Mason

One of our heart friends has been flown to MUSC in distress and he is in surgery right now. Please pray for his family as these are trying times. I have met Mr. Mason and he is an adorable little guy! Check out his blog to the right and see the updates.

Thanksgiving!

John, Lorelei and I went to my mom's house for Thanksgiving dinner. We had a great time with Memaw, TJ, Cody, Amanda, Uncle Walt, Chris, Rachelle and Sophie. We sure missed Aunt Jan, Uncle Mark, Aunt Jeannette, Uncle Marc, Lexi and Jack!

Lorelei sat with Memaw, ate goldfish and watched the parade.

Lo also sat with Daddy and watched Mickey Mouse.




Lorelei also watched the guys play catch and then wanted in the action. She played ball with Memaw and Chris and mom's dog, Opie. She was so patient in waiting for the ball to be thrown to her. She also played with Sophie. They had a great time and fun was had by all!

Just a Quick Update

Stay tuned for Thanksgiving pictures after tomorrow. We are getting ready to go to my mom's for Turkey Day and then we will be headed to Auburn for Christmas. We have much planned and we are very excited for the holidays. We plan on visiting Harmon's Tree Farm, seeing Santa with some good friends, serving dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, having a small Christmas here before we go to NY (Lo is still little and really doesn't know what's going on so its a little easier) and spending time together. I hope there is snow in NY for Christmas, at least while we are there and not on the way there or back! What are your plans for the holidays??

Birthdays and Anniversaries for October, November and December

Since I forgot 2 months of Birthdays and Anniversaries I figured I would do those PLUS get a head start and do December as well!
Happy Birthday to:
Jessica Wilson (John's cousin)
Amy Wilson (John's cousin's wife)
Michael Wilson (John's cousin)
Ellen Wilson (John's aunt)
William Rhinehart (John's cousin's son)
Joann Friedel (John's aunt)
Jamie Howard (John's cousin)
Gabriella Garuccio (John's cousin's daughter)
Margaret Vasco (John's aunt)
Joan Wilson (John's aunt)
Tim Wilson (John's uncle)
Peter Edwards (my uncle)
Deanna Jenkins (John's cousin)
John Hanson (John's cousin's husband)
Benjamin DeMatteo (John's cousin's son)
Elias DeMatteo (John's cousin's son)
AJ Porfirio
Mike Rhinehart (John's cousin's husband)
Peter Wilson (John's uncle)
Ray Paseika (John's cousin's husband)
Jamie Wilson (John's cousin)
Scott Wilson (John's cousin)
Brian Hollis
Abigail Hendricks (John's cousin's daughter)
David Loysen (my cousin)
Sara DeMatteo (John's cousin)
Max Rietmann (my cousin's husband)
Jake DeMatteo (John's cousin's husband)

Happy Anniversary to:
Mike and Melanie Rhinehart
Kevin and Kim Friedel
Tom and Cindy Hendricks
Cathy and Ernie Howard
Rick and Lisa Wilson

Some Special Happy Birthday's go to:
my nephew Jack :O) He turned 3 on Nov 9!
my mom, Pat
my mother in law, Jeanne
and my sister Jeannette!

A ton of stuff to update on!

Yesterday we went to FunZone with our friends to play and what does Lorelei do? She gets in the exersaucer! Silly girl! She did not want anything to do with the Bounce Houses or bouncy things, in fact she wouldn't even go in the room!

Too bad Daddy and GodFather Uncle Kevin weren't here to play a game of b-ball with Lo!

She did jump on this thing though!

We were a firefighter for a little while too!

Cheese!

Here are some pictures from Halloween. Lo was Minnie Mouse and she loved it! We went trunk or treating at the church across the street from our house. She rode the entire way in her stroller. We had to start out saying trick or treat for her and then about half way through she started just sticking out her hand and when we were almost finished she started saying trick or treat and opening her bag and then saying Thank You!



Even Lola got to be Minnie Mouse for a little bit. Poor thing, Lo likes to terrorize her.


She is in constant motion any more and it is VERY hard to get a good picture of her.

This is what happens when you give a 2 and 1/2 year old a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing. Then you dump her in the bath!


I cannot believe she will be 3 in April! She is starting to talk so much more and you can actually have a conversation with her, in a 2 year old way. She knows a lot and loves the ABC song and singing and dancing. We read a lot and still LOVE Mickey Mouse.

We are getting ready for the holidays here and have gotten out the dancing snowman and have bought 2 singing Santa Mickeys'. We are doing a small Thanksgiving for us next weekend so there will definitely be pictures of that and then December and Christmas fun! We will be in NY this year and we are really hoping that it snows.

Our breakfast went really well and we are still selling t-shirts if anyone wants one. Hope for BraveHEARTS will be doing some fun Christmas stuff so please check back for more info! Please keep one of our board members in your prayers, she is an adult CHD survivor and is in need of a heart transplant. She is trying to be bumped up on the list, as she has had 2 strokes in the past few weeks and was rehospitalized 2 days ago.

I will be updating later in the week of October/November Birthdays and Anniversaries as I forgot to do them last month. I will also post pics of the projects I have made for the holidays but I am not putting names by what because I don't want people to know what they are getting!

Have a great week everyone!

Baby Be Blessed

Y'all please check out babybeblessed.blogspot.com, they make adorable dolls!

Fun Zone with Heart Families

Heart Families,

Hope for BraveHEARTS invites you to join us for some fun!

What: Bouncing, climbing, sliding fun at Funzone in Irmo, SC

When: Saturday, November 6, 2010 from 1:30-3:00 pm

Cost: $6 per child

Refreshments will be provided free for everyone. Don’t forget socks for each child that will be playing

We hope you will come meet new and old heart families while the kids have lots of fun bouncing around and making new friends.

Autumn

Fall has got to be one of my most favorite seasons (it brings us to Christmas, which is my ABSOLUTE favorite time of the year, but after that the winter can just go away!) I love the crispness of the air, the leaves changing color, the plentiful apples and pumpkins. In NY, we would go apple picking but down in SC there is not very many apple farms but there are places to go in the fall to get pumpkins and such.

I think my favorite part of the fall is being able to make more hearty meals for my family and the smells of "fall foods" as I call them. John is made chili and we are roasted a chicken with potatoes yesterday for Sunday dinner. Some of my favorite things to make in the fall are anything with pumpkin or apples, meatloaf (yes I like meatloaf), sweet potato casserole, soups, stews, beef stroganoff, I can go on and on. I love whoever made the slow cooker too! I was reading my friend Mandi's blog (Seventh Smith) and she wanted us to post a favorite fall recipe sooooo here goes:

Apple Sauce
*as many MacIntosh apples as you want, peeled, cored and chopped
*1/2 cup water

Place apples and water in saucepan cover and put on medium-low until apples have broken down. Stir occasionally.

It is my mom's recipe and I know it is not anything fancy but it brings me back to my childhood and fall and it is delicious. There is nothing like homemade applesauce, well unless its my mom's apple pie!

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!

Update on Hope for BraveHEARTs

Front of shirt $10

Back of shirt

Close up of back of shirt

Chd Magnets $5

HOPE for BraveHEARTS
Raising Awareness*Supporting Research*Spreading HOPE
www.hopeforbravehearts.org
PO Box 2924
Irmo,SC 29063

We are now a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping fund research for Congenital Heart Defects, supporting those affected by CHDs and raising awareness. Along with funding research, Hope for BraveHEARTS, provides BraveHEART Baskets for children from ages 1 to 10 who are recovering from heart surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina.

My good friend, Shannon, and I decided to start this organization after we both had children who were born with CHDs. Congenital Heart Defects are the most common birth defect and the number one cause of birth defect related deaths. This year alone, approximately 4000 children will not live to celebrate their first birthday. The children that do survive will face a lifetime of procedures, tests, heart surgeries and cardiologist visits. It is our goal to raise money for CHD research to assist in non-invasive surgical alternatives, better surgical options and finding a cure for CHDs.

We have a few things going on that we need your help with. First, we are getting a calendar together with our CHD warriors pictures. If you know of anyone who is a CHD warrior and would like them to be in our calendar (any age including Angels) , please send the picture with their name and diagnoses to jessaro77@yahoo.com. We will be producing this calendar for the 2012 year.

Second, we are collecting recipes to gather in a cookbook. We will be joining forces with a group in Michigan called Ethin’s Heart Still Beats to sell these cookbooks to raise money for our cause! If you would like to contribute please send recipe, name, if you are related to or know of a CHD warrior, and if you have any nutritional info on the recipe that would be great! Also, many of our warriors have to be on a fat free diet for 6 weeks or so after surgery so if you have or know of any fat free recipes that would be appreciated just send them to jessaro77@yahoo.com.

We are also selling t-shirts for $10 a piece. The proceeds from those go to fund out BraveHEART Baskets. We also accept donations for the BraveHEART baskets. Shannon and I try to get as much fun in them as we can. Currently this is what we are putting in the baskets:
Stuffed animals
Books
Coloring books/Activity books
Note pads
Fun pens and pencils
Crayons/markers
Small toys
Socks
Cups
Fun toothbrushes (it is very important for your heart to have good dental hygiene)
“beauty “ items girls
Balls
Matchbox cars
Cards (playing/activity/game)
Crafts
Puzzles
Games
We make these baskets for boys and girls ages 1-10 and do age appropriate baskets.

We just had our first Golf Tournament on Saturday September 25,2010 and it was a great success. We had 103 golfers come support us. It was a great day! Some other things we have coming up are a breakfast at Fatz Café on October 23rd and at Christmas time we plan on going down to the Ronald McDonald House in Charleston, SC to feed the people who are staying there.

We plan on bringing special Christmas baskets to the children and a little something for the parents. We are also giving the nurses and staff at the PCICU and 7C (those are the heart floors) a little treat too because they are tremendous caregivers and take care of the patient AND families! We are planning on doing a coffee sale too but I will let you know more about that later.

Some ideas that we have been tossing around for the future is making Parent Care Packages, doing some different things at the AHA Heart walk in Columbia and Charleston and some fun things during CHD week in Feburary.

I also have CHD car magnets for sale at $5 a piece. Please contact me at jessaro77@yahoo.com if you would like one.
We are very excited about this venture and bringing HOPE to our BraveHEARTS! Thank you for all of your support!

Jess

Golf

Yesterday Hope for BraveHEARTS had a golf tournament. It was very successful! We had a great time and raised a lot of HOPE for our little BraveHEARTS! Lorelei was cheering for the golfers (well that was really keeping her occupied while we set up the prizes and check in everyone!) We had several hole sponsorships but 3 in particular John and I are thankful for! Newberry Pathology is my mom who Lo calls Memaw. Chapin Pharmacy is where I work and Lyle Trophy Shop are our good friends who have Lo's heart buddy Zeb! Thank you to all of our hole sponsors, those that donated door prizes and those who played! Thank you to Ms Rae for being there to support us!

We have Hope for BraveHEART t-shirts available for $10 a piece if anyone would like to buy some, just contact me and I will let you know what to make the checks out to and all that good stuff. I will post some pics of the t-shirts soon!

BraveHEART Baskets

Shannon and I made another 18 BraveHEART Baskets today and we are in need of some supplies if anyone would like to donate! Each basket consists of:
a stuffed animal
an activity book/coloring book
an activity (puzzle, game,craft)
cards
toys
"beauty" items for girls (bracelets, hair do-dads, nail polish, lip gloss,etc)
pens/pencils
crayons/markers
a book
a cup
socks

We are in desperate need of socks, cups, pens and pencils and toys for girls. I sound like I'm begging and I am not trying to but donations would be greatly appreciated!

On Saturday, we are having our 1st Golf Tournament and I am sure it will be successful! I will definitely post pics from it!

What a difference a year makes

9/21/2009 ---> 9/21/2010

At



this time last year we were in a waiting room with Lo before her second surgery, trying not to lose it while they took her away and waiting 8 hours for them to finish her surgery. We LOVE everyone at MUSC and they took good care of Lo and of us! Please remember to pray for all the little ones down there having surgery and recovering from surgery.

Emotions

Yesterday, Lorelei found some stickers in the shape of hearts and wanted one to stick on herself. A little bit later she came to me with the sticker that was folded over and said "My heart's broken." I cannot explain the emotion I felt when she said that, a bit of sadness and awe I guess. She has no idea about her heart and here she is telling me that it is broken! She and her condition are the reasons I do what I do everyday and why my friend Shannon and I started Hope for BraveHEARTS. There has been a stride in the CHD movement.

" At 2:40 eastern time today, the national committee on newborn screening voted to YES to recommend pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart disease be added to the newborn screening uniform panel."

This was taken from a facebook post of one of my CHD Mama friends who copied it from blog4chd.com. This is exciting to us because if every newborn had the pulse ox test before they go home, many CHDs will be found and lives could be saved!

Lorelei started throwing up Friday morning at 2:30am but is now feeling better, thank goodness. There is nothing like doing laundry and giving a kid a bath at 3am. I am a Mom and that's what I do! Thank goodness its not all the time.

September

We have plenty of things going on this month. We have birthday parties and a golf tournament but what really starts is the getting ready for fall and all the activities. I would LOVE to go apple picking and pumpkin picking this year. I can't wait to start cooking and baking again!

I have also started Christmas shopping, I know, I know its early but I like to get it done so I DON"T have to go to the Harbison area (shopping area) after Thanksgiving. I am just lessening my stress! John and I went yesterday and put Lo's Christmas on Lay Away! I love it. We get her done and over.

I have to start thinking about Halloween and I think that Lorelei is going to be Minnie Mouse this year. I can't wait to get her costume.

Then there's Thanksgiving to think about. This is my FAVORITE time of year. AND we are going to NY this year for Christmas so its going to be fun!

Hope For BraveHEARTS

We are now an up and running Non-Profit Organization! We are working on getting tax deductible status too. On Saturday, September 25 we are having a Golf Tournament, actually its not ours per se but we are getting the profits from it! We are so excited! If anyone wants info on it just email me at jessaro77@yahoo.com.
We have several things coming up in October too! We are so excited about this organization. We will have t-shirts soon and I will let you know when we are selling them.

We will be donating monies that we receive to MUSC research in Pediatric Cardiology and buying things for our BraveHEART Baskets! We have given out several baskets already and the kids just love them! We are always taking donations for them. We give baskets out to children ages 1 to 10. We try to put a stuffed animal, toys, books, crafts, cup and fun stuff in the baskets and all the baskets have a poem in it. If you want to check out our website www.hopeforbravehearts.org

Wishful Thinking

She wants it to get cooler just like I do!

Another meaning of my child is blue...

I turned my back for 1 second and when I turned back around, she looked like this! Thank God for washable markers :O) After washing her hands and arm we sat back down and I noticed that she had colored her feet too. I didn't get any pics but I was laughing a lot!

Favorite Picture

This is one of my favorite pictures of Jack and Lorelei. Jack just had to hold her hand while we were walking through the airport. He was very protective of her, especially once we were on the plane. (He has flown a few times but acted like he does it all the time.) He kept asking Lo if she was ok and if she was buckled up, it was too cute. I can't wait to see how they are at Christmas.

Our Anniversary

On Friday September 3rd, John and I celebrated our 6th anniversary (which is really Sept 4). My mom watched Lorelei while John and I went to the Melting Pot to celebrate. If you don't know what Melting Pot is, its a fondue restaurant. We had cheese fondue, salad, I had a mix of beef, chicken and seafood, John had a mix of the same but with Cajun seasoning on it. Last we had the BEST chocolate fondue! We had a great time just the 2 of us but of course all we talked about was Lorelei! I guess that comes with being a parent! So Happy Anniversary John! I love you!

Birthdays and Anniversaries for August AND September

It seems that I forgot August birthdays and anniversaries so hear goes:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to:
Mason Friedel (John's cousin)
Shannon Howard (John's cousin)
Riley Rhinehart (John's cousins daughter)
Hailey Wilson (John's cousins daughter)
Ellen Bilak
Sydney and Shelby Hanson (John's cousins twins)
Kayla Howard (John's cousins daughter)
Shanice Jenkins (Johns cousins daughter)
Mike Vasco (John's uncle)
Logan Friedel (John's cousins son)
Jacob Hendricks (John's cousins son)
and Jimmy Friedel (John's uncle)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to:
Sharon and Les Loysen (My aunt and uncle)
Timmy and Ellen Wilson (John's uncle and aunt)

For September:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to:
Dave Garuccio (John's cousins fiance)
Colin Wilson (John's cousins son)
Joan Ross (my cousin)
Michaela Clare
Kaylee Risher (John's cousins daughter)
Regan Hollis
Grandma Mary Friedel (John's Grandma)
Les Loysen (My uncle)
Jacqueline Edwards (My aunt)
Mark Wilson (John's cousin)
William Porfirio
Olivia DeMatteo
and last but not least a special Happy Birthday to Brian Vitale who celebrated his 3rd birthday with Jesus and the angels~

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to:
Peter and Jacqueline Edwards (my aunt and uncle)
Jessi and AJ Porfirio (Good friends)
Ryan and Amy Wilson (John's cousin and wife)
Mike and Margaret Vasco ( John's uncle and aunt)
Jared and Danielle Friedel (John's cousin and wife)
and we celebrate our 6th anniversary this month!

Under Construction

Please be patient while I am updating a few things on my blog, I have some posts I want to write and hopefully they will be done today or tomorrow. Thanks :O)~!

Cousins

I got Jack and Lorelei matching shirts. Don't they look cute? They had so much fun together.

This is the second generation of Edwards family cousins. Left to right... Lo, Jack holding Manon and Vianney.

Wyoming

We went to Wyoming for my cousin's wedding. It was really fun and the pictures from the first half of the weekend were deleted by Lo but my sister said she would send me her pics so that will be another post. It was Lorelei's first time on an airplane. She LOVED it. We flew out of Charlotte, we (my mom, TJ, Aunt Jan and Uncle Mark) met up with Aunt Jeannette and Jack in Charlotte and flew to Minneapolis then to Jackson Hole. It is beautiful out there. We saw buffalo.
We took pictures while driving.

We played on the playground!

We went to the top of a mountain!

Lorelei didn't care that we were up 10,000 feet, she just liked the horse on the fence.

We were only up there for a few minutes because a storm was rolling in.

Uncle Mark helped push Lorelei up the mountain.

We were at the "Top of the World."

This was the sunrise the morning we left.

She was tuckered out. This is how she fell asleep, sitting up on the airplane.

Just so you know....

I have posted several stories about our recent adventures and more will be coming since on Thursday we are flying to Wyoming for my cousin's wedding. It will be Lo's first time on a plane so it will definitely be an adventure. Then when we get back from Wyoming, John's parents are coming to visit again! We are excited so please read up on what we've been doing and keep looking for more posts about Wyoming!

Fun with Friends

Yesterday we went to Saluda Shoals Park to the Splash Pad with some Heart Friends. Lorelei was not sure at ALL about it.

Ok, maybe I'll go.
Tristan, Britain, Izzy and Elijah enjoying the water.
D was having tons of fun!

Still very unsure.
Evie loving the shower!

Abi, Izzy, Evie, Elijah, Lo and Derrick playing. Derrick is asking Lo "How you doin?"

Lo and Evie giving hugs.
She is constantly in motion!

Evie dancing.
We got rained out of the Splash Pad, it started thundering and they shut the water off so we decided to go back to Shannon and Justin's to eat and play.
Evie waiting patiently as Lo and Izzy eat. The kids were starving!

Sweet Britain.
This was the best picture of all 4 of the Heart Babes but we are missing one who is up above looking down. They are all so sweet! We had a ton of fun but we really missed Rhonda, Sonny, Zeb, Preslee and Kerrigan. They couldn't come because Zeb was sick.