Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Americas favorite Mom
I know this blog is long over due. Happy belated mothers day to all the moms out there. OK so I wasn’t voted Americas favorite mom but Lilli said “Mom you are my favorite mom” after it was all over. It melted my heart. 2 days before leaving I got the flu. I actually passed out on the floor in my own vomit it was that bad. I was waiting my turn since the kids and Mike had it the week before. Still under the weather, I left for New York Friday afternoon and arrived in my hotel at 10:00pm. I ordered room service since I had not eaten all day for fear it would make me sick. I turned on LOST and got ready to dig in and then I noticed the waiter forgot my silverware. I called room service to let them know and a recording came on that said they “we are now closed for the night.” I then laid there in bed with my $30.00 stake meal and ate it with my hands. The next morning I taped at the Today show. I meant Gwen and Lisa, too very incredible women. We taped the show and then jumped on a 12:00 flight to LA. The kids and Mike came in at the same time and we meant in the airport and proceeded to our hotel. We had dinner and went to bed early. The kids went right to sleep and slept through the night
Saturday I spent the day with 15 amazing women. Women that will be a part of my life forever. We all bonded quickly and I loved to hear their stories. Jen Keller and I hit it off ( she was the women that adopted babies addicted to meth) The kids went to Sana Monica pier. Later that night we taped the show and yes my little 2 year old darlings were in the audience. That was a little crazy for 2 hours we tried to keep the kids quit. When I saw the show you can hear them in the back ground. . The 2nd night didn’t go so well they learned to climb out of the cribs and then they wanted to party at 3:30 am. Thank you Mom, Jamie, Deb, Elaine, Sherry and Tony for putting up with my little monsters. Sunday we returned home at 6:00. It was a whirlwind trip. I didn’t win the big money however, I did walk away with $10,000 well $6,000 after taxes. Not to mention wonderful new friends and lots of memories.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Americas favorite Mom
Magazine surprised me with a special day. make sure you all watch on channel 5 Thursday May 8th.
I am leaving for New York Thursday May 8th and then if I make the finals I will leave for LA on Friday May 9th . I will be on the Today show Friday May 9th at 9:00.
Please I need everyone’s HELP!
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Favorite_Mom/
VOTE ONLY May 9th from 9am-9pm
Please email everyone you know this is a amazing honor out of 18,000 wonderful mothers I have been chosen in the top 15.
Mary will have fliers if anyone needs anything to get the word out please let me know. A meeting will be set up on Thursday and the volunteers will be hitting the streets with lap tops and fliers.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Ella is a Miracle
Miracles are all around us. Those close to me know My niece Ella was diagnosed with a rare condition called aicardi syndrome. Ella was born on mothers day of 2006.to my sister-in-law, Erin. Erin and I had planned to get pregnant together. For years we talked about how wonderful it will be to go through a pregnancy together. This was Erin’s first baby and I expected to be there from beginning to end.. Because my pregnancy was so intense I missed a lot of her pregnancy and birth. The day Ella was born my last two babies came home. It was a happy day for us all. As I was trying to grasp having 5 new babies Erin was figuring out motherhood. I missed seeing her and talking with her. Every now and then she would stop my with Ella and we would admire all the kids together. 4 Months later our smiles turned into tears when Ella was diagnosed with Aicardi. For those that don know what this is it is a Moderate-to-severe global developmental delay and mental retardation are expected. Girls with Aicardi syndrome often develop seizures prior to three months and most before one year of age. Ongoing medically refractory epilepsy with a variety of seizure types develops over time. Costovertebral defects are common and can lead to marked scoliosis in up to one third of affected individuals. Other features include characteristic facial features, gastrointestinal difficulties, small hands, vascular malformations and pigmentary lesions of the skin, increased incidence of tumors, lower growth rate after ages seven to nine years, and precocious or delayed puberty. Survival is highly variable, with the mean age of death about 8.3 years and the median age of death about 18.5 years.
Ella’s seizers were happening more and more sometimes up to 10 times a day. We were all heart broken. Then Erin discovered a treatment for patients with seizers. It is a diet that made the body think it was starving.It is a high fat diet and very monitored. This diet dates back to biblical days. Ella’s condition began to change and she started sitting up, crawling and pulling herself up. The seizers slowed and then stopped. We were all still afraid of getting to our hopes up.
Last week Ella went into the doctor and Erin was told Ella was misdiagnosed. She does have seizers however, the doctors now feel they may never come back. And if they do she will have mild epilepsy.
God is at work in this family. My sisters baby being cured of cancer. And then Ella and the quints.
I just want to let both of my sisters to know they are amazing for what they have been through and I am so very proud of them. our entire family is thankful for gods grace. I love you all!!
Auntie Courtnee
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Montel Williams Show
HI we were on the Montel Williams Show this morning they ran a rerun. The kids have changed so much since then.
We had a bad day yesterday. Mike and I got a BIG surprise. Mike went to work and they laid everyone off in his company. I walked around with a big lump in my throut. It is sad but I believe there is something better in store. Mabey medical ins. or retirement will be offered. If anyone out there has a lead for a Journeymen Electrician let me know.
Lots of Love,
Courtnee
