Caleb Having Fun in His Walker

Below are a couple of cute videos of some ways that Caleb amuses himself while he's in his walker. Don't forget to scroll down and pause the music if you want to hear the video better. Enjoy!

News Release from Stater Bros.

Below is the latest news release from Stater Bros. For those of you that don't know, Jeff's dad, Mickey, is the Vice President of the Bakery and Deli dept. for Stater Bros. Ironically, they have been major supporters of the MDA for years - Mickey and Marilyn went to MDA events way before Caleb was even thought up. We are very proud that they are part of the MDA family, and are astounded at their efforts. Thank you Stater Bros.!!!!!


SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA – Stater Bros. Markets is pleased to announce that a check for $1,143,000 was presented to the MDA during the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon over the recent Labor Day weekend. Stater Bros. has raised funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for 23 consecutive years.

Funds from this campaign will be used to send 1,000 children with Muscular Dystrophy to Camp. Additional funds will be used to support vital research for neuromuscular disease, medical equipment, free support groups, clinics and funding wheelchairs for those who suffer from neuromuscular disease.

All 165 Stater Bros. Supermarkets participated in the MDA Aisles of Smiles for Jerry’s Kids Campaign during the month of August. This campaign provided funds to MDA through the sale of participating products as well as through the sale of $1 and $5 Mobiles at the time of checkout. In addition, Stater Bros. has spearheaded the MDA Grocery Industry Alliance Program for the past three years. Stater Bros., its customers, and employees all helped in this fund raising effort.

To further assist, Stater Bros. also hosted an event this year for the families of the children who were going off to MDA Summer Camp.

“The Stater Bros. ‘Family’ of Employees is very pleased with the outcome of the MDA campaign,” stated Jack H. Brown, Stater Bros. Chairman and CEO. “This year’s fund raising efforts produced the largest amount ever raised by the Stater Bros. ‘Family’, and we are extremely proud to be able to assist the MDA in helping local families in the communities we are privileged to serve.”

In Honor of Baby Sayumi

First off, thank you for all your prayers and positive thoughts for my cousin's baby. For a while everything was moving in the right direction. Her liver counts were down, the dialysis she was on for her failing kidneys was starting to work, and she even woke up for a brief period of time. The doctors found out this shut-down of her tiny body was due to a viral infection, which had also gotten into her brain. Unfortunately, she lost her battle last night. There was just too much damage done to her little body.

Our hearts go out to Scott and Maiko in their time of loss. We commit to supporting them in any way they need.

This is a stark reminder of how frail we all are and how impermenent our time on this earth is.

I have one more request for you all. Please go hug your babies, no matter how big they are now, as well as all your loved ones, and please just appreciate today with them.

Sending you all a big hug and lots of love.

Another Cold

So Caleb and I have another cold. Whenever Caleb gets a runny nose, Jeff and I are a little concerned, remembering the year between ages 1 and 2 when a simple cold would settle in Caleb's lungs and we would be having a bout with an upper respiratory infection/borderline pneumonia, with one trip to the emergency room via ambulance. It has been over a year since anything that dramatic has happened. But with me back at work with the little rugrats, and Caleb now in preschool with a bunch of other snot-nosed little cutie petuties, our house is like a petrie dish of germs. So Caleb is now battling his second cold in the last two weeks, and I quickly followed. I just need to vent a little bit. I'm tired of feeling chronically a little cruddy, short-tempered and fatigued. But mostly I'm tired of MUCOUS!!!

Prayer Request

Most of you that know me probably realize that although I'm not a very religious person, I am a spiritual person. I firmly believe that we are all interconnected in a way that is bigger than I can comprehend. I also believe that all the prayers, good thoughts, healing energy, or whatever you want to call it, that has been put into the universe for Caleb over the years has helped to give our family strength, both literally and figuratively.

Well, my cousin, Scott's family could use some prayers and positive energy right now. Scott, his wife, Maiko, and their son, Aiden, welcomed a newborn baby girl into the world a week ago. Her name is Sayumi. Their joy at bringing thier newest addition to the family has been cut short, because right now she is in intesive care because her liver is failing. Currently I am unsure of many of the details. What I do know is that they could use as many prayers as possible right now.

Thank you.

Fun On the Bay

Last weekend Jeff, Caleb and I went on a one-hour Hornblower cruise around San Diego Bay. We had a wonderful time riding around the bay. The cruise was filled with fascinating history about our city, but I couldn't tell you any of it now. The highlight for Caleb was most definitely seeing the sea lions and pelicans hanging out on the dock.
Caleb kept doing his "happy dance", waving his hands and exclaiming, "The sea lions go OR-OR-OR! And there's a pelican, just like in Nemo!"

FINALLY!!!

We just got word today that our insurance company approved Caleb's wheelchair. It has been 6 months (or more) of jumping through hoops, working through red tape, and one snafu after another - and this isn't even for a power chair! We're happy that they're doing the right thing and have finally approved this request. We are also grateful for the loaner chair that we have had from the MDA. Don't know what we would've done without it for Caleb starting school.

One more hurdle jumped over. Whew!

The MDA Telethon: What an amazing experience!

I am happy to report that the 43rd annual Jerry Lewis Telethon was a huge success. Nationally, $65 million dollars was raised for MDA, which is $1.2 million more than last year. Quite a feat when you consider the economy!

We had a wonderful day at the San Diego telethon. Of course, Caleb was a hit and they had him on camera quite a bit, which meant that Jeff and I were on camera as well since we had to carry him.

In case you have not seen it, or if you want to watch it again, below is the vignette that KUSI aired. Make sure you have some tissues handy...people that don't even know Caleb were reported to have been moved to tears!

In order to hear the video better, make sure to pause the music (scroll down to "Tunes While You Visit: on the right-hand side).

At the end of our live interview John Soderman, the man telling Caleb's story, said he was humbled by our family. Truth be told, I am humbled every day by Caleb and his amazing ability to touch people's hearts. This little boy, who has a tenacious love for life (especially if that includes playing with cars) is such an inspirational reminder to appreciate right now, this very moment. When you are around him, it is impossible to feel sad about the idea that our time with him may be limited, because right now with him is so full of joy. We feel blessed each moment that we get to spend with him, and are grateful that we were trusted enough to help him on his journey.

Thank you, everyone, for all your wonderful support. Whether it was through donations, fundraising, showing up to the telethon at the last minute to answer phones, or being there for us through the good times and the not-so-good, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. Our family is truly blessed to have such amazing support and love.