Halloween 2011

When asked, "Charlie, what was the best part about Halloween?" his reply.. "Trick or Treating!" Honestly I think the best part for Charlie was the Ironman outfit. I do believe he has developed an unhealthy attachment to the costume. Every waking moment he wants to be Ironman. If anyone has suggestions about how to get him out of this obsession, we'd be happy to hear it... Daniel had a great time as the Hulk. He didn't so much like the puppy costume that Nana found for him at the resale shop. Charlie like the puppy outfit because it looked like a stuffed animal. Check out the pictures below for some super-cute super-heros!

Halloween 2011

Pre-K Pictures

I really have low expectations when it comes to School pictures. I even warned the teachers at Charlie's new school that this is not his cup of tea. But look at how great these turned out! Yes we dropped a load of cash with Lifetouch, but God only knows when he will be this happy in front of a photographer again!

Charlie Fall School Pictures Pre-K

Chemo to the Rescue

When Charlie was first in the hospital we received so much material to help us along the journey. One of those items was the Chemo to the Rescue book as seen above. At the time, I considered the book mature reading to a 3 year old. But a few weeks ago Charlie picked it off the shelf and Chad and I began reading it to him every night. The story talks about a little boy named Kyle and what he goes through to battle Leukemia. It shows the hospital visits, port accesses, and chemo as superhero type things.

Charlie had his monthly chemo on Tuesday this week. His port accesses lately haven't been the best since the traumatic event back in August. But we read the Chemo to the rescue book almost every night for a week prior and when we practiced at home he was excellent. Sally went to access his port in clinic he didn't even cry this time!!! That was a SERIOUS milestone. He whimpered and fussed a bit when it was removed, but this month was the best port access EVER in over a year and a half. Thank you Chemo to the Rescue book. I firmly believe this story helped Charlie to accept what was happening and work through his issues.

We lent the book to his teacher Miss Joanne to read to the class to help his classmates understand why Charlie talks about things like being sick, chemo, tubies and hospital trips. One little girl came up to me as asked me "why does Charlie go to the hospital?" how do you answer a 4 year old to where it makes sense? Hopefully this book and the visit from the Children's Hospital Child Life Specialists this month will educate them and make Charlie feel more at ease in his new school.