Alex's Birthday!

It's my monster boy's birthday today! He is 4 years old. Just wanted to say I love you Baby and Happy Birthday!

Yes this him smiling! Anybody seen that episode on Friends, when Chandler and Monica go take pictures? Well, if you have you'll know why Auntie Betsy was calling him Chandler!

VCFS and Angelina

As you know we are attending the VCFS conference in July to learn more about Angelina's syndrome. Her syndrome is known as Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome or DiGeorge Syndrome. It is a very complicated syndrome in that it can involve so many problems with different body systems, up to 180 reported anomalies!

We are already aware of some of Angelina's problems:
Cardiac abnormalities: she's had 2 of 3 heart surgeries
Suppressed immune function: she's always on antibiotics to help her prevent infection
Hypocalcemia: She has to take calcium supplements to prevent problems such as seizures (she had them when she was 2 days old)
Feeding Problems: Angelina is mostly fed through a feeding tube through her tummy, although she is eating more and more by mouth!
Delay in achieving developmental milestones: currently she gets weekly physical therapy and occupational therapy to help with things such as crawling, standing, walking and eating. A special teacher comes to our home as well to help her reach her milestones.
Sprengel's Anomaly: her left scapula wings out slightly, causing her some problems with strength and stability on that side.
Abundant Scalp Hair: can you believe that? We don't consider her beautiful hair a problem!

We recently saw a clinical geneticist, Dr. R. Clark. Because she is a specialist in genetic disorders, she has set us up with more consultations and tests to rule out other problems she may have.
So our appointments include: an Audiologist, Orthopedics, have a Kidney Ultrasound, and see a Craniofacial Surgeon.

The first 3 we have already seen. Her kidney ultrasound came back normal. Orthopedics thought her Sprengel's anomaly was minor and won't require surgery.
Now her audiology appointment was a bit upsetting to say the least. Apparently Angelina has small ear canals. They had problems running hearing tests, for a few reasons, one being they thought she might have a cerumen impaction. (too much wax in ear--YES, I clean her ears!) At this point the tests they were able to perform showed mild to moderate hearing loss. BUT, this is not definite until we see her pediatrician who will clean her ears out, and then she will have the hearing test repeated. So, I'm hoping and praying that her hearing will be fine. Her repeat test is scheduled for July 15th, I'll keep you posted!
Help us pray that hearing loss won't be added to her list!

Troy, Michigan here we come!

Well our flight is booked, our hotel room is reserved, and the conference is payed for! Actually its all payed for! Wow! I still can't believe it-- we are really going to the VCFS conference! We are so grateful to all of you who helped us get there. It already has been an amazing journey. With each event I feel like I learn so much more about life, spirituality and the kindness in people's hearts. It really makes me want to be a better person. I truly feel blessed. My goal is to pass this on to my children. For them to appreciate how blessed we are, and to treat others with kind open hearts. Thank you to all of you who have helped us get there. Thank you to everyone who had a fundraiser for us:

Hector and The Home Depot for the Car Wash AND of course everyone who helped that day!

Maggie Gardner for the Tupperware fundraiser

Tawnya for the Gold Canyon Candles fundraiser

Erica Ibarra for the Avon fundraiser

Thank you to everyone who bought something or made a donation to Project Angel Heart!

Project Angel Heart Car Wash

Car Wash: A Great success!

Wow! Our car wash was such a wonderful success! Our grand total was: $2770!!! Alex and I are still amazed and so thankful for all of you! So many of you helped physically at the carwash, with generous donations, with your thoughts and prayers, and in other ways that weren't seen! So here comes my list of long thank yous! Yes I do feel like I won a Grammy, but Better!!!

Hector, thank you babe, for coming up with this idea and making it happen! Thank you for working so hard all day! Thank you for being so thoughtful mijo! I love ya lots!

Thank you to the Rancho Cucamonga Home Depot for allowing us to use their parking lot and water, for donating supplies, for helping us advertise, and for being so supportive. You are such an amazing crew! Thank you John, Nora, Billy, Henry, Tricia and Hector for making it happen. On top of all that so many employees came over to make donations. Just those donations totaled $509! And if that wasn't enough Home Depot will match that! That's $1018! (This was included in the above total) Thank you and God bless all of you!

Thank you to everyone who participated with the physical part of actually Car Washing! Lito, Grandpi, Uncle German, Uncle Hector, Mikey, Ulysses, Peter, Richie, Ms. Herrera, Ms. Peggy and hubby Dana, Uncle Jimmy, Bianca, JJ, Erica, Gabby, Matt, Adrian, Uncle Adam, Auntie Debbie, Lauren and of course Alex and Marcelina!

Thank you Mami for running the hot dog sales and Nana for assisting with the washing when needed. Thank you Auntie Sa-Sa for being our cashier, PR person, and for making extra signs!

Thank you Lauren & Starbucks for donating all the coffee and baked goodies! Thank you Maury for the German Chocolate cake, Diana & Jim for the donuts (and more), and Mandi for the banana loaf. Thank you Auntie Debbie and Uncle Adam for the hot dogs and goodies!

Thank you Marie for being there so early and helping with bake sales, Thank you Bryanna and Brytlinn for passing out flyers and for twirling the car wash sign! Thank you Peggy for the moral support, and Michele for helping with the advertising too!

Thank you Glenda, for walking around that big parking lot with the kids, recruiting customers!

Thank you Angie, Merrisa & Jeremy for twirling our big sign and recruiting more people!

Thank you Jessie for having watched Angelina! Thank you for being so encouraging while I was all stressed out! Thank you for launching the fundraising ideas!

Thank you Betsy for sending the business cards, for the bubbles, and mainly for watching my little monster Alex! He is still talking about how much fun he had!

Thank you Camille and Babies So Special for your support!

Thank you to everyone who made a donation, whether it was monetary, baked goods, food, time and love!

Thank you to everyone who got their cars washed!!!

You are all amazing! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Tupperware Fundraiser

We are having a Tupperware Catalog Fundraiser. Tupperware will donate 40% profit of items ordered from this new catalog. Over 60% of the items are exclusive to the fundraiser catalog. Over 70% of the items are $20 and under. There is no shipping or handling on orders as long as they are turned in by June 18th! Please email me at Mami.Adame@gmail.com if you'd like me to send you a catalog. Angelina loves her Shape-O Toy from Tupperware!

A day at the park, Heart Connection Picnic