Update: Fun week at Home!

Caroline spent some much-needed time at home in Franklin this week, and got to do MANY of the fun things she missed while away in Cincinnati.  She had a playdate and baking session with Miss Stacey and Shelby the dog; a cookout and sleepover at her favorite TN mountaintop; a Preds game (and win!) with the family; homebound kindergarten classes with Miss Elise; watched her brother play an EWA Cubs game; visits with friends Mr. Scott and Mr. Chris; and last but certainly not least...learned to ride her bike with no training wheels after only 4 attempts!!!  She is rocking and rolling right now - feeling well with plenty of energy.

Her counts at clinic this week were just "ok," so Caroline will need Neupogen shots for the next 3 days, and we will head back to clinic on Monday to check again and continue monitoring them closely.  Unfortunately, with cold and flu season almost here, it will (again) soon be time to start limiting Caroline's exposure to enclosed spaces and large groups of people, so we plan on continuing the outdoor fun this weekend.  Tonight we're heading to have firepit s'mores with friends that live on our alley, another EWA Cubs game Saturday afternoon, a fun neighborhood party tomorrow night, and then a Ravens vs. Titans game to cap it off on Sunday.  We are trying to LIVE and enjoy every day right now!

One of our amazingly talented friends, Anneliese, designed a "superhero" logo for Caroline (featured on the blog), and she put them on new t-shirts to support Caroline.  They are the first batch to feature that theme, they come in multiple color and style options, and include a front and back logo design.  You can check them out by clicking here.

Thank you for all the love and support!  We hope you're able to enjoy and live your days to the fullest this weekend!
Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf

 Go Caroline!!!

Rally on the Runway

Last night was an amazing, fun, emotional event!  Caroline shined on the runway!  We are very thankful we were invited to participate in the Rally Foundation Fundraiser.  Thank you to everyone who participated - friends, supporters and volunteers - it seemed to be a huge success!

 

Caroline's escort for the evening was Mr. David King, a Defensive End for the Tennessee Titans! 

Tennessee Titans escorts and the models!

Caroline and her friend, Sadie, who battled Neuroblastoma when she was a baby.

Caroline's runway debut - sassy swagger!

So touched that Carmen and Shannon volunteered - it was great to have them there!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf

Pre-K Graduation / Parlour 3 / Nashville Zoo

Just wanted to share some random updates from the last few days...we've certainly been enjoying our time together while Caroline is feeling ok!

Today, Caroline went to get her preschool "Graduation" picture taken.  We were so touched to be invited back to The Academy of McKay's Mill for this very special day!  Caroline attended the school full-time since she was 16 weeks old, but wasn't able to return once she was diagnosed.  We haven't been there since November, and it was (unexpectedly) a very emotional morning for us...seeing all of the friends she's grown up with (they look so much bigger!)...all of the teachers that loved on her for so many years...just being somewhere that reminded us of our "old" life and daily routine.  We are so, so thankful that Caroline will now have a preschool "graduation" picture to put next to Andrew's; it was something we thought she would miss out on.

Yesterday, Caroline and Margaret were treated to a "Day of Beauty" at Parlour 3 Salon, to prepare for the Rally on the Runway event this coming Thursday (you can read more about the event here).  A driver picked them up, and even had flowers for Caroline (shout out, Mr. Kemper!).  They arrived to a red carpet and a whole welcoming committee...so fancy!  They met the other "runway models" and their mothers, as well as many of the Rally Foundation volunteers...very inspiring.  Caroline got her make-up done, ate lunch and made a craft to give to the Titans player that walks her down the runway.  They even went home with a cool swag bag!  We are really looking forward to Thursday, and feel very lucky to be a part of such an amazing Foundation.

Last Friday, Caroline and Margaret went to the Nashville Zoo.  She LOVED it!  It felt great to walk around in the fresh air and check out all of the animals.  We're trying to squeeze in as much as we can before surgery next week!

Thank you for your continued support for our family - you're all still helping to hold us up and push us through. 

Much appreciation -
Team Lantz
#carolinestrong
#ftgf

Prayers for CT Scan Tomorrow / Rally for the Runway

Caroline is scheduled for her CT scan tomorrow, which we hope will confirm that her tumor has shrunk enough to be operable, and she can move forward with the resection surgery later this month.  The surgeon will review the scan and make the decision by the end of the week; we will keep everyone updated.  In the meantime, please continue to pray that her tumor has shrunk enough for surgery, so we can move onto the next step in the process ASAP!

In other news, Caroline was asked to be a runway model for "Rally on the Runway" on April 19th.  She will be escorted down the catwalk by Tennessee Titans players!  The event is a major fundraiser for the Rally Foundation, which raises awareness and funds for pediatric cancer, including grants that go directly to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.  We would love to see our local friends come out to watch Caroline's "modeling" debut, as well as support an amazing foundation.

You can purchase tickets by clicking here.

You can see Caroline's "Rally Kid" profile by clicking here.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for our family!

Love,
The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf

Caroline and her buddy, Tex!

Play date with Milo at Ms. Hilary's!

Learning how to make pasta at Kathleen and Mark's house!

We met up with Rob and Jennifer at the Preds game, and they were able to sneak Caroline in line with them to get a picture with the President's Trophy! (Thank you, Ginsbergs!)

Waiting outside the Preds locker room to meet the players and get their jerseys signed!

Clinic Update / Rally Foundation

Caroline had great numbers at her clinic appointment yesterday, so it was a quick/uneventful visit!  We will go back next week to check her counts, and then she will have a CT Scan the following week.  The CT scan results will then determine next steps...another round of chemo or move forward with surgery.  So, barring anything unforeseen, we will be hanging out at home for a couple of weeks.

As the time since Caroline's diagnosis has passed, and we've gotten more used to our "new normal," we have been fortunate enough to get connected to some very progressive research foundations.  Most recently, Caroline was nominated to be a "Rally Kid" for the Rally Foundation.  She has her own profile on their website, and the foundation does amazing work that directly benefits the research at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.  You can read more about the foundation here, and click here to see Caroline's Rally Foundation page.

Caroline was also asked to be a model for their upcoming Rally on the Runway event on April 19th.  Assuming she isn't having surgery that week, or gets a fever, she will be walking down the runway with a Titans player!  She's very excited!  If you are interested in attending the event, you can purchase tickets here.

Making cookies for her clinic nurse before heading to the hospital on Friday.

We hope everyone has a great weekend!
The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf