Atrazine

Today is Rhiannon's last day of 7th grade.

Tomorrow I have to take her to her fathers house for the summer. 

I think that sucks on every single level. 
I want her to stay with me.

Here is her first day and last day of school picture.  She has grown so much!  I think that sucks too, but in a good way.  I can not believe She is going to be in 8th grade next year! 

Jeebus! 

Please slow down, time!

A fellow blogger in the Chicago area that I follow has had a bit of bad news lately.  She found out one of the twins she is carrying had an omphalocele, which is in the same genre as gastroschisis - which is what Clara had. 

Her case is more severe then what we had and unfortunately she has lost one of her twins.  We got to talking and I had brought to her attention the herbicide Atrazine, which is used heavily in the Midwest and is known to cause both of these terrible birth defects.  It is also banned everywhere except in the good old US of A.  I know for a fact this is what caused Clara's problems.  She is quite sure this is what caused her to lose her baby, too.

This herbicide is not safe in any amount and it NEEDS to be banned.

Please help us by signing the petition. 

Remember, this defect is not prejudice.  It can affect you, your mother, your sister, your wife and your daughters. 

Nobody should have to go through what we did.

Nobody should lose their child before they have a chance to love them like my fellow blogger did.

Sign the petition here.

Read Clara's story here.

Learn more about her story here.

Happy Monday!



Goodbye Gastroschisis!

Today is a huge day for our family.

 

I know that most people who actually read this blog know me or my family personally, however there are a few who don't.  Sorry to be a bit redundant for those of you who have heard this all before.

When I started this blog it was a way for me to get my thoughts together, however silly they may be.  Since then it has grown into a documentation of our girl's lives.  A place where they can look back and remember how loved they are and all of our stumbles along the way.  I would be remiss to not add todays events here.

When the Mister, my sister, Rhiannon and I went in for my 20 month check up, excited to see what kind of baby we were going to have, we were instead told that our daughter had a very serious birth defect called Gastroschisis.    (If you want to learn more, click the link.)  It is a horrible terrible defect where the babies are born with their insides out.  It causes many problems with the pregnancy.  The children born with this are often hospitalized for months and endure many surgeries and life changing complications.  When Clara was born she was only 4 lbs.  She was so beautiful and SO tiny she didn't look like a real baby.

 

Right after Clara was born I was able to glimpse her from across the room before she was whisked away to be prepped for her first surgery, which took place a mere 2 hours after she was born.

I've always been very protective of her first pictures we took of her, as they are quite graphic.  Children who were born with this condition 20 years ago pretty much just died.  It is so amazing how far doctors have come when it comes to gastroschisis.  I'm actually writing this post now for the women in the support groups I joined that were my lifeline when we were in the thick of all of this.  

After our diagnosis, I immediately googled the condition, read all the horror stories, and wept my eyes out.  The pictures were horrific.  The outcomes were bleak.  There were babies that were dying left and right.  We met with our amazing doctor, Dr. Erin Rowell from Childrens Memorial Chicago, and I told them of all the horrible terrible things I had learned from Mr. Google.  I was very firmly told to STOP GOOGLING! Every case is different.  Stay positive and be the best you can for your baby.  If you are going through this now, please take heed from this advice. 

Clara's Gastroschisis

This is how Clara looked th first time I was allowed to touch her.

Clara had two surgeries and was in the NICU for 82 days.  This next picture is on Easter Sunday of 2010.  She had her second surgery the day before.  

She was in so much pain.  Everyone around me kept telling me how great she was doing.  All I could see was how bleak it looked through a mothers eyes.  

But you know what?  

They were right. 

(This picture was taken on April 2.  We went home on April 23.)

Today we went in for our yearly visit.  Clara is supposed to have these visits until she is 5 years old. 

However, today Clara was officially released from the care of the Pediatric Surgery Team.  

We are done.  

She is healed.  

I am so happy from the inside out.

If you are dealing with a pregnancy/child who has been diagnosed with Gastroschisis and would like to talk to someone who has gone through it as well, please don't hesitate to contact me whether it be through my email or comment section on here, or even Facebook.  I would be happy to give my personal insight to you.

Also, Congratulations Clara!  You are one tough cookie.  Love, Mom & Dad.