Most of this is WAY over due...sorry about that.
The most important thing is that we now have a nephew. On March 15, Alicia, my sister-in-law went into labor and, a few hours later, had a baby boy, Brian Patrick Eaton. Their family lives in Virginia, so unfortunately I have not been able to see my nephew yet in person. But Nate has posted several pictures on Facebook and, honestly, the little guy is adorable! My parents (Brian's Grandpa and Nonna Eaton) are in Virginia right now enjoying their new role as grandparents. Early next month I am going to New Jersey to stay with Anne and we will make the trip down to visit Nate and his family, very much looking forward to that!
In all honesty, my cardiologist appointment did not go as badly as I feared it would. It turns out, in the last ten years, an entirely new specialty has developed called "Adults with Congenital Heart Defects." There are doctors these days who make this a field of study and practice. I find this hilarious since 10 years is almost exactly how long I have been in need of a doctor like this. I guess I'm never going to stop being at the cutting edge of cardiac medicine. So the doctor we went to see last month will be like my medical supervisor and she will send me to the specialists I need to go to. I don't know how I feel about having more than one cardiologist, but I guess it's better than going to the wrong doctors!
Our social worker is coming for her biannual house visit. This is more depressing than it should be, I think. I would like to believe we are closer to having a child, but as far as I know nothing new has happened.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
While we wait...
Two months ago Nathan and I became officially certified foster parents. Since then the wait has been a very big, but unspoken part of our lives. I've been wondering, since then, what are acceptable baby-related activities for prospective adoptive parents.
We plan on painting the baby's room, but haven't done it yet. I've been knitting baby hats and booties like crazy. I bought a couple baby outfits, just one or two in case we get a call out of the blue and need to be ready right away. And yes, we have picked out names, more or less, Nathan doesn't like to make "concrete" pronouncements until he absolutely has to. But the girl's name we picked so far is Natalie Joyce and for a boy Elijah Tarbert (it's my paternal grandmother's maiden name).
But part of me is scared that having done even these few and necessary things, we might be "jinxing" oursevles in some way. I don't know many other adoptive parents, so I don't know how far ahead or behind we actually are. Part of me wants to buy all the nursery furniture we need right now, car seats, toys and everything and just have the room absolutely ready for the little one. We told the agency we would happily accept twins if the chance arose. Should we have secondary names picked out, just in case?
I don't know how much of this is "in case" and how much is just masochistic.
We plan on painting the baby's room, but haven't done it yet. I've been knitting baby hats and booties like crazy. I bought a couple baby outfits, just one or two in case we get a call out of the blue and need to be ready right away. And yes, we have picked out names, more or less, Nathan doesn't like to make "concrete" pronouncements until he absolutely has to. But the girl's name we picked so far is Natalie Joyce and for a boy Elijah Tarbert (it's my paternal grandmother's maiden name).
But part of me is scared that having done even these few and necessary things, we might be "jinxing" oursevles in some way. I don't know many other adoptive parents, so I don't know how far ahead or behind we actually are. Part of me wants to buy all the nursery furniture we need right now, car seats, toys and everything and just have the room absolutely ready for the little one. We told the agency we would happily accept twins if the chance arose. Should we have secondary names picked out, just in case?
I don't know how much of this is "in case" and how much is just masochistic.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Problem with Winter
I love colder temperatures, I love dark nights and using the fireplace. Everything about winter appeals to me, except of course for snow. My biggest problem with winter has only developed lately.
Winter seems to bring on the weight gain. It's the perfect time for hot, fatty home-cooked foods and staying inside spending time reading or talking with Nathan. There is no bike riding and very little walking outside.
This year is the first time I've noticed this. I just got back in from being on my bike for the first time this spring and I feel sufficiently wiped out. I hope this doesn't last too long.
Winter seems to bring on the weight gain. It's the perfect time for hot, fatty home-cooked foods and staying inside spending time reading or talking with Nathan. There is no bike riding and very little walking outside.
This year is the first time I've noticed this. I just got back in from being on my bike for the first time this spring and I feel sufficiently wiped out. I hope this doesn't last too long.
Monday, March 14, 2011
The approach of spring
Nathan and I were out at Buffalo Wild Wings tonight sitting underneath a giant television showing the Blackhawks/Sharks game, like about five of their other televisions. I don't remember what was on any of the others. But there was one TV at the back of the restaurant that I could see over Nathan's shoulder and what was playing on that particular set made me giddy.
It was an exhibition White Sox game. The long dark winter is almost over. Spring is almost here. Thank God for baseball.
It was an exhibition White Sox game. The long dark winter is almost over. Spring is almost here. Thank God for baseball.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Resolutions
I didn't really notice when it happened. Sometime in the last couple years my perspective on Lent changed. Suddenly I wasn't thinking in terms of "What am I going to give up for Lent." My new mantra was "What am I going to do for Lent." It's probably because I got tired of nominally giving up pop and then not really having much success with it.
But I think this it also has something to do with growing up. The thought of giving something up for Lent is just right for children, I think, because it gets the idea across that Lent is a time of self-denial. I'm not sure the little ones understand that it's also a time of self-revision.
Lent is the perfect time to think about ourselves objectively and work on those imperfections we find. The older I get the more I think about the Lenten season as a time for self-reflection and revision. There is the thought of "What do I need to do to become more Christ-like in my life?"
Therefore, my Lenten resolutions this year are:
But I think this it also has something to do with growing up. The thought of giving something up for Lent is just right for children, I think, because it gets the idea across that Lent is a time of self-denial. I'm not sure the little ones understand that it's also a time of self-revision.
Lent is the perfect time to think about ourselves objectively and work on those imperfections we find. The older I get the more I think about the Lenten season as a time for self-reflection and revision. There is the thought of "What do I need to do to become more Christ-like in my life?"
Therefore, my Lenten resolutions this year are:
- work on giving up the casual swearing, which has gotten much worse since I started working as a dispatcher.
- become less judgmental of people in general
- try to eliminate some of the parts of my sense of humor which are particularly mean
- stop gossiping
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Birthday extravaganza--Spring edition
Have you ever noticed how birthdays and other special days tend to group themselves together within families? For example, in my own family there are five birthdays at the end of the year: Anne-October 8; Daddy-October 15; Eric-October 30; Elizabeth-November 24; and Nate-December 19.
That doesn't even include Mom and Dad's anniversary in September, our anniversary in late October, Nate's anniversary in early October, aunt and uncle's birthdays of which there are at least 3 in October alone, cousin's birthdays: I can count 2 in October off the top of my head, and Eric and Elizabeth's anniversary in mid-December.
According to Mom this means October is closed. We are no longer allowed to add birthdays or other "special event days" in October.
I'm finding that this crosses family lines as well. I think the last week of February to the second week of March are almost as action packed as any three-week period in October for Nathan and I. Our niece Sophie just celebrated her first birthday February 25, Craig's birthday follows quickly on the 27th, then comes my mother's on March 1 and finally Nathan's on March 9. (Side note: be gentle with Nathan on his birthday this year, he's turning 30.)
And those three weeks are about to get more involved: my brother's wife is due to have their baby any day now. She's due March 16, but I don't think she's going to make it that far.
That doesn't even include Mom and Dad's anniversary in September, our anniversary in late October, Nate's anniversary in early October, aunt and uncle's birthdays of which there are at least 3 in October alone, cousin's birthdays: I can count 2 in October off the top of my head, and Eric and Elizabeth's anniversary in mid-December.
According to Mom this means October is closed. We are no longer allowed to add birthdays or other "special event days" in October.
I'm finding that this crosses family lines as well. I think the last week of February to the second week of March are almost as action packed as any three-week period in October for Nathan and I. Our niece Sophie just celebrated her first birthday February 25, Craig's birthday follows quickly on the 27th, then comes my mother's on March 1 and finally Nathan's on March 9. (Side note: be gentle with Nathan on his birthday this year, he's turning 30.)
And those three weeks are about to get more involved: my brother's wife is due to have their baby any day now. She's due March 16, but I don't think she's going to make it that far.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Medical Roulette
I love it when the insurance company feels like it needs to remind me how old I am.
It's endearing when they decide because I have grown up, they get to play games with my medical care.
The older I get the harder it is to believe the insurance company views my care as other than a way for them to try their luck. There is a fairly well documented history of letters and recommendations that clearly state that I need to be seen by pediatric cardiologists. This is what the whole problem stems from. I have found that in lay terms "pediatric" really means "when you're 18 you're out."
So I usually have to fight very hard to be seen by the right people. And for the most part, a well-written letter from an adult cardiologist saying they cannot treat me has done the trick relatively well.
Until now...
I am attempting to see my doctor for a check up and I have been told that there is an adult cardiologist who "believes she can help me." There are quite a few Ango-Saxon four letter words that I have already said about this which bear repeating, but not here.
I would really like to believe that this is the answer to my prayers. After all, seeing a pediatric doctor at the age of 26 is slightly humiliating. I have always wished there was some kind of "transitional" cardiology. This particular doctor I have to go see has a couple patients who have congenital defects similar to mine, which is why she thinks she can treat me. But for 26 years I have been told I need to stick with pediatrics and because I have been willing to fight for it, I have received excellent care. It is kind of hard to suddenly turn my back on all that.
In other news, look what I did!
I messed up the bottom and it is too small to pull down over my shoulders, but I'm proud of it anyway. It looks perfect, even if it isn't and that is really all I wanted for my first one.
It's endearing when they decide because I have grown up, they get to play games with my medical care.
The older I get the harder it is to believe the insurance company views my care as other than a way for them to try their luck. There is a fairly well documented history of letters and recommendations that clearly state that I need to be seen by pediatric cardiologists. This is what the whole problem stems from. I have found that in lay terms "pediatric" really means "when you're 18 you're out."
So I usually have to fight very hard to be seen by the right people. And for the most part, a well-written letter from an adult cardiologist saying they cannot treat me has done the trick relatively well.
Until now...
I am attempting to see my doctor for a check up and I have been told that there is an adult cardiologist who "believes she can help me." There are quite a few Ango-Saxon four letter words that I have already said about this which bear repeating, but not here.
I would really like to believe that this is the answer to my prayers. After all, seeing a pediatric doctor at the age of 26 is slightly humiliating. I have always wished there was some kind of "transitional" cardiology. This particular doctor I have to go see has a couple patients who have congenital defects similar to mine, which is why she thinks she can treat me. But for 26 years I have been told I need to stick with pediatrics and because I have been willing to fight for it, I have received excellent care. It is kind of hard to suddenly turn my back on all that.
In other news, look what I did!
I messed up the bottom and it is too small to pull down over my shoulders, but I'm proud of it anyway. It looks perfect, even if it isn't and that is really all I wanted for my first one.
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