nicole1018

I'm a mom of 8 kids. Six girls and 2 boys. My fiancee that i've been with for 7 yrs now brought his 4 kids from outside relationships to be with us and my 4 including our youngest daughter that we have in common. We have had so many ups and down from full blow heroin addictions,mine for 3 yrs his for 10 yrs. To finally getting ourselves together and our family correct and stable. Mentally, physically and emotionally. I give all my glory to God!! And Shinedown. I was an only daughter to a family of 5 kids and my mom had passed away when I was 2 so my dad struggled taking care of us. He was so depressed himself because of her dying, he was lost himself...but he didn't give us away, he worked 7 days a week to take care of us! He lost his site when I was about 10 and from then on out, my life changed forever. I was writing checks and paying bills at 10. On top of helping raise my little brother and helping take care of my dad. I turned into a full time caretaker at this time. My life was so chaotic from drinking at a young age and using heavy drugs, because I had no positive women in my life, I was definitely being pulled down the wrong road by adults. I got pregnant at 15 with twin daughters. I made a tough decision and believed in perseverance. I had my twins in Dec of 2000. The 1st of the 4 major blessings in my life, thus far. My son was my 2nd, my baby was the 3rd....and being with this man is the 4th. I have had such a rough life and I don't want pity from anyone, I just love that I have such a war story for my children to see that WE came through. I lost my dad in 2006 and went crazy. I tried so hard to keep it together for my babies...but I lost that battle. I got hooked on heroin and it turned in to a full blown addiction and it stole everything form me, including the custody of my kids for 6 months. My youngest daughter was the saving grace for this because I got pregnant with her and had to get clean because of this life growing inside of me. I might have lost that battle...but I definitely won this war. We've been clean and sober for 4 years now and Shinedown has been one of my saving graces!! Through their lyrics, have saved my soul!! When things get so so hard...being disabled now with a brain disease and being so sick now, listening to Shinedown, with Brent and his beautiful talents, and Eric and Barry...the things they accomplish just by doing the things they do to make themselves happy is out of this world amazing. Zach and the guitar....I just feel it. Deep deep down I feel what he is saying with every strum of every cord. I have been listening to Shinedown since their 1 st album and as long as they are still making albums...I will still be listening because without their music, I'm not sure how far I would have made it. It is like medicine. I love them for their great work and their dedication to us!!!