Ups and Downs

UP: My friend Desiree asked me recently if I'd be willing to pose for her photography hobby practice. Sure! I wouldn't mind maternity photos! She's going to do newborn photos as well. So here's her awesome work sprinkled throughout my post!

DOWN: Lately I've been baffled at the number of my friends who are suffering with spousal abuse. It has been a challenge to "let go" and not try to solve their problems or rescue them. It's also been a bit overwhelming to not be bogged down with the sadness and frustration that their situations stirs in my heart for women I love. This year has truly been a multitude of opportunities for me to glimpse the problems of different marriages. ~adding to my overall perspective, I guess. I pray that they will find peace and resolution, soon, as well as divine intervention.

UP: At the last check, Emmeline's polyhydramnios is better. Here's hoping she doesn't have muscle problems!

DOWN: I found out the morning of my baby shower (T minus 10 days to baby) that a boy in Q's nursery class had been diagnosed with whooping cough. AND he had been vaccinated. Thus began several hours of phone tag with my Ob's office, the county health department nurse and Q's Dr office. Plaaaah! Not coincidentally Q had started some strange symptoms that VERY morning. His nose started running, the phlegm in his throat was actually altering his voice! I was terrified of the implications. My OB had explained how fatal pertussis is to a newborn. I didn't want to be quarantined from my little boy, or anything like unto it! The CHD nurse was extremely thorough and helpful. She arranged for Ian and my Dr to prescribe antibiotics immediately, then advised on how to get Q's antibiotics since his Dr office was NOT responding, nor would they according to her. He and I packed up and went straight to the Everett Clinic Walk-In where they deliberated on his insurance vs. our precarious situation (ie expecting baby). They decided to take him, but we then had to sit in the waiting room for 2 hours to be the last on the list to be seen. They had asked for him to wear a mask (pshaa!) and keep away from other people ( double pshaa!). Right. My 2 year old social butterfly? That didn't happen. Anyway, since I had the CHD recommendation EVERYONE took us seriously and did exactly as asked. We all got our antibiotics so ENSURE baby E's safety on her arrival. Interestingly, I learned that most vaccines are only 80-90% effective. So, even though we had all been vaccinated, we could still get it.

What a stressful afternoon that was! It got so late that Ian actually had to meet me at the clinic to take Q and pick up our prescriptions so I could get to the baby shower on time! And it was raining so hard we were drenched just getting to the car. Two days later Ian got REALLY sick...good thing he was already on meds.

UP: Desiree also put on my baby shower! What a dear! She put a lot of work into it as well. Her decorations were adorable, lots of yummy homemade food, and great activity. Instead of the traditional silly games she prepared a craft. Everyone got to decorate a onesie with iron-on fabric. I thought it was awesome, and they were all adorable! Some very creative ladies came!

UP: Also, my cousins Carl and Chris from the Portland area surprised me by coming up that night! I was shocked to see them walk in the door! I got to meet their baby Chance, as well as Ronin, Pete and Sarah's new baby. Sadly, I couldn't hang out with them the rest of the weekend since we had the whooping cough scare, so they partied with other relatives the rest of the weekend.

Thank you Desiree for all your work! It was all beautiful and very well done!

UP: On our last visit to Children's Urology for Q we learned that his dilation is actually reducing. Yeah! Not much left to worry about there. They will still monitor him, but nothing to worry about.

These are pictures of the amazing blue spotted hermit crab in the Whale floor aquarium.

Oh, and I forgot...UP: I died my hair purple. I've always wanted to do a fun color and since I had nothing coming up I would feel silly doing with purple hair I did it. It was fun. And temporary.