I've noticed that many use Facebook for shall we say altered motives such as pay back, and revenge?? Well I hope Scott will allow me to use it for another purpose. Paying it forward.
First for anyone who does not know me, I am Scott's Maternal Cousin Troy. We grew up together, causing all sorts of mischief, and draining every cent we could out of our grandma for TWO sets of every popular toy we could enjoy together. We now both have beautiful wives and children. One of my children is a bit different. Scott and Tracy visited us often in PCMC in those first few months leading up to her Liver Transplant. When we were told the guidelines to hold by regarding her health such as NO COUGHS, NO RUNNY NOSES, NO COLDS, FLU. They among other family members embraced it. Even if it meant them not taking what would normally be considered a "healthy child" to a family function. They would call in advance and tell us they were ill or even may be ill and would not come. Several times they would even call and say "andrea we have just a small cough, or just a slight tickle in our throats, what do u think? Andrea would hold to the rules and ask that they not come to the family function. Never did they get offended, or mumble under their breaths regarding it....fast forward today at Disneyland...
Tracy is amazing at being in lines first. She is up and at em bright and early packed and number one in lines. Today we were late to Magical Morning...as usual... But Tracy got us right up to the front, saved our bacons.
As they were putting sunscreen on little Ike he got some in his eye and in trying to rub it out scratched his cornea. He was MISERABLE! However Tracy sat in line with a crying 5 year old for over an hour waiting to get Jada Rose in to see THREE princesses. Tracy wanted Ike to meet them as well. They tried to pull Ike together as best as they could. Jada, Andrea, and I went first. Jada had the time of her life! Next was Ike...I watched and to my surprise a cute little girl and her family followed us. I figured that Scott and Tracy had had enough of Ike's crying and left to go calm him down somewhere. It wasn't until I spoke to Scott that i found out what he had done...
When we go to Disneyland Jada is technically disabled due to her immune compromising medication. Sitting in lines all day around kids is just not conducive to doctors orders of staying away from coughs, and germ filled areas. Disneyland offers us the ability to get a pass four us and anyone in our party to skip to the front of every line with Jada Rose. That way she experiences the magic of Disneyland without having people cough, sweat, sneeze, and breath on her all day. It is heavenly! Scott, Tracy and Ike get the added benefit of joining us through these lines as they are in our party....back to the original story...
A nice lady and her little girl walk up to the princess meet and hand this same card that we have. She states her child had a kidney transplant and is on immune compromising medications, and cant sit in line. Realize you can use this card for rides, but attractions you cannot use them for. This young lady did not know that. They don't have an angel like Tracy to sit in line for them!!! Or do they??? Scotty could have been ticked off at this point. His child is miserable, he likely needs to go to insta care, they have been waiting in line for over an hour. He could have turned away and said tuff crap. What does he do? He explains to the person in charge of the line that "as a matter of a fact, the same situation accompanies them, only its his cousins daughter with a liver transplant. He mentioned how cautious they were the week leading up to the vacation to try and limit Ik'es exposure to any illness of any kind as it would drastically affect Jada Rose's trip. He convinced those behind him at this line to allow this cute little girl in to see the princess. Scott doesnt ask for this kind of stuff in return, he just does it. It's in his nature. AND I LOVE HIM FOR IT! Im sure its hard for many to see what might be healthy kids walking on these lines in the handicap isle. Yet if they knew the hardship and agony it is saving us, I would hope most of them would have the same heart that Scott and Tracy have for us and other Transplant Families...LOVE U SCOTTY AND TRACY!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
I truely hit the jackpot!!!
Last week as I sat in the hospital room admiring my little baby girl Marki, there was a moment that I said to myself..."OK right now, if I had 150k dollars I would give it all to spend tonight with my mother and just talk. I know she would be ticked at me losing that money for a few hours, but I would do it... I really wanted to talk to her, I wanted to discuss everything, baby, finances, relationships, laugh, inform, and most of all be informed.
I went over to my sister Teya's house on Friday night because Jada wanted to play with her cousin Troy. We were discussing how much we missed our mom, when Teya showed me perhaps one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. A 203 page hand written journal she had kept during the dates of 1973-1981. She was 17 years old on page one and had just met my father. That night Andrea was very tired and I was fortunate enough to spend the night watching Marki as her Mommy got some much needed rest. Marki was fussy from hour 1! So I put her on my chest and she fell into a deep sleep. I became extremely relaxed, and used a book light to read. I read for 5 hours. As I laid there with this baby on my chest sleeping soundly, I listened to my mother tell her story. It was a personal journal, so there was no holding back, it was the sort of stuff you would not want people reading about unless you were in fact dead. Yet I experienced the joy of reading perhaps one of the most compelling love stories I have ever heard of. All the drama a 17 year old girl who was just starting college, and had met "the one". I read in suspense as the roller coaster that is common in most courtships unfolded before my eyes. The fog of stories past that she had told us about her one true love lifted, I read of her progressing through college, having a son with a birth defect, marriage, current events, her thoughts on her religion, her feelings about her children, and future generations that would be related to her. Then the trials of having yet another child with the exact same birth defect, substance abuse, her disdain for anything negative that could happen to her family from such substance abuse, reconciliation,forgiveness, and above all true Love. I mean the stuff you think only exists in movies and novels True love for her spouse, and for those who raised her... Above all it was not perfect, or rather she was not perfect. Thats sometimes hard to remember when someones passes away, that they were in fact flawed...just like we are...she doubted, trusted, loved, lived, never hated...NEVER HATED...wow! And completely opened herself up.
This morning I woke up and Jada and I went to some friends house to fix their Air conditioner... While I was driving and chatting with Jada Rose I had this complete sensation, like I got everything I needed. That feeling after a perfect Christmas morning (I'm trying sooo hard not to make PAC10 references here) I'm not wealthy, in fact weve spent all we have to finish our basement... perfect Marriage and pursuit of happiness to that point was in the horizon somewhere. But not anymore, I was content, I had my 150K dollar jackpot, and didn't spend a penny! I literally spoke and listened to my mother all night as my precious little girl slept on my chest. It was the most complete record I have ever read, most questions I ever had about my father, or her feelings on work, religion, friends, babies, and finances were answered. So this evening I took Jada back over to Teya's house to let her play with Troy again, and laughed, pondered, and genuinely loved talking about this amazing gift.
I know this much from my conversation with my Mother last night. I'm fairly certain I love my wife as my father loved my mother, my children are just as precious as I and my sisters were to my mother, and money escapes us as it did her. Friends are high priority, and many times the line between friends and family is not distinct, which is how it should be. FAMILY is happiness. Life does not have a pattern or an agenda, its chaos in a universe that demands adherence to its laws. So the lesson here is if you have a story to tell, even if you don't have children, or already have children and even grand children, write it down, type it, or speak it into a video camera...YOU JUST MAY SAVE SOMEONE 150 thousand dollars one day, you just might give someone one of the greatest gifts they have ever recieved, all the while achieving immortality in a mortal life.
I went over to my sister Teya's house on Friday night because Jada wanted to play with her cousin Troy. We were discussing how much we missed our mom, when Teya showed me perhaps one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. A 203 page hand written journal she had kept during the dates of 1973-1981. She was 17 years old on page one and had just met my father. That night Andrea was very tired and I was fortunate enough to spend the night watching Marki as her Mommy got some much needed rest. Marki was fussy from hour 1! So I put her on my chest and she fell into a deep sleep. I became extremely relaxed, and used a book light to read. I read for 5 hours. As I laid there with this baby on my chest sleeping soundly, I listened to my mother tell her story. It was a personal journal, so there was no holding back, it was the sort of stuff you would not want people reading about unless you were in fact dead. Yet I experienced the joy of reading perhaps one of the most compelling love stories I have ever heard of. All the drama a 17 year old girl who was just starting college, and had met "the one". I read in suspense as the roller coaster that is common in most courtships unfolded before my eyes. The fog of stories past that she had told us about her one true love lifted, I read of her progressing through college, having a son with a birth defect, marriage, current events, her thoughts on her religion, her feelings about her children, and future generations that would be related to her. Then the trials of having yet another child with the exact same birth defect, substance abuse, her disdain for anything negative that could happen to her family from such substance abuse, reconciliation,forgiveness, and above all true Love. I mean the stuff you think only exists in movies and novels True love for her spouse, and for those who raised her... Above all it was not perfect, or rather she was not perfect. Thats sometimes hard to remember when someones passes away, that they were in fact flawed...just like we are...she doubted, trusted, loved, lived, never hated...NEVER HATED...wow! And completely opened herself up.
This morning I woke up and Jada and I went to some friends house to fix their Air conditioner... While I was driving and chatting with Jada Rose I had this complete sensation, like I got everything I needed. That feeling after a perfect Christmas morning (I'm trying sooo hard not to make PAC10 references here) I'm not wealthy, in fact weve spent all we have to finish our basement... perfect Marriage and pursuit of happiness to that point was in the horizon somewhere. But not anymore, I was content, I had my 150K dollar jackpot, and didn't spend a penny! I literally spoke and listened to my mother all night as my precious little girl slept on my chest. It was the most complete record I have ever read, most questions I ever had about my father, or her feelings on work, religion, friends, babies, and finances were answered. So this evening I took Jada back over to Teya's house to let her play with Troy again, and laughed, pondered, and genuinely loved talking about this amazing gift.
I know this much from my conversation with my Mother last night. I'm fairly certain I love my wife as my father loved my mother, my children are just as precious as I and my sisters were to my mother, and money escapes us as it did her. Friends are high priority, and many times the line between friends and family is not distinct, which is how it should be. FAMILY is happiness. Life does not have a pattern or an agenda, its chaos in a universe that demands adherence to its laws. So the lesson here is if you have a story to tell, even if you don't have children, or already have children and even grand children, write it down, type it, or speak it into a video camera...YOU JUST MAY SAVE SOMEONE 150 thousand dollars one day, you just might give someone one of the greatest gifts they have ever recieved, all the while achieving immortality in a mortal life.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
WERE HOME!!!!
Andrea and Marki were discharged today around 2pm. We have some Jaundice, but everything looks normal in her conjugated, and un-conjugated bilirubin tests...yah its a bit nerve racking for us to see jaundice, but she's pooping out more tar balls than the gulf of Mexico, so its fair to say everything is working good. Jada played outside on her slip n slide for a few hours, and is VERY happy to have her little sister home.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Several Pictures!!!
This is Andrea's OB/GYN Dr. Erin Clark!!! We absolutely LOVE her!
Marki is doing GREAT!! She has taken naps, spent time with her big sister, great grandma, and ate some serious chow (18cc's of formula). I have a great video of Jada meeting Marki, but the internet connection is such in this area that it takes forever for it to download. I will download it later this evening when I get home. Andrea is going to spend one more evening here, and will come home tomorrow.
This is Jada with her "Avatar hands and feet" playing with her Avatar toys
Jada meets Marki for the first time
First bath!
First night = easy street!
Midnight- Both Andrea and I fell asleep
3 am- Marki came in and ate a feast, burped, then went back to sleep
6 am- Marki came in again for the morning, ate breakfast, burped thrice, had a monster poop, and wanted to cuddle the rest of the morning!...easy street baby!
3 am- Marki came in and ate a feast, burped, then went back to sleep
6 am- Marki came in again for the morning, ate breakfast, burped thrice, had a monster poop, and wanted to cuddle the rest of the morning!...easy street baby!
Monday, June 21, 2010
A peculiar feeling...
Around 11:45 pm, Andrea finished feeding little Marki, Loni, Claire, Teya, Zak, Jada, Grandpa, and Grandma had all gone home. I snuggled Marki for a moment longer and it was time to let her go to the Nursery. Andrea needed some sleep, and I knew she wouldnt get any with Marki not being watched very carefully. As I swaddled my little princess and placed her in the cart and watched her be wheeled away I broke into tears...I thought to myself "What the Hell is your problem man?" It was a scary peculiar feeling. Something innate in my damaged brain said "take a look at this Angel it might be your last"...How screwed up is that? I actually had to gather myself and re-assure what ever that peculiar feeling was that this was not sick Jada Rose. This was a healthy little girl. Although this is our second daughter, its our first healthy baby. I recall feeling un-settled those first few nights we had Jada Rose. It felt like something was wrong. Not so this time, but the wounds of that experience are still present. Now in this quiet room, with Andrea sleeping, I feel a new hope. I am excited that we have the opportunity to live the first six months with a healthy baby. Yet I am fortunate enough to know that life is uncertain. That these children are not immune to the chances of life. I know that every moment is a gift, and promise God every night that I will never forget that as long as he allows me to exist with these little angels. It is indeed a peculiar moment for Andrea and I.
Tonight Jada Rose did come in to visit Marki, she was not quite sure how to handle seeing her mother cuddle another being with such love. But still was excited, and anxious to meet her new little sister. She had 2000 questions regarding how Marki got here...However all questions went out the door when she was given some gifts from Marki. Jada is a HUGE fan of Avatar. Andrea and I ordered her most of the action figures online, as well as the "flying dragons" and the "black Panthers" as Jada calls them. She spent about an hour flying those around the room, and was very content to take her new possessions to Grandpa and Grandma's for the night.
Tonight Jada Rose did come in to visit Marki, she was not quite sure how to handle seeing her mother cuddle another being with such love. But still was excited, and anxious to meet her new little sister. She had 2000 questions regarding how Marki got here...However all questions went out the door when she was given some gifts from Marki. Jada is a HUGE fan of Avatar. Andrea and I ordered her most of the action figures online, as well as the "flying dragons" and the "black Panthers" as Jada calls them. She spent about an hour flying those around the room, and was very content to take her new possessions to Grandpa and Grandma's for the night.
She IS HERE!!!!!
Marki Dawn Chilton. Born June 21, 2010 at 4 pm. 7 lbs 3 oz. 19.5 inches long. MOMMY FEELS GREAT!
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