Do you go through a new baby tub after each baby because a) Either it got moldy so you threw it out, or b) You hated it so much you were going to try a different one for the next baby? Maybe you gave up on baby bathtubs all together and just bathe Bebe a la the stainless steel kitchen sink. Not a bad choice. We’ve been using the same baby bath for over four years. It’s called the Euobath.... Read more
Our daughter was a month shy of four years old when our new baby was born. Martha has not yet learned to stand, walk, or talk. She is incontinent, and relies on us for all of her grooming, dressing, hygiene, and transfers. While we hoped and prayed that she would be a big sister, it would be dishonest if I didn’t admit that I was worried how I was going to care for a new baby and Martha at the... Read more
Our daughter, Francesca May, was born November 7, 2016. She was born on this day because it was the earliest possible day I was allowed to be induced. There was no way I was going to be pregnant a day longer than I had to be. I opted for an elective induction for three reasons. First, my labors are fast. Mark works a half hour away. I have had an experience of nearly having a baby in a car, and other fast... Read more
I’ve tried to write since July. I really have. But I couldn’t. I’m writing now, but just barely. The words are swimming in my head, but my time and heart is divided in numerous ways. The time to sit and type is such a novelty that I hardly know how I can even be sitting and typing at this very moment. I should probably be sleeping. Or emptying the dishwasher. Or making a plan for dinner. But I have to... Read more
I posted on Facebook page last month the news that one of my daughter’s doctors was no longer in practice. We not only lost a beloved doctor, but it also presented a logistical nightmare for our family to maneuver. We live two and half hours away from a children’s hospital. Many families can live in a rural area and care for their children’s health without trouble. If your child has developmental or health needs, it’s difficult. The doctor we lost... Read more
My last blog post was an embarrassingly long time ago. I have four kids home from school, and I made the unfortunate, first time mistake of really, really over-scheduling us for the summer. It’s been mostly fun. But too busy. Too many commitments, and not enough down time. I’m not reading any books, and haven’t read a book all summer. I’m actually embarrassed. Reading is one of those things that reminds me I’m more than a chauffeur. We successfully completed... Read more
June marks one year in our new home. While each year has it’s own set of challenges, I look back on the first year in our home with extreme gratitude and happiness. It was last winter, and we were beset with anxiety over our home. We had bought the house only three years earlier, not knowing the challenges that lie ahead that made our home nearly impossible to stay in long term. It was a trifecta of problems. It began... Read more
Whenever friends get together to chat, they naturally vent frustrations about things people do or say that, while thought to be common sense or basic manners, fall short. I have a list of little courtesies called, “Stuff People Should Know,” and hope to make it a recurring post. The lucky victim of my first thrashing goes to well-meaning people who like to take exciting news, then share it on social media before the “owners” of that information have an opportunity... Read more
Last fall I was at my daughter’s yearly appointment with her geneticist. A geneticist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and management of chromosomal syndromes and genetics. Martha is diagnosed with a rare syndrome known as an “Unbalanced Translocation,” in which genetic material trades places within the chromosomes. Martha is missing the end of her 5th chromosome, and in its place are additional parts of her 8th chromosome. This type of abnormality is so rare that there... Read more
I hate doing something because it’s the “in” thing to do, and out of principle, going gluten-free, or talking about a Candida problem is not something I’d readily admit to. Recently, several friends encouraged me to try a gluten-free diet. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and pain throughout the body, most often in the joints. For those who develop a more advanced disease, the inflammation can become systemic and affect the nervous system, internal organs,... Read more
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