Blog fav #4----I am her person....

Cristina: The clinic has a policy. They wouldn't let me confirm my appointment unless I designated an emergency contact person. Someone to be there is case and....to know help me home after. Anyway I put your name down, that's why I told you I'm pregnant. You're my person.

Meredith: I am?

Cristina: Yeah, you are. Whatever.

Meredith: Whatever.

Cristina: He dumped me. (Meredith puts her arm around her) You realize this constitutes hugging?

Meredith: Shut up...I'm your person.

So I am Rebecca's person.

I think that comes with being a best friend----you become family.

So Lexi had her birthday party at the Club......bouncy houses, spray on color hair, painting nails, Selena Gomez playing over and over........it was so much fun!I love girl parties where you dance and sing and play. After the party, we went to Build a Bear (she had gift cards she HAD to spend!) and did some shopping at the Mall. Me, Becca, Lexi and Isabel.

Rebecca started not feeling well and wanted to go home and go to bed. About an hour later, I came home to find her sick sick sick and in pain.

I asked her if we could go to the ER as at this point it was midnight. She agreed. But had to shower first. That's Rebecca. She'll be the one in labor showering and putting on makeup.

Spend four hours in the ER. It was awful.

She was in pain. And there was nothing nothing I could do. And that makes me and I'm sure others very very angry.

About 4am, she got a room in the ER. And they took her for a CatScan.

Before 5am, the doctor was back telling us that they needed to take out her apendix. This surgery would be sometime that day. By 6:00 am, they were back saying that surgery would be immediatly. As soon as the surgeon was on campus.

Her appendix was leaking. Leaking toxins into her body.

And then things started to happen very quickly.

We went from there to Pre op----and it's too early for me to get ahold of anyone, so there I am, listening to the doctors and nurses explain all there is to explain for a surgery.

And I sat there smiley and happy, taking pictures. Trying to comprehend everything.

Scared to death.

And exhausted. At this point I had not slept since the Saturday night/Sunday morning. Now it was Monday morning.

And so when they wheeled her into surgery.

And I started texting and then calling.

And within the hour my mama was there.

And Rebecca's sister.

And then my sister.

And that helped..........And before I knew it all sorts of family were there. It was just as much for me as it was for Becca.

And because I am her person, I got to go back first and see her. She had not done well after surgery as her body was reacting to something. So she had a fever and was sick and she had antibiotics dripping into her veins.

I came home about 3pm that day and showered---and felt myself starting to fall asleep while washing my hair. I was that tired. And I crashed and slept for 3 hours----It was wonderful.

Went back to the hospital and Mercy Gilbert is so nice, they had a couch in the room.

And Rebecca asked me to stay. And I fit perfectly onto that little couch. And slept well.

The following day they released her at 11pm. And she had three incision sites on her belly.

And staples in each one.

Still, after three weeks, she's still getting better----she still has pains and soreness. She still can't lift anything over 5 lbs. and she's still sleeping a lot.

But the toxins are gone out of her body.

And what I was reminded in all of this................you see who can put things aside and be there for you when you need them most. When you are in pain, get help. And lastly, nurses are truly miracle workers---I can't believe all they do and when you thank them and they say, "it is my pleasure" you believe them because they work out of love.

Blog #2----2nd fav article ever...

EAST VALLEY Father and daughter Live a life of community service
Boys and Girls Club Leaders Make Lasting Impact on the Community


TEMPE, Ariz– September 17, 2009 – Ramon Elias has been a staple in the non-profit community for over 37 years. He has served as the President and CEO of the East Valley Boys and Girls club for 13 of those years. During this time he and his wife, Mima has raised a family of 4 daughters, instilling an attitude of service in all of them. Eldest daughter Mindy Elias has followed in her fathers footsteps, she is the Branch Executive for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley’s Compadre Branch. Both father and daughter will be honored for their commitment to the community at two separate events.

Mindy Elias has been chosen as one of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Top 40 Under 40. The Top 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 Luncheon will be held Wednesday, September 23 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. The Chamber selected the top 40 key Hispanic business and community leaders for making significant contributions to the greater good of the community. These individuals best exemplify the integration of their best practices and support the community by contributing to society in ways that are an inspiration to others and use resources and creativity to enrich our community.
Elias, a former club member herself, has taken the reins at the East Valley’s largest Boys and Girls Club.

“My parents instilled a sense of service in all of us, it feels so good to work with these kids everyday and to know I’m making an impact in another person’s life. To be recognized by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber is such an honor it also gives me the opportunity to take some of the kids to the event to show them what other successful Hispanic leaders are doing in their communities”, said Elias. In addition to working in the non-profit sector, Mindy is involved with Arizona Cactus Pine Girl Scouts. She has volunteered with the House of Refuge East, Polytechnic Elementary School and Willis Junior High in Chandler and is a Young Life supporter.

Ramon Elias, President and CEO of the East Valley Boys and Girls Club be honored as Man of the Year by Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center on October 1 at 6:30 p.m. Villa Siena, 890 W. Elliot Rd. Gilbert.

Ramon was instrumental in helping Fresh Start Women’s services establish their East Valley presence. The organization is currently using the Gilbert branch of the Boys and Girls club as well as Gilbert Elementary School. The model is working well and could be expanded to include other East Valley Boys and Girls clubs. The Boys and Girls clubs are a natural fit as they are serving youth while Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center serves the mothers of those children as well as other mothers.
Ramon is also a lifetime member of the Chandler Compadres. “I am so honored to have been selected by the Fresh Start Women’s Center for their first annual award. I am also very proud of Mindy and her dedication to the youth of Chandler and her recognition from the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.”

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley (www.clubzona.org) serves more than 30,000 children and teens annually, and continues to grow to meet the needs of today’s youth, providing a positive place for all kids and teens. Serving members in Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Guadalupe, Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek, and the Gila River Indian Community, programs are offered after school and during the summer and provide youth and teens, ages 6 – 18, with fun and educational activities, supervised by professional staff. The organization also runs Mesa Arts Academy, a K-8 charter school. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley’s annual membership fee is only $20 dollars a year and financial assistance is available. No child is ever turned away if they are unable to pay the fee. www.clubzona.org
About Fresh Start
Fresh Start is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women help themselves. We do that through the work of the Jewell McFarland Lewis-Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center, the first comprehensive Center offering quality services to women seeking self-improvement.

Blog fav #1...,,my fav article

I love this article because it sounds like me!

by Weldon B. Johnson

The Republic/Azcentral.com

Mindy Elias wanted to be a teacher but wasn’t crazy about the idea of only having her students for one year. 

She found a way to have a longer-term impact on the lives of children , however, as she went to work for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley.  Elias is now branch executive of the Compadre club in Chandler. 

Her passion for her work and dedication to improving the lives of children got the attention of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  Elias, 35, was named one of 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 by the group.

“I received the phone call from the chamber and was just thrilled.”  Elias said.  “I knew I was nominated, but to be selected as one fo the top 40 is such an honor.”

Elias has been involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs of most of her life.  She was a club member before taking a part time job with the organization when she was 16.  After five years of part time job eventually turned into a career and she has been working for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley for 10 years. 

She said she majored in Education at Arizona State University but thought she could make a bigger impart on kids’ lilves through the club than in the classroom.

“If we get them at 5 and they stay until they are 18, I could make an impact over the course of time,” Elias said.  “As a teacher, you unfortunately only get them for a year.”

Elias said she has seen that scenario play out as some former “club kids” who are now adults stop by to visit.

“What has been a driving force for me, especially since I’ve been around for so long, is to see kids come back and tell us they graduated from college or have joined the military or just talk about what an impact we’ve made in their life now that they’re grown,” Elias said.  “That’s my driving force.  I don’t always get the thank-you’s everyday from the kids, but I get them as the kids grow up.  That makes all the difference.”

An East Valley native, Elias is a graduate of Corona del Sol High School in Tempe.  When asked if she has children of her own, she jokes that she has a couple hundred.

“I get to play the mom role with many, many of my kids if they need me at a parent-teacher conference, if they need a ride to the doctor’s office or any of those things,” Elias said.  “They take up enough of my time right now.”