We arrived home on Thursday night. I have been laying low and feeling sick every since. Many bring back mugs and others shirts, but I brought back the swine flu- although I suddenly prefer the more professional label of H1N1; makes me sound less like someone out rolling around in slop. Anyway, I am fine, and there is no one better to come down with this in our household than me. Drink fluids, take drugs, and stay away from the kids. Ginny is an utter champ, as she has handled the kiddos alone, as well as attempting to get back to life after traveling.
The New York trip was quite wild. Apparently, Hazel saw fit to cop a NY-sized attitude on this trip. She craves routine, and we messed with her still forming mind. She was more than happy to let us know what she thought about it. We are going on our annual Michigan trip sometime in July, but other than this, I think we’ll take a little break on traveling together as a family- until sometime around when Hazel can take the wheel on a long roadtrip.
With that said, Hazel meltdowns and pork malaise aside, we would do it all over again. Because for us, the opportunity to talk about our son is quite compelling. The Today show crew was very kind to us and we are appreciative of the way they have handled our story. I think overall, we felt good about the interview. Sure, we always walk away wondering what we said and wishing we could have worked in this or that, but if we have learned anything it is that all that is required of us is honesty. Just tell the story. It is more powerful than anything we could produce in and of ourselves.
If there was something we did not address or did not get to touch on, and you would genuinely like to know, please feel free to ask us anything. It could be about our time with Eliot or our work with 99 Balloons or about grief or faith or whatever. Feel free to ask via comment or e-mail.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
1,116 Comments
We arrived home on Thursday night. I have been laying low and feeling sick every since. Many bring back mugs and others shirts, but I brought back the swine flu- although I suddenly prefer the more professional label of H1N1; makes me sound less like someone out rolling around in slop. Anyway, I am fine, and there is no one better to come down with this in our household than me. Drink fluids, take drugs, and stay away from the kids. Ginny is an utter champ, as she has handled the kiddos alone, as well as attempting to get back to life after traveling.
The New York trip was quite wild. Apparently, Hazel saw fit to cop a NY-sized attitude on this trip. She craves routine, and we messed with her still forming mind. She was more than happy to let us know what she thought about it. We are going on our annual Michigan trip sometime in July, but other than this, I think we’ll take a little break on traveling together as a family- until sometime around when Hazel can take the wheel on a long roadtrip.
With that said, Hazel meltdowns and pork malaise aside, we would do it all over again. Because for us, the opportunity to talk about our son is quite compelling. The Today show crew was very kind to us and we are appreciative of the way they have handled our story. I think overall, we felt good about the interview. Sure, we always walk away wondering what we said and wishing we could have worked in this or that, but if we have learned anything it is that all that is required of us is honesty. Just tell the story. It is more powerful than anything we could produce in and of ourselves.
If there was something we did not address or did not get to touch on, and you would genuinely like to know, please feel free to ask us anything. It could be about our time with Eliot or our work with 99 Balloons or about grief or faith or whatever. Feel free to ask via comment or e-mail.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
1,116 Comments
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on May 2, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Well, gotta tell ya you guys looked great and kids behaved themselves quite well. Now I’ll comment on the audio after we get the sound board replaced in this laptop. Yeah, I watched the whole thing with no sound. Found out I’m not such a good lip reader. I like the clips from rEcess, especially the one man act, Dima! So, glad you guys got Ann and not Matt (too intimidating). And sorry about the swine..EERRR…H1N1. Get well and see ya Friday.
.-= JM Hairston´s last blog ..Development, I love that word =-.
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on May 3, 2010 at 10:40 am
So glad you guys had a great trip, interview, birthday celebration, anniversary, family trip, etc. (even if it was a little chaotic and sickly and full of meltdowns). Thanks for linking the interview – I had to miss it and had planned on dvr’ing it but forgot! It was an awseome interview!
.-= Leigh Kirby Collins´s last blog ..Funny Anna Talk =-.
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on May 3, 2010 at 10:43 am
Your children are beautiful! And your story is beautiful as well, loved your piece on the Today Show, I bawled, but am inspired by you and your family. Has it been a concern to have more children after Eliot, worried about the same genetic abnormalties happening to any more of your children?
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on May 3, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Yesterday’s reading at mass smacked me head on…and tho i’d heard it thousands of times,…i was not ready for how i felt, after looking down at Elizabeth Hope in her car seat, sound asleep….”He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away. The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21:4-5
We are living the NEW now. with you guys always. what a connection i feel to your family of 5. with love from this family of 5. – c.
.-= Chris Milbrandt´s last blog ..Look what she did… =-.
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on May 3, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Matt–I hope you feel better quickly.
That interview was incredible. Absolutely incredible.
.-= natalie´s last blog ..Randomness =-.
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on May 4, 2010 at 9:49 pm
I have followed your sweet family since Elliot was born. It’s a blessing to be able to continue to follow your “family of five.” Thank you for the blog and the encouragement it is for so many. I appreciate your honesty, vulnerability and also your humor. Thank you for sharing yourselves with the world. I pray that as people see you and read your blog that they are drawn to the One who gives you hope.
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on May 7, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Wow, that movie really charged my batteries. Lucky you posted it cause here in Romania we don’t have the Today Show so you thought well 🙂
Dear Ginny,
You might remember me, I wrote you a letter about 6 months ago when the doctors here said my baby girl Maria had Trisomy 18. Well, my baby didn’t have it after all, they were wrong. She was born with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and Chiari 2 malformation. We were fearing the worst but God sent us a miracle. After two surgeries, you can’t even tell she was born with a delicate condition. She is healthy and normal and will be able to walk and do everything a normal child does, despite what all the doctors said would happen.
She is such a happy baby. It’s enough for me to just look at her and she’ll start smiling, making me so happy that I didn’t listen to the doctors and kept her.Eliot was the main person who encouraged me to go through this whole journey. Even though I was devastated and didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, the thought of Eliot pushed me further ahead.
He inspired me to fight for this baby and fight against everyone who told me to give her up. So thank you Matt and Ginny. Thank you for letting me get to know you and sweet Eliot. It has truly made a difference in my life.You continue to inspire and you remain a family I look up to.
God bless you all. You are truly wonderful!
Cristina
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on May 11, 2010 at 6:32 pm
You are an amazing family, and will always hold a special place in my heart. (and i love the bangs Ginny!)
Well, gotta tell ya you guys looked great and kids behaved themselves quite well. Now I’ll comment on the audio after we get the sound board replaced in this laptop. Yeah, I watched the whole thing with no sound. Found out I’m not such a good lip reader. I like the clips from rEcess, especially the one man act, Dima! So, glad you guys got Ann and not Matt (too intimidating). And sorry about the swine..EERRR…H1N1. Get well and see ya Friday.
.-= JM Hairston´s last blog ..Development, I love that word =-.
So glad you guys had a great trip, interview, birthday celebration, anniversary, family trip, etc. (even if it was a little chaotic and sickly and full of meltdowns). Thanks for linking the interview – I had to miss it and had planned on dvr’ing it but forgot! It was an awseome interview!
.-= Leigh Kirby Collins´s last blog ..Funny Anna Talk =-.
Your children are beautiful! And your story is beautiful as well, loved your piece on the Today Show, I bawled, but am inspired by you and your family. Has it been a concern to have more children after Eliot, worried about the same genetic abnormalties happening to any more of your children?
Yesterday’s reading at mass smacked me head on…and tho i’d heard it thousands of times,…i was not ready for how i felt, after looking down at Elizabeth Hope in her car seat, sound asleep….”He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away. The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21:4-5
We are living the NEW now. with you guys always. what a connection i feel to your family of 5. with love from this family of 5. – c.
.-= Chris Milbrandt´s last blog ..Look what she did… =-.
Matt–I hope you feel better quickly.
That interview was incredible. Absolutely incredible.
.-= natalie´s last blog ..Randomness =-.
I have followed your sweet family since Elliot was born. It’s a blessing to be able to continue to follow your “family of five.” Thank you for the blog and the encouragement it is for so many. I appreciate your honesty, vulnerability and also your humor. Thank you for sharing yourselves with the world. I pray that as people see you and read your blog that they are drawn to the One who gives you hope.
Wow, that movie really charged my batteries. Lucky you posted it cause here in Romania we don’t have the Today Show so you thought well 🙂
Dear Ginny,
You might remember me, I wrote you a letter about 6 months ago when the doctors here said my baby girl Maria had Trisomy 18. Well, my baby didn’t have it after all, they were wrong. She was born with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and Chiari 2 malformation. We were fearing the worst but God sent us a miracle. After two surgeries, you can’t even tell she was born with a delicate condition. She is healthy and normal and will be able to walk and do everything a normal child does, despite what all the doctors said would happen.
She is such a happy baby. It’s enough for me to just look at her and she’ll start smiling, making me so happy that I didn’t listen to the doctors and kept her.
Eliot was the main person who encouraged me to go through this whole journey. Even though I was devastated and didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, the thought of Eliot pushed me further ahead.
He inspired me to fight for this baby and fight against everyone who told me to give her up. So thank you Matt and Ginny. Thank you for letting me get to know you and sweet Eliot. It has truly made a difference in my life.
You continue to inspire and you remain a family I look up to.
God bless you all. You are truly wonderful!
Cristina
You are an amazing family, and will always hold a special place in my heart. (and i love the bangs Ginny!)