Update on Timmaree

Here is an update on Allyson's niece Timmaree...

Dear Friends and family,

It is with a heavy, yet hopeful heart that I write this to all of you. I am writing to ask for your love and support for an amazing child and family that could use as much as we can give.

As many of you know, Timmaree Hicks is fighting for her life right now. Timmaree, a beautiful, bright 8-year old, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Orbital Rhabdomyosarcoma in January of 2007. She underwent intense chemo and radiation of the eye for nine months. Finally, in mid-November, she was determined to be cancer-free. She was a happy, carefree, “normal” kid again. She had a fantastic Christmas and started back to school, joined the school play and a softball team. But just three short months later, devastation struck the Hicks family once more. On February 2^nd, 2008, Timmaree was admitted to CHOC’s intensive care unit with what seemed to be a stroke. An MRI showed a golf-ball size tumor near her brainstem and hundreds of other small tumors throughout her brain, some of which caused the stroke. The cancer came back with a vengeance and metastasized in her brain.

And just recently, we found out that the cancer is now rapidly spreading throughout her brain and spine as well. She is fighting for her life with everything she has. The doctors have now given her a very limited amount of time left. Timmaree does not know the severity of the situation, while Debbie and Gerry live minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day with their sweet daughter.

I think of my own children and what I would feel if I were faced with this. It makes me love my family even more and puts everything into perspective. Timmaree is a fighter and a very strong little girl. A “hero” to many of us. I am sure you can imagine the emotional, physical, and financial impact this is having on her family. It is really unbearable to watch. Timmaree’s parents have numerous medical bills from last year they are trying to get through and the journey ahead of them will be long and costly. Since February, Timmaree has spent more nights in CHOC hospital than she has in her own bed. Both parents work very little to be by their daughter’s bedside. The emotional strain has been agonizing and debilitating, and the financial struggle is exhausting. We go on with our daily lives, while Timmaree and her family forget what it feels like to be normal. So, I am asking for your help. Please keep the Hicks family and little Timmaree in your thoughts and prayers.

We all wonder what we could do to help and wish we could ease their burden in some way. Here is an opportunity to do just that. Financial issues are not what the Hicks family needs to be thinking about so I have contacted a non-profit foundation that has added Timmaree to their “Beneficiaries” list. It is called Helping Hearts For Friends. They do great work by helping local families during life’s most difficult journeys. This foundation offers us a way to make a tax-deductible donation to the Hicks family to help offset their medical costs.

I completely understand if now is not a good time for you to help out. If you are unable to help financially at this time, her family asks that you pray for Timmaree to have peace and to be pain free. The more prayers, the better! If you can help financially, click on the following link to make a donation: http://www.helpinghearts4friends.org. Be sure to add Timmaree’s name to the bottom of your check, or if donating by credit card, add it to the “Special Events” or “Notes” sections of the donation form. This will ensure the monies go into Timmaree’s account only.

Thank you so much for your consideration. Please email this to your family, friends and businesses too! It’s amazing what we can do when we pull together!

Sincerely,

Marianne Jones

Please Pray

I was told some very sad news today. One of my good friends just found out that her niece only has a week to a month to live. Her poor niece has been battling cancer since January 2007 and this week they found out the cancer has spread to her spinal cord. I can't even begin to imagine what her family is going through but I know it must be absolutely horrible. Please pray for my friend and her family during this very difficult time.

New Swimsuit Style

I have made the realization that unless stretch marks suddenly become stylish, I will be wearing a 1 piece swimsuit from now on. Do they even sell 1 piece swimsuits anymore?!

Playing Catch Up

Sorry for the long post but we've had a lot of activity over here in the last week. It seems like Andrew and I have been on the go every day and we've been having a lot of fun. Today we are just going to relax and enjoy being home.

Last Wednesday, Andrew and I went to Howarth Park to meet up with our friends Erika and Gemma. We met Erika and her husband Ken in our childbirth class. Gemma was born 5 days after Andrew. We had a great time at the park and Andrew loved looking at the trees.

*Gemma and Andrew*

On Saturday we took Andrew to Villa Shaste to visit Bob and Sharon (Zio & Zia is what Andrew is going to call them.) Andrew hadn't been up to their house yet and Brian and I were going through withdrawals since it had been a few months since we went to play. As always, Sharon was quite the hostess and took great care of us the whole time we were there. After the pool was out of the sun, we decided that Andrew should try it out. Zio just put his feet in and Andrew decided that maybe it was a little too cold!

*Zio playing in the pool with Andrew*

On the deck at Bob & Sharon's

Brian and I decided that we were feeling brave enough to host a summer BBQ. We used to have people over for BBQ's every month in the summer but hadn't quite gotten around to it this summer yet. Tim, Kim, Lauren, Scott, Michelle and Jen all came over this Sunday and it was just like the good old days (with the exception of 2 babies and toys all over the living room!).

*Jen, Andrew, Lauren and Michelle*
(Lauren was taking advantage of Andrew while he slept!)

*Uncle Scotty hanging out with Andrew and Lauren*

*Andrew trying out Lauren's chair*

2 months old

Andrew Joseph Wing
2 months old

"Mom, how many pictures are we going to take?"

Dear Andrew,

Today you are two months old. There are times when it feels like Daddy and I brought you home from the hospital yesterday and then there are times when it feels like you have been here for two years. It's hard to believe that it has been 2 months now since I've had more than 5 hours of sleep at a time!

You have grown up so much this month and are becoming more of your own person every day. You smiled for the first time on July 4 and of course it was for daddy and not me. I won't hold that against you though, I know you still love me. You now are smiling all of the time and flirting with anyone who will pay attention to you. You are also starting to talk a lot more. When I put you on your play mat, you will lay there and talk to all of your animal friends. I'm still not sure what you are all talking about but it must be something good because you never get tired of them!

You are still a great sleeper. You go down every night around 8:00 and will sleep for 5-6 hours before waking up again. During the day you take a morning nap for about 2 hours and an afternoon nap for 2-3 hours. Mommy is so lucky that you are such a great sleeper and she gets a lot of stuff done while you are napping.

You took your first trip this month when we flew in Gpa's plane to Tahoe. You did a great job on the plane and at Northstar. I can't wait until you are older and we can play in the pool and go skiing in the winter. I have so many happy memories of Northstar growing up and I can't wait for you to have the same.

Your likes this month: playing on your play mat, going on walks, being outside and watching trees, staring at lights when they are on, looking at yourself in the mirror, bath time, being bounced on someones knee and hanging out in your swing.

Things you don't like: tummy time (you only last about 2 minutes before you start screaming), being outside in the wind and being cold.

We have had a lot of fun this last month and I can't wait to see what fun new things you will be doing this next month. I'm so lucky to be able to be home and spend this time watching you grow. You are our little miracle baby and mommy and daddy love you very much.

Love,
Mom

Mommy's Pacifier

Where am I going?

It's official....I've completely lost my mind. They say that you forget things when you are pregnant but I think it gets even worse after you have the baby. I must have lost a few brain cells during labor!

Today I left the house to go to Costco. Oma was up babysitting Andrew so I was going to take advantage of some baby free shopping. I get in the car and start driving. I pull into the Target parking lot, find a parking spot, get out of the car and walk into Target.

I know what you're thinking....."I thought she said she was going to Costco." Well, you are correct. As soon as I pulled the cart out of the rack at Target I realized I was in the wrong place! It wouldn't have been so bad but I really needed to go to Costco because I had some pictures developed that I needed to pick up. I put the cart back, got back in the car and went to Costco.

Perhaps this means I go to Target a little too much when my car just automatically goes there!