Calling all Betty Crockers!.....We need you to grease your pans, grab your spatulas and get to bakin'!! Carter's "MeeMaw", Debbie Taylor and his Aunt, Melissa Taylor are going to host a bake sale during the Craft Show at Stafford Senior High School this Saturday, April 4th from 9AM - 3PM. The School is located at 33 Stafford Indian Lane; Fredericksburg, VA 22405.
Even if you don't have time to bake, pick up some sweet treats at the store and disguise them as your own - I won't tell anyone! :) Debbie and Melissa will be at the school at 6:15AM this Saturday morning, so you can drop your goodies off with them anytime after that. They will even come to you and pick up your baked goods earlier in the week should that work out better for you. If you would like to schedule a "pick-up" or just want more information, please feel free to contact them at the numbers below.
Okay, let's preheat those ovens!
Debbie Taylor (540) 840-6381
Melissa Taylor (540) 840-1165
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Another day, another step in the right direction!
Carter had his weekly checkup with the Oncologist at Children's Hospital this afternoon and it went very well!! Each Thursday, they do his bloodwork, administer extensive neurological testing and regulate his plethora of medications (he has an entire tub of meds at his house dedicated to his treatment). CarterMan could give CVS a run for their money! :)
Results of this week's visit: AWESOME!! The neurological testing showed remarkable improvement on the right side of his body (the arm and leg that have been compromised due to the tumor). He is "much stronger" in the words of his Oncologist. They also said that his eyes are showing much improvement and feel the nerves are starting to repair themselves! YAY!
The results of today's visit/testing proved enough that his steroid dosage was decreased a bit. We're moving in the right direction!! Keep up the bravery, CarterMan... you are doing everything right and proving to be an inspiration of pure spirit for all of us that know and love you!!
Tomorrow is another day and there isn't a doubt in my mind that Carter will kick tomorrow in the butt!!
Results of this week's visit: AWESOME!! The neurological testing showed remarkable improvement on the right side of his body (the arm and leg that have been compromised due to the tumor). He is "much stronger" in the words of his Oncologist. They also said that his eyes are showing much improvement and feel the nerves are starting to repair themselves! YAY!
The results of today's visit/testing proved enough that his steroid dosage was decreased a bit. We're moving in the right direction!! Keep up the bravery, CarterMan... you are doing everything right and proving to be an inspiration of pure spirit for all of us that know and love you!!
Tomorrow is another day and there isn't a doubt in my mind that Carter will kick tomorrow in the butt!!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Dinner Calendar - Just a few notes....
...You guys are doing a wonderful job with keeping the Harris bellies full! Many thanks for all your efforts!
There have been some questions about the calendar and how to make it work a little smoother. Here are some important notes on keeping it simple:
1) PLEASE remember to add your contact information (NAME + PHONE NUMBER AND/OR EMAIL) to the description of the event (the part that looks like the body of an email). That way, if there are conflicts with someone else who has already "claimed" that date (and this HAS happened), I am able to contact you quickly and easily. Unfortunately, when I am notified of an event being added to the calendar, I cannot see anything but the information you have added to the event. The return address of the email is simply "calendar_monitor", etc., so I have no idea who you are unless you tell me :)
2) Even though you are clicking on the date that you WANT to bring dinner, when you click on "add an event" to that date, you have to again specify the date you want (below the body of the description). Otherwise, it will automatically show up on the calendar as the current day's date (leaving me no way of knowing what day you actually intend to bring dinner - which is why contact info is so important)
I know this all sounds like so much work, but it's really quite simple (I just tend to over explain things just to be safe). I've been told on many occasions - JUST GET TO THE POINT, ALREADY!! :)
I hope this helps all your efforts to be successful! You're a beautiful bunch of people, that's for sure!
There have been some questions about the calendar and how to make it work a little smoother. Here are some important notes on keeping it simple:
1) PLEASE remember to add your contact information (NAME + PHONE NUMBER AND/OR EMAIL) to the description of the event (the part that looks like the body of an email). That way, if there are conflicts with someone else who has already "claimed" that date (and this HAS happened), I am able to contact you quickly and easily. Unfortunately, when I am notified of an event being added to the calendar, I cannot see anything but the information you have added to the event. The return address of the email is simply "calendar_monitor", etc., so I have no idea who you are unless you tell me :)
2) Even though you are clicking on the date that you WANT to bring dinner, when you click on "add an event" to that date, you have to again specify the date you want (below the body of the description). Otherwise, it will automatically show up on the calendar as the current day's date (leaving me no way of knowing what day you actually intend to bring dinner - which is why contact info is so important)
I know this all sounds like so much work, but it's really quite simple (I just tend to over explain things just to be safe). I've been told on many occasions - JUST GET TO THE POINT, ALREADY!! :)
I hope this helps all your efforts to be successful! You're a beautiful bunch of people, that's for sure!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Final totals from Silpada Fundraiser are in!!
Unbelievable!!! The final total in sales from the Silpada Jewelry fundraiser is.......wait for it.......wait for it......$6048!! That makes the total amount in proceeds to the Harris family a whopping $1814!!!! BIG thanks to Tracy Sullivan who offered to donate her commissions for the success of this fundraiser! She will be depositing a check in the Carter's Crusaders First Market Bank account in the next week or so. You're awesome, Tracy! Also, many thanks to each and every one of you who made it out to my house to support the fundraiser and to all those who ordered via catalog through Tracy herself. WOW - what a success! Job well done, people ;)
Simply Amazing....
....Carter had his first radiation session that included BOTH Cranial AND Spinal treatments early this morning. The normal session(s) will take approximately 35 minutes, but today's appointment, being the first run at combining Cranial with Spinal took a full hour. Carter really doesn't like to be put to sleep (who does?), so they let him try it awake. Do you know that this little champion didn't even wiggle a toe?? Carter sat perfectly still for the entire hour-long session and came out of the procedure room with a beaming smile on his face. He has every reason to be proud of his accomplishment! The radiology technicians said that, not only have they never seen a 5 year old capable of managing this feat, but there are many adults that cannot sit still-as-a-statue for that duration of treatment. Hooray for CarterMan!!! We are just as proud as you are, buddy!
He will have his first home-bound instructional session this afternoon. His Kindergarten teacher at Grafton Village Elementary, Miss Sheehan, has offered to do his home-bound instruction (she just loves Carter and wouldn't have it any other way). He LOVES school and has had a difficult time with having to abruptly take time off from his curriculum. He misses the time he normally spends with his classmates and friends at school, something awful. This will be very nice for him to get back into the swing of things and also help reestablish some of the self-confidence that has been lost throughout this ordeal.
Another giant step today in the right direction!!
He will have his first home-bound instructional session this afternoon. His Kindergarten teacher at Grafton Village Elementary, Miss Sheehan, has offered to do his home-bound instruction (she just loves Carter and wouldn't have it any other way). He LOVES school and has had a difficult time with having to abruptly take time off from his curriculum. He misses the time he normally spends with his classmates and friends at school, something awful. This will be very nice for him to get back into the swing of things and also help reestablish some of the self-confidence that has been lost throughout this ordeal.
Another giant step today in the right direction!!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Carter's Recent Days....
St. Patrick’s Day proved to be a fun evening for CarterMan and his “girlfriends”. As per Carter’s request, I took Madison and Kaelan over to see him for an impromptu “Green celebration” at his house. Corned Beef and Cabbage and various green cupcakes (decorated by Carter and his little sister, Caroline prior to our arrival) were on the menu.
It did not take long for the festivities to commence – the Nintendo Wii being the most popular of said “festivities”. I would love to see Carter on an actual golf course, because he can certainly crush a golf ball on the Wii (much like his late grandfather, Barry Sale and Uncle Chad Sale on any real course)!
Speaking of golf, Carter’s only request yesterday (March 20, 2009) was to visit and have lunch at Lee’s Hill Golf Club where both his Uncles Chad Sale and Chuck Harris are employed (also the location for a Golf Outing Fundraiser for Carter’s Crusaders on May 21, 2009 – more details to come). Carter had a blast and was very happy to have some much needed time out of the house that did not include heading up to Northern Virginia for radiation and doctors’ appointments. It was a very happy afternoon for him and his family!
Carter has, unfortunately fallen victim to the same stomach bug that has been running rampant in our area and many of our homes, even. As if there weren’t enough for him and his family to deal with, they are hoping to have him come out on the other side by tomorrow (this seems to be a 5 day bug, based on what they have seen in other family members/visitors to the house – UGH). Wash your hands like you have OCD, folks – flu season is here and it is persistent!
Carter has been enjoying the many meals being brought to his home by so many of you – thanks for all you are doing! He has expressed a desire for a returned sense of normalcy to his day-to-day. Being able to sit down with his family to a home cooked meal each night really helps to play a role in fulfilling his wish. Please check the calendar to see if there is a day that may not be taken and may match up with an “open chunk” of your time to prepare (or even purchase) dinner for Carter and his family.
He is still receiving his Monday through Friday radiation (both Cranial and Spinal) at Fairfax INOVA Hospital, with weekly (Thursday) visits to Children’s Hospital in DC directly following radiation, to monitor his vitals and blood work, etc. Chemotherapy is still being administered by way of pills at home (crushed in his applesauce, which he thoroughly enjoys, so it works out well).
Though not quite sure what the side effects of the chemo will be or when they will take place, the “men” of the family have decided to have a good time with it, in hopes of getting Carter involved in the “silliness” of it all. His father, Skip and his uncles, Chad and Chuck shaved their heads tonight (with Courtney’s help) in hopes that Carter will think it’s silly enough to jump on board and do what they have done. After all, we all have to help Carter find some sort of humor in all of this, right? This way, if the rumor is true that the chemo will compromise Carter’s thick head of hair, then it is best we have a head start on his dealing with it, no? Hats off to the brave men in Carter’s family (no pun intended)!! I saw each of these men tonight and I think they look fabulous!!
With Courtney’s help, I am going to attempt to give more frequent, little updates on Carter’s day-to-day goings on, as big or small as they may be. This should prove to be a way for all of us to have a sense of being at his side, running this race right along with him. Because, after all, we are an ARMY OF ANGELS and we cannot be beat!
It did not take long for the festivities to commence – the Nintendo Wii being the most popular of said “festivities”. I would love to see Carter on an actual golf course, because he can certainly crush a golf ball on the Wii (much like his late grandfather, Barry Sale and Uncle Chad Sale on any real course)!
Speaking of golf, Carter’s only request yesterday (March 20, 2009) was to visit and have lunch at Lee’s Hill Golf Club where both his Uncles Chad Sale and Chuck Harris are employed (also the location for a Golf Outing Fundraiser for Carter’s Crusaders on May 21, 2009 – more details to come). Carter had a blast and was very happy to have some much needed time out of the house that did not include heading up to Northern Virginia for radiation and doctors’ appointments. It was a very happy afternoon for him and his family!
Carter has, unfortunately fallen victim to the same stomach bug that has been running rampant in our area and many of our homes, even. As if there weren’t enough for him and his family to deal with, they are hoping to have him come out on the other side by tomorrow (this seems to be a 5 day bug, based on what they have seen in other family members/visitors to the house – UGH). Wash your hands like you have OCD, folks – flu season is here and it is persistent!
Carter has been enjoying the many meals being brought to his home by so many of you – thanks for all you are doing! He has expressed a desire for a returned sense of normalcy to his day-to-day. Being able to sit down with his family to a home cooked meal each night really helps to play a role in fulfilling his wish. Please check the calendar to see if there is a day that may not be taken and may match up with an “open chunk” of your time to prepare (or even purchase) dinner for Carter and his family.
He is still receiving his Monday through Friday radiation (both Cranial and Spinal) at Fairfax INOVA Hospital, with weekly (Thursday) visits to Children’s Hospital in DC directly following radiation, to monitor his vitals and blood work, etc. Chemotherapy is still being administered by way of pills at home (crushed in his applesauce, which he thoroughly enjoys, so it works out well).
Though not quite sure what the side effects of the chemo will be or when they will take place, the “men” of the family have decided to have a good time with it, in hopes of getting Carter involved in the “silliness” of it all. His father, Skip and his uncles, Chad and Chuck shaved their heads tonight (with Courtney’s help) in hopes that Carter will think it’s silly enough to jump on board and do what they have done. After all, we all have to help Carter find some sort of humor in all of this, right? This way, if the rumor is true that the chemo will compromise Carter’s thick head of hair, then it is best we have a head start on his dealing with it, no? Hats off to the brave men in Carter’s family (no pun intended)!! I saw each of these men tonight and I think they look fabulous!!
With Courtney’s help, I am going to attempt to give more frequent, little updates on Carter’s day-to-day goings on, as big or small as they may be. This should prove to be a way for all of us to have a sense of being at his side, running this race right along with him. Because, after all, we are an ARMY OF ANGELS and we cannot be beat!
Friday, March 20, 2009
"Cakes for Carter"
Have a birthday party coming up? Just click here, and Creative Cakes by Janet will take care of your cake needs while also taking care of the Harris Family!! Janet Douglass has graciously offered to donate $40 to the Harris Family for every "Cakes for Carter" order. The cost of the cake is $50 (each cake serves approximately 15 people). Visit her website using the above link for more information!
Janet has also teamed up with Evette Russett to sell Krispy Kreme punch cards (buy a dozen, get a dozen FREE!) as a fundraiser for the Harris Family. If you are interested in purchasing on or two of these cards, and SERIOUSLY - who doesn't like Krispy Kreme doughnuts??, please contact Janet at (540) 903-7233.
Janet will also be hosting an online Pampered Chef party in the month of May - more details to come....
Janet has also teamed up with Evette Russett to sell Krispy Kreme punch cards (buy a dozen, get a dozen FREE!) as a fundraiser for the Harris Family. If you are interested in purchasing on or two of these cards, and SERIOUSLY - who doesn't like Krispy Kreme doughnuts??, please contact Janet at (540) 903-7233.
Janet will also be hosting an online Pampered Chef party in the month of May - more details to come....
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