Good luck, Daniel!

Cashmere, that's so nice to read about your brother. If only the voices were as helpful as the toy, huh? Wash your face. Brush your teeth. Make your bed. Call your mother. Say your prayers.

Is he out right now, or was he just home for the holidays?

Timelies!

Something I just posted as a response to someone on my LJ friends list just reminded me of something and made me a little nastalgic. I thought I'd post about it here.

I was born with a partial cleft lip. I don't know if I've ever talked about that here. I've had 13 surgeries to correct it. My first was when I was 3 months old. I had a fabulous doctor...probably one of the best in the country. He cared deeply about his patients. As a matter of fact, he told my parents at one point that he did cosmetic surgery on adults so he could afford to donate his time to do corrective surgery on children...his real love. Some of his patients he became such a part of their lives that he was invited to their weddings...and he always attended those...even those out of state.

I don't remember the surgeries from when I was very young, but there was a period when I had a surgery about every year. What I do remember, though, was that every time I had a surgery I got a doggie pillow. I loved those silly doggie pillows and looked forward to getting them at each hospital visit. The first time I had an outpatient surgery (where I wasn't going to need to stay overnight at the hospital), I didn't understand why I wasn't getting a doggie pillow. I cried. The nice registration lady explained to me that those were only for the kids who had to stay overnight at the hospital. I was like, but I still have to have surgery; I should get a doggie pillow. One of my parents (I don't remember which) pulled the nice registration lady aside and convinced her to go ahead and give me a doggie pillow. When they pulled me away from my parents to go into surgery (the first I would be awake during), I hugged that pillow and held onto it through the entire surgery.

As I got older I understood that I wouldn't get a doggie pillow if I was just having outpatient surgery. When I was 16 I had my last surgery. It was a big one. They broke my nose to reposition it on my face (nose job...I will NEVER understand why someone would do that to themselves for vanity reasons. I had these two red tubes that went from my nostrils to the back of my throat to drain the blood. It was gross looking and very painful) and did the last scar tissue growth surgery on my lip. The doctor also gave me a cupid's bow (although, I just talked to my mom. She's pretty sure that the cupid's bow was at a previous surgery. I remember differently, but she's probably correct). At any rate, it was a big surgery, and I had to stay at the hospital overnight.

My surgeon was in Chicago, and we lived in MN at the time. So, we scheduled the surgery during Christmas break. I think it was the day after Christmas. When I was brought to my room (since I was 16, I was still on the pediatric floor, which I was actually a little upset about), on the little table were a bunch of presents that had been donated by a local group for children who had to spend Christmas in the hospital and up by the pillow on the bed was a doggie pillow. I was 16. I had forgotten about the doggie pillow. But, when I went into surgery the next morning, that doggie pillow went with me. They had always served me well. I wasn't too old to appreciate that fact.

Somewhere, in a box, are all of my doggie pillows, along with some other favorite stuffed animals that I grew up with. And I'm sure that somewhere else there are women making these pillows for the Chicago-area hospitals. And I'm sure that they hope that a doggie pillow will make a difference to a kid who has to stay in the hospital. I should find out who they are and write and thank them. Not only did they make my hospital stay easier, but I actually looked forward to them (the pillows, not the hospital stays).

wow, vw. what a wonderful story.

All I was going to do is crow that I went through 2004 without ONE SINGLE UTI.

And, xpost from Natter, try to generate green card ~ma for Tom who is en route to the JFK Building to get his residency stuff going.

But then vw made me all teary and stuff! (in a good way)

Much green card ~ma headed towards Tom.

And I didn't mean to make anyone teary. I just sometimes feel that all I do in here is bitch and moan. And sometimes it's good to remind myself of some of the good things. This one came to me this morning, and I thought I'd share.

Oh, and YAY for no UTIs! They are a pain in the ass!

My sister spent a lot of time in the hospital and she got cat pillows. They were sewn out of cotton print fabric in the rough shape of a cat's face--basically a round circle with ears--and the features were embroidered on. She loved them too. That was also at a Chicago-area hospital. Was there some sort of guild of hospital pillow makers?

Oh, the doggie pillows sound like a lovely idea. Kudos to whoever thought of them for kids going through surgery -- I'm glad they helped, vw.

Last night I spent a lovely evening treating end-stage pms and cramps with copious helpings of OC fanfic and Dove dark chocolate. Best. Cure. Ever. Except that I couldn't fall asleep until after midnight, probably due to the chocolate, and I get up at 5:30 on weekdays. Right now I'm all kindsa perky, but by 3 pm I betcha I'll be dragging like Linus's blanket.

Is he out right now, or was he just home for the holidays?

They pushed his sentence back until after the holidays. He went in to the county jail yesterday and will be there for two months. There doesn't appear to be any additional time coming up since that thing with the town funds seems to have simply disappeared. (I think the town is unlikely to pursue the matter further than the restitution offered by my parents, but nothing has been said officially.)

He was resigned (and contrite) and asked if he could call me. I told him he could and that I would write and send pictures of Owen.

I just realized we need dog food. This means a trip in the drizzle to fetch another 30lb. bag.

Timelies.

That was a lovely story, vw. It made me teary-eyed too.

Yay for no UTIs Nora. IIRC, you had a bunch of them in 2003.

I couldn't pick Aidan up to put him in his high chair, so I put his breakfast on the table and had him stand to eat it. He just carried it off to the couch so he could eat and watch TV. I didn't know he knew how to do that. Since the couch is easy to clean, I've decided I'm pleased at the display of skill.

Both his therapists visited yesterday. It went well and they took home bath bombs for their Christmas present. He's at 15-18 months developmentally, with a couple of skills at 20 months. His vocabulary is increasing by leaps and bounds. Our next four month goals are to get him to scribble more, to walk up and down 3 stairs by himself, and to use a fork for something other than stabbing his sister.

eta: Cashmere, that is good news with your brother. I'm glad that he's doing so well.

I couldn't pick Aidan up to put him in his high chair,

Are you OK, Deena? {{Deena}}

Yes, I am pleased about the no UTIs. I did have a bunch in 2002-2003. I'm hoping that perhaps that region might now be a little heartier due to fewer issues.

My keys to UTI success:
1) daily cranberry supplements
2) drinking lots of water (the recommended 8 8 oz, at least)
3) peeing within 15 minutes of sex

Aren't you glad you know?