We are teaming up with one of our newest vendors to bring you this fun handbag giveaway!
Meet Zoey!
We are so excited to introduce you to this little sweetie... Zoey! She is so little to be faced with such trials, but through it all her and her family have remained positive and her cute mom, Danielle, even organized a fundraiser for childhood cancer research from their hospital room.. they are amazing!
We are a small military family - Dan, my husband, myself (Danielle), our 2 1/2 year old daughter, Zoey, and our crazy Siberian Husky named Kona. My husband has been in the Amy for 9 years now. He was set to deploy to Afghanistan in January of this year, but things didn't exactly go as planned. We were stationed at Ft. Drum in upstate NY and when he received word that he would be deploying we decided that Zoey, Kona, and I would go down to spend the year with my parents in FL while my husband was gone. So we packed up our entire house, put everything in storage, and on Christmas leave drove down to FL. The plan was for Dan to spend Christmas leave with us (2 weeks) and then return to NY to deploy with his unit after the New Year.
A few days after Christmas everyone except my husband fell ill with the flu. The worst of it lasted a few days and then everyone was starting to get better - everyone except Zoey. She seemed to almost be getting worse. So on New Year's Day we took her to urgent care. They confirmed she had the flu, but sent us straight to the ER at the local hospital because Zoey had an extremely elevated heart rate and didn't look well. They were waiting for us at the ER and rushed us straight back to a room and started doing tests. We were told that Zoey's blood counts we so low that she was basically in critical condition and that not only did she need a blood transfusion right away, she also needed to be transferred to the nearest children's hospital. The nearest children's hospital was Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, a little over an hour away by car. Zoey and I were transported by ambulance while my husband followed us in our vehicle. When we got to Nemours, they took her straight up to the PICU. Not too long after we arrived, an oncologist came in. Of course I panicked! An oncologist?! Why?! He explained that we needed to find out why Zoey's blood counts were so dangerously low, there could be something going on, or it could just be because she was so ill with the flu. The next day Zoey had a bone marrow aspiration done and later that night, the oncologist all but confirmed that Zoey had leukemia. We had to wait for the official results to come back the next day, so we were still holding out hope that he was wrong. But the next day, January 3, 2013, it was confirmed that she did have leukemia - ALL or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Your world definitely crumbles, you never expect this for your child. We weren't sure what this would mean for us. She started treatment the very next day with chemo administered into her spine and had a port placed at the same time.
Thankfully, Zoey was classified as low-risk and started responding well to treatment right away. She went through her induction phase of treatment beautifully and is in remission as of February 6, 2013. But we still have a little over 2 years of treatment left. We decided to participate in a clinical trial being done by Children's Oncology Group and funded by CureSearch. She was randomized to a slightly different treatment plan than what is the current norm, and it involves lower doses of chemo. So she only has 3 phases of treatment: induction, consolidation, and then maintenance. We are currently half way through consolidation phase and Zoey is still doing pretty great. She takes chemo every day at home (like a total champ - no fusses or fights), and will have a total of 6 hospital stays for high doses of methotrexate through this phase. The second hospital stay was a little rougher on her and she suffered some awful side effects (vomiting, mouth sores, not eating and drinking), but bounced back pretty quickly.
Thankfully, my husband has been able to stay with us this entire time and the military has been pretty great about it all. He is no longer going to Afghanistan and just got word that the compassionate reassignment he applied for was approved. He will be assigned to a recruiting station in FL and will be able to stay here for at least 1 year. We have already decided that no matter what happens after that, Zoey and I will continue to stay in FL until her treatment is complete. We feel that it is very important for Zoey to stay at the same hospital with the same doctors and nurses throughout treatment, even if it means a possible separation due to the military reassigning my husband. We feel like we are in great hands here. All of this is a lot for a little 2 1/2 year old to take on, and I wish that I could take her place. And looking back on the months leading up to her diagnosis, I curse myself for not realizing that something was wrong sooner. But I try not to dwell on it too long because I know that I need to continue to be strong for her so she can keep fighting, and keep doing well. Zoey is a strong little fighter and we know that she will continue to respond well to treatment. We are so very proud of her!
Prints for Brielle
Have you read Brielle's story? She is our featured fighter this month. Brielle is smart, funny, kind, and her smile is brighter than a 1000 watt bulb (seriously she lights up the room with that grin of hers). Brielle is unlike our other featured fighters because just a few weeks ago the Doctors gave her the news that her cancer is back for a third time. After over 2 years of treatments including: two bone marrow transplants, horrific amounts of radiation, unheard amounts of chemo, and practically living in the hospital or isolation there is nothing more the doctors can do for sweet Brielle. Obviously her family is heartbroken, but Brielle remains a rock. She even visited her 6th grade class to tell them the news and ended up comforting all her classmates, telling them it would be ok. Brielle is a shining star. Her and her family are dealing with so much right now and finaces should NOT be one of their worries!
So we decided to host a special deal just for Brielle. We put this deal together at the last minute because of the circumstances and we were honored that so many amazing designers came together to to support our shining star and her family. We hope you love these prints as much as we do. We hope these prints will be a reminder to you each day of Brielle and her example of strength, love, and courage. We hope they remind you to hold your loved ones a little closer and to not sweat the small stuff. Please head over to P.S. I Adore You to donate or buy a print for this precious girl and her family.
We have brought together some of the best designers around.. these people are seriously tallented! Each print will be just $5 (that is a STEAL!) and can be printed out as many times as you want! Think baby showers, wedding gifts, Christmas, Birthday's, etc. You will use them over and over again and you can feel good knowing that EVERY PENNY was sent to this family. Thank you all for your support!
UPDATE: If you would like to order these prints please send us an email at hello@psiadoreyou.com as this deal was disabled on our site, but we are still happy to sell you a print and send the money to Brielle and her family! -thanks!
Check out a sampling of these amazing prints guys...
By: Handmade Romance
By: Roxy Marj
By: Small Fry Blog
By: October Ink
By: Fox Bear Designs
By: Ohh Dear Lover
By: Rizzle and Rugee
By: Hello Maypole
By: Kelli Murray
Go to www.psiadoreyou.com to order one of EACH!
Bonus... if you buy 5 prints or more you will receive a FREE bitty doll!
(while supplies last.) Donated by the amazing ladies at Swanky Jane's!
Bonus... if you buy 5 prints or more you will receive a FREE bitty doll!
(while supplies last.) Donated by the amazing ladies at Swanky Jane's!
GIANT Mindy Mae giveaway!
Hey guys, we are so excited to be working with Mindy Mae's Market to bring you this GIANT giveaway! We aren't just going to have one winner.. we will have THREE winners! YAY!
Hurry and enter.. you don't want to miss this one!
Cure the KIDS with Shelly Bee Originals!
We have been so excited for this day to get here! We are in LOVE with Shelley Bee Original skirts, so when she contacted us and wanted to help our little fighters.. we were THRILLED! Not only did Shelley want to help, but she brought the girls from Lunch Pails and Lipstick on board (have you read their blog.. it is one of our favorites)! The L&L girls handpicked the fabric for these skirts and guess what? Shelley is offering them to P.S. I Adore You EXCLUSIVELY! That's right folks, you can only get them here and what's even better, they are discounted AND 100% of proceeds will be going to CureSearch for childhood cancer research! You can't get any better than that!
So.. head on over to P.S. I Adore You and get yourself a few of these darling, comfy, versatile skirts. We PROMISE you wont regret it!
Women's tribal: $22
They even found this amazing gold polkadot fabric!
Did you know that gold is the color for childhood cancer?
Kids & toddler gold polkadot: $12
Baby gold polkadot: $8
We also want to talk a little about CureSearch and what it means to us. As most of you know, my daughter Cami had cancer herself. She went through 3 years of treatment and is now CANCER FREE! Oh, it feels so good to say that! It is because of the research that was done over the past 25 years that Cami is here today, but she will most likely suffer consequences from the harsh chemo she was given over those 3 years. Childhood cancer is currently being treated (in most cases) with the same drugs as adult cancers, so those little delicate organs are subject to a lot of damage. These kids need more gentle cures for their little bodies, but only 4% of the federal cancer research budget goest to pediatric cancers? 4%! That is just not enough to find better cures for these kids! It is up to private fundraising to get these kids the cures the deserve. Too many kids aren't making it, too many kids are taken from this earth way too early. My dream is to have at least the same cure rate as breast cancer... and these kids deserve that!
Huge thank you's to the fabulous Shelley at Shelley Bee Originals and the girls at Lunch Pails and Lipstick. You have all gone above and beyond to help us with this cause that is so dear to our hearts. Thank you to each and every one of you who have purchased from our Cure the KIDS deals. We are thrilled with the response and support we have gotten. It touches our hearts when friends come together to tackle a common goal and each of you have helped in your own way. Thank you!
Now, GO... get yourself a skirt... and feel GOOD about it!
XOXO,
Chelsea (Cami's mom)
Meet Brielle
Meet Brielle:
First let me start by saying that I am honored to be able to share Brielle's story with the world (or at least with P.S. I Adore You Followers!). I hope that I can do it justice! The Beus family is a family of six, who will steal your heart! They are beautiful people - selfless, loving, faithful, devoted, and inspiring. I am truly honored to know them.
Brielle is the second of four girls. She has one older and two younger sisters who all adore her. Brielle was just 10 years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in September 2010. Just two months after she was diagnosed (in November 2010), Brielle's dad, Shawn, was also diagnosed with cancer. Shawn has Myeloma, which is also a blood cancer, but of the plasma cells. This family was in for the fight of their lives, but their attitudes remained positive. Brielle's mom (Kim) said this in a facebook update shortly after learning of her husbands cancer: "There are so many things we would like to do as a family to make memories and just be together. We are going to FIGHT with all we have in us that they both beat this. We LOVE you all!"
Brielle and her mom, KIm
Brielle and her Dad, Shawn
Brielle responded well to treatment and was in remission after her first round of chemotherapy. Four rounds of chemotherapy later, in January 2011, she received a bone marrow transplant. Her 5 year old sister was a perfect match and she was honored to be Brielle's donor.
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Brielle and her sister (Brooklee) recovering together after the bone marrow transplant.
After being in the hospital for over a month, Brielle was doing well and able to go home. They had to return weekly to check her blood and make sure she was doing well, but she was thriving! Home with her whole family together was just what she needed! This is an update from Kim on February 9, 2011: "Brielle is doing absolutely amazing at home. No nausea/vomiting, she has lots of energy and she has been eating since she has been home. We just have to go to Primary Children's Medical Center (PCMC) once a week and the doctors are so very pleased with how well she is doing and how good her labs look (her sister gave her powerful bone marrow). Brielle amazes me everyday with how well she is doing and her positive attitude."
In April, 2011, Brielle and her family celebrated 100 days post bone marrow transplant. That is a huge milestone and it was the beginning of Brielle getting back to normal. Brielle was feeling really well and the family celebrated this accomplishment! The year continued to go well. Months passed and the time was filled with great reminders of everything they had been through. In June, Brielle was honored at the SLC CureSearch Walk; in July, a HUGE fundraiser was held to sponsor Brielle so she could have a wish granted from the Utah Make a Wish Foundation; and in September, the Beus family put on a 5k run/walk called the Daddy/Daughter Cancer Walk. This was to honor Brielle's 1 year diagnosis date! What a year it had been!! October and November 2011 were filled with more 'normalcy' as Shawn was running for City Council. Sadly, the family was told that Brielle's cancer had returned a second time just hours before Shawn won the election. The Doctor's told them that they would have to act fast as Brielle was very sick, she would need another bone marrow transplant. Here is Kim's post from November 9, 2011: "Thanks for voting for Shawn, he made it. We would be more excited had we not heard a few hours before that the results were in that a lump on Brielle's arm came back showing her cancer is back. We are headed to Primary's this morning for a bone marrow aspirate to make sure that it has not spread to the bone marrow. The plan is another bone marrow transplant, we should find out more today. I was not able to sleep last night and I have a horrible pit in my stomach. Please keep her in your prayers." Fortunately, the cancer had not spread to Brielle's bone marrow. The family also felt fortunate because Shawn had not been experiencing many symptoms from his cancer. He was seen by some specialists at the Mayo Clinic and they told him that he was the healthiest Myeloma patient they had ever seen! It was not necessary for him to start any harsh treatments at that time, so he and Kim could focus on Brielle's new fight.
In early December 2011, Brielle underwent her second bone marrow transplant. This time she received stem cells from umbilical cord blood. The transplant went well, but there was a lot of sadness over the next few weeks. Because Brielle was in the hospital for an extended time, the family had to cancel their long-awaited Make a Wish Trip to Walt Disney World. They also had to spend Christmas in the hospital. But, there were many happy times during these weeks as well - things like David Archuleta coming to the hospital to visit Brielle!!
David Archuleta visits Brielle in the hospital.
Brielle continued to do well and was able to go home shortly after Christmas. Just like before, the milestones were met and there were lots of great things happening for the Beus Family as their lives were beginning to return to normal again. Thanks to The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah, Brielle and her family were finally able to spend a wonderful vacation in Disney World just before Christmas 2012.
The Beus family on their Make-A-Wish trip.
Unfortunately, their joy was short-lived. On March 21, 2013 Brielle and her family found out that her cancer has returned. Brielle has always been such a fighter and she did very well throughout all of her treatments, but her body just cannot handle another bone marrow transplant. They were heartbroken to learn that there isn't anything more the Doctors can do to save sweet Brielle. Brielle has kept a very positive attitude through everything she has endured. You would be hard-pressed to find a picture of Brielle without a GIANT smile on her face. She is incredibly brave and she is a source of happiness and an inspiration to everyone around her. Brielle is so strong and so brave. Just this week she went to school and shared with her 6th grade class that she won't be here on Earth for much longer, we understand she was comforting all of her classmates and telling them it would be ok. She has an absolutely amazing spirit and attitude. You can't help but smile and be happy when you are around her. At this time Brielle and her family have chosen to live each day to the fullest and enjoy every moment they have together. This family is so devoted to one another. You can feel the love radiating from each of them as they are there to strengthen each other. They are true examples of unconditional love. We thank them for allowing us to share their story.
(Brielle's story written by a fellow cancer mom and friend, Mystee Sudbury)
Suja Juice Giveaway!
Spring is here and the P.S. girls have been NEEDING a jumpstart into our healthy eating, detoxify our bodies of all the winter crap and get ready for swimsuit season! We have heard so many wonderful things about Suja Juice so when they offered to send us cleanses to try we were FLOORED!
Oh.. and guess what? Suja wants to give YOU a 3-day cleanse too... read on!
We LOVED everything about Suja and we had AMAZING results from our cleanses! Each experience was a little different, but we all LOVED how it made us feel and we would HIGHLY recommend Suja! Here are our individual accounts of our Suja Cleanses...
Whitney: I have nothing but good things to say about Suja Juice all around! I started my juice cleanse not really knowing what I would gain from it but was willing to give it 100% effort in hopes to gain more energy and kick my addiction to SUGAR! The biggest question that people would ask me is, are they good? Each day you are required to drink 6 juices, which was a bit of a challenge because I never felt hungry. Out of the 6 juices I LOVED 4 of them, tolerated 1 of them, and had to plug my nose for 1! Overall I had more energy, felt healthier, wasn’t craving sugar, and was sad to drink my last vanilla cloud on day 3. Did you know Suja is stocked in most Whole Foods stores? I have already stocked up with my favorites to drink as meal replacements on those days when I just don’t have the time to make a healthy meal! I would highly recommend Suja Juice to everybody. If you are looking for a little pick-me-up and a jump-start to a healthier lifestyle then Suja Juice is definitely for you.
Ashley: I am going to be honest here. I was so excited to do this cleanse to see how my body would feel. A bit of history from me… I was super healthy for the most part and very active before I had my 2 girls. After my first baby I got really sick and was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. Tried all the natural stuff but was too far gone so was put on medication for the rest of my life to keep me regulated. After my 2nd baby I got worse than the 1st time around basically pregnancy does a number on my body. My body has hurt ever since I had Stevie. She was so worth it but my energy and body are just not the same. When I heard about Suja and the results from it I was ecstatic and couldn't wait to try it out! I was a bit worried because I had never done a cleanse before. The first day I won't lie, There was a few that were harder to get down than others. Glow & Purify was my least favorite but the 2nd day I liked them more. I usually am exhausted by 6p.m. I had so much energy while drinking these. I was not that hungry I did have a 1/2 of avocado each night.The 2nd day I felt so great. It was easy to get out of bed, my body didn't hurt as bad. I felt like I did before my 2nd baby! I am thrilled with the results of how my body feels. I would recommend this to all of you. I lost a few lbs but that was not my goal. I Love that the only foods that sound good to me are healthy fruits vegetables and salads. I look forward to the future and how much better I feel all around. Now that the cleanse is over, I will continue to have 1 juice for either breakfast lunch or dinner. This has helped me ease into a healthier lifestyle for my family and I. Thank you suja for the cleanse! I appreciate more than you know!
Chelsea: I started my cleanse a little later than the other girls. Honestly, I was a little nervous about not really eating any whole foods and I was sure I would be HUNGRY for 3 days straight, but the have juices kept me quite full and I honestly look forward to drinking most of them! One of them is not my favorite, but I know it has elements in it that my body really needs...so I drink it! I have noticed my skin is clearer and I am not craving sugar as much as I used to... which for me is HUGE! I am excited to continue this journey and I will update you all as the days progress! Thanks Suja Juice.. I KNOW your juice will remain a part of my life forever!
Now that you've read our reviews.. we KNOW you want to try a cleanse for yourself. Make sure to enter our giveaway! YOU could win your own 3-day cleanse from Suja... a $162 value!
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