Good News: Houston, we have poop!!

The usual Tuesday topic is Good in the News but this week,

Good News works just as well!

Only a mother (or a father) can appreciate how magical the words "we have poop!!" can be. This is most especially true in the case of The Miracle Baby in Room C, Austin, who I introduced here yesterday.

For those who read yesterday's post (and if you didn't you should, trust me!), Austin has continued to make even more great strides. He graduated again to another nursery in the NICU, only 1 nursery away from "I can go home now!" Go, Austin!!

The current concern, though, has been about poop. Yes, poop. He went about 3 days without one, which is an indication that he could possibly have Hirschsprung disease. Hirschsprung disease is a birth defect not uncommon in Down Syndrome babies, in which nerve cells in the wall of the large intestine do not develop. These nerve cells, called ganglion cells, control the muscles in that area that normally push food and digestive waste through the large intestine. In Hirschsprung's disease, the muscles in the wall of the large intestine do not relax, which prevents waste from moving through the large intestine. This may lead to trapped stool, infection, inflammation, and constipation.

The doctors were waiting to see if Austin would poop so they could decide whether or not to do a biopsy to test for Hirschprung's. If he has it, he will require surgery to remove the portion of the large intestine that has no nerve cells.

Well, AMEN for POOP!!! Which Austin did on Monday. Way to go, Austin!

The doctors are still planning to do the biopsy just in case, but we're praying now that it shows everything to be in proper working order, with more and more poop coming along as Austin starts eating and nursing more and more.

Today, we're looking for "More Poop" Prayers and healthy biopsy results. Could you spare some for The Miracle Baby in Room C?

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~
.
Blessings,
Kat

Meet The Miracle Baby in Room C

It's been a while since I've posted but I've been waiting and praying for this very story for such a very long time... I'm so honored that my wonderful friend "CP" allowed me to share it with all of you. It's long, but I think it's the most important blog post I've ever written. Further proof that God knows what he's doing, that He'll never give you anything you can't handle, that prayers work and that miracles really do happen. I hope you enjoy this story's ending as much as I have.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I "met" CP on a community message board on BabyZone.com. The group was set up for expectant mothers who were due in August 2003. I was pregnant with my first baby, CP with her fourth! As our pregnancies progressed, we shared the ups, the downs, the fears, the joys and everything in between. After the little ones were born, a group of us started our own virtual community and we've been together ever since, sharing more of the ups, the downs, the fears, the joys and the "everything in betweens" of mommy-hood. I feel like all the mommies in our group are sisters to me, we've shared so much and loved so much and cried so much and prayed so much and, well, you get the point....

I've had the privilege of meeting five of the mommies in person, CP is one of them.

Many of us have had more children. I had Baby #2. CP went on to have Baby #5. And then, to everyone's surprise, Baby #6.

CP's Baby #6, though, was different from all the rest. He made us pray harder than we've ever prayed, inspired us more than we ever knew possible. This little guy... he changed us. And today, I share his story with you.

From almost the minute CP became pregnant with #6, she felt the effects. Morning sickness, discomfort and unfortunately, problems. Too much amniotic fluid. Too many "off" test results. Too many needles, ultrasounds, worries, pain. All the things that could go wrong with a pregnancy seemed to be happening to CP. They wanted her on bed rest. Right, with five other kids at home. Test results came back. The baby might have Down Syndrome. They couldn't be sure. Then he didn't. Then he did. Then came the fluid around his lungs and other tiny little organs, pushing them to places they should not be. Could he hold on until 36 weeks, when it might be "safe" to deliver him? There was debate amongst the doctors... was he better off on the inside or out? Induction, c-section, natural labor? Were his lungs ready? Would he make it?

Finally, an induction date was set. October 9... only 1 day before he was due. Baby #6, though, had other plans.

Below is CP's story, in her own words, of Baby #6. You might want to grab a tissue (or ten) before you read it.

Sunday, September 21 at 6:00am I woke up and rolled over to hear a pop and a huge gush. I woke up Al and told him my water just broke. We got dressed and headed to the hospital. On a normal day it would have taken us 35 minutes, but that day only took us 20. Al was nervous something was going to happen.

We got there and they put me in an exam room where they tested to see if it was really my water, and sure enough the test strip turned very blue. Because of how much the was flipping, they called the doc in to do an ultrasound to see if he was head down. Sure enough, he was. That was a big relief. The doc checked me and I was 2-3 cm dilated.

At that point I wasn’t having any pain or contractions so they said they would wait and see if I’d start to contract on my own. They moved me from the exam room into the labor room. Got me all hooked up to the monitor and had the hardest time getting his heart beat. Not that there was anything wrong, but because he was moving like crazy.

By 11:00am I still wasn’t having any contractions and I called the nurse to come in because something just wasn’t right. Not that I was worried, but because he was moving so much and his heart beat I couldn’t keep on the monitor. The nurse came in and tried to pick it up with no luck. She looked at me and said she thinks this little man has turned breech. She went to go find the doctor. He came in and said that it wasn’t likely that the baby had turned but he would check. First he checked to see if I had changed any. I was now 5-6 cm dilated (with no pain). They got the ultrasound machine back in the room and sure enough he was now breech. There was a huge pocket of fluid below him, along with my cord. He said that if my water gushed again that my cord would come out first and that wouldn’t be a good thing. Things got underway for a c-section.

Things were moving fast and lots of people were coming in and out with meds and paperwork. The doctor from the NICU came in to talk with us. This is where it gets very emotional for me. She sat down and told us that she wasn’t going to sugar-coat anything with us. Because the has Downs and has the fluid in his lungs, there was a 75% to 80% chance he wouldn’t make it. She wanted us to tell her how much time we wanted them to work on him before they called a time.

I just lost it at that point. I couldn’t even breath. Al stepped in and told her that we would like them to do the best they could for him and work on him until they felt there was no hope. We were shocked by what she was telling us and the stress level went sky-high along with my blood pressure. When she left, Al and I didn’t know what to do but cry. We talked and ended with talk about funeral arrangements.

About 10 minutes later they came and got me. Off to the OR I went. Within 20 minutes, the baby was on his way out. At 1:03pm, 5 seconds after he was out, he was screaming his head off. Both Al and I just lost it and cried when we heard that scream. The doctor looked over at Al and gave him 2 thumbs up. Everything was going perfectly. Al went over to cut the cord and they brought the baby to me for a fast peek and kiss. And off to the NICU he went.

The doc later told us that if he was born ten years ago, he wouldn’t have made it. He still isn’t out of the woods yet. There is still a chance the fluid will build back up, but things are looking to the positive side. He is a fighter and I know he will pull himself out of this. The nurses say he’s the “Miracle Baby in Room C.” He has them all wrapped around his finger.

This is his birth story. It was a long road with a lot of bumps in it, and I’m sure there will be many more as with every kid, but we are ready and so very blessed we have a strong fighter to love and care for. I’m a mother of 6 now and have more love inside of me because of my new baby boy.

Since writing this birth story, The Miracle Baby in Room C has continued to make great strides. He no longer requires the tubes in his mouth, he's able to drink from a bottle and is doing his best to learn how to nurse. He's even graduated to the next level in the NICU. CP is at home with her other 5 "babies," but makes daily trips to visit with her newest little guy. We're all continuing to pray that he gets stronger and healthier every day, and that he gets to come home very, very soon. If you could spare a prayer for him as well, I know the entire family would appreciate it.

It is with the greatest honor that I introduce the world to The Miracle Baby in Room C, the cutest, bravest little fighter, Austin:

Austin Fredrick

Born 09/21/09

7 pounds, 2 ounces

20.5 inches long

.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

.

Blessings,

Kat

Don't Whine... Vote!

So many things I'd like to change in this world, and sometimes, I feel so powerless. I do what I can as often as I can, and I know which issues are most important to me. I know what I like, and I know what I want to change. But how?

It's so simple, and ALL of us have the power. One word. VOTE!

If you're not registered to vote, it's quick and easy to do online. Check out the voter registration deadline for your state, and then take a few moments to register to make YOUR voice heard!

Voter Registration Deadlines by State

"Rock the Vote" online voter registration site

We've all heard that more people than ever plan to vote this year, plan to make their voice heard. Go ahead and make sure you are one of them!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: And Still She Waves

Julie said it best in a recent post, that no one remembers where they were on September 10th. But September 11th, clearly, We Will Never Forget.

I know that it's September 12th already, but I clearly remember where I was and what I was doing 7 years ago today. I was on my couch where I'd been for 24 hours straight, glued to the TV, still in the same clothes I'd been wearing from the day before. Craig and I were talking about the friends, colleagues and mentors we already knew we'd lost, and praying for those we hadn't heard from yet. You see, 8 months earlier, I would have been coming into the Towers on the subway at the very time the first plane hit. The building I worked in was directly across the street.

Seven years later, I'm still not sure we can make sense of it all. We were at Ground Zero in July, and even though I've been there many times in the past few years, the shock of that gaping hole in the ground still doesn't wear off.

One thing I know, though, and one thing I praise God for, is that even on September 11 and every single day since, our flag still stands. Maybe a little more tattered, maybe a little more torn, but no less bright and no less beautiful. And still, she waves.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: To Infinity and Beyond

Warning: You'll need a box of tissues for this one!

==========================================

.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/10/rescue.at.sea/index.html

To infinity and beyond: A sparkling survival story
By Mallory Simon, CNN

(CNN) -- Walter Marino shouted to his 12-year-old son, Christopher, as he drifted farther away in the Atlantic Ocean.

"To infinity," the father yelled.

"And beyond," Christopher replied.

After a rip current swept the boy and his father out to sea Saturday, darkness fell, and the sound of rescue helicopters and boats grew faint until they were nonexistent.

Despite the danger, Christopher, who has autism, was enjoying himself, his father said. The boy lacks a fear of death because of his autism and finds comfort in the water, Marino told CNN.

Marino finds comfort in his son. Their unique circumstances helped keep them alive for more than 12 hours in the open ocean, Marino said.

"With many kids with autism, the thing that is so dangerous is that they have no concept of fear or fear of death," Marino said. "In this case, though, it perhaps saved him -- that and the fact that water is one of his favorite things. Whenever he goes missing or tries to run away, we can always find him near water ... even at the mall if it is just near a fountain."

Christopher was laughing as the father and son were pulled farther and farther from Ponce Inlet, Florida. As the pair lunged for buoys -- and missed -- Christopher couldn't help but giggle. It was this spirit that helped ground Marino, the father said.

"It was a big entertainment roller coaster for him, that's what got me through it -- because he wasn't freaking out," said Marino, 46.

But after four hours at sea without a life vest, and after it became obvious that rescue operations had ceased for the night, jellyfish began to sting the pair. That began to "freak Christopher out," his father said.

While Christopher is almost nonverbal in his communication, he and his father use catch phases from Disney movies, which the boy loves, to communicate.

After four hours, the currents picked up, and Christopher began to drift from his father's reach. Because of the darkness, they couldn't see each other. So Marino shouted out part of a phrase to his son.

"To infinity," Marino shouted, referencing one of Christopher's favorite lines from the movie "Toy Story."

"And beyond," Christopher shouted back, pumping his fist in the air like movie character Buzz Lightyear.

The call and response went on for a while, with Marino choosing different phrases and Christopher yelling back. But over the course of an hour, Christopher's voice faded until his father couldn't hear him anymore.

"That's when I resigned myself to the fact that he was gone," Marino told CNN, saying he believed his son had been pulled under the water. At the time, Marino said, he thought about giving up, until he thought of his daughter Angela. She had just registered for ballroom dance classes, and he told himself over and over he would live to see her dance.

"I just kept thinking about her and how I was not going to leave her without a brother and her father in the same day -- not on my watch," he told CNN. "It was the visual of her that kept me going."

Marino used other tricks to keep his mind focused in the 81-degree water. He remembered going to the Ponce Inlet museum, which highlighted a lighthouse. He then set out to use the lighthouse as a guide for himself, so he would know how far he was from shore.

He alternated doing the "doggie paddle" and floating on his back with his ears in the water, the way his son loved to.

He would float on his back and watch the bright stars. He wished on four shooting stars that flew by and used constellations in the sky to know what direction to go if he drifted away.

Under the stars and in the dark Atlantic, he turned to his spirituality, realizing his life was in God's hands. A religious medal rested on his chest.

As morning turned, Marino tried to stay alert for sounds that might mean help was near.
Hearing a boat motor, he waved frantically.

Soon, a group of fishermen pulled him aboard their boat. A flash of light from the medallion had caught the eye of one of the anglers, who shouted at his brother at the helm to stop the boat, one of Marino's rescuers told him.

The first thing Marino asked was if the men had heard anything about his son, but they hadn't.

Marino began to grieve. It had been nearly eight hours since he had last seen his son, and he believed he was gone for good. He wept.

When the U.S. Coast Guard arrived, Marino asked them, too, about Christopher, but they said they had not found him. The Coast Guard crew asked if he wanted to go to the hospital, but he decided to stay on the boat so the search for Christopher wouldn't be disrupted.

But Marino chose not to watch the water as the search went on.

"I chose to be down below, because I didn't want to see them pull up on Christopher being face-down in the water," he said.

So the Coast Guard vessel steamed on. After more than an hour, the boat went full throttle, jolting Marino backward in his space below deck. Suddenly, the boat was idling, and Marino was asked to come topside.

"That was my personal green mile," Marino told CNN, a reference to what some people call the walk on death row from the cell to the execution chamber.

"I took three steps up the green mile to the back of the deck, and they pointed to the helicopter and they said, 'You see that helicopter? It has your son on it, and he is fine,' " Marino recalled a crew member saying.

Marino was so excited he began "kissing all the Coast Guard guys."

The father and son were reunited at the emergency room at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where they were treated for dehydration.

"We were both very weak, tired and thirsty," Marino said. "But I reached out and held his hand and could tell from the same sparkle in his eye that he was going to be fine."

While Christopher can't truly communicate what he felt during those hours alone at sea, his father hopes that one day, he will be able to tell him what he felt alone in the Atlantic.

The one thing Marino knows is that his son still loves the water and that the experience hasn't taken away that special comfort from him.

"It may be a while before we go back to a beach," Marino said. "But he still loves the water. He's already gotten back in a pool."

==========================================

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Meet my Bad Habit

No, it's not what you think... (even though yes, I have plenty of bad habits)... my worst bad habit, I think, is leading with my heart instead of my head. Though in many cases this is not an awful thing... sometimes, well, it blurs my perspective of reality.

When I started this blog, not even 3 months ago, I had such grandiose dreams, such amazing intentions, such confidence that yes, I could come up with a daily theme and well, post daily. Alas... I led with my heart instead of my head.

Though I still have grandiose dreams and amazing intentions, the reality is that I also have 2 small children, a husband, a dog, a home, a full-time outside-the-home job and a whole buncha other "schtuff" that also demands my time. Though I had sincerely hoped to be able to maintain this blog on a daily basis, I have found, unfortunately, that I can't always make the time to research and write and post things here that are the caliber I want them to be.

So... what does that mean...

The blog is not going away. I love it too much and I believe in it too much and even though I barely get any comments here, I am a firm believer that if even one person reads one line that makes a difference to them, then it's a blog worth maintaining. And maintain I will. Just not always on a daily basis.

For my faithful readers (and yes, I know there are a few of you), I offer a giant THANK YOU for sticking with me this far. If you're visiting, please keep checking back. There will be more! If you don't want to have to remember to check back, you can enter your email address in the "Subscribe to Dancing with Ladybugs" box on the left and you'll get an email each time there is a new post here. (Disclaimer: I promise never to spam you, forward you anything and quite honestly, I can't remember my password to log on to Feedblitz to see who has subscribed anyway... so it's strictly an email to tell you when I post, with the text delivered right to you, nothing to buy, nothing to click, nothing to remember. Promise!)

So.... that said... some weeks I might post 5 times, some weeks I might post once. But know that every post I write from here on out will be meaningful, will be important, and will provide a reason to dance in the rain.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Sometimes

This is my favorite hat. Some days I feel it, some days I don't. But all days, it reminds me that even when you're feeling a little bit tattered and a little bit worn, there's always a SuperGirl inside you. Have you hugged your inner SuperGirl today?

.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

.

Blessings,

Kat

The Ladybug Foundation, Inc.

I'll admit, it's the name that first got me. What's not to love about an organization called "The Ladybug Foundation?"

As I read more, though, I learned that this organization was started by an 11-year-old girl named Hannah, who has a big dream and a huge heart. At age 5, she saw a homeless person eating from a garbage can and decided that she wanted to make sure no one ever had to do that again. It's something we've probably all seen at some point in our lives, but here's a shining example of someone, and someone so young, who is actually making a difference.

Hannah's mission for The Ladybug Foundation is simple:

“I believe that if people know about homelessness – that there are people living without a home – they will want to help.”

Hannah does speaking engagements to raise awareness about this problem and sells bracelets and scarves with proceeds being donated to people in need. I happen to have a soft spot for ladybugs, but even without them in the picture, this is an organization I'll definitely support.

Go check out The Ladybug Foundation, you'll be inspired by the difference Hannah is making.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Penny's Project

I've blogged here before about Sharon Hinck. Sharon is a novelist, the author of Stepping into Sunlight. In this book, Penny Sullivan is a woman healing from personal struggles, and she decides to help herself heal by doing random acts of kindness for others. Sharon has created a blog called Penny's Project, where she encourages other people to share their ideas and their own kind acts.

For the entire month of September, Sharon is sharing ideas on things you can do, small acts of kindness, to brighten someone else's day. I encourage you to go check out her blog, Penny's Project, to get some ideas on things you can do to bring a smile to someone else's face. If you've got great ideas, I know Sharon would love your comments and thoughts, as well. (Note: When you get to her blog, scroll down just a little bit to see the daily posts.)

Go on, take the September Penny's Project challenge. I am, and even after only 2 days, it feels great!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: They got it right

We've all, no doubt, heard about Hurricane Gustav and the havoc it's been wreaking on the Gulf Coast states. My heart goes out to all those impacted, whether they're still in the area, have evacuated but are unsure what "home" looks like after the storm, and those with loved ones in the area. Living in South Florida, even in an area where severe flooding is not a major concern after a hurricane, I've been through enough with our own hurricanes to know what a toll it can take.

We can't change the weather, and it's certainly awful when a hurricane makes landfall. The good news, though, is that the authorities had a plan in place to get people out quickly and safely. After the disaster that was Katrina, emergency management teams put plans in place for just such an occurrence and by all accounts, they worked.

Power is off for hundred of thousands of residents. Homes are flooded or lost. People have died. However, thanks to the hard work of the emergency preparedness teams and cooperation by the residents of these states, the loss of life has been greatly reduced.

When storms (or tornadoes or earthquakes) strike, it's always a tragedy. But being prepared, following emergency procedures and knowing how to respond before, during and after the storm has paid off greatly for people in these states. That is most definitely good in the news.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~
.
Blessings,
Kat

Labor Day

Today is Labor Day, the last official long weekend of the summer. It's about more than barbecues and a Monday off, though. From the U.S. Department of Labor:

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Growing up in New York, Labor Day always marked the end of the summer, the return to school, and the start of another long winter. Now that I live in South Florida, we look forward to Labor Day as the time when finally, finally the weather will start to cool off enough that we can actually go outside. For us, it's the beginning of another beautiful winter.

Wherever you live, however you celebrate, take a moment today to think about the contributions our fellow Americans have made to the well-being of our country. Say a prayer for those impacted by Hurricane Gustav, say a prayer for our leaders, say a prayer for our countrymen. Say a prayer of thanks for this great nation we live in.

Whether you're mourning the end of summer of celebrating it:

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~
.
Blessings,
Kat