Boutique Fundraiser - THANK YOU

A big THANKS to all of you who took part in the Boutique fundraiser last night. From the behind the scenes, the raffle baskets that were put together and brought out of the blue, to each of you who helped spread the word and to those who were able to attend and those who expressed support and were not able to attend. Because of each of you, we are $700 closer to getting the van for Emylie. Because of each of you we can see the light at the end of the tunnel where we will be able to afford a loan for the remainder of the cost.

Thank you each for supporting and loving Emylie and our family. You are making dreams come true. May our Heavenly Father bless each and everyone of you for all the service you have shown our family.

Much love to all!!!

Would you be willing to help us....

Would you be willing to help us sell the Little Miracles cookbooks? 

We are hoping to find 40 people that are willing to try and sell by word of mouth 5 cookbooks (or how ever many you are up for). The books are beautiful, with a 3-ring binder, hard cover and just over 1,000 delicious recipes added by friends around the country. 

Cookbooks are $20 and it will go towards Emylie's wheelchair van

Please contact Melanie (call or text 801-390-4552) 

if you are willing to help or would like a cookbook.

Thanks a bunch!

Yard Sale Fundraiser coming up!

We have scheduled a Yard Sale fundraiser for
Saturday November 11th, 7:30am - Noon

If you have any items you are willing to donate to go towards the yard sale please contact Melanie at 801-390-4552. Or come stop by that day and find some new treasures!

Summer is quickly passing...

July flew by without a post!? Summer is going by way to fast for this mom!  I love the relaxed days of Summer, spending more time with my kids, family and friends. Warm weather, long days of sunshine, parades, fireworks, and no homework.

Mid-July we had a Car Wash Fundraiser at Kirt's Drive Inn and had a great time! I loved watching the vehicles come and the group of volunteers wash the car, then pull forward and another  group of volunteers dried the car off. The volunteers that danced with signs along the road. The volunteers that gave of their time and resources to make it all come together and for Kirt's for allowing us the place to have it. Thank you to all who came to get their car washed by an amazing crew. Thank you to each of you for making it all come together! With everyone's generosity and a generous match, we were able to raise $1218. We are that much closer to getting the wheelchair accessible van. Thanks again!

Opportunities to PLAY

Emylie and I were able to tour a few accessible playgrounds in the area last week. The school is looking at adding an accessible playground so we get to help on the committee. It was fun to see the options and discuss ideas with another awesome mom and her son, our amazing principal and a district coordinator. I think you can tell by Emylie's smile how much she LOVED playing on the monkey bars. So much FUN!

Carnival Fundraiser - June 15th

Thank you to everyone for making this fundraiser a success!! To our friend Kirstin for instigating and organizing this, for all the time she put into this and to her immediate family for their sacrifice. To all her friends and family who came to help. To all our friends and family for helping.  For all the people who have donated, contributed their time and talents, their legs to deliver over 2000 flyers, their laughter, love and kind words. To each of you who created the carnival games, face painting, bounce house, all the delicious treats for the bake sale, donated items for the raffle and auction, a friend who came and took pictures, to my kids and nieces friend's who came to help, and all who came out and played with us on Thursday (and all those who weren't able to be there but were there in spirit)!  We had a great time and enjoyed seeing you all enjoy yourself as well.  

I want to tell all of you thank you so much for the part you have played. Thank you for caring about our Little Miracle and helping create more opportunities for her.  

We are continuing working towards the goal... the next planned event is Saturday July 15th - 11:00am - 1:00pm Car Wash at Kirk's in North Ogden.

Thank you again!!

Strut Your STUFF Mobile --

Build your own Stuffed Animals!!

Strut Your STUFF Mobile will be coming to the fundraiser on the 15th of June. $5 from the sale of each stuffed animal will go towards Emylie's van. Check them out at here or here. It is like a mobile build-a-bear.

Here are a few stuffed animals to give you an idea

Dream Night at the Zoo

I feel like the luckiest mom. I enjoyed being with them tonight.

Dream Night at the Zoo is one of my favorite outings. I and the kids were excited to score tickets this year. Walking around the zoo and seeing some of the special friends we have made, other children in wheelchairs, kids with suction machines, feeding tubes, etc. It is an incredible feeling being around other children with unique circumstances and their families. It is a special night for each of my kids. They are all greeted by mascots and get to feel a sense of belonging with other siblings and families. They do not have to have a conversation with all of them, it is just felt. 

I love this picture of all 4 trying to size up to the bears.

Emylie was so excited to see her friend Cash, years ago the two of them helped at the Christmas Tree Jubilee dinner, she remembers and was happy to see him. While eating dinner Emylie also saw another friend, Lily cruising around in her wheelchair. Emylie sweetly called her name and waved. She wanted to go over and play with her... I felt bad because Emylie was in her stroller. I wanted her to be able to go and cruise over to tell her friend hello. To interact and just be a kid. 

Emylie was especially excited to get her picture with Cosmo!

The kids loved getting their face painted, meeting mascots, riding the train and getting to see the beautiful animals.

Looking at the elephants

We had a wonderful time together with some good laughs. I LOVE being with my kids and seeing them enjoy themselves. 

Miracle on Wheels - Fundraiser

We are so excited for an upcoming fundraiser!! 

Kirstin is planning a carnival, bake sale and silent auction 

on

Thursday June 15th from 4:30-7:30p

at Majestic Elementary

ALL are invited to attend.

carnival games.  Chick-fil-A dinner. Crumb Mini Donuts food truck. cotton candy.  snow cones.  bake sale with yummy treats. Silent auction.   

Come join the fun

If you would like to help volunteer at the event, spread the word/hang posters and flyers, are able to donate carnival game prizes, would like to help with the bake sale or any other way, please contact Kirstin Ferlin, 801-644-5194 or kirstinferlin@comcast.net

Thank you so much!!! 

Fundraisers in the works

We are working on some fun fundraisers to help with the converted van! We will announce dates and locations as soon as we have confirmation!! 

If you’d like to help with a fundraiser, please contact Kirstin Ferlin, 801-644-5194 or kirstinferlin@comcast.net

Check back soon!

Thank you!!

A Sister's Helping Hand

Looking through photographs today and I can't help but feel a couple hero's behind the scene need a shout out....

Emylie has two older sisters who are such a great support to her, to me and to our family. They are willing to help and while sometimes it may not always be fun they step up when needed and on occasion help out without even being prompted. I am incredibly grateful for the sisters they are and the relationship they have with each other, for the beautiful daughters they are and that I get to be their mother. I love to watch my children interact with each other and love to soak up the moments. 

It's non-repairable

Friday the 21st of April I was on my way to the elementary school when this happened. It does not appear too bad but the van was not drive-able, side air bags came out and after review, insurance has determined it non-repairable. I had two of our kids with us... Elianna was the one with the most bruising because of the airbags. She and I have back pain and Michael thankfully had no physical harm that we can see or he has mentioned. He talks about it often and asks if we are going to get in an accident almost every time we get in a vehicle. 

When I went to the tow yard to get the car seats and anything we wanted out of the van, it felt so empty.... the airbags hanging down... I felt a little sad. It seemed silly because it is just a van. It has been our mode to go on adventures as well as get our family around day to day.  

As I tucked my kids in bed that night, Elizabeth asked me why the accident had to happen. My emotions surfaced, I reflected to my brother's accident years ago and I felt so much gratitude that my family and I were all home and in the big picture doing well. I am grateful we are alive and that this was not worse.

I am grateful for the kind man who quickly pulled over and came and offered comfort. I do not know his name but he offered his hand while I was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. I am grateful my children are ok and that I am still able to take care of my family. I am grateful the people in the other car were kind and not injured. I am grateful for the kind EMT's and policemen who took care of all of us. I am grateful for Mr. Wallace, Mrs. Chatfield and their willingness to help and make sure my other two kids were safe and arrangements were in place for them. They brought Elizabeth over so she could see we were ok and then Mrs. Chatfield stayed by her on the sidewalk. Elizabeth put on a brave face and held it together. She is a tough little girl.  School had just got out and all the school buses passed by. I am so grateful Emylie did not see the accident and that her nurse knew to tell the bus driver to keep going so that Emylie would not see. When we got home and told Emylie she hugged me and cried. It was so tender to see her reaction and how grateful she was we were all ok.  I am grateful David was able to take my call and quickly leave work to come offer support and give us a ride home. I am grateful that both insurance companies have been kind and easy to work with. I am grateful my Dad let us borrow his car for a couple days until we got a rental and grateful to have a van for a rental car for a couple more days...

It has been awhile...

Time has obviously passed quickly since last posting. So much has changed!! A little over 4 years ago we were able to buy a home that functions well for our family. The builder had a feeling to build the home so it would be wheelchair accessible. When we came around to buy the home, he then realized why. There are no stairs going into the home, so Emylie can roll in and out as she pleases. We have loved the new area we live in and all the wonderful people we have the opportunity of knowing.

Just before moving out of my parents home, my mother was diagnosed with ALS. It was so hard moving away from her. We offered to stay with my parents and help my mom however she needed. My mom wouldn't have it. She reassured me that everything happens when it is supposed to and that she and my dad would be ok. My mother gracefully handled the challenge she was given and passed away not quit two years from being diagnosed, in August of 2014. I miss her every day. Living without my mother has been hard! She was my best friend and a source of strength and peace. I know she is still close by and helping my family and I, in many ways I am sure I don't even realize.

Our family grew when we had a little boy in 2013. Holy smokes having a son as a little side kick is awesome!! The girls all love him so much and for Emylie to become a big sister was pretty special. She wore her "Awesome Big Sister" shirt with a big grin and as often as she could.  He definitely has a his role in our family, and I can see the little piece of why each member of our family needed him to join our lives.

Emylie has been doing well, aside from some hiccups along the way. We moved into our home and within a few days Emylie was admitted to the hospital for about a week. It was her first Christmas in the hospital. She stayed out of the hospital until August 2015 when she seemed to be having neurological issues which was first thought to be results of a stroke. She had her shunt revised and we took her home to recover. Over the following months little odd things kept occurring but not enough at the same time or severe enough to warrant intervention, until the day after Christmas when I noticed her shunt was leaking. Super strange because her incision from August had healed and at first the neurosurgeon in the ER thought I was up in the night but then his findings confirmed my story and suspicions. She was immediately admitted with surgery the following morning to remove her shunt and place an EVD (External Ventricular Drain) for a couple weeks until the infection cleared and a new shunt could be placed. Thankfully, Emylie pulled through each of these experiences and fought back to get to where she was before entering the hospital and soaring higher as she continues to beat the odds.