Thankful for...

I suppose now would be a fitting time to step back into the blogosphere and begin to post again. How fitting it would be given that Thanksgiving is today that I re-enter this realm with a post about all the things I'm thanksful for...

I am first and foremost thankful for my children. Luciano is my beacon of light and Marcelo always reminds me of what living life to the fullest should mean. I am thankful for being able to watch them sleep and to hear them breathe. I am deeply thankful for hearing them laugh, for the laugh of a child radiates and heals. I am thankful they are both healthy, despite Marcelo's heart defects he is a healthy normal little toddler and Luciano has a constitution like no other. I am thankful that Luciano recognizes compassion and has a deep sense of self worth and I am thankful that Marcelo is stubborn and a fighter, because these qualities will fair well for his battles in life with CHD. I am thankful for the comedy they provide for me and the kisses they shower me with. For them I am thankful.

I am thankful for my husband Edgard, for without him none of the above paragraph would be possible. I am thankful that he works hard to take care of our family and does so without question. I am thankful that he plays Mr. Mom, especially as of late when I have been working. I am thankful after all these years and all my craziness he still loves me like it was day on of our marriage. I am thankful he sees me as his queen and I am thankful he treats me as an equal. I am thankful he is the warrior who protects his family without question and I am thankful for his undying dedication to me. For him I am thankful.

I am thankful for my mother, she always steps up to the plate and takes care of her baby (me). I am thankful she's willing to watch my children even though I know it is tough on her because Mr. Marcelo can be quite a handful. I am thankful she is the Matriarch of our family, to take care of us, to be there for us and to do so lovingly and so well. I am thankful she is still as vibrant and capable as she has always been, I am thankful she's still stronger than me and that she is amazing. For her I am thankful.

I am thankful for my father. I am thankful for the amazing gift of wisdom he implores on Luciano as they walk home from school many days a week. I am thankful he's able to be with Marcelo while he's little and I am thankful for his help when I make him fix my stuff. For him I am thankful.

For my siblings I am thankful:

I am thankful for Keith, who despite our occasional differences in the past, over the last year I have been able to get to know him on a level to which prior I did not know. I am thankful for his advice and all the nights we spend chatting while he's in his hotel rooms, for him I am thankful.

For Traci I am thankful. Although we live so far away and don't EVER get to see each other I'm glad we have Facebook to know each other and share that sisterly bond, for her I am thankful.

I'm thankful for Todd, because although we might not speak much he's taught me a great lesson in compassion and in forgiveness and for that lesson I am thankful.

For Angela Maria I am thankful. She may not be my sister by blood but she is my sister in every sense of the word. She is the Godmother for both of my children and she loves them as her own, she has been there for me for most of my life and has showered me with love and friendship of which prior I could not comprehend. She is an amazing woman and a complete mentor for me who has been an integral part in teaching me life's lessons and becoming who I am today. For her I am thankful.

I am thankful for Congenital Heart Defects, and although I wish with every inch of my being I never had to know them and that no child should ever have to struggle and deal with such abhorrent existences I am thankful that it has taught me just how precious life is and has brought some wonderful people into my life who are a unique arm of my family because we share such an amazing bond through CHD. Friends who have changed me and helped me grow with my son's defects and helped to make me a stronger mother through adversity:

I am thankful for Heloisa who is an amazing woman, who always knows the right thing to say when I am on the dark side of the moon, who's son will hopefully grow up with mine as a brother in the CHD world and they will fight the fight and win because they are warriors. I am thankful to her for showing me that with diversity and diplomacy is the only way to live. I am thankful for all the late nights we spend chatting and especially laughing because sometimes laughter is the best medicine, for her I am thankful.

I am thankful for Valerie, although we live quite a ways away I was honored to meet her in person in her home last summer because she and I share a wonderful bond that makes us understand one another on a profound level. From culinary en devours, to justice, to being CHD mothers we share so much. For her I am thankful.

I am thankful for Karin, because I can recall more than one occasion I have looked to her for CHD advice. We share the same pediatric cardiologist and knowing she's there when I have a question is always nice, for her I am thankful.

I am thankful for Alexia because she amazes me with her tenacity and strength. She's tough like her mother but a mentor in a way because she teaches me that living with CHD is just an obstacle and overcoming it in the mind is possible, for her I am thankful.

I am thankful for Samantha, for although we are oceans apart our sons have an identical defects which has bonded us from the beginning. I only hope one day we can meet in person and watch as our boys play together as brothers, for her I am thankful.

For ALL of my CHD family I love you and am thankful.

I am thankful for my friends:

I am thankful for Melissa who stays up late to have coffee at Denny's until all hours, who's always there for me and has ALWAYS been there for me from the beginning when I met her four years ago. She's been a rock for me during all that I've gone through with Marcelo and lots of other aspects of my life. From the time she came to the hospital and stayed through the first intense hours of ordeal after Marcelo was born and she held my hand as my newborn son was airlifted to Los Angeles to just being there if I needed her to watch Luciano, she is amazing. I am thankful for her unwavering friendship and even though our lives don't allow us daily conversations we can know that we are sisters. Her peaceful demeanor is calming and helps me to be rational when occasionally I cannot be, for her I am thankful.

I am thankful for Tiffeny. Not just for the thanks I owe her for taking Luciano to school and chatting with me in the mornings I really thank her for loving my children and genuinely caring for them. Knowing that Marcelo lights up when he sees his TT every morning and that Luciano can know her son as a "brother form another mother" makes my heart happy. For her dastardly sense of humor that rivals mine and makes for not only fun conversation but hours of fun, I know that she's a friend without judgement and I can count on her whenever, for her I am thankful.

I am thankful for my job, although it is a very new part of my life it helps to ground me, it helps to educate me, it helps to pay bills and above all else it helps me to help others who are looking to change their health and their lives. I am thankful.

For Facebook I am thankful, for knowledge I am thankful. For daydreaming, good food and wonder I am thankful. For vision, strength and justice I am thankful. For all of you who read this I am thankful. May this day of Thanksgiving be a renewal in all that is lacking in our lives. For life...I AM THANKFUL!