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Tuesday, November 18, 2008 8:15 AM CST

Wow...I can't believe we are beginning the holiday season!! Seems like we just finished it last year. Last Christmas we went home to Ca to spend it with my granparents and aunt and cousing. My parents also flew out. This year....they are all coming here plus my brother and his family from Tx...so we will be crowded. It will be alot of fun tho!!

We are kicking off our 4th annual Pediatric Toy drive to benefit the local hospitals. In the past we have had such a great success with it...with the help of our community and my yoga teachers studio. Hopefully we will once again be able to load up the van with lots of toys, movies and gift cards to put some smiles on kids faces. The pic above is the delivery to one of the hospitals last year. It was great...and the kids love to do it!!!

Nicholas is just finishing up soccer and will start basketball here soon. He is also doing his Wolf pack in Cubs and loves it. He is doing great in school. Just got report cards and got all A's and 1 B (only 1 pt from an A). He really does like school and loves to read!! Meghan was on A/B honor roll for her honors 8th grade and Hannah is in honors 5th and had straight A's...so we are really proud of all of them.

We did go up to Duke a few weeks ago and all is well. They thought he looks great...labs and urine were great!! He doesn't have to go back for another 6 months!!!!!!

Well have a great holiday season and remember to keep those fighting in your thoughts and prayers!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Heather

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 8:45 PM CDT

Wow...been awhile since I have updated!! The kids started back to school last week and so far so good! Nicholas is in 2nd grade now and loves his teacher!! Scary thing I realized this year...Hannah will be finishing up elementary and Meghan will be finishing up middle so next year I will have one in each school!! Where does the time go?
Our summer was fun...relaxing! We had company from the 5th of August til the 21st...so August was busy!! We took a few quick trips this year. One to Hershey, PA and one to Charleston, SC. They were both alot of fun. We hadn't ever been to Hershey before and the kids really enjoyed it.
Nicholas is excited to start soccer up again this fall. He will also be back with cub scouts as a Wolf. He really enjoys doing both!!
Medically...all is well!! We don't head back up to Duke til sometime this month or next...guess I will have to check on that. But he is doing great!!
Not much else to report. We are just waiting to see what TS Hanna decides to do...hit us or miss us. The bad part of living on the coast. Then Hurricane Ike is kind of following in her path so we may get a one-two punch here!!! Hopefully it won't be too bad!!
Thanks for checking in and please continue to pray for those still fighting NB!!!
Heather
~~~Please sign our guestbook and let us know you were here~~~~ Thanks~~~

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 10:18 AM CDT

Well we are quickly finishing up school here. Only 10 days left...where did this year go?? The kids are excited to be DONE with school!!
Alot has happened in the past few months since I last updated. Nicholas had to go back to Duke for another scan to rule out a questionable spot...ALL WENT WELL...NOTHING WAS THERE!!! Then Nicholas has been busy playing baseball...he walked in Relay for Life again. This year he walked the survivor lap with his grandpa (my dad) so that was pretty cool. Nicholas also turned 7 and had a BIG Star Wars party...25 young Jedi's came to our house for training!! They even had a visit from Darth Vader and they had to attack him and defeat him!! We had the Star Wars music playing and had smoke effects for Darth to walk through...it turned out pretty cool! Can't believe he is 7 years old already!!! YIKES!!
Our summer is going to be pretty mild this year...yea!!! We have some friends visiting from Los Angeles in August. We may take a trip here or there but I am actually looking forward to just hanging out at the pool or beach!!
Nothing really exciting to report!! Hope this finds all of you well!! Please remember to pray for those that are fighting the beast!!
Love, Heather

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:01 AM CDT

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!
WE HAVE BEEN BUSY HERE LATELY. NICHOLAS STARTED BASEBALL A FEW WEEKS AGO. HE SEEMS TO LIKE IT BUT DOES LOSE INTEREST AFTER WHILE OF STANDING IN THE FIELD. HE HAS A PRETTY GOOD ARM BUT IS STILL A BIT AFRAID TO CATCH THE BALL. WHEN HE GETS OVER THAT HE CAN CATCH IT PRETTY WELL. HE LOVES BATTING THE MOST!!!

HE IS STILL BUSY WITH SCHOOL AND CUBS!! WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING BREAK COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS THO.....WE NEED THE REST!!!!!!!

NOTHING REALLY TO REPORT OTHER THAN WE DO HAVE TO GO TO DUKE ON THE 10TH TO HAVE A CHEST X-RAY TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK SOMETHING FROM HIS SCAN. JUST TO BE SAFE SINCE THIS WAS HIS LAST SCAN. HE ALSO HAS TO SEE HIS EYE DOCTOR WHILE WE ARE UP THERE. LUCKILY I GOT IT ALL SCHEDULED FOR A DAY OF SPRING BREAK. HE HAS MISSED ENOUGH DAYS OF SCHOOL THIS YEAR WITH ALL HIS SURGERIES AND SCANS!!!!!!

WE ARE GETTING READY FOR OUR RELAY FOR LIFE EVENT THE BEGINNING OF MAY!! NICHOLAS AND HIS GRANDPA WILL BE WALKING IN THE SURVIVOR LAP TOGETHER THIS YEAR!! NICHOLAS IS WALKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY TEAM THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF HIS SCHOOL!!

I HOPE EVERYONE IS STARTING TO WARM UP A BIT....WE ARE!!!! KEEP NICHOLAS AND ALL THOSE STILL BATTLING IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!!

TAKE CARE!!
HEATHER

Thursday, February 7, 2008 5:42 PM CST

SCANS ARE CLEAR!!!!!

Nicholas' scans came back NED (no evidence of disease) and he no longer has to have scans!!!!!! He will still have to go back up to Duke in 6 months for an exam and labs but no more scans!!!

I am exhausted so this is short!! Thanks for all those that kept him and will continue to keep Nicholas in your thoughts and prayers!!!

Will update when I am more awake!! Scan days are LONG and TIRING!!!!

Love, Heather

Monday, February 4, 2008 3:42 PM CST

Hello!!!
Just a quick update....On Saturday Nicholas had his first pinewood derby and HE GOT 2nd PLACE in his Tiger Cub den and 6th overall (out of about 30 cars). He was VERY excited and I was surprised cuz his car was designed BY HIM. Paul let him design the car. I really was worried that it wasn't even going to GO!!! But it did great!!! You can see a pic of the car on the album page!!

Also, a few weeks ago..Make a Wish gave us some tickets to the Hurricanes game. It was the first game for the kids and my first hockey game since LA. We got to explain the game and the kids really enjoyed it. He even got to check it off as a scout thing!! Paul didn't think it would be a good idea for me to wear my Kings jersey....guess I have to get behind the Cannes since we live here now!!!!

Last thing...and most important!!! On Wed Nicholas, my mom and I will head up to Duke for what we hope is NICHOLAS" LAST SET OF SCANS!!!!!! Wow that will be sooooooo great. So PLEASE keep him in your thoughts and prayers that he does well and that the scans are once again NED. It has been a long road and while he has been NED since 5/04 each step farther away from treatment is great!! Can breathe a little easier!!! He gets a bit stressed about having to go for scans but he does well!! So please keep him in your thoughts and prayers and I will let you know the results ASAP!!! Thanks!!!

Hope this finds you all well and please remember those that are still battling!!!
Love, Heather

***New photos***Please sign his guestbook and let him know you were here!!!!****

Monday, January 21, 2008 11:53 AM CST

UGH!!! I sat and wrote a whole new journal and IT IS GONE!!! I am not sure what is with this site lately!!!

So here it goes again...but a shorter version!!! We had a terrific toy drive this year and were able to deliver a bunch of toys to Duke and Rainbow Day Hospital. Our friends and neighbors were very generous this year and we appreciate the support!! We not only had the help of Winding River this year but Melissa (my yoga instructor) held a drive at her studio, Island Yoga! So thanks to all of the donations from her and her patrons!!

On December 20th we headed out to Los Angeles for the holidays!! We spent 2 weeks there visiting and having fun!! We hadn't been back for Christmas since we moved so it was a great time!! My grandparents, aunt and cousin were thrilled to have us...probably thrilled to get rid of us too!! My parents also went out for Christmas so it was just like old times!!! We got to spend time with some friends also and see some we hadn't seen in years!! We went to Disneyland (along with everyone else in so. Ca.) but we had the front of the line pass again so that helped. We hit every ride and some more than once!! It was a sold out day so most people had to settle for a few rides!! We also went and saw some of the Rose Parade floats being built. We didn't go to the parade cuz I have done that and it is miserable. Next time we will plan it better and get bleacher seats so we can go. We also drove up the coast to Carpenteria (just south of Santa Barbara) where I spent my summers growing up. We walked the beach and saw my old house!! The kids found some great shells too!! We went to the LA Zoo, rode the ponies and stayed a few days at our friends the Hollingsworths. We rang in the NEw Year's at their house with some other friends as well!!

Nicholas also got some new glasses when we got back!! They are a mild perscription so he hasn't been wearing them all the time...but so far so good. We haven't lost them or broken them YET!!!

Next month is HOPEFULLY Nicholas' last set of scans!!! He will be monitored via urine and blood work after that!! I can't believe he won't have to have scans anymore! It is reassuring to have those scans but I guess they feel he is now 3 years off treatment and a good prognosis. So please keep him in your prayers that the upcoming scans are once again NED!! I am sure they will be!!

Nicholas just started basketball and is liking it so far!! He is getting ready to start spring soccer also!!

I hope this finds everyone doing well and that you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a happy and healthy 2008!!

Love, Heather
New pics in the photo album and make sure to sign Nicholas' guestbook and let us know you visited!!!!

Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:13 AM CST

Hello!!
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!! We had a nice Thanksgiving and are looking forward to going back to Los Angeles for Christmas!! We haven't been back to LA for Christmas since we moved here. My grandparents and aunt still live out there and are very excited for us to come. My parents are also flying out there for it!! It will be a very memorable Christmas.

Nicholas' eye surgery went well...no complications! He recovered pretty quickly too!! NOW he has surgery tomorrow to correct a problem that was left due to where the tumor was and where it was pressing. So we will head up to Raliegh in the morning. This surgery will be at WakeMed which we have done EVERYTHING at Duke...so it will be interesting to see how it goes. We have just gotten so comfortable at Duke and know alot of the staff there...but I am sure WakeMed is a great hospital also!!

Our toy drive is underway and doing well so far. It had a slow start this year but I think since I started earlier this year (due to our travel schedule) people hadn't gotten in the Christmas spirit yet!! Hopefully we will have a vanload again this year!! The kids love to go deliver the gifts and make a day out of it!!

I hope this finds everyone well!! Please remember to keep those still fighting the fight in your prayers!!

Love, Heather
Please sign the guestbook and let us know you visited!!!!

Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:13 AM CST

Hello!!
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!! We had a nice Thanksgiving and are looking forward to going back to Los Angeles for Christmas!! We haven't been back to LA for Christmas since we moved here. My grandparents and aunt still live out there and are very excited for us to come. My parents are also flying out there for it!! It will be a very memorable Christmas.

Nicholas' eye surgery went well...no complications! He recovered pretty quickly too!! NOW he has surgery tomorrow to correct a problem that was left due to where the tumor was and where it was pressing. So we will head up to Raliegh in the morning. This surgery will be at WakeMed which we have done EVERYTHING at Duke...so it will be interesting to see how it goes. We have just gotten so comfortable at Duke and know alot of the staff there...but I am sure WakeMed is a great hospital also!!

Our toy drive is underway and doing well so far. It had a slow start this year but I think since I started earlier this year (due to our travel schedule) people hadn't gotten in the Christmas spirit yet!! Hopefully we will have a vanload again this year!! The kids love to go deliver the gifts and make a day out of it!!

I hope this finds everyone well!! Please remember to keep those still fighting the fight in your prayers!!

Love, Heather
Please sign the guestbook and let us know you visited!!!!

Saturday, November 10, 2007 1:14 PM CST

Happy Fall!! Wow where did the time go? The kids had a blast on Halloween (pics in the photo album) and we are now stocked for the year with candy!!! I am not kidding...we have TONS!!!

Nicholas is doing well. He just had eye surgery yesterday up at Duke and is doing well! We figured it was better to just go up there and have it done since they know his history and they have top notch doctors!! His left eye drifted out a bit so they decided to just fix it now before his brain decided to shut it down. They ended up doing both eyes. He is so good about this stuff it is kind of sad. He isn't in too much discomfort today...eyes are looking a bit ugly but he has a few days to recover before going back to school...HE doesn't like missing school!!

He also has to have surgery on the 30th to correct a problem that is a result of the cancer and chemo. It isn't a big procedure but I feel bad for him! Hopefully this will be the last of the surgeries!!! We considered putting it off til the first of the year but figured we might as well just get it over with!!! POOR BOY!!

We are looking forward to the start of our 4th annual toy drive for the children's hospitals!! The pic above is from last years delivery to Duke. That was just PART of what our community donated...the rest went to other hospitals and the Rainbow day Hospital!! We have had such generosity over the past few years we have filled our van...Sleigh...and made a day of delivering presents and then seeing the Meadow Lights on the way home. It has kind of become a fun family tradition for us and I love how it teaches my kids to do something nice for others. I hope we have just as well of a turn out this year!!

Nicholas is just finishing up soccer and is looking forward to basketball in Jan. He is LOVING cub scouts and went on his first campout last weekend...they FROZE but they had a blast!! He earned his Bobcat badge and is working hard along the Tiger Cub trail!!

The girls are doing well also...school, dance and piano take up alot of their time!!

This is also the time that Lunch for Life starts their Giving Tree campaign. If you would like to read more about Lunch for Life and make a donation in Nicholas' name you may copy and paste the link!!

http://www.lunchforlife.org/family/home.aspx?FamilyID=105

I hope this finds everyone doing well and enjoying the beginning of the holidays!! I love this time of year but it is also rough since this is the time of year that Nicholas was diagnosed (Nov 7) but I see how WELL he is doing and get lots of his hugs and kisses and it makes it all better!!

Take care!! Check out the pics in the album and sign our guestbook to let us know you were here!!!

Heather

Thursday, October 4, 2007 7:51 AM CDT

Not too much to report!! Nicholas is doing well in school and seems to enjoy it! He likes his teacher and has learned to NOT TALK when she is talking. Nicholas is VERY social so that is tough for him. He is reading like crazy and his progress report was great!! Just needs to work on the not being so social when in class..lol.

Nicholas has been busy with the beginning of soccer and cub scouts!! He was very excited to start both. His best buds are on the soccer team and involved in scouts with him. He had his first soccer game this past Saturday and got 2 goals. He was sooo proud of himself. He is doing much better this year than last with getting in there and getting the ball. Last year he just kind of ran around the field and around the ball. Nicholas and Paul get to go on the first cub scout camping trip next month! Nicholas is looking forward to it! We got his casual uniform and have to go get his REAL cub uniform soon.

On a medical note...Nicholas is doing terrific. Unfortunately tho...he does have to have surgery on November 26 on his eyes. He has a drifting eye and the doctor feels it is best to take care of it now than wait and have the chance that his brain will shut that eye down! He is having it done at Duke (where else would we go they know us there lol) and the doctor that is doing it had done my nephews surgery so we know his work!! He is actually going to have both eyes done and he does need glasses also. This seems minor compared to all he has been through but still he has to go under GA and I hate that!! Just remember to please keep him in your prayers that day and following that he has a quick and relatively pain free recovery!!

Nicholas will once again get to be a starter at the Cape Fear Duke Children's Mini Grand Prix. This will be his 3rd year doing it and actually my first year getting to go!! He looks forward to doing it and since he is a HUGE race fan he loves to just watch the races!!

I hope this finds you all well and remember those still battling!! Please keep Nicholas in your prayers that his battle is DONE!!!

Thanks for checking in on him!! New pics are in the photo album and remember to sign his guestbook and let us know you were here!!

Love, Heather

Saturday, September 1, 2007 7:51 AM CDT

Well our first week of school went off smoothly!! I just can't believe the summer is over already!! We did have a great summer tho. We got to go back to California for a few weeks, went to Atlanta for a few days with my mom and my niece and nephew and spent lots of time at the pool or beach. I know the kids were excited to get back to school and start the new year off!! Nicholas is now in 1st grade and loves it!! He was a bit bummed that he didn't get ANY of his neighborhood friends in his class...actually they were all split up between the 5 1st grade classes!! But he is VERY social and making new friends fast and like I explained to him..he can still see his buds at recess and afterschool. He loves his new teacher and assistant. He is reading really, really well and is really loving it too.

His sisters are enjoying school also! Meghan is in 7th...aaahh!! I went through the whole freaking out for her starting middle school last year but for some reason 7th just sounds BIG!! Especially when she borrowed my red sandals yesterday cuz "they went with her outfit"

Hannah is in 4th and is Ms. Socialbutterfly!! She has alot of her friends in her class but doesn't get to be in her main class much. She made AIG this year for both Math and Communications....so most of the time she is in that class. But she does get to see them at lunch, recess, resource and science. She needed to be challanged this year so it is good for her even tho it is harder. She enjoys it too...so that is good.

A few weeks before school started my brother and his family came out from Texas for a visit. So we were able to have a mini family reunion (just our immediate family). We spent most of the time up at my parents lake house...jet skiing, swimming, kneeboarding and tubing. The cousins all get along so well and even tho they don't all get to be together very often they just pick up where they left off last year. I posted some pics of them all together. They really do love being together....my kids and my one brother's kids see each other alot cuz they live in the same neighborhood but my bro from Tx we don't see as often.

Well unfortuantly NIcholas and I head up to Duke on Tuesday. His optomotrist wanted him to see a pediatric Opthomologist about his drifting eye. This is no surprise cuz it runs in the family!!! But she is sending him up for a consult on possible surgery for it before it gets too bad and his brain shuts that eye down. Shouldn't we get some sort of private parking space or something for all the time and money we have given to Duke??? Hopefully they will be able to get it done soon so it isn't something that will bug him. Or hopefully it won't have to be done...but that is unlikely.

Well we are off to the lake for the long weekend!! I hope this finds everyone well!!!

Love, Heather

Be sure to sign the guestbook and let us know you were here!! Thanks!!

New Pics in the photo album!!

Saturday, September 1, 2007 7:51 AM CDT

Well our first week of school went off smoothly!! I just can't believe the summer is over already!! We did have a great summer tho. We got to go back to California for a few weeks, went to Atlanta for a few days with my mom and my niece and nephew and spent lots of time at the pool or beach. I know the kids were excited to get back to school and start the new year off!! Nicholas is now in 1st grade and loves it!! He was a bit bummed that he didn't get ANY of his neighborhood friends in his class...actually they were all split up between the 5 1st grade classes!! But he is VERY social and making new friends fast and like I explained to him..he can still see his buds at recess and afterschool. He loves his new teacher and assistant. He is reading really, really well and is really loving it too.

His sisters are enjoying school also! Meghan is in 7th...aaahh!! I went through the whole freaking out for her starting middle school last year but for some reason 7th just sounds BIG!! Especially when she borrowed my red sandals yesterday cuz "they went with her outfit"

Hannah is in 4th and is Ms. Socialbutterfly!! She has alot of her friends in her class but doesn't get to be in her main class much. She made AIG this year for both Math and Communications....so most of the time she is in that class. But she does get to see them at lunch, recess, resource and science. She needed to be challanged this year so it is good for her even tho it is harder. She enjoys it too...so that is good.

A few weeks before school started my brother and his family came out from Texas for a visit. So we were able to have a mini family reunion (just our immediate family). We spent most of the time up at my parents lake house...jet skiing, swimming, kneeboarding and tubing. The cousins all get along so well and even tho they don't all get to be together very often they just pick up where they left off last year. I posted some pics of them all together. They really do love being together....my kids and my one brother's kids see each other alot cuz they live in the same neighborhood but my bro from Tx we don't see as often.

Well unfortuantly NIcholas and I head up to Duke on Tuesday. His optomotrist wanted him to see a pediatric Opthomologist about his drifting eye. This is no surprise cuz it runs in the family!!! But she is sending him up for a consult on possible surgery for it before it gets too bad and his brain shuts that eye down. Shouldn't we get some sort of private parking space or something for all the time and money we have given to Duke??? Hopefully they will be able to get it done soon so it isn't something that will bug him. Or hopefully it won't have to be done...but that is unlikely.

Well we are off to the lake for the long weekend!! I hope this finds everyone well!!!

Love, Heather

Be sure to sign the guestbook and let us know you were here!! Thanks!!

New Pics in the photo album!!

Friday, August 10, 2007 9:52 AM CDT

SCANS ARE CLEAN!!!

We had a long 2 days at Duke but Nicholas did terrific and was a brave boy!!! His scans were NED once again!! When we saw his doctors yesterday after scans they said that he will have one more set in 6 months and THAT WILL BE IT FOR SCANS!!!!! They will still monitor his urine for VMA markers but other than that NO SCANS!!! Paul and I have mixed feelings about that. It is great that he has moved beyond them and his Dr is thrilled that he is 3+ years NED and 2+ years off treatment....BUT it is kind of reassuring to have those scans occasionally to KNOW there isn't anything there!! But we are thrilled that he will be done with them!!
Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers during scan time!!
Love, Heather

Monday, August 6, 2007 3:50 PM CDT

Nicholas will go for scans on the 8th and 9th....so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that he will remain NED!!! I will update when we get back and let you know how scans went and what we have been up to this summer!!
Hope everyone is enjoying what's left of summer break!!!
Heather

Tuesday, May 8, 2007 8:35 AM CDT

May 30...
Wow I can't believe I haven't put up picks of Nicholas' party!! He had a really fun PIRATE party!! THey had a treasure hunt and yes the treasure was buried, played pass the cannonball, we were even attacked by another pirate ship!! It turned out really fun.




RELAY WAS ONCE AGAIN A BIG SUCCESS!! I LOVE WATCHING NICHOLAS STANDING THERE IN A SEA OF PURPLE SHIRTS WAITING TO WALK (OKAY RUN) THE SURVIVOR LAP!! HE REALLY DOES LOOK FORWARD TO RELAY EVERY YEAR...MAYBE CUZ HE IS SO SPOILED AND LOVED BY ALL THE OTHER SURVIVIORS. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST SUVIVOR THERE THIS YEAR...ACTUALLY THE ONLY KID. THEY HAD A DRAWING FOR THE SUVIVORS AND THE WINNER GOT TO GO UP IN A HOT AIR BALLOON AFTER THE SUVIVOR LAP! A MAN WON AND CAME UP TO NICHOLAS AND ASKED IF HE WOULD LIKE TO BE THE ONE TO DO IT....UH...DOES THAT MEAN MOMMY HAS TO GO?? NICHOLAS JUMPED AT THE CHANCE AND I MADE PAUL GO WITH HIM. IT WAS VERY SWEET OF THE MAN (WHO I NOW CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME)UNFORTUNATELY THE WEATHER STARTED TURNING WINDY AND UNPREDICTABLE SO NICHOLAS ONLY GOT TO GO UP A VERY SHORT DISTANCE AND THEN THEY PUT THE BALLOON AWAY. BUT HE WAS STILL THRILLED WITH IT!! AFTER THAT WE WALKED A BIT AND THEN WENT TO THE VIRGINIA WILLIAMSON ELEMENTARY BOOTH. THEY HAD A BOUNCE HOUSE SO THAT IS WHERE NICHOLAS WAS FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING. HE WOULD NOT GET OUT OF THERE!! HE GOT TO VISIT WITH SOME FRIENDS AND THE GIRLS GO TO SEE SOME OF THEIR FRIENDS AND TEACHERS. I BELIEVE THE PRELIMINARY AMOUNT RELAY RAISED THIS YEAR WAS $300,000...FOR A SMALL COUNTY THAT ISN'T TOO BAD!! OH A REPORTER ALSO CAME AND INTERVIEWED NICHOLAS AND I AND GOT EVERYTHING IN HER STORY WRONG!! HE CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL YESTERDAY WITH QUITE A FEW COPIES OF THE ARTICLE AND HIS PICTURE THEY PUT IN IT!! IT WAS PRETTY CUTE BUT NOT A VERY WELL DONE STORY!!

WE ARE EXPECTING LOTS OF PIRATES THIS WEEKEND!! NICHOLAS' BIRTHDAY IS THIS SATURDAY AND HE IS COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS!! HE WAS SOOO EXCITED THAT HIS BIRTHDAY FELL ON A SATURDAY THIS YEAR SO HE COULD HAVE HIS PARTY ON HIS BDAY!! HIS PARTY SHOULD BE REALLY FUN...EVERYTHING IS PIRATE!! I WILL POST PICS AFTERWARDS!!

WELL OTHER THAN THAT NOT MUCH TO REPORT!! NICHOLAS IS DOING TERRIFIC AND GROWING LIKE A WEED!! HE CAN'T WAIT FOR SCHOOL TO BE OUT AND SUMMER TO BEGIN!!

LOVE, HEATHER

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 1:12 PM CDT

Hello all,
Not much to report! Nicholas' birthday is on the 12th and he is VERY excited about his party!! He decided (after a LONG time at the party store) to have a Pirate Party!! I think it will be pretty cute. I made the invitations out of parchment paper and printed them on the computer then burned the edges and tied them up with jute. It said that Captain Nicholas was looking for a crew to celebrate his party. Then when the kids get here they will each get a pirate doo-rag (hat thing) and then have to perform certain things to get an eye patch, sash and sword. They will have to walk the plank across a pool...hunt for buried treasure and stuff. It should be cute!!

We are also participating in our local Relay for Life this friday! He will walk the survivor lap...okay he will RUN the survivor lap. I just LOVE seeing him do that!! If anyone would like to donate to his team you may use the link below. You may have to copy and paste since I am in a rush to code it correctly!!
https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=189665&supid=172670638

School is almost out and I just can't believe how fast the year has gone!! WOW!! Seems like yesterday it was the first day of school!! YIKES!!

I hope things are well for everyone!! When I get time I will post new pics of Nicholas!! I have some really cute ones!!

Take care!!!
Heather

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 4:49 PM CDT

****Feb. 2007 Scans NED!!!!****

Happy Spring everyone!! We are all fine here except for dealing with the allergies. The pollen is really bad here this year....layer of yellow on EVERYTHING!!!

The kids start Spring Break tomorrow til the 16th. We will head up to my mother-in-laws for a few days over break. Other than that we will just enjoy sleeping in and hopefully the weather will be nice enough to go play at the beach!!!

We are starting our fundraising for this year's Relay for Life. Nicholas will walk with his school team..Virginia Williamson. We are getting some donations for an auction and actually have had a good response so far. This will be Nicholas' 4th year walking....1 as a patient and 3 as a survivor. It is always a bit emotional cuz during the survivor lap he is one of the youngest and the other survivors are just so great with him. Someone always "adopts" him for the survivor lap...little do they realize HE RUNS THE WHOLE THING AND THEN SOME!!!!!! Last year this man asked if he could watch over Nicholas during the lap and he kept up with him for part of it. That kids is FULL of energy!! Last year Nicholas alone was able to contribute $4500.00 toward his team. So we will see if we can beat that this year!!

Nicholas' birthday is next month and he is ALREADY planning his party. At first he wanted to have it at the movies to see Spiderman 3....but after I saw the previews and that it is PG-13...I didn't think it would be all that great for a 6 year old party. So he wants to just have one at the house with all his friends. He is leaning toward a NASCAR party again (last year's theme) but we will see if that is what he stays with!!

I hope this finds everyone well and that everyone has a great Easter. Thank you for checking in on Nicholas and please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers that he will stay NED!!!

Love, Heather
****I will put up new pics soon!!!***
***Please sign the guestbook and let us know you visited!!***

Monday, February 12, 2007 12:13 AM CST

Good day all,

ONCE AGAIN....SCANS CAME BACK NED (no evidence of disease).

Our trip to Duke was fine. It is just 2 long days for testing!! Day 1 is clinic and MIBG injection, Pre-op exam (due to the fact he has to go under GA for it)...then we were done around 3. Usually we ALWAYS have to go to the same restaurant while we are up in Durham but this time he changed his mind. Then we usually ALWAYS have to go swimming in the evening but he wasn't feeling too hot due to his cold and he was tired...so we didn't go. He told me I could go and he would watch...but we just played with his new toys and went to bed early.

Day 2...we had to get up at 5:15am.....I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON. We had to be at the hospital by 6:30 and his scans started at 8am. He did fine and woke up from anesthsia grumpy as usual. But he quickly fell back to sleep in the car and about a half hour later woke up cheery. In the post-op he kept screaming he wanted the "dizzy" to stop...poor boy!! I just really don't think he could sit still for the MIBG (which lasts about 2 hours). Maybe next time we will try sedation again...but he broke through it last time we tried it and woke up midway through the scan. We will see.

He doesn't have to be seen again for another 6 months...YEA!!

Thank you for all that kept him in your prayers for clean scans and keep praying that he will remain NED.

Have a great day!!
Love, Heather

Monday, January 29, 2007 11:56 AM CST

Wow...it has been awhile since I updated. We had a great Christmas and a good start to the new year!1 Nicholas is loving school but is VERY SOCIAL and TALKATIVE. He has gotten perfect attendance for the whole school year so far and he is sooo proud of that!!

Unfortunatly next week he will have to miss 2 days as it is SCAN TIME!!! UGH!! We will head to Duke on Feb. 7th for his clinic check up, pre-op and his MIBG injection. Then on the 8th he will have a CT scan and MIBG under general anesthesia. Please pray that his scans continue to be NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE.

Not much else to report. Nicholas is getting excited to start spring soccer soon. He really missed playing. So we will see how this season goes!!

Hope this finds everyone doing well and again PLEASE PRAY FOR CLEAR SCANS....I really hate scan time. I am just a bundle of stress!! I am sure they will be fine!!

Take care,
Heather

DON'T FORGET TO SIGN THE GUESTBOOK AND LET US KNOW YOU WERE HERE!!

Friday, December 15, 2006 7:45 PM CST

HO! HO! HO!
I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season!! We have been busy getting ready for Christmas!!

Tonight we FINALLY got the chance to go see Santa!! And the best part was....THERE WAS NO LINE!!! We caught Santa right when he was going to go on his dinner break but being the nice Santa he is....he let us come see him and have the kids pictures taken. Nicholas sat and gave him a run down of his Christmas list. He REALLY wants a Gameboy SP (he isn't big enough for a DS) a MP3 player, some NASCAR cars, Magnetix...blah blah blah!! Hannah went next and she has a very little list this year...there was just nothing she REALLY wanted other than an iPOD. I have strange children. Meghan being 11 sat on Santa's lap but didn't give him her list of clothes and jewelry. But it was fun and got a cute pic...which Paul will have to scan for me cuz they wouldn't let me take a pic with my camera...I guess even Santa has to make money...lol

A few weekends ago we went up to a place called Mike's Farm with my brother and his family and my parents. We went last year and had so much fun we decided to make it an annual thing. It is just some guys farm that he opens up to the public durning the holidays. They have a REALLY good restaurant that serves family style country cooking...and it is such a cute place how they have it decorated. The inside looks like you are sitting outside on the front porch. Anyway...then they have a hayride that takes you through the trees and he has it all decorated with lights and light figures/scenes. They play music the whole time and at the end it snows on you! That just THRILLED the kids even tho they knew it was coming!!! It is a good place to get in the holiday mood!!

We did our annual toy drive for Duke. I started it about 3 years ago in our neighborhood. We once again had a great turn out! We will be delivering the toys this week on Wen. The kids always look forward to heading up with our vanload of toys and piling them in the wagons to take to the unit. I took the kids to Build A Bear and let them make some bears to take. It was a great experience for them...teaching them about giving and charity. I was so proud too cuz they didn't ask if THEY could make one or keep one. Well Meghan made comments about wanting a dog one but she snapped out of it!!! Oh well!!

Other than that not much else going on. Just trying to get ready for Christmas!! We have all had a nasty cold (our one alloted for the year) and have been trying to get over it. Poor Nicholas tends to still hang on longer than anyone but has finally gotten rid of most of it. Just a lingering cough now and then.

The Lunch for Life campaign is still going on and will go on til Christmas. If you would like to make a donation in honor of Nicholas....click on the link below and it will take you to his giving tree. His giving tree code is 19244 so make sure to put that on the donation form...it gives extra ornaments on his tree!! The money raised goes towards finding a cure for Neuroblastoma!! Thanks!!

NICHOLAS' LUNCH FOR LIFE GIVING TREE

I hope this finds everyone well and enjoying the holidays!! May you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2007!!

Love, Heather

Please sign the guestbook and let us know you were here!! Thanks!!

Thursday, November 2, 2006 8:27 AM CST

HELLO!!

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A FUN AND SAFE HALLOWEEN!! WE HAD A BUSY WEEK LEADING UP TO HALLOWEEN BUT IT WAS FUN!!
WE WENT TO PUMPKIN DAY AT INDIGO FARMS AND WENT ON A HAYRIDE OUT TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH AND GOT TO PICK A PUMPKIN. THEN THAT EVENING WE WENT TO OUR PUMPKIN PATCH THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO FOR A FEW YEARS NOW TO GET THE REST OF THE PUMPKINS!! ON SATURDAY WE HAD A PARTY AT A FRIENDS HOUSE. ALL OF US HAD TO DRESS UP....SO...I WENT AS A BLACK BRIDE (DEAD BRIDE), PAUL HAD A SPONGEBOB COSTUME FROM A FEW YEARS AGO, MEGHAN WAS A VAMPIRESS, HANNAH A ROCK STAR AND NICHOLAS A NASCAR DRIVER. THEY HAD SO MUCH PLANNED FOR THE KIDS TO DO...THEY HAD A BLAST!!

ON HALLOWEEN WE WENT ON OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY HAYRIDE. WE LOAD ALL THE KIDS UP IN OUR COMMUNITY ON TRAILERS AND EACH YEAR PICK A SECTION TO HAUNT. OUR COMMUNITY IS GATED AND SET UP IN 4 SECTIONS...SO WE CAN'T GET ALL OF THEM. THOSE THAT WANT TO SEE THE KIDS BUT AREN'T IN THE SECTION WE ARE HAUNTING...CAN COME BEFORE TO THE CLUBHOUSE AND WE DO A TRUNK OR TREAT. THESE POOR KIDS ARE SOOOO TIRED AFTERWARDS CUZ THEY ARE RUNNING AROUND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE. THEY END UP WITH SOOOO MUCH CANDY IT IS RIDICULOUS!!

NICHOLAS ONLY HAS TWO MORE SOCCER GAMES THEN THE SEASON IS OVER. HE HAS REALLY ENJOYED PLAYING AND IS ALREADY ASKING ME WHEN THE NEXT SEASON IS!!! HE IS FUNNY TO WATCH CUZ HE WILL GET IN THERE TO GET THE BALL BUT......IF HE IS PLAYING A TEAM WHERE HE KNOWS SOMEONE ON IT....ESPECIALLY IF IT IS HIS LITTLE GIRLFRIEND FROM LAST YEAR....HE WON'T TAKE THE BALL AWAY. AND IF SHE FALLS OR SOMETHING...HE IS RIGHT THERE HELPING HER AND MAKING SURE SHE IS OKAY. NOW MARISSA IS VERY INTO SOCCER SO SHE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT NICHOLAS BEING A GENTLEMAN!! POOR BOY!! BUT MOST GAMES HE IS RIGHT IN THERE GETTING THE BALL AND EVEN GOALS!!

THIS IS A HARD TIME OF YEAR FOR ME CUZ THE DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN 3 YEARS AGO WAS WHEN NICHOLAS STARTED GETTING SICK AND BY THE 3RD WAS IN THE HOSPITAL. WE FOUND OUT "SOMETHING" WAS IN HIS ABDOMEN ON THE 6TH AND TRANSFERRED TO DUKE AND GIVEN A DIAGNOSIS ON THE 7TH!! SO THIS ISN'T MY FAVORITE WEEK...BRINGS BACK TOO MANY MEMORIES! WE ARE JUST THANKFUL THAT HE IS DOING SO WELL NOW!!

NOT MUCH ELSE TO REPORT. SCHOOL FOR THE KIDS IS STILL GOING WELL!! THEY JUST FINISHED UP THEIR FIRST GRADING PERIOD AND WE ARE WAITING FOR GRADES....BUT THEY ALL DID TERRIFIC!!

NICHOLAS DOESN'T GO BACK TO DUKE TIL FEBRUARY...YEA!! WE WILL BE GOING UP SOMETIME IN DECEMBER TO DELIVER GIFTS TO THE KIDS. I ALWAYS HOLD A TOY DRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BRING UP A VAN LOAD OF TOYS FOR THEM!!

OH....THE LUNCH FOR LIFE GIVING TREE HAS STARTED!! ALL THE MONEY RAISED BY THIS GOES TOWARD RESEARCH TO FIND A CURE FOR NEUROBLASTOMA!! THE IDEA IS TO GIVE UP YOUR LUNCH FOR A DAY, WEEK, MONTH WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO DONATE THAT MONEY TO LUNCH FOR LIFE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION. THANK YOU!!

NICHOLAS' LUNCH FOR LIFE GIVING TREE

HOPE THIS FINDS EVERYONE WELL!! PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR NICHOLAS TO REMAIN NED AND FOR THOSE STILL BATTLING!!

LOVE, HEATHER
PLEASE SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK TO LET US KNOW YOU WERE HERE!! NEW PHOTOS IN THE PHOTO ALBUM!!

Wednesday, October 4, 2006 8:35 AM CDT

Hello Everyone!

Well things are going pretty much status quo here, which is great. Nicholas started soccer last week, and he is doing quite well. Although at his age they don't count goals, he did score twice for his team and once for the other team in the first game! Not bad.

He is also doing well in school, along with Meghan and Hannah, so the academic year has gotten off to a great beginning.

There really isn't much more going on here for now.

We ask that you keep all those who are battling the beast in your prayers that they may be cancer free, and we ask that you continue to pray for Nicholas that he remains cancer free. Scans are coming in February.

Have a great day!

Paul Black

Wednesday, October 4, 2006 8:35 AM CDT

Hello Everyone!

Well things are going pretty much status quo here, which is great. Nicholas started soccer last week, and he is doing quite well. Although at his age they don't count goals, he did score twice for his team and once for the other team in the first game! Not bad.

He is also doing well in school, along with Meghan and Hannah, so the academic year has gotten off to a great beginning.

There really isn't much more going on here for now.

We ask that you keep all those who are battling the beast in your prayers that they may be cancer free, and we ask that you continue to pray for Nicholas that he remains cancer free. Scans are coming in February.

Have a great day!

Paul Black

Friday, August 25, 2006 8:25 PM CDT

WELL....OUR SUMMER VACATION IS OVER!! THE KIDS WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY....BUT LUCKILY THEY WERE ALL EXCITED TO GO!!

NICHOLAS WAS VERY EXCITED TO START HIS NEW SCHOOL....THE "BIG" SCHOOL AS HE CALLS IT! HE DID REALLY WELL...BUT THEN AGAIN HE WENT TO ALL DAY PRE-K LAST YEAR. HIS TEACHER IS MRS. PRIESTER AND HE EVEN HAD 2 KIDS IN HIS CLASS THAT HE KNEW! ONE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE OTHER FROM CHURCH! HE ASKED IF HE COULD WALK IN BY HIMSELF THIS MORNING BUT I HAD A BUNCH OF STUFF TO TAKE IN AND OF COURSE I HAD TO GET SOME PICS!!

THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF OUR VACATION HAD BEEN BUSY ONES. MY BEST FRIEND FROM HIGH SCHOOL CAME IN TOWN WITH HER SON AND SPENT A WEEK WITH US! THAT WAS ALOT OF FUN TO SEE THEM! LAST SUMMER NICHOAS AND I FLEW OUT TO RENO TO SEE THEM. WE WENT JETSKIING, TO THE BEACH, TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK, POOL, AND TO MAGIQUEST! WE REALLY ENJOYED HAVING THEM HERE AND MISS THEM ALREADY!

LAST WEEKEND, WE WENT UP TO REHOBOTH, DE TO SEE PAUL'S MOM AND BROTHER. NICHOLAS' UNCLE RICK HAD BOUGHT NICHOLAS A REAL ELECTRIC GUITAR....SO NICHOLAS WAS ANXIOUS TO GET UP THERE TO GET HIS NEW RED GUITAR. HE EVEN GOT HIM AN AMP....WASN'T THAT NICE?? I HAD THE GREAT IDEA THAT WE LEAVE IT AT UNCLE RICK'S SO EVERYTIME WE CAME UP NICHOLAS COULD BLAST IT OUT THERE....LOL...BUT NO IT CAME HOME WITH US AND HE WAS VERY EXCITED TO HAVE IT!! THANKS RICK!! (SEE PHOTO ALBUM FOR THE "NEW, RED GUITAR"!)

MEDICALLY, NOTHING NEW....JUST THAT THE LAST SET OF SCANS WERE CLEAR (AUGUST) AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE GOT BACK....3 OR 6 MONTHS.

EVERY SO OFTEN (USUALLY AROUND SCHOOL TIME) WE MAKE THE KIDS STAND IN A DOOR JAM OF OUR HALL CLOSET AND MEASURE HOW BIG THEY HAVE GROWN. THEY HAVE ALL GROWN ALOT!! NICHOLAS WAS SOMETHING LIKE 4 INCHES IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. MEGHAN IS NOW 5'3....SHE IS GAINING ON ME!! AND HANNAH...SHE IS GOING TO BE TALL! SHE JUST TURNED 8 AND IS ALREADY AS TALL AS MEGHAN WAS WHEN MEGHAN WAS 9 1/2.....I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO BE THE SHORT ONE IN THE FAMILY!!!

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN ON NICHOLAS! HE DOING TERRIFIC AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HIM ENJOYING HIS KINDERGARTEN YEAR!! HIS TEACHER WILL SURE NEED A BREAK AFTER HAVING HIM IN HER CLASS....LOL....HE IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY GOOD KID! JUST VERY BUSY!!

TAKE CARE AND KEEP PRAYING FOR THOSE THAT NEED THEM!!

LOVE, HEATHER
CHECK OUT THE NEW PICS AND PLEASE SIGN NICHOLAS' GUESTBOOK AND LET HIM KNOW YOU WERE HERE!!

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 10:12 PM CDT

NICHOLAS WENT UP TO DUKE FOR A CT SCAN TODAY AND ALL IS CLEAR!!!!!!! STILL NED!!! AS ALWAYS IT IS SUCH A RELIEF TO GET ANY TYPE OF SCAN OVER WITH! IT IS ALWAYS STRESSFUL THE WEEK BEFORE SCAN AND THEN YOU HEAR THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS.....NED.....AND THE STRESS GOES AWAY....AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND APPROACHES!!

THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS AND WILL UPDATE MORE SOON!!

LOVE, HEATHER

Sunday, August 13, 2006 8:02 AM CDT

OOPS!! I REALIZED THAT I HAD THE WRONG DATE ON HERE FOR NICHOLAS' SCANS!!! HE WILL ACTUALLY GO UP TO DUKE THIS TUESDAY....THE 15TH FOR A CT SCAN!! PLEASE SAY A PRAYER THAT THE SCAN WILL ONCE AGAIN BE CLEAR!! PAUL WILL TAKE HIM UP THIS TIME SINCE WE HAVE COMPANY IN TOWN...MY FRIEND FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND HER SON.

NICHOLAS IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT KINDERGARTEN TO START! WE HAVEN'T FOUND OUT WHO HIS TEACHER WILL BE YET...BUT WE SHOULD SOON. HE WILL HAVE OPEN HOUSE ON THE 22ND AND THEN SCHOOL STARTS ON THE 25TH. HANNAH ISN'T QUITE READY TO GO BACK...EXCEPT TO SEE HER FRIENDS.....AND MEGHAN IS BOTH EXCITED AND NERVOUS TO START MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHE AND I WENT TO ORIENTATION YESTERDAY AND SHE GOT TO SEE HER SCHEDULE (WHICH WAS ALL WRONG CUZ THEY DIDN'T HAVE HER IN AIG...SO THAT IS BEING FIXED) SO WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK DURING OPEN HOUSE TO SEE HER CORRECT CLASSES!

WELL IT IS A GORGEOUS DAY SO WE ARE OFF TO THE BEACH!! AGAIN, PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR CLEAR SCANS!! THANKS!!

LOVE, HEATHER

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 8:15 PM CDT

Boy.....I just spent the last 15 minutes writing a nice long update and LOST IT SOMEHOW....so now I will do the abbreviated verson!!

Paul and I got back from our cruise on July 2nd. We had a great time on the new ship, Crown Princess....yes the same one that listed hard left today....we were the second sailing and I am soooo glad it didn't do THAT while we were on it!! Our cruise was a 9 day out of NY with ports in Bermuda, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico and Grand Turk (which I just LOVED) Then we had 4 sea days to do nothing but RELAX....but then it was back to the real world!!

When we returned home we found out that our friend, Ryan, had lost his battle with ALL the friday before. We knew it was going to be anytime now but it still was so sad. He and Nicholas went through transplant at Duke the same time...Ryan on the adult BMT and Nicholas on the peds BMT. Please say a prayer for his family....Ryan fought hard til the end!!

On a more cheerful note.....the day after we got home we had Hannah's baptism. It was nice cuz we had alot of family in town visiting so they could all be there. The rest of that week we spent with the family.

We have been enjoying the summer by hitting the pool, beach or going jet skiing. We even FINALLY got to take the boat on the inagural ride. No fishing yet and the kids (and Paul) are anxiously waiting to be able to get out to do that!!

Yesterday Nicholas got to do something he just thought was soooooo great. He got to meet Kasey Kahne. Boy did that just amke Nicholas' day! Now....the things we won't do for our children. First of all I am not a NASCAR fan that is a Nicholas..daddy thing. So I had to get up yesterday morning and drive down to Myrtle Beach NASCAR speedpark (about 45 min.) and get wristbands so we could come BACK that evening and meet Kasey. I decided I wasn't going to wait in the 2 hour line to get the free wristband so I did Option 2....buy $50 worth of merchandise and get a wristband....sounded MUCH better to me. So Nicholas got a hat and a shirt and Meghan got a hat (Hannah isn't a fan either). So back home I went....THEN BACK to Myrtle Beach in the evening to wait in another 2 hour line IN THE HEAT to meet Kasey Kahne....did I mention I am not a fan?? Paul is but he was busy so I HAD TO DO IT!! Finally we get up to the front of the line and the lady announces that they are trying to get people through faster so they will not be taking posed pics just those you take WHILE he is signing. GREAT!! We have one wristband that entitles you to one autograph....so Nicholas gives him his hat (kasey Kahne hat) and he signs it...all the while talking to Nicholas about stuff. Kasey then asks Nicholas if he would like his shirt (also Kasey Kahne) signed....Nicholas' eyes got soooo wide with excitment cuz he knew he was only suppose to get one signed thing. If that wasn't good enough.....Kasey Kahne THEN tells Nicholas to turn around so I could get a pic. Now I was watching others go through the line and they moved them along pretty quick....and here is Nicholas just chatting up a storm with Kasey and getting not one but 2 pics with him!! Oh....and as Nicholas loved to point out...."he touched me!!!" That little boy was so excited and for the rest of the night we had to hear about him getting 2 autographs!! What a treat for him!!

Medically...nothing new! We go for a CT scan on the 11th of August. Nicholas has to go next week for his kindergarten physical and all the fun shots to go with that!!

Hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying their summer!! Take care!!

Love, Heather

****PLEASE SIGN NICHOLAS' GUESTBOOK AND LET HIM KNOW YOU WERE HERE!! NEW PICS IN THE ALBUM!!!********

Tuesday, June 20, 2006 8:18 AM CDT

The summer weather is finally here! It actually hasn't been TOO hot....yet. The other day we went jet skiing and the kids just loved it! The kids and I also tried Knee boarding for the first time. Nicholas got right up on it.....NO FEAR and fell off one time on a turn but other than that was able to ride the lake without falling off. Hannah had a bit of trouble getting the hang of it but once she did she did terrific. Then Meghan tried and she too got right up. So I decided "hey I have waterskiied...I can do this" Okay....so the first time I face planted it but on the second try I got on and stayed on!! We all had a fun time!!!

On Friday Paul and I will leave for our cruise and the kids will spend the time with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Jane in Myrtle Beach. We are all looking forward to our vacations!!

No medical news. Nicholas doesn't go for scans til August so we are free of Duke til then!!

Hope all is well and hope everyone is enjoying their summmer!!

Love, Heather

***Don't forget to sign the guestbook and let us know you were here!!!***

Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:36 PM CDT

Nicholas is now 2 years post transplant!! Sometimes it seems like yesterday...other times it seems so long ago. He has grown so much since then....looking back he was such a little toddler!! I am so thankful to see him a wild and crazy 5 year old boy!!
We are having a good summer so far. Last Friday we hit Myrtle Waves to celebrate the end of the school year for all the kids and for Meghan's 5th grade promotion! I can't believe I have a middle schooler now....AAAHH!!
Next week Paul and I head off for our much needed vacation!! We are going on a cruise with my brother, sister in law and grandparents. It should be alot of fun! The ship we are going on is brand new...we are the second sailing. My kids, and both my brother's kids....so 7 in all are going with my parents and aunt down to Myrtle Beach to a resort for the 10 days we are gone. When we get back it will be my parents and aunt that will need the vacation!! I am looking forward to it but will miss the kids!!
Please keep our friend Ryan and his family in our prayers. He relapsed once again with ALL and this time they aren't going to be able to do anything for him. He is home now (he had been at Duke following his 2nd transplant) and is being surrounded by friends and family. Please pray for them!!!
Not much else to report! Hope everyone is having a great summer so far!!
Please sign the guestbook and let us know you were here!!!
Love, Heather

Tuesday, May 23, 2006 7:02 PM CDT

*****MAY 25, 2006*****
TODAY WAS NICHOLAS' PRE-K GRADUATION! IT WAS A CUTE LITTLE CEREMONY....EVEN THO NICHOLAS DECIDED TO STAND UP THERE AND BE MR. COMEDIAN INSTEAD OF SINGING THE SONGS THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO SING!! BUT ALL IN ALL IT WAS ADORABLE!!
IT WAS SAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO HIS FRIENDS AND ESPECIALLY HIS TEACHERS MRS. BRENDLE AND MRS. CAUSEY! THEY WERE BOTH GREAT, LOVING TEACHERS AND WE WILL MISS THEM. NICHOLAS WON'T BE BACK AT SOUTHPORT CHRISTIAN NEXT YEAR. WE ASKED HIM IF HE WANTED TO STAY THERE FOR KINDERGARTEN OR GO TO VWES WITH HIS LIKE HIS SISTERS....AND HE IS VERY EXCITED TO GO TO VWES....ESPECIALLY CUZ THEY HAVE A COMPUTER LAB AND CAFETERIA! OH THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WILL THRILL A CHILD. HE SAYS HE WILL MISS HIS TEACHERS AND THAT MAKES HIM SAY HE WANTS TO GO BACK TO SCS.....BUT I THINK WE WILL STAY WITH VWES!!

I PUT SOME NEW PICS IN THE PHOTO ALBUM ALSO!!!



It has been BUSY BUSY BUSY here! Nicholas' birthday party went great!! We had about 15 kids....and a bunch of adults!! Nicholas really enjoyed his NASCAR theme party!!

This is Nicholas' last week of school...so it has been a busy one! The last few months they have been learning about different countries. So today they had to come dressed as a person from their assigned country and bring a food from that country. Nicholas was picked to come as an Austrailian aborigine and he brought Meat pie (which was really good...I made it!!). My parents had gone to Austrailia a while back and brought home a boomerang so he brought that.....that could have been dangerous!! But it turned out so cute...all the kids were adorable!!

Tomorrow is field day at his school! Then Thursday is Pre-K graduation and he is sooo excited cuz that means next year he will get to go to school with his sister. He is sad that Meghan won't be at the elementary school anymore but Hannah will be there!

I don't recall if I updated about Relay but Nicholas raised $4300.00 and his team raised $14,000....too bad not much of that goes to pediatric cancer.....but it was still fun and for a great cause!!

Check out the new pics in the album and sign his guestbook to let him know you were here!!

Hope all is well!!

Love, Heather

Friday, May 12, 2006 2:11 PM CDT

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY NICHOLAS!!!!!!! HE IS SOOOO EXCITED ABOUT HIS PARTY TOMORROW!!

NOW FOR SCAN STUFF............ALL IS CLEAR....STILL NED!!! WE HEADED TO DUKE EARLY ON WEDNSDAY AND HE HAD TO HAVE AN ECHO, ULTRASOUND, LABS AND HIS MIBG INJECTION!! THEN WE WENT TO DUKE GARDENS AND WALKED AROUND A BIT AND FED THE DUCKS. THEN FOLLOWING TRADITION WE WENT TO KANKI (AS NICHOLAS DESCRIBES IT..."THE PLACE THEY COOK ON YOUR TABLE") AFTER A BIG MEAL WE WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL FOR SOME SWIMMING!!! NICHOLAS WAS SCHEDULED FOR HIS MIBG AND CT SCAN AT 8:15AM ON THURSDAY. WELL ON WEDNSDAY NIGHT THEY CALL TO TELL US THAT HE IS SCHEDULED FOR THE SCANS BUT ANESTESIOLOGY DIDN'T HAVE HIM ON THEIR SCHEDULE. SO INSTEAD OF 8:15 (WHICH IS A GREAT TIME CUZ HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO ALL DAY WITHOUT FOOD) HE GOT BUMPED TO 1:15. THEY SAID HE COULD EAT A SMALL AMOUNT BEFORE 7AM....BUT OF COURSE NICHOLAS WASN'T HUNGRY THEN. SO HE DIDN'T GET PUT UNDER TIL AROUND 2 YESTERDAY BUT HE WAS SUCH A TROOPER!! HE STARTED TO SAY HE WAS HUNGRY AND WE TOLD HIM HE COULDN'T EAT CUZ OF THE SLEEPY MEDICINE....SO HE WOULD TRY TO PLEAD HIS CASE AND SAY HE COULD EAT JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING!! BUT HE HELD OUT AND HAD HIS SCANS AND THEY ARE ONCE AGAIN CLEAN!!!!

TOMORROW WE ARE HAVING HIS NASCAR PARTY. HE IS REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HIS FRIENDS AND HIS TEACHERS COME OVER!!

TONIGHT HE WANTS TO GO TO A PIZZA PLACE FOR DINNER AND THEN WE HAVE HIS SCHOOL END OF YEAR PERFORMANCE TO GO TO. WE WILL SEE IF HE PERFORMS CUZ HE IS PRETTY TIRED. WE DIDN'T GET HOME TIL 10PM LAST NIGHT!! IT SHOULD BE FUN THO!!

THAT IS ABOUT ALL FOR NOW. WE GO BACK TO DUKE IN 3 MONTHS FOR A CT....AND 6 MONTHS FOR CT/ MIBG. THEY WANT HIM TO DO THE CT WITHOUT ANY SEDATION NEXT TIME SO HE CAN DRINK THE CONTRAST. HE IS A BIT SCARED OF THE MACHINE BUT HOPEFULLY WITH THE HELP OF AN ATIVAN IT WON'T BUG HIM TOO MUCH!!!

TAKE CARE!!
HEATHER

Friday, April 28, 2006 7:52 PM CDT

Well....we are back from our trip......Florida!! What happened to Ohio? The MORNING we were suppose to go, we double checked the weather cuz it had been ify all week and everything we had planned was for outdoors. So on Wed. morning we got up bright and early and ready to hit the road....BUT it was now a BIG chance of rain for Ohio and we didn't want to drive 10 1/2 hours to sit in a hotel cuz of the weather. We then had to figure out where to go....Baltimore/ DC area was a choice....NO....RAIN. Okay let's go south to Atlanta.....NO....RAIN. We had to go FURTHER south and decided to go to Tampa, Fl. Good of place as any....we had never been there and they had a zoo, aquarium, beach....so off we went after a bit of repacking for warmer weather.

We got there LATE that night and decided the next day we would go to the zoo. It was a really nice zoo and took up most of the day. Afterwards we just hit the pool at the hotel!

The next day (Friday) Paul had decided he wanted to go up to Orlando and do one day of Disney (about all we can handle....before going crazy) So the kids picked Magic Kingdom....big surprise....that was their favorite last time! It was great...weather...not too crowded....but the best part of all was Nicholas was tall enough to ride EVERY ride there....SO NO STROLLER SWAPS!! He rode Space Mountain for the first time (he was too short last year) and HE LOVED IT!! We had to ride it a few more times. We hit every ride there.....except Stitch's great escape cuz that scared the pants off the kids last time. We did have about 40 minutes of rain but we just hit the indoor rides during that time. We even saw some of the characters but the kids had gotten to see them ALL during Nicholas' Wish trip that they were more interested in going on rides....which made mom and dad HAPPY to not have to see every single character. We only saw a few!

On Saturday we went to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa....that was also pretty fun! They had a little water park so we brought the kids bathing suits and after we saw the aquarium we let them get in their suits and have fun.

We decided to head back to Orlando....but NOT TO THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!! We went back up to visit Give Kids the World. It was really fun to go back and remember all the fun we had there last Jan. The kids would run around and say..."oh...remember this"..."that is where we danced with Mayor Clayton"....it was really a fun trip then and so fun to go back and have their memories!! We went to the Castle of Miracles and located Nicholas' star up on the ceiling. It was really hard to clearly see them cuz they are so far up and don't turn out with the camera...even with the zoom. The hardest part about going back was thinking about the little girl and her family that we had met and still keep in touch with. Brooke had passed away in December and it just made me sad while at GKTW cuz last time we were there she was running around, dancing and waiting to visit Santa. It was hard.

We then headed home and drove til Jacksonville, Fl. and spent the night. We got home on Sunday and had to get back to the real world.

For a last minute trip....it turned out FUN!!

As far as medical news goes.....it is approaching that time again.....TIME FOR ME TO STRESS!!! Nicholas will have scans on May 10th and 11th. He is already telling me he doesn't want the circle machine (CT scan) or shots! Poor little guy!! He is so good tho when he has to go do this! Please say an extra prayer that all will be clear and no scares like last time!! Please pray that he continues to be NED.

Nicholas is counting down the days til his birthday...MAY 12th. He is excited cuz he gets to bring snack and cupcakes to school that day and then the 13th is his party. His school is having a end-of-year performance on the 12th...but that is okay. He just wants the PARTY on the 13th.

I will update after scans...THINK GOOD THOUGHTS!!

Love, Heather


****NEW PICS IN THE ALBUM AND DON'T FORGET TO SIGN OUT GUESTBOOK SO WE KNOW YOU WERE HERE!!!*******

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 10:07 PM CDT

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!! Ours was nice! On Saturday we had an egg hunt at church...then had to go home and dye our eggs! Sunday we went to church and then to my brother's for dinner. The kids had an egg hunt there also. Then we did something I hadn't done since elementary school.....we played kickball. It was quite comical.

We are heading out in the morning for Ohio. We are going to Columbus to go to the big zoo they have there. Then we are going to the Paramount amusement park and to Amish country. It will be a LONG drive but thank goodness for DVD and video games!! The kids have been looking forward to this....hopefully the weather will cooraperate!

We have also been having GREAT weather so we have hit the beach a few times. We took the puppy down to see how he liked the ocean and Nicholas and Meghan ended up SOAKED (and NOT in their bathing suits) Buddy tho...he wasn't so sure of the water!! Then yesterday we threw on the suits and played down at the beach....the water is still a bit cold to swim in but they played in it a bit!!

Nicholas goes for scans in a few weeks....ugh!! I am sure all will be fine but after our scare last time I will be extra nervous! BUT HE IS FINE!!

Hope all is well with everyone!! Take care and we will update after our trip!!

Love, Heather

NEW PICS IN THE ALBUM....PLEASE SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK AND LET US KNOW YOU WERE HERE!!

Thursday, April 6, 2006 7:57 AM CDT

I just sat and wrote a LONG journal entry and LOST IT ALL....so now it will be short cuz I don't feel like doing it again!!! LOL

We are FINALLY having beautiful spring weather here!! The kids are outside playing every chance they get and they are always wanting to take the dogs on a walk!! Fine by me!!

Since we are having such nice weather and the kids had last friday off (end of grading) we decided to venture down to Myrtle Beach,SC to go to Alligator Adventure. We try to do all the touristy things the kids like before the crowds hit!! They love to see the alligators and other animals they have there! They got to pet a small alligator and Nicholas gave it a hug and tried to give him a kiss but the lady got it out of the way in time!! Sweet boy!!!

Nicholas' class had a field trip yesterday to Dixie Stampede. While we were out looking at the horses...he and I were going along reading the names of the horses and what kind of horse they are! We got to one horse and before I could read the name he says "This horse's name is DOC!" His teacher Mrs. Brendall was standing there and was soooo happy that he got it without even sounding it out!! He has really come along way with his reading and will enter kindergarten reading really well I think! His teacher was soooo proud of him!!
The Dixie Stampede is similar to what Medivel Times is....watch a show and have dinner (well we had lunch). But it is southern food and a stampede instead of medivel! It was pretty interesting tho. NIcholas wasn't too woohoo about it unless there were animals out there....he didn't care much for the singing and dancing!!

In medical news....Nicholas will go for scans again in May on the 10th and 11th. He will have a CT scan, MIBG, echo and ultrasound. Since last set of scans was his one year off treatment check up....he should have had the echo then but they had forgotten to schedule it....so it will get done this time! Let's just pray that there is no "glow" this time on the MIBG...that turned out to be nothing....BUT STILL I DON"T NEED THE STRESS!!

Nicholas' birthday is May 12th so I was glad they didn't schedule it then....I would have had to change it! Can anyone guess what theme Nicholas' birthday party is going to be????? NASCAR!!! He is sooo excited for his birthday party (on the 13th) and keeps asking when he can send out his invitations!!! It's going to be a long month!!!

Hope all is well with everyone!! HAPPY SPRING!!!

Love, Heather

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 4:25 PM CST

Hello everyone,

Just a quick update to let you know that everything is status-quo over here.

After a week where every one of us got sick (Nicholas: strep throat/ear infections, Meghan: Bronchitis, Hannah: Cold/Cough, Heather: Cold/Cough and Me: Flu Like), we are all healthy or on the mend.

We would like to thank you all for our help with the Relay For Life campaign that Heather has undertaken. So far she has been able to raise over $2,200 for Nicholas' school team, and still counting.

Please continue to pray for all of those fighting that they may be healed, for those families that have lost a child, and for those in remission or NED that they may continue to stay clean.

God bless you all and WELCOME SPRING!

Friday, March 3, 2006 2:06 PM CST

Hey everyone,

Nothing much has changed here in the past couple of weeks. Meghan, Hannah and Nicholas are all doing well in school and are looking forward to the end of the school year. The weather has been unseasonably mild, and spring is just around the corner.

Health wise, Nicholas is doing great. Growing like a weed. He is very active and is enjoying school, his family and the new puppy. We didn't realize that a small, helpless puppy could be carried around by the head, but thanks to Nicholas we now know. He seems to be a fast learner for everything except doing what he is supposed to do.....boys!

We are excited for Spring Break to come. We will be heading to Columbus, Ohio to visit the big zoo there. There is an amusement park there too!

As you can see, Nicholas' background has changed to reflect NASCAR. He is a BIG fan of Tony Stewart (thanks to me!)

Anyway, we hope you are all doing well and pray daily for those children who are still fighting hard. We ask your continued prayers for our son to keep him cancer free, and also ask a special friend for our friend Ryan Brew who is battling a 2nd relapse of A.L.L. He just received another stem-cell transplant, and we pray the cell graft.

Grow Cells Grow!

God bless you all and take care.
Paul Black

Friday, February 10, 2006 12:46 AM CST

******SCANS ARE CLEAR....NICHOLAS IS STILL NED (NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE******

Whew.....for those of you that don't know.....Nicholas had scans yesterday and for awhile there we weren't sure of the results!!! NOT FUN!!! The CT scan was fine....still clear....but the MIBG scan (the one that seeks out any neuroblastoma cells) was showing up a spot in front of his bladder!!! Not what we wanted to hear! His oncologist had to compare scans and since she was in surgery til late yesterday...she wouldn't be able to get in touch with us til today!! So, needless to say I was a mess all night wondering if he had relapsed or not!!
Paul spoke with Dr. Kreisman this morning and she had said she didn't feel that it was NB. She had seen cases where for some reason the lining in the bowel will absorb some of the radioactive stuff they inject Nicholas with the day before the scan. Plus the "glow" was curved and in front of the bladder. She felt that it was most likely bowel and she and the radiology team were going to put the CT and MIBG scans together (I guess kind of like superimposing) to see if the "glow" was indeed at the bowel. She had also said that the amount that it was glowing (it was glowing alot) she would have expected to see SOMETHING on the CT. So.....we had to wait for a definate answer for a few more hours. She called awhile ago and said she and some other Oncology doctors, the nuclear medicine and Ct radiologist all went over the scans and THEY ARE CLEAN....he is still NED!!! Big sigh of relief!!!!!
But because of this lovely scare....we were suppose to have gone down to every 6 months for scans....but he will have scans again (MIBG and CT) in 3 months just to keep an eye on things!! Which if fine with me....if it were up to us he would be scanned everytime he walked through the doorway to his room.....just have a little built in scanner and we would KNOW each and every day!!!
Thanks to everyone that said a prayer for Nicholas....relapse NB is really, really nasty stuff so that is why it is so scary!! I know he will grow up to be a wonderful man (if we can get past the nasty teenage years...lol) but I do pray that he will NOT have to fight this disease again!!
Please continue to pray for our friend RYan. He will be undergoing his second bone marrow transplant this week and he really needs our prayers!! He is an adult with a childhood cancer (he has ALL when that is mainly found in children and AML is usually found in adults) He is a great guy and he and Nicholas went through their first transplants together. NIcholas was on the 5th floor and Ryan was on the 9th...
I hope all is well with everyone and thanks again for praying for Nicholas!!
Love, Heather

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Saturday, February 4, 2006 11:44 AM CST

Hello everyone.

There hasn't been very much to report between the 1st of the year and now, so we havn't had much case to update.

However, there are a couple of things that are happening now that we wanted you to know about.

First for the fun stuff:
1. Nicholas (and family) have a new puppy named Buddy. He is now about 10 weeks old, and a very sweet dog. He was rescued from the pound, and is a Black Lab mix, although we can't tell what the mix is yet (fingers crossed).

2. Nicholas is doing very well in school, and is the heartbreaker of the class, well as much as a pre-schooler can be. His teachers love him dearly and he gets along well with everyone. He has also progressed academically at a good rate.

Now for the other stuff:
1. Nicholas goes in for scans on Feb 8th and 9th.. Please keep him on your prayer list and pray for clean scans. He is having a CT, MIBG, Echo and Ultrasound. After this, we only have to go back to Duke every six months. Praise God for the talents and abilities of the doctors taking care of my son, and for all of you that have offered prayers in his name. Please don't stop.

2. Our friend Ryan Brew has relapsed for the second time with A.L.L. He has tumors running up and down his spine and one in particular is pressing against his spinal cord. They are now treating him with radiation to try and shrink some of them and then do chemo and another stem-cell transplant. Ryan is 28 and running out of options. Please, please pray for him and his family that they can get through this.

I guess that is about it for now. I hope everyone is doing well. Please sign our guestbook and let us know that you were here.

God Bless.

Paul, Heather, Meghan, Hannah and Nicholas Black

Sunday, January 1, 2006 6:49 PM CST

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND HOPE 2006 BRINGS NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS!!
OUR CHRISTMAS WAS NICE! NICHOLAS HAD A PRETTY NASTY COLD...SO OF COURSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN WE WENT TO MY PARENTS....HE WAS NOT IN A VERY GOOD MOOD AND DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HAVING HIS PICTURE TAKEN AT ALL!! CHRISTMAS MORNING HE FELT A BIT BETTER AND WAS VERY EXCITED TO GO SEE WHAT SANTA HAD BROUGHT!! LATER THAT DAY EVERYONE CAME TO OUR HOUSE FOR DINNER AND MORE PRESENTS!!
BREAK FROM SCHOOL HAS BEEN PRETTY QUITE. WE HAVEN'T DONE TOO MUCH EXCITING STUFF. THE KIDS HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY TO GO TO ON THE 28TH AT MAGIQUEST AND THEY ALL THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.
LAST NIGHT (NEW YEAR'S EVE) WE HAD MY BROTHER AND HIS FAMILY, MY PARENTS AND GRANDMA OVER FOR AN EARLY DINNER. THEN PAUL AND I JUST HUNG OUT TIL MIDNIGHT....THEN MEGHAN DECIDED TO HAVE THE STOMACH FLU ALL NIGHT...WOOHOO WHAT AN EXCITING NEW YEARS EVE!!
NICHOLAS IS DEFINATELY READY TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL ON THE 3RD. HE REALLY MISSES HIS TEACHERS AND FRIENDS!!
THAT IS ABOUT ALL THAT IS GOING ON HERE!! NOTHING TOO EXCITING!!
WE GO FOR SCANS SOMETIME IN FEB....PLEASE PRAY THEY WILL BE NED (NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE). PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL THOSE BATTLING CANCER AND FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST A CHILD!!

LOVE, HEATHER

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Wednesday, December 21, 2005 1:00 PM CST

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

We are getting the presents wrapped, the food prepared and the kid's ready for a wonderful family Christmas. We hope nothing but the same for you and your family.

Since last writing, not much has gone on other than the usual holiday madness! Nicholas got out of school last Friday and the girls got out 1/2 day today. Heather has been working hard with the holiday baking, and I have been adding up the calories!

On Monday, Nicholas, Ted Johnson (family firend) and I went to Duke to take a van load of toys to the Rainbow Day Hospital and the 5100 floor of DUMC. Toys, books, games, stuffed animals and other stuff were loaded up and hauled to a full 5100 floor and day hospital. It was a wonderful experience for Nicholas, and he was very excited to participate. He was especially thankful that he didn't need to see the doctor, but rather to visit.

The toys were donated by the residents of Winding River Plantation, where we live. Heather spearheaded her yearly toy drive, and the response was outstanding again. In addition, money from the Will Sing 4 A Cure program was used to buy additional toys and games. The music tour has been wonderful and we are looking forward to 2006.

We hope that all who read this will have a wonderful holiday this year and a safe, happy and HEALTHY New Year. For those that are fighting the beast, our continued prayers are with you and your family. May the Spirit of our Heavenly Father bless you and keep you safe.

Thank you to all that have prayed for us and Nicholas. It is very much appreciated. We ask that you continue to pray for him, as well as the other kid's fighting.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Paul, Heather, Meghan, Hannah and Nicholas Black

Friday, December 9, 2005 9:05 AM CST

Merry Christmas!! I know it has been awhile since I updated...but we have been busy!! The Pre-K and 3rd grades at Nicholas' school had a feast day for Thanksgiving and it was ALL OUT....the kids all were dressed as pilgrims and indians. Those of us that helped out had to wear costumes also....ugh!! It really was a nicely done event!!
My grandparents came out from LA to spend Thanksgiving with us which was fun!! While they were here we went to the Alabama Theater for their Christmas show...check out the pic in the album...the kids got to go on stage and Nichoals sat with a lady and kept rubbing her legs! He was doing it cuz she was wearing fishnet stockings but it was so funny to see him sitting there rubbing her legs!! What a boy!! We also went to a farm that has a wonderful hayride and light display...for those back home in LA...it was like Griffith Park's show but on a hayride instead of driving through it in your car!! It was COLD that night tho!! Then we just visited with my grandparents and were sad to see them have to head home!!

Nicholas' school also had their Christmas show this past Tuesday....let's just say...Nicholas was more interested in whacking kids with his bell around his neck than to sing the songs!! I was laughing so hard I was crying...too funny! He had to stand next to his "girlfiend" Carmen and she would talk to him during it...so he kept waving his bell in her face and fanning her with it....she still wouldn't talk!! It was a cute show tho!!

Medical news....no visits to Duke til Feb when he will have his MIBG, CT scan, echo and labs. If all goes well with that set of scans (which i am sure they will) he will start only having to go every 6 months instead of 3 months....YEA!!!


On a sad note our friend BROOKE lost her battle with Wilm's tumor yesterday. Please pray that her family will be comforted through this difficult time!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday season!! Merry Christmas!!!

Love, Heather

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 5:41 PM CST

UPDATE...NOVEMBER 16, 2005
*****CT SCAN IS CLEAR...NICHOLAS IS STILL NED****

NICHOLAS FOUGHT THE SEDATION AND THEY HAD TO TURN UP THE GAS...SO HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BURNING EYES AFTERWARDS!! BUT OTHER THAN THAT HE DID FINE!! HE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK UP IN FEBRUARY FOR MIBG, CT, ECHO AND ULTRASOUND SINCE THIS WILL BE ONE YEAR OFF TREATMENT!! AFTER THAT THO...IT IS EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR SCANS!! WOOHOO!!!
*****NED...CLEAR SCANS...IN CASE YOU MISSED IT THE FIRST TIME****



WELL I UPDATED YESTERDAY BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT!!! CB SEEMS TO BE HAVING A BIT OF PROBLEMS LATELY WITH THEIR SERVERS!!

ANYWAY...PAUL AND NICHOLAS HEADED TO DUKE TODAY FOR HIS CT SCAN!! HE SAW DR. MAEZUR AND DR. KRIESSMAN!! THEY BOTH THOUGHT HE LOOKED TERRIFIC. PAUL DIDN'T TELL ME HOW MUCH HE HAS GROWN BUT I KNOW IT HAS BEEN QUITE A BIT IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS CUZ NONE OF HIS CLOTHES WERE FITTING SO I HAD TO GO OUT AND BUY ALL NEW!!! AFTER CLINIC HE HAD TO GO DOWNSTAIRS TO PRE-OP! SINCE NICHOLAS DOES NOT LIKE THE "CIRCLE MACHINE" HE HAS TO BE KNOCKED OUT FOR IT!! WHICH IS NO FUN SINCE HE HAS TO BE NPO FOR THAT AND THE BOY LIKES TO EAT!!! I FOUND A TRICK THO... KEEP HIM UP LATE AT THE HOTEL AND FEED HIM GRANOLA BARS, GUMMIES AND LET HIM DRINK BOOST BEFORE BED AND PUT HIM DOWN AT ABOUT 10PM....OH AND TO ALSO GO TO KANKI FOR DINNER CUZ IT ENTERTAINS HIM (THEY COOK ON YOUR TABLE) AND HE EATS ALOT!! MOST OF THE TIME HE DOESN'T ASK FOR BREAKFAST AND BY THE TIME HE STARTS ASKING FOR LUNCH IT IS TIME TO GET KNOCKED OUT!!!

PLEASE KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS THAT TOMORROW'S SCANS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE NED (NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE). I WILL UPDATE WHEN WE HAVE SOME RESULTS!!!

LOVE, HEATHER