Abby's Make-a-Wish star-raising party

Last week we were able to make a trip to Salt Lake that wasn't for a clinic visit!  We got to watch Brock play football in Syracuse, well kind of play, his foot is still healing so he only played half the game, but played great while he was in the game, and then we had Abby's star-raising party at Make-a-Wish.  We were lucky because almost all of my family was able to attend, we were only missing my sister and her husband and kids.   We took some pictures to show the party!

Abby go to be the star of the day!

This is the table where everyone was able to sign Abby's scrapbook page that will always stay in the books at in MAW.  We can go back anytime and see it!

We spent some time watching Abby's trip video that Britt made.  We loved seeing the video and remembering all of the fun we had!

Abby's page, I love the pictures she chose!  This will be a great reminder of those who were able to attend her party.

Learning all about the history of MAW, what an incredible organization.

All of the stars.  Each one represents a wish that was granted to a deserving child.

We were able to show everyone the game we played that helped us determine Abby's wish.

The wishing room!  

Even though Abby didn't get her first wish, I think she got the perfect wish for her!  It all worked out perfectly!

Ab getting ready to raise her star, she chose an orange one because there weren't very many that color.

raising her star :)

The Lambert crew!  Thanks to everyone came to support Abby.  Next time we are in Salt Lake and my sister is there with her kids, we get to stop by and show them MAW too!

It was a great party, and I have to admit that I'm sad it's over.  We are so grateful for Make-a-Wish and all of the people that donated that made it possible for us to go on our wish trip.  The trip was a major turning point for me.  Up until then I was still feeling a little stressed out and lots of worry, but getting out of town and spending time just having fun, was exactly what I needed to get out of that rut.  I came home feeling completely refreshed and ready for what comes next.

Today, I also want to post a poem that I read on another heart mom's link this past week.  While I was sitting watching Abby play soccer yesterday, I was reminded of what an inspiration she is to me.  She has taught me numerous things this past year, things that I probably wouldn't have learned if we wouldn't have had the experiences we did!

Behind your scar

Sometimes I have those "moments",

When I think...life's just not fair,

Then I think of all you've been through,

.....And I see the scar you bear.

A faded line right down your chest,

Made with such careful precisioin,

We wanted you too have a chance,

Could there be any other decision?

And so I trace that "perfect" scar,

Made with the utmost care,

And I realize there is purpose,

Behind this scar you wear.

What have you taught us?

You've taught us how too face a storm,

(Something are just out of our hands)

Life has no handy guidebook,

(Things don't always go as you've planned)

People come into our lives,

(Sometimes it is just for a season)

But God brings them into our lives,

(And I know that He must have a reason)

Normal, uneventful days,

(The kind that we always hoped for)

These are the days I say, "Wow God",

We just never know what lies in store.

If I can place a feeding tube,

Without even getting distraught,

Perhaps, maybe, I might be...

Much stronger then I thought.

It's okay to be afraid,

And it's alright to cry,

It's okay to feel lost sometimes,

It's even okay to ask...why?

You face life with courage,

(Knowing God set you apart)

Every little thing you do,

You do with all of your heart.

No crystal ball exists for us,

(To see us through each strife)

We only have one wish for you...

An ordinary life.

You've taught us to love one another,

(Helping each other to cope)

You've taught us compassion for others,

You've taught us to never lose hope.

You already have quite a story,

Which you can someday share,

And I see it's beauty,

Behind that scar you wear.

Things are good right now.  We have been to school for two weeks now and other than some feet and leg swelling every day, Abby is still healthy!  We still even have another 10 days before we head  back to Salt Lake for clinic!  We're just hoping and praying this good luck continues!!

Here's to things being NORMAL!!!

So, what's been happening around the Doman house the past couple of weeks?  Just a whole lot of NORMAL, that's what!!  Finally, it feels like we are just back to our normal routine, and I LOVE it!!

Abby hasn't been sick for a long time, she's been healthy and feeling good....other than a little problem with turf toe anyway.  No really, it's called turf toe.  I went to pick her up from soccer last week and she was crying and could barely walk.  She had been complaining all week about her big toe hurting, the final diagnosis........turf toe.  So, soccer has been put on hold for a little while.  But it has nothing to do with her heart, so it's okay, we can deal with turf toe.  Abby went to her first day of 8th grade just like any other normal kid!  I think she was a little nervous, she hadn't really been to school for almost a year!  She came home happy and excited.  And look how healthy she looks too, I love how she's so proud of her scar and isn't afraid to show it, in fact, she likes to buy shirts that show it off!







She's loving just being a kid again.  A lot of the hype at school, the whisperings of, "Hey look, it's Abby Doman!"  have finally died down and Abby can just be Abby again, not "the girl that got a heart transplant."

Brock has his first football game tomorrow night up in Syracuse, so as soon as I'm done with school tomorrow, we're making the drive up there to watch.  We just can't stay away from Salt Lake!  Brock's foot that he needs surgery on is holding up really well, it's really not giving him too many problems.  His other foot, the one he injured about a month ago, is having a hard time healing.  I think it will be okay at the game, but I worry about him pulling it again and having to start the recovery over again.  We'll just hope for the best.  Be sure to cheer for Desert Hills #77 this year!  He'll be playing on both the O and D line, and I think he'll be fun to watch this year.

This is a picture of Brock and a bunch of his buds at the Desert Hills Meet the Team night.  This is one of those things that I had to miss last year, so I just love every second of being able to be there now!  I love this group of boys, there's just something about them that you can't help but to like!

I think it was weird for Britt not to go back to school when everyone else did this week.  She doesn't start her classes at Dixie State until next week, but then she's going to be extremely busy.  Between her night shifts as a CNA, volunteering in the ER,  her class workload, and the GPA she has to stay above to keep her scholarship, she's going to have lots to do.  But, if anyone can do it, it's Britt.  She's always so motivated and determined to do what needs to be done! I'm proud of you Britt!



As for me, I'm back to school too.  It's been a busy week of getting ready for school to start, but the first couple of days have been so good.  I'm so grateful to be able to start the year with my classes and to be able to be a part of everything again.    I know I was there last year, but is was so hard because I was gone so much, and I was still so focused on Abby and her needs, that I didn't really get to enjoy my job like I used to. I can honestly say that I've loved the first two days of school, it feels like it did before this all started, and that feels good.  And just on a side note....Mama Doman is down 10 pounds and counting!  I finally decided that after spending a year taking care of everybody else but me, it's my turn a little bit again.  I'm hoping that my face and body will shrink as much as Abby's did from when she was on steroids, to now:

So, here's to things being NORMAL!!!  I don't care if things get better than they are now, I just want them to be stable for a while.  Our next clinic day has been moved to September 6th because we had to add a follow-up visit to the Moran Center with the retina specialist to make sure that when Abby had CMV that it didn't do any damage to her eyes, which it sometimes can.  I'm not worried about that at all, I think it's just a precaution.  That means that after this weekend, we still have almost 3 whole weeks before we have to make the trip up again!  Love it!

I want to end with some amazing, miraculous news.  I've posted a lot about the 3 kids that have been waiting for hearts at PCMC.  Finally, last Monday, Abby's heart friend Kaidence got the call.  She received her heart the next morning and everything is looking good!  We couldn't be happier for Kaidence and her family.  Kaidence is 5 years old and this is her second heart transplant, she is truly a miracle.  Now we need to keep praying for little Matthew and Kylie to get their hearts.  Three transplants in 3 weeks is what we're praying for!







Florida Video

Britt made a video from the pictures and video we took in Florida.. Go check it out on Youtube! Click here

Things really are getting easier!

Abby's new soccer season started last week!  She was able to go to practice last Monday and she loved it!  She knows she's got a lot of work to do to get stronger and get back in shape, but she's ready for the challenge.  I can't wait to see her when she finally gets back in shape, it will be the first time she will be able to run and have her heart work correctly, she'll feel so good!  She doesn't have her first game until the end of August so she's got some time to get ready.

The main problem we're having right now is keeping Abby healthy.  Luckily, it's not the big, get admitted to the hospital kind of illnesses, it's just the "normal" things.  The day after soccer practice, Abby woke up with a horrible cold with a sore throat, and she's just barely getting better.  She was pretty miserable for a few days, but hopefully we're past that now.  This worries me a little bit because we have school starting next week, and schools are just huge germ factories!  I feel like we're doing everything we can to keep her healthy, but those immunosuppresants are just tough on Abby.  Hopefully her immune system is getting stronger, despite all of the meds.  Abby is excited, but a little nervous to start school next week.  She really didn't get to go to very many days of school last year at all, so I think it will be good.  It will be weird not having Britt go to school when the rest of us do, she's still got a few weeks before she starts going to Dixie State.  She's still loving her CNA job, she comes home with lots of good stories.  I hope that all of the hard work she's doing will help her get into nursing school in a couple of years.  Brock is doing okay, today is the first day he doesn't have to wear the boot for his ankle.  Hopefully, next week, which is the week of their first game, he'll be ready to play.  It's been hard for him to stay off of it, he's ready to go.

We did have clinic again last week and everything looked good!  Her creatinine was a little low, but we aren't going to worry about that.  I think Abby and I both went into shock when we asked when she has to have another cath done.  We were thinking it was coming up, but unless there's a problem, she doesn't have to have another one until next May!  One a year!  I think we can do that.  We also don't have to go back to clinic until September 10th, we are down to one month apart visits.  Everyone told me things would get a little easier when we got to the one-year point, and I'm actually starting to believe them.  Driving home from Salt Lake I couldn't help but to breathe a huge sigh of relief, I felt like things are going to be okay for while, things really are getting easier.