2/13/03 Hello everyone! It's been awhile!
Hope this updates finds you all well and happy
and we wish you all a Happy Valentines Day!

Well, Christmas has come and long gone since
our last update. Hope Santa was good to ya
all - He was very good to Nick! I think his
favorite gift was the X-box (it was Dad's
favorite too!) And it was wonderful to spend
time with family and friends.

Nick received 2 big packages from the elves at
Hugs and Hope this year filled with all kinds
of neat stuff. If you all havent been to that
site at all, or lately, please check it out HERE
Send a card to the featured kids for this month.
It cost so little - yet means so much! Nick also
received cards and gifts from his friends at
Make A Child Smile. You can find new children
there every month also if you like to drop them a
line or a card. Vist that site HERE.

Thank you so much to all who sent cards, letters
and gifts to Nick this Christmas and this
Valentines. And a VERY BIG thank you to all of
you who keep him in your prayers - for that we
can not thank you enough!

So, what has Nick been up to lately?........
Well this month he had another MRI and Spinal Tap
and both came back CLEAR! YEAH! So, our little
Cancer Warrior is still in remission - still
kickin' cancer in the butt! He's working hard
still at school and at physical therapy - getting
stronger every day. Starting the 27th they will
be adding a new therapy once a week to loosen up
Nick's muscles and "connective tissue" that have
become really tight in his neck, shoulders, trunk,
and hips. We hope to see his body working alot
better (smoothly) as a result.

Can you believe it - it is going to be 2 years
next month since this all started! (3/17/01
tumor discovered & 3/22/01 tumor removed) And of
course - on the 21st of March - Nick will be
9 years old! Wow! He is growing up so fast!!
And guess what he is getting for his birthday...

Another pet!!!!


This is Spike, the baby cockatiel. He is too
little yet to come home and lives at "Casa La
Parrot" where he is still being hand fed. The
folks there know Nick very well for he loves
to visit and talk to the birds. Roy always
lets Nick see the newest "babies" in the
backroom and that is where we found Spike!
Nick visits Spike a couple times a week and
is very anxious for the day he can take Spike
home. It should be sometime this month! We
are hoping Spike and Merlin (Nick's parakeet)
will get along well. And of course Taz,
Benny, and Alfred (the chincilla & rats) will
love him too! Below is a pic of Merlin & Taz
together - they have become the best of
friends which is very unusual, for birds are
the chincilla's natural enemy. Merlin's
favorite place to sit is on top of Taz's cage
and if you open it up she'll fly right in to
give Taz a smooch!





Merlin also seems to love Hockey the
tarantula. She'll sit on top of Hockey's
cage every once in awhile too - but we are
thinking it might not be a good idea to let
Merlin "kiss" her.......

Well, that's all for now -- We'll post
another update sometime next month with some
birthday pics of Nick. Untill then, please
keep our little warrior in your prayers.

Thank you so much & God Bless
Pam, Bob, & Nick

*2/14***SPECIAL LATE BREAKING NEWS:

On a visit to see Spike today - we were
informed that he was ready to be taken
home!! So not only did Nick get to take
Spike home earlier than expected ---- we
were also informed that he was already
paid for!!!!

Thank you so much to all at Casa La Parrot!
You have really made Nick's birthday and
this Valentines a very special one this
year - one that he'll always remember! You
all are the best - and a very special group
of people!

Casa La Parrot