Our favorite gifts

We have been very fortunate to receive some really lovely gifts!  Meals, gift cards, and stickers galore for Charlotte.  Among these though, I have to admit to a few favorites:

the blankie
Charlotte has always been a blankie baby.  She received this white blankie from my Auntie Barbie when she was born.  We had always succeeded in it being a bed blankie - and it wasn't to leave the house.  With my germaphobe husband - this was the only way it could be - otherwise he would have ended up washing it every single night before it went back into her bed!

Since her diagnoses - Charlotte has been attached at the hip to this said blankie - and we didn't dare take it away.  But....there were times it HAD to be washed.  Luckily for us - her cousin Chase had the identical blanket and having outgrown his - passed it on to his little cuz.  So - we now have a back up blankie (perfectly worn in to boot!) - much to all our delight!  Thank you Chase!!!!

The blankie

the iPAD
Yep - Charlotte got an iPad from Kelly - we are jealous too!  We are keeping it for 'hospital' days and face times.  Monday was her first day with it and of course it was a hit!  We have found a medical log app for it that we can now keep track of her meds/symptoms/measurements - so it will go where she goes!  Hoping she will let mommy and daddy use it too now and then!

I know - it's an iphone in the pic!  She has only had one day with the ipad, so no picture of her yet - but this pic is cute and recent (Sunday)!  So sue me?!


Zuri
Many of you know Zuri as the organizer of Charlotte's army and our helping calendar.... some of you are lucky enough to know her much better.  I definitely count her as one of our favorite gifts, and she is on a whole other level then the blankie or ipad!  For those of you who don't know, Zuri has always been one of the main organizers of our group of rugby girls.  If it wasn't for her, I'm sure I would see this group of amazing ladies (each one a gift in her own way) a lot less often. 

Cancer hit the first of our group in December of 2009 when one of our friends husbands was diagnosed (also a rugby guy - with the same birthday as Stefan).  Zuri organized meals and care packages from our group here to send up to our friend in Quesnel.

Then Stefan was diagnosed - and she again did the same thing for us. 

Last year, she captained the nothing butt class ride to conquer cancer team (you may remember a blog about them I wrote last year!).  Well - after all that - 1 month after completing their bike ride from Vancouver to Seattle - Zuri was also diagnosed with cancer.  Charlotte's diagnoses happened the day before Zuri's last day of radiation- and that didn't stop her from being one of the first to step up to help. She is a mother, a military wife, a sister, a daughter, a web designer, a rugby coach, and a friend.  

This year - she is riding again to conquer cancer!  I will be donating to this cause and supporting Zuri.  Please check out Team Nothing Butt Class 2012 and consider donating!



Zuri with 9 day old Nathan