For Ryan...

Dear Family and Friends:

Ryan Gustafson has blessed so many people...and now it’s our chance to give back.

In an effort to help pay off Ryan’s mounting Pharmacy bill, I am having an Avon Fundraiser in Ryan’s honor. 100% of the profits will be given to Ryan’s Hope.

PLEASE help support Ryan...and help Ryan’s Hope!!

I have attached the Flier for your convenience. Please ask your friends and family to help support this worthy cause. We will take orders until September 30, 2008. All money and orders are due at that time.

Please make all check payable to Ryan’s Hope.If you have any questions...please contact me or Karen Gustafson.

Thank you for your support!

Barbie HumbertAvon Ind Sales Rep

863-287-2933

bhumbert@tampabay.rr.com

Mail payments to:
250 Waterview Cir
Auburndale, FL 33823"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."

9/11

7 years ago 2 planes crashed into the world trade center. Everyone was glued to their TVs for days. It was horrifying to watch. It is one of those moments in time that you remember exactly what you were doing and where you were. I am no different. I remember exactly what I was doing and were I was. So I thought I would share my experience. Ryan had surgery to close his ostomy in August 2001. This was Ryan's 8 intestinal surgery and somewhere around his 15 overall. I do not know how I sent my baby off to surgery that many times. Of course God knows because he had carried me for over 10 months already. Ryan was once again a very sick baby. I had spent weeks at the Ronald McDonald house, I missed Taylor terribly and my heart broke for Ryan. So the weekend before 9/11 I finally broke. Ryan was starting to improve and I just lost it. I did not tell the PICU nurses that I was leaving Orlando to go home, I just left. My mom, mother-in-law and Bill picked up the pieces and spent the weekend with Ryan. That was the longest I had gone with out seeing him. But for 10 months I had been the strong one, the one full of hope, I was a pillar. Bill had a complete break down in January and was now on medication and doing much better. On 9/11/01 I was ready to face the hospital once again. Bill and I drove to the hospital. On our way there the planes hit the towers. Bill's mom was the first to call and tell us. We then put the radio on and listened on the way to Arnold Palmer. This is Ryan on 9/11.

Ryan was in a battle for his life. Thanks to God it was a fight that he won. We spent the day with Ryan and watched the news all day. The doctors and nurses would come in and spend time watching it with us. Since we were in the PICU most of the patients where kids so they had cartoons on.

7 years later, I sat at the soccer fields watching Ryan run up and down the field like anyother little boy. Ryan is healthy and strong!! You wouldn't even know he had gone through any of this. Of course Ryan wears the battle scars across his stomach and I wear mine across my heart!!

I love you Ry!!

Mommy

Puppy Love

What can I say....

First day of school...

The school years are just clicking away!! It seems like yesterday Taylor was starting kindergarten now she is starting 4th!! We are looking foward to a great year. Last year was a struggle. Taylor was diagnoses with ADD and was started on medication. The changes came immeditialy after starting the meds. Her test scores rose 30%. We are looking forward to a great year. She is determined and extremely focused.

Ryan is a big 2nd grader. He has a wonderful teacher this year....that would be Aunt Kelly. He is doing a great job calling her Mrs. Burgess. He is really having a good time. He did have to get used to having more homework. I hate to tell him it only goes down hill from here!!

And then there is Colin...this is his last year at Beymer. We LOVE Beymer. As far as we are concerned it is the best preschool. Colin is going 5 days a week (only 3 hours a day) so I can go to school. This is a major adjustment for me!! I am not used to having any time to myself. I miss him dearly but he is having so much fun.