Christmas Card Letter 2013

Dearest Friends & Family,

We hope this letter finds you happy and healthy.

In 2013 our sweet Oliver has grown so much. He is taller, stronger and turned into a human jumping bean. His favorite activity is to watch “Cars” and jump on his mini trampoline, which has taken the place of our coffee table. Picture an extra bouncy “Lord of the Dance”, and you get the idea. :-)

We hope you’ll keep praying for him and for us. Sometimes it feels as though we’re running a marathon, with a finish line that keeps moving. Developmentally, Oliver is still around a 2 year old level in language and skills, suffering from daily seizures (2-6). This means we still dress, feed, bathe and diaper him despite his strength and sixty pound body. We long for him to ask us a question (any question!). We long for his brain to have the gift of seizure freedom. We continue to give thanks for the amazing team of nurses, teachers, therapists, and family who help us care for him everyday.

It is an answer to prayer to say that Oliver has been selected for an FDA approved (fully legal) clinical trial of Cannabis, starting in February in Boston. We’ll be required to travel frequently to remain in the trial (likely 14+ trips to Mass General!). If the new medication (the 20th one he’s tried) doesn’t work, we will begin the process of preparing for a 2nd brain surgery in the latter part of 2014. If you haven’t read or seen how effective Cannabis (the CBD part of the plant, not the THC) can be for epilepsy, we’d love for you to google it. The amazing thing about this treatment is (unlike our current meds) it is NOT psychoactive in it’s effects, despite being derived from Cannabis. We can’t tell you how we are counting down the days until we can give Oliver his first dose. You can follow along on our journey with him via our blog: lanierlanding.blogspot.com

You probably noticed our beautiful niece on our card. Haley is attending Cape Fear Community College and living with us. She’s made us a family of four (at least for a while), and we couldn’t be more overjoyed to share in her life. Our house is regularly filled with college students (either her friends or our nurses) that attend UNCW or CFCC. It is truly a fun place around here, and perhaps a tiny taste of what having a daughter would have been like...

It would be hard to talk about 2013 and not mention our thankfulness for the growth of our real estate company, Lanier Property Group. We thank God for this year full of blessings, new team members (6 of us), old & new clients and new opportunities. For those of you who have sent us referrals or chosen us to be your Realtors, we are extremely grateful and honored!

As we approach Christmas, we’ll have moved our advent candle each day towards the last spot. We look forward to celebrating the birth of the Christ child who gives us hope when the future is uncertain. At the end of our Christmas countdown, you’ll find deep faith, eternal hope, and confetti cannons full of love. We wish you the same!

Merry Christmas,
Andrew, Stephanie & Oliver

You're Invited!

Please consider this your official invitation to join The O-Team. To get the scoop and RSVP click here:
"O-Team Evite". (FYI this isn't a fundraiser but, rather a time of fellowship and encouragement-raising!) Feel free to forward this on to anyone who might like to come. Oliver would love to hug your neck! Lastly, thank you to our friends for helping us plan this very special event. We love you.

Now, another t-shirt tid-bit...if you are local, this is when and where you'll pick up your t-shirt(s). You still need to buy them through the PayPal button on our blog. This ensures you get the right size and we order the correct amount of shirts. If you are not local, please click the “Buy Now” shipping button (this will be separate from your t-shirt purchase). That way I'll know that you'd like me to mail your shirt(s) to you. You only need to pay for shipping once, even if you are getting more than one shirt, assuming it is going to the same address. Hope that makes sense?

Now for the BIG, BIG, long-awaited news.

We have an official surgery date. August 23rd!!!!!

We've bought our plane tickets. We'll be leaving on Sunday the 21st. Oliver's pre-op appointments will be on Monday the 22nd. We'll also meet with Dr.Thiele and Dr. Duhaime on that day. To finally have a plan and a date is a relief. Let the praying and the planning begin...

5th Annual Neighborhood Parade

 Someone has to lead the parade and The Pledge of Allegiance. 

Who better than Uncle Sam? 

Our wonderful neighbor Donna and her dog, Barney. 

Cousins

Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend we went to Virginia Beach for a college roommate reunion. The girls I lived with my junior year at UNCW were all there with their kids. We had 8 adults and 7 kids. It was fun and relatively calm considering the number of toddlers and infants.

Oliver loved the pool and the beach. He had no fear around the water. Yikes! Lets just say there was NO rest for mom and dad. Oliver also loved the golf cart rides and 3 kayak trips. This kid likes to be in motion! He wasn't seizure free but, between all the adults we managed to have someone watching him constantly.

I think overall we feel very encouraged about Oliver when he is with us. When he is with other kids, near his age, the issues become more obvious. His seizures continue yet, his personality is as vibrant and gregarious as ever. Tonight he kept singing "I Love You." It was more precious than you know. 

Another highlight of the time was meeting Charlie Claire. She is the sweetie pie that had brain surgery, for epilepsy, on March 30th. I've blogged about her at least once before. Her mom, Kristin, and I email often and have become good friends. I've prayed for Miss Charlie Claire SO much and I was so pleased to get my hands on her. 

We're just so thankful for good friends. New and old. We're thankful for friendships that run deep and stand the test of time and distance. 

Charlie Claire and her mom, Kristin

The babies of the weekend. Nathan Whitworth and Annie Jean Gaston. 

The "big kids" of the weekend. Oliver, Eli, Cole, Bailey and Holt. 

Ice Cream = Happiness

Cooling off after playing hard.
Oliver still isn't sweating much (b/c of Topamax) so we have to be careful about dehydration. 

Easter Smiles

Love Oliver's expression here...

My boys in matching seersucker- how cute is that?

We've had a joyful Easter Sunday. Oliver had a great day at church and he was even able to make it through the potluck afterwards. It seems that even though he is having a few seizures each day he is doing well. I think the side effects of the Topamax are much worse than the side effects of the seizures. Oliver has even gotten back into his fine motor activities and general mischief. Every time the "real" Oliver goes on hiatus we eagerly await his return. For the past few days he's been back. That makes our hearts so happy and grateful!

We are getting ready for our appt at Duke this week. Oliver will have a MRI and EEG first thing Tuesday morning. We won't get the results of all this until late Wednesday when we meet with Dr. Mikati. Please pray for clear direction for Oliver's treatment based upon these results. Please join us in praying that Oliver's brain waves will be normal this time. This would be a miracle! If they have returned to normal (in between seizures) it would be a very good sign for his long-term cognitive development.

As we consider different treatments for Oliver one particular area of interest for us is the Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS). We plan to talk more specifically about this with Dr. Mikati.

What is VNS you ask?

The VNS is a small device, similar to a pacemaker, that delivers a burst of electrical energy to the vagal nerve to reduce seizures.

The vagus nerve serves as one of the many highways of information carrying messages from the body's organs to the brain, and has connections to areas in the brain instrumental in producing seizures. By stimulating the vagus nerve, the brain's potential to generate seizure activity can be significantly reduced.

Lent

I had all these grand ideas a few months ago that I was going to make a separate blog for this no-make-up-for-Lent-venture (ha-ha!!!!) Clearly time has been scarce but, I did want to share how it has turned out to be a divine surprised. I thought giving up make-up for Lent would be difficult- especially when a big zit appeared; boy was I was ever wrong!

The reason I chose to give up make-up, instead of something more traditional, is I have been mulling around this question for a while now--what is the difference between: expressing myself, enhancing myself and misrepresenting myself? Are any of them sinful for me? As I've thought about this and what it means to be a modern woman but, live a godly life I am often confused. The lines are ill defined and intensely personal. I thought the season of Lent might be a fitting opportunity to investigate what image really means to me. To let go of something temporal for something more eternal.

Let me be clear, I don't dare to be legalistic, I LIKE make-up! I hope to be Tammy Fay Baker on Easter morning! I've missed the mascara the most! Well, now that I think about it, maybe the concealer for the bags under my eyes...oh wait the lip gloss is really nice too. The reality is I don't think about it much any more. See here is what I was getting at. This giving up make-up for Lent has actually be a gift to me, from the Lord. It is funny that I thought I would do something “hard” and instead he gives me something “light and easy.” My burden is light. I have felt free. Not wearing makeup has made me less stressed because it has given me time. It has been a reminder that my worth is found in the Eternal God. The Lord knew what I needed and I would have never “found” it on my own. I'm ending this season of Lent with a grateful heart. A changed perspective. An unexpected freedom. A chance to see things as they really are...blemishes and all.

“Nothing you have not given away will ever really be yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself and you will find in the long run envy, hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, vanity, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find him, and with him everything else thrown in.” CS Lewis

Coloring valentines...

This got me thinking that maybe he was trying to make a Valentine for his lady friend, Charlotte. We've talked about their love for one another many times on this blog. They are more like siblings these days than star crossed lovers. They really can get into a tiff- if you know what I mean :) Miss Charlotte sure can hold her own and I like that about her! She is feisty and can really give Oliver the business when he tries to steal a toy :) She talks SO much more than him and it is really fun to watch their interaction. I can't wait until Oliver can talk like her- it is so darn cute!

In related news, we are happy to report Oliver is saying another name (other than Mama and Papa) and you guessed it...it is Charlotte! In photos she is the only person he will name. Guess these two really do have something special?

In medical update news, Oliver has been seizure free since Sunday!!! He has really started talking so much more and been much more engaged. It is so nice to see how well his brain works when it isn't bogged down with seizures. It is very joyful around here as Andrew and I marvel at how quickly he is developing in the absence of the seizures.

Lastly, I have to say "THANK YOU GOD!" for the spring like weather. Today it is supposed to be 71 degrees in Wilmington!!!! How can you not be happy about that? I have 3 tiny daffodils springing up out front. I get excited each day to go out and see how many more have bloomed. I love the rhythm of the seasons and the way it just feels right that things start to "come alive" again.

Love is in the Air...Already

I really, really love holidays. I think being born on Halloween is what made me this way? Every year around this time I notice how "naked" my house looks once the Christmas decorations are removed. It is like taking off the house's party clothes. So, each year I start wanting to put out the Valentine's decorations earlier and earlier. This year I think I really jumped the gun.

The other day when I went to Teeter, I realized they didn't even have out their Valentine's Day candy. I mean can you believe that? It was already January 8th, 37 days til V-day, and they didn't have a display? Are you kidding? I was righteously indignant.

Andrew said "Babe, this year you beat the marketers...I mean, that is quite an accomplishment!" He is completely right, those folks at the Teeter need to get on the stick! Where are some conversation hearts when you need them? Now that I've mentioned it, I know you want to rush out and flood your house with construction paper hearts, a chubby cupid and of course, a heart shaped wreath with matching door mat.

Happy New Year!

We hope your New Year is wonderful!

Oliver loves to play this harmonica he got for Christmas. It is super cute when he plays it and tries to dance at the same time.

We are relieved to tell you that our old Oliver seems to be reemerging!!!!! We have now been on the new med, Clobazam for 3 days. So far, since he has been on it, he is doing really well! It is much too early to tell if this means it is working completely but, it sure is encouraging! We are also, simultaneously, tapering him off of the "bad med" (Zonisamide). He should be totally off of it by Monday, Thank you Lord!

We are thrilled, and that isn't hyperbole, to say that Oliver has "rediscovered" a few of his animal sounds and "tricks". Every time he does something we thought he "lost" we have a mini-party. It literally feels like getting a gift from God, getting a piece of our child back. You really don't realize how important all these things are until you see them disappear. It is a reminder, as we begin this new year, to not take things for granted.

We are beginning 2011 as changed people; more grateful than ever and hopeful that the Lord will be near to us in the year to come.

Christmas Morning

Christmas @ the Laniers

I love this picture- so silly- so fun!

The whole crew

The cousins- check out Wyatt's evil eye (middle, checkered outfit)

Reindeer Games

For Oliver's birthday we hosted a Reindeer Games Party. Here he is pre-gaming it with his juice, antlers and Rudolph nose.

Reindeer Cupcakes

Let the games begin! We made Christmas Ornament crafts, danced with jingle bells, wore antler and make reindeer food. Good times for the kids and the grown-ups. For the mommies and daddies we served White Hot Chocolate with Peppermint Schnapps. The recipe is below it is SO easy and SO good- make some when you are snowed in!

Snow Flake Cocoa

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups whipping cream 6 cups milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 (12 ounce) package white chocolate 1 bottle of Peppermint Schnapps

chips Garnish: Whipped cream Candy canes

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Stir together the whipping cream, milk, vanilla, and white chocolate chips in a slow cooker.
2.	Cover and cook on low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and chocolate chips are melted. Stir again before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and candy canes, as desired. Set Peppermint Schnapps beside the slow cooker and let folks help themselves.

Oliver' s new trike

He loved the reindeer cupcakes

Waiting for a cupcake

Perhaps you can spot the shiner on Oliver's eye. It has been there for so long, we look forward to its disappearance.

Cookies with Lily Kate

The other night I got to make Christmas cookies with my buddy, Lily Kate. What a fun Christmas activity :) She was really into making these cookies. She had an exact order that she wanted to do each cookie cutter. I appreciate how much she already has a sense of herself and how she wanted to cookies to look. They looked and tasted great which even the daddies appreciated!

I have loved watching Kate grow-up. I remember holding her in the hospital and now she is almost 4. I even remember the moment Liz told us she was pregnant, how it changed the whole dynamic of our friend group. How excited we all were for this new life. Of all the kids I have known I have have probably spent the most time with her (other than Oliver, obviously). We are peas in a pod- we play dress up, paint our nails (purple of course), bake and play "hair". I just love a chance to indulge in girly things every once in a while and Lily Kate is always a willing sidekick. What a blessing to get to love your friend's children and watch them grow.

Little Turkeys

On Sunday we had our Team Family over for lunch. They are all Young Life leaders at Hoggard High School here in Wilmington. We love to hear about their lives and their ministry. Every month I look forward to this time to be with these fine folks. This month I had loads of fun thinking about how to tie in a Thanksgiving theme. I thought it would be less stuffy if we had a grown up version of the Kid's Table. After 3 trips to the craft store, I felt down-right giddy when those pilgrim hats finally looked cute. Thanks Tip Junkie! I used butcher paper to cover the whole table. It is a great investment if you have kids and/or host lots of parties. To add more excitement we had a contest for the best hand-turkey drawing. You better believe that this crowd got really creative! The winner created a whole turkeyscape. I don't plan to dismantle those creative little turkeys until I start my Christmas decorating (I promise I'll wait till after Thanksgiving this year). We finished with a yummy dessert-Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake (Paula Deen Recipe) with Maple Whipped Cream (YUMMY). After we cleaned up everything Andrew said, "let's leave the paper on the table, it looks cool." Is it possible that Andrew is coming over to the dark side of party planning neurosis?

More Halloween

Nothing like some Bubba teeth to take a man from "wow he's hot" to "down-right nasty/laugh out loud funny" in 2 seconds :)

My Mudder was a medical tourist :) Love it!

I didn't get a picture of my mom, but just for the record she was pretending to be pregnant with me, "just like she was 29 years ago." She worked very hard to keep the "baby", AKA basketball, in place and chase after Oliver- it was funny :) Part of why I love my family so much is their willingness to be playful and dress-up. I'm thankful they put up with my wacky love of costumes.

Oliver loved the bull- he kept trying to grab the nose ring

He was equally enthralled with the Avatar

Halloween

Ollie, Trick-or-Treating with his lady friend, Charlotte.

Couldn't help but post some of these cute kids that were at our Halloween party. Oliver was too wild and too hot to get a good photo of him tonight. He got so overheated from running and playing that he spent most of the evening in a t-shirt and diaper...good thing we got those puppy dog pics last Sunday.

Ayden

Anna Grace

Wild Things

Formula for a fun time:

Meeting a real "Wild Thing"

+ hearing the book "Where the Wild Things Are" read by "Grandma Diane" (Stephanie's long- time mentor and friend)

+ Mudder (Oliver's great grandmother) allowing him to choose a toy to take home

= one great day for Oliver!

I ran in the Trick-or-Treat Trot with some friends on Saturday morning. The event raises money for the place I love, love, love to work, WIRE/Communities in Schools. When I heard you got to run in a costume I was SUPER excited. Costumes are one of my favorite things but, you already knew that! Shaunna, far left, the "bubble bath", took home first place in the costume contest.

Samuel and Oliver hanging out while their mommies ran the race.

What a cute family! Daarrrhhhh!