NEW POST FROM SOPHIE!!!

Thank you to all of our friends, family, and good people who are following the blog, that may not know us in person but who think of us and have prayed for our sweet Emma. We thank God every day for the prayers you have all made and for our baby's life. I won't be updating the blog as often as I did while in the hospital, but promise to keep you posted every now and then, and of course when Emma goes back to the hospital to have her skull put in, or if anything happens before then. In the meantime, I just want to share with you that I finally got around to re-reading all of the cards, letters, children's wishes and prayers that were sent to us throughout this nightmare. I was so touched that so many people care for our Emma and wish her well. I have put all of these letters and cards away in a special bag to keep forever, for Emma to see how much she is loved. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts.

I also wanted to ask for your help. The Ronald McDonald House was our 'home away from home' while we lived at the hospital for 43 days. Before our stay, I had always heard of the 'Ronald McDonald House Charities', but never knew what it was, or what they did. To me, Ronald McDonald was the yellow, white and red clown guy that made burgers! Well what the RMH really does is offer a home, a place of comfort, a place where everyone understands what you are going through and lifts you up any way possible. It's not just a room to sleep in, a shower, food... it's so much more. The people who volunteer at the house are amazing - everywhere you turn, someone is smiling, understanding your pain, offering you what they can to make you feel better. I will always be greatful for RMH and what they offered us when we were in such pain.

The RMH is always in need of donations - the smallest things you wouldn't even think of are always appreciated. Unopened toys, travel size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, toiletries, laundry detergent, Bounce sheets, leftover party supplies, plastic cutlery, socks, snacks, canned foods, frozen foods, paper plates, paper towels, and so much more...

If you have any 'extras' you would like to donate, I would be happy to collect them from you and bring it over to the house, or you can bring them directly there. Monetary donations are welcome as well. Here is their website: www.RMHCSD.org

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving... we will definitely be enjoying ours with our little Emma home to eat turkey with us!

Love,
Sophie and Tyler

NEW TUPPERWARE FUNDRAISER by Rachel Kite Windle!!

Tupperware - Emma Crew Fundraiser!
Nov. 16th - Dec 5th. 40% of your purchase goes to The Emma Crew Fund.

http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod_www/!tw$shop.p_category?pv_ic_code=efund15
(Copy and paste link to your browser to view I am having trouble getting the link to work) - Kristina

Upcoming Events to Benefit The Emma Crew Fund!! COME JOIN IF YOU CAN!!!

ENCINITAS ROUNDTABLE PIZZA PARTY FUNDRAISER
When: Tuesday, November 17th - 5:30-9pm
Where: Roundtable Encinitas - 1321 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas - (760) 753-8303
15% of the evening's proceeds will go to the Emma Crew fund, so bring your appetite & enjoy some yummy RT pizza while helping the Crew Family! They'll be a silent auction with tons of great items from Etnies, Reef, Soupplantation, Infantino, Smith Sunglasses, Surfshot.com, and much more. Silent Auction will start at 6pm & will close at 8pm. Please print out this page & give to the cashier when ordering (so they can track the Emma Fund donations).

PUMPITUP FUNdraiser When: Wednesday, Dec. 9th - 4pm - 7:30pm Where: PUMPITUP Murrietta - 41785 Elm St Suite 203, Murrieta, CA 92562-9275 - (951) 600-9663 There will be two sessions for you to choose from, 4-6pm or 5:30-7:30. For $10.00 a child they get unlimited play in both arenas, pizza and drinks. Call and Reserve your space! Limited spaces, 1st come, 1st served. Prepaid reservations required! 951-600-9663

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE CREW FAMILY!!!

Baby Emma & Crew Family Update : ) 11.9.09

Thanks to baby Emma's Mom, Sophie for providing us with one last update on how baby Emma's doing since she's been home. It is so nice to think that the Crew family is getting back to normal life & that we all won't have to be rushing to our computers for updates on how baby Emma is doing every second of the day. Praise God for everything he has done for this family : )

I'll continue to post mini updates every now and then if I get word of something exciting like a first crawl, word, etc. & will also be sure to post about any upcoming fundraising events for "The Emma Crew Fund". Stay tuned for ways you can continue to help the Crew family & please continue to keep baby Emma in your prayers....that she continues to march proudly & safely down the road to full recovery. The road ahead is sure to be a long & windy one, but what a beautiful one it will be!

Home Sweet Home...
It has been a little over a week that our sweet Emma has come home. Discharge papers signed, Tyler and I couldn't get out of the hospital fast enough - the moment we pushed through those hospital doors and out to the parking lot, I felt a ray of sunshine pour over me and gave me a sense of warm, giddy happiness... We were finally bringing our baby home!
The drive from the hospital reminded me of the day we brought her home when she was born, just over a year ago..."Honey, easy on the brakes... Honey, watch that turn... Honey, is she comfortable? Honey I should sit in the back seat with her".
Her first moments at home were spent quietly assessing her surroundings... we greeted 'Pumba', Miller Dog, Socksie Kitty, her abundance of Elmo toys in the family room, the rocking chair where I would rock her at night, the grass in the back yard where she would play. She didn't say much, but it was all coming back to her little by little. Gramps was there to greet her too, and Uncle Gav couldn't miss his niece's homecoming either. She took it all in quietly and calmly.
Her first night was a bit difficult - sleeping on and off in 2-3 hour increments. Ty and I took turns comforting her through the night. Although she had a rough night, I think she was comforted by being in her own bed again, with all of her familiar smells, sounds, and familiarity. Emmy still needs her melatonin every night as she still wakes, and her naps are pretty irregular. I am hoping that this disturbance in melatonin production will eventually regulate itself.
The past week has been tremendous in Emma's rehabilitation. Being home has been doing wonders for her. She remembers her home, her toys, her sister... she wants more than anything to be able to play like she used to, and she tries, but gets frustrated because she realizes she can't get there by herself anymore. She can't pull herself up, roll over, sit up, crawl, or do anyting on her own. However, if we prop her in a standing position and hold her hands, she will take steps, so that is huge! She can stay in a standing position as long as we hold her hand! We have to be by her side at all times though, holding her, assisting, watching her and guiding her right arm movement. She is easily frustrated with her inability to be indipendant, but I remind myself of how lucky we are that she even has the desire and drive to play and move around... we are so blessed to have her.
There are two picture frames on our entry way console table. Both have been empty since my good friend Leanne, brought the pictures they housed to me in the hospital, to put up in Emma's room. I put the pictures back in their frames today... 'EmmaBabyLegs.jpg' and 'CrewFamily.jpg' are back where they should be. CrewFamily.jpg is back where it should be... home.

Love,
Sophie and Tyler

Baby Emma - 11.6.09 - Mini Update : )

Haven't received a full blog update from Emma's Mom, Sophie in the last week, but we have received lil tidbits of wonderful facebook postings & emails saying how happy the Crew family is to be together again at home!! So for now, we'll all trust that Emma, the Crew family's MIRACLE baby...is continuing to make amazing steps forward in her recovery & that the Crew family is busy enjoying life again : )

Prayers & good thoughts still going strong for you baby girl...XoXo!!

Baby Emma Update - 10.29.09

As I wipe the tears of joy from my face...I really am at a loss of words of what to say tonight as I post this update from Emma's Mom Sophie. The joy is unmeasurable...indescribable...absolutely abundant & overflowing!!!!! For 42 days, God has been listening. Tonight, we praise his name & shout his glory to the heavens as we thank him for answered prayers. Baby Emma...we love you more than you'll ever truly know honey. And Sophie, Tyler & Ava...thank you for letting us hold your hands over the last 6 weeks. You inspire us beyond belief...

Tomorrow...we will pray for continued healing...but tonight we will rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!!!!

Day 42: Emma and I went for a wagon ride throughout the hospital tonight. It was bitter-sweet. Bitter because of all of those dark memories that will forever be burned into my memory... Sweet because... well let's get through the bitter first...
As I pulled the wagon by the PICU doors, I recalled the many times I ran out of those doors in tears, scared, angry, sad. The many times Tyler and I walked in through those doors after her many procedures, anxious, nervous, sick to our stomachs.
I made my way through the hallway a few steps and memories of that first day - those first moments came flashing back... I looked to the window and remembered my social worker allowing me to 'stand right there' so I could catch a brief glimpse of my baby girl as she was being urgently wheeled through the hallway, surrounded by the trauma team... I had no idea what was happening - why was my baby not breathing on her own? Why was she unconscious? What were we doing here? What happened?
We passed by the radiology room (aka CT scan room) and I recalled all of Emma's numerous 'emergency' scans - Ty and I would always follow Emma's gurney to the doors and wait right outside, praying for good results, crying, fearful for the news to come...
Emma and I made our way back to our current room in Rehab, and walked by the NICU waiting room, where I would escape to at night for a few minutes of solitude. I remember hugging that young new mother who was crying for her 4 day old baby. That hug actually made me turn a new leaf in my faith. I felt like maybe I should give Him a shot. I did. It worked. He listened. He still listens.
Ending our wagon ride, we walked through the door to our room and I recalled the wonderful, amazing doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists that we met along the way. I thought of all of you, many who we don't even know in person, who have reached out to us to offer your prayers and positive thoughts, inspiring stories, and words of courage and sympathy. There are good people out there.
I looked around the room and breathed a sigh of relief as I looked at my baby girl ... this is our last night here. Now that's sweet.
Love,
Sophie and Tyler

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Home Sweet Home

Motley Crew : ) - 1985

You know I'm a dreamer

But my heart's of gold

I had to run away high

So I wouldn't come home low

Just when things went right

Doesn't mean they were always wrong

Just take this song and you'll never feel

Left all alone

Take me to your heart

Feel me in your bones

Just one more night

And I'm comin' off this Long and winding road

Chorus

I'm on my way, I'm on my way

Home Sweet Home

Tonight, tonight...I'm on my way, I'm on my way

Home sweet home

You know that I've seen

Too many romantic dreams

Up in lights, fallin' off the silver screen

My heart's like an open book

For the whole world to read

Sometimes nothing keeps me together at the seams

Chorus

I'm on my way, I'm on my way

Home sweet home

Tonight, tonight....I'm on my way, just set me free...Home Sweet Home

Ouuuh...I'm on my way, I'm on my way...Home sweet home!!!

Yeaaaah....I'm on my way, just set me free....Home Sweet Home!!!

Grossmont High School Blood Drive Tomorrow!! 10.29.09

Some of Sophie Crew's colleagues have organized a blood drive tomorrow at Grossmont High School : ) So if you're in the East County area, please stop by & donate blood under Emma Crew's account. Your donation will be used if Emma should need any blood in the future for transfusions or surgeries. If you can't make it tomorrow, keep in mind that you can donate anytime at any blood bank site...the account stays open. Just be sure to mention Emma Crew's name.

Grossmont High School

THURSDAY OCTOBER 29TH FROM 8 AM to 1:30 PM

1100 Murray Dr. El Cajon 92020
619-668-6000
Blessings & THANK YOU!! : )