Saturday, May 17, 2008

11:47 PM

We have 2 more fundraisers coming up!! On June 1st there will be a hamburger feast in Garden City, Kansas & another one in Scott City, Kansas on June 13th. More details of the fundraisers will be posted as they become available. So many people in Kansas has helped us & all I can say is THANK YOU!! Hopefully by early next week we will have our airline tickets booked. I spoke to a travel agent today to see if it would be more cost effective to go through them or to book it online. I should know something by early next week. We were told to book the flight as soon as possible. The sailing part of the Olympics will be held in Qingdao so flights will become more expensive and harder to find the longer I wait. I'm still waiting for the mail lady to deliver Brandon's replacement social security card. I need to have that before we can get our passports.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

5:45 PM

Brandon has 7 more school days left before he's out for the summer. We're all grateful for that - he tried to convince us last night that he was going to be "sick" today. He's really getting tired of school so summer break isn't going to come soon enough for him. I don't have enough room on here to list all the people who has helped us but there's a few people that really stepped up by donating money or their time (or both) - and I just want to say THANK YOU!! Of course to our family - we are grateful that we have family & extended family that truly care. My sister in-law Aspen & all the crazy ladies at Peak Vista (you know who you are....Angie & Ayesha). Jill's Country Cafe, My Sister's Kitchen, Coke's Diner and all the staff that helped by donating their time, money, space, & effort in making the silent auction such a success. Denise & Bill King at Big Valley Sod Farm for their support in the auction. Jim Newell & Carl Evans for providing the stage coach & draft horses in the carriage ride fundraiser. Nick, Pauline, Brenda, Dan, Pat, & the ladies at Cowboy Up for setting up the Poker Run - and of course Sufferin' B for supporting our efforts. To the Ellicott PTA for doing a yard sale - Joni, Lois, Carey, Mr. Smith, Mr. Lawerence, The Pride kids, Edna & Tony for making those wonderful hamburgers and everyone else who made the yard sale possible. And of course Meda for being a great supporter, reporter & great friend. You guys have been so wonderful & I can't thank you enough. If I left any names out, please forgive me. I will never forget your efforts......

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

11:16 PM

I finally have a blog set up!! Several people have asked me if I would do this so they could keep up with everything that it happening during this wonderful and excited journey. I was going to start this blog right before we left for Qingdao, China however I wanted to record everything that not only happens during the trip but the events in our lives leading up to August 10th and the after effects of our trip. We are less than 3 months away from leaving for China. This week we booked our stay at the hospital. We arrive in Qingdao on August 10th & leave there on September 15th. I'm left hoping that those 36 days will change our lives forever. I'm also nervous!! We have raised $34,827 of the $75,000 needed for the treatment, travel expenses & the hyperbaric chamber. $40,000 in 3 months - yeah that's scary!! Thankfully we have a large group of supporters & without them, this journey would not exsist. So to everyone who has helped us - THANK YOU! Brandon is looking forward to the trip. He asks on a regular basis when we're leaving. He tells everyone including strangers on the street that he has Optic Nerve Hypoplasia & that he's going to China to "fix" his eyes. I do hope that's what happens but any improvement will be considered a sucess.