I just posted some other pics and videos today. You have to go to "older posts" at the bottom to see them. Now it's Camp Sunshine time. So, I will tell the story of us finding out Wesley had Fanconi Anemia at the age of one. My dad called me and said he had found a camp where FA families went to once a year. I asked where it was. He said Maine. Shocked I asked where in Maine. He said Casco. A couple of towns from our house so 5 months later we were surrounded by families who had children with Fanconi Anemia just like our son. It was scary, amazing, sad, wonderful and incredible. Where else could we talk with so many people who understood, who we could ask questions, and form forever freindships? Only Camp Sunshine...1/2 hour from our house. We've met families from Argentina, Africa, Australia, Germany, UK, Cananda, Israel, all over the states...I could go on forever. So, we were hooked and look forward to this every year. This has been our 6th FA camp and we've met the most amazing families and volunteers. So these are our most recent pics.

Here is Wesley and Jasper from Australia at a BBQ we had at our house before camp.

Here are some FA kids from Maine, Australia and Tennessee.

This is at camp. It's a balloon release with the names of our loved and lost and prayers for a cure.

Wesley watching.

This is the Tennessee family that came to stay with us.

This is Violet. Her sister Emma has FA. Violet totally stole my heart and I just had to hold her every chance I got.

Here is Emma and Wesley at the party.

Some FA kids and volunteers.

Collin at the party.

Jasper, Emma and Quinny.

Sean and Quinny.

The girls at the dinner.

Quinn, Lauren, and Baylor who is doing great post transplant.

Wesley asleep with his cricket shirt from his Aussie friend, Jasper!

Wesley, Quinn and Alma from Israel.

Sharon (Israel), Brooke (Australia), Sean, Paul (Australia)

I'm trying to get a hug goodbye from Emma. Ralf (Germany) lost two of his girls to FA and is now dedicated to research to help find a cure. We all gave spit samples, mouth swabs, and Wesley gave blood all to help.

One of our favorite volunteers Katie.

Collin with some of the teens in his group. The girl next to Collin lost her sister a year ago. Her family wears pink to honor her. They are from the UK and also have another son with FA.

So, we had an amazing time again this year. We are all still recovering from late nights and early mornings but thankfully we don't have school yet. Some kids had to go back to school the next day. Ugg. That would stink.

The summer is slowly winding down. Quinn and Collin had fun at their other summer camps. I am going to be at a loss when the kids go back to school full time. Not sure where life will take me but I'm sure I will find my way. Wesley is doing well. Never realized he was technically in mild bone marrow failure but I guess with his counts, that's where he is. But doing wonderful. Sorry it took so long to update but remember there are some more pics in the previous post (you might have to click on "older posts" to see them. Thank you everyone for your love and support. Love and prayers to those in transplant right now who are fighting for life. Hugs and tears to those who have lost their children. My heart is with every one of you.

-Kristin

So, I have a lot of updating to do. I was looking back in my pictures and I had to go all the way back to Weseley's birthday in March. I will fly through this stuff quick so you don't get bored. Here is Wesley openning presents. It looks like we are in a hotel somewhere. Can't remember where at this point anymore. Guess that's proof I should update more often. I would guess we are in New Hampshire but don't quote me. Wesley got a scooter and a new Gameboy DS.




It's looking like we took the kids to Boston. Oh yeah, we went to visit Gramma in the hospital during her surgery there. She's doing well now.

Sean will kill me for posting this but I think it's funny. He didn't know I took Wesley's picture with the stinky Red Sox cutout. He was very mad at me when I showed it to him. Sorry Sox, Wesley is a future Yankee. Still funny though. I think Sean almost divorced me ;0)

Dang, I can't remember where this is either. Some butterfly exhibit somewhere. All I remember is one of the butterflies pooped on Quinn's hand here and she wasn't happy. I told her to hang on and we'll go wash her hands. A few minutes later I noticed she no longer was concerned about the poop and I asked her where it went. She said, "I wiped it on your pants." Nice.

I think they liked Sean's shiny head.

Okay, I think we were in Rochester at the kids museum there. That's where we saw the butterflies too. Here are the boys playing gigantic chess.

We went to Rochester for Sean's friend Charlie's wedding. Here are some of our childhood friends. So many memories.

And here are all of our kids at the zoo.

This is my mom's house with nieces and nephews.

I had to include the REAL reason we went to Rochester. Sorry Charlie, it wasn't for your wedding, it was really to get garbage plates ;0)

Yum. What's on it you ask? Everything. So good. There are a couple of cheeseburgers in there too.

Alright, we must be back in Maine now cause this is Wesley getting his first stripe in Jukado.

Here is Quinn and her friend Elyssa walking in the memorial day parade for girl scouts.

Here we're at the Flynn's house for Jordan's birthday. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Jordan's counts are really low. They are trying Androgens which can sometimes raise counts...but sometimes not.

Quinny getting her metal for softball. Some of you may remember Quinn's aversion to soccer and how she would leave the field in tears and say she didn't want to play anymore. Well, we were doing good with softball and she was actually seeming to like it, and then pop! She gets nailed in the face with a ball on her first day. DANG! She did not want to go back in and we had to have a talk. I told her the stories of how I had been popped in the face a few times and that I promised her she would not be the last that got it on her team. She finally went back in and eventually there was a different girl crying, not wanting to go back in, cause she got popped too. Not hard. The girls don't throw hard at this point but I was proud she stuck it out and eventually did very well during the year and liking it. Except when she would sit down in the middle of the bases cause she was tired of standing. She really enjoyed batting and I will try to include some video later of her hitting with Slugger the Seadog from our local baseball team.

Wesley is on the left with his Gi on. He seems to really enjoy Jukado.

Ahhh, Coley's Cause! Our fourth year going, I think. This is Coley's dad, Todd. They lost Coley to FA and now they raise funds for the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund in her memory. They are an incredible family.

Guess who got to him. Yup, Quinny.

Collin painted the kids in war paint.

The rest of the pics are the start of Camp Sunshine so I'm gonna start a new post for those. Maybe some random videos if I can figure it out too. See ya in the next post!