September 2010 - A Dream Come True

Hello everyone!

The Reveras have just returned from the Happiest Place on Earth - of course, I mean Disney World. It was an amazing trip filled with characters and rides, and tons of family time. We met Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Pooh and friends, Rafiki, Baloo, Jiminy Cricket, and endless others. We ate breakfast buffets, dinner buffets, cinnamon buns, popcorn, Mickey shaped ice cream, frozen lemonade, meals with characters, meals with fire, and more cheeseburgers than I thought possible in one week. We got soaked on Splash Mountain. We yelled our heads off on Thunder Mountain. We sat by ghosts on the Haunted Mansion. We rode Test Track over and over and over! We saw tons of unbelievable animals on the safari. And we helped Kim Possible catch the villain at Epcot (a very cool game if you have never done it - the whole family was impressed!) We did it all and it was a wonderful week!

Breakfast at Mickey's

So many special things happened this week. AJ and I searched for (and found) all the hidden Mickeys on the scavenger hunt at the Wilderness Lodge - he even got a special pin for his accomplishment. Ryan was chosen during the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and cracked everyone up! Austin finally got the Mickey Sorcerer's Hat he has always wanted and conquered his fears to ride Tower of Terror, Rockin Roller Coaster, and Expedition Everest (which I think Ryan rode about 8 times). My boys are speed demons! And Jackers had a magical moment when he was able to lift the sword from the stone in front of Cinderella's carousel, and Peter Pan and Wendy bounded out to declare him King of Fantasyland! It was so cool!

King Jackers!

But my favorite moment was far more simple. It was our first day and we were riding Soarin' - one of my favorite rides and absolutely beautiful. I looked down the row and there I saw sitting next to me the 5 most precious things in my life with pure amazement and enjoyment painted all over their faces. Greg and each of the boys were lost in the splendor of the ride. Smiles lit up their faces and their eyes danced. I was reminded of a moment 14 months ago. There was one particular night in the hospital when AJ was very ill and I was filled with fear - could he handle this? would he survive? were we going to make it through? I so clearly remember looking up and seeing the photo collage we created for his room, and focusing on a photo of our last trip to Disney. At that moment I longed to be back in that photo, in that moment captured in the photograph where we were so happy and he was so healthy. And now here I was! The tears streamed down my face and I carefully studied each of their faces so I would not forget a second. It is a moment that will live in my heart forever. It was perfect!

Life is a journey, enjoy the ride!

And so was our trip. The trip we planned and looked forward to for a year. The trip that every family member voted as their perfect way to celebrate. The trip that got us through some low points. And the trip that signifies that is all in the past. If it is trip to Disney, or some place else you love, take some time with your family and celebrate. The moments go by so fast, but the special memories we make are forever.

Love to all of you!

Cindy

PS - Hayden and his family received wonderful news and his prognosis is excellent! Thank you for the prayers!!!!

Need some prayers for a friend

One of AJ's friends, the boy who sits next to him at school is currently going though some health issues. Please pray for Hayden and his family as they face uncertain times.

Cindy and Greg

August 18th - Marking of another "anniversary"

Yesterday was our typical day - boys were up at 6 am, hit the bus stop by 6:45, returned from school at 3:00, took care of homework and packing up for the next day, went to their friends' house to play at 4:00, helped make individual pizzas for a late dinner at 7:00, and after showers, were all in bed and asleep by 8:30. Typical day. What was not so typical is that one year ago AJ was being released from the hospital. What a difference a year makes. That was a day filled with jubilation and anxiety - would we be able to care for him, manage his line and his medicines, and keep him safe from germs? I remember that day feeling so conflicted. I wanted to be out of that hospital so badly but I almost didn't want him to leave behind the safety its walls and staff had provided. It is hard to believe that was a year ago. Yesterday was so completely different and so completely normal. To tell you the truth, I am not sure if we even mentioned the "anniversary."

Our lives are now filled with soccer practices and games, school, playdates, Cub Scouts, and Church. Instead of counting days post-transplant, we are counting down to Jacker's 4th birthday (in 9 days), the start of Miami's football season (in 14 days), and our trip to Disney (in 24 days), plus the Canes beating Florida State ( in 52 days - I said it last year and it worked so we are gonna try it again!) We are getting excited about Halloween and getting costumes ready, anxiously anticipating the cooler fall weather and changing leaves, planning a trip to Gatlinburg for Thanksgiving, and believe it or not, I have even already gotten some Christmas gift requests. Our days and our lives are filled with all of the typical things that come along with raising four very active, HEALTHY, not-so-little boys.

We have moved so close to completely putting AJ's illness behind us. It is no longer the driving force that affects every move and decision. We have finally recaptured that sense of freedom that had been ripped away from us. That sense of normalcy that we all take for granted. Our lives are not dictated by doctors appointments, restrictions, and medicine. It is odd in some ways and completely freeing in others. Not a day will ever go by that I will not stop and give thanks to the Lord for saving our child and preserving our family. But everyday I am learning to let go of the pain, the anxiety, and the fear, and to make room for the fun and the laughter, and to embrace life. I have said this before, but normal has never felt so good!

Hug your little ones and never take a second for granted!

Love to you all,

Cindy

Right Now!

Below is the video we showed at AJPalooza! Thanks again to everyone for making it such a special day!

AJPALOOZA!

Last Saturday was the BIG PARTY! It was a blast. We had popcorn, snow cones, and two big inflatables. One was a big yellow slide and the other was a gum-ball bouncy house. There were balloons all over the place and a huge poster of me at the entrance with my mohawk. After it got it dark we watched Star Wars outside on a big inflatable screen. We had bar-b-q and hot dogs to eat. Over 150 people came!

(The snow cones were very popular..it was 100 degrees!)

(Getting ready for the slide show and movie!)

I would like to thank everyone for coming and a special thanks to Mrs Cristina for singing.

Your friend,

AJ

Day 365: ONE YEAR!

Can you believe it? It has been a whole year already since my transplant. It has been a great year! Today I went bowling with Mom and my brothers. It was a lot of fun.

For dinner my family and I went to P.F. Changs to celebrate. It was delicious!

My big party, AJPalooza, is going to be this Saturday, July 31. All my friends and family are coming over. We are going to have a great time!

-AJ

Day 355: The results we have prayed for

Hello everyone! Today is the day we dreamed of. We received AJ's one year test results. His heart and lung function is normal, as is his thyroid and growth hormone. His blood counts are the strongest they have ever been, and his engraftment studies showed 95% donor marrow, which in the words of his doctor "is excellent." His immune studies are now normal and he can begin to receive vaccinations (a side-effect of chemo and prep for transplant is that his entire immune system was wiped out, including all previous vaccinations, so he is much like a newborn baby and we must start over.) All of this being said, our prayers have been answered and our little boy has conquered this horrible illness. We are thrilled, and relieved, and thankful!!!

Your love and support throughout this year has given us the strength to make it through. We love each and every one of of you!

All our love,

The Reveras

Here are a few photos of his big day of tests and of our lunch at Buca on the way home.