Check up

This year we flew to City of Hope in Duarte from Idaho where we recently moved. It has been four years since treatment finished.
It was a wonderful check up and relief filled my soul when our Doctor told us he looked good and the numbers did also.  Grateful for our wonderful doctor and this facility.

2 years ago this month........

This is the last appointment we will have at City of Hope in Duarte while living in Southern California. We are moving to the Bay Area at the end of the summer.  It was hard to believe it was just two short years ago that Corban was officially diagnosed this month by Dr. Armenian with ALCL Lymphoma.  We have talked about finding a new hospital in the Bay Area however for now our hearts are tied here.  It would be hard to start over with a new doctor when he already has the WORLDS BEST DOCTOR.  So for now we will do a 6 month blood draw where we move to and send the results to City of Hope. Six months later we will drive to City Of Hope for a check up with his doctor.
He was given a clean bill of health today. We are blessed.  We will miss this place.  WE never thought we would ever say  we would miss a cancer hospital.  This place is the best!

Diffrent

Mr. Blue eyes spring break this year looking Little  DIFFERENT

Cancer looks different for everyone, it comes in different forms and stages. It comes with different fears and worries because of who we are. It can be a quick easy journey, or long an even never ending.

In our community we just found out recently that a little boy in the fourth grade has Cancer.  This is the same age of  Mr. Blue eyes was when he got his. IT has hit close to home and close to our hearts. Our hearts have been heavy and to say the least and full of prayers for not just Him, but his family.

Today Mr. Blue eyes came home arguing with his brother about something silly.  He was upset.  It was after this that he saw me looking at this families face book page.  He then said this family is getting a lot more attention then us.  Why mom????  They have bracelets, shirts and everyone at school is all about team ..... Then he proceeded to to tell me that kids at school were being mean and saying that his cancer was nothing because this other kids is so much worse.  He goes on with tears in his eyes saying that a lot of kids have made comments to him about him not getting this kind of attention when he got cancer. Why not???

My mama heart broke into pieces. I talked to him about how this kiddo is going to a different hospital just for kids and that he has lived here all his life and so have his parents.  They are deeply rooted in the community of baseball here, which is everything in this town.
I reminded him that we only had lived here 2 1/2 years when he got cancer and that we have family and  friends all over that loved us and prayed for us.  Many spoiled him.  Not many people even knew about our journey only people from church (they were awesome) and a few at school.  We did not try to hide it we just did not have many of our people here, they were mostly far away.
I reminded him that this little guy is sick and has been hospitalized this week a lot.  I hugged him several time and empathized that all of those comments from other kids were hurt full and mean.  I reminded him how blessed he was to be loved by the people that loved and touched him.

Check up

It was time for a three month check up today.  Everything looked good and the blood draw came back normal.  Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We took some little toys and 4 Angry Bird Blankets for the kids.  We love this hospital and all the people in it.  Now, does that say that this hospital never gives us anxiety or stress. NO, today when we were driving I felt a small ting of fear wrapped up in the gratitude of a check up. Life will always have uncertainties we just need to keep our heads looking up and faith in the for front of our minds.  God has a purpose in all things!  

a year out...

Tonight the brothers were arguing and The littlest said to Mr. Blue Eyes.  It is so unfair I have had to sleep on the top bunk since you got cancer.  "Mr. Blue eyes responds with "Oh so you think it is fair that I got cancer.  You think I deserved that. you think this was easy! It was not  it was hard and it hurt a lot!' Frustration  and hurt were taking over His body.  He was in tears, tears that soon took over his body.
Layers of recovery occur even over a year later of Cancer free.  I was actually relieved to see his anger stir and that he vocalized his journey as being hard.  I am relieved that he has the emotional capacity to express this. So today as a mother I celebrate that he found a voice to validate his journey.

Check up!

We ended up finally getting in this week to see the doctor.

  

City of Hope was really busy for it being the week of Christmas.  

We shared with the doctor a special quilt I had made for him when Corban was still in cancer treatment.  I had hesitated despite feeling inspired to do so, but pushed on..  In our family we love quilts and we love them to be cozy! It was special fabric from a sweet friend that had brought it to me the night before Corban went into the hospital. I create when I am stressed.... I made 5 quilt tops while he was ill.  This one made me think of the Doctor.  I so appreciated the long journey of school and sacrifice to become the doctor he is.   To be a pediatric Doctor takes someone with a special heart and he certainly possesses it.   So we shared this with him from our hearts to his family hoping to share some of the warmth and love that he has given to our family during this journey. I hope it always reminds him of the impact and difference he makes in the world of kiddos with cancer and their families.

To add a special touch to his quilt a friend helped do some embroidery around two sides.  Corban picked most of the words, I only had to help a little.  They are not perfect so it is a little like a word search game.  LOL!
These were the words.  Funny, Hilarious, Husband, Father, Chemo Master, Kindness,Doctor , healer, silly, humorous, caring, tease, crack up, laughter, love, Pediatrics  Crazy, Healer,City of Hope,  Doctor Saro Armenian, Survivorship program, Thanks for Everything, love Corban.

City of Hope Christmas

 Today our appointment was changed and we did not know it until we got to the hospital.  So we happily just delivered the goods...  We will try to get Corban in next week.  These are 27 Pillowcases that we made and took to City of Hope's Christmas this year. My sister and I threw our combined fabric together and this is what we came up with.  We also took 5 Large fuzzy blankets for the bigger kiddos.

Wishes come true.....

Here are some pictures from Mr.Blue Eyes 4 night Disney Cruise In the Bahamas.  It was a trip he will never forget.  Truly incredible! I will write later with the details...

Thank you Make A WISH!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, October 12, 2014

We woke up and O dark thirty to be picked up by 4 a.m.  We all put on our Make a Wish T shirts that our sweet volunteers had brought us.  The kids were all wide awake and happy to be moving.  Mom and dad had not slept more than two hours so we were a little tired.  We heard squeals & screeches from the front of the house!!  “It’s a LIMO!”  It was all a little surreal and this point.  Five bags later and 6 carry on we loaded into the limo and drove to the Los Angeles International Airport.  Mr. Blue eyes loved playing with the lights and sitting in different seats as we drove to the airport.  This is our first ever family limo ride.  V.I.P. treatment!  WOW!  Excitement and anticipation were at an all-time High…To receive this special wish is more than a limo ride, flights, hotel, and a Disney Cruise.  It is the outreach of the humanity and goodness.  It echoes of the good will and generosity of people in this beautiful world we live in.  It has reached a part of this mothers heart that she has never felt before.  She has been overcome with joy and elation, watching this blue eyed boy smile so big.  It brings us together as a family for 6 days to just enjoy and be together.  Sometimes last year at this time we were afraid would not happen if treatment did not go well.  The squeals and excitement have been precious to behold.  The kids love flying and we rarely do it as a family.  We are going to a place we have never been doing things that we had never dreamed of doing.  It is profound to think of the lifetime effect this will have not just on Mr. Blue Eyes but our other children.  They are witnessing the selfless generosity from so many that made this possible.  They are seeing that people in the world care enough to make a little 10 year old wishes come true.
As a mother it has done that and more.  TO watch him get this amazing wish come true is priceless.  It has been very healing for my own tattered soul from the journey that we had all been on with his cancer.  In a strange way I have felt the world say.  We give our love and support, what you went through was hard and really stunk.  I fill a lifting a holding of sorts.  I feel the empathy and love of those who wish suffering did not have to happen.  But we all know that this life brings suffering and joy...  My soul has bubbled over a many times in with tears leaking from my eyes.  So today we are just going to enjoy and celebrate this amazing Make a Wish Foundation.  The plane ride was great it was American Airlines direct flight to Orlando Florida.  We had really sweet flight attendants.  They just happen to give the kids huge bag of peanut M&M”S and Chex Mix.  While I was at the back of the plane they were chatting with me asked about the wish for our blue eyed boys.  Just before we landed on of the gentle man came with a huge bag of snacks for us.  He said we may need it for the hotel.  SO sweet and of course the kids loved that and ate everyone on our trip.  We got off the plane and found our luggage.  We were staying at the Airport in a Hyatt hotel.  It seemed odd that a hotel was in an airport but how very convenient.  Convenient is was we dropped of our bags after owing and awing over the gorgeous lobby and floral carpet and headed to dinner.  WE ate and enjoyed looking in a few shops around the airport. The kids favorite parts were the moving walkways and the toy stores! Then we went to the room and Dad passed out and the rest of us headed for the pool.  We slept well and anticipated what the morning would bring…..

Sunday, October 13, 2014

Today was the day that we boarded the ship.  Excitement was HIGH!  We ate in the airport at Dads Favorite donut shop, Krispy Cream.  Then we packed and got ready to get on the ship.  We had special tags so we did not have to carry our luggage Disney and the hotel took care of that.  We went back through the airport to find the bus that said DISNEY DREAM.  Corban was on High alert.  He started running and then saw the bus driving along the other side of the road.  He ran and ran so excited that his little 10 year old body could not contain the excitement.  He ran alongside of it almost all the way to its parking spot.  He was beaming with excitement.  It was neat to see his little contained self really let loose and get EXCITED!  We checked in and boarded the bus.  We sat all over the bus it was very full.  They showed a video and we could also look out the window and see the beautiful green Florida.  We ended up about 1 hour later in Cape Canaveral to board the ship.  We stood in a crazy long line.  There were so many people there.  A cast member came up to us and saw our MAKE A WISH SHIRTS and we got to go to a shorter line.  It was so kind of her.  At around noon we boarded what was one and only cruise ship we have ever been on.  It was Breathtaking.  They announced “welcome to the Larsen family” us when we walked through the doors.  And the staff clapped.  Disney has a special way of making everything magical and special.  No details were lost in this ship.  It was stunning and like a huge hotel put into a cruise ship. EVERYONE on the ship was kind nice and respectful, especially the Disney Crew Members.  We had

We woke up and were all excited to go off the ship today.  It was an Monday, October 14, 2014. This day we were all a little tired from traveling but eventually got ourselves moving. We had stopped at a port called Nassau.  It was time to have an adventure.  The mom and Dad decided to splurge (not on Make a wish dollar) and take the kids to an interactive dolphin experience.  We road from the boat on a Catamaran to another little island named Nausea.  The ride was about 1 hour long.  The kids loved the fresh air, wind in their hair and beautiful water.  When we arrived they got to go in the water with a dolphin and huge, kiss, feed, give high fives and dance with it.  We decided if we had come all that way we should defiantly take advantage of something extra ordinary.  The kids loved it and enjoyed it.  Mom tried to take pictures but mostly got the back of heads and was a little disappointed.  But had to just be glad for this outing and these amazing animals.  We headed back to the boat about four with many of the locals on a Catamaran that was loaded with people.  It was much older than the first and had the life jackets tied to the top of the ceiling. 

 October 15, 2014

Today was truly amazing, we went to Castaway Cay.  It is Disney’s Private Island.  The first thing we did was find each other because we had come in on different trams because they were full.  Then we all jumped on bikes.  We road on a little trail around the island.  Corban and Kade both somehow hit the bushes on the side of the trail and crashed but came out fine.  It was fun for everyone.  Mom was going to take Hadley on her bike but found she was an unstable unit not having ridden for many years.   

Fallowing the bike ride...  The three boys and Mom got to do the Sting Ray adventure.  They got to feed the sting ray a fish, squid and fish Jell-O.  They were light brown sting Rays. Corban and Kaden kissed the Sting Rays.  Afterwards we got to snorkel and swim in the bay with all of the Rays.  You had to be careful to shuffle out so that you don’t step on one of the Rays.  We often saw them buried in the white sand.  Corban and Kaden both saw what they thought were baby grails and they did a little freak out and snorkeled quit fast back to shore.  It was magical once you get the hang of breathing as you snorkel.  We hurried and had a quick lunch and then hurried to soak up more of this amazing blue water and white sand.  Hadley and Mom stayed on the beach and Dad and the three boys went out snorkeling.  They had an amazing time.  We could have spent 2 days there and never gotten bored.
At 2:40 that afternoon we rushed to load ourselves up and get back on the ship.  We had an invitation for Corban and our family to meet mickey for private Make a Wish meet and greet. 

WE looked like a bunch of beach bums.  We hurried to shower and get ready.  We arrived and met three other families.  All three of these little boys had the same wish and were all given it!  What a touching event.  Patricia whom runs the Make a wish on Disney’s Dream was a delight.  She is from Spain and offered lots of love, hugs and kisses.  She was sweet and gentle with the kids.  Pictures with Mickey.  Hadley was a big fan and hugged Mickey and he gave her a kiss!  It was simply beautiful to watch these kids and their families celebrating WISHES coming true for these boys and healthy enough to receive them.

That evening was pirate night so our wait staff was dressed like pirates and it was a fun night.  We even tried Escargot.  First Todd, then Blake and Corban and finally Mom chocked one down.  They are chewy, slimy little suckers.  Not sure most of it will eat it again but it was fun to try it. 

Then at 1030 that night there was a pirate party at the upper deck and some amazing fireworks.  When Corban was asked what was the highlight of the day He said, “Everything!”  I think we all felt that way. 

Thursday October 16, 2014                                                                                                        

We woke up early to eat and get ready to disembark from the ship.  IT was busy and a lot of hustling.  WE visiting with our make a wish coordinator Patricia and another Make a Wish family from Canada.  They were close to our boys ages.  We later ran into them in the airport and got to go share lunch together.  While we were sitting there eating a stranger walked up to us and asked if she could treat us to lunch on her vouchers from the airlines.  Her flight was canceled and she decided to got back to Disney World and not stay in airport.  SO she gave us all 100$ of vouchers for our lunch.  Remarkable huh!  SO needless to say with our Big adventure, new friends and a sweet stranger we left Orlando on a HIGH  

Make a WISH!!!!!!!!!!!

 The balloons and goodies from Disney were their clever way of shouting out what his wish would be.

Make a Wish Foundation has granted Corban a wish because he has had a life threatening medical condition.
THE REVEAL WAS TODAY!!

DISNEY CRUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These special ladies Heather and Flora came this morning and surprised Mr.Blue eyes with what his Make a Wish would be.  It was so fun and energy is HIGH because we leave in one week.

This was a great appointment.  One year of cancer free so we get to have apt. every three months now!  He checked out fine and he  brought more toys for the kids to cheer them up when they need it.

A trip for Mr. Blue Eyes

This was a trip that was supposed to happen last year when Mr. Blue Eyes got sick.  So it happened now.  He got to go with his mom for a fun trip to see some favorite cousins and Aunts.  He was so excited! It was 6 days total! It was a great break for him, playing in the wide open spaces, going to City of Rocks with family, sleeping out in a rain storm on the trampoline, Just Dance with Cousins, talking a giggling till the wee hours of the morning. Making cakes with cousins, sewing lizard bags, dreaming of future critters to have and love, dreaming of moving to live by his favorite cousins. Timeless treasures.....

 This was a fun Caterpillar that the Cousins found and enjoyed having it crawl all over them until they put it back where they got it from.

 The treasure cousins...............

 New Cousin to love baby Oliver!

 Only 6 weeks apart in age and Best of Friends.

Perspective from a 10 year old

This morning Mr. Blue eyes was quickly getting ready for school and wanted me to tame his beastly blond locks for school pictures.  It was not behaving well when he said to me.   "Mom My hair was a lot easier to fix last year! You did not even have to do it!  He giggles and I in that moment of reflection so appreciate this boy who can see the bright side of life in all the struggles he has faced.

First day of school..

Mr.Blue eyes first day of of 5th grade! He got the perfect teacher he is so excited!

Last year just two boys walked to school(see picture below) while Mr. Blue Eyes was in cancer treatment. It was hard to watch, it made me much more emotional than I had expected.  I always torture the kids with excessive amount of photos trying capture these special moments in life.  This morning was no exception to my hobby of preserving these memories.

This picture was just taken for my heart to do some mending.

I loved this day, I loved seeing them walk together and I truly cherished something greater than I have in years prior to him getting cancer.  So perhaps another gift along the way is to appreciate more fully and perhaps in a different capacity these moments in life.  

Summer at a Glance

Summer is coming to a close it was a great one for Mr. Blue Eyes. Friends, GOOD HEALTH,swimming,sun,sun lotion on the honky white body, beach,boogie boarding, brother and sister time together.