Neuroblastoma Awareness Week

Hi all

This week is the beginning of a journey to bring the much needed awareness to the Childhood cancer ' Neuroblastoma ' .
From the 18th of July - 24th July, some very passionate parents and friends are making it their main job to spread the awareness of Neuroblastoma world wide,
to help raise much needed funds to make a difference to the treatments on offer world wide to our future children unfortunately affected by this cruel and horrible
disease.

As you know this is something very close to our hearts, with the loss of our incredibly beautiful and smiley daughter Imogen last year. We urge all of you to either 'like' the
facebook page http://www.facebook.com/NBawarenessweek, write about it in your status update, share and talk about it with your facebook and non facebook friends, visit the
http://neuroblastoma.org.au/ website and read about little Sienna's story and perhaps make a small or large donation ; ) to the CCIA (Children's Cancer Institute Australia).

Making the cancer Neuroblastoma more vocal in the community and world is the only way to gain more research money and awareness.
Please help us make this happen for Imogen and every child who may be diagnosed with this horrible cancer.

Please also feel free if you are on facebook to use Imogen's awareness ribbon as your profile picture for the week of the 18th - 24th of July. You can either use the above picture or find it on the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/NBawarenessweek in the photo section.

Much Love and Hugs

Jason, Fiona, Kody, Imogen, Ashton and Nicholas Holmes

What I want you to know..

Just had to share this because it is to true.
Please if you have someone grieving in your life, (quite honestly unfortunately who doesn't) take note. You can't fix us or make us more upset by simply mentioning their name.

What Grieving People Want You to Know

. I am not strong

. I'm just numb. When you tell me I am strong, I feel that you don't see me.

. I will not recover. This is not a cold or the flu. I'm not sick. I'm grieving and that's different. I will not always be grieving as intensely, but I will never forget my loved one and rather than recover, I want to incorporate his life and love into the rest of my life. That person is part of me and always will be, and sometimes I will remember him/her with joy and other times with a tear. Both are okay.

. I don't have to accept the death. Yes, I have to understand that it has happened and it is real, but there are just some things in life that are not acceptable.

. Please don't avoid me. You can't catch my grief. My world is painful, and when you are too afraid to call me or visit or say anything, you isolate me at a time when I most need to be cared about. If you don't know what to say, just come over, give me a hug or touch my arm, and gently say, "I'm sorry." You can even say, "I just don't know what to say, but I care, and want you to know that."

. Please don't say, "Call me if you need anything." I'll never call you because I have no idea what I need. Trying to figure out what you could do for me takes more energy than I have.

So, in advance, let me give you some ideas:

. Bring food.

. Offer to take my children to a movie or game so that I have some moments to myself.

. Send me a card on special holidays, birthdays (mine, his or hers), or the anniversary of the death, and be sure to mention her name. You can't make me cry. The tears are here and I will love you for giving me the opportunity to shed them, because someone cared enough about me to reach out on this difficult day.

. Ask me more than once to join you at a movie or lunch or dinner. I may say no at first or even for a while, but please don't give up on me because somewhere down the line, I may be ready, and if you've given up, then I really will be alone.

Virginia A. Simpson

On a side note -

Hi Immie

I am sure you came to see 'Wicked' the musical last night with us, even if it was a little past your bed time ; ). I could hear you gasping in delight at all the just right green costumes and beautiful Gelinda 'the good'.
Pretty sure you would have had the best seat in the house. : )


Will be thinking and missing you just a little more tommorow on my '3rd' birthday, my second birthday without you physically by my side. Birthdays just ain't the same any more without your smiley face and big kisses.

Big love, sweet girl
Love
Mummy xxxx

Sleep....

Another month has past here at the Holmes’ Circus, I must confess this month has been a struggle in the adaption between the ongoing, though lessening grief and sleep deprivation. The sleep deprivation comes not from our smallest member but Ashie, he likes to begin each day, with the birds, no actually make that the stars. He spends many an hour during the night or at first light, singing, chatting, crying, yelling and calling out at his largest voice his new favourite word of the week, followed by a muuummmmy or daaddddy to really bring the message home….trying him on a new routine form today hopefully that brings him back down to earth. Due to his sleep deprivation during the day he is a little less easier to please; yes I know who would have thought an almost two year old would be hard to please!!!.

Though we must be also say our biggest mischief maker, Ashton has also brought us the most joy this month. Ashton has really become a real little animated boy. Many of his characteristics match or are very similar to Miss Immie. It has helped us remember the times when our Immie was not sick, when she was a ‘normal’ kid and we were a ‘normal’ family.

With those memories come delight and sadness, for the fact we are not that ‘normal’ family anymore and simply will never be ever again. I hope there will be a time when we can again feel normal again; perhaps a lighter shade of normality will creep into our lives. Perhaps then I will be able to dismiss a temperature in one of my children, as just a cold and not something far more nasty and horrible. All I can do is hope and wish that day comes quickly.

Ashton not only follows his big sisters many characteristics, their looks are almost identically down to the one eye slight bigger than the other (the things us parents’ notice : ). Check out the photos below!!!.

Ashton aged 21 months

Imogen aged 21 months

Kody is doing great, final interviews at Balcatta High went well, and we are awaiting official education department paperwork now. He is enjoying playing soccer.

Nicky 6 weeks young

Nicholas is growing at a rapid rate - 5.865 kgs now, and is cooing and smiling at us all. Nic is a very placid and relaxed baby with his beautiful blue eyes.

For Jason and I, we are just keeping busy with life, kids, work and continuing to walk, at times shuffle forward into the future with our three boys and angel girl.

Hope your keeping warm and rugged up : )

Love The Holmes Gang