Oh my.... I am sorry that I did not update like I said I was going to do--- I think I had a case of trying to do too much again--- :) I seem to have that problem a lot!
The BIG surprise-----
On Friday morning, not even a week after we have been back from NYC I got a phone call from Molly Grantham (news anchor) telling me she had gotten an email from Leslie Parnell. Leslie knew Grier liked the Black Eyed Peas and they were coming to Charlotte for a concert--- Well, Molly told me that she was able to get 5 tickets for the concert on Saturday night for our family. I was not suppose to tell the kids.... we were going to surprise them--this part made me nervous. Most of our Saturdays are crazy--- sports..sports..and more sports and last Saturday was no different. Our day started with a basketball game then we went to lunch with our soccer teams friends, then on to a soccer game-- Also on our calendar was a baseball game that our family friend, Michael was playing in at UNCC--- so we headed out there around 4--- It was a busy Saturday but everyone was very happy to be doing some normal stuff together. On our way home from baseball Grier was crying that his tooth hurt--- not a good sign... and it came totally out of the blue! I panicked a little because I was trying to get ready for the BIG Surprise--It was a different panic since I had just heard he had cleans scans- He seemed to calm down a little-- so we headed to Brixx to have a "quick" bite and that was our meeting place that we had planned with Molly. Well, BRIXX was crowded- actually all of the places were-- so we ended up at Fuel Pizza-- Molly and her camera man came in and surprised Grier and the kids with tickets--- Grier was very shy... and I knew this could happen... oh well--- never know how a 5 year old will react. He started crying again and I was a little more panicked because he does not complain unless something is really wrong-- . We finished dinner... went outside and met Molly again and she filmed us walking to the Bobcats stadium. Still not sure Grier actually understood the whole concert idea.... he told Molly he had been to a concert before --- and we asked when??? He said Hayes' band concert--- yep... that was only 2 days ago :) We tried to remind him of seeing Roger Day in concert--- but he still did not get it... we made it inside after several attempts to "mic" Grier--- the tears started again... that little black box with wires looked like something he has had attatched to him at the hospital--- so after talking to him the tears stopped again--- We walked into the stadium and they filmed us going to our seat-- we also did an interview--- sooooo not my favorite thing to do--- especially talking about Grier--- Grier was being really shy and I was "done" at this point.... and I asked Grier if he could please talk and awswer the questions--- we are whispering at this point why Jeff is talking on camera... Grier suggests to me that we can make a deal--- and I agree... so he says-- if I talk and sing the song will you get me a star wars shooter?-- I said YES--- and he turned to the camera and sang "I got a feeling"- After our interview they followed us to our seats... the opening act was playing and well.... LMFAO was not so good--- Grier and I ended up waiting for the Black Eyed Peas to start in the concourse---- It took so long he was wearing out--- :( Jeff, Hayes and Grace stayed inside listening to the opening act and the BEPs-- Grier and I ended up going home around 9:30-- he did hear "let's get it started".... he was really tired----- The night was such a great idea--- :) I was really excited that the 5 of us got to do something special together-- Grier has gotten to do lots of things in NYC due to generous companies and teams but since Hayes and Grace are not with us there-- they do not get to do it- They are the ones that needed that night and they really liked it--- Grier liked it too but in a 5 year old way..... :)
I am including the video clip----
http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12026854
A special thanks to all involved---- it was a fun night and very memorable--- we will laugh about it for a long time--- and by the way... we made the trip to Target on Sunday morning so I could pay up!!! He is the proud new owner of a Star Wars Shooter-
ps-- Grier's tooth is a lot better--- he had something stuck in it--- a peanut from the baseball game :(
Also-- I brought his ipod to dinner so he could sing a long with it-- We had a "malfunction" and somehow all of his BEPs song were gone---- As a friend would say... Murphy's Law~
“If it takes a village to raise a child, it’s going to take the world to find a cure for pediatric cancer.”
In Charlotte, North Carolina, for a few hours on a rainy Sunday in December, it felt as though the whole world came together to bring an end to pediatric cancer, all inspired by one little boy with one big spirit - Grier Christenbury.
Grier, a 5 year old Charlotte native, was plunged into the world of pediatric cancer at age 2, when he was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma. Quickly Grier’s family’s focus shifted from soccer games and school to chemo, radiation, surgery, clinical trials, and most of all, keeping the cancer far, far away from his growing body. And just as quickly, the Christenburys learned of the need for funds for new and improved pediatric cancer treatments. They hoped for new options with fewer long term side effects and risks as well as higher survival rates.
But hope alone is not enough in the world of pediatric cancer. Hope needs action. So, the Christenburys threw their support to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Grier’s mom Amy hosted one of the first Cookies bake sales in 2008 and planned to host another in late 2009. Then Grier was unexpectedly thrown back into battle last fall, and the focus, once again, became keeping the enemy at bay.
When friends in Charlotte asked what they could do to help, Amy answered, “Host a bake sale.” And, did they ever. Four weeks, hundreds of sponsors, one radio interview and two local news features later, Amy’s friend Lesa Helbein and her team of tireless (and sleep deprived) volunteers pulled off the biggest single day bake sale in Cookies for Kids’ Cancer history, raising $15,000 in just 4 hours.
The pictures tell the story of the holiday spirit that reigned over the Queen City on that rainy Sunday. Cookies, cupcakes, and kids with smiles greeted Charlotteans who ventured out to support the event, in the end proving that if we all do a little, together it adds up to a lot.
Not every bake sale is this big, with this many supporters. But every bake sale - every single one - is crucial to the world of pediatric cancer. Every penny matters, every dollar helps. Rally the people of your village and register your upcoming bake sale today