Make A Wish

Brooke had her Make A Wish interview yesterday and all went well. When they first got there, they presented her with a Make A Wish Barbie...how very sweet and special! I didn't want to open it but of course that wasn't happening!

She was interviewed by one volunteer and the other volunteer then spoke to Bo and I and had us feel out paperwork. NBC 29 news was going to be there to do a follow up story but it was against MAW rules because of HIPAA priviacy.

I heard some of her interview but I do not know exactly what she answered. I heard her favorite resaurant(place to eat) was McDonald's!! LOL Favorite color was pink! =)

She is sooo cute. They asked her later when we were all sitting together who her favorite Princess was and she answered...Probably...Snow White! They laughed at her and said probably? She crinkled her nose and and said yes. She talks so grown. With having two older siblings and staying with my parents during the day she just has older intereaction and talks so well.

For now we have to wait for Richmond to contact us with her wish details. I am not sure what they are going to decide or do. Some things were thrown out to us but until Richmond decides for sure what they are going to grant her I don't really want to say...Stand by for more information and details on her wish!! We are really excited about what was mentioned and know whatever it is will make Brooke's wish so very special! This organization really is spectacular!!

Donate Life Virginia Mascot

Last year, I entered a contest to name the new Donate Life Virginia mascot. Brooke and I were invited to Richmond for the unveiling of the new mascot and the announcement of his name. I am proud to say that Brooke and I were the winners! The new Donate Life Mascot's name is....Captain Cardinal! Here is a picture of Captain Cardinal, Brooke and I.

Busy Busy Busy

My goal this year is to get back to updating and keeping you up to date on Brooke and her journey. She is doing really good, reason I haven't really updated anything. We were able to get through the holidays and Brooke again was spoiled and had a very nice Christmas!

2011 has now began and I have so many goals, ideas, and resolutions that I think it is going to be one busy year! Brooke is now very stable with her labs and her liver function tests are looking really good! She still has an EBV level of 400, but Georgetown is watching this very closely and monitoring it. This may just be where she hangs out...let's just pray it doesn't get any higher or intervention will have to take place.

With that said, since I am not as busy going back and forth to DC for labs, inpatient trying to get Brooke stable, consumed with her meds, and this liver disease/transplant has loosened its reins, it is now time for me to give back! I am going to a training session in February with the Washington Regional Transplant Community to start promoting organ donation and becoming a Friends for Life Volunteer and Donate Life champion!

Also, this coming Monday, Brooke is being interviewed by the Make a Wish foundation!! Georgetown sent in her information and they will be granting her a wish! I asked her the other day what would you like to do, or go, or see...her comment to me was "I want to swim with the dolphins but they might take me out to sea and I not be able to come home!" (too much Disney mermaid I think) She also said she loves Hi Ho....her favorite movie that we have to watch countless times a day! By the way that is Snow White and the seven dwarfs! =) After Mondays interview, I will post and let you know what the decision will be!

Brooke is such a blessing to us! She truly has taught us so much in her short little life! She has so much personality, she never meets a stranger, she carries on conversations like she is so grown, she has such a beautiful relationship with her siblings....well Dustin and her, Chelsie and her have a different personality together...they like to fret each other, pick at each other, argue about things together, but then at the end they are snuggled together reading a book, watching tv, and laughing together! I just wish they could get to that point quicker and save me some headaches! Really, they also have a wonderful realationship and Chelsie would do anything in the world for her!

So please check in often and know that I promise to update more and keep you posted of all Brooke's progresses, lab results (we are to monthly labs finally!), birthday party, and milestones! You have been on this journey with us every step of every day and we thank you and appreciate your love and support! Hope you have a blessed day!

Blessings

My apologies for not updating...can I say BUSY!!! Brooke is really doing well. Her EBV is still holding at 400. Last Friday they had a meeting(surgeons and GI docs). The conclusion, to give us a month off and recheck labs in December! Dr. Fishbein feels she is stable enough and numbers look good enough to go this route. If her numbers go into the thousands then they are going to intervene.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I have been looking back and truly being thankful for so many things! Brooke's journey has been one with so many hills to climb...both good and not so good! I never thought when I was pregnant with my third that this was what my life was going to be like...but I wouldn't change it for the world! She has taught me so much in life! She is such a blessing!! She makes me laugh ALL the time! She talks NON-STOP!! =) She takes everything in and is smart as a whip! She is such a loving child who out of the blue looks up in your eyes and says..."mommy I love you!" She has touched SOOO many lives! I love this baby girl and thank God each day for this true blessing in my life! If you would of told me two and a half years ago, Jen, you will look back on this and smile, I would of probably punched you in your face...today I can look back and smile and thank God and everyone around me for Brooke and her journey in life!

Do we still have obstacles...YES will there be more tears shed...YES Will there be days when I can't take it and want to scream...YES....but she is worth all of that and these will be lessons in my life she is teaching me and I will grow and learn from them as I have in the past two and a half years!

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving...don't wait for next Thursday to share your blessings and be thankful...cherish each day you have and be thankful and focus on the positive! Your day will be blessed!

"Lil Princess"

On the way back from DC yesterday from getting Brooke's labs done, we stopped by to get her hair trimmed. I was told that the reason her hair is so CRAZY in the back is because she needs to be sleeping on a satin pillow! I about lost it! From day one when she was named Brooke Marie Wallace, AKA "BMW", I knew she was going to be high maintenance and it is looking that way so far!!

UPDATE.....

Looks like we have another week to wait! They were unable to get a reading on her EBV levels. We have to go back to DC on Monday and repeat just the EBV labs only. I will be out of town (much needed girls beach trip) so I will not be able to update until Monday evening when I get back. Prayers again for these labs to be ok next week!

October 1, 2010

Brooke now has an ear infection and upper respiratory infection going on. She is now on antibiotics and ear drops. We wait today for Martha to call about her EBV numbers. Please pray that they have decreased!!

As some of you know, my dad had part of his lung removed for cancer. Yesterday, he went to the doctor and received WONDERFUL news...there is no sign of cancer(they checked for margins and got it all) and he does not have to take chemo and they took him off his oxygen!! God is so good! Thanks for your prayers.

Now if we can get Brooke up to par again! They like to play tag team on this medical stuff! Keeps me getting those gray hairs day in and day out!