Damsel in Distress

ROFLMAO!!!! Any mom with kids and a husband that just doesn't get it, this is for you....http://ping.fm/7Nwlz

The Service Call

Its 11pm on a Friday night and my daughter called me to tell me about her night at work.  It was 8:30p and Sears Outlet was getting ready to close for the day, when a very ornery "old man" came in and raised quite a ruckus.  He was very upset that his refrigerator was broken and couldn't get the Sears Service Department to cooperate to his satisfaction.  She explained to this man that she was sorry, there wasn't anything that she could do for him tonight and that the store was closing.  He asked her to come home with him.  As she told me this, all sorts of thoughts are running through my head......all the things that I've taught her and this isn't one of them.  Mind you, my daughter is the Sales Lead and under her leadership, the store has become the #1 store in the region, part of her success is based on her willingness to go above and beyond......this was WAY ABOVE and WAY BEYOND, in my opinion.  She went, ALONE, against everything I have in me.  She tried to do something with his refrigerator and couldn't.  He showed her his son, sleeping on the sofa.  His son, Marty Sheets, is 58 years old and has Down Syndrome.  Marty has participated in the Special Olympics since its first World Games.  There is a room in this man's house dedicated to his son's trophies and even a copy of a painting of Eunice Shriver with Marty in it.  Brittany shared the story of her brother, Robert, who also has Down Syndrome and also competes in the Special Olympics.  Brittany shared some very sweet moments with this man.  When it was all said and done, she called me to share her experience........Thank you, Brittany for making my bad day better ~ I love you!  (Just don't do that again!!!!)  xoxoxo

The painting of Eunice Shriver with Marty Sheets and other Special Olympians

Marty Sheets and his dad, David

Robert, with my husband, John

One Born Every Minute on Lifetime

I was so looking forward to the premiere of this television show on Lifetime.  As a mom of 5 older children, I'm a sap for these childbirth stories.....The show showcases several birth stories that take place at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.  I was particularly struck by one couple who decided to go the "natural" route and they presented a lengthy birth plan to the nurses with all their DOs and DONTs.  At first I was quite impressed by their level of dedication to creating the perfect birth for their baby.  I, too, had a clear idea with the type of birth that I wanted for my last child.  I have to say that I turned on this couple rather quickly, especially the Daddy.  After having a lengthy labor with no progression, they continued to insist on proceeding "naturally", preferring to take a shower, rather than take the advice of their labor and delivery nurse to ease the discomfort and pain of labor and they also refused all fetal monitoring.  In fact, whenever the nurse suggested anything, the Daddy treated her as though she was "the enemy", or less than human.  It wasn't until their midwife told them that she suggested Pitocin and fetal monitoring that they relented.  Their beautiful baby girl was born only a short time later. I give that nurse ALOT of credit for maintaining a level of professionalism throughout her entire shift with this couple.  I really hope when that couple sees their birthing story played out on television, they realize just how harsh they were and they send a letter of apology and perhaps a beautiful bouquet of flowers to the nurses at Riverside Methodist Hospital.  (Perhaps they should also take this suggestion:  when and if you decide to have a second child, please consider a home birth OR a birthing center, rather than the hospital.)

Watch the episode here:
http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/one-born-every-minute/video/full-episodes/episode-1-to-medicate-or-not

To My Daughter and Daughters EVERYWHERE!!!!!

HOW TO LET PEOPLE KNOW YOU LOVE THEM by Amanda Gore

Happy Father's Day!

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father. 

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children. 

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing. 

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart. 

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own. 

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides. 

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children. 

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us. 
~Kirk Loadman~

Today, I praise my husband who was a Dad to children he didn't have to be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjO1F6oCab8

My baby boy turns 13!

When I first started dating my husband, he made it clear.......he had raised enough children and he didn't want anymore!!!  (so don't even try it!)  That was until the day I told him I was pregnant.  


From the beginning, I knew this pregnancy wasn't going to be easy........I was SICK!  So very sick!  From start to finish, I had lost 7 lbs.  During the initial Dr visit when I was 10 weeks along, they did a blood test.  The blood test showed that I was positive for Toxoplasmosis.  "Come again, Doc?"  Just what exactly did that mean???  For the average person??  Flu-like symptoms, if anything.  For a pregnant woman???  Not so good!  If the disease passes through the placenta to the unborn baby, there are several scary complications that may develop, including:  hydrocephalus, an intellectual disability, hearing loss, blindness, etc.  It was recommended that I go to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist at the nearby hospital for further care.  During our first visit, he explained that my chances were high (13%) to have a child with major physical/intellectual disabilities, so the only option HE saw was to terminate the pregnancy.  Ummmmm, do the math..........that means 87% of having a child WITHOUT any major disabilities.  I liked THOSE odds better.  There was no question in our minds, this was our child, no matter what.  We had amniocentesis as recommended by the doctor and on that day, we found out we were having a boy!  YAY!  


John was thrilled.......since childhood, he always loved the name ADAM and now he was going to get him.
We cried for what could be, we prayed to be able to handle those things.  I took "experimental" medication.  


As my pregnancy was nearing its end, the doctor grew concerned that Adam had become too "lazy".  An ultrasound had determined that Adam was not "head down" and was in fact, "butt first".  I was scheduled for a manual version on June 4th and was admitted to the hospital.  During the pre-procedure ultrasound, they discovered that Adam was "head down" already.  Thank GOD he moved, because the version promised to be "uncomfortable".  The doctor sent me on my way and told me to WALK........to stimulate the natural downward progression into the birth canal.  And WALK we did!!!  


At my last OB appointment, I was subjected to stress tests and an ultrasound where it was discovered that Adam had flipped again and was back in the breech position.  No manual version this time, it was too late, the baby was too big.  I was scheduled for a C-Section that evening.  Some more crying, a bit more praying and even more excitement on the way to the hospital.  


Adam was born that day, June 16, 1997 @ 6:16pm.  As I lay there, with the Doctor pulling and tugging on my insides, I listened to him talk about his Father's Day trip spent in a canoe on the Nissequogue River.  For REAL, DOC?!?!?  HELLO?!?!?  I'm wide open, my insides are exposed to everyone in the room, except me......I remember feeling like I just wanted to close my eyes, the Anesthesiologist kept waking me up  "stay with us, Jacqui, he's almost here!"  John stroked my hair and my head and then he was here.  Adam was HERE!  He was jaundiced, I saw it immediately when he was born.  But he was beautiful!  We held him for not nearly long enough before they whisked him away for"tests".  John and I were so proud of our son........all 8lbs 6ozs and 22" of him!


As I recovered and my son was placed in a "biliblanket" ~ the doctors told me that they had no choice but to send him to the NICU at another hospital.  He'll be leaving as soon as the ambulance arrived.  No, you can not go with him.  I was DEVASTATED.  I begged the doctors to release me......there were so many conditions to being discharged, after all, I had just had major surgery.  When I arrived to see Adam in the NICU, what struck me was how all those babies were so tiny, so frail, but still fighting.  Then there he was, my glo-worm, too big for the NICU's incubator..........please, someone, give me some answers.  No one had any........the doctor will make rounds "soon".  We never saw the NICU doctor the entire time we were there. My OB came to see me and Adam and he didn't know what the treatment plan was either.  We just needed the bilirubin level to drop.  My poor son was poked and prodded several times a day.  His feet looked like pin cushions.  


On June 20th, we arrived to find Adam removed from all wires, all lights.......what's going on?!?!?!  The nurse said, "Sign here and take him home".  No, we didn't have any answers.........as far as they could tell, he was healthy, but only time would tell.


Today, that baby is 13 years old.  He's in the "gifted" program at school, was just accepted into citizenship camp, wants to play football and participate in wrestling.  He LOVES WWE, cars, drag racing, video games and texting.  And at 5'8 and 175lbs, he's growing into a fine young man.


Happy Birthday, Adam!