The Groschen Gang

Thank you!  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! 


I was going to be that girl.  The one that answered each and every one of your comments. The one that sent thank you emails out to all of my blog followers. But man, blogs are a lot of work.  I never realized. But it is fun work and I am loving it!  I am having so much fun and I do appreciate the support that each of you are giving me when you enter my giveaways and lovely notes! I started my blog in late December with the strong encouragement of my BBFF (Best Blogging Friend Forever-LOL) Brandi Best who runs her blog "Life With 5 Monkies and 1 Ape". She helped design my blog and has been extraordinarily generous with her time and knowledge.  Many other fellow bloggers have provided me with valuable tips; Samantha from As They Grow Up and Jen from Therapeutic Reviews & Giveaways were kind and generous as well! 


When I started my blog Back in January I introduced the kiddos and hubby, but so many of you started following me in the past few weeks that I'd love to give you a recap.  I'd love to share my life and all its trials and tribulations with you. 

My husbands Name is Joe.  We met thru a mutal friend in May of 2002.  By July he moved in with me.  He is kind and loving and works hard to provide for his family.  We have both been previously married.  I came with my daughter Kayla, who was 6 and he came with his children Samanta, 3, and Benjamin, 4mos.  In December of 2002 we got pregnant with our daughter Gracie (no she was not an accident).  Kayla lived with us full-time and Ben and Samantha lived with their mom full-time.  We got married in December of 2003 in the Chapel at the Mall of America.  In the summer of 2004 Ben and Sam came to live with us full-time.  So here we are now, one big happy blended family!

This is Kayla.  She is 14 now and in the 9th Grade.  She is your typical teenager, into clothes, boys and music.  She can talk more than anyone I have ever met.  I always joke that she came out of the womb talking.  She is kind and has a good heart.  And, she tests me in all all the normal ways a teenage daughter would.  I am proud to be her mother.

Kayla made the High School Cheerleading Basketball Squad.  She is in Junior High, so she was very proud.  Her Basketball Team is in the state sectionals, so she is having a lot of fun!

Samantha is 10 and is in the 4th grade.  She has a disease called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 which she inherited from Joe.  When I met her (she was almost 3) I immediately realized that something was "off" with her.   She was not hitting the developmental milestones that a normal 3 year old should.  When she and Ben came to live with us she was almost 5 and I immediatly took her to the pediatrician to get a full physical.  This was when she received her diagnosis.  She has many medical complications related to her disease including developmental delays, learning disabilties, scolios and various other bone issues, kidney reflux, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, and many others.  Raising a step-child with special needs is extremely challenging. But, she is kind and happy and I love her very much!

Benjamin is 8 and is in the second grade.  Thankfully, he did not inherit Neurofibromatosis.  I have basically been raising him since he was 4mos old.  Both he and Samantha call me mom.  They visit their mom 4 days per month.  Ben is quiet, kind and smart.  He is sensitive and I think will make an excellent husband when he grows up.  Ben loves to be a helper.  I love him dearly! I love to watch him grow.

And Miss Gracie.  She is 6 and is in Kindergarten.  Gracie had a rought start.  She also was born with Neurofibromatosis.  She was born with glaucoma in her left eye.  She had 4 surgeries before we had to make the hard decision to remove her eye.  When she was 15 months old it was discovered that she has a brain tumor which caused the glaucoma.  Her tumor is not cancerous and not favorable for surgery.  It has been stable since birth so there it stays, in her brain.  She also has a few other medical complications from her disease, but not as many as Samantha.  Gracie is funny and kind.  She is bossy and naughty! I love and enjoy her very much!

I tell you all of this because I would love to have feedback on what you would like to see in my blog.  Do you want to hear about my family?  Do you just want reviews and giveaways?  What products would you like to see reviewed and given away?  Do you want advice or opinions?  and on what? I am an infant in bloggy world trying to find my way. Finding myself blessed with so many new friends and followers.  I really would love your advice and comments!!  And again,  thank you so much for letting me share my life with you!

Bridgette