8 weeks and counting!

What happens in 8 weeks???????

MAKE-A-WISH!!!

Brief recap, in August 2009, Gabriella wished for her Make a Wish trip. She had been telling us she wanted to go on the Disney boat (thank you Travel Channel...lol), but she was far too unstable to be out to sea at the time so we had to veer her away from that idea. Make a Wish planned a beautiful week long trip to Disney World instead, since Gabriella also said she wanted to go to Cinderellas castle! Of course, as most of you know, Gabriella suffered a massive stroke 2 weeks before going on her trip. The recovery from stroke, waiting for transplant, transplant and recovery, and adjustment time after there led us to January 2011 when she was finally deemed safe for travels!

When her Wish Granters came back to talk to Gabriella in February this year, almost exactly 18 months after her first visit, she boldly declared she wanted to go on the Disney boat! Make a Wish has put together a lovely 5 day, 4 night cruise out of Florida on the Disney Dream. We leave in a couple of months to enjoy this opportunity of a lifetime! One day of travel, 5 days on a boat and the plan was to fly home that night after we dock.

Gabriella picked 2 excursions from a list about 4 pages long! When we dock at Castaway Cay, Paul & his princess will be in thigh high waters alongside the ocean feeling and learning about sting rays. Gabriella LOVES sting rays... I think it is their velvety feel and how they flow like satin. Then when we dock at Nassau, she chose to do the 6 hour long dolphin encounter where we will have a lunch by a dolphin tank, go through the day to day life of a dolphin trainer and best of all, SWIM with dolphins! All 4 of us get to do this excursion and I don't know which one of us is more excited!!!!

Paul and I have put in SO much of our energy into making Gabriella feel like any other kid, and it shows in her attitude. She never acts like she is different or lacking in anything, because we absorb any of that for her and discipline her just the same. Her doctors, therapies and meds are just a part of her and we move on quickly from whatever we have to do that day medically to put more emphasis on our "normal" portions of life. We have seized opportunities to make memories and been able to give both of the kids more than we believed possible, because tomorrow is never guaranteed for anyone, but especially a medically fragile child. This Make-a-Wish trip is something monumental in that process for us, and I know that is what Make-a-Wish strives for. Something absolutely unattainable for a family like ours. An opportunity out of the ordinary for ALL of us in a positive way, not just out of the ordinary because we are a family with a "sick kid" on a lifetime medical journey. It is an escape, a memory to top all others and a way to "reward" my warrior princess and patient prince for the life they have been pushed into but embraced so well. I can only believe this is what all families feel about Make-a-Wish and that is why it has become such a passionate charity of mine, to which we try and frequently take donations of new toys and activities to. PLEASE contact your local chapter to see how you can help!!!!

Anyways....

Of course, you all have gotten to know us so well, that you know we would sell our souls to the devil for our kids. We encourage them to dream big... because nothing is impossible! In that, we asked Make-a-Wish to send us home from our cruise a few days later than planned, extending our trip at our own expense, and taking the kids to a place we will probably not be able to go to again in the near or distant future.... Disney WORLD! This means we will be responsible for hotel (that was ever so generously provided to us by a friend who has access to the good stuff), Disney World tickets and food for those extra few days. In the grand scheme, this is so minimal. The blessing of our flight already existing saves us that much money on a typical Disney World trip, and the intensity of the week already planned by Make a Wish already filling our cup of excitement, that we see food and tickets as something achievable and sugar on top of this wish.

We have been saving up for it for a couple months now, and I have been trying to do side jobs and sewing to make money. My side job has been SLOW but I am focusing my energy on sewing until my fingers bleed between now and then because it is something I can do any hour of the day without committing my time and risking not fulfilling due to an unexpected appointment or issue. I have rarely used this blog to promote my web ventures, but I think this is a fitting opportunity to do so since all the money will be used towards her trip extension! I have 2 shops online, one that sells my excess fabrics and one that sells my creations. I make custom tutu's, nursing covers, burp cloths, cloth wipes, diaper/wipe cases, etc. and am working on a batch of frilly flip flops that will be sold at a local hair salon! Here are the links to my shop if you would like to check them out:

Fabric Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/gabriellasheart
Sewing Shop: http://www.MaggieMooDesigns.com (past items sold can be seen here: SOLD ORDERS)

And as always, Gabriella's donation account through PayPal remains open and accessible from the right sidebar under 'How to Donate to Gabriella' (and PO Box mailing address under the Contact link above). I just ask that if you wish for any donations through there to be used for her trip, you put that in the donation notes so it can be expensed properly & honestly. This is very important!

I can't keep a full time job with Gabriella's demands, so this is my job. Making side money, selling my creations, and being the best mom possible to my little boogers! I thank you for sharing the links and spreading the word! I always believe it never hurts to put the need out there, because how else does God lead people to fill needs if they do not know they exist!!?

Fabric, anyone?

I have mentioned in the distant past my little business, MaggieMoo Designs. I used to make nursing covers, burp cloths, diaper bags, etc etc etc. I had to slow down the process when Gabriella was diagnosed and things came to a screeching halt last summer when we started transplant testing. I have a few things in my shop because they just haven't sold yet, but other than that, I am only really making custom Tutu's now because they do not require a big sewing setup for me. I loved making my momma and baby things! I did shows and sold to places all over the world! I am excited to pick it up again one day.

SINCE I had to quit my sewing business, I was faced with the harsh reality of how much excess fabric I had! I have one bin of prints I wanted to keep for the future, but have been selling more of the fabric online. I've sold almost 80 pieces so far! I just posted the balance of what I have to sell and listed it all on my destash shop. All of the funds raised from selling my fabric goes into Gabriella's medical PayPal account... so it is somewhat of a fundraiser I guess!

SO, my point.... if you use fabric or know anyone who does, please check out my destash shop! I think the coolest is if I can sell it ALL before we get the heart call! So spread the word, and help me get rid of all of this fabric!

GabriellasHeart Etsy Destash shop

Do you sport a Gabriella band yet??

Do you have a Gabriella Band? If not, you definetly need one. And if you do, you definetly need to get your friends and family wearing them!!!! There are over 1000 bands out there in the world... help me get the rest out there!!

There's no better way to start conversation, spread the word for prayer and raise awareness of the importance of organ donation than to proudly wear a Gabriella Band!

You can get the ordering info here: GABRIELLA BANDS

Jewels for Gabriella

(reposting! the original link was not working correctly. Thanks!)

Please visit http://supportgabriellasheart.blogspot.com/ for very important information on a very special fundraiser!

Posting this message on behalf of Laurie Nelson and Michelle McCrea.... thank
you, lovely ladies!

In Honor of the Vega family we are having a "Jewels for Gabriella" fundraiser on February 6, 2010 featuring Lia Sophia Jewelry at the home of the McCrea's at 584 S Golden Key Street Gilbert, AZ 85233. We are asking you to come and support this very special family by purchasing jewelry. Our special will be, buy 2 or more items at regular price get an equal number of items at HALF price! Make your highest-price selections your HALF-price items! There is no limit. (Lia Sophia jewelry has a lifetime Replacement Guarantee.)

If you are unable to attend and want to help Gabriella, please visit www.liasophia.com/laurienelson (orders can be placed beginning February 1!)

Follow these steps to place an order
Step 1 click on "Our Jewelry"
Step 2 click on "Spring/Summer 2010"
Step 3 click on How to purchase
Step 4 Hostess Name – Michelle Mc Crea
Step 5 Place your order.

Thank you in advance from all of us.

Gabriella's Heartsong - January 15

We truly hope you can come out and join us! It is going to be a GREAT night of singing and supporting Gabriella!

Thanks so much to Kelly and the Hope worship team for putting together this awesome event!!!

Download the flyer by clicking here: DOWNLOAD Please print off some copies and bring friends!!

Facebook event page: Gabriella's Heartsong

January 15, 2009 from 6-9pm at the Stadium Club in Chandler

PrincessG Bows

My best friend makes fantastic bows and has 2 styles of bow that support and benefit Gabriella. You have probably seen her bows in my Gabriella's hair in past pictures (or even mine)!

All bow proceeds go back to Gabriellas medical expense account.

Princess G Bows

She has 2 styles of ribbon that benefit Gabriella, and you can order what style of bow you would like- Little Cuties or Simply Swank- in your ribbon choice! If the listings are sold out, you have confusion on how to order or you would like other custom bows, just send an email to April at sweetpeaswank (at) gmail (dot) com.

Click on a picture to order from her Etsy shop!

Live-Love-Dance Gabriella Necklace

A sweet friend of mine who runs an etsy shop created a special necklace to support Gabriella! It's gorgeous, and is just another way to carry a piece of Gabriella's heart with you!! Please check out the necklack in her shop, and see all the other great items she has too!

Gabriella Necklace

Parents R People

One of the writers for this awesome Parenting website contacted me a month or more ago about featuring Gabriella on their website! I wrote an article and you can check her out on ParentsRPeople.com at this link: http://www.parentsrpeople.com/564.html

And make sure you navigate the website, too! There's some fantastic resources, stories and tips for parenting and life!

Order your Gabriella Band :)

I finally got everything all set up on here to order Gabriella Bands, and the link is in the right sidebar of my blog. As seen previously on my blog, they have been worn by friends, family and even sports figures! It is my goal for everyone who has come into contact with Gabriella either in person or through prayer, to have one of these bands.

The red and blue colors of the band symbolize Congenital Heart Defects. The wording on the bands is a simple statement, but we feel it is more of a reminder: PRAY FOR GABRIELLA.

Each band is $2, and that includes shipping. All the payments for the bands are being depositied directly into our PayPal account and used for all the same transplant related expenses as any past donations.

**If you have previously donated time, money or items to be auctioned and did not get a band at that time, please send me an email and let me know your address and how many you need! It is important to me that you have them!!**