Catching up & Meeting CHD Families

Wow! It’s been over a month since I last updated!

Seriously, it has been a crazy busy, stressful, overwhelming, confusing, happy, & struggle (good and bad) of a month!

Where to start? Well we are now living in Michigan after over a year away living in California...well it was a year & a week... for Chris’ one year internship. We left California in the morning Sunday May 1^st. For two weeks before that we had been packing and cleaning the apartment... the night before and the early morning of we were still packing and cleaning, but were on the road back to Michigan by about 10-11am Pacific Time. We drove or I should say Chris drove about 10-14 hours a day for 3 days! We made it to my mom’s empty house about 11pm Eastern Time on Tuesday May 3^rd… yup we made GREAT time coming back just as we did driving there.

Since we’ve been back in Michigan everything has just been so crazy... it has been just one thing after another… looking for an apartment, finding an apartment, family issues, seeing family, going back to college, living out of boxes & suitcases, running around doing this & that, getting appointments for me set up, etc. etc.

WHEW! And thing STILL have NOT calmed down yet!!

We are finally in our apartment as of last week Tuesday. :) I applied for Food Stamps, but it will take a bit of time since I have to take myself off my mom’s…we should get a Food Stamp card in the next few weeks. I have a lawyer now for my Medical Bankruptcy, SSI Disability, etc… which happens to be a relative… hoping to get things rolling soon.

I have my Cardiac MRI on Jun 9^th , which may have to be moved because I’d like it done at the main hospital not an office since this is my first one…we’ll see, suppose to get a phone call from them soon. I have my other Cardiologist appointment for results and everything else on June 15^th.

Last week Saturday we went down to Ohio to get Chris’ furniture and stuff from his mom’s house, then on Sunday we drove back down to spend the day with her which was super nice. His mom took us out to eat at the Cheesecake Factory (Yum!) then we went back to her house to talk, then it was time to make the 3 hour drive back to Michigan. It was SO nice to spend time with Chris' mom... we really loved and enjoyed it!

*We wanted to spend a few days in Ohio visiting as well as for Chris & I to meet a few Ohio CHD families in that area, but unfortunately because of certain circumstances we could only spend part of the day down there. We are going back down sometime this summer for a few days and I'm really hoping I can meet those few Ohio CHD families then.*

We (Chris & I) have already spent lots with my little brother, Aaron (12yrs old), who is staying with my grandparents. I got to spend some time with two of my friends for a little bit since I have been back, which has been nice since Ihave been SO crazy busy. I’ve gotten most of my Financial Aid taken care of for school. And seriously I could go on and on with stuff we have done and stuff we still have to do… we have only been here a month!! Hopefully things calm down soon!!

To top everything off... I'm not feeling well... have a bad cold on top of allergies... fun stuff, NOT!

I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really had time to “worry” about my Cardiac MRI and other tests coming up soon… which is a good thing. I pray and hope they go well! I know I’ll get nervous soon! I will definitely update on how all of it goes even if it’s just a quick and short update. I know God is in control... all I can control is my attitude towards it.

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OK done with all that…. I DO have something else to share! I’ve met two VERY special amazing CHD girls with the same CHD as me (Tricuspid Atresia, HRHS) along with their awesome family. I wanted to share those visits with some pictures with you. I have been close to both of these girls mothers.

The weekend before we left Chris and I met up with 6yr old Megan and her parents for pizza, it was wonderful. I’ve known Megan’s mom, Kim, for some time

through the internet… it was so nice to see them in person. Megan thought I was pretty cool and I think Megan is just the sweetest. They are an awesome and sweet family!

Megan & I

Then on our way home we stopped to meet Heart mom Crisse and her 8 1/2yr old daughter Kyleigh along with her grandma and little brother. I’ve known Crisse through the internet for over a year and we have been talking on the phone since October… we are really close friends. I’ve gotten to know Kyleigh by phone and adore her just like her mom Crisse. Getting to meet them in person was so awesome! I’m hoping we see each other again SOON! Love them!

Kyleigh & I

Me, Crisse, & Kyleigh

I LOVE meeting CHD families, CHD kids, and CHD adults! It is just SO amazingly awesome!

I hope to keep in touch with both of these families as Kyleigh and Megan grow. I told both girls and their moms that I will always been there for them, support means everything… I’ve been in Kyleigh and Megan’s shoes at their age and I know what they "may" encounter… I was to be there friend and mentor... it’s my honor. These girls have a special place in my heart and always will along with ALL the CHD kids, CHD Adults, and CHD parents I've met as well as CHD Angel parents as their kids are angel heroes!

♥