Happy Birthday Kristin!

Couldn't let the day go by without wishing my favorite North Carolinian a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Here she is here in Ukraine smooching my sweet Alexander :) And by the look on his face he didn't mind it too much. If I would have been on the ball this year you'd be getting a live llama delivered to your door, you could just tie it to the shack behind your house and your boys could feed it just like on Napolean Dynamite ;) There's always next year. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Celebrating Ollie today....

Happy Birthday Ollie!

Today is Ollie's Golden Birthday...he was born 11 years ago today.

We will be celebrating his birthday by baking brownies and having a 'party' for him and releasing balloons in his honor. I can't even tell you how many people miss this boy....but the ones that miss him most are really struggling...and need prayer. To see his family's blog and recent pics of Ollie's resting place...go to their blog at http://oliverpalmer.blogspot.com/ Please think of Ollie today...do something nice for someone in remembrance of him...pray for his loved ones that miss him so.... Happy Birthday Buddy!!! We love you!!!

A little update on Artiom

Update on Toma :) Things are going so much better! He's been home for 2 years...and I have to say, for much of those 2 years we didn't like each other too much ;) But we are really seeing some changes in him lately...and I think a lot of it has to do with the supplements I'm giving him. He's so much calmer, he doesn't stim AS much, he makes more eye contact, gets in less trouble..aka..hasn't flooded my kitchen, doesn't stick his head in the toilet and flush it 100 times a day...AND...for the biggest change...he's been GOING TO THE BATHROOM IN THE TOILET!!!!!! WHOO HOO!!!! This is HUGE!!!!!!!! He'll even come in from outside to go!!! Oh, my life just got SO much easier. Here is the list of what I put in his cereal once a day: Fish Oil, Flax Oil, Ginkgo Biloba, Chlorophyll, Coconut Oil, Garlic, and Water Kefir. Sometimes I add some Vit.D and Iodine. I don't put the Kefir in it everyday either, but I should. I'm alway's 'tweaking' this concoction. But I really think it's what's making the huge differences we're seeing in him. :) :)

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Today is my baby's birthday...he's 5!  So, ok...he's not a baby...but he's my youngest...so I guess he'll always be my baby :)  He's such a sweet, gentle little soul.  I'm so thankful for him.

AND.....2 years ago TODAY, we passed court in Ukraine...and Toma became a Lewandoski!  YAY!!!

We're thankful for that blessing as well  <3

Ole Salty....

Dad, aka, Ole Salty  getting 'bubbled' by Summer :)

He tries to act all grumpy...but I see that smile.....

Alex and Michael

playing with the bubbles....I can't believe my BABY (Alex) is going to be 5 on Saturday!  Which is also the day Toma became a Lewandoski, 2 years ago in Ukraine <3 <3

Toma

This was taken today...he's wearing his new identification dog tag :)

He disappears like no kid I've ever seen....so at least now he can be RETURNED ;) 

All cozy in his blanket...he loves to be wrapped up.

a little bit of sunshine :)

One Month Ago Today....

One Month.
One Month Sweet Ollie has been laughing like this in HEAVEN ♥
We rejoice for him....but pray for those that grieve in his absence.
We MISS YOU OLLIE!!!

Ollie is HEALED.....and Amazing Grace

The world got a lot dimmer this morning....
But Heaven got a lot BRIGHTER ♥

Ollie is restored. He's running...and laughing...and meeting Jesus.
And if I know Ollie, he's probably showing Him a little Capoeira too.

I'm so sad for all of us...especially his family....his mother....♥ Please pray for her.
But I'm happy for Oliver....relieved he's free.

Enjoy Heaven Sweet Boy....we LOVE you.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Go4aNfWYg&context=C39b0e4aADOEgsToPDskJpwpydzjdtLzp1jPY838mG

Please Pray....

 Ollie has been a true Warrior...and he has fought hard.

But his Heavenly Father is preparing his room....and is calling his name.

Please pray for no pain....and for his family to have peace in their hearts.

Ollie and Valentines Day

Ollie LOVES Valentines Day....

 
Ollie and his cutie-pie sister making Valentines goodies....

Valentines Day has always been super special to Oliver.
His family has a tradition of making it a wonderful event
with treasured memories....memories of candle-lit dinners, special foods, the family all together.....
Lets pray that this Valentines Day can be that for Ollie...for his family.
*********If you'd like to send Oliver a Valentines card to brighten his day, his address is Oliver Palmer 417 Oaklawn Ave Waterloo, IA 50701*********

http://oliverpalmer.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines-day-candlelight-dinner.html  More pics from Valentines day past......so sweet.

http://oliverpalmer.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines-day-cookies.html  take a look :)

http://oliverpalmer.blogspot.com/2011/02/will-you-be-my-valentine.html  so sweet <3

http://oliverpalmer.blogspot.com/  Current blogpost about Valentines day....please read!

(and because I can't seem to link this one...I'll just copy the whole thing)

February 14, 2010 - Family Valentine's Day Dinner

Every Valentine's Day, starting when Oliver was 2 years old, we have a family Valentine's Dinner by candlelight! We started this tradition because we hated fighting the crowds in the restaurants. I came up with the idea of having a fancy dinner at our own house with the people we love the most, our own little family. Eden was almost 1 and 1/2 and Oliver was nearly 3 years old. We make fettucini alfredo or spaghetti, have garlic bread or breadsticks, salad and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. We even drink sparkling cider out of fancy wine glasses. The kids help decorate the table with linens, flower petals and candles. We also added some soft instrumental music in the background as well! We've loved this tradition ever since. The kids look forward to it every year!!!

The gang's all here!

Oliver - age 8

 

Eden - age 7

Jaren - age 2 1/2

 

Ollie being a goof! He was making us all laugh doing some hilarious 'Pistachio Disguisey' quotes from the movie, "The Master of Disguise" starring Dana Carvey! I'll have to find the video and post it!

"CHEERS!"

Eden and Ollie

Finn was hanging out in his swing next to the table. I didn't realize that he wasn't in any pictures. Oooooops! We love you, too, Finny!!! Hope you all had a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY and took the time to tell your family and friends how much you love them!!!

Please pray for Ollie.....

Sweet Ollie is having a hard time.....harder to get around...harder to breath....harder to eat....

And yet....he keeps his sweet smile...and his amazing sense of humor.

Please pray for him....as he knows what's happening to his body...and he's scared.

The steroids are taking a toll on his body...stretching his skin until it opens :(

This is still the sweet boy thats living in the body that DIPG has ravaged.

http://www.oliverpalmer.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-01-27T01:41:00-08:00&max-results=1

It's COLD up here in MN

Just ask Summer :)  The beginning of winter there was NO way she was going to wear this snowsuit...because it looked like a boys :)
But after playing out in the freezing cold a few times without it....she decided practicality trumps  vanity.  :)