Being born and raised in the midwest, all we had to worry about is tornado's. We'd have tornado drills in schools, everyone had basements, so when the sirens went off the family would head down to the basement. I was lucky grow up in a house with a finished basement. Fireplace, tv, toys, pool table..etc, so waiting out a tornado warning was easy.
When we were planning on moving to SW Washington state, I thought about natural disasters. Mt. St. Helen's is only 65 miles north east of here - so we have a volcano in our back yard. Also, being on the pacific rim, there are occasional earth quakes - VERY odd being asked if we'd like to add earthquake insurance onto the house policy. Plus it rains like 388 of the 365 days of the year....ok, exaggerating just a bit, but flooding does occur too. Along with mud slides. Are you keeping up? That's 4 natural disasters right there alone. WHO KNEW that in the 4 years I've lived here, we'd also have 2 tornado's!!!???!!! Ding - 5!!
On Friday morning, 1am, my phone starts ringing. OMG!! My first thought is, who's hurt or who died? Hey, I live 2000 miles away from my family, so it's going to be a phone call that I do get and REALLY who else would be calling at 1am on a weekday? No, it wasn't family, it was my friend, Cris. He was watching the news and heard about the Japan 8.9 earthquake that had happened a few hours earlier, that had triggered a tsunami. The earthquake was devistating enough, but it also triggered a tsunami which hit the Japan coast with a 26 foot wave. The quake also triggered a tsunami which was heading to hit the west coast. At that time, they were predicting the tsunami to hit northern Oregon southwest Washington area. Apparently, the news had stated that Clark County (the county I live in) would be affected, so Cris was calling his friends to warn them. Ok, we live 70 miles from the coast - yes, we're on the Columbia river, but most of Vancouver is uphill from the river. If we did get hit with a large tsunami, it can affect the water levels of the river, but I'm guessing that it would have to be a 100 foot wave to crash into the coast to have any effect on the area I live in.
Well, being that we're now awake, we decided to get out of bed and watch the news. We went to every station trying to find out what they were talking about regarding a tsunami hitting Clark County. Couldn't find ANYTHING!! All we heard was the earthquake/tsunami crisis in Japan and that the tsunami will be hitting Hawaii around 5am our time. Seeing that I didn't have to work on Friday, C nominated me to get up and watch the news on how large the impact would be on Hawaii. Better to be safe than sorry, right?
I got up at 5:30 and saw that the tsunami waves on Hawaii were only 5-6 feet, so I knew that it wouldn't be that terrible on the OR/WA coast. They were estimating that it would be hitting the west coast starting around 7:15am. Back to bed I went.
Friday morning brought only news coverage of the tsunami hitting our coastline. The larger impact happened in southern OR/northern CA. However, a tsunami is pretty cool to watch. As one newscaster stated, it was like watching HI/LO tide on steroids. VERY TRUE! The waves would start to come in higher and higher, within 20 min they would be high on the beach and violent. Then within 20 min, they would retreat lower than low tide. This would be the trough of the tsunami - there are generally 8-10 sets of tsunami waves/troughs. And a tsunami isn't just one giant wave, no, a tsunami lasts 1-3 hours.
My thoughts are with those people suffering in Japan. Not only have they had a massive earthquake and large tsunami, but now several nuclear reactors are on the verge of a complete meltdown.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Sick of the sickies
UGH, this year has been brutal for illnesses. Just when I start to feel better, a week later I have some new creeping crud, then C comes down with another form of it. It seems like I've been taking care of myself, someone else or hearing about people being sick all winter long - can't wait for spring/summer when I can throw open the windows and air out this place. I've had 2 friends who've been hospitalized with pneumonia, my co-teacher, who has been teaching preschool for 19 years, has been sick a lot this year too! She should be able to lick a bathroom floor and not get sick!!
This last round started last week when C's kiddo's came down with fevers and were sent home from school. I spent a day running around getting medicines for them. Although C and her crew weren't here when the kids came down with the crud, the family had been together the previous days, so we were exposed. I started to feel stuffed up late last week and all of this week and last night my ears started to really hurt! Probably a double ear infection...I'm 41, shouldn't I be exempt from ear infections? However, my stuffiness and cough are almost gone.
Anyways, Tuesday night was rough, I had D and he was up all night long complaining about his ear hurting. I got maybe 3 hours sleep and him - less than 7. By Wednesday morning D was spiking a low grade fever and by the time we went to the dr (to check his ear) it was up to 102.7! He has a moderate ear infection (only his 2nd in his life) and has been put on some antibiotics.
C came here after work last night and said that she felt horrible. Coughing like crazy and had a sore throat. This morning she woke up with the cough, sore throat and not much of a voice. And D just looked at me (2pm'ish) and he's got bright red cheeks - yep, his fever is back. UGH!!
So, I'm giving notice to all of this sickness going around - I'M DONE!!! GO AWAY!! NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE!!
***Just as I was about to click the Publish Post button, C walked in the door looking tired/sick. She left work early. I've doped her up with some drugs and am sending her off to bed. I need the quarantine and biohazard signs pasted to my front door.
This last round started last week when C's kiddo's came down with fevers and were sent home from school. I spent a day running around getting medicines for them. Although C and her crew weren't here when the kids came down with the crud, the family had been together the previous days, so we were exposed. I started to feel stuffed up late last week and all of this week and last night my ears started to really hurt! Probably a double ear infection...I'm 41, shouldn't I be exempt from ear infections? However, my stuffiness and cough are almost gone.
Anyways, Tuesday night was rough, I had D and he was up all night long complaining about his ear hurting. I got maybe 3 hours sleep and him - less than 7. By Wednesday morning D was spiking a low grade fever and by the time we went to the dr (to check his ear) it was up to 102.7! He has a moderate ear infection (only his 2nd in his life) and has been put on some antibiotics.
C came here after work last night and said that she felt horrible. Coughing like crazy and had a sore throat. This morning she woke up with the cough, sore throat and not much of a voice. And D just looked at me (2pm'ish) and he's got bright red cheeks - yep, his fever is back. UGH!!
So, I'm giving notice to all of this sickness going around - I'M DONE!!! GO AWAY!! NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE!!
***Just as I was about to click the Publish Post button, C walked in the door looking tired/sick. She left work early. I've doped her up with some drugs and am sending her off to bed. I need the quarantine and biohazard signs pasted to my front door.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
To tell or not to tell? THAT is the question!
There is one question that all parents ask themselves a time or two during the course of their parenting life. Do I tell my child that he's going to the Dr for a shot? UGH! It sucks. Here are the pros and cons for both situations.
Don't tell:
Pros: No crying leading up to the nurse walking into the office with the needle
No obsessive questions before "the deed"
Very little drama ahead of time
Cons: You didn't tell
You've corrupted your child from ever wanting to return to the dr.
Your child now hates you (not always a bad thing, but for this it is)
Tell:
Pros: Child won't believe that every trip to the dr is going to lead to a shot (even though during the first 4 years of their life it pretty much IS)
You maintain trust with your child
You can talk about what's going to happen and hopefully comfort their fears.
Cons: Endless drama prior to appt
Tears and boogers
Drama
Endless talking about how it's going to hurt worse than getting a leg cut off. (Did I mention - drama)
I hadn't gotten D or myself flu shots yet this year and during cards last night, I learned that the flu has just started in the PNW and was expected to last until mid to late May. I'm finally feeling 100%, so I made up my mind on the way to work today that D and I were going to get our vaccinations. I called his Dr before getting D off the bus and unfortunately there was no mist vaccines available, so it was going to have to be the shot. UGH. That's what I get for waiting.
The appt wasn't scheduled until 3:20, so I told D just after we got home from the bus (2pm'ish) what was going to happen. He started to cry immediately. We talked about what was going to happen and that it may or may not hurt. I also told him that I was going to get a shot too, so we can each help the other. I asked if he wanted me to go first or if he wanted to go first. He opted for his shot being first....WOW!!
D cried the whole way to the dr., while walking in to the office, waiting in the waiting room, walking to the exam room and through the entire process. THANK GOODNESS that the nurses at Vanc. Clinic are very quick. He was sitting in my lap and when the shot was over he looked at the nurse and said that she upset him so much he pee'd. WHAT!!??? He's sitting in my LAP!! My heart sank...UGH! I felt his pants, dry. I felt my pants, dry. He didn't pee....yet....but he had to go...BAD! Off he went to the potty. PHEW! I haven't been pee'd on in several years!! The boy is almost 6!!
After some running around doing errands, I got my shot and we went home. Flu shots done for the year. Hopefully, we dodged a flu bug bullet.
Don't tell:
Pros: No crying leading up to the nurse walking into the office with the needle
No obsessive questions before "the deed"
Very little drama ahead of time
Cons: You didn't tell
You've corrupted your child from ever wanting to return to the dr.
Your child now hates you (not always a bad thing, but for this it is)
Tell:
Pros: Child won't believe that every trip to the dr is going to lead to a shot (even though during the first 4 years of their life it pretty much IS)
You maintain trust with your child
You can talk about what's going to happen and hopefully comfort their fears.
Cons: Endless drama prior to appt
Tears and boogers
Drama
Endless talking about how it's going to hurt worse than getting a leg cut off. (Did I mention - drama)
I opt to tell
I hadn't gotten D or myself flu shots yet this year and during cards last night, I learned that the flu has just started in the PNW and was expected to last until mid to late May. I'm finally feeling 100%, so I made up my mind on the way to work today that D and I were going to get our vaccinations. I called his Dr before getting D off the bus and unfortunately there was no mist vaccines available, so it was going to have to be the shot. UGH. That's what I get for waiting.
The appt wasn't scheduled until 3:20, so I told D just after we got home from the bus (2pm'ish) what was going to happen. He started to cry immediately. We talked about what was going to happen and that it may or may not hurt. I also told him that I was going to get a shot too, so we can each help the other. I asked if he wanted me to go first or if he wanted to go first. He opted for his shot being first....WOW!!
D cried the whole way to the dr., while walking in to the office, waiting in the waiting room, walking to the exam room and through the entire process. THANK GOODNESS that the nurses at Vanc. Clinic are very quick. He was sitting in my lap and when the shot was over he looked at the nurse and said that she upset him so much he pee'd. WHAT!!??? He's sitting in my LAP!! My heart sank...UGH! I felt his pants, dry. I felt my pants, dry. He didn't pee....yet....but he had to go...BAD! Off he went to the potty. PHEW! I haven't been pee'd on in several years!! The boy is almost 6!!
After some running around doing errands, I got my shot and we went home. Flu shots done for the year. Hopefully, we dodged a flu bug bullet.
Keeping you "a breast" on the situation
It's been a week and a half since C had her lumpectomy and it's been a tough recovery. I'm baffled that my c-section scar is as long as her lumpectomy incision!! Ummm, an almost 8lb baby came out of that sized incision, but a smaller than 2" fibroid took the same sized incision....doesn't seem right.
The good news is that the biopsy results were completely negative. The recovery time was much longer than anticipated and I was getting a bit worried. (recap from previous blog) The Monday of the procedure, C was probably still pretty doped up and amped up from andrenalen, so the pain was minimal. Tuesday - was completely miserable for her. Lots of pain meds and OTC pain relievers. On Wed, she slept almost the whole day and starting that night it started to snow. I didn't want her to even attempt going in to work for fear that she'd have to jerk the wheel of her car and causing her unnecessary trouble. We woke to several inches of snow on the ground, schools closed, but C insisted on going into the office across town. Off she went and less than an hour later she said that she was on her way back b/c the office was closed (no one had informed her of that information prior). She did run into a sticky spot on the road and had to correct her car - thus jerking the wheel and causing severe pain. She laid on the couch for the rest of the day. Friday, she stayed home. All weekend she laid on the couch or in bed taking her meds and being in severe pain. I was getting worried at this point. It had been almost a week and she was still needing to take Vicodin every 4-6 hours. Plus, taking Ibuprophine in between. I asked her to call the dr. on Monday if she was still in such pain.
Off she went to work on Monday, but didn't last the entire day. She made it to about 2pm and was told by her boss and coworkers that she looked like crap and to go home. She did. Her pain was lessening (only needing a V at night), but she was still tired. Yesterday, she made it through an entire day and felt pretty ok.
I don't think either one of us were expecting her recovery to last a week - especially when the Dr. says that most people go back to work in a day or two. I felt so bad that she was hurting and there wasn't much I could do. I entertained the kids, made meals and made sure she was covered with the new heating blanket. That's about all I could do....THAT's a miserable feeling. Hopefully, in the next week or so all the pain goes away and it's just a memory.
The good news is that the biopsy results were completely negative. The recovery time was much longer than anticipated and I was getting a bit worried. (recap from previous blog) The Monday of the procedure, C was probably still pretty doped up and amped up from andrenalen, so the pain was minimal. Tuesday - was completely miserable for her. Lots of pain meds and OTC pain relievers. On Wed, she slept almost the whole day and starting that night it started to snow. I didn't want her to even attempt going in to work for fear that she'd have to jerk the wheel of her car and causing her unnecessary trouble. We woke to several inches of snow on the ground, schools closed, but C insisted on going into the office across town. Off she went and less than an hour later she said that she was on her way back b/c the office was closed (no one had informed her of that information prior). She did run into a sticky spot on the road and had to correct her car - thus jerking the wheel and causing severe pain. She laid on the couch for the rest of the day. Friday, she stayed home. All weekend she laid on the couch or in bed taking her meds and being in severe pain. I was getting worried at this point. It had been almost a week and she was still needing to take Vicodin every 4-6 hours. Plus, taking Ibuprophine in between. I asked her to call the dr. on Monday if she was still in such pain.
Off she went to work on Monday, but didn't last the entire day. She made it to about 2pm and was told by her boss and coworkers that she looked like crap and to go home. She did. Her pain was lessening (only needing a V at night), but she was still tired. Yesterday, she made it through an entire day and felt pretty ok.
I don't think either one of us were expecting her recovery to last a week - especially when the Dr. says that most people go back to work in a day or two. I felt so bad that she was hurting and there wasn't much I could do. I entertained the kids, made meals and made sure she was covered with the new heating blanket. That's about all I could do....THAT's a miserable feeling. Hopefully, in the next week or so all the pain goes away and it's just a memory.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
It's a boobie blog
For over a year C has been pestered by a pain in her breast. At first it was just a pain....not only a physical pain, but also a P A I N! Last year she went to her PCP who blew her off and stated that she's too young to have anything wrong and didn't pursue the source of pain. After many months of nagging pain and eventually the pain becoming a lump, she made an appt with an OB/GYN to have it looked at and she asked me to attend the appt so I could ask questions if C didn't. The GYN found the lump almost immediately, made some faces and then ordered C to see a general surgeon and recommended to the surgeon to have an ultrasound and mammogram performed. The GYN would have ordered the mammo/US, but because the lump was painful, only a general surgeon could remove it.
C saw the surgeon in January and he immediately stated that where the lump was located an U/S and mammo will not be a true indication of what this thing is. PLUS, he said that b/c it was so painful to her, why not just go in and have it removed. He wouldn't remove it if it wasn't so painful to her. Surgery was scheduled.
The surgery was performed on Monday and everything went well (I have pre-op pictures, but have been threatened death if I publish them). After several pre-op attempts at inserting an IV and resorting to using heat therapy, the nurse finally got an IV going. We chatted, made jokes, and tried to get C's mind off of the procedure. I didn't want to seem nervous, but I was. This was C's first surgery and at that, she was going to be AWAKE!! YIKES!! That scared the dickens out of me and I wasn't even having the procedure done! One nurse in particular didn't find me very funny when I whipped out my phone for pictures after she plopped the hair net cap onto C's head. It was lopsided, like a berret....pictures were definitely in order!! Just before wheeling her off to the OR, they gave her goofy meds and she says that she remembers being wheeled into the OR, moving to the OR table, her left arm being strapped down and that's it.
Less than 45 min later, the Dr. came out of OR and stated that he was 99% sure that it was just a fibroid. An hour later we were on our way back home. I brought C back here with her drugs and set her up on the couch. I had arranged to have D stay at his Daddy's on Monday (no school, it was Presidents Day). Monday, C was feeling OK. Not great, but not in a lot of pain either. Tuesday....BAD!! All of the stress/shock had worn off and the Vicodin wasn't touching her pain. She had originally planned on trying to go back to work on Wed, but after Tuesday's awfulness, she decided to just stay home again. Yesterday, she slept most of the day....literally, she was awake for less than 7 hours yesterday!! No vicodin yesterday, only Ibuprofen.
Woke up this morning to schools being closed and the roads a mess with a couple of inches of snow on the ground. I didn't want C to even attempt driving into work because I didn't want her to have to jerk the steering wheel and hurt herself. The woman has a mind of her own and off she went. I received a text 30 min later stating that her office was closed and she was returning. Low and behold, my prediction was right. On her way into work, a car splashed water onto her windshield and she had to turn her wheel hard. Now she's in pain again. Vicodin on board and her butt on the couch.
Good news though....she called the dr. and it was just a benign tumor!! PHEW!!!
GIRLS!!! Do your regular breast checks. When you do find something, don't allow a dr. to poo-poo you off. Get the answers you seek - regardless if you feel you're the biggest bitch in the world.
C saw the surgeon in January and he immediately stated that where the lump was located an U/S and mammo will not be a true indication of what this thing is. PLUS, he said that b/c it was so painful to her, why not just go in and have it removed. He wouldn't remove it if it wasn't so painful to her. Surgery was scheduled.
The surgery was performed on Monday and everything went well (I have pre-op pictures, but have been threatened death if I publish them). After several pre-op attempts at inserting an IV and resorting to using heat therapy, the nurse finally got an IV going. We chatted, made jokes, and tried to get C's mind off of the procedure. I didn't want to seem nervous, but I was. This was C's first surgery and at that, she was going to be AWAKE!! YIKES!! That scared the dickens out of me and I wasn't even having the procedure done! One nurse in particular didn't find me very funny when I whipped out my phone for pictures after she plopped the hair net cap onto C's head. It was lopsided, like a berret....pictures were definitely in order!! Just before wheeling her off to the OR, they gave her goofy meds and she says that she remembers being wheeled into the OR, moving to the OR table, her left arm being strapped down and that's it.
Less than 45 min later, the Dr. came out of OR and stated that he was 99% sure that it was just a fibroid. An hour later we were on our way back home. I brought C back here with her drugs and set her up on the couch. I had arranged to have D stay at his Daddy's on Monday (no school, it was Presidents Day). Monday, C was feeling OK. Not great, but not in a lot of pain either. Tuesday....BAD!! All of the stress/shock had worn off and the Vicodin wasn't touching her pain. She had originally planned on trying to go back to work on Wed, but after Tuesday's awfulness, she decided to just stay home again. Yesterday, she slept most of the day....literally, she was awake for less than 7 hours yesterday!! No vicodin yesterday, only Ibuprofen.
Woke up this morning to schools being closed and the roads a mess with a couple of inches of snow on the ground. I didn't want C to even attempt driving into work because I didn't want her to have to jerk the steering wheel and hurt herself. The woman has a mind of her own and off she went. I received a text 30 min later stating that her office was closed and she was returning. Low and behold, my prediction was right. On her way into work, a car splashed water onto her windshield and she had to turn her wheel hard. Now she's in pain again. Vicodin on board and her butt on the couch.
Good news though....she called the dr. and it was just a benign tumor!! PHEW!!!
GIRLS!!! Do your regular breast checks. When you do find something, don't allow a dr. to poo-poo you off. Get the answers you seek - regardless if you feel you're the biggest bitch in the world.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
2 girls, a bully and mama bear
As I mentioned in a previous blog, D has a crush on a girl in his class. Julia, she is oh so sweet, bright, and funny. However, another girl, Elliana, has a crush on D. Oh the drama playing out in Kindergarten these days. Yes, I know that I chased Jimmy Burger around Kindergarten trying to kiss him - got him a couple of times too....heehehehee.
Anyways, D has been having issues with another little boy in his class. This little boy has been pretty much bullying D. Contradicting that D actually has a Bakugon Colossus, talking smack about his tennis shoes (umm, they're Nike's), stating that D is slow (as in running slow)....etc. Basic Kindergarten stuff, but D has come home twice last week and cried about it. DON'T pick on my boy! On Monday, I volunteered in D's class for their Valentine's Day party, and chatted with Mrs. Bates after school regarding J's behavior towards D. The teacher hadn't seen anything happening in the classroom, but she wouldn't be surprised if that was happening. She stated that she'd watch closely and see if she could see what's happening. It took much strength not to take J aside and shake some sense into him and tell him to leave my boy alone....I didn't, but wanted too!! WELL, yesterday J was busted picking on D on the way to lunch!! Mrs. Bates kept him inside from recess and had a heart-to-heart discussion. J actually cried and felt sorry b/c he didn't realize that he had been hurting D's feelings. I was also informed that J has been on a behavior support plan from the beginning of the school year, but doing much much better.
I was in D's class today on my regular volunteer day and even worked with J one-on-one. Hopefully this ends the bullying from J and a great remainder of Kindergarten year!!
Anyways, D has been having issues with another little boy in his class. This little boy has been pretty much bullying D. Contradicting that D actually has a Bakugon Colossus, talking smack about his tennis shoes (umm, they're Nike's), stating that D is slow (as in running slow)....etc. Basic Kindergarten stuff, but D has come home twice last week and cried about it. DON'T pick on my boy! On Monday, I volunteered in D's class for their Valentine's Day party, and chatted with Mrs. Bates after school regarding J's behavior towards D. The teacher hadn't seen anything happening in the classroom, but she wouldn't be surprised if that was happening. She stated that she'd watch closely and see if she could see what's happening. It took much strength not to take J aside and shake some sense into him and tell him to leave my boy alone....I didn't, but wanted too!! WELL, yesterday J was busted picking on D on the way to lunch!! Mrs. Bates kept him inside from recess and had a heart-to-heart discussion. J actually cried and felt sorry b/c he didn't realize that he had been hurting D's feelings. I was also informed that J has been on a behavior support plan from the beginning of the school year, but doing much much better.
I was in D's class today on my regular volunteer day and even worked with J one-on-one. Hopefully this ends the bullying from J and a great remainder of Kindergarten year!!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Inconceivable
Infertility - it's that "taboo" thing that people don't talk about. Instead it's whispered about, discussed in the media negatively when a woman has 8 babies or worse, not even discussed. EXCEPT infertility (IF) affects more people in this country than breast cancer. No, I'm not comparing infertility to having cancer, I wanted to show the stats, cuz we know the stats for women developing breast cancer.
I suffered through infertility - unexplained infertility. D is my 4th pg, but my only child and multiple dr's could not tell us why we couldn't get pg or why I couldn't maintain a pg. It's a hard, painful and emotional road to walk. It involves many dr. appts, shots, tests, being poked and prodded in so many ways and having the ups and downs of negative and positive pg results. The yearning to have a baby is strong - especially when you suddenly realize that you can't! The loss of control within your own body all the while having dr's and nurses telling you exactly what's going to happen takes its toll.
If you haven't experienced IF please try to put yourself into this thinking mode. You're sooo excited to start trying for a baby. Every month you think "this is it" and then your period starts and you're sad. You read everything on the internet regarding how to get pg...what foods to avoid, supplements to take, charting your cycle...etc. Now, experience all of that month after month for perhaps years. Then you see multiple dr's, try different drugs that make you feel like you're going crazy, only to have the same things happen.
Luckily soon after I started the journey of trying for a baby I found a web board completely devoted to infertility. The women who belong to this VERY LARGE webboard have been through it all and are a great resource for everyday things. There there is a core group of about 20, it's been 11 years and we're still going strong. I have 'met' some wonderful people - some even in real life and I consider all of them friends. I'm here today to talk about one of my friends stories. Well, to promote her story and it is even more painful than anyone could imagine.
My friend C and her husband decided to use their frozen embryo's to have another baby. Their fresh cycle years before had been successful, so there was no reason that she shouldn't get pg with the embies they had saved. C went through all of the tests, drugs and procedures to ready her body for the transfer of these embryo's. The embryo's had survived the "thaw" and 2 were transferred into C's uterus. The 2 week wait began and ended up with a BIG FAT POSITIVE!!! YIPPPEEEEEE! She was thrilled.....until.
She and her husband, S, were told some devistating news, the baby that she was carrying was not hers. The fertility clinic had thawed the wrong embryo's and transferred them to her.....and now she was pg with a baby that was not theirs.Not only did the clinic thaw the wrong embies for her procedure, but the embryo's that C had frozen had been thawed and used in a failed cycle for another couple. WHOOPS - I apparently had my info incorrect. C's embies were not thawed by accident, but rather used by she and her hubby in a surrogate in which the surrogate did not conceive. C and S made the ultimate sacrifice, they decided to proceed with the pg and deliver the baby only to turn around and give the baby to the couple which the embies belonged. To terminate the pg means another couple has no chance to try for another baby, and C has NO chance to try for another cycle because her embryo's were already gone. C and S not only had to suffer the loss of their embryo's, but then to make a difficult decision.
C gave birth to a health full term baby boy just over a year ago. He is thriving in with his family, but that does not erase the pain that C and her family are experiencing every day. Her pain cannot even be compared to a woman who decides that adoption is the best course for her baby because, I'm sure, that that woman has not experienced years of IF treatments and the deep yearning of having a baby.
C and S's story will be profiled tonight (Friday, Feb 11) on Dateline NBC. C and S have also written a book which will be coming out on Monday. I know that I have cried many tears reading C's posts on our board, so I know I will be watching. C is a dear friend who has experienced a loss that I could never imagine.
Here is the youtube footage for tonight's Dateline. I hope people watch and learn what true strength really is.
http://www.youtube.com/user/carolynandseansavage?feature=mhum
Their book Inconceivable - A Medical Mistake, the Baby We Couldn't Keep, and Our Decision to Deliver the Ultimate Gift goes on sale Monday.
I suffered through infertility - unexplained infertility. D is my 4th pg, but my only child and multiple dr's could not tell us why we couldn't get pg or why I couldn't maintain a pg. It's a hard, painful and emotional road to walk. It involves many dr. appts, shots, tests, being poked and prodded in so many ways and having the ups and downs of negative and positive pg results. The yearning to have a baby is strong - especially when you suddenly realize that you can't! The loss of control within your own body all the while having dr's and nurses telling you exactly what's going to happen takes its toll.
If you haven't experienced IF please try to put yourself into this thinking mode. You're sooo excited to start trying for a baby. Every month you think "this is it" and then your period starts and you're sad. You read everything on the internet regarding how to get pg...what foods to avoid, supplements to take, charting your cycle...etc. Now, experience all of that month after month for perhaps years. Then you see multiple dr's, try different drugs that make you feel like you're going crazy, only to have the same things happen.
Luckily soon after I started the journey of trying for a baby I found a web board completely devoted to infertility. The women who belong to this VERY LARGE webboard have been through it all and are a great resource for everyday things. There there is a core group of about 20, it's been 11 years and we're still going strong. I have 'met' some wonderful people - some even in real life and I consider all of them friends. I'm here today to talk about one of my friends stories. Well, to promote her story and it is even more painful than anyone could imagine.
My friend C and her husband decided to use their frozen embryo's to have another baby. Their fresh cycle years before had been successful, so there was no reason that she shouldn't get pg with the embies they had saved. C went through all of the tests, drugs and procedures to ready her body for the transfer of these embryo's. The embryo's had survived the "thaw" and 2 were transferred into C's uterus. The 2 week wait began and ended up with a BIG FAT POSITIVE!!! YIPPPEEEEEE! She was thrilled.....until.
She and her husband, S, were told some devistating news, the baby that she was carrying was not hers. The fertility clinic had thawed the wrong embryo's and transferred them to her.....and now she was pg with a baby that was not theirs.
C gave birth to a health full term baby boy just over a year ago. He is thriving in with his family, but that does not erase the pain that C and her family are experiencing every day. Her pain cannot even be compared to a woman who decides that adoption is the best course for her baby because, I'm sure, that that woman has not experienced years of IF treatments and the deep yearning of having a baby.
C and S's story will be profiled tonight (Friday, Feb 11) on Dateline NBC. C and S have also written a book which will be coming out on Monday. I know that I have cried many tears reading C's posts on our board, so I know I will be watching. C is a dear friend who has experienced a loss that I could never imagine.
Here is the youtube footage for tonight's Dateline. I hope people watch and learn what true strength really is.
http://www.youtube.com/user/carolynandseansavage?feature=mhum
Their book Inconceivable - A Medical Mistake, the Baby We Couldn't Keep, and Our Decision to Deliver the Ultimate Gift goes on sale Monday.
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