Oh, Calli, I'm so sorry. All sorts of -ma to you and your family.

28 weeks is very early if (God forbid, crosses self, knocks wood) the Halloweenie decided to come now. But she won't. She is staying put - by order of The Empress.

It is. (And she is, damn it.) On the small plus side, 28 weeks is also considered a big ol' gestational milestone with a much higher chance of a good outcome than you'd see a week or two before that. (As I recall: 24 weeks is the effective threshold for viability, though you have the occasional 23 weeker who makes it. 32 weeks is the next big one, with 36 weeks being the one following. Depending on your doc, either 37 or 38 weeks is considered term, though if you're being considered for induction at 37 weeks, they'll do an amnio first to determine lung development status.)

(Not, you know, that I obsessed over this during my pregnancy. What can I say? Statistics are soothing.)

Today was one of those days it was good to be behind. I got to hear the not-awful end of the story almost as soon as I read about the scary part. All good thoughts for David, Jacqueline, and the little one.

Ginger, we have lived here since this neighborhood was built, and the city keeps promising sidewalks. They put in water and sewer lines, streetlights, followed immediately by an increase in breakins and car vandalism (the theives could see what they were doing, now), and tax increases regular as clockwork. They built a 100-unit development at the end of what had been a quarter-mile dead end street, put in quaint olde fashionede lamplighter streetlights instead of the War of the Worlds Orange Death Glow hideosities we have, and...you guessed it, sidewalks.

And now that I have watered all my expiring deck plants, I hear the sound of distant thunder. Yay.

Calli, I'm so sorry. I had hoped you'd have more time.

I really wanted to do homework this afternoon at work but since my co-worker is trippin' about workload, I'm thinking this would be a Bad Idea.

Oh dear, Calli, I'm so sorry. Strength to you. I'm here if you need someone, just call.

Todd, I think a lot of us have been in a similar spot. It's just too bad they won't permit pie cannons in cases like these.

strength to you and your family, Calli

Calli, I'm so sorry.

askye, take it from a parent, your mom would rather you put any money you have toward getting yourself even. Get her a nice card, write her a note, give her a promisory note for a spa visit or a dinner and a movie out with you when you're solvent and able to pay for it. She'll love it, and love you for being so level headed, I'll bet. I would. In fact, I have.

Oh, Calli, I'm so sorry you have to go through this. All strength to you and yours.