CCA Blog

It has been busy around here the last two weeks so here we go...

My Dad found 2 little ducklings swimming around really nasty water at his work.  There was no Mom or Dad around so he called my Mom to come and pick them up.  We have had ducklings before so we knew how to treat them.  Sad news is that one lasted a day and the other lasted 5 days. My Dad said that because they were found in nasty water that they may have drank the water and it made them sick.

My sis and I got to do a really cool painting class down at the CCA office.  We were painting in watercolors.  I made a tye die flower and my sister painted her's purple.  We got home and did one on fabric.  It was kind of like Batik.  It was very cool!

We went to Camp Prime Time for the weekend for a family camp. It was outside of Yakima Washington way up in the mountains.  It was a long drive but really worth it.  It was SOOOO awesome!! We went horseback riding, fishing and I even got to drive the boat on the lake!!  We spent the weekend with other people from Oregon and Washington that have what I have.  It is so cool up there!!  Just a tip, if you go, bring bug spray....LOTS of bug spray!!

Another thing we did through CCA was golfing at the Lake Oswego Golf course.  We learned chipping, putting and on the driving range. My instructor said I did really great for my first try.  I look forward to doing it again!!

Well, I started my new medicine last week.  It is really new and hard to get. They say it is better.  We will be doing my medicine only once a week for now.  This would be good for me because it would make it so I don't have to do a treatment on Friday!!

Krystal, my chemo pal, came over to hang out this last week.  We have a great time painting horses that she brought over. I painted mine black and white like a Dalmatian and she painted hers brown.  It was so much fun.  I love to spend time with Krystal!!

This next weekend we are going to the beach with my Mom's family.  I can't wait to hang out with my cousins!!

Until next time,

Your friend,

Olivia

What a great two weeks!!  While at Club sport, I met and hung out with Jacob Albin.  He was able to get involved with Starlight too with us.  It was great because we all got to see a sneak peak of Despicable Me.  This was a GREAT movie.  Must see, especially in 3D.  It was amazing.  My Mom even was laughing at everything.  You will have to be sure and stay through the end too.  I can't wait to see this again.  It was SOOOOO funny!!!!  We love the time we spend with our friends from Starlight!

Mom and I got a chance to speak at the American Red Cross All staff meeting on July the 2nd.  My mom worked on our speeches.  She would ask me what I wanted to say.  She said we should have it written down so I would not go off subject.  I talk a lot sometimes.  We got there just in time to speak.  We were introduced as one of the keynote speakers.  That sounded pretty important to me!  After the Red Cross spokesperson introduced us, my mom introduced me and I told everyone about what I had and how it is being me with what I have.  After I was done speaking, everyone started clapping and then they were standing! A standing ovation. My Mom spoke about how my medicine comes from donations and how all they did helps me.  After she was done, everyone stood up for her!  People came up and talked with us too.  It was really nice.

We have been loving the sun.  We put our boat in the water at our friends' house for the week.  I got to spend the night on Friday night and then there was a big party Saturday.  We stayed there late.  I had so much fun!  Sunday was the 4th, we didn't do much.  Had a few fireworks and watched the ones in the neighborhood. It was quiet but it was fun.  The next morning we were back on the river for more fun in the boat.  I love being on the boat. 

I got to meet up with Krystal too.  It was the hottest day of the week.  We went to a local park where there is a water fountain.  We had a good time playing in the water and then went to get some ice cream!!

Well.  We are starting to get ready for fair.  We have our forms all filled out.  I can't show goats this year.  It would be too hard with all my treatments and everything.  We are going to show chickens and do things like photography, art and even my knitting!  I am excited but have a few projects to finish.

Next weekend we are off to a special camp for our family in Yakima.  My mom said since I didn't get to go to Outdoor School and that I am going to have to miss camp this year because of all my treatments.  I am really excited about getting away for awhile and meet kids with what I have.

Until next time!

Your friend,

Olivia

I am so happy school is out and that I will only have to do math over the summer. My mom thinks it will be a good idea for my sister and I to do it.  We have been kind of quiet around here.  Waiting for the summer weather to really get here.  In the last week we have been able to start to get our boat cleaned up and ready to put on the river.  I love to go in the boat.  I think that maybe I will even go on the inner tube this year, if my Mom will let me.

We were able to see Karate Kid in a sneak preview.  It was a really good movie.  I liked it!  If you have not seen it yet, do it!  I also got to see Toy Story 3 with Krystal, my chemo pal.    That was a really good movie!  It was even better than the 1st and 2nd one!! My sister went at a different time with her friend so we were both able to see it.

I was able to go to a birthday party at my new friend's house.  Even though I really was not feeling well, I was able to have a good time with all the girls.  They live on the river so they were all screaming at boats on the river.  The day was so nice.  We were supposed to go to the Beaver's game that night too but I really was not up for it.  I felt rotten.  I think it is the side effects of the medicine.  I really hate it, but I can't let it get me down.

My sister, Mom and I went to the CCA event at Club Sport.  That was so much fun!  I have never climbed a rock wall before.  I climbed up two walls all the way to the top.  I tried to climb about 5 more but my arms were so tired that I couldn't do it.  I even did the big swing.  It was so hard to climb to where I needed to be.  They had to help me up the wall but it was really fun to swing.  I was scared at first.  I even closed my eyes for a minute.  I didn't tell them I was scared of heights.  I think I would do it again though.  It was so much fun!

Today we are going to try to plant that garden.  It will be nice enough weather. 

Go out and enjoy the sun!

Your friend,

Olivia

The blood drive was a success!  We had about 44 appointments (out of 48).  There were 16 walk-ins.  So 58 people all together.  There were few that couldn't give blood because their iron was too low.  We did get a total of 46 units!  That is 138 lives saved!  I was busy the days before making cookies for everyone.  I made chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin.  They were a hit!  My mom and Grandma helped out that day too, there were so many people!  They even had to turn people away.  They deferred them to another blood drive in Lake Oswego happening on June 22nd.  Both my Grandpas gave, my brothers Chris, Brendan and Corey, my Aunts and Uncles and even my cousins.  My mom's high school friends and my Grandma's Hula and her friends from church came too!  One of my Grandma's Hula friends brought fruit and veggies.  Two brought cookies!  It was amazing that so many people came out to support something that I feel so strongly about.  American Red Cross has even asked my Mom and I to talk at their all-staff meeting in July to give them inspiration to go out and get blood donors.  I am really excited about this!

Since that long Monday, I have been kind of wiped out.  I am still attending school, and doing my infusions and steroid treatments.  Soon, school will end and I excited for that.  I wish that the sun would come out some more. My dad fixed up a riding lawnmower for me that was given to him.  It is just my size; no one else can fit on it.  I call it the MM (midget machine) because it fits just me!  My dad and I mow the lawns together.  He makes the first round and then I follow him.  I really like to do this.  On Sunday, my sister and I did our backyard, which is huge!  My Dad, Grandpa and my Mom sat out on our deck and watched us go round and round.  We even did a little bit of work in the garden that day.  I am hoping for more sun so we can get the garden completely planted!

We have been busy, which is nice!  I like to be able to do other stuff besides doctor's visits and treatments.  We were lucky to take part in Kid's Day.  This was great!  We got to go fishing at a lake.  I have been fishing once before with my Grandpa but this was different.  My Dad and sometimes my Mom would bait my sister Hana's and my hook and then we could cast away.  I got really good at casting.  I got a few nibbles.  My Dad caught a few fish but we didn't keep them.  It was a rainy day but it was so much fun.  My sister and I even got to bring home our very own fishing poles.  We keep bugging our parents to take us fishing.

We also got to go to the sneak preview for the movie, The Karate Kid.  It was such a good movie!!  If you get a chance to go see, do it!  Jackie Chan is so funny!

Even though it was a holiday weekend, we didn't really go anywhere. My Aunt and Uncle came over for a BBQ on Sunday.  We had all the good food - hamburgers, hotdogs, homemade potato salad, cole slaw and corn.  YUMMY! My uncle brought his metal detector.  We walked all over our yard and looked for treasure.  We found a shiny quarter and a few more coins.  We found some old toys that were my dad's too! It was so cool and I can't wait to do it again.

I am so happy school is almost out.  I am ready for a break from homework and really can't wait for some sunshine!

Until next time!

Your friend,

Olivia

Trying to recover from my trip to DC has been hard!  We went to a Mariner's game and we had so much fun!  Plus, my Mom and I have been working really hard on a blood drive in my honor.  I have been taking posters to local businesses to put up in their windows.  We hope we can fill the drive up!

My Chemo Pal Krystal came over to visit with me this week.  We had so much fun.  I was able to show her all my animals and teach her some of the things I have learned living with chickens, goats and my duck; she even held my rabbit!  I showed her my room and all my collections.  She said it was impressive....LOL! We were also able to play some Wii.   We played "Raving Rabbits."  I really like that game!  I beat her in every game but one.  I also really like hanging out with Krystal.  We laugh and have such a good time together.

I lost my last baby tooth! It was really bugging me so I just pulled it out myself.

We went to one of my doctors and he told me I can ride my scooter, drive the lawnmower and show my goats in the summer at fair.  I am soooooo excited!  

I am really enjoying all the sun we have been having.  Playing outside and planting our huge garden!!  Hope you all enjoyed it too!  I have tried to ride my scooter everyday.  It's been since September when I rode it last.  We also have been playing with our rabbits outside.  We taught them a neat new trick.  I hold my bunny and my sister's bunny chases after me!  It is very funny to watch!

Your Friend, 

Olivia

I had a great chance to do something really special last week.  We were asked to go to Washington DC to talk on Capitol Hill.  We went with the Immune Deficiency Foundation.  They set up meetings for us with Oregon senators.  We are going to talk to them about a bill that is in the House and the Senate about Medicare and IVIG.  IVIG is the medicine that I take.  With Medicare they don't cover everything so this bill should help with that.  We flew in to DC on Wednesday night to go to a meeting about what to say to the Senators.  It ran really late.  We had to get up really early the next morning.  Breakfast was at 7.  It was good.  We had bagels and fresh fruit.  It was nice to start the day that way.  We walked up to Capitol Hill for an official picture.  It was so sunny and nice.  We saw the fattest squirrels ever!   Once we took the picture, Mom and I decided to do some sightseeing since we did not have another meeting until 1pm with Senator Merkley and another at 2pm with Senator Wyden. 

My Mom and I walked the WHOLE MALL!  We started at the Hill and went all the way to Lincoln.  We stopped at the Smithsonians (at least some of them).  We also saw the Washington Monument (we called it “the pencil”), WWII Memorial, reflective pool, and then Lincoln.  It was AMAZING! Just as we were heading to the Vietnam Memorial we got a call that our 1pm meeting was moved up to noon.  It was just 10:20am so we needed to move.  We still wanted to go by the American History museum to see Julia Child's kitchen and Kermit the Frog.  We took a cab there and we were able to see all!  Ruby slippers too!  We saw a lot.  We then took a cab to the Senate building.  I think they call it Russell.  We met with a staff member of Senator Merkley.  It was a tough meeting but we made it through.  We went downstairs and saw the trolley that was taken to Capitol Hill by the Senators and Representatives when they need to vote.  It was very cool.  We went to the cafeteria for a bite to eat.  There was alot to decided from but I decided on just a hamburger and Jello. 

Next we went to see Senator Wyden.  He was busy in a meeting just down the hall and he could not leave it.  We watched him on TV.  It was cool.  We waited for a bit and then went downstairs again to get some thing to drink while we waited.  We went back upstairs and waited again.  It felt like a long time.  We were in the hallway because there was no room in his office.  There were about 20 people waiting for him.  When he came out of his meeting, followed by a group of people, he came straight to me.  It was amazing.  He was so tall!  I don't think I even came to his armpit!  He introduced himself to me and then asked me what he could do for me. I was so nervous.  I said "Give us money" and everyone laughed.  I got even more nervous.  We sat and talked to him for awhile.  I gave him a pin and a bracelet from the THINK ZEBRA campaign for the Immune Deficiency Foundation.  He pulled up his sleeve and put the bracelet on!  Then, he even put the pin on.  I couldn't believe it. 

Once we were done, we decided to walk to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence.  What we found was a HUGE line.  So, we went to our next stop and the best stop ever!!  We went to the International Spy Museum.  One of my favorite movies is Get Smart so I knew there were going to be some things in there from that movie or show.  I couldn't wait. My Mom had called ahead so they knew we were coming.  She called because she was not sure if we would be able to get there in time.  When we got there, we went up the elevator where we got to choose a spy identity.  As we were deciding that, this big guy came into us and bend over to talk to me (I was in a wheelchair due to all the walking I was really having a hard time breathing) and he said, "Olivia, we have a very important mission for you if you choose to take it."  I said “yes” so we went off with him.  We thought it was all part of the spy thing, but it wasn't!  We met Mr. Earnest who is the director of the museum.  He was in the CIA for 36 years.  He sat and talked with us for a while and gave us a goodie bag.  He was so cool!  They took us back into the museum area.  It was the coolest thing!  We had so much fun there.  We were there for over 2 and half hours but could have been longer. I was sad to leave.   

We got another Cab and went to the White House.  It was very busy there.  We took some pictures and walked around a bit then walked to McDonald's for dinner.  As we walked we saw the President’s motorcade.  It was so cool!  We got some burgers and back in the cab again.  As we got to the light, we saw White House Correspondent Major Garrett.  My Mom was so excited she forgot his last name.  The cab driver and I thought it was very funny!  We got to the hotel, had dinner and watched Survivor (3 hours before my Dad and Sister!)  We had an early flight so we were off to bed. 

We got up early and got on our flight.  I even got to see the pilot and the cockpit!  I got to sit with him!  My Mom took tons of pictures too.  We flew into Portland, met my Dad and Sister, and then we are off to Seattle for the Mariners game on Saturday.  It was fun to take a trip up there.  I was really tired but I wanted to go to the game.  We were able to go up there with the Primary Immune Guild of Seattle.  They had hamburgers and hot dogs for us to eat.  We sat and watched the game and then we went to Pike Place Market.  We saw the fish place where they throw the fish and then I sat on the bronze pig.  It was a lot of fun but I was so tired!!

Your friend, Olivia

Last week, I went to the Seattle Children's Hospital to check in with my doctors.  Luckily, my Aunt & Uncle live in Seattle so we stayed with them.  My mom, grandma, and I left Portland on Monday because my doctor's appointment was on Tuesday.  Since my cousins were on Spring Break I was able to hang out with my cousin Mackenzie.  We played board games and the Wii.  It was kind of weird not having my sister around, but it was also nice just to be there by myself.  Mackenzie and I also played the piano together (that was fun).  My Aunt also taught me how to knit and it was so much fun.  I finished my first scarf in two days, and she is going to send me more starts through the mail so I can keep knitting (she didn't teach me how to start a scarf, just how to knit using a start). 

Before my doctor's appointment, we went to this great place in Seattle called Archie McFee's.  My grandma found it while looking for fun bandages for me.  She figured I needed some cool ones since I was using 5 bandages a week due to Sub CU.  We had already had ones that were kisses, toast, eggs and bacon.  Now we have eight new ones:  devil duck, bling, monster, tattoo, black cat and a few more.  I really like having fun bandages!

At my doctor's appointment I found out that I will be getting steroids every other week starting in June.  That will be nice, but I will also start rehab therapy.  They want to do that because of all my muscle pain and my tiredness.  I am not sure what to think of that.  My mom says maybe I can do something on the Wii, like yoga.  I really like yoga!  Also at my appointment we found this great thing called a J-tip.  I use a cream to numb my skin before every IV.  The J-tip numbs you right away.  I loved it!  The nurse gave is the packaging to take home with us so I can show my IV nurse Susan here in Portland.   Susan was happy to take it and do some research.  I was hoping they would have it for my next IV, but they didn't.  They did find it in the ER though, but it was a bit different.  The IV took 3 pokes this time because of broken veins.  It was so painful!  I was able to hang out with my Chemo Pal Krystal though, which is always a good thing.  I like playing games with her.

Another thing my family is working on right now is a blood drive.  And now we have a date and a place on June 7th at our church in West Linn.  I am excited!  I have wanted to do this for a really long time!  I am hoping we will also get the okay to do a toy drive for Bingo at the Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel since I love bingo and I would like to do something nice for Child Life.  I hope that we are able to do something like that along with the blood drive.  We will just have to see!

Until next time, your friend Olivia

Earlier this week, I had an Immunologist appointment and he said I looked pretty good (WOO HOO!). Wednesday was another infusion day and this time I only got one poke in the hand (WOO HOO again!). My Chemo Pal Krystal came to the hospital and I had such a good time with her - we played "Scene It!" 

I got pretty good sleep Wednesday night, but not well enough to go to school the next day, so I missed out on a field trip to see the "10 Grands." I think that I would have fallen asleep anyway.  This is probably going to be my last week for school for a while. Friday was another medicine day. I actually fell asleep during treatment so it went by REALLY fast.  I also went shopping for Easter gifts for my parents at the dollar store.  I bought my Mom chocolate-covered grahams and oatmeal cookies for my Dad. We got our new puppy a bowl and our other dogs got beef-flavored treats.  On Easter our family decided to go out to eat. We went to Outback Steakhouse!  I LOVE OUTBACK!  I had a BIG hamburger and three sodas (my Mom let me have them and it was such a treat).

Monday, my grandma is driving us to Seattle to see my doctor at the Children's Hospital. She goes to all our medical appointments with us (and we LOVE having her with us!) I am getting checked out to see what my next step in treatment will be. In Seattle, we're staying with my Aunt & Uncle. My cousins are out of school for Spring Break so I get to see them too.  I am so excited!

Talk to you more soon.

Your friend,

This week was spring break and I had a great time - I was busy!  We went to my aunt's on Sunday, and Monday we went to the Chinese Gardens (it was so pretty).  On Tuesday, we took my nephew to the zoo.  The zoo has this cool new "Predators" exhibit.  Wednesday is my hospital day and I was able to meet my new Chemo Pal Krystal.  She was so nice and pretty.  She and I played a cool game called "Are You Kidding?"  It was so much fun!  I can't wait until I get to see her next Wednesday!   My doctor and I decided that me attending my one class in school is too much for me, so I will have to go back to the tutor.  I am upset because I really miss all my friends.  I have been out of school since September.  It is hard to think about my classmates having so much fun everyday while I am stuck at home.  Someday I know I will get back there, I just have to wait until I feel better.

This weekend was kind of hard for me.  I started to not feel well on Friday.  Some of the side effects of all the medicine are bad - I had a fever and an upset stomach.   I woke up Saturday feeling better, so I went to my Uncle Marc's with my dad to play in the sun - WOO!  My uncle has horses and a dog named Scout.   I started feeling bad again though by the end of the day.  I really try not to let it get me down, but I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  

Well....I hope everyone has a great week!

Your friend, 

Olivia