HIV: Little Heroes Inspiring Vision

Percy

2010-11-11T17:48:00.001-08:00

Percy is our new dog.

He is part Chihuahua and part Chinese Crested.

He is so cute!

Percy licks a lot on our hands.

Percy was born on June 21.

We got Percy in September.

He doesn't bark when we take him to the vet.

The funny thing about Percy is that he sticks his head under the couch.

Percy is my favorite puppy!

Fourth Grade!

2010-09-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

I am in fourth grade and it is great! My teacher is an active person. I love being in her class because we do lots of cheers for Science and Math to make it fun. We get candy if we get answers right. I've gotten lots of candy. We get to listen to music like I Want Candy and Lollipop, Lollipop.

Our school has a store that has tons of things like silly bands, fake mustaches, a king/queen throne, fast passes for our fall festival, and a round table where you can sit with your friends. I did "right" things around the school like picking up garbage, doing homework, staying on the right side of the hall and sometimes I'm given tickets by teachers for these things. At the end of each week you can buy something at the store with your tickets. I bought a silly band at the store for 10 tickets. I want to sit at the round table because it's on the stage at lunch and it's the only way you can sit with your friends.

My class got a chrysalis this week from someone who owns a farm. The butterfly came out of the chrysalis. We got to see the butterfly dry off and then we let it out in the garden.

Fourth grade has been great. The reason why we say "great" is because my teacher doesn't think good is good enough, so we say Great! I love Fourth Grade so far!

Being in Orlando

2010-08-07T14:49:00.001-07:00

Davids and my family went to Orlando and rented a house there because we were going to do lots of fun things there.

We went to the Hard Rock Cafe...

and we saw the Blue Man Group...

It was awesome.

We went to the house, went to sleep, and in the morning went swimming in the pool.

One night we had to get lots of sleep because we were going to the Magic Kingdom.

I got to ride rollercoasters and a log ride.

Davids left while we were in Orlando.

I went to the airport with him to say goodbye. When he got on the plane I was sad.

We went to Universal and I got to ride two of the Harry Potter rides. There were lots of lines but when we finally got in the Harry Potter World it was awesome.

I got a Harry Potter broom. The stores were awesome.

Then we came back to my Grandma's and Grandpa's condo. Today I went swimming and to Quaker Steak and Lube restaurant.

It's been a fun summer!

Fun Things in Florida

2010-07-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

I'm in Florida. When we got in town we met my Grandma and Grandpa at a restaurant. It was called Cici's. We played games there. We went to the beach but I couldn't go so I stayed with my perfect Grandma. We all went to the pool and Grandma and I read a book in the shade. For breakfast we went to Krispy Kreme. I went to some stores with my mom and had ice cream. I went to Lowe's and built a UFO; it had a light and I put stickers on it. I went ice skating with Davids for 2 1/2 hours. It was fun! My legs hurt a little bit but in a while they will feel better. Bye, see you later!

My Hospital Stay

2010-07-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

At home one day I pulled a hair on my stomach. It was a pimple for a few days. Then it was hard. The next day it grew bigger and started to hurt. The third day it was big and hurt me so much I could hardly walk.

That night I went to the hospital with my mom. First they put pain medication in my arm so my belly would not hurt much. My mom was talking to the doctor and I thought it was that they could fix my belly and then go home but that was not it. I had to stay at the hospital overnight.

I was scared at first but when my mom told me she was not going to leave until I was asleep I felt better. I had surgery to drain it. At nighttime the nurses repacked it it. It hurt very much. I was screaming. After it was over I was happy but it still hurt. Later on I got to watch TV and play video games.

The meals were awesome. One time for dinner I got two chicken legs! I love chicken legs. I went in Saturday night and finally came out on Tuesday morning! I'm happy to be out now. My mom still has to pack it two times each day, but it doesn't hurt anymore, it itches! I'd rather have itches than hurt!

Bye, see ya next time!

Hijacked

2010-07-12T04:22:00.001-07:00

Hello! This post and blog have been hijacked by Olivia's mom. In case you don't follow our family blog, Olivia is one sick little girl right now. HERE is a link to let you in on what "happened" and then if you click the header of the blog you will be back to the entire blog and can read up on the updates since then. If you could please keep both Olivia and her family in your prayers I would certainly appreciate it!!! Thanks for being a wonderful support to my daughter!

Millenium Park

2010-07-04T13:13:00.001-07:00

My family went to Millenium Park yesterday and did a lot of fun things.

We listened to a concert. It was cool.

We went in the water and I went under the fountain for a long time.

We ate there.

My mom took a picture of us in front of a reflecting bean. You can also go under it. There was a man who painted the buildings.

There was a family fun place.

We built houses with blocks.

I tried to hula hoop but it was a little tricky.

You should go there too. If you do, have fun!

Having Davids Here!

2010-06-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

Last Friday my family went to the airport and picked up Davids. Davids is a 15 year old orphan from Latvia staying with us this summer.

We took pictures and went home. It was very very late. I was tired. When we got inside Davids was excited. He was looking all around. My family has gerbils and he likes to touch them. The gerbils were in the basement.

We showed him my brother's room. We also showed him my room. He noticed my talking parrot.

The next day we found out he likes to fix things. He fixed my brother's guitar and the four wheeler. He is smart. He likes corn dogs and ketchup.

I like him being here because he is a nice person.

Jack and the Beanstalk

2010-06-25T12:10:00.001-07:00

Today I had a play called Jack and the Beanstalk. I went to a camp this week to practice what you would do for a play. It was theatre camp. I learned that in theatre/acting you have to be like the person you are in the play. I helped build and paint the beanstalk. I cut the clouds out. I also brought my costume. I was the mother of Jackie and Jenny. We had to name them Jackie and Jenny because none of the boys wanted to be Jack!

I didn't have to carry my script and hold it and read it. I memorized my words in the play. I was the only one who memorized the lines. My family came to see me do the play. I was excited for my family coming to see me! It was fun! I liked throwing the beans. :)

My Trip in Florida

2010-06-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

When I went to Florida I did a lot of fun things.

I sent a picture to my family of my Grandma and Grandpa and I...

I am at the skating rink in the mall. I love ice skating. I do it all the time I go to Florida.

I went to the pool at the place where my Grandma and Grandpa live. My mom gave me a new towel that had flamingos on it. Whenever I go to the pool I like to do flips and handstands in the pool.

We went to CiCi's and I got the high score on skeeball on Grandpa's itouch! I beat Grandpa's score!

I went to Krispy Kreme and got two donuts!

I went to BD's. There is a grill there and we get to pick out food in a bowl. We put meats and vegetables and sauce on it and then you give it to somebody on the grill. They have like big chopsticks and dump the food on the grill and move it all over the grill. One time when I went there I had little corn and they had it on the chopstick and flipped it and caught it and then I got to hit the gong!

I also grilled pork chops and hot dogs with my Grandpa at his house. I planted plants and took out the garbage with Grandma. I got mail a few times and put some stuff to kill the fire ants in their yard. I got to play my Grandma's DS and got to the fourth session on Mario!

I'm was glad to see my Grandma and Grandpa. I had a great time there!

Going to Florida

2010-06-19T18:01:00.001-07:00

I had a fun time in Florida with my Grandma and Grandpa.

The day I went to the airport to go to my Grandma and Grandpa's house I was a little scared. There was a lady by me on the airplane seat next to me. I sat by the window. I used my crossword puzzle. When they came around for a snack I got a Sprite and a honey bun and salted peanuts. I missed my mom and brothers and I was excited to see my Grandma and Grandpa.

When the plane was landing in FL I was getting really excited to see my granparents!

I could notice when it was FL because I've seen a map from above. I could see beaches and pools and the oceans. I liked when it landed because it went really fast and I like fast things. When I got off the plane the stewardess walked me off the plane and I didn't see my Grandma. They called her because she wasn't there. Then she came, she was at the right one but they changed gates and she didn't know it. I felt happy and excited when I saw my Grandma.

That was the beginning of my trip, I'll finish telling it another time. :)

Fun!

2010-06-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

Monday we went to the zoo. It was nice and sunny. We had fun!

We went to a new bear exhibit. There was a glass window that had words on it. I really liked what it said. The polar bears were close to the window and it was cool. We saw some swimming by another window and it was neat to see them really close.

It started raining at the zoo. I didn't like it. It was loud and we couldn't go anywhere. We bought an umbrella and we went to StingRay Bay because we had tickets. I liked to touch the stingrays, it felt really nice. I was scared at first but then I wasn't.

Then we left to go home.

Tuesday we went to 1, 2, 3 Jump! We were celebrating the last hour of school. We had a friend come with us. She was one of the girls who helped with the lemonade stand. She's Braeden's age. It was fun on the inflatables because we could jump and play. My favorite part was jumping in the obstacle course.

This week is going to be busy.

Tomorrow I have a doctor appointment. It takes a while to get there. It's my three month appointment to check my blood. Every time they take a blood test and see what my levels are like. They also check my height, weight, how I'm feeling. I like going to these appointments because it's a safe place. I think it's fun seeing my doctors. I don't get to see them a lot and they're nice to me. I get gifts for Christmas and my birthday from the doctors. They think about me.

On Tuesday my mom has her first homestudy meeting for the adoption. I'm going to a friend's house during that time. Later a good friend of ours and her sons are coming to our house to visit. They are staying for two days. We get to have company! I love those friends because they're nice to me. Her sons are 4 and 2 and I like playing with them because they are funny and cute! The four year old said he wanted to marry me! :)

My favorite day and biggest news is on Wednesday I get to go to Florida by myself on an airplane for 4 1/2 days! I'm going to visit my Grandma and Grandpa. I get to do this as a reward for being responsible. My mom said I had helped her out with the boys and the house and she wanted to thank me in a special way. I am SO excited about my trip! I'll tell you more about it when I get back! :)

Our Friend Makes a Lemonade Stand Surprise

2010-06-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

A few days ago my family's friend had a lemonade stand and they wanted to donate money for our adoption fund. They worked very hard. Yesterday I found out that we got 58 dollars and 86 cents!

The money for the adoption fund made me feel happy because we get 58 dollars and 86 cents for my family's adoption fund. This gets us closer to our adoption!

Gifts for My Teachers

2010-05-30T06:48:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday I am giving hand sanitizer to my teachers and principal because they are nice to me and were good teachers to me. We made our own labels for these. We took pictures of our faces to make the labels. If you want to know how to do it, you can go to my mom's blog.

I'm excited to give the gifts to my teachers because it was so cool. They looked so awesome!

Adoption Money

2010-05-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Today my family went to a few places. While out, we went to the bank. We were there to see how much money we have for my family's adoption fund in our jar and put it in our account. It was 50 dollars and 89 cents! We were so excited!

My family went to the park for a little bit today and then my mom said, "Why don't you and your brothers talk and see if you all want to go and swim?" She said she'd pull the car out of the driveway. And guess what? On the way back I found a penny! Braeden and I said, "Adoption Fund jar!" My brother said, "One penny still helps!"

God Bless You!

I'm Doing Good Deeds and Blessings are Coming Back to Me!!....

2010-05-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I lost a tooth and I put the money from the tooth fairy in the adoption fund my family has. The tooth fairy found out and came back to my house last night. She left a note, a book, and twenty dollars. The note said...

Dear Olivia,

It's me, the Tooth Fairy. Don't be alarmed. You didn't lost a tooth during the night. I stopped by for another reason.

You did something so generous that I had to come back for a second visit. I left you money recently for a lost tooth. However, you gave that money to your family's fund. That was a thoughtful sacrifice young lady. I am very proud of you. You are setting a great example for Braeden and Liam.

When you give to others, it often comes back to you tenfold. With that in mind, I have a gift just for you. I hope you enjoy it!

Your thoughtfulness and generosity has also inspired me. Would you mind giving your Mom a small donation from the Tooth Fairy? I've wrapped up 20 one dollar bills for the fund.

May God continue to bless your family.

Sincerely,

The Tooth Fairy

I was happy about getting more money and filling our adoption jar. The book was the second Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. I had number one and I went to a store with my money to find number two, but they didn't have it. They did have number three so I got it, but still didn't have number two. The tooth fairy must've figured out I would've liked number two and got it for me.

I thought it was cool that the tooth fairy visited me when I didn't lose a tooth that night.

Navy Pier

2010-05-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

I went to Navy Pier today on a school field trip with my mom as a chaperone. I liked that my mom was a chaperone because she was there and I got to see her all day and be with her. There were three other girls in our group. They are my best friends.

We rode on a boat for 1/2 hour and listened to the information the captain was telling us about Chicago. Then we looked around Navy Pier.

I liked when my friends and I counted money in the fountains in the greenhouse. We also looked in a gift shop.

This picture is when we were on the boat getting ready to go...

Here we were at the greenhouse standing by the fountains. It was all splattering above us!

Here we're taking a picture by some leaves. We were all being funny!

We're riding on a escalator inside Navy Pier, going down to the gift shop.

My friends are carrying me for a picture to be funny! We are waiting for our bus to go back to school...

I took this picture of my friends...

Have a happy evening!

Adoption

2010-05-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

I'm adopted. I like being adopted because it makes me feel special. I know that people love me. Having people like my family being with me makes me feel good.

My family hopes to adopt a baby from Africa. I feel it's sad that some kids never get adopted. They would probably like to get a family and know what it's like to have a family and have people loving them. The baby probably is going to have HIV. I feel happy because I can teach her/him that it's a good thing and I can have that experience with them.

HIV is just a kind of sickness. It's nothing to be scared of. If you ever have a child with HIV, don't be scared. We're the same as other kids without HIV, we just have different blood.

I still play outside. I still swim and do dance class. I still go to school. I've done cheerleading, soccer, gymnastics. I love to run. I'm just the same as the other people. I have lots of friends; it's hard to play with all of them at the same time. :) I still can do special things like traveling. I like to go on roller coasters, loops. I wish there was a roller coaster with just loops!

I am adding money to our adoption jar. I want to have a baby from Africa. I'm excited to be a big sister to a baby. So I can feed it, put it to sleep, play with it, and teach it about HIV.

Thanks for reading!

HIV

2010-05-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

My name is Olivia and I have HIV. HIV is not bad it just means I have different blood. It won't hurt you. Some people might not like it and be scared of it. I wish I didn't have HIV but I do.

I also have seizures. When I first got them it was at night and I was shaking. I started shaking, then I fell out of bed. I was scared the first time. I don't have seizures now because I take medicine.

I take medicine for HIV too. I take my medicine at 7:00 am and pm. In the morning I take 5 pills and liquid and at nighttime I take 7 1/2 pills and liquid. The pills are easy and I like that. But, I don't like the taste of the liquid.

Our family might be adopting this year. I hope it's a girl from (a certain country)! I can't go there because it's too dangerous. I wanted to go to and it's makes me feel sad. I'm sad because I'm interested in saving the people from there when I grow up. I want to save lives there because they're poor and I would like to give them food and clothes. First I'm going to start a company to teach them how to grow their own food and make their own clothes and homes.

God bless you!

Olivia's First Post

2010-05-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hello! This is Olivia's mom. Olivia has watched me blog for quite some time now and feels that she's ready to do it herself. I think this is a great summer project and that she could have quite a voice with lots of important things to share. So, here we go. When asked what to name her blog, Olivia suggested just "HIV" for the title of her blog; I'll let her explain why. But I wondered, was there a little more we could add? And as I scoured the dictionary for words that would fit, these three stood out to me. Olivia IS a hero; to me and those who know her. She inspires me daily, and she has a vision of what our world should be; a beautiful, magnificent vision. I hope that she will share with you and that you will see in her what we already do: God's beauty.

–noun,plural-roes; for 5 also -ros.

a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.

–verb

to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence:His courage inspired his followers.

to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.): to inspire confidence in others.

to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.: to inspire a person with distrust.

to influence or impel: Competition inspired her to greater efforts.

to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does: They were inspired by a belief in a better future.

to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.: a philosophy that inspired a revolution.

–noun

the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur.