BABY UPDATE

Does it come as a surprise to anyone that Kate's baby is in a breech position? Is anyone surprised that my artsy gotta-do-it-different kid's kid would eschew the common and much easier position of entry in favor of a "my way" way of greeting the world?

Kate herself was a breech baby who was turned at the last moment but still delivered face first, neck flexed back in an apparent eagerness to see what the world offered once she was headed in the right direction to get there. She was also 3 weeks past her due date. All of which, I now realize, was a bit of foreshadowing as to just who this new little person was destined to become.

The news of her own rightsideupsidedown kid, and the doctor's eagerness to simply schedule a c-section, threw Kate for a loop. For about 15 minutes. After which she rallied, met with her doula for some regrouping and researched her options. That's my girl. Arm yourself with information then wear down the medical opposition.

Sunday morning at 8 AM one of the partners in her doctor's practice is going to try to coax this baby into turning and facing life head on. It's a hospital manuever where the baby is monitored while they do some external prodding in the hopes that baby will reposition.

We're going to head over late on Saturday and be at the hospital Sunday morning to offer a bit of (grand)parental support. There's some small chance an immediate c-section could result but it's not likely.

Kate thinks her troubles will be over if Baby Gizmo cooperates and upsidedownrightsides him/herself. I can smile that secretive smile of a mother who knows much better. Kate's life adventures with a "do it my own way" kid are just beginning!

BOSTON BOUND

This one's for my sister who will be running the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2009. My little sister did her first mini-marathon in 2004 in Indianapolis and has been non-stop since. She's run marathons and 50 mile cross country races all over the United States. Qualifying for Boston was a big goal for her and I'm outrageously proud of her. A couple of years ago she was chosen as an alternate for the Blue Planet Run, an organized global run to promote awareness of the need for clean drinking water.

So she's not just a good runner. She's a good person who's a good runner.

Kev says he's her biggest fan. He supports the racing scene by frequenting the various food vendors who congregate at these venues. He's been known to get so excited when she crosses the line at Indianapolis's Mini that he throws both hands into the air, dousing bystanders with Pepsi and the guts of a gyro in one fell swoop.

The weather forecast for Monday is mid 40s and cloudy which should make for good running conditions. (this from the woman who wouldn't walk across the parking lot to the mailbox on a damp April day in the 40s)

Support the runners by viewing the race live online Monday at
http://www.universalsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&KEY=&SPID=13048&SPSID=105671

WAITING...

...that thing which I do so poorly that I'm actually quite skilled at not doing it well.

Waiting this time for Kevin's blood counts from this week's visit with the oncologist. The all important CEA which may (or may not, let's be honest) reveal cancer growth. He doesn't have another PET until July so the CEA is our current indicator of what's happening right now. Last PET was February (which we viewed, see yesterday's post) and all looked fine.

We will be in Indiana for the Easter weekend, helping with the Triduum and Vigil at St. Tom's and enjoying time with family and friends.

In the meantime, I wait. Impatiently.

A Peek Inside...

In a blissful change of pace for Kevin, hearing "have a peek inside" didn't result in a medical spelunking expedition through a body cavity.

Instead, Dr. Skinner provided a computer look at Kev's most recent PET/CT scan. That's the inside of Kevin you're viewing, with his oncologist giving a fingerpoint tour of the anatomical structures from top to, er, bottom.

If only he had had this photo when our girls were teenagers. He could have definitively refuted those disgusted girl looks that said his brain was either absent or firmly planted somewhere other than in his head.

Embracing the Child of *OD

The blog has a groupie. Well, more detractor than fan, but a regular visitor nonetheless. Someone who dug up the blog on a search or saw it on someone else's blogroll or knows someone who knows someone who knows a friend of mine with the blog address. Some distant, cyber out-there, writer who is determined to save me from me.

The blog groupie believes everything happens because God planned it to happen that way. He's mightily worried that I mostly don't think it's a plan at all, but rather a perfect storm of God-gifted free will which lands any one of us where we are at any given moment.

I moderate comments the blog receives so Mr. *OD'S Plan gmailer hasn't gotten any press here. I even stopped publishing posts for a while thinking the lack of content (apparently the lack of relevant content wasn't a deterent) would send him packing. Hasn't happened so I'll be posting again and probably going back to publish those weeks of unpublished posts.

I love that the blog groupie doesn't write "God," he writes "*OD". He thinks it offends God when people write G-o-d. He filled multiple comment boxes with a dissertation urging me to repent and be a "child of *OD."

I'll continue to risk my salvation, and possibly yours, by spelling God with a "G" and wondering out loud if He doesn't agree with me that some people could benefit greatly from a sharp twack on the noggin.

To be honest, I'm tickled pink that my commentor cared enough to do a daily drive through. He's been more consistent about visiting than I am about posting. He's also missed the fact that I am completely and dangerously bored most days and find him even more entertaining than the 4-footed window peepers I encouraged this time last year.

I'm going to embrace my inner Child of *OD. It's so me. I'm think of putting it on a t-shirt.

Today's Post From My Daily Photo Blog

Met these 3 as they hiked along the road near the edge of town. They are traveling to increase awareness of the causes of canine cancer. Comparative Oncology is getting a lot of buzz these days for the advances and impacts it means to both people and animals. Luke and the boys have been walking for just over a year now and hope to reach Boston in another year. Visit them on the web at www.2dogs2000miles.org

Filed this shot under "Inspiration" on my 365 blog. http://www.thismomentcaptured.blogspot.com/

MARCH SHOWERS...

...bring April babies.

Kate's friend hosted a baby shower for her this weekend. I picked up Paige in Indianapolis and we headed to Lafayette so I could check out the grandma competition enjoy some time with baby's other grandmothers. We started the party at an eclectic little shop selling handmades and offering classes and space to create a mountain of decorated onesies. I kind of wondered what Kate had in common with a shop on Main Street (Kate who's never been 'main' anything) but once I saw the welcoming "You Crafty Mother Fucker" sign I understood the connection. From there we landed at her friend's home for the more traditional side of baby showering--gifts and food. Kate has some amazingly generous and talented friends. That's my best observation of the day. A lot of good people will be in this kid's life.