Another one of my kids died. They found him in the back of his truck dead. As of right now, I don't know what happened, etc.
Dave has this happen frequently. You could say that he is used to it and, to some degree, has unfortunately come to see it as normal. Not me. I worked with inner-city kids and NEVER had anything like this happen. I had to come to suburbia. A lot of people think that teaching in the burbs is easier...less headaches, trouble, better kids, yada-yada-yada. They are wrong. I exchanged weed for pills, absentee parents (because of working) for absentee parents (because of drinking, etc.), gangs (actually identified) for cliques (similar characterstics only not viewed as negatively).
This is the second kid I have had die in the past six months. I don't know what to say. It hurts me. I love my kids like they were my own and to know that one day they are here and the next they aren't bothers me. Then I see teachers who don't care. Who are indifferent about things like this. I can't even imagine. I keep replaying interactions with this kid. Was I nice to him? Did he feel welcome in my classroom? Comfortable? Did he learn? Was he happy? You get the point.
I guess I needed to get this off of my chest.
7.31.2008
That's how she rolls!
Gracyn had been rolling onto her side since we brought her home. She gets her legs going and launches herself onto one side or the other. Yesterday morning, however, she got onto her left side and then kept kicking and got herself onto her tummy!
My understanding is that that is early to be doing that! We are so proud of her!
My understanding is that that is early to be doing that! We are so proud of her!
Hot Hubby
Is it just me or is it hot to see your husband with the baby carrier?! With the baby?!
Last night, Dave had Gracyn sitting up in his lap and they were watching t.v. and I thought to myself, "Damn he is hot!"
Last night, Dave had Gracyn sitting up in his lap and they were watching t.v. and I thought to myself, "Damn he is hot!"
7.23.2008
Wisdom from a 17 y.o. boy
(While looking at Gracyn in the McDonald's parking lot) "That is a true testament to the fact the women can do anything...you know like squeezing a football out of their asses."
Dave and I were getting an iced coffee and saw two of our kids eating on their break so we stopped to show them the baby. Above was what the boy, my kid, said regarding her. It makes me happy :)
Dave and I were getting an iced coffee and saw two of our kids eating on their break so we stopped to show them the baby. Above was what the boy, my kid, said regarding her. It makes me happy :)
7.20.2008
7.17.2008
Introducing Gracyn Paige
Gracyn Paige Chamberlain, or Gracie, was born on Monday July 14, 2008 at 6:29 PM. She weighed 5 lbs and 5 oz and was 18 inches long.
7.10.2008
New Wheels
After having vowed to never own a mini van, I willing walked onto a lot, test drove one, haggled them on the price, and drove off in one. Call me a poser :) I loved my Torrent, but once you get a ten year old, a baby, a stroller, etc in there there was ZERO room. So, I bought the bullet.
2008 Honda Odyssey LX
7.08.2008
7.06.2008
I don't get it.
And, maybe I never will. I was posting to the Nest (actual one, not the one the C-Bus Nesties made) 3rd Trimester board. There is a post from a girl requesting advice on selecting a new religion. OK....I knew the crap was going to hit the fan, but goodness gracious. I guess what I found most irritating was that people were attempting to persaude her to believe like them by getting nasty and accusatory. Yep, that'll work. The two things I don't get our this:
1. Why use your religion to be nasty to someone in hopes of converting them???
2. Why spew unintelligent rhetoric about other religions without thorough, hell googled even, and grounded research???
1. Why use your religion to be nasty to someone in hopes of converting them???
2. Why spew unintelligent rhetoric about other religions without thorough, hell googled even, and grounded research???
7.04.2008
Daddy's First Purchase
It took him nine months to make his first purchase, but damn isn't it cute?! He loves it. It is already together and in her room. He keeps walking back there to look at it :)I'm 1!
7.01.2008
ABS Website
This is a cool website that I found: http://www.amnioticbandsyndrome.com/Babies-Children-Stories-c-1_3.html I like the stories section. It makes me hopeful.
I saw while googling that one of the Miss Mississippi's had ABS and there was another little girl, who had half of her left arm missing, who could do gymnastics! The Nurse Practitioner at Dr. Popp's office said that'd probably (she said that there are going to be very FEW things that she cannot do, good of course) be the only thing that she couldn't do! We'll see!
I saw while googling that one of the Miss Mississippi's had ABS and there was another little girl, who had half of her left arm missing, who could do gymnastics! The Nurse Practitioner at Dr. Popp's office said that'd probably (she said that there are going to be very FEW things that she cannot do, good of course) be the only thing that she couldn't do! We'll see!
Gracyn's Hand
It dawned on me that a lot of people have no clue about her hand and what is happening/has happened with all of that.
Dave and I did a 3D u/s in May at 29 weeks for fun and during the scan that discovered that Gracyn's left hand is not formed all of the way. We went to a perinatologist and they confirmed that it is in fact not formed. From her shoulder to her wrist (about), she is fine. From her wrist on is malformed. She has a palm, but her fingers are not fully developed. There are five nubs, for lack of a better word. They don't know exactly what it will look like and what all we are working with until she gets here.
The high risk doctor referred us to a hand surgeon at Children's, Dr. Popp, and we have already met with his Nurse Practitioner. They are amazing and so optimistic! They want to see her 4-6 weeks after delivery and will develop a plan of action for her from there. He is known for maximal functionality with as much aesthetic appeal as possible. They, as well as the perinatologist, are confident that nothing else is wrong with her. They scanned her thoroughly and didn't discover any other abnormalities, or what they call packaging. She is classified as non-syndromic. Thank g-d.
Having reviewed her u/s from the perinatologist, her hand surgeon is pretty sure (if not, then it is vascular and there is a plan of action for that as well) that it was caused by Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS). He believes this because she doesn't show any other issues. Here is a decent link on ABS: http://hsc.usf.edu/medicine/obgyn/fetalmd/amnioticband.htm
Here is what we know for sure right now: she has a great left arm, some left wrist malformation, a palm (with limited bone structure, but bone can grow until she is two), five digits that did not form fully, she'll be in Occupational Therapy (OT) until she's at least 15, she'll be able to crawl/tie her shoes/etc. and lead a completely normal life.
There. Now everyone knows and there isn't the appearance of shame which is good because there isn't any. We have come to grips with it and are dealing well. We are grateful to have her in our lives and believe that we will better for having had, and known, her. We are thankful that she is ours and not one of our students kids who wouldn't necessarily have the means to provide her the care she'll need both financially and emotionally. You know, we figure that G-d was handing out fetuses in November and had one that needed extra attention so he gave her to us. There are no victims in our house. That is the hand that G-d gave her and, for lack of a better expression, that hand that we've been dealt.
What can I say, imperfections let G-d's light shine through.
Dave and I did a 3D u/s in May at 29 weeks for fun and during the scan that discovered that Gracyn's left hand is not formed all of the way. We went to a perinatologist and they confirmed that it is in fact not formed. From her shoulder to her wrist (about), she is fine. From her wrist on is malformed. She has a palm, but her fingers are not fully developed. There are five nubs, for lack of a better word. They don't know exactly what it will look like and what all we are working with until she gets here.
The high risk doctor referred us to a hand surgeon at Children's, Dr. Popp, and we have already met with his Nurse Practitioner. They are amazing and so optimistic! They want to see her 4-6 weeks after delivery and will develop a plan of action for her from there. He is known for maximal functionality with as much aesthetic appeal as possible. They, as well as the perinatologist, are confident that nothing else is wrong with her. They scanned her thoroughly and didn't discover any other abnormalities, or what they call packaging. She is classified as non-syndromic. Thank g-d.
Having reviewed her u/s from the perinatologist, her hand surgeon is pretty sure (if not, then it is vascular and there is a plan of action for that as well) that it was caused by Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS). He believes this because she doesn't show any other issues. Here is a decent link on ABS: http://hsc.usf.edu/medicine/obgyn/fetalmd/amnioticband.htm
Here is what we know for sure right now: she has a great left arm, some left wrist malformation, a palm (with limited bone structure, but bone can grow until she is two), five digits that did not form fully, she'll be in Occupational Therapy (OT) until she's at least 15, she'll be able to crawl/tie her shoes/etc. and lead a completely normal life.
There. Now everyone knows and there isn't the appearance of shame which is good because there isn't any. We have come to grips with it and are dealing well. We are grateful to have her in our lives and believe that we will better for having had, and known, her. We are thankful that she is ours and not one of our students kids who wouldn't necessarily have the means to provide her the care she'll need both financially and emotionally. You know, we figure that G-d was handing out fetuses in November and had one that needed extra attention so he gave her to us. There are no victims in our house. That is the hand that G-d gave her and, for lack of a better expression, that hand that we've been dealt.
What can I say, imperfections let G-d's light shine through.
Place Your Bets!
Everyone has their prediction on Gracyn's arrival.
Jhen: 7/21 7 lbs 2 oz
Me: 7/17 7 lbs 6 oz
Dave: 7/16 7 lbs 3 oz
Nate: 7/15 9 lbs
Amanda: 7/22 7 lbs 13 oz
Shari: 7/15 ? ?
What's your guess? Leave a comment and I'll post the poll!
Jhen: 7/21 7 lbs 2 oz
Me: 7/17 7 lbs 6 oz
Dave: 7/16 7 lbs 3 oz
Nate: 7/15 9 lbs
Amanda: 7/22 7 lbs 13 oz
Shari: 7/15 ? ?
What's your guess? Leave a comment and I'll post the poll!
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