The big day is finally here, Smarties – playoff game day!! We’ve had so much fun with our Smarty PANTHERS Mom series – each mom we’ve highlighted has had some connection to the Panthers, and each mom is making a big difference not only in her own family but in our community. Of course, today’s is no exception (in case you missed our first two, meet Maria Berger here and Jennifer Brunelli here).
Meet Kara Olsen – she’s the beautiful mom to three young children (including a set of twins!) and wife to Greg Olsen, you know, the one whose #88 you see on the jersey of almost every boy or girl in Charlotte (or if you’re like me, the replica jersey you see most often in your laundry:-))? Charlotte {hearts} the Olsens, and I think a lot of that has to with the fact that Kara is so incredibly kind, down-to-earth, and full of grace – it just shines through in everything she does.
When she was pregnant with the twins, she and Greg found out their their son, TJ, had a rare congenital heart defect that has required multiple surgeries. Because of their experiences over the last couple of years, they started The HEARTest Yard, an initiative that is making a huge impact in our community today – and will for years to come. Kara will explain more, but we promise once you read her story, you will understand why we’re so lucky to have this family in our city.
Enjoy getting to know Kara and taking a quick glance at the game of football from a different lens. Thank you so much to Kara for sharing her story, her family, and her time with us. We hope you know that Smarty Charlotte is behind #88 and every other husband, son, brother, and friend on that football field today!
#KeepPounding #GoPanthers
Smarty PANTHERS Mom #3: Kara Olsen
Smarty Mom Stats:
Married to: Greg Olsen, 6 years
Children: Tate (4), TJ (3) and Talbot (3)
Years in Charlotte: Almost 5
Hometown: Oviedo, FL
Occupation: Mom
Alma Mater: University of Miami
OK, first things first, since you’re married to someone who’s on the field making plays, exactly how hard is it for you to watch a Panther’s game? Are you on the edge of your seat the entire game or have the years of watching him play chilled you out??
Each year I can honestly say has become harder to watch Greg play. I love the game of football, but it is never easy to see your husband and the father of your kids get tackled and hit every Sunday. The fortunate thing is the kids keep me so busy during the games and often preoccupied that it eases my nerves.
How did you and Greg meet?
We met our freshmen year of college at the University of Miami. We lived in the same dormitory called Pearson Residential Hall. We were introduced early by a mutual friend and fellow NFL player, Eric Winston.
Have you always been a football fan or is it something that you’ve learned to love?
Growing up with only one older sister who had no interest in sports and a father who is a die-hard football fan, I had no choice but to learn, watch, and love the game of football.
We all know football players have some serious superstitions on game day, but what about their wives? Do you have any pre-game routines to keep the mojo?
I have become incredibly superstitious since I have been with Greg. A couple of superstitions are 1. I hate to admit this but I refuse to wear Panthers gear on game day. It has never brought the team any luck so I stick to Panthers colors. 2. I also HAVE to attend church either the evening before or the day of the game. I say lots of prayers to keep the guys healthy and safe.
What’s it like to be married to a celebrity?
I guess since I have never known any different, it is my “normal.” We still go out to eat, we still visit all the stores…Greg has never allowed his “celebrity status” to keep us from doing anything and everything other couples or families enjoy doing…Greg just has a few more conversations when we got out shopping and we get a few more visitors to our dinner table.
Any crazy fan stories?
For the most part, everyone, especially the Charlotte community, has been nothing but amazing to Greg and our family.
Greg is nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, a HUGE honor (he totally has our vote by the way). What are some character traits that you believe make him Man of the Year in your everyday life?
He is selfless, kindhearted and beyond generous. From the day we received news that our son, TJ, would be born with a complex CHD, Greg made it his passion to bring awareness to congenital heart defects and being an advocate for these children and their families.
You’re a busy mom to three young children – including a set of twins. What’s the best part of raising kids to close in age?
Tate is only 16 months older than the twins so it has become more like triplets in the past year. I love having my kids all so close in age. It has its challenging moments, but they are so close and I am really enjoying their interactions.
Any favorite “twin” stories?
The twins still share a room. I probably should have separated them a while ago, but they really depend on one another. The biggest issue we face is they refuse to go to bed some evenings…lights flicker on and off, jumping off the beds, racing around their room, throwing toys at one another. We call it the frat house. They go wild and turn off the monitor so that we cannot witness their crazy antics.
What’s your normal day “everyday” life like during football season?
The nice thing about football season is it allows us to have a strict routine. The kids all attend preschool a couple mornings a week, we can eat at home on Greg’s long days of work, we do Friday pizza night, and go to church and out to dinner Saturday as a family before Greg plays on Sundays. It is extremely busy with Greg only getting Tuesdays off, but I do enjoy the season routine.
One of your twins, T.J., battled a rare congenital heart defect as a baby. Tell us a little more about his story and how he’s doing today.
When I was 18 weeks pregnant, Greg and I went in for the twins anatomy scan. We were excited to found out the sex of the babies. When the sonographer looked at TJ’s heart, she knew something did not look right. She sent us over to the Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute who performed a fetal echo on TJ’s heart. We learned that day he would be born with a complex congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). He has undergone three open heart surgeries. The first at two days of life, the second at seven months, and the third just before his 2nd birthday. Fortunately, although it was a rough couple of years, TJ is doing absolutely amazing and living a pretty normal life. He attends preschool, plays tee ball, and keeps up with his older brother and twin sister.
Your family is passionate about giving back. You founded a foundation, Receptions for Research, which has two major funds: Receiving Hope and The HEARTest Yard, the latter in honor of TJ. Tell us a little about your initiatives.
After TJ’s first open heart surgery and 34 day stay in the hospital following, we brought TJ home to find out the complexity of care that he would require. It was a lot on me as Greg was in season, I had a 17-month-old toddler, and another newborn to care for…I felt overwhelmed by the attention that his condition required. I was concerned that I would not be able to service the around the clock care that he needed to make it to the mandatory second surgery. We brought in a nurse to live with us until the second surgery that was dedicated to TJ when I needed to rest or tend to the other two. It was the inspiration for The HEARTest Yard fund at Levine Children’s Hospital. It would provide around the clock, in-home nursing care for any single ventricle child discharged post stage one surgery and up until their second surgery.
What makes you the proudest when you step back and look at how this foundation has impacted others?
I hear the success stories. The families who reach out ot us and say how much it helped them during such a difficult time in their lives. It truly warms my heart knowing that is is not only making this slightly easier on these families but also positively affecting these sick babies.
What else do you want to accomplish with Receptions for Research? What are your big dreams for the foundation?
The city of Charlotte has been so supportive of our family and this foundation. The money raised has far exceeded our expectations in a few short years. We hope to continue to raise awareness about CHD, bring support to Levine Children’s Hospital who saved our son’s life, and continue to assist the babies and their families affected by heart defects.
What would you tell another mom of a child who was recently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect? What was the biggest thing you learned from the experience?
I spent so much time worrying about what may happen, what life for TJ could be like. I spent so much unnecessary energy trying to predict the future for my son and none of it has turned out the way I was envisioning. I also took the approach once he was post surgeries to treat him no different than my other two. Yes, TJ has some limitations but right now I do not make him aware of any of those or shelter him from living life any different than his siblings, classmates, or teammates.
Now for some fun Smarty questions:
Best place to go for a date night? Baku or Barringtons
Family’s favorite home-cooked meal? Chicken Pot Pie
Best spot in Charlotte to take three active kids in the winter? Sports Connection
Favorite beauty product? Davines Hair Products
Favorite place to shop for yourself in Charlotte? Nordstrom
One thing you couldn’t live without? My cell phone
Last book read? Yikes, I can’t even remember.
Favorite thing to do as a family in the off-season? Visit family in Florida
Favorite way to stay in shape? I started working out about 2 months ago because my neighbor told me about Pure Barre, and I absolutely love it!
Best part of raising a family in Charlotte? The other families we have had the privilege of meeting.
Finish this sentence: I want to raise my kids to be… all-around good people. 🙂
