Mother's Day....

It's always a good day, and believe me, I milk it for all it's worth.

I slept in until 9 today!! Zach finally woke me up by coming in the bedroom and saying, "SO How can you sleep this late?"

Ummm....  and duh. :)

Then I made breakfast for me and Brian made breakfast for everyone else and he cleaned up the kitchen.

BOOM BABY!!!

I took Zach for a three mile walk...ok, three mile walk for me and three mile scooter (not electric, foot powered) ride for Zach but it was great exercise and this time I had trouble keeping up with him! :)  He was really excited he won! ;)

Then I took Braden outside to play and we walked down to the Pretty Water. It's the water feature at the entrance of our subdivision.

Brian edged the lawn...I've been complaining about it for a long time so it was the perfect gift!!

We watched the sky for sundogs and although I didn't see one, I did come in at one point to get bottles of water from the fridge and there was a beautiful bright light circle on the kitchen floor...with a rainbow around it.  I know it was from my mom and our daughter, Miranda, in Heaven.  I could feel their smiles!!

It was pretty much perfect!

Then I watched some HGTV and Food Network..NO ESPN TODAY! WOO HOOO!!!!

Finally, the guys took me to dinner at a great sushi place in Overland Park, Ks called Han Shin...it was delish!

We came home, were all stuffed, played outside again for about an hour and are now getting jammies on so we can read.

This day rocked...BUT...

The best part was when I woke up about 6:00...yes, I went back to bed after...

And I found a really awesome present on my pillow.

Zach wrote a note to me wishing me a Happy Mother's Day and put one of his Starburst candies that he had gotten as a gift from his friend who just had a birthday.


It was even the flavor he likes best!!

Keep the diamonds, shoes, furs, trips to Fiji and every other thing I could have asked and wished for...that little note and that precious starburst meant more to me than any of those things could have EVER meant!

It came from his heart and was unprompted.

Thoughtfulness and love...

Gifts don't need to cost money.



I hope all the mommies had a very happy Mother's Day today. I'm thinking of all the mommies who are mommies of angels today and sending extra big hugs and prayers!!

Zachism Saturday...the walk

A couple of nights ago, Zach and I went for a walk after dinner.

After a bit, Zach burped.

I gave him the mom look.

He giggled.

I gave him the mom look a second time.

He toned the giggle down to a smile.

We walked a little further and he burped again.

This time I said, "Zach! That is not okay!"

And he got this indignant look and tone and said,

"Mom, I promise...it's not my fault! It's because of that delicious dinner you made."

Followed by a THIRD burp.

Before I could even say anything he took a deep inhale and said,

"Yup...smells like sloppy joe!  I told you it was dinner!"

Now it was my turn to laugh...

inside my head.

It really WAS funny.

Sometimes being the serious mom is tough to do!

:)

My dad...

My Dad is one in a million.

When I was growing up, my dad was a County Extension Agent. He worked with farmers to find ways to grow better crops, and with the townsfolk to find ways to grow better flowers and lawns.  Another part of his job, was working with the 4-H program. I was highly involved in 4-H.  4-H was honestly a whole family deal; we all pledged our heads, hands, heart and health to our community, our country, and our world! J

One of the things he was most proud of was that he started a “Corn Shucking” contest in Oakley, Kansas which was the first town I lived in. It’s a town of about 1200 people and it is still home in a way. That shucking contest grew into a national competition and he was always very proud of that.

Never been to a corn shucking contest? Really?! LOL!! Well, people walk alongside an old fashioned horse drawn wagon and they use a hook attached to a glove and they shuck as many ear of corn as they can and throw it into the wagon by a certain time. The person who shucks the most, wins.

I still remember walking the corn fields after the contest and picking up ears of corn that had been thrown but had not met their intended target so I could feed them to my horses as a treat.

Occasionally, he went to conferences out of town and each time he took a trip, he always brought home the travel soaps and shampoos for me! I could not wait to see what it was going to be each time. He always brought some little trinket from the place he had visited.  Many times it was a pen or notepad from the meeting spot. It was rarely anything that cost money; we didn’t have a ton of that but it we always had enough. The one thing I remember the most was an ink pen he brought home from Houston that had an astronaut land-rover inside it and as you tipped the pen, the rover moved up and down the length of the pen. It was awesome and was a prized possession, I think I still have it somewhere.

Dad is the only person in the world who may love chocolate more than me. He always had a little dish of York Peppermint Patties beside his recliner (mom and dad has his and her recliners). He ate a few patties each day. I wasn’t supposed to eat his peppermint patties, but if I looked at him and gave him just the right smile, he would hand me one on the sly. Mom always said it would spoil my appetite.  And it usually did but I was okay with that!

There was one time that we shared an entire bag of chocolate chips, mom was not pleased when we both were sick later from all of that chocolate, but it was soo worth it! Dad and I had a lot of chocolate snacking secret adventures that mom never knew about.  :)

Every night after I got into bed, dad would bring me a glass of kitchen water (yes…I could taste the difference and would send him back if it was bathroom water) and he would lie down on the other side of my bed until I fell asleep. He would always cover his eyes with his forearm. I remember asking him why he did that and he said it was habit from being in the army. Apparently it wasn’t dark when he wanted to sleep and that “turned off the lights”.

My dad even played dolls and Barbies with me. Okay, not for very long, but he did occasionally which was pretty cool.

He bought me my first horse, Peanuts, who was a Shetland Pony. They are notoriously stubborn little beasts. He told me that if I could ride a Shetland, I could ride anything. And later, at about the age of 5, he bought me my first big horse, Flick. He was a beautiful palomino who was as sweet and gentle as could be.

Dad and I used to play tag on horses all the time. We would run our horses as fast as we could and try to avoid “it”.  Sometimes we would just race and I usually won. I tried to convince myself that I had actually earned those victories.

There was only one time that Flick got away from me. I was probably in kindergarten or first grade.  We were just riding along, not racing, and Flick decided he was going home. He bolted, headed home full speed, and I could not stop him even though I tried repeatedly. I could hear dad behind me, running his horse as hard as he could telling me to just hold on and that he was coming. It’s the only time I have ever been scared while riding a horse.  Flick got right up to the gate by the barn and stopped as fast as he had started. I flew straight up over the top of him and fortunately landed in a big pile of haybales.

I had never seen my dad mad, but boy was Flick in trouble. He rode him for a long time and I think they had a few lessons, although I don’t really know how that went because I was much too busy crying while mom checked me out to make sure nothing was broken. Then dad brought Flick back over and made me get back on him and ride again. He said if you get thrown off, you have to get right back on.

Turns out that is a pretty good lesson in life too!

Dad taught me how to drive. It began when I was really little, probably about 4 or 5. (yes, really) He used to let me sit on his lap in the pickup and steer the wheel and shift the gears when he pushed in the clutch pedal.  Then I graduated to using the clutch and brake to move the pickup along while he and my brother threw bales of hay in the back. It didn't matter that I couldn't see where we were going because they would tell me left or right. :)  When I was tall enough, I got to drive him and my brother on their hunting trips. As long as we were on dirt roads, I was allowed.  I was probably about 10.  It was a different world back then.  We even cut the seatbelts out of the truck because they got in the way of the door with the gun-rack in the rear window. LOL!! Yup…I’m a redneck!

Ross Nelson had more patience than any person I have ever met. He never visibly got rattled or upset, no matter what I did. THAT was pretty amazing.

Dad was the one who got sent out to bring my brothers home when they missed curfew.  With my mom, if you were five minutes late, he was sent to retrieve you. He never had to come for me though…that’s the advantage of being the little sister. It didn’t seem like it was a really good idea to have dad bring you home to mom. So I was on time, always! ;) 

And he was even the person who taught me how to parallel park. He used mom’s car, a tractor, and a fence rail became the curb. I had to maneuver the pickup between them and each time I was successful, he would move them closer together until I could park perfectly in between the smallest of spaces.

He taught me how to dig post holes and build a fence, he taught me how to test electric fence to make sure it was still working, I learned how to burn tumbleweeds that were caught in the fence row, we burned pasture fields to return the nitrogen to the soil, he taught me how to shoot a gun, and he even taught me how to destroy prairie dog towns that popped up in our pastures. To city people, prairie dogs are pretty cute but when they are in your pasture or field and you have horses, they are the enemy.  If a horse catches a leg in a hole and breaks their leg, you have to put them down. So, we used to get a big tank of diesel fuel, pour a bunch into the prairie dog holes, cover the holes and enjoy a quiet prairie dog setting for a long time. We weren't really very environmentally friendly in the 70's. And...I told ya’ I was a redneck! Let’s add Tomboy to the list too! LOL!

I learned how to drive a tractor and a combine from my dad.  I learned how to operate the tractor about the same time I learned how to drive the pickup. I loved the throttle lever that you slid up and down to increase or decrease your speed depending on how many bumps were in the path. He used to sit on the wheel cover and bounce all around while I sped back and forth for hours.

When I got older, probably fourth grade, I got to take the tractor out on my own. I’m pretty sure dad was glad to have me go solo.

I think my dad is the one who taught me to be fearless. We were always careful but I was never afraid to try anything!

He came to every piano recital, flute solo, band concert, cheerleading opportunity, horse show, vocal solo, musical, every single thing I ever did. I don’t remember either of my parents missing anything.  It was the same for my brothers and their activities.

My dad has always been a very soft-spoken, gentle soul. My dad never yelled or spanked, he would just wrinkle his forehead when he was upset. And you cooled it! :)

He worked hard and provided for all of our needs. He congratulated me when I did well and never criticized when I didn’t.  He got me out of a lot of pickles with my mom (who was like me...very vocal, LOL). I would tell him my side and he would go talk to mom. Usually, they came back with a lesser consequence.

My dad was always the voice of calm and reason.

He took great care of mom while she was dying. It was a really rough time and he never faltered. Between the two of us, we did the best we could in that situation.

Dad remarried after mom died and moved back to his childhood hometown. He lives there still with my step-mom.  My dad became the Emergency Preparedness Director for his county and then he retired a second time a few years later.

His new retirement career was “coffee groups”. I think at one point, he had like three a day. That was what his generation did, they met at a spot, drank coffee, and told tall tales for a few hours and then went home. Dad loves to go to his coffee groups.

A few years ago, dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers and Parkinson’s.  I talked to him just the other day and he sounded just like my dad. He does most days.  I cherish these times because I know that someday it won’t be that way.

I got a phone call from him a few months ago asking me if I would come to his house to help him and my brothers plan his funeral. He wanted to have it taken care of so no one would have to worry about it when he died.  I went with them and we made the arrangements.

It sucked.

He asked me to pick out music for his funeral. That was NOT an easy task.  I am really glad to have it done though. Not talking about it and not thinking about it won’t stop it from happening, but it still sucked.

I love my dad very much and he really is one in a million. He is a simple man, a good man and the world is a brighter place because of him.

I’m pretty lucky God picked him for me!

Detour in a bra, down a runway...

I just walked down a 50 foot runway, in front of over 500 people… in a bra.

No kidding!

It was for an event called Art Bra and this was the third year they have done this fundraiser. Some of my very best friends had been models and were organizers.  Breast cancer survivors wear the bras on the runway which is awesome and I had been asked before and graciously denied that request. (secretly thinking…there is NO WAY I would wear a bra in front of 500 plus people…not because of the breast cancer, just because it’s a bra in front of 500 plus people!) LOL!!

In January, a very sweet lady called and asked me if I would do it.  She told me that one of my besties had given her my name and number. Initially, I said no. Then she told me that the proceeds went to help under and un-insured breast cancer patients. Pretty important stuff!

Then she said that we could design our own bra and it could be a childhood cancer bra.

AND…it could cover as much of me as I wanted covered.

I said yes!

Then I hung up the phone and said, “what the hell did I just do??”

Immediately, if not sooner, J I began a workout regime to lose pounds and tone up.  I really didn’t think I was that vain, but I was wrong. LOL!  I worked out 5 days a week until my cardio workout burned 600 calories or more, and then I lifted weights. Two of my very good friends helped me with diet and workout plans. I didn’t join a gym, I didn’t “do” a program, I just worked out at home and I worked out hard.

Accountability is the key…and walking down a runway in a bra was certain reason to be accountable…it was my coach and babysitter.  I ate the right carbs, protein (YUCK), fruit, veggies, all whole foods, and made sure I got fat in my diet…really…and I gave up sugar (for the most part, I wasn’t a fanatic).

I was working out with the Evil Twister Chick and her DVD workouts…she pissed me off.  I couldn’t do them without falling so she went back on the shelf and I did interval training and walked…fast.

I lost ten pounds…still have 5 to go.  And I have so much more energy than I could ever explain. I feel 10 years younger!  Unfortunately, my wrinkles and turkey wattle did not follow suit.

Damn.

Friday, May 3 came and I walked into the downtown Kansas City Airport Museum and saw this absolutely stunning venue with chandeliers and white curtains and beautiful seating…

And a 50 foot white runway.All I could think was “Oh dear Lord…WHAT HAVE I DONE!?”

Largely due to my MS, my balance SUCKS…and I have never been coordinated and graceful…but I was supposed to walk down this runway and smile and be all model-like and swooshy and glam….

I knew that wasn’t going to happen…it’s not me. Silly, irreverent, and crazy…that’s more me!!

My girlfriends were in the audience and they promised to raise the roof with noise!!  I knew that would do the trick for calming my nerves! I was relying on them!

They did our hair and makeup and off we went. My bra was in the live auction, which meant I got the added perk of extra time on stage to strut my stuff. 

Now let’s stop there for a minute and talk about “strut” and “stuff”.

BWAHHAHHHAAAHHHAAAAA…strut and stuff!!!

I don’t strut and I don’t have stuff…well I do have some stuff. My “girls” are beautiful. I love them!! They are perky and plump. Silicone ROCKS!!!But I’m a 47 year old, mom of two, former elementary school Principal who wears sweats and jeans and t-shirts 99.9% of the time.

I don’t routinely show my cleavage to 500 people while walking down a runway…in a bra!

Again…”WHAT HAVE I DONE?”

The bras in front of me were auctioning for like $5000 each!! HOLY SCHMOLY!!!  That’s a lot of pressure…are you even serious?  Okay…those bras also had beautiful ladies wearing them who had escorts who were professional athletes. That helped. J

 

Then there was little old plain, Jane me.  In my childhood cancer bra.

“Why the hell not!” overtook What have I done?” and off I went.

And it was SOOOOO much fun!! My girlfriends SCREAMED and ROCKED it out!!! They were right there, front and center right beside the runway. That made me feel 100% better!  My posse had my back!! Love those girls!!! And Brian was there cheering me on too smiling and clapping alongside my friends.

And then…the best part of the night. As I was standing in front of my unruly crew, Brian pointed to someone sitting beside him.

It was a very special little guy. His name is Quinlan and he is the son of one of my friends, Jennifer, who earned her angel wings after a battle with colon cancer. Jennifer is one of my heroes and her son is too.

“Q” was there with his grandpa taking pictures for an amazing local magazine called 435 South.  One of the bras that was in the auction was created in Jennifer’s honor and when I saw it, I cried.

I had seen Q backstage and talked to him and already gotten a hug.  He looked up and me and smiled and I bent down to give him a high five, which turned into a “near hug”. I couldn’t quite reach him.  His big, beautiful smile gave me courage!

And off I went.

My little childhood cancer bra brought about $1,300 dollars (which is still a boatload of money to me) and it will greatly help those breast cancer patients!

It was simply a magical night and I am so glad I did it.

One time.

Detours come in the strangest packages sometimes…and this time it came in the form of a beautiful blue and gold bra and a 50 foot runway.

TAKE THAT cANCER!!

Info on the event is at artbrakc.com J

Trade ya'...

I'm going to Disney World!!

Yup...but it's just me, no kids!

Sound like a dream? Or nightmare?  Well...it's not for fun, I'm heading there for a conference about childhood cancer. I'm very excited to get to meet some of my fellow momcologists and hear from some of the best researchers in the world about what's coming on the horizon. It's going to be awesome!

The last time we were in Disney was for Braden's Make A Wish trip in August of 2009. What a wonderful/awful trip.

Wonderful because the boys enjoyed it so very much. Awful because we thought Braden was dying and that everything we did would be a last.  There are no words to describe how blessed we feel that he is still here! Absolutely amazing!  Thank you Lord for the gift of time!

On our trip in 2009, we stayed at the Give Kids The World Village which is an awesome place in itself. One of the things you get is a special pass that admits you to any Disney park that you want to go to and allows you to go first in line, no waiting in the long lines.

We went through the handicapped lane.

The thing that amazed me were the ugly looks and comments from people waiting in line. They were just MAD that we were getting to pass them and zip to the fun part without the long, hot wait.

I mean MAD!

They would give you an evil stare and quietly say nasty comments about us to those near them.

Braden still had his hair, we all looked healthy.

Little did they know what was beneath that appearance. "No known cure", "Less then 10% chance for 5 year survival", that's what we were facing.

I would look back at them and think "I would trade you in a second!" I would be happy to stand in that line for an hour waiting to go on the Dumbo Ride. I really would, if I could reasonably believe that my son would be alive in 6 months.

I would give anything to be in their hot and miserable shoes.

ANYTHING!

Even kiddoes in wheelchairs got ugly looks...are you even kidding me???  Wow!! I was shocked.

And while I wished that they knew our story and weren't so hurtful and awful in their need to judge, condemn, and blame; I also hoped that they would never find out exactly what it's like to be in our shoes.

All the fight was gone from me at that point or I'm sure I would have spoken up. I was in a deep depression and a very sad place at that time. All I wanted to do is hold my son,

and change his fate.

And I could only do one of those two.

Since that time, I've had so many cancer families tell me that they have had similar experiences. Their child gets a special wish or honor and people around them tell them how "lucky they are"!

Lucky?? Really???

No one is lucky to have cancer. ESPECIALLY a child!

Maybe a better word is "deserving". These kids who fight cancer deserve a few breaks...they deserve some kudos, some time to enjoy life, and they deserve to be honored and celebrated.

There are few words to explain what these babies have to go through with cancer treatments.  Devastating, painful, horrific...those fit.

Unfair..that fits too. They should be playing and going to school and having friends over and not wondering if tomorrow they will die.

Their siblings and parents should not have to wonder and worry. It's not right.

Every day of their lives, they will have to wonder. They will wonder if tomorrow is the day it comes back and they have to fight again, and maybe this time they won't make it.

Long line....no "special perks"....I'll take it.

I PRAY for normalcy..for being able to let Braden play soccer and not have to worry that his port will get hit and he will die.  When he had a Hickman I prayed that he could simply take a bath or shower because he couldn't do that for fear he would get it wet. Over a year of sponge baths.

I prayed that we would be able to simply sleep in our beds at night with all four of us in our house.

I prayed for no alarms going off in the middle of the night to change feeds, add another chemo, or give medicine doses.

I prayed for a meal with my family, at a table and not just fast food with plastic forks and styrofoam trays while sitting on the parent couch at the hospital.

I prayed to be able to go outside. Just GO OUTSIDE!  We were in the hospital for weeks at a time and while we could see outside from our window, we couldn't GO outside.

I prayed for boredom and routine.  Oh how I prayed for predictability, and control.

So many wonderful people reach out to help and give children with cancer a reason to smile because they get it. They understand that they should not have to go through what they are enduring.

They CARE.

They LOVE.

And they hold out their hands wide open and fold their kindness around our babies. It's truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed.  And the smiles these kids get from those acts...are priceless!

Everything we do with the foundation focuses on giving kids these perks because they deserve it!

So to the precious and vocal ones who don't get it, I feel sorry for you. I truly do because apparently you haven't learned what those that hold their arms wide open have learned:

Selfless and compassionate acts matter!

Thank you to the countless people who have reached their arms out for not only our family, but for any families of children with cancer. Your gracious acts are greatly appreciated.

And, to those strangers who didn't get it...my offer stands...

I'll trade you any day of the week.

ANY day.

What's It Going To Take?

Boys...

Toilets...

Seriously....

Can boys NOT aim better than that?!! :)

Really!!?

I love the males who live in my house.  I do!

But...honestly humans of the male variety, is it too much to ask for you to actually pee IN the WATER portion of the toilet, not ON the actual toilet;

or even NEAR the toilet??

This is NOT horseshoes.

Close does not count!

I've tried everything...I have suggested sitting...

Cause I figure that I sit to pee and somehow I always seem to make my target so perhaps it would be easier if they just sat?!

They claim they forgot to sit, "Sorry mom!" (insert eye roll and deep sigh from mom).

So I've tried making sitting mandatory.

They still forget.

(more eye rolling...

and sighing).

SO I actually put signs on the toilet seats saying, "remember to sit down!"

Yea...they got peed on.

(not kidding)

I've tried Cheerios as a target...let's make it fun, maybe it's about getting them to "play a sport"?

Nope.

Heaven FORBID that I walk anywhere near the bathroom door when the boys are peeing because they turn to see who is coming...

and every part of them turns.

And it's like a firehose....wooo hoooo...pee flying everywhere!!!!

It's a freakin' potty party!!!

I make them clean it up when they miss the target.

And every single time, they say, "ewww...this is sooo gross" and then miss their target the next time they pee.

Seriously???

I've tried yelling, bitching, grumbling, I've even tried just walking away shaking my head.

I've threatened that they will have to pee outside because I've absolutely, positively HAD it and they are so not going to have "indoor pee privileges" if they can't aim better than that.  They can pee in the yard...

In the middle of a blizzard...

Uphill...

Both ways...

They just giggle.

I'm at a loss.

I seem to be the only one in the house that actually cares whether or not they hit the toilet bowl instead of somewhere in the vicinity of the toilet.

I'm thinking now that I know where the word "pissed" comes from. I bet a mom invented it to describe her anger and frustration about toilet target practice....and lack of accuracy.

I'm considering setting up some wiring all around the bowl that will emit electric shocks should any liquid hit it.

Nothing that would cause real damage...

long term,

just a low voltage "reminder".

Kinda like a rubber band snap.  That's all.

Pretty sure after the first little "snap", they would see my point and maybe start squirting in the right place.

I bet accuracy would be 100%,

forever.

I'll wager that they would have concentration of steel when they peed then!

There's the next million dollar invention...

and it will be a mom who invents it,

a mom who buys it,

and a mom who grins with satisfaction when it snaps the first time.

I'm SO in!! :)

Just pee IN the toilet...it's a simple little request.

Why in the world is that soooo hard???

And for the record sons, your future wives will thank me.  Well...that is if you ever learn to pee IN the toilet.

I'm not too hopeful though.

So I will apologize now, sorry future daughters-in-law.

I tried!!! I really did!

I'm sure you will do a much better job with your sons.

And I'm sure it will be hilarious when they miss and I'm the grandma instead of the mom.

Most days I can hear my mom rolling in laughter in Heaven.

In the meantime, I'm going to have a glass (or ten) of wine.

Lord, give me strength....and patience!

:)

Princess Jamie...

When Braden was in treatment, and we were living at the hospital, he met a very special friend.

Her name was Jamie and she was a care assistant in the oncology clinic.  Jamie checked him in each visit (at that point in life, that was twice a week...at least).

Braden was not a very agreeable patient in the beginning. With the autism, everything was super confusing and scary to him.

He would cry and cry and cry.  I call it the childhood cancer cry. He was 3 years old, and even if he was scared and crying, my job was to hold him down while they did whatever procedures they had to do to him.

It sucked as much as you are imagining right now.

Blood pressure checks, weight checks, temperature checks, and height checks doesn't seem like a very big deal to you and me.

BUT...to a 3 year old with autism and tubies and a bald head...it was a HUGE deal.

Until Jamie came into his life.

Jamie didn't have any special education training. She hadn't been taught "how" to work with children with autism.  But we found out that Jamie was a master!

It was innate.  She just got "it" and she made everything right in Braden's world.

He WANTED to go to clinic, because he was going to see his Jamie. When we were at home, she was all he talked about. Braden's love for Jamie was very deep!

Every clinic visit, she would open the door and he would SPRINT into her arms yelling, "JAMIE!".  Every. Single. Visit.

Jamie let Braden push buttons he wasn't supposed to push, he learned to watch the baby on the thermometer to make sure it was working, he got to shoot the cover off the thermometer, he watched the numbers of the "squeeze" (blood pressure machine) to make sure they were going down and he was very quiet and still so he wouldn't scare them.

He had to give her about a hundred hugs.  And when he was inpatient, she used to come visit him on her lunch break. Yup...her lunch break!! AMAZING

Word would get to her if he was having a rough time and she would magically appear.  Her visits resulted in smiles and laughter no matter how sick he felt at the time. She always brightened his day!

Braden still collects the caps from the flushes and heparin tubes. It's his "thing". :)  When Braden was inpatient for transplant, Jamie brought him a whole jar filled with caps. He was more excited about that than I could ever tell you!! His whole face lit up and he squealed with delight!!

I think most kids loved Jamie as much as Braden did, she was a keeper!! ALL of the staff in the oncology clinic at CMH are keepers! We ADORE all of them!! REALLY!!

Braden is a great judge of character. He either really likes you or really just doesn't care if you are around or not. From the first moment he saw Princess Jamie, he loved her!!

Truly and deeply!

Princess Jamie got married and now has two babies. She isn't at clinic anymore because she is taking care of her family, but we have play dates with her occasionally.  He still flips out every time he sees her.

All she did was love him.  That was it.  She just loved him. And in return, he loved her more than any words could ever describe. Princess Jamie got him through his cancer treatments and will always be his first love.

Mom loves her too!!

For me, the lessons I learned from Princess Jamie are to:

love unconditionally,

understand selflessly,

and act with affection and grace every day.

Princess Jamie, we love you!!