Please help us Help Penny! She needs as much help as she can get!!! Spread the word… Go to her site http://pennies4penny.org/ 

Directly from our friend Rhea (used with permission):

We need you to tweet (use #pennies4penny), blog, email your friends and update your facebook status all day today with messages about Penny.  We need to get peoples attention!

(We Especially need tweets to our local news stations:   Fox 5, 10News, NBC San Diego)

We need you to take Penny’s widget there on the sidebar and add it to your website so that your visitors will learn of her fight and take notice.

We need you to spread the word of Penny’s fundraiser auction that will be held next Friday, March 19th beginning at 6am PST.  As importantly as we need you to share the news of the auction, we need you to show up and BID.  We have some really awesome donations gathered with more to come.

Auction items that are already confirmed:

• Family 4 pack of passes to Legoland CA
• Build a Bear prize pack
• Beautiful pendant from The Pretty Peacock .
• Haircut GC’s to Pigtails & Crewcuts in Chula Vista, CA (courtesy of www.sandiegobargainmama.com)
• A $250.00 GC to aden + anais.
• Creative Memories PicFolio Quick Kit (courtesy of www.SuzyQHomemaker.com)
• A Creativity for Kids prize pack
• A croqueted baby blanket made by Becky Kremkau
• A Skitter Toy
• A (not even released to the public yet) TuTu from Three Peas Co.
• Three prize packs from SprigToys.com
• Dinner for 4 at the Mediterranean Room in La Valencia Hotel.
• Coupons for 1.5 hours of bowling, shoe rentals and snacks for six at Kearny Mesa Bowl.

Whew!  And I still have a week left…who knows what amazingly generous donations little Penny will get. I can’t thank enough the donors who have provided these items to us.  It warms my heart that their are still good people in this world and little Penelope is bringing them all together!

The auction will run through the weekend and close Sunday March 21st at 9pm PST.

http://pennies4penny.org/

Well I have decided to start another blog to help spread awareness for Congenital Heart Defects. My youngest daughter was born with CHD and I want to help spread the word to others about it. You can check out the stories, information, products, and even share information with the readers.

Please go to Spreading CHD Awareness to read about it.

A response from his son:

Hi,

I hope this illuminates the issue and puts the controversial article of my dad in a clearer context. Thank you for your time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

State Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas says disabled children are God’s punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy.

He made that statement Thursday at a press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood.

“The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children,” said Marshall, a Republican.

“In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.”

Marshall was among more than 20 people, mostly Christian pastors and clergy, who gathered for the press conference in the General Assembly Building.

They called on Virginia officials to eliminate state funding for Planned Parenthood because the organization provides abortions.

“We are gathered this afternoon to draw attention to the unethical, immoral and racist practices of the largest abortion provider in America,” said Dean Nelson, executive director of the Network of Politically Active Christians.

Delegate Brenda Pogge, R-Williamsburg, has joined Marshall in co-sponsoring a budget amendment to eliminate state funding for Planned Parenthood.

“I think that the reason it’s gone on so long is that most people don’t have a clue what’s being paid for by taxpayer dollars,” Pogge said.

The press conference was held by a group called Virginia Christian Action. Its members presented a petition calling on Gov. Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to stop funding for Planned Parenthood. All three top officials are Republican.

The petition was signed by a number of prominent Christian leaders, including the Rev. Jonathan Falwell of Lynchburg and the Rev. Pat Robertson of Virginia Beach.

McDonnell has publicly supported calls to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood. His predecessor, Democrat Tim Kaine, supported funding for Planned Parenthood.

Sign the Petition Please http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?disable1&1

Ihave recently found out that a doctor that does the research for Jacobsen Syndrome will have to shut down in six months because he will not get any additional funding.  My daughter has Jacobsen Syndrome and the research is very important. I have created a Petition to help get the signatures that Dr. Paul Grossfeld needs to get the funding. Please take a few minsutesto sign. A big thanks to everyone!

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Jacobsensyndrome

So I got the email the other day that the pregnant man is now expecting his (their) third child. I remember watching on TV the story about his first conception and that they were trying for their second. I am very happy for them. What do you think about it?

He shows off his bulging belly for the first time.

The world’s first pregnant man is pregnant again … with baby number three!

Who can forget the day Oregon native Thomas Beatie, a transgender living as a man, and his wife welcomed baby girl Susan (June 29, 2008)? Or the day Beatie gave birth to his second child, a boy (June 9, 2009)?

Now, in keeping with his one-kid-per-year tradition, Beatie is pregnant with his third child and is proudly showing off his baby bump.

http://www.momlogic.com/2010/02/whoa_pregnant_man_expecting_third_baby_thomas_beatie.php?adid=021610_pregnant_man

Starting January 29th 2010, you are able to sign up to get a free sample of the Pampers Driest Ever and 20 Percent Thinner Diaper. You can sign up to get your Free Sample through the Pampers Website.  

Here is some inforamtion about the New Cruisers with Dry Max:

Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers with Dry Max are the brand’s new high performance diapers and the biggest innovation for the Pampers brand in the last 25 years. Pampers Diapers invented the Dry Max technology and applied it to the current Swaddlers and Cruisers core, which allows the diaper to be thinner than before. This game-changing diaper – Pampers’ driest ever – helps lock wetness in for up to 12 hours and its less bulky design helps give flexibility and comfort – perfect for all of babies’ play. The new diaper design also helps families reduce their impact on the environment by containing 10 percent less material weight. In fact, if current North American Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers users switched to the new Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max diaper, they could together throw away the weight of 1 billion less diapers every three years (based on 08/09 volume for Swaddlers/Cruisers).

Although these Team USA diapers are not for sale yet, starting February 12th parents everywhere will be able to request a free sample three-pack of Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max on Pampers.com. If the sample sent includes a diaper stamped Team USA (randomly inserted in select sample packs), their baby will win a year’s supply of Pampers diapers!

So don’t forget to stop by and get your free sample.

On May 7, 2006 Phoenix Francis was born with a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Phoenix was scheduled to receive a heart transplant at birth but plans quickly changed when Phoenix became very sick and it appeared that a donor heart would not become available in time to save his precious life. Phoenix was taken in for reconstructive heart surgery at four days old. A surgery planned to make the smaller right side of the heart able to function for itself as well as for the left side which was too underdeveloped to function at all. Phoenix pulled through his long 10 hr surgery and was seeming doing well for the first 4 hours afterwards until he “crashed”. His wounded heart unable to sustain all that it had been through stopped working. He was then placed on an ECMO machine which is used to beat the heart while removing the blood from the body, re-oxygenating it and then restoring it to the body, keeping him and his organs alive. Phoenix was weaned off the ECMO machined at day 7 which is longest that they wanted him to remain on it for and was doing seemingly well. He was still intibated (had a breathing machine) but had that since day 2 of his life and was weaning off most medications that where helping his heart to work properly. The problem was because his heart had become swollen during surgery his chest had remained open to give the swelling time to go down, but now Phoenix’s heart had become accustom to having that extra room inside the chest and after many attempts to close it, his heart just could not sustain it and it would set him back further and further each and every time. Phoenix had a long and bumpy road during his short 6 weeks of life but they were filled with unconditional, unfaultering and never ending love. Unfortunately on June 23rd his little body could take no more and Phoenix passed away peacefully in his mommy’s arms from multiple organ failure and complications cause from this disorder HLHS.

            Phoenix Francis is my cousin, and although his battle over, mine has just begun. Although Phoenix passed away in 2006, I have just recently become involved with helping his mom, Ashleigh, raise awareness CHD’s. I attended the 1^st Annual Phoenix Francis Have a Heart Foundation Walkathon in 2007, and was honoured to dress up as Fiona for the 2^nd Annual Phoenix Francis Have a Heart Foundation Walkathon in 2008. It was then when I decided I wanted to help make a difference. In the fall of 2008, I decided I was going to talk to my principal about ways that I could get my school involved. I then put together an assembly which happened May 5^th , 2009. My cousin Ashleigh had come down to speak about her son. This was just the beginning of what I was about to accomplish. For the 3^rd Annual Phoenix Francis Have a Heart Foundation Walkathon I put together “Phoenix’s Shakedown Crew: Collingwood” which consisted of me and one of my best friends, Samantha. We went all out. We had learned “The Hoedown Throwdown” from The Hannah Montana Movie, plus had outfits which had custom made shirts. Another thing I had done was putting together a CHD awareness video that was given out at the walk, posted on youtube, facebook, and two separate websites.

 In early November of 2008, I had been helping Ashleigh send emails to see if there was anyone who would be willing to help out with the cause and I emailed Canadian Country music singer, Jessie Farrell. She couldn’t attend, but when I sent her my cousin’s website (www.phoenixfrancis.com) she wanted to donate a signed CD to be auctioned off. A few weeks later, I had a signed copy of her debut album “Nothing Fancy” in my hands for the cause. Jessie and I continued emailing and I told her that we raised $17,000 at the walkathon and if she was playing any shows in Ontario, my luck, she was playing in Owen Sound on September 11, 2009. I finally got to meet Jessie, not only is she my idol, she is my friend. I got to thank her, by giving her a “Phoenix Bracelet”. Which she then wore the CCMA’s (the big country music awards of Canada), and I have noticed that she wears it quite a bit. I then found out that she was opening up for Doc Walker in Owen Sound on October 21^st, 2009. My best friend, my mom and I walked in and immediately went over to the merchandise table because I wanted a shirt and had to get Ashleigh and Jessie’s manager then asked “are you the girl who works with the open heart thing?” and I was thrown off guard and replied with “Congenital Heart Defects?” and he was like “Yes” and we then continued to talk about what CHD’s were, how I became involved, etc, I will admit, I was very nervous. This was the first time that I had ever been questioned about the cause I raise awareness for.

 Then after Jessie’s set I went to see her and when it was my turn I just stood there and Jessie said “Hi…YOU MADE IT!!” I think the entire lobby turned and looked. She was wearing the bracelet that night, but had just taken it off, I was bummed that she didn’t have it on, but still. Once again she knew who I was. While I was talking to her I asked her if it was possible to use her song “Coming Home (Jono’s Song)” for another CHD awareness video (www.tinyurl.com/chdvideo) and I had gotten both her and her mangers permission to use this song!

 I believe it was the week before the October 21^st show she filmed CMT Canada’s show “Dedicated” where she was the special guest host and it aired on CMT November 14^th, 2009 Typically, every special guest gets to give a dedication. I had just gotten home from work and I was eating my dinner when my dad put CMT on, I thought the program was only 30 minutes long but I was wrong. It was commercial so I sat there off in my world of texting when the show came back on Elissa Lansdell announced it was now going to be Jessie’s dedication so I half listened. She then started talking about a “fan slash friend” she has who gave her a bracelet with a angel on it (yes, this would be the bracelet that I gave to her Sept. 11^th) and she began talking about Phoenix and how he had lost his battle with HLHS. I knew she was talking about me but when she said “This girl is Bobbie-Jo Stewart” I screamed, cried… and choked on potatoes. She dedicated “Risk” by Paul Brandt to me, which most likely didn’t help the water works any because that song is a very personal song for me, (check out www.iwouldratherrisk.blogspot.com). This was all too real to be true. But being honoured for my work was an amazing feeling.  This was a major reward for what I’ve been working so hard on.

In August, I created the facebook page “Join The Fight: CHD” to go along with the website I was in the middle of creating (www.JoinTheFightCHD.webs.com), we have just recently hit 1,257 fans on our facebook page, more then I have ever thought possible. And we currently feature about 10 CHD stories on our website. Through this, I have had the honour of getting to know many, many heart families via twitter and facebook. All of which I’m happy to call friends. They are the ones who have trusted an 18 year old, from a little town in Ontario, Canada with the photo’s of their child, their stories all in the name of CHD Awareness.

Along with having the support of Jessie, I’ve had numerous other country singers who have been supporting JTF! Aaron Pritchett (I also met him Sept 11^th, but if we want to get technical, I met him early in the morning September 12^th) is following both my “personal” twitter, and the twitter for the website, and he also signed our guestbook! Jesse Tucker (Jessie Farrell’s guitarist) has joined our facebook group (as well as Jessie), and checked out the site, Kortney Wilson has joined our facebook group and voted for us for a Shorty Award in Non-profit, Johnny Reid has also been to the site and there are a few others. It just goes to show that not all “famous people” are stuck up, and are all about them. Especially the country singers I have listed here. They are the most down to Earth people I have met.  “CHD awareness one country singer at a time” – Tori M.

Did I ever think I would accomplish what I have? No.

Did I take a risk? Yes

Are there ways others can help? Yes!

If you are trying to find ways to help raise CHD awareness you can do many different things. You can attend events in your community, or if there aren’t any going on, create one! The first year will be a little slow, but if you make it an annual thing then you will begin to pick up momentum and it will grow every year. Create an awareness video; they’re one of the best ways to start getting involved. Write up something on Congenital Heart Defects and post it on your facebook, take part on online things that are happening such as CHD awareness week. Most importantly you can learn about someone’s battle with this cureless defect.

CHD’s have no cure, only solutions. A heart surgery or heart transplant are not a cure, they’re just mending or “replacing” the heart. No matter what age you are, where you live, what you do. There are many ways to help raise awareness for Congenital Heart Defects.

Carseat Test had to be done before she left the hospital.

Olivia today at 4 Yrs Old

I went in for my surgery early in the morning. When they delivered her. she was not breathing and she was not moving. I was so scared at that time. The nurses hurried up and started doing stuff to her. She didn’t even cry at all. After they got her breathing they rushed her down to NICU. I did get to kiss her on her head but that was it. The day after I was able to finally go down and see Olivia. I did hold her for a while. I was taken back up to my room and everyone left to go home. Before I went to sleep I called down to NICU to see how she was doing and they said that they are running some tests . I didn’t think anything of it. The next morning I went down to see her. The nurse took me down. As I was there the doctor was on the phone with a radiologist. When he got off the phone he came over and told me “the Plan”. Ok I didn’t know there was a plan in the first place. He told me that Olivia went for a ECHO because they heard a murmur and wanted to check it out. He told me that they found she had a narrow Aorta and that they were transferring her to a specialty hospital. I had some questions and they did help me answer them. After that news I decided to go back to my room to make phone calls. As I was coming up the hallway to my room, my OB doctor was walking toward me. I just started crying that he couldn’t understand what I was saying. He told me that he was going down there right now to find out what is going on. So two days after she was born she is now being transferred to another hospital for testing and to be in the NICU Surgical just incase. My OB doctor trusted me to leave the hospital to be with my daughter just two days after the C-Section. He told me he was going to release me so I can be with her.

The ambulance team that was taking her to the specialty hospital brought her up for me to see her. She looked so tiny in the clear carrier that they had her in. After a few hours of her leaving I was released to go down to be with her. We got into the room and there was at least 4 doctors in there with her and the genetic doctors. They did their own Echo and found that she had Hypo-plastic Aortic Arch. The genetic doctors was also doing their own tests and found out that she had Jacobsen Syndrome. It is not very common. Olivia did very well in the hospital. She was not discharged until January 12^th 2006 almost 4 weeks in the hospital. Today Olivia is 4 years old and she is doing very well. She has not had any surgeries. She is monitored every year be an EKG and an ECHO. She goes to school for special needs and has no restrictions. She does have Hypoplastic Aortic Arch, Parachute Mirtal Valve and Mitral Valve Stenosis. Olivia is a very active girl. I have a website dedicated to her syndrome.

Everyday is just another day that she brightens up my life. 

http://www.jacobsenssyndromeawareness.com  

Today is Go Red Friday. It is going to start off the CHD Awareness Week Feb 7th-14th. There are a lot of events happening. I will be having guest posts on my blog. Please make sure you come back and show support for our guest. My daughter’s story will be posted tomorrow for the start of the Awareness Week.

Heart disease is the No.1 killer of women. Share information with your girlfriends with this handy Go Red For Women Girlfriends’ Guide. It’s full of materials and tips to help you start the conversation about heart disease – and the steps women can take to reduce their risk. Gather your friends and Go Red For Women!

It’s easier than ever for women to go red in their own fashion by participating in a variety of activities

Some of these activities include:

• National Wear Red Day - Millions of Americans will be wearing red on Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease. To generate awareness and provide fund-raising opportunities, 10,000 companies over the past two years have participated in Wear Red Day events by allowing employees to pay $5 each to wear red and jeans to work.
• Go Red For Women Luncheons - These luncheons are premiere fund-raising events held in more than 200 cities nationwide. Themed around sisterhood and inspiration, these luncheons are life-chaging experiences that focus on three areas to support the fight against heart disease in women: 1. heightening awareness of the issue, 2. creating a passionate call to action, 3. generating funds to support education and research.Activities at each luncheon vary, but most feature educational topics about cardiovascular disease, risk factors and heart-health, as well as local guest speakers and medical experts.

Contact your local AHA office to find more Go Red For Women events near you and get involved today!

Urge your lawmaker to help prevent heart disease
As a participant in the Go Red For Women movement, you can help stop heart disease, the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Send a message directly to your lawmakers asking them to support the HEART for Women Act, which would provide better prevention and treatment of heart disease in women. Together we can work to cure heart disease so our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends can live healthier and longer lives.

Take action now

Go Red Activities
Millions of Americans help women in the fight against heart disease when they join in the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement. Go Red For Women is an inspiring movement that helps women discover their unique lifesaving power by learning about heart disease and taking positive action to reduce their risk and to encourage women to love their heart and go RED in their own fashion!

The following outlines various activities that were part of the Go Red For Women movement in February 2009:

• Wear the Red Dress Pin to Go Red For Women events or any time. Over 12 million people added the red dress pin to their fashion accessories collection to show their support for the Go Red For Women movement. You can get a free red dress pin by registering here.
• Companies Going Red: In 2009, more than 5,000 companies showed their support for the Go Red For Women movement by conducting fundraising events where employees pay $5 to wear something red with their jeans and show their support of the women and heart disease cause. All proceeds from these events go to the American Heart Association.
• National/Local Monuments Going Red: The Empire State Building Graceland and Niagara Falls are a few of the national sites that were illuminated in red to raise awareness around women and heart disease during the first week of February, National Go Red For Women Week.

For more information go to http://www.goredforwomen.org/close_to_home.aspx