Mommy: http://cjengo.blogspot.com/
Stephanie W: http://stephanieweathers.blogspot.com/
Trey's Aunt Lissa: http://runningfortrey.blogspot.com/
Our friend Olivia: http://oliviamallett.blogspot.com/

Please visit these blogs - they are all amazing!

Imagine my surprise

I am really tired this evening. I've felt half in a fog since I got home from work. I thought I'd go to bed early tonight. I went in the bathroom to brush my teeth & saw something out of the corner of my eye. Look what was standing in the bathtub:






Samantha's My Size Barbie. That doll shows up everywhere! This is not her first shower. I've also found her in the middle of my bed, peering from behind the couch, in the corner of the dining room. This doll freaks me out a little.

The Tooth Fairy Came!

Samantha seemed shocked that the Tooth Fairy actually came during the night & left her $3. She said "Is this enough to buy a Webkins?" I told her she was going to have to lose a bunch more teeth for that.

This is Cameron after he lost his first tooth in February 2004. He was equally proud. I think Sam looks more like her brother every day. Both beautiful.

My little girl is growing up

Samantha lost her very first tooth today! She is so excited.

I didn't even know that it was loose. While brushing her teeth for school, she spit & out it flew. She then kept spitting - I think to see if any more came out! I stopped on the way home to get a ceramic tooth box at a local gift store. She can't wait to see what the tooth fairy brings.

Lori

A new month

I can't believe it is February already. It feels as though time is flying by.

I made another trip to Columbus today. I visited Mason in the PICU. Bless his little heart. He is such a fighter. His parents are wonderful examples of grace and dignity.

After the visit, I saw our friend Kim for lunch. Kim was one of Cameron's favorite nurses. She feels like family. Samantha was so jealous. She loves Kim & says that she wants to be just like her when she is big. She also says that she is the "real Kim" and that anyone else named Kim is fake. (Likely not cap gras given her age....)

I'm home now & pretending as though I am interested in the Super Bowl when in reality the only thing I am interested in are the mini-cheesecakes that are cooling in the refrigerator.