Life as a Leach

Our meeting went pretty well today. We discussed a lot of information and there are still a lot of unknowns about Abby's condition. There is much more genetic testing to be done...not that it will necessarily change Abby's care, but knowing exactly what she has may help them to treat certain aspects of her syndromes in the future. However, we are encouraged by the doctors' attitude toward Abby's future and we believe that she will have lots of time to really change the world!! :) They believe that she is beating the odds, and so do we. Abby doesn't know the statistics, and we're not going to be the ones to tell her! We also discussed Abby's future surgeries and the need for an excellent orthopedic surgeon. Thankfully, there is a world-renowned spinal specialist at Hopkins that UMMC is highly recommending! I'm so thankful that we live within driving distance to so many wonderful hospitals! We were told today that by choosing the trach for Abb...

September 11, 2001. I was a junior at Salisbury.  As I headed to my 8 a.m. class that morning, I walked across the quad staring up at the blue sky and marveling at the beauty of the day.  It was in the high 70s and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  It was absolutely gorgeous. Around 9 a.m., a professor came in to our class to tell us that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center.  Our professor dismissed us and we all went back to our rooms.  As an RA, I quickly went into emergency mode as our building went on lock-down.  For the rest of the day, all of the RAs were on duty together in the office to try to keep the calm in our building.  In an all girls' building, there was a lot of crying and hugging going on that day! My dad worked in DC, so I was very concerned about him as I heard that the Pentagon had been hit.  I couldn't get through to him for what seemed like forever because the cell lines went on overload.  I finally found...

UPDATE:  After emptying the dishwasher, cleaning up the kitchen, scrubbing a few carpet stains, and cleaning the bathroom, I decided to go ahead and wrap the presents.  They're all wrapped now.  :)  I knew you were concerned that they wouldn't get done, so now you can rest easy.  And yes, I did love every minute of it! I had the realization yesterday that we will be meeting Abigail in just two months.  Wow...we have a lot to do before then!  (Not the least of which is the nursery, although it has taken a back burner compared to the other things we've been thinking about.  Plus, she won't be in the nursery for a while when she does come home--she'll be right next to me in her bassinett while I anxiously watch her all night to make sure she's breathing!) So what has been going through my head recently regarding our new normal? *  Since a lengthy NICU stay appears to be in store for us, I've been trying to figure out the details of that ti...

Caleb started preschool on Tuesday!  He was very excited from the moment he woke up--probably even more so because we'd warned him that he might not be able to go because Daddy didn't take care of the medical form, but that's another story.... Buzz Lightyear backpack strapped on, we headed outside and got some "First Day of School" photos. The time came to head out the car, and he took off, lunch box in hand!  (The same lunch box that held the darned sunflower butter sandwich that was thought to be peanut butter in our nut-free school because Matt forgot to tell the teacher.  The same lunch box that caused Caleb to have to eat by himself in a separate room to avoid the child with the nut allergy.  The same lunch box that caused Caleb to beg me not to pack him peanut butter again because he didn't want to get in trouble.  The same lunch box that now has a permanent note taped in letting the teachers know that any peanut-butter-suspicious-item...

Update: It really didn't hurt at all.  I was surprised.  I remember it really hurting last time.  I guess the hype is worse than the real thing! I hate needles.  This is not new to anyone who knows me. I mostly hate the suspense built around the shot.  The shot itself isn't even really that horrid, but I've already convinced myself that it is going to be. So, naturally, God chuckled and made me A-, which means I have to get two Rogam shots (one at 28 weeks and one after I give birth) during my pregnancy.  Yay! The day has come.  Today I have to get the dreaded Rogam shot. Yes, it hurts. A lot.  And it's given in a very sensitive area.  Ugh.  Anyone want to do it for me?????

Okay, one word is needed:  Anna.  :)

Happy 5th birthday to my sweet niece Sara!  She's a mess, to say the least.  :) A few notes about this girl: *  She loves her baby sister Anna and I'm pretty sure she thinks Anna is her personal baby doll. *  Disney movies are her favorite, but she especially loves "Beauty and the Beast." *  I think she looks a bit like Matilda. *  The girl loves to eat! *  She is my protege.  Seriously.  She is so much like me when I was little! Love you Sara Bear!  Have a great day.