Today is Marcie's Birthday

Today we celebrate Marcie's birthday - we are so thankful to be celebrating this day today - thank you for all the prayers that have been offered for her and our family to God over the past 15 years and 10 months since we learned she had ALS.

On the day she was born it was very cold and sleeting - today it is warm and sunny - the leaves are turning orange, yellow and brown - fall is here and winter is coming.

Oh No - our preacher went to jail ! ! !

Two weeks ago - Sept. 24, - our preacher went to jail - he was picked up at church and taken to jail and had to stay there till he raised bail.

He went to jail in honor of Marcie for MDA -the Muscular Dystrophy Association - he raised $3,512.00 - so he did get out of jail.

Thanks Doug for going to jail for Marcie and others for a second time -

and

Thanks to all who bailed him out of jail !

middle school football game

If I had only had my camera set on landscape and not on close up it would not have been blurry.
But I can see him -

Again we ventured out to a middle school football game this year. This is the only game we can go to this year -all other games are played at a middle school field but when his games are at the high school we get to go since the staduim is handicap accesable -where the middle school fields are not. And I found the elevator that can take us up higher in the staduim if he play in the high school band next year.

Storms were in our area but all had passed by game time - so off we went - the boys still some taller than others - it was a nice outing a little cool but not cold. I got to see both my grandsons -one playing football on the field and the other playing in the stands.

Sat. Sept. 19 was a nice day in Texas

Linda K and Eileen came to Arlington this past Sat. Linda K is in a clogging group from Corsicana called the Corsicana Cloggers and they were clogging at Six Flags Over Texas. When Linda K and I were young (friends since the 2nd. grade) we roller skated a lot - having birthday parties and going to birthday parties at Pittman Roller Skating rink in Waco. When Linda K told me she was in a clogging group I thought that would be so much fun and I wanted to do it also but I could not find a group close to me. So I have started the next best thing - a few weeks ago I started taking tap classes - I love the class - most of the ladies are teachers or retired teachers or their children are taking a dance class at the same time in the room over from our tap class - and it is right down the street from my house.

Sat. was fun watching Linda K's goup as well as watching lots of other clogging groups. The weather was so nice - not like the Sat. before when it rained buckets of water from the skies.

Visit with the Steece quads, Suz and Joe

Today I finally got to go see Drew, Savannah, Ethan and Ben, Suzanne and Joe also.

I had had their birthday gifts for a few weeks but I just had not been able to get over to their house. I went to day and took them their gifts which I had kinda made - you can look at the Aug. 1 posting to see what I made for them - I had had it written but published it just now.

Drew and Ethan are really talking - works, shapes, naming animals in the books I gave them - Savannah is right there also naming the animals and knowing the sounds they make - Ben just watches but Suzanne said he is talking some.

They love books - would go to the book shelf up above them and point saying "book book" - they were working puzzles with shapes and numbers - Drew counted for me -

I was not able to be there very long but it was a good visit - I saw Miss Savannah in her pink glasses and her pink eye patch with music notes and maybe bows on the eye patch - she left it along - Suzanne did keep her busy so Savannah would not think about it.

Savannah has another surgery in the morning- 2 loyal Diaper Darlings, Peggy and Tempe, will care for the boys at home while Suzanne and Joe are with Savannah at the hospital.

They are precious children - God gave them to just the right parents - the kiddos are growing and learning something new every day - I am so thankful they are a part of my life.

"People" enter your lives as strangers and leave as "Friends"

People come into your lives for a reason and when they leave they have become your friends, even if they live on your street for only a few short months.

Last fall a family moved into a rent house on our street. They moved to Arlington from Utah, so the husband / dad could be trained for a new job and then they would be transferred somewhere else. About 2 weeks ago they learned they were being transferred to Missouri.

Yesterday, most of the family came to say goodbye.

Marcie invited them into her room as she always does. They like reading her computer screen where she "talks" to them. Every time they come - as they leave her room or if they are just on the front porch talking to me they look into her window and say : "Hi Marcie" and "I Love you Marcie" and they always say "By Marcie" when they leave. No prompting - Just: "I Love you Marcie", etc... and Marcie smiles at them with her eyes.

Today they moved - I was very very sad. Even thought I know it was to be.

We will truly miss this family - I knew from the beginning they would not be a part of our lives for very long but in the short time they lived on our street we became friends. Last November in the cold they all came down and stood on the front porch and sang Happy Birthday to Marcie. Earlier in the day their Dad had brought Marcie flowers from the bushes at their house tied with a ribbon that the children had made and they painted her pictures for her birthday. Preschool pictures but they were make by the children as a birthday gift to Marcie.

Marcie had filled an Easter Basket for the children - ordering things on line and having them sent to our house. They came and sang to Marcie at Easter.

They truly loved Marcie, such a sweet family. Sometimes when we were sitting outside they would come by to visit.

They will be so missed - it is hard for me to look towards the empty driveway knowing their big burgundy van will not return.

May they have a safe journey to their new home in Missouri.
I know they will touch other lives as they have touched ours.

The Cowboy's Stadium in Arlington, Tx

This was taken from the upper level of the Cowboy's Stadium looking towards the Ballpark in Arlington and you can see part of Six Flags Over Texas to the left of this picture.

Inside the new Cowboys' Stadium

These are the light that hang -they are hanging - I am just up above them looking down onto field - over the stage, when they will put a stage, where concerts will be played in the stadium.

I think this is looking kinda north east


The BIG screen TV that hangs from the ceiling in the middle of the stadium.


Artists still finishing murals on the walls inside the stadium - this looked like it will be a rose when finished.

And this was lots of smaller flowers of some kind.

It was Open House for the new Cowboy's Stadium this past Sunday - for those of us who live in Arlington. We were not sure how the crowd would be nor how the parking would be. We went about 2:00 and drove right in the parking lot and parked on the front row right near the door. Once in, it was easy maneuvering - yes there were people but we had no trouble. We walked around the main level and then took the elevator up to the top level. Before we left we walked all around the inside of the stadium and when we left we walked all the way around the outside of the stadium. It was a very nice outing - the Stadium is very nice and very roomy - easy access for Marcie's power chair and the few doors we went through were also large enough to get through easily.

Last summer rain storm

Abby, Hannah and Joey

Last Sat. we had a rain storm in Arlington - I saw something I have not seen in such a long time - I used to do it myself - the neighbor children were playing in the rain - getting soaking wet - running by the curb where the water was up to their ankles - I just stood on the front porch and watched them play - they were soaking wet and loving it - no lightening and warm so they were not in any danger and they were right in front of their house.

Happy Birthday - Steece Quads - in their birth order:

Andrew (1), Savannah (2), Ethan (3) and Benjamin (4)

Miss Savannah's pink T-shirt.

I also gave them 2 book that my neighbor's neice had written. My neighbor, Ann had showed me the books a few months ago and I knew when I saw them I had to order them and give them to the Quads for their 2nd birthday.

The books are called: God Is with Me through the Day and God Is with Me through the Night by Julie cantrell. You can order these book from: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_3_9?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=julie+cantrell&sprefix=Julie+can

Long time friends !

Long time friends came to visit today -

I could not go to our high school runion so 3 of my friends came to me - we ate, shopped and looked at Arlington's newest attraction -the Cowboy's stadium.

me- Linda K - Eileen - Brenda

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This was taken Senior Day in Waco - a few years ago -

Me - Eileen - Brenda - Beverly

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Me - Eileen - Brenda today

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Taken not sure when this was taken - elementary school maybe

for a very special party.

Susan - Me

Linda K - Susie

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Linda K and me today

Now we are planning our next outing in Sept.

It was a very very fun day !

I had not seen these friends in several years -
they do not live in Arlington.

I met Linda K when we were in the 2nd. grade - I have always called her Linda K since we had 5 Linda's in our Blue Bird group so we all had to go by our first and middle names.

Eileen we met in junior high - North Jr. -

and Brenda we met in high school - Richfield High school.

Our float -Noah's Ark - number 141 - was one of the last floates to pull out of the UTA's parking lot on a very hot but windy Saturday July 4th. in Arlington's 4th. of July parade - the largest 4th of July parade in Texas. The float was filled with children from North Davis Church of Christ - children from age 4 to 11. With parents and grandparents walking along side the float.

The fireman made an arch with their ladders for us to go under - however this is looking back after we had gone under the arch of the ladders.

This was the first year for North Davis to be in the parade - I think every one had a good time - I know I did - I walked with them.

What Is IT?

Go to downtown Arlington, TX tomorrow, Sat. The 4th of July, at 9:00 and see just what this is!

But you will have to wait a while - out of 150 units we are 141.

Mr. Six and Bugs Bunny at Six Flags Over Texas

Monday started out at a neighbor's swimming pool - we all went - my 2 grand boys, Marcie, her Dad and myself. Only the boys got in the water.

Later in the afternoon we went to play with the Steece quads - again we all went!

We started outside in their back yard but we were chased in the house by a wasp right where we were - - -

Drew was very fascinated with the wheels on Marcie's wheelchair - saying "wheel, wheel" over and over and pointing to the wheel on her chair. Then he discovered the letter board between Marcie and the side of her wheelchair - he then started moving it up and down and as doing so saying "up" "down" as he moved the board in that direction - he knew the difference between up and down! Smart little boy! And he is not even 2 years old yet.

On Tuesday after a rain shower in the morning my 2 "grand boys" and myself headed to Six Flags Over Texas for a few hours in the afternoon.

After ridding all the rides they wanted to ride not having to wait in any lines and ridding some rides twice - we saw Mr. Six and the Six Flags Characters dancing at the front gate by the Carousel. Since school was not out for everyone in our area Six Flags was not crowded at all

We had 2 very busy days - enjoying our "grand boys".

This video is not great - it was the first time I was trying to take videos using my new camera and then putting them on my blog - I did have to ask Suzanne for help. Thanks muchly girl - I did get this one to work ---

May is ALS Awareness month

This article is taken from the MDA / ALS Magazine which is sent

to all those who are registered with MDA and have ALS.

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Since May is ALS Awareness month -the magazine is featuring

families of long term ALS survivors -

Marcie being one such survivor-

and myself, her mother.

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’It’s What I Do’

It’s all about family and faith, says Linda Gibson of Arlington, Texas, a full-time caregiver to her daughter Marcie, who has lived with ALS for more than 15 years.
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Linda Gibson has been her daughter’s full-time caregiver for 15 years.
A preschool teacher for 25 years prior to Marcie’s illness, Gibson sometimes misses her career, but says, “taking care of Marcie is what I’m meant to do now, and I’m so glad I get to do it.” To this end, she has become an expert in Marcie’s high-tech care and also has learned to take time to care for herself.
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A grandmother of two, Gibson says her mother-friend-caregiver relationship with Marcie, now 38, has evolved since Marcie received her diagnosis at age 23, just as she prepared to graduate from college.
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“I had to learn how to stop treating her as a child and start treating and listening to her as an adult,” admits Gibson, who prides herself on being able to read Marcie’s eyes. “I always try very hard to respect her wishes, and Marcie always makes her own decisions.”
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Gibson finds ways to take some time for herself. While Marcie’s using her eye-tracking communication device, Gibson surfs the Internet and communicates with other parents of children with ALS. She also enjoys gardening, crocheting and scrapbooking in free moments here and there. In the evenings, while Marcie’s father is at home, Gibson goes out for a 45-minute to an hour walk, or runs errands.
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She advises other parents/caregivers to try to live as normal a life as possible.
“Your child is always your child no matter what their age. I’m very proud of my daughter and the way she’s fighting ALS. I just do anything she needs. It’s just what I do."

You can view the entire magazine at:

http://www.als-mda.org/publications/als/als-curr.html

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In the picture, which was staged and taken by me of myself using a try pod and my new digital camera. I even had to lean how to set the self timer on the camera. That is Marcie's ventilator -her vent -for those reading this and you do not know what that is - that is the machine that breaths for her.

And featured on MDA's web site: http://www.als-mda.org/anyone/2009series/May_6.html
are the story's of 30 PALS (people with ALS) - A different story each day during the month of May. Featured on Wed. May 6th was Alex's story - Alex's Mom and I are "Internet" friends. He is a 19 year old young man DX last year with ALS.

Please read his story - - -

Anyone can be DX with ALS - no matter their age - Marcie was 23 when she was DX in 1994 and Alex was 18 (DX in 2008) - Libby was 23 (DX in 1994)- Amber was 23 (DX in 2008) and Haley was only 16 (DX in 2008) - we as mother of these "kids" stick together on the Internet encouraging each other -


And on Sat. May 16 you will read about another of my Internet friends Mary - Mary's sister-in-law, Faith, goes to my church. Faith connected Mary and I soon after Mary was DX with ALS. Mary and I communicate a lot by way of e-mail. We are about the same age.

Clink on the link below to read about Mary and all the 30 PALS featured in May on

Anyone's Life Story:

http://www.als-mda.org/anyone/2009series/

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And I hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day -I did - my other daughter, her husband and my 2 grandsons came by this afternoon for an hour - Marcie had just ask to go outside when they got here so we sat outside in the sunshine. Soon after, my son and his wife came for supper - it was a very nice day -

Thank You God for this nice Mother's Day for me and I hope many other mothers also.

Watch CSI tonight - April 9th

Watch CSI tonight to see the computer that Marcie uses by Eye Response in action - it will be featured on this TV show tonight April 9th

Check out the new Eye Response brochure !

You might want to look at this new Eye Response brochure. I have the paper copy but I just found it on their site last night. As you will see - this is the computer Marcie uses daily !
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Be sure to let the site change pictures at least 3 or 4 times if you do not see someone you recognize at first.

http://www.eyeresponse.com/

IS IT SPRING YET ?

Marcie's Prayer Warriors

Here is the youngest member of Marcie's Prayer Warriors - Nate was 3 months old in Jan.

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The team walked in the MDA Walk held this past Jan. at Grapevine Mills Mall. Mandy, Nate's mom, has been heading up this team for Marcie, raising money for ALS research, for 9 years now. This year the team raised $3,000 for ALS research. The team is made up mostly of members from our church. We appreciate all they do for us so much ! ! ! This year Mandy was ask to tell the entire group at MDA's Stride and Ride Walk just why she started this team and for whom !

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Note the #4 on Nate's cap - this was Lou Gehrig's number when he played for the New York Yankee's baseball team.

Blog to Blog - connecting people

Elizabeth had twins -I signed in on her blog - someone saw my comment and checked out my blog - not unusually - except when this person started thinking back to her childhood something clicked.
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When Marcie was first diagnosed with ALS - somehow we met a lady named Brenda who also had ALS - I remember like yesterday -Brenda and her Mom, Marcie and I met for lunch at Grandy's in Richland Hills -I have hardly passed that place in years but when I do I always remember the day I met Brenda and her Mom there.

Brenda had lost her arm strength when we first met - Marcie could still carry her tray but her arms were weak. Brenda could not carry her tray -her mom carried her tray for her. In the months that followed I was caring Marcie's tray as Brenda's Mom had carried hers.

I kept up with Brenda talking to her and her parents on the phone - the somehow - I kinda think her Dad called me to tell me when Brenda lost her battle with ALS. I remember talking to Brenda's daughter at times - just because she answered the phone.

I may have talked to her Mom & Dad - Brenda's Mom & Dad - a couple of times after that and then we lost touch -till this week -

Brenda's daughter Corrie, had gone to ACU with Elizabeth so she was reading Elizabeth's blog - after reading my comment on Elizabeth blog and her checking out my blog Corrie put two and two together and sent me an email saying " This might be the strangest email you will ever receive" explaining just who she was - we have been "talking" ever since by way of email.

Corrie wrote a very sweet posting on her blog today (March 6th) about us reconnecting:
http://mommyloftin.blogspot.com/

God did this - I just know it - for some reason only known to HIM - HE put us back in touch with each other after all these years.

God does everything for a reason -

Kinley and Madelyn are home

The Tarrant twins got home from the NICU last week - being loved by their parent in their home! I have not been to see them yet but I plan on going very soon.

Check out their blog to see pictures of the twins: http://etarrant.blogspot.com/

Twin girls - born last night

The youngest of the Diaper Darlings is now a Mom to twin girls -Kinley Margaret and Madelyn Clare were born last night close to 9:00 to Chris and Elizabeth. Suzanne sent me a text and soon after I headed to the hospital. I have know Elizabeth since she was born and it seamed fitting that I was at the hospital when her girls were born.

Here is Elizabeth's blog where Suzanne is keeping everyone posted on the twins.
http://etarrant.blogspot.com/

Picturers are up with more to follow I am sure- - -

Elizabeth was OK when I saw her for just a second last night after the delivery and Chris was on cloud 9 - camera in hand - when I left the hospital at 10:00 he was in the waiting room surrounded by family and friends already down loading pictures on his lap top for all to see.

So check her blog to watch these precious "Gifts from God" grow.

I can not wait to really see the girl in person - I got a tiny glimpse of one in the NICU through a crack in the door last night.

Thank you God for keeping this family safe and for giving them 2 precious little girls.

15 years with ALS

It has now been 15 years since our lives were changed forever - first diagnosed in Dallas and then a trip to Houston to confirm that our daughter - only 23 years old at that time - had ALS(Lou Gehrig's Disease). A disease that strikes the average age of a person 55 years old - more men than women - however since I have been learning more and more about this "monster" disease it strikes ALL AGES. It has no treatment or cure. If you do not know - it is a progressive degenerative muscle disease - killing the motor neurons in your body which makes you muscles work.

Here is the site for MDA /ALS division on line: http://www.als-mda.org/
and ALSA national web site: http://www.alsa.org/

However my daughter has "Beaten the Odds" - fighting to live well past what the doctors told us to expect which just goes to show God is in control of our live. HE still has plans for Marcie and our family. She has touched so many lives in her lifetime.

I am so very proud of my daughter - she has NEVER GIVEN UP !

Going from a very active person to a wonderful adult. She is so smart and can communicate so fast on her Eye Response computer called ERICA. http://www.eyeresponse.com/

I could go on and on about her but I will not.

The children from down the street come by to see her - they came on her birthday - a very cold night in Nov. and sang Happy Birthday to her from the porch as she sat inside the house. The other day they came down and stood at her window saying "Hi Marcie" "Hi Marcie" and as Hannah left - she is 5 - she said "I love you Marcie".

We pray for a miracle everyday - maybe it will happen soon.

I need your help !

For those of you who know my email address - please send me an email so I can have your email address again - I lost just about all my email addresses and need to rebuild my address back up - my computer had to be cleaned out - I lost so much - should know better then to always count on a machine - thank you - Linda

Message to PALS & CALS

15 years ago this month our lives changed forever!

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In the months that followed Marcie would go monthly to UT Southwestern in Dallas for breathing tests since she was in two different drug trials in those first 3 yeas after diagnoses. In one of the rooms where the breathing test was done was a copy of a picture like this - but it was not colored in - a copy was given to Marcie and she colored it in -

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All PALS and CALS must remember NEVER GIVE UP !

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ALS is awful - for not only the person with ALS but their family members and friends but we all must NEVER GIVE UP - God has always been in our lives but especially during the past 15 years God has been with Marcie and our family - without God we never could have made it - we do not understand this but we have learned to accept it - it is all in God's plan for our life. We are praying for a cure and a miracle to put a stop to ALS forever.

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In some ways the past 15 years have been so long but in other ways it was like yesterday -

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So to all PALS and CALS - NEVER GIVE UP ! ! !

Ice for a day !

Many of our trees were covered with ice today - Saturday it was 80 degrees - today it was freezing - BUT that is Texas for you - hot one day ice the next - or the next day ! Tomorrow it will be warm again - I bet!

It did look so pretty on the trees - it was not on the roads so that was OK!