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Maureen runs in honor of Alec

1/30/2013

Our family friend, Maureen, ( Darlene's cousin), is running the Boston Marathon on the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team. And she is running in honor of Alec.

Maureen has shared with us that her special, lucky number has been 23. And she has been receiving extra special 23's from Alec, and has shared her signs and stories with us.
She has seen giraffe's, 23's, the color green, she has been given the #23 on her races etc....

If you would like to support her and make a donation, the website and her page info is below.

We are so touched and it means so much to us that she chose to run on the Dana Farber team for Alec

below is her direct link

http://www.runDFMC.org/2013/maureens

or you can get to it this way;
www.rundfmc.org/ click on support a runner --
enter Maureen Spencer-- click on Maureen Spencer Lowell,Ma and her page will come up, she has Alec's picture and a beautiful bio of Alec and his love.

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Otis Spunkmayer for Cassidy

1/29/2013

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Cassidy came home from school the other day and told me that she got a muffin at school for breakfast, and was I was thinking I wonder what kind -- Blueberry, chocolate chip etc.
Then she pulls a wrapper out and shows me and it was an
Otis Spunkmayer muffin. Alec's favorite.
When Keith got home, she was excited to show him the wrapper and said she got an Otis Spunkmayer muffin today.

Getting signs from Alec lights up our lives and we are so touched to know that his signs are lighting up so many others lives too

I have added some new pictures in a slide show on the picture page

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Our Adventure

1/28/2013

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We took Cassidy to the aquarium yesterday. As we were walking over to it, we were flooded with memories. Ones from when me, Keith, Cassidy and Alec went to the aquarium together. The last time we all went was just a great day together.
When we were leaving, Cassidy got a lollipop in the gift shop and there was a # 23 on her receipt. Then on the walk to our car we went in Dunkin Donuts, I got a coffee, it cost $1.77 and our change was 23 cents! Alec was letting us know he was with us.

Me and Cass were also remembering our other trip to the aquarium with me, Casssidy, Alec and Holly, Lydia, Nicholas and Ethan. It was summer vacation 2010, I called Holly to see if her and the kids wanted to go to the aquarium with us, and they said yes, so
after going back and forth between should we drive or take the train, we decided on the train thinking it would be more fun. Once we got into Boston, we had to take the subway to the aquarium. We were out of our element. It took us awhile, but thanks to Holly, we figured which one to ride. so we get to the subway and are waiting with so many people. We were all feeling out of place and scared and everyone was staring at us. Alec was sitting in his stroller, playing his singing Bunnay oblivios to all the stares we were getting.He was the only one of us that was not worried.
We waited and waited and waited, finally the subway came and it was overcrowded, but we did not care , I scooped Alec in my arms, Holly took his stroller and we all squeezed in. We couldn't take a minute longer in that place. We went and enjoyed the aquarium. When we were done, I called Keith to ask him if he would pick us up because we were too scared to take the subway. He said no, he just got home from work-- his 45 min drive from Avon and it was Friday night and he would be sitting in traffic to come back in to Boston , plus we wouldn't all fit in my van. I knew it was a long shot, but asked him any way.
So we decided just to walk back to the train, no subway for us. We kept getting lost and had to walk up a gigantic outside staircase, so I kept Alec strapped in his stroller and me and Holly carried him up in it. All the kids were such troopers, but I have to say Alec was the biggest trooper because this was not his kind of thing, he liked to be home or in his comfortable environment, but he was going with the flow. We were all starving and went in to Bertucci's to eat. The waiter was so kind, Alec kept asking him questions, like,"Do you have oyster crackers and Do you have cheese and crackers"etc.., the waiter was a young guy , yet he had such a nice way with Alec, he took the time to listen to him and talk to him. He genuinely enjoyed Alec--it was so touching. After that we found our way to the train, and realized that we just made it in time for the train, otherwise we wouldn't have got home til 11:00pm as it was we didn't get back til 9:30 ish way way past Alec's bedtime.
We call it our adventure, because it was a crazy adventure. Even though we should've drove and avoided all that, it left us with fun memories.
And it made Cassidy laugh yesterday just thinking about it.

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Swinging on my swing

1/25/2013

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The other night, Cassidy went in her room and called Nana Kitty. I could hear her talking to her and realized she was talking to her for at least a half an hour -I think it ended up being close to an hour. And it instantly reminded me of how Alec would call Nana Kitty almost every night while he rode on his swing. I thought how Nana Kitty must have been enjoying this call from Cassidy so much because she has told Keith how much she misses her night time calls from Alec. Alec would sit on his swing down stairs and call Nana Kitty and he would tell her he was on the highway 93, and all the highways and roads they traveled together. She would be home rocking in her chair and travel with Alec on his trips. Al kept her on the phone for a minimum of about 30 min, but had talked to her as long as an hour plus. He always loved swinging on his swing and talking to Nana. He would also rat us out to her when he was annoyed by us. He would say," Nana, Mom is aggravating", or, "Nana, Dad is being aggravating", and "Nana, Ta's not cooperative "(Ta is his special name for Cassidy).
As we were saying good night to Cassidy that night she said how she called Nana and Nana asked her what she was doing and Cassidy said, "Swinging on my swing". Cassidy has a swing in her room. And as soon as she said that, Keith and I both smiled and realized what an even greater gift it was for both Nana and Cassidy, that Cass was talking to her while on her swing. Just like Alec

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From Karla

1/23/2013

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The last play date we had was right before school started and Alec, Laura and Cassidy all came to the house, the kids were all excited to get together and play, but nobody was more excited than Alec! He talked from the moment he came til the time he left. I thought he was just a riot. The one thing that impressed Alec the most about the house was the long driveway we have. He couldn't get over it and asked Laura if they could get one just like it! Of all the things he could have asked for, most kids would want the hottest toy, not Alec, he wanted a big driveway. That was a special visit and I cherish the memories of that day. I also think of Al every time I walk the pike at work.
Karla

Thank you Karla for sharing that story, I forgot about Alec wanting a driveway like yours, but I am starting to remember it now that you reminded me. That was a special visit and I remember Alec just wanting to snuggle with me on your couch under a cozy blanket even though it was summer weather outside.
And talking non-stop, like you said ... as usual!
I'm guessing the pike at work is the hallway that connects Brigham and Women's to Children's Hospital and the Jimmy Fund? Because Alec loved to take a trip down it every time he was at the clinic, and make us run through it pushing him in his stroller or wagon , he loved going super fast through it.
And he loved knowing that Auntie Karla worked in the building it connected to. He asked every time , "is that where Auntie Karla works?"

Love Laura

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A Broken heart is not depression

1/22/2013

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I don't know why I am sharing this, but I think it's because I am so upset by it and need to get it out.
Today I went for a physical, back to my old Dr. that I hadn't been to for about 5 years.
He asked all the typical questions, then he asked,"Do you have kids", "How many kids do you have", How old are they". I told him 2, and began crying and had to repeat twice because he couln'yt understand me through the sobs, that my little boy went to heaven 2 years ago. He asked what happened, I told him he had a brain tumor. He asked how I felt, I told him I was sad.
He types a few things into his computer and then he says to me, "Two years is a long time to still be grieving". I told him, I will be sad and grieving for the rest of my life.
It was all I could do to not ask him if he had kids and ask how he would feel if it were his child.
Of course the first thing him and many others want to do is medicate and label it depression. I am so tired of this being the go to. There is no remedy or pill for a broken heart, no pill that will bring Alec back, no pill that will make me less sad about Alec not being here in my arms.
This upset me so much, I don't know how I was able to control myself from telling him how I really felt, but I did. I do feel Alec was there with me as just being at the Dr. brought on anxiety on it's own.
I also share this so others understand that sadness and a broken heart are not the same as depression.

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Alec's gift to his Mama

1/19/2013

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This video is a gift to me from Alec.

It was about a month or 2 after Alec went to Heaven, when I woke with the strongest need to know the words in the beginning of our Shania song. This song "Forever and for Always" was mine and Alec's song, I would hold him in my arms and dance around the kitchen with him, singing this song to him. And when he got older, he would have me play it in the car and he would sing along and make me sing too. Oh how adorable he was singing this song. In the beginning of the song, Shania kind of hums a few words and these were the words I woke needing to know, I knew all the other words. I felt it would have a message from Alec in them. So I went on the computer and typed in Lyrics for Shania forever and for always song. So many choices popped up, and two images of videos. I looked at all the choices for awhile, trying to decide which one to click on. And this one above is the one I chose.
I knew instantly that this was a gift from Alec, I knew he was showing me all that he is doing in Heaven. The little boy, who looks just like Alec and has the word "Love" on his shirt, which is everything that Alec is. And he has wings and a halo. The girl he is with does not have wings or a halo. I think that the girl is me . I feel he is showing me that he is right there beside me with everything I do. And I also feel it's his girlfriend. But I also believe he is showing me all the things he is able to do, things he could not do here. And that he still gets to do all the things he loved to do, like reading books.

I'm still amazed by my sweet boy for giving me this amazing gift
knowing it would bring comfort to his Mama's heart.

I could have picked any of those other choices of lyrics that popped up, and this video is not a typical video that would pop up for a Shania song.

Thank you Bubbies for loving and taking such good care of your Mama..I love you right up to the moon and back and a million, trillion, gazillion times more.

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Holly shares

1/16/2013

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Alec was the light in our lives. He was the most wonderful,caring little boy that anyone was ever lucky enough to meet. He touched the lives of everyone he met and left an imprint on their hearts. He gave, and knew nothing but love. Everyone he met was his friend. He made us laugh, he made us stop and see and enjoy the simple things in life... from a leaf on the ground to a "skinny".

Alec made all of us better people. He saw the goodness-- and helped us see the goodness-in everyone. He was wise beyond his years, so inquisitive and so insightful and so bright.I think of his big beautiful eyes and smile all the time. I think of his infectious laugh, his wonderful sense of humor and witt. It always brings a smile to my heart.

We could not have been more blessed when Alec was born into our family. He is the greatest joy.

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From Bryanna

1/14/2013

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This story will probably be forever be etched into my mind..... the Gabriella story.

On the first day of seventh grade, I had a Spanish class, my first one. Considering it was a Spanish class, the teacher wanted us all to pick a Spanish name. I had a long list and I had liked more than a few names, but my gut was just telling me Gabriella. So I go home all excited and tell Mom that I picked the name Gabriella. Then she went to go pick up Kara at school. All of a sudden she called me asking me what the name that I picked was again, and I didn't know why she wanted to know. When she got home, she told me what happened at the school. Alec said, "When I grow up and marry Bryanna, we are going to name our first child Gabriella". This got me so excited, it felt like I had a special connection to him for it was such a great coincidence. Now I understand that this event happened for a reason, a story to tell now, to help remember all the things he did.

Love, Bryanna <3

I just want to add to Bryanna's story to explain how that morning went.
Cassidy and Alec were having their breakfast before school, and Cassidy asked me what other names we liked when we were picking names for her. I told her that I had liked the name Gabriella, but Dad didn't, and we both loved Cassidy, so that's how she got named Cassidy.
Alec pipes up and says, "Does Bryanna like the name Gabriella?" And I said, I don't know AL, why? and he said, "Because when I marry her she has to like the name Gabriella for our child".
Oh it was just the sweetest. And just melted me and Cassidy.
Later that afternoon when we picked up Cassidy at school, I told Nicole what Alec said that morning because it was so sweet, as Alec sat in his stroller with his adorable sweet grin listening.
Nicole almost fell over, and said just a few minutes ago Bryanna came home from school and told her that she chose the name Gabriella as her Spanish class name.
We were all amazed by this, and still are.

Bryanna,
Thank you for sharing your story, it will forever be etched in our minds and hearts too.
Alec picked an amazing girl to be his wife.
Love Laura

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From Papa

1/12/2013

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Alec was upset about something, and Papa said, "Al there's no whining in Billerica"! Al said, "How about Burlington??" We howled and still do, to this day, when we think of him saying that.

From Papa

Thanks Papa for sharing this, of course we remember Alec asking if there was whining in Burlington, so silly.

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