kcnlifeasweknowit

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

To breaking through pain, seeking peace and making joy again. Learning to celebrate Christmas again with our Angel girl. #livelikenoah (at Hagle Christmas Tree Farm) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrOnsn_HwN6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=67k9z12gzw35

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

On days like Thanksgiving day we’re all reminded to stop and reflect on what we are thankful for. Acknowledging the gifts we’ve been given or will receive. . For us, our gratitude began the minute we knew Noah would have a chance at life. . The day we took her home without needing heart surgery. . The day our heart surgeon went from saying no I can no longer help your daughter, to taking one last look at her MRI and saying, I think I’m seeing something I didn’t see before and I might be able to help her. . We are thankful for the holidays we stayed clear from the hospital.Thankful for being in the hands of the greatest medical teams in the world during every holiday hospital stay and the days in between. . We are thankful for the mistakes we’ve made in our lives shedding light on what we needed to see to better people, better parents, better in our craft, better stewards for our community. . Thankful for Henry. . We are grateful for what he’ll embark on next year. Grateful to wake up today and simply breathe, snuggle with my dog still in bed with me and have a quiet day with my loves. . Grateful that Noah’s right beside us, helping us still live our best life and be the seekers of good. . We want to thank everyone who have supported us along our life journey, called us or messaged us or commented the kindest words that moved us to tears. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving day with the people you love. #livelikenoah (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqfZs3DHYXR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9js1w2738rry

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

The last time I can remember going on a picnic was with Keith and Noah at Will Rogers State Park, about 2 years ago. My memory of that day still vivid. The sandwiches we ate, the games we played, the laughs we had. The thought of ever coming back here haunted me like many others do. But today, like clouds clearing for sunlight, this sacred space to us felt like it was calling us back. Calling us back to spend it with some very special friends. The energy today was a gift and we enjoyed every single moment. All of our kids were with us, including Gracie and Noah Bella whom I know were flying all around us today. #heartwarriors #livelikenoah #kcnhlifeasweknowit #lightovergrief (at Will Rogers State Historic Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqWeRdUH9pP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mukzzmfq5q5r

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

Yesterday we spent the day in Malibu flying our kites high in honor of our girl! We celebrated Noah’s 15th Birthday and wondered what our lives would have been like had we all still been together. The goals she had, the dreams she had and everything in between. . How do we use our pain and transfer that energy into something positive? How do we take her with us as we continue to move forward while still missing her daily? How do we make her proud while we are still here? We’ve spent the last 22 months searching for ways to honor her life. And all of these questions have led us to start something new. . With Noah’s guidance, we are proud to announce the launch of the Live Like Noah Foundation. We are 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to carrying on Noah’s legacy of goodwill and helping families affected by the challenges of Congenital Heart Disease and Plastic Bronchitis. . We encourage you to visit our site and learn more more about Noah’s story, our missions to achieve our vision and how you can help us pay it forward!! Link in bio. www.livelikenoah.org We’d love for you to also follow us on Instagram & Facebook @livelikenoahfoundation and share this with the world at large. Let’s #LIVELIKENOAH . . . . . #purpose #heartwarrior #philanthopy #give #donate #charity #changetheworld #bethechange #bekind #raredisease #chronicillness #fightforacause #specialneeds #motherhoodrising #griefandloss #optionb #kcnhlifeasweknowit https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp7hpNaHXeV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gxxskglee9t2

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

How we miss looking into your soulful eyes. It always felt like you knew something we didn’t. Like you were casted with a special power or awareness for those who were hurting, having a bad day, needed a good hug or needed someone to genuinely listen to them. We will always remember how you made us feel, especially in those moments of need. You melted everyone’s heart the second you made that connection with those eyes. Butterfly kisses, my love. #heterotaxyremembranceday #kcnhlifeasweknowit #livelikenoah https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpx00miHL67/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1x76nbuj5xj8z

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

DA PLANE!! DA PLANE!! Happy Halloween from Tattoo, Ricardo Montalbán... and a Fantasy Island girl 😂Hahhaa #fantasyisland #80ssitcom #happyhalloween https://www.instagram.com/p/BpnoedFBftW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16o5gs0ntxgwa

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

We just recently watched the Incredibles 2 for the first time and I wonder who Noah would have wanted to be this year. This costume takes the cake in our opinion. I can’t get over how good she looks here. Her personality and character, channeling her inner most Edna Mode still has me laughing out loud and wishing we could make another costume together. Little did we know this would be our last Halloween together. We’ll be carrying on the tradition of making costumes and memories with Henry and sharing our stories with him for years to come. #kcnhlifeasweknowit #noahbellascostumes #ednamode #theincredibles #livelikenoah https://www.instagram.com/p/BpnaQUABfRK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rx3r3eb4us9g

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

Halloween 2015, the year Noah was the microscopic tardigrade! Also known as the water bear. It’s the only animal that can survive the cold, irradiated vacuum of outer space. She was so fascinated by them this 8 legged creature. How fitting it seemed for her to choose this as her costume. She seemed to certainly have the traits of this indestructible creature. We went through a couple costume designs that didn’t work but finally made one that fit well. Definitely one of our favorites. #tardigrade #shelovedscience #kcnhlifeasweknowit #waterbear https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpm2hHbnFcd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2kla54dj0u7c

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

"Excellent!" I cried. "Elementary," said he. . As a lot of you know, Noah was a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes. Mystery/adventure was her favorite genre. I miss seeing her dive into these books and devour them. I miss her asking what a particular word meant if she didn’t understand it. I miss hearing her yelling out, “Deduce!” to Keith if he said he couldn’t find his car keys. 😂 Like Sherlock she’d help him retrace his steps, with humor. . The last book she read but was not able to finish was The Return of Sherlock Holmes. She had less than 20 pages left with her last page still earmarked. One of my last photos of Noah is her trying to read it past the uncomfortable cpap mask. I posted it once but don’t wish to post it again. . What I do wish to repost is the incredible experience she had meeting the cast of Sherlock Holmes at the Pierce College Theatre. Thanks to our dear friends who gave us the opportunity to go backstage. Noah wore her entire costume to the play. . We are so grateful for every opportunity we received that lifted up her spirits and gave her and us so much to be thankful for. #kcnhlifeasweknowit #noahbellascostumes #livelikenoah #griefandloss https://www.instagram.com/p/BpietzqnfaN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jmdg55bc80wv

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

Happy 19 months old to our little guy. His first time pumpkin patching, our first time back. We’ve come to Underwood Farms nearly every year since Noah was a toddler. Her presence was really felt by us today. We knew exactly which pumpkin she’d choose and I could see her chasing after Henry. He had the best time. To the firsts that are the hardest to overcome as to the peace of feeling her close. #kcnhlifeasweknowit #griefandloss #livelikenoah (at Underwood Family Farms) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpdT0hLn_xQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6qtttndnidut

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

There’s only one person who could pull off a convincing Velma. Here she is in first grade already on the case with her cousin Diego as a Lucha Libre. . One of the harder things to see are my nephews and nieces without their Noah. We’ve shed a lot of tears together over the last year and a half, laughing and crying over some amazing stories they will always have with her. Family gatherings are still not easy to attend, but in the end they always give us a level of comfort that by not going would only make us feel more of the pain in our grief. We owe it to them for keeping us smiling and seeing them live like Noah. #kcnhlifeasweknowit #noahbellascostumes #livelikenoah #1in100 https://www.instagram.com/p/BpadHoxnyU3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=edqtumego68b

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

Her love for Star Wars came early. This was such a fun costume to make, especially the cinnamon roll buns out of braided brown yarn. Needless to say she owned the character and who would have thought Carrie Fisher herself would go on to sign her Darth Noah poster in the future. . Noah as Princess Leia, age 5. The Force is still strong with this one. #noahbellascostumes #livelikenoah #kcnhlifeasweknowit #heartstrong #1in100 #chdwarrior https://www.instagram.com/p/BpXtJoLH3Py/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6u5mdfel3c71

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

Homemade costumes are always the best. Noah’s first homemade costume was none other than Raphael. 100% felt and pajamas, and a little bit of hot glue and sewing. :) Always fun taking it to another level if you love to sew. . Noah was four going on 5 years old and had just been through 2 open heart surgeries over the summer (the Fontan procedure) and one month prior to this picture taken (a re-do of the Fontan). Seeing her with this much exhuberence was nothing short of a miracle as we struggled to get her home. We spent 30 days in the hospital each both times. This photo is what it means to be #heartstrong. Noah will forever push me to never give up. This week I’m posting some of Noah’s favorite Halloween costumes over the years and sharing some stories behind them. #kcnhlifeasweknowit #noahbellascostumes #nevergiveup #resilience #1in100 #chdawareness #heterotaxysyndrome https://www.instagram.com/p/BpViTAtntVL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mfilxv7q5j2m

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

These two. Two peas in a pod. Or two clowns in a circus. How I miss seeing them both play together. Their laugh, expression and sense of humor. The pranks they’d always play on me. I’m a sucker. The value in their playtime. Keith was the best dad to Noah. He taught her that no feat was ever too big to accomplish, that she did have the power and smarts to save the world if she wanted to. To never take yourself too seriously. That kindness matters. . Noah is two years old as Snow White with Keith as the Orkin man. He has rubber bugs hot glued to the back of his costume. :) #noahbellascostumes #kcnhlifeasweknowit https://www.instagram.com/p/BpUmtUlHuTn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=33fcsh05naye

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

One of Noah’s all time favorite holidays of the year was Halloween. As each year went by we paired up more like a team to come up with fun costumes for me to make. Even if her idea didn’t feel just right until the last minute, we’d still make it happen some how. The last minute creations I remember the most. I wasn’t able to make every costume but when I did it was always one for the books. Here’s to sharing some of our favorite ones. I love them all. ☺️ First up is her very first Halloween and first time in a pumpkin patch. 🎃 #noahbellascostumes #kcnhlifeasweknowit https://www.instagram.com/p/BpS88AIHK9_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mecyy4mfydft

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

Deep in thought...or not :) One day he’ll understand the significance of this special clubhouse built with love, by very special people, for his sister. It’s been wonderful and painful seeing Henry make himself at home in the clubhouse. Seeing him run his fingers across the books on her shelves and playing with the toys she has inside. It hurts. None of this is easy. But we play on and see her smiling at us as we track in dirt and make a beautiful mess. #kcnhlifeasweknowit #mamagrief #onedayatatime (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpBMZy2ANEk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1k6367wuqi6ap

[kcnlifeasweknowit]

After much anticipation and grief, Keith, Henry and I finally completed Noah's distribution of 200 "Pillows for the Homeless". 217 pillows to be exact. This week the west valley will be opening its doors for the first time thanks to the amazing folks at Hope of the Valley to give shelter to 48 homeless moms, dads and their children. Helping families was a big priority of Noah. It's because of the huge effort by Noah’s Troop 236 in Northridge and the Girl Scouts in Simi Valley, as well as our family and friends and random strangers who donated material, sewing machines and lots and lots of time to make pillow cases—fulfilling this silver award turned passion project of Noah’s. Our sincerest thanks to @coophomegoods for believing in Noah and generously donating of every single pillow. You each had a hand in this and will literally give comfort to so many people. We could not have done it with all your help and compassion. Noah is truly flying high today and it's moments like this that give us peace, the deepest gratitude, and ultimately joy from it all. Thank you so much. Lots of tears and smiles today. #kcnhlifeasweknowit #livelikenoah @hopeofthevalley #helpothers #seekerofgood (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnmeLMvgsNH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1k0an6vo37ebh