Happy 9th Birthday Kiera

This year Kiera's Party was kinda thrown together. We did not have her on her Birthday, and was not able to have her any extra time over Christmas break. So we did the best we could, with what we had.(there is currently no court order that will allow us to move them, and we go to court in a month....Since we live out of state, it limits us currently on what we can do!) So I am sorry Kiera it was not bigger or more planned...... Happy 9Th Birthday Princess Kiera. Next year we will have to have an extra big party for you! :) You are the best child a parent could ask for, I hope all your wishes come true...till your next Birthday! A Special Thank You to Taylor who Decorated this cake for us! Kiera Loved it, and Thanks Nana, for baking it at the last minute! I don't know what I would do with out my family! I must say as a mom, this was one of my proudest moments.... At no point did Kiera complain, or even get upset over any of this. To be honest she was grateful for the little things this day. She understood things were out of our hands, and was just happy to be spending time with us! We love you Kiera!!!

Merry Christmas To All, and To all a Good night!

Merry Christmas! This year Christmas was kinda a crazy time in our lives. We made the best with what we had! Our house is pretty crazy Christmas morning, but we did manage to snap a couple of pictures. It may look like a lot of presents under that tree but remember, 8-10 small gifts per child times 5...its about 50 gifts! They each loved what they got, and played their hearts out! Kiera and Dillon were both very happy to get their DS's! Kirstynn and Jazmyne were most excited over their Fisher Price Little People! Gabby loved her shaking dancing reindeer! I hope all of you have a safe and happy holiday! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Our American Dream

That is my american dream. We have purchased our first home as the Roddy Family! Its a 3 bedroom, 1 bath home in a little town called Payne. It will need some TLC, but as a family we are happy with it. We will be able to adapt it for Gabby. We will now be paying on something thats ours! I cant wait to see what memories we can build in our home.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Kirstynn and her class did a great show for everyone. So cute! Thanks to R.K.Mellon Kingergarten teachers! We have nothing big planned. Just a small family Thanksgiving! Be safe everyone Happy Turkey Day!

It was a sad goodbye!

Well this was by far the hardest part of goodbye for us. Mrs. Kim! I cant put into words what this woman has meant to us and Gabby! I was so nervous the first time she walked into our house.... I had no clue what to expect. Little did I know she is the best OT a person could ask for. She has the biggest heart, warmest words, and the most gentle hands! Gabby loves her! She hears her voice, and smiles before Kim even makes it to the room! Kim has helped guide us, listen to us, to even in my opinion saved Gabby's life.I know Gabby will miss her, and so will we. She has left some big shoes to fill. I cant say thank you enough Kim for everything. I miss just being able to talk to you, and watch you work with Gabby. You have showed us what and how to work with Gabby. If it were not for you I would still think she was made of glass! You have made her do great things in life. (I know someday she will sit, thanks for believing in her) So many times other don't. They count her out! I cant wait to see what the future holds, but Gabby's future is only because of her past...and without people like you....I don't know if she would still be here for the future!

Happy Trick or Treating!

I just love this picture! Trick Or Treat went great! The kids love getting candy, and in Ligonier the business also give out pencils, small toys!

Happy Trick or Treating everyone!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Summer's End

Well the first day of school is here. I have to send 3 of my 5 kids to school. Jazmyne will soon follow, here in a couple months. I had hoped we would be in Ohio starting school there, but God had different plans for us. So R.K. Mellon here the Roddy kids come. I dont know how I will handle it, knowing that yet again one of my baby's is no longer a baby. She is going to be in Kindergarten. Kiera is going to be in 3rd,and Dillon in 5th. I feel as if my summer has just flown by me. We got to see lots of family, and for the most part.... it was relaxing. (other than court hearings, and the stress of when to move!) Gabby's first birthday was great, a day I never thought would come. We went to see my Mom and Dad in Ohio and all my Family. We had hoped that this year we could go to the beach, but know that in the years to come we will make it. I have never seen the ocean! Never touched salt water, and its sorta a dream of mine to do it with my kids for the first time. I hope that this school year will be full of positive thoughts. We hope to be moving, sometime in November! Though thats not in our control right now! I am not ready for nightly homework, homework fights, PTA, Concerts, Parents meetings, for some reason I just wish my Summer could be a little longer. It has been so nice to snuggle with my kids when they wake up, and lay in our PJ's all day. I dont know how I will deal with not hearing "MOM" 30,000+ times a day!

Happy 11th Birthday Dillon

Monday will be Dillon's 11th Birthday. We celebrated his Birthday yesterday at our house. Its crazy to think that my only son is going to be 11. It seems just yesterday that he was running around starting Kindergarten. He has grown in so much since I became his step mom. One on my fondest memories of Dillon was when he was little and loved me to tuck him into his "finding Nemo" bed and reading him The Sleep Book. Now he would not be caught dead sleeping with them sheets, or me reading him that book. He is growing up before my eyes. He is almost as tall as me! This morning we were looking through our photo albums and I came across a picture of him standing in his nemo underwear with a smile on his face in front of Kiera's crib. He wanted me to promise him that I would never show any one it.(Trust me I will someday!) I hope that the next year brings joy for Dillon. A way for him to find out who he is, and what he hopes for in his future. So Happy 11th Birthday Dillon.

Demi Lavato: Wax Museum

We have a star in our family for the day! Demi Lavato! AKA: Kiera Roddy! We used a temporary die to make her hair black, for the wax museum. Kiera did great! She did get sick part way though. I think her nerves got the best of her! She looked awesome, and had fun! Great Job Demi! :)

Dr. Serino and Gabriella's Story

I remember the First time we meet Dr. Serino. It was at Childrens Hospital during our first stay there. Gabriella was only two months old. He came into the room, examined Gabriella, and then asked us our history. At that time I did not really like the man. He was very "pushy" and did not open his ears to listing to a word we were saying. Over the next couple of months we had monthly appointments with him. He sent for lots of blood work every time, with no results. John and I personally began to hate the man. Looking back I think the main reason we did not like him was because he knew that Gabby had WWS. As parents you never want to admit that your child has a horrible disease. During our second apt he told us that if Gabriella had WWS that she would be dead with in a year, and that we needed to see all the signs because they were there. I left that day pissed off!! How dare him, count my child out on her life already. How dare him tell me something like that before he even had the results back. Three weeks later he called telling me that her test came back negative. I was on cloud nine. I actually laughed at him on the phone. ( I know not very mature.) He started doing allot of researching on WWS & Muscle Eye Brain Disease. He contacted us two months ago to tell me there were actually 8 versions of MEB, and that he now wanted to check for the other 7. I was devastated. I could not even bare the thought that my daughter had this horrible disease. On our way home from the last apt John and I cried. I think we finally had come to accept that she could have it. It was a possibility. On April 23, 2010 I got the phone call at 3:45 p.m. No matter how many times I tried to prepare myself for this phone call, It still sucked the life out of me. Broke my heart, and I wanted to give up. The weirdest thing happened. No matter how crappy I had treated Dr. Serino he was the most nice he had ever been. He informed me that she has the most rare version of MEB. Its so rare that they don't have hardly any research on it. He told me that she has the possibility to out live us! What!?! He told me that she is the rare baby, that defies all the odds, that what ever we were doing keep doing it. He does not have the answer why she is doing what she is doing. He actually talked to me on a parent level and explained that she is something she is not to be. A miracle. I spent that night crying mostly. I had to go to the mall to pick up some DVDS for Gabby. I was to meet a lady at the main doors at 6:00.(I am pleased to say the lady and I got doors messed up and she did not see me that way) I stood there crying for almost 20 minutes,(it was a Friday night and every teenager was there staring at me) then cried the whole way home. Then cried to my dad for almost 30 minutes. I don't know how as a parent you can feel OK with this. I don't know how to prepare myself for if the worst will happen. I feel as if my daughter got cheated at life, it was like they handed her a death sentence. I still don't know how to deal with it. I block it out. I spent the next day picking myself back up. It hit me, all at once. God heard my prayers, he heard every ones prayers. He had to of, because she is still here. I cant spend my days feeling sorry for myself or her. I have to push harder, work harder, and just maybe she will keep beating the odds. Since that day we have got Gabby's PT & OT pushed up two 2 times a week, I also decided that she is my inspiration. I want her story to be heard. To show people that I am not going to give up. I will fight for her with every last breath I have in my body. She is moving forward. So will we.

Gabriella's Story

In December 2009 my 5 year old daughter, Kirstynn, asked me what I wanted for Christmas. She said she was going to write it in her letter to God. I spent some time pondering what it was I wanted. The next day I explained to her that I wanted nothing. I had come to understand that everything I needed, I already had. God had already blessed me. I spent some time over the next couple of days thinking about what our family had been given. We had been chosen by God to have a living miracle. Her name is Gabriella Ellen Roddy. We now understand that every day with her is a gift . Her tomorrow is never a given. She is the inspiration in my life; she has restored my faith in God. We as, a family, want to share her story. We want others to understand why we gave her the chance at life. She beat the odds and continues to do so daily.

Back in November 2008 I can remember the exact day I found out I was expecting. I called my sister to find out that she had also just found out she was expecting. The joy of thinking how we would both have children that could grow up together, go to school together, and be best friends. Little did I know God had a different plan for us. In January 2009 during a routine ultrasound they found problems with Gabby's brain. The next couple of weeks were pretty crazy. Doctor after doctor asked if we still wanted to continue with our pregnancy. Finally my husband, John, stood up and explained this is our daughter. If and when God wants her, He can take her. So please don’t ask us again. Little did we know this would be the first of many fights for my daughter life. My husband always stood behind me, picking me up on all those days when I doubted and needed him most. I remember with each painful test that I went though that John was sitting next to me hold my hand praying with me. We were so numb and confused. Every doctor we talked to just kept telling us how the odds were against her. I can’t remember much from that time till about three weeks before she was born when a Dr. Painter came to our aid. He looked at us and told us, "Mr. & Mrs. Roddy, There is HOPE for Gabriella." He said that if we gave up hope who else woutd there be to fight for her? We left that day with a new understanding.

On July 2nd I went to the hospital to have Gabby, it was the most scared I have ever been in my life. I was so afraid of what was going to happen. I am so grateful that Dr. Eldberg was there and helped me deliver my Gabriella. When I finished pushing her out, I was so scared. All I wanted was to hear her cry. The whole OR was in silence. Then after about 30 seconds passed we all heard a faint cry. I started to cry happy tears, I could finally breath. They tried to whisk her off to the NICU, but Dr. Eldberg stopped them and made it clear that my only request was to hold my daughter, kiss her and tell her that I loved her. I truly wanted to make sure that she knew that I was there, and that no matter what happened that I loved her. After a couple of minutes, I handed her off to John. The tears were pouring down his face as he looked into her eyes. I saw him whisper to her that she had to make it, that we needed her, and that he loved her. Needless to say my strong little miracle was in the NICU for less than 24 hours.
On July 4th 2009, a short 48 hours after Gabby's birth, we got to take her home. We live almost 2 hours from the hospital so our other 4 children hadn't met Gabriella yet. So, as you can imagine when we walked in our home with her our kids started to cry. My son busted into tears, screaming "LOOK, LOOK, She is OK!" The pride that I saw in all of them was amazing. On July 4th every year our home is magical. We live next to a small creek with a tree filled line. At about 9:30 p.m. every 4th of July the whole tree line lights up with baby fire flies being born. It is something you can’t record, or take a picture of. You have to live in the moment to see it. As we all stood in our back yard that night I understood that God gave us that night to show us to live in the moment with Gabriella. My kids soon began to understand that not going to see fireworks that night was not really a big deal anymore. There baby sister was home, healthy, and ready to be loved. They have given up so much; this way as a family we can enjoy the little miracles in life.

In the 10months since then my daughter has had 2 brain surgeries, 4 eye surgeries, and been looked at by every doctor there is to be seen. Every time we leave an appointment I feel overjoyed. She was diagnosed with Walker Warburg Syndrome, a Muscle-Eye-Brain Disorder .She has daily struggles, lots of PT, OT, and Vision therapy. She gets sick very easy, and it takes her a lot longer to get better. Every doctor she sees is inspired by her. She has done everything they told us she'd never be able to do. I can say that I may not always know what's coming next or what tomorrow will bring. I don’t always have the answer or know where we will be as a family in the future. I know that my laundry dishes, and house may not always be perfect, but I am ok with that. It can wait till tomorrow. Gabriella and our other children are more important than the housework. My other children know that just because Gabriella needs us more doesn't mean that we love them any less. Gabriella has made us slow down take in every moment and cherish it. She has made us better parents, family, and friends. I now see we are the lucky ones. God chose us to be blessed with her. She has made my heart whole again, and restored my faith in God. Our family is not always picture perfect, but it is the most perfect family for me.

What 26+ inches of Snow looks like

This my friends is what 26+ inches of snow looks like! It was almost to much to have fun in. The kids though had a blast! I think it was more because they got to miss school! I had to go save Kirstynn and Jazmyne a couple of time though. They kept getting stuck! I have not seen this much snow in years! It made for a great view, and everything came to a stop. The highway only had state trucks driving down it,and it was peace for a couple of days. Enjoy yourself and go make a snow man! :)

Congrads Dillon!

Dillon had his painting in the Ligonier Art Museum! He placed 4th with his painting of "Ando" the Ligonier Police dog whom passed due to cancer! Great art work Dillon we are so proud of you! The wooden man was in the Art Museum and Dillon thought he looked cool and wanted his picture taken with him!

Gabriella's Eyes

On our vacation to Ohio I noticed that Gabby's left eye was starting not to dialate correctly. I knew the pressure where returning in it. When we got home Wednesday night it had started to get cloudy and allot bigger. First thing on Thursday morning I was on the phone talking to nurses, who refused to get her in fast "due to them being so busy" So I informed them they needed to go find Dr. Hurdle or Dr. Mitchel and have them return our phone call as soon as possible. With in the hour Dr. Mitchel called back and told me To come when ever we could make it Friday, and not to listen to the nurse. She told me to start her drops (that they informed us to keep just in case this happened) and she would see her the next day. Well we could not even make it our of our driveway Friday morning so after talking to Dr. Mitchel again she said as long as we were there before 2 it would not matter. Friday afternoon John took Gabby up to Children's Hospital to have her pressures check. To our dismay Dr. Hurtle has resigned, and we were seeing a regular eye doctor who knew nothing of what was going on. I was pleased that Dr. Mitchel was there to do all of the work, and knew what Gabby's eye had looked like before her surgery's and what it looked like after her surgery's. Yes I was right. Her pressure was a little high, but they think my fast acting and using her drops prevented any more damage being done. We have to use her one drop 3 times a day, and the other only at night. She goes back on next Friday at 2 to see Dr. Mitchel again. At this point they are going to drop down the times of the drops and wait one more week. At that Apt. they will decide if she needs another operation to put a tube in her left eye to keep the pressure from returning. While there John had asked Dr. Mitchel why SSI had denied her claim for her "not being blind enough for there standards" She look at John and said " she is legally bind" "and the only thing we told them was she could respond to light" They actually had checked off that she was legally blind! This was a shock to us. She is printing up a letter for us to turn in at our appeal hearing. I guess what makes me the most angry is that Gabby is suffering from "the extras" that she don't have to have but would help her.... All because some person in some office decided that she was not Blind enough, and that "her other condition was fixed with surgery" ~her shunt in their eyes made her brain grow back" She has what she needs don't get me wrong, but if we had SSI insurance they would cover way more, with less hassle to get it.

My Sister

Well we had an awesome trip to Ohio. While there I finally did something I have never done. I just hung out with my sister. I have to tell you that my sister and I have not always been this way. In fact most of my life I wished I had a sister. As a child all I wanted was someone to share clothes with, put on make up with and a sister to show me how to do all of this. About 3 years ago, When she was pregnant with Adelae I had finally had enough of this "broken home" crap, and I started to push my family to be one. I had allot of people angry with me. I wanted my sister to come to Christmas. They in fact told me " if she comes then I wont" I got pissed and started to yell. All I wanted was for us to get over the past and move into the future. I wanted to have my niece be part of my family. And for once I wanted my sister there. With allot of persuading it happened. (well kinda, she was actually in the hospital during Christmas) I can say though it was one of the first memories that I have of us all sitting there as a family. I finally saw my mom and her talk, and in fact I saw my dad smile with one of the biggest smiles ever. He was so proud that she was there. When my sister went to marry a couple months later my mom actually did something I could not believe. She snuck my Grandma up to her wedding. Talk about a move made out of love. I think it was the first time I ever saw her do something so meaningful to my sister. I cant even explain the joy on her face as she saw grandma sitting up front at her wedding. It made my mom cry with joy when she saw how happy it made her. When I found out I was pregnant Shaun was the first to know. Then with in the same phone call she told me that she could also be pregnant to. Guess what I was the first to know she was pregnant to. Talk about something awesome, my sister and I were both pregnant at the same time. This is when my bond with her got even closer. When I found out there was something wrong with Gabby, It was her I turned to so many times. It was her i bitched to when I felt like crap, and her I cried to with my fears. My sister lives in Ohio 6 1/2 hours away, and oddly enough It was the closest we had ever been. I am so grateful for where we are today. I don't go a day with out talking to her. She is not just my sister she is one of my best friends. Not because we have to be but because we want to be. I am so happy that for the first time in my life while in Ohio I spent a day just hanging out with her. Our kids played, and we talked. We are trying to decide when we want to move to Ohio, and honestly I cant wait. I cant wait for more of these days, of just lazy hang out. Watching our kids play. I love my sister to death. So sis I want to say I am so happy to have you as my My best friend, and most of all My Sister. You have made me have faith again in my life. You have made me a better mom, and friend. You have showed me something no one else ever could.... What a sister is. Thanks for being there for me.