Snippets from the Busy Life of This Adult CHDer...

AH it has been SO long since my last real update!! Life has been SO busy (good and bad, I guess)!

First off... I've reached 100 Followers to my blog! WOW! Thanks to those who follow it even though I've done a horrible job keeping up with it lately... when things calm done in a few months, I will have more time.

Now on to SNIPPETS from what has been going on in my busy life lately:

- I got Pre-limanary results from the 30 day Heart Monitor I wore back in September... I get low heart rate at night and can get out of rhythm every so often (like a few times a week)... but they think it is nothing to worry about... still waiting for "official" results (upset it has taken SO LONG). My heart has been behaving better lately... so that is good considering the stress I've had...

- We had a WONDERFUL and relaxing Thanksgiving with Chris' mom!! And I got to meet another amazing CHDer and their amazing mom!

- I will be a College Graduate as of December 22nd!!! WOOHOO!!! :)

- I'm getting legally married to Chris NEXT WEEK on December 21st... it is just a SMALL Courthouse thing, but we plan on having a BIG wedding/reception in about 18months when we have the money. But it is the LOVE, Commitment, and marriage that counts! :)

- I'm MOVING back to Northern California in less than 2 weeks... this time permanently (for now anyways)... Chris got a job. I will be transferring my Cardiac Care from Michigan to Norther California... will be seen at Standford Children's.

That wraps up the MAIN points of my life right now... LOTS going on next week including Christmas!!

A NEW Chapter in my life will soon begin!! I'm SO grateful to be able to live a life despite the challenges and hardships (health wise and personal issues)!! I may have "Half a Heart" but I do not have "Half a Life".

Sending thoughts, prayers, and *heart hugs* to all!!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!

AND STAY TUNED... more updates to come...

I will end with a new picture of Chris and I.

I'm WAYYY Behind!!!!

I'm really behind on updating. LOTS have been going on! I plan on updating after finals aka after finishing college which is 2 weeks away. Stay tuned! Lots to share!

Mid October Already?!?! Random Stuff and Heart Stuff

Hello Everyone!

I know it has been a long time since my last update… over a month almost two months!! So what has happened since my birthday?!?! Here is a small update…

My 24^th Birthday was a nice, quiet, and enjoyable day. Chris took my out for dinner and he had bought me a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cake (that had no cake in it HA!). Chris let me pick where I wanted to eat and I choose Pizza Papalis which was yummy! Then we got home and had ice cream cake… it was one of the best ice cream cakes I ever had! We ate the WHOLE thing in 4 days! HA! Since my dad lives with us at the moment, he got to enjoy left over pizza that we brought home and some ice cream cake. Chris and my dad sang Happy Birthday to me! :) I got some nice phone calls from my mom and grandparents… and the day before I had gotten to hang out with my awesome little brother. I also received SO many Happy Birthday messages from friends and the amazing CHD community. I felt very loved! Thank you from the bottom of my mended heart!

Here is a picture of me with my Ben & Jerry’s cake on my 24^th Birthday (Aug 25):

In other news:

-My little brother, Aaron now lives with my mom in Texas. I miss that kid like crazy!

-Labor Day weekend Chris and I drove down to Ohio to spen

d time with Chris’ mom… we also got to spend time with his older brother, niece, and nephew of a little too. The day we left Ohio Chris and I met an amazing Heart mom and her amazing 2yr old CHD warrior (HLHS… the opposite of me). It was a very special visit that I will never forget!

-My last college semester started on Sept. 7^th! I’ve been trying hard to focus and get everything done…. It’s hard though because all I can think of is “I gradua

te college in December!”. I’m so proud of myself and excited to hit this milestone especially being a single ventricle CHDer. College has been keeping me very busy along with other things going on too. I try to take some time to relax.

-I got to meet my dad’s side of the family a few weekends ago for the first time in over 3yrs. It was so nice to get to see them. I had a nice time.

-Last weekend I got to meet two amazing CHD Moms and th

eir CHD warriors. I really enjoyed meeting them! I love meeting CHD families!

-We are only going to be in Michigan another 2 1/2 months before moving back to California, so I’ve been trying to make plans with some people and family so I can see them before I leave. We will be busy packing around Christmas time… oh boy. Chris and I st

ill haven’t figured out how we are going to move everything… as

we have a LOT of stuff this time. Also, I’m moving my heart care to Standford Children’s Hospital when we move to California. I’m nervous and excited about moving and new doctors, but it will all work out.

Heart wise: I kept getting on and off palpitations/weird heart beats that came with discomfort and/or chest pain. I’ve been getting these on and off for over a year, but they seem to come more frequent. I had a 24hr Holter put on me in June, but nothing was picked up. So I talked to my Cardiologist’s nurse practitioner and I received a 30day Life Watch Monitor in the mail. I wore it for 3 weeks. A Life Watch Monitor is like a Holter and a Even Monitor all into one… it has three leads & wires that attach to the chest… then it has a Blackberry cell phone that connects with the monitor and the Life Watch Center… though the monitor runs everyday 24/7 (and yes I could take it off to take a shower), I would send them text messages when I was having symptoms so that a red flag is marked during that period of time during monitoring. I took off the monitor last week and sent it back this week. My Cardiologist’s nurse practitioner said it will take a week or two to review everything. I will update when I know more.

Here is a picture of me with the Life Watch Monitor on back when I first got it:

Alright, that is it for now. I hope to update soon with more news.

Take care! Sending thoughts and prayers to many!

*Heart Hugs* sent to all! <3

With Lots of Hope, Love, and Faith,

Today I'm 24

Today is my Birthday. I’m now 24. 24 years old... where has time gone?

The past weeks have not been easy. I’ve been stressed and emotional. Been dealing with school and other personal issues, but I’m hanging in there and I know that everything will work out as it should in the end.

Every birthday since I have been older, though I’m not old, I’ve looked back at everything I’ve overcome. I remember the good times, the bad times, trails I’ve gotten through, and the triumphs. I have been through more in my short 24 years than most people will ever go through in their lifetime. I can say the things I’ve been through, my experiences especially living with a life threatening Congenital Heart Defect or “Half a Heart” has had a big impact on the person I am today. I’m very proud of the person I am.

Today is another milestone. Today is a day to remember the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future. I don’t know what my future holds, but I will take one day at a time (I say this a lot, but it's true). I know it will include more challenges especially medically, but I know it will include great things too. I graduate college in December and I plan on marrying Chris in the near future… I’m using my knowledge of what it’s like to be in the hospital, my degree in Psychology, and my love for children to become a Child Life Specialist at a Children’s Hospital. I have so much to look forward to despite my not so easy life living with a chronic illness.

I will never stop spreading CHD Awareness, telling my story, spreading Hope and inspiration, and being a support to others. From doing these things I receive priceless gifts of meeting amazing people, kindness, support, hope, inspiration, and so much more.

Thank you for everyone that has been in my life in some way, you have played a part in the person I am today. To my personal heroes: my parents, my doctors, and my surgeons who are the reason I’m here today… there are no words to express how thankful I am to them… I much I love them and how much I’m grateful.

Though things have not been easy (health wise, family, school, etc), I’m blessed and super grateful for everyone and everything.

Today I’m 24. Today is a special day for me.

Me on my 1st Birthday

Me back in June

♥