Many thanks!!!

First – words cannot begin to express the level of gratitude we feel for all of the outpouring of support from each of you. Some of you have extended a helping hand, offered a ride, a meal or a financial contribution. We are truly humbled and extremely grateful!

Some of you have been asking if it is too late to donate to help cover some of the out of pocket expenses! It is not too late... below is the info on how to contribute.

Current Ways To Make Financial Contributions

Blog / PayPal

www.arrianabedgood.blogspot.com

- Click on the Donate button (left hand side of the page)

PayPal log-in page launches. Follow the prompts.

Please Note:

When PayPal launches, enter the amount you wish to donate.

Then click the Update Total button.

Failure to click Update Total will continue to kick you back

to the log-in screen.

National City Bank

- Personal checks may be made payable to The Arriana Bedgood Benefit

- Visit any National City Bank* location nationwide

*In person, cash donations may be made anonymously

Can you hear me now???

So. Here we are. It is the BIG day... (yesterday – Thursday, July 9th).

Ari is getting her Cochlear Implant "plugged" in and set to program...

Daddy, Kristie and Poetrie eagerly look on –

Getting the magnet into position was a challenge – this child needed GORILLA GLUE strength magnets to get through her "thick head" and / or hair! LOL.

Are YOU ready?

Here we go... crank it up!!!

SUCCESS!

We LOVE you, Arriana!!!

So the night was filled with "What was that?" – "Did I just hear Parker laughing?" – "Was that Poetrie playing out back?"

Sweet sounds we take for granted... the tick tock of a clock... a knife cutting through an onion... a truck driving by outside... the music on a Nintendo DSi... Michael Jackson's little mouth noises between lyrics... hearing "I LOVE YOU" loud and clear. These are SOME of the things Ari got to experience for the first time last night.

I have promised to take Arriana to a New Kids On The Block concert if they come back around... she has decided to become a Blockhead, like ME! Makes a Momma proud!!! I'm sure a concert will just blow her away... she will not only FEEL the music... she will HEAR the music.

Thank you to each of you have been following and supporting us through this amazing journey!
God Bless -

Happy 2nd Birthday

to my Little Man, P-Styles...

Mommy loves you!

xoxo

It's Showtime, Baby!!!

Today's post is brought to you by the word, "BELIEVE..."

Today is Thursday, July 9th – 2009.

Good-bye silent ear, hello NOISE!!! We are headed to the Doctor's office to get Arriana's Cochlear Implant turned on... 20 days post-surgery.

Ari is pretty much over her RED compression head band that has helped her head heal and keep the CI in the appropriate place. BIG INHALE... check back later today for more updates!

Mommy gets a BREAK!

Kristie (finally) gets a big girl night out to stalk and gawk at some very yummy man-candy called Donnie Wahlberg... NKOTB forever! This is like my 8th time seeing them... last time was in 1989 – shut your face!!! I'm just saying. We had LOTS of fun – good times.

Next goal – get D-Dub to FOLLOW ME on twitter. Stay tuned, girlfriend is determined! And, hey. Crazier things have happened, right?

Kristie (20 year old concert tee and Donnie button on zebra purse), Erin B. (drove in from the Windy City - congrats on the engagement), Tammy, Jamie and Erin G.R. – NKOTB gets the girls to reunite 15 years post High School graduation!!! Now that's what's up!

RIP MJ - tribute make me teary. Was rocking my black remembrance ribbon and MY ADIDAS... "walk through concert doors and roam all over coliseum floors..." LOL. So sad that Donnie didn't get to appreciate the throw-back attire.

D-Dub in the Nasti Nati... holla atcha girl!!!

Click. Click. Click. The boys have grown up nicely...

Goal #2 (after the twitter goal, smile) is to get me and the boyfriend / hubby, Brent, a grown folks vacation!!!

Shout out to Heather & Shannon – my sister in laws... they had better seats than me (hissssssssssssss), so I am taking advantage of their photos... I was front row (...of the LAWN) and my photos are not as HAWT and tasty. Shannon has 5* passes for Vegas (including a meet and greet) – I'm trying to get in where I fit in... ha!

Today. Is A Sad. SAD. Day. RIP King of Pop.

I. Am. Speechless.

Talented. Treasure. Tormented. Tired. Tragic.

I heart MJ. 

You've done a FABULOUS job – now, go fly away and get some rest.

Long live the King.

Feeling Better on Daddy's Day!

Up and out with Daddy on Father's Day... Ari is feeling MUCH better today. Now. The countdown to when the device actually gets turned on and Ari will experience "HEARING"! Yea!

Ari gets to wear this fashionable compression head band to keep the cochlear implant in place while she is healing... She cannot wait to wash her hair – about 10+ days, baby girl!!!

All about Daddy today – breakfast at Perkins. Coffee with Daddy (Brent) and Parker Styles aka P-Styles!

Daddy's Little Girl – Poetrie.

Parker and Poetrie, sharing the love...

In With The New...

At 4:36PM on Friday, June 19th – surgery was complete and Ari was moved into Recovery. Surgery began at approximately 12:15PM. The Cochlear Implant procedure is typically a 3-4 hour surgery... she ran a little long because she had some "stubborn" veins that needed to be carefully moved out of the way. We are thankful for her surgical staff and Dr. John for taking such wonderful care of Arriana.

Baby Brother, Parker was pleased to see Ari in her room. Parker brought her a big, red heart balloon that read, "Love You!" He walked so proudly through the halls with his gifts! Little sis, Poetrie, was spending the weekend with Grandma – but called often and told Ari that she loved her too!