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All responses Most smiled responses
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Um.... yeah. It's been that long.
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asked by emmacooperx
Thats wonderful news!!! Keep your ambition and best of luck to you as you peruse this career path!!!
Gabriella is a girlie girl, and a mommy's girl. I love spending one on one time with her. She acts like such a big girl and loves doing girly things! Thanks for asking!!! -
Hmm, strong faith. It just kinda happened that way. I decided long ago that there were 2 options, one being that I could be angry, see this as unfair and walk the negative path. The other being that I could put one foot infront of the other, trust in God and find the positive in every experience. Through choosing that 2nd path, my indestructible faith just came with the mindset I chose to have. What has kept it going is God's visible miracles and presence he has shown to us.
I could live in the 'unfair' nature of Gabriella's situation, but I don't want to set that example for her. This happened, and God allowed it to, as part of a bigger plan. Sure, I wish it hadn't so she could have a more ordinary life.... but I look at where she is now and all she has endured and realize she lives in extraordinary life. She is making impact on people, encourages others and will live to do big things. Why would I want her to be ordinary when she can do so much more than most kids her age?!? Of course, watching her collapse when she stroked, the recovery after, watching her struggle with speech and self-image, holding her back in activity so it wouldn't kill her, sending in to have her heart removed and replaced and all the pain associated with the last year and a half makes it hard to ALWAYS feel it is not unfair. I have had plenty of moments where I felt life was so unfair for her. But I quickly rebound when I see HER perseverance. -
Thank you so much for following Gabriella! The support, still, touches our hearts!
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I started using Blogger.com but you can also use Wordpress.com for free. They have layouts, gadgets, and is for the most part self explanatory! I'd begin with what your focus will be, deciding on a name (it will be YOURNAME.blogger.com in the URL), and deciding how private you would like it to be. Once you get it started, you will slowly learn about add-ons and such. You can add free counters, statistic trackers, auto-publishing widgets. But until you get comfortable, I suggest using their basic options and start journaling. In all reality, it is just an journal you can slowly jazz up over time!
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YES! Owen is actually a local friend of ours we have the blessing of knowing! His mom Andrea keeps a blog for him. You can find a few of our Heart friends (needs to be updated) here: http://listeningthruthenoise.blogspot.com/p/heart-friends.html
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I don't really think I know *enough about it all to really dive into something like that. Social networking changes constantly, and I am barely keeping ahold of it by the skin of my teeth! I am always finding new ways they connect and operate, so while I wouldn't be a good candidate to make a blog like that, I'd LOVE to follow one!!! LOL
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Well thank you for your prayers. It is so reassuring and amazing to know people haven't forgotten about Gabriella. Her journey is far from over... and at times we feel some have moved past what she has gone through, but it is still very real to us every day. Even as we enjoy life, there are 100 daily reminders of this journey.
I guess if I had to ask prayer for anything, it would just be the momentum to keep going. Heading back home to our doctors in Arizona and all of those appointments (I'm so nervous about a new team of docs), starting therapies back up, homeschooling, needing to get a weekend job, the general stressors of live and finances in our unique situation, and any unforeseen issues that are almost sure to come along... I don't see myself giving up because that isn't me, but I already struggle with times of weariness and emotional strain.
So thank you in advance for asking and praying! :) -
Oh my.... thats so loaded. Being a frequent Disney-goer I have had a chance to experience Disney in a way different than the early days when trips were every year or 2. So many rides are my favorites, like Pirates, Splash Mtn, Haunted Mansion & Soarin Over California. My favorite show is the new World of Color, followed at a close 2nd by the fireworks. My favorite time to visit is the fall when it is decorated for Halloween. Little things I enjoy are a coffee and chocolate muffin from the bakery, sitting on a bench in the center hub watching families and people, and the music down Main Street.
It'd be easier to say what is NOT my favorite things at Disneyland. That includes the overinflated price of a churro ($3.50), people who stop in the flow of movement and the smell over by the Matterhorn benches. LOL -
I'm not quite sure how we deal with the stress to be honest. I look back on my days and what our life entails and I'm still not sure if I can find a definitive answer. Of course, it is obvious that Gabriella demands most of my time between appointments, therapies or her basic day to day needs. But I think we have been able to both notice when PJ needs attention and meet his needs effectively. I always say that God built him for this... he is patient and understanding through the things that really matter. It helps that he is not afraid to hang out with other people and can understand that he is no less special than Gabriella. I do still deal with guilt since I haven't really been able to baby him through his baby and toddler years, but he is a mature and smart kid for being in the position he has. And I can only hope that this life experience will attribute to him being a more responsible adult because of all he has been part of!
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Well, this question is disturbing. But in an effort to make sure all of the questions here are answered, I googled an answer for you. http://www.ehow.com/how_4779508_clean-urine-stains-concrete.html
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asked by readysetPRAY
I used to, before I really understood the position God plays in my life. I used to think He popped in and out when He wanted to give me a blessing or teach me a lesson. In the midst of Gabriella's journey, I learned He is ALWAYS there, sometimes loud and present and sometimes quiet and watchful. Even when I feel most desperate, I never feel alone.
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Tomato and sausage..... or ground pepperoni.... or chicken and pesto.... or..... oh heck, I LOVE pizza.
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asked by readysetPRAY
Why yes, but I think that's probably evident from my blog. It is the easiest route for me to express and vent. Writing is therapeutic because you can ramble, add to, delete, or not even publish it at all.... it is an 'ear' that listens to whatever you want to tell it or a route to reach thousands of people. Yes, I love to write. :)
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asked by readysetPRAY
I have different kinds of inspiration that comes from different people.
I have an inspiration that comes from Gabriella that is unlike any other. Watching her first hand push through all she has is enough to make me never again complain or give up on things. From her stroke and rehab up until she walked the halls the day after her heart transplant... she has inspired me. Gabriella is my hero.
I get inspiration that comes from all of the heart kids or cancer kids I have come to know over the last year and a half. Their fight for life at such a young age.... smiles through NG and oxygen tubes, pretty dresses with bald heads, playtime after meds make them so sick, healing at incredible rates after having a huge chest incision, chest drains, intubation. When you open your eyes to the reality of terminally ill kids, you see your own life so different.
I get inspiration from other parents who have experienced some form of struggle with their child. Having other heart moms to turn to when I am having a bad stretch of days inspires me to get back on track and fight for what I am passionate about. Just knowing that there are other parents who have come so close to losing their child, whether they did or didn't, makes me feel less alone in this journey.
I am inspired by the community. It was the community that truly restored my soul after Gabriella was diagnosed. I couldn't even have imagined that many people would come around and rally for, support and donate to her. I was in such a darkness and the people who surrounded us helped me find the glimmer of light. I have kept on pushing forward because of the support we have been given, which is another reason I am so dedicated to keeping my blog updated. -
Things, not living.... because OBVIOUSLY I'd grab my family! My external hard drive that has all of my kids pictures and everything important on it. My (step) dad's Washburn guitar. Gabriella's meds.
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Ahhh, how wonderful that sounds. :)
When we prepared for this transplant post-care in California, I kinda came to terms with the fact that I would be home-bound with Gabriella. Since her immunity is suppressed, she cannot go out and be exposed to people or germs. Being her mommy, I am also bound to that to an extent. I get out to the grocery store alone, but I will admit it is not quite the break us mom's all think about. LOL
The main focus with me needing to be near to her is in case of emergency. I can never leave Paul in a situation where he has both kids alone, because if something happens to Gabriella he cannot tend to both her and PJ and PJ is not allowed in the hospital. And since we do not have any family close to here, we have nowhere to take him. It is the same reason I could never have PJ with me if Paul has to return home unless I had another adult to stay with me and be there to tend to PJ. Also, they dont want Gabriella being further than about 30 minutes from the hospital, and given traffic in the area at times that gives us a safe 10-15 mile travel distance. I technically could get out for some mommy time, but it would have to be close to this area.
I have my best friend coming to LA to something I would LOVE to go to with her to, and typically would have in my 'previous life'. She also invited me to a day in OC, but again, it is too far for me to go and leave Paul with both kids. So I'll admit, it has been hard already, and I can see it getting harder. Being in a place that is not our home without our own things, only leaving the house to go to the hospital and back (5 times in 3 days last week!) and occasionally for a drive, added to deep financial restrictions, can be hard. Just knowing I CAN'T go walk the mall or go to my favorite stores kinda starts to remind me of how different things are, but I accept it and do what I need to for my daughter, because I would do anything for my kids. Obviously, things like this are not the end of the world, and I know that. We feel so blessed before anything else to have a place to live and have a daughter so healthy, so if simplifying our outings is what it takes to keep her healthy, I can handle that! :)
But, I won't say I don't need a pedicure. LOL!!!! -
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The Box. It was wretched and I was angry at myself for wasting my time watching it. I believe my words immediately after were "Gouging my eyes out would have caused less pain"
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Twilight, for sure.... Not only do I LOVE the series, but Stephenie made it BIG!
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Kristi’s Bio
Gabriella is a 5yo princess who suffered a damaging stroke 9/09 & had a heart transplant 5/17/10, all due to CHD.
Wants Questions About
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