Thank you!

This weekend was the Home and Cottage show put on by Coldwell Bankers, we are fortunate enough that all proceeds are going to go towards our families cause. They had well over 2000 people come out this weekend, and it was a huge success, Melissa and her co-workers put it together beautifuly. On Saturday evening they invited us to meet all the exhibitors, so we brought Reiko with us as Kai was at my sisters for the evening. After Melissa had read out my mother in laws letter that was written for the Extreme Makeover application(btw, the charity is applying us for Extreme Makeover:Home Edition) and had the whole room crying, after that was done the exhibitors came up to meet and greet us. Melissa came over at one point in the evening with such amazing news, she told me that as a gentleman was leaving he told her that he will build us a brand new kitchen at no charge..I just cried..it was a beautiful moment. Either way the charity said they are commited to getting us a suitable house for our family, whether or not Extreme Makeover happens. It was an emotional night, and couldn't have made us any happier. That night, after Derek had left for work andReiko was in bed sleeping, I was laying there in my bed and just cried because I couldn't and still can't believe how generous people are being to our family. I am forever indebt to them for this beautiful act of kindness. And how do I ask you, do we ever say thank you and what can we do to show them how very thankful we are?! I am in awe and completely humbled with how much help we are recieving.

Reiko has been doing amazing, he has had 1 fracture in 4 months, which was the rib in Montreal, he is trying to roll quite a bit and I think I missed his first full roll over, I heard a thud and then looked at him and he was in a different spot with a huge grin on his face lol. Of course I missed it, but he did it and that is all that matters! Reiko is happy, full of life and gosh darn he talks alot, not neccessarily words, but we have yelling matches, he yells then I yell and he laughs and we go back and forth over and over again. Reiko and Kai are playing more and more together and it makes my heart swell.

Last week I brought Kai to his soon to be school it was a day for them to learn the bus rules and ride the bus. He had a great time and is getting super exited for Kindergarten, and for me it is bittersweet, I am excited for him to start but I am looking at my little boy and wondering how it is possible that he is beginning school in the fall...my baby is growing up much to fast. He had a great time on Saturday as I took him to see some clowns with his cousins at the Home and Cottage Show, we had cupcakes, snowcones, face painting and he ran around wild with the other kids, oh and we even got the gum ball estimation right! I guessed 138 and Kai guessed 4 lol. After that my sister, her husband, their kids (Shelby 5, Drake 3 and Alyssa 2) and Kai, Reiko and I went to the Museum and Goal(Jail) the kids loved it, then we went to McD's and Laura asked to take Kai for the night! He jumped on the chance and had a great sleepover at his cousins! Yesturday she brought the kids over again when she dropped off Kai and they played for a bit, then later we headed out to Oma's and he did not want to leave as usual lol, so he spent the night there, I haven't seen my boy much this weekend lol. Ohh and he got his school pictures done for preschool and oh my goodness they are adorable! We picked out two different pictures to get copies of!

I just did my first unit exam in my Basic Human Anatomy and got a 80.22% on it! whhooooott!!! Glad it is done with and now onto the next chapters lol. School is going great though! I cannot complain at all!

Derek is starting to train for a triathalon in Goderich inb August, its a 2km swim, 10km run and 42km bike ride on hills, he is very excited for it!

Ok that is all for now. Take care!!
Jess

Extreme Makeover: Quinlan family??

Possibly! The charity that took on our little family is applying us for the show. We are in the midst of getting things ready now! At first I wasn't sure whether they would come to Canada, and their website didn't say either way, but the charity was able to get in touch with them and they said they would come to Canada, they have just never picked a family from here yet. We are not getting our hopes up, trying not to at least, cause the fact is they must recieve thousands of applications weekly, but who knows, maybe we will be the first Canadian family! Speaking of Extreme Makeover:Home Edition, tonight on ABC is the season finale of the show and they have the Sharrock family on it, who's son Patrick also has OI! So be sure to tune in and grab the tissues! :) It will definitely give you an idea of our life.

I also want to share with you a few things, here is a newspaper article from last week :

CLINTON NEWS RECORD - WEDNESDAY MAY 11, 2011

With successful calcium treaments at the Shriners Hospital in Montreal every 3 months, one year old Reiko Quinlan has only had one broken bone during the past 3 months. The Clinton baby, who was born last March 24 with osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone syndrome, recently broke a rib while coughing. But, that break was an improvement over the 16 breaks a month he used to endure. "He is getting much better," said his mom, Jessica, at a fundraiser last week in Seaforth, with a barbeque at Coldwell Baker Realty, which raised 1,100$. The family still faces the challenge of finding a house that will be wheelchair accessible and can accommodate Reiko's small size since his nt expected to grow very tell. In response to that need, Melissa Melissa Daer-Rivers, of Coldwell Banker of Goderich, is creating a video nomination of the family for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition television show. "We just found out about it last week. We're not getting our hopes up but the fact that they're doing it for us is amazing," Says Jessica. Melissa Rivers who founded a charitable fund called All Points Festival City Realty Brokerage Charitable fund through Coldwell Banker Canada, which was recently given an award by the company, says the Quinlan family is the first family to benefit from the compan'st charitable efforts. Rivers says she first heard about the Quinlans when Seaforth real estate agent Marcia Leitch was showing the family homes that might be suitable for their needs but couldn't find an appropriate house. "There has to be something more we can do. I want to get them into a home that will be a safe haven for them," says Rivers, who came up with the idea of applying to the Extreme Makeover show. With help from the head office, Rivers says the charitable fund will be making a video to send into the TV show, but even if the Quinlans are declined, Coldwell Banker is committed to helping them. "We want to help them in whatever way we can to find them suitable accomodations for their little guy to grow up in. That's our goal," she says

And here is the Ronald McDonald McHappy Day Photo:

Ronald McDonald Table Card -

The Quinlan Family, Huron/Perth.

The Quinlan family lives in Clinton, Ontario. Reiko, who was born with brittle bone disease on March 24, 2010, is a happy baby despite his circumstances.

For the first five weeks of Reiko's life, the Quinlans stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in London, which is close to the hospital. "When we first walked in, my son Kai ran to the big Disney monster, Sully and gave him a high-five. He loved the big animals and the toys, and we felt right at home in the gorgeous living room," said Reiko's mother, Jessica. With the volunteers making a meal each day, and the availabilty of things laundy, the House provides what families need to stay together.

To find out how you can help, visit
www.rmhswo.ca

 

Last week we were at the McHappy Day and I was put in Drive Thru, putting the orders in bags, and Derek was the restaurant coffee guy! He was swamped and I spent alot of time standing and smiling since it was not to busy. Oma watched Reiko in the restaurant, showing him off and the posters of his cute little face lol. Family stopped by, and everyone loved seeing Reiko. Kai was at school that morning, so unfortunately he had to miss the fun! We volunteered for alittle over an hour, then had to get Reiko home to bed. It was all in all a good day though. here are some pictures of that day!

 

 

School has been good, I did my 5th quiz last week and got 100% on it, I took a few days off of studying because I go all gung ho on it for the first unit exam, I can do it anytime from may 23rd-may 29th. I also picked out my new glasses that should be in anytime next week, and I love them! I can't wait to wear them for the style and also so I am no so blind lol. Kai and I have been taking it easy today, we made some chocolate covered cashews, and he has played with his toys. Reiko and daddy are sleeping right now, so the house is quiet!

Ok I know I have been horrible for updating lately, I will try to get better. Take Care

Jess



Oh the life of school...

So I am now doing my Basic Human Anatomy course as well as my Microsoft Course, I started the BHA last week, and have done 4 out of 5 quizzes due by the 22nd, I have gotten a 90% on each test, and damn that 1 question I always get wrong lol. I really like my courses though and they are keeping me less bored and thinking that is for sure. The BHA is a whole lot of memorizing though and its like learning a new language..but it will be worth it. I decided that I want to keep doing school so that I can become Health Care Assistant (Receptionist) at a Doctors Office. It is 9 more courses that I need to do, but it will be alot more stable and honestly easier than being a Medical Transcriptionist, it is a very hard job to listen to a audio recording of a DR and transcribe it, correctly at that.

Life has been good here, Reiko had his treatment last week and did very well, there was a few complications with his port at the end of the procedure, but he didn't whine much. Then later that evening he fractured a rib coughing. But he is back to normal and doing wonderful. Not a whole lot new to talk about really. Kai is awesome as always, and such a happy little guy lately. He slept over at Oma's on the weekend and went to his Uncle Darcy's new house and stayed for the camp fire, was a late night for him I was told, but he had a blast! Tonight he is sleeping over at Grandma and Grandpa's house, play fighting with grandpa as usual lol.

We found out there was a BBq for Reiko last week in Seaforth, so we went there and they were all so very happy to see us. We will even be in this weeks newspaper! Next weekend is the Home and Garden Show and the proceeds go towards Reiko! Ohh and this Wednesday is McHappy Day at McDonalds and Derek and I will volunteering behind the counter for an hour, and some of our family will be there showing off our little man! To bad Kai has school that day. Going to be a busy month cause Kai also has a few school things we have to do.

I don't have anything else to tell tonight. Hope you are all doing amazing!

Take Care!
Jessica