Gavin

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Reminder: Sign up for self-defense seminars held on January 6, 2007

This is a reminder to please sign up for the upcoming self-defense seminars to be held at the Krav Maga-Milwaukee studio located at 17000 W. Capitol Drive in Brookfield on Saturday, January 6, 2007. ALL proceeds from these seminars go to Gavin’s fund. Tickets for each seminar are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. For tickets, contact: Kurt at 262-412-3757. You can help save Gavin by learning how to save your own life using the special techniques taught by experts.

The two seminars available are:

Defense vs. Common Street Attacks – 10:00 a.m.-Noon – Krav Maga Milwaukee will prepare you for the realities of violent street assaults and how to protect yourself with the most practical and efficient means available.

Defense from the Ground – Noon-2:00 p.m. – Krav Maga Milwaukee, with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expert Jon Friedland, will introduce you to the dangers of ground fighting and how to maximize your chance of survival in this dangerous environment.

To view the event flyer, click here.

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Thank You to the Lake Mills American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary

Sweet baby Gavin has just received the happy honor of being selected, by the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary of Lake Mills, to attain a $500 donation for his fundraising campaign. Just as we will never forget your service and dedication to America, so too, we will never forget your kindness to baby Gavin. Thank you all so very much for your distinguished advocacy. We are grateful!

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New Photos: Lake Mills students create posters for Gavin’s penny push fundraiser

TO THESE BEAUTIFULLY SPECIAL and VERITABLE SMILING FACES IN LAKE MILLS’ KINDEST 8th GRADE HOMEROOM

First, my deepest apologies to these charming 8th grade homeroom students. Initially I understood you all to be art students (an easy enough mistake when viewing the artistry incorporated in your magnificent posters). I must confess to you that I cried when I read your heart-warming advertisements displayed beside your winning and dazzling smiles. Thank you all so much for your exceptional kindness and for wrapping sweet baby Gavin in your beautiful blanket of love. We are honored!

Thank you so much again.

Jane Schwalbach, Gavin’s Grandmother

Here are the students showing their posters.

[mygal=pennies]

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To old friends, old wines and young cares

It was in a valiant effort to secure those elusive “young cares” for sweet baby Gavin Winslow, our little Wisconsin baby diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure, and in need of multiple kidney transplants, to survive, that kind and generous-hearted employees from the Northwestern Mutual Company raised their glasses at The University Club’s wine tasting fundraiser. Fine wines, provided by Ray’s Wine & Spirits, along with a twist of luxury, provided by The University Club’s mouth-watering, sumptuous hors d’oeuvres and spectacular sandwiches made this gift-giving evening an enjoyable affair for all. Adding to the festivities were authentically elegant, and sportfully playful silent and live auction donations.

Thank you, each of you, for your impeccable attention to making this fundraiser a wonderful success. Together you raised over $10,000 for sweet little baby Gavin.

OH WHAT A NIGHT……

Many cheerful people contributed to this fundraiser:

  • Jennifer Dean – University Club
  • Patrick T. Horne
  • Tammy Gawlitta…Event Coordinator
  • Pam Blattner…Auction Coordinator
  • Cheri Ryan…Volunteer
  • Terri Lawnicki…Volunteer
  • Tim Stein…University Club
  • Shannon Behr…University Club
  • Ray’s Liquor/Rick Lave…*Wine Sponsor
  • Rafeal Andrews…Auctioneer
  • Ione Dropp…Table Centerpieces
  • Gene Eberhardy…The Printery
  • Rita and Rich Zipperer

Table Sponsors:

  • Behr Electric…Shannon Behr
  • Melissa Burback
  • Patrick T. Horne
  • L’eft Bank Wines…Kim Fisher
  • Lemberg Electric…Tim McGrath
  • Mark Neumann
  • Northwestern Mutual Foundation
  • The Printery…Gene Eberhardy
  • True Course Medical Data Analysis & Claim Service…Glen Boyle
  • Don Tyler
  • Whyte & Hirschboeck S.C….Phil Halley

*Ray’s Liquor donated 10% of all wine sales for the evening AND continues to give a 10% discount at their store when the brochure (which was created for this special evening) is presented.

Auction Items Donated by:

Sheila Anderson Sara Albert
John Ash A Bit of Whimsy
Pam and Rich Blattner All That Glitters
Paul Borowski Ben Franklin
Melissa Burback Beverly Designs – Oconomowoc
Patrick Cannon Bombay Company
Jennifer Carrasco Chicos
Dan Croak Cooking Store
Margaret Czarnowski Country Springs Hotel – Waukesha
Ione Dropp Designer Consignor
Ted Duggan Discount Liquor
Paula Garcia Ebberts Greenhouse
Dan Hoppe Estheer’s Pearls
Pat and Melissa Horne Grand Geneva
Christle and Sean Jensen Joanne Fabrics
Sandy and Herman Kroll Migun Thermal Acupressure
Lynn Marris Milwaukee Bucks
Mark Neumann Pampered Chef
Sherman On Peticlicious
Pete Russell Pier One Imports
Steve Saber Pottery Barn
George and DeDe Shaw Ray’s Liquor
Michael Sheppard Stein Mart
Tim Sprasy The Doll House – Door County
Lynn Steinle The Printery
Superchiefs Band Tickled Pink
Rita and Rich Zipperer Tuesday Morning
Tobins Pharmacy – Oconomowoc
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Event Reminder: Still Time to Enroll in Self-Defense Seminars for Saturday, January 6th

There is still time to enroll in the self-defense seminars to be held at the Krav Maga-Milwaukee studio located at 17000 W. Capitol Drive in Brookfield on Saturday, January 6, 2007.

ALL proceeds from these seminars go to Gavin’s fund. To enroll, contact Kurt at 262-412-3757. You can help save Gavin by learning how to save your own life using the special techniques taught by experts.

The two seminars available are:

Defense vs. Common Street Attacks – 10:00 a.m.-Noon – Krav Maga Milwaukee will prepare you for the realities of violent street assaults and how to protect yourself with the most practical and efficient means available.

Defense from the Ground – Noon-2:00 p.m. – Krav Maga Milwaukee, with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expert Jon Friedland, will introduce you to the dangers of ground fighting and how to maximize your chance of survival in this dangerous environment.

To view the event flyer, click here.

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A Warm Thank You to Julie Schwecke, Art Teacher at Lake Mills Middle School and to All her Gifted and Caring Middle School Students

We would like to thank you, each of you, for coloring sweet baby Gavin’s world brighter. Thank you for deciding to do a “penny push fundraiser” at your Middle School from January 8th through the 17th in his honor. Thank you also for working so hard at creating posters to advertise your fundraiser.

Magdalena Abakanowicz, a famous Polish artist whose art always tries to address issues of dignity and courage said, “Art does not solve problems but makes us aware of their existence. It opens our eyes to see and our brain to imagine.” Thank you so much for looking deep into your hearts and seeing little baby Gavin, and thank you for helping us all imagine his dream of living. For your inspirational creativity, we are ever grateful!

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Thank You Knights of Columbus in Lake Mills

It probably comes as no surprise that spaghetti is known as The “world-wide comfort food.” Certainly, it was that and much more to sweet baby Gavin after the Lake Mills Knights of Columbus sponsored their mouth-watering spaghetti dinner in his honor. This traditional Italian fare added $1000 to little Gavin’s fundraising campaign.

The Knights of Columbus have also donated an additional $2000 to baby Gavin’s campaign fund. This generous donation was possible because of monies raised from their 2006 Raffle.

Coincidentally, everyone can support this Wisconsin State Council Knights of Columbus Charity Raffle right now. Tickets are $5.00 – Drawing is April 28, 2007. This is what you could win:

  • 1st place – $50,000
  • 2nd place – $25,000
  • 3rd place – 2007 Harley Street Rod or $15,000
  • 4th place – 2007 Harley Sportster Roadster or $10,000
  • 5th place – $5,000
  • 6th – 25th – $1,000 each
  • 26th-46th – $500 each

If anyone would like to purchase a ticket or get more information, please contact Jay Winslow at: winslowjl18@yahoo.com

We wish to offer our heart-felt gratitude to the Lake Mill’s Knights of Columbus for their kind support and thank them for their friendship. They remain a wonderful source of comfort.

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Gavs is skill-a-licious!…Lauren writes to Santa

The day of the great cookie exchange brought about quite a bit of action at the Winslow abode. Gavin got some more skills and is rolling onto his tummy all the time now. This is AMAZING, we have been working several times a day to make this happen, so this is a HUGE feat! Kudos to his therapists on that, I clap hysterically every time. I think I actually startled him once, whoops. He must be in that “anything you can do I can do better” stage because he is all squeaky mouse when his big sissy is doing something or has something that he doesn’t have. I expected that from Lulu not him, but on the flip side, it’s doing great things in motivating him to move that little bod of his. His temper is kinda funny to see, I am sure he doesn’t appreciate me finding humor in it, but it is too cute! He has figured out to release the ball into the hoop today (which is a 9 month developmental skill woo hoo, ya baby) and figured out how to flip open a door to make his farm light up—the kid’s got skills, skill-a-licious!

Lauren, on the other hand, was busy writing the CEO of the North Pole while I was baking (since she declined her nap time today, man that is always devastating). I had to write them down because they were so funny I had to pass them along. Every sentence began with Dear Santa:

Dear Santa,
Don’t forget my house, I live between Libby and Lainey.

Dear Santa,
Don’t forget to feed your reindeer, we don’t want them sick. I would like to help you with that.

Dear Santa,
if your bag is to full of toys, you can drop them off at my house.

Dear Santa,
If your bag is to full and you drop them in water, a mermaid will probably give them back to you.

It’s been a crazy busy day, and if I never see another cookie pan that will be fine (who am I kidding, who doesn’t love cookies?!) Tomorrow dance class and a house revamp before book club! Okay, I’ve gotta go, Lauren just came in here and said that she was going to change Gavin—code red!

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Gav’s at 15 pounds…C’mon lucky 16!

Life is good in the Winslow house, Gav seems to be bouncing back, but I think that Lauren may be coming down with it though. I guess it's inevitable if one gets it, we all get it. She asked me before she went to bed tonight to call all of her friends and let them know that she was sick and would not be going to their houses. She fell asleep in the middle of her list: Payton, Libby, Lainey, and snore!

Well we had an exciting turn of events, Gavin rolled from his back to his tummy on purpose and is starting to stay there all because of a little orange plastic basketball from the Smo's (thanks Smo's for encouraging our future athlete)! He's obsessed with this ball; he must have it in close proximity at all times. It's an awesome tool to make him work his strength up! He's starting to get so opinionated and gives a little whimper when things are not going exactly the way he wants them. I must say, he whimpers for a millisecond before he gets pretty much exactly what he wants, but kids are meant to be spoiled.

I bought a food processor, apparently Gavin feels that he is above the baby food variety and prefers big people food, but doesn't have the chompers yet to handle the textures, so this is a new project to bulk him up. He is finally up in the 15 lb. range again for the first time tonight so we hope to keep him climbing, c'mon lucky 16, I wish it took me this long to gain 8 lbs.! The kids are going to help me bake a zillion cookies for our cookie exchange, but Lauren doesn't mind as long as she gets to lick the beater. She has to lick it on a certain stair, it’s a little ritual, after every ingredient she asks if I'm done yet. Gav is making leaps and bounds in his lip smacking talent and now I have to do a double take to see if it's him making all that noise or Jay. We've had a fun week with Sally, Annalyse and Nick and T. Things are getting busier and busier as the holidays approach! Cary and the girls will be here in no time and then Mike, Hien and Sam and things will really get stirred up! Lauren is a little perplexed at what exactly Santa does since she found out about these toy making elf characters, but she did give her list to him at breakfast with Santa. I asked her what she was going to ask for, and she told me she was going to “think about it.” Well, better get some sleep, why is it that kids never sleep in? That would be awesome! Take care and happy holidays! Hugs, Jill.

[mygal=gavinxmas]