Dentists All Around

Yesterday I took all our children to the dentist... three of them to get their teeth cleaned.

A year ago, we had Tracey's first appointment at the dentist and she screamed through the whole thing.  We settled for her laying on Hubby's stomach on the chair and having the dentist count her teeth.

To say I was completely surprised by how well the entire experience went.  The dental hygienists were so good with our kids and explained everything they were doing as they were doing it.  They were wonderful.

And, my kids did so well.  We talked about going to the dentist a lot, and practiced our "cheese" and "ahhhh" and we took a baby-sitter along to offer extra hands, and thing went so well.

Howard thought everything was awesome, Caroline was a perfect little lady, and Tracey loved the fact there was a television on the ceiling.

After our public spectacle with multiple crying children and my accidentally tipping over our wagon, with my children inside it (more multiple crying children) on Monday, it was so nice to not make a scene at the dentist's office.

 

Rumors and Gossip

I'll be honest here for a minute... something I used to be very regularly on this blog.  I have been very gun-shy about posting anything of substance here lately besides pictures of the kids.  I haven't wanted to really say what's going on or share my opinions or really much of anything because we recently experienced some unpleasant fallout following the blog I shared nearly six weeks ago about an uncertain medical situation we were facing asking for prayers for us during that time.

I have not written about it since, not because we are still awaiting results but because following my post asking for prayers, a few people decided to both fish for and assume information... and then start sharing the unsubstantiated information with others as though it was fact.

Here we were awaiting test results and having doctors and even specialists tell us that they weren't sure what was going on... and we hear through the grapevine that certain ones had been sharing assumed information -- information we the patients did not even know yet -- far and wide as though it was fact.  It made a hard situation in our lives even worse.

When asked why, they said they read my blog... as though my blog is where they learned this false information that they were spreading to our family and friends.  Well... no such information was ever shared in my blog and it has made me very uneasy about sharing anything at all -- including an update about or details regarding the medical situation.

So... here are some images I found while trying to come to terms with writing this post and struggling with whether or not to continue writing so openly on this blog...

 

What's Going On

I don't really want to write this post, but for better or worse, this blog has sort of become a record and family history of our Hubby and my journey together, so without revealing specifics, I do want to share some of what's going on in our life right now.

Hubby and I received some medical news a few days ago that may turn out to be nothing, and may turn out to be something pretty big.  We are just processing things and praying and making appointments to gain more information and get a firm diagnosis as fast as possible.  That being said, we really don't know anything yet... we just know we need to get more testing done.

So, we've been on a roller coaster the past few days, and Hubby has still been trying to complete graduate work like a madman -- so things are a little stressful around here.

All that to say, a neighbor brought me food last night.  She was very sweet and brought me two big pans of enchiladas and cookies.  It was very very nice of her, but as soon as I accepted the food, the first thought in my head was, 

"Wow... someone is bringing me food... this really must be a big deal and bad news if people are starting to bring me food."

The truth is, most of the time I think I'm fine, and I'm not having trouble trusting God until I say something out loud -- like when I tell Hubby about the research I've done, or tell my parents about a doctor's appointment, and then I get choked up... which is weird because I just read this stuff twenty minutes ago and I had no emotional reaction at all, but now when I'm saying it out loud, I'm getting emotional.

Also, this is the first time that I'm getting calls and texts from family and friends reaching out to me to check in on us.  It is also the first time that I'm feeling the need to turn off my phone at certain points, because I just need a little break from all the other people wanting to talk about this right now.  Sometimes I want to talk -- sometimes I want to ignore the text messages on my phone, cuddle with my kids and watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood without thinking about this situation that we don't actually know what's going on yet.

Most of the time, I am not emotional at all because we really don't know the facts yet, and it doesn't make a lot of sense in my head to become emotional when we don't know the facts... at least that's how I feel most of the time... ask me again in five minutes and you might get a different answer. 

So please keep us in your prayers knowing that God knows all of the specifics and so your general prayers for our family are perfect and very much appreciated.

 

Postpartum Surveys

In the past two months, between my hospital discharge, my twins' first doctor's appointments, my six-week doctor's appointment, and my twin's two-month doctor's appointments, I have filled out a lot of postpartum surveys.

I do not mean IN ANY way to make light of serious postpartum emotional health issues... but I will admit, I find humor in these surveys.

A few of the questions that I find particularly funny are:

1. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
   1.  No, not at all
   2.  Hardly ever
   3.  Yes, sometimes
   4.  Yes, very often
      
   Okay... I just had twins AND I have a daughter under two years of age... I have been anxious and worried for some VERY GOOD REASONS!
2. I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.
   1.  No, not at all
   2.  No, not much
   3.  Yes, sometimes
   4.  Yes, quite a lot
     
   Once again... I just had twins and I have a daughter who's a toddler... and my husband just went back to work and my parents are leaving soon... I have felt scared or panicky for many VERY GOOD REASONS!
3. Things have been getting on top of me.
   1.  No, I have been coping as well as ever
   2.  No, most of the time I have coped quite well
   3.  Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well
   4.  Yes, most of the time I haven't been able to cope
   Things, yes, have been getting on top of me... and I don't think I will cope "as well as ever" ever again for the rest of my life.  Let's at least give me reasonable questions please.
    
4. I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping.
   1.  No, not at all
   2.  Not very often
   3.  Yes, sometimes
   4.  Yes, most of the time

Okay... this is very serious.  I am so tired that the idea that ANYTHING at all, ever again, would cause me difficulty sleeping?  This must be the biggest red flag of all of the questions you asked me.

Preggers II -- Twins: 27 Weeks

How far along?  27 weeks

How I am feeling?  I'm physically well, but it has been a more emotional week... and i am learning the limits of my very pregnant body

How big are babies?  The size of rutabagas... between 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and 13.6 to 14.8 inches long.  I had an ultrasound last week, and the doctor said the babies were about 2 pounds a piece... and we want to get them to about 6 pounds a piece -- time for lots of growing these last months.

Sleep:  I sleep pretty well although only sleeping on one side is comfortable right now

Boy/Girl, Boy/Boy, Girl/Girl Predictions: I think at least one is a boy... I think... maybe.

Babies Nicknames:  Babies, or Twins

  Best moment this week:  Halloween night was really fun taking our little Honeybee out around the neighborhood trick-or-treating, and coming home to watch Michigan pull off a most surprising and unexpected victory against the Minnesota Gophers.

Food cravings:  Not anything specific at the moment... although I do still have a fondness for Diet Coke which I am trying to break.

Missing:  The ability to pick things up off the floor with ease

 

Movements:  Yes, and what I'm realizing is that, with two babies, there are very few hours of the day when neither are moving.  It is pretty cool that, if I'm sitting still, chances are pretty good that at least one, if not both babies are kicking, squirming, or moving.  It's really awesome to feel -- sometimes a little uncomfortable, but always awesome.

Labor Signs:  No, thankfully... but, just to keep an accurate account of what's going on, I had a doctor's appointment last week where my doctor told me I am at a very high risk for preterm labor, and she could hardly believe I haven't been having contractions yet.  She did measure my uterus at the appointment, which she hasn't done throughout this pregnancy, and it measured 39cm, which is the equivalent of 39 weeks (or full term) with one baby.  She instructed me that I am still allowed to work for the time being, but that, I have to be very wise about what I am doing with my body, and at the end of the day, I need to come home and rest (period).  So, Chris and I are trying to follow doctor's orders.

Comparison:  Here I am carrying Tracey Ann at 27 weeks

27 Weeks with the twins

... and for comparison -- here is 36 weeks with Tracey Ann

 

General Attitude: Trying to be smart and prepare for the worst -- very premature babies and/or my being hospitalized suddenly, but believing, hoping, and praying for the best -- full term, healthy babies and being able to stay at home for the rest of the pregnancy.

 What I am looking forward to this week:  We have an appointment with a high-risk OBGYN from Denver this week, and I think both Hubby and I are very interested to hear his perspective on my pregnancy and continue to make plans for the next few months.

Milestones: I am starting to have a hard time making sure my maternity clothes are covering my belly throughout the day... and I guess also the milestone of being told I need to take it easy for the duration of the pregnancy.

We certainly appreciate prayers from all of you for healthy babies, healthy mama for these weeks to come -- I want to make it another nine-ten weeks of pregnancy.

The Polio Vaccine

I have written in the past how much I support parents following the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and having their children vaccinated.

Dr. Howard Sanden, my father

One of the reason I fight so firmly on this issue is because, as a pediatrician since the late 1950's my dad already fought the good fight regarding vaccinations.

A friend of mine posted on facebook yesterday the following post (with certain language edited):
Sixty years ago today, Jonas Salk announced the polio vaccine, which saved a bagillion lives. He also refused to seek a patent so that everyone could have cheap access to treatment. Edward R Murrow once asked Salk who held a patent for the vaccine. Solidifying his place in the history of humanitarian awesomeness, Salk replied: "No one. Could you patent the sun?"

The truth is, my father treated children with polio in medical school and watched helplessly as many died from this horrible disease.  When the polio vaccine was discovered and finally made available, he was a young pediatrician new to his community, but he had seen the dangerous and loss of life due to this illness firsthand.  He knew the importance of this vaccination -- not only for those at-risk to be vaccinated, but EVERYONE to be vaccinated in the hopes that polio would become eradicated.  He single-handedly organized the polio drive to get all of Muskegon County (every single person) vaccinated.

When I speak passionately about the importance of childhood vaccinations it is not a fun cause to jump aboard -- it comes from a place of deep-rooted respect.  It comes from a place of learning from our past, and honoring our history while cherishing the medical advancements and protection we have available now.

Trust be told, it blows my mind that I am fighting the same battle about the importance of vaccinations that my father won over fifty years ago.

The Cure Is Motherhood

I have had headaches since middle school -- similar to the ones my mom had from time to time.

When I was in college, my mom learned that she was suffering from migraines at which point I realized that, since I had the same kind of headaches, I was having migraines too.

My migraines were never debilitating -- they are rough, some are worse than others, a dark silent room is always my best friend, but I have never had blurred vision or crippling nausea.  I always just dealt with them.

Throughout college and graduate school I would have occasional migraines.  My parents always told me that I should keep track of them in case there was a pattern, or certain triggers.  I never kept close track of them... but I figured out that alcohol, caffeine, stress, and lack of sleep could be triggers, if I wasn't careful.

Once Chris and I were married, the migraines became much more frequent -- several a month instead of once every few months, and I couldn't pair them with caffeine, alcohol, stress, or lack of sleep.  Why was marriage causing such horrible headaches?

It took a few years, but, in time, I realized that the migraines were related to my birth control pills.  My migraines became predictable and miserable -- every 3 weeks, for 3 days at a time like clockwork (with an occasional additional migraine thrown in there due to other factors).

Once Chris and I realized the cause, we prayed about what to do, and felt led that I would go off of "the pill."  For as many women feel that it is the greatest thing on earth -- sexual relations without pregnancy, we realized first-hand how unnatural it is to mess with a women's hormones, and "the pill" is certainly not without side affects or consequences.

Immediately after stopping "the pill", my migraines decreased.  Suddenly, even the headaches I had when triggered by caffeine or alcohol were less intense and lasted a shorter amount of time.

In time, I became pregnant and discontinued my consumption of alcohol, and significantly decreased my consumption of caffeine.  The migraines all put disappeared.

It is sad that it took becoming pregnant for me to cut out alcohol and caffeine, especially when I knew they could be migraine triggers, but, for me, that is what it took.

So, for me, the cure to migraines is motherhood  --
step 1: go off birth control
step 2: cut out alcohol and caffeine due to pregnancy and nursing

Now the headaches are all but gone.

I went from 1-2 headaches a month, each of which lasted 3 full days to 3-4 headaches a year, each of which lasts 36 hours maximum.  I still have to be careful when I am stressed, over-tired, or strain my neck and arm muscles, but we are Praising God, and loving life without consistent and miserable headaches.

For me, the cure is motherhood.

Where We Stand - Vaccinations

This is one of those posts that is a "for what it's worth" post.  You don't have to agree with us, but I just want to share where we stand on vaccinations.

Chris and I actually stand in pretty different camps when it comes to over-the-counter and prescription medicine.  My philosophy comes from my parents (my dad a pediatrician who's been a doctor over 50 years), and I believe that all medicine has side effects and all medicine should be a last resort.  Our family is dabbling in essential oils for healing, rest and fluids are always good for healing, and a little bit of discomfort or pain never killed anyone.  I believe there is a time and place for decongestants and anti-biotics, but they are to be used in moderation.

Hubby's philosophy comes more from his parents and sister (a general practitioner who has been a doctor for about 5 years) and that is, if there is a medicine that can help, go ahead and take it.

I'm sure Hubby and I have some major discussions down the road when it comes to treating our children's fevers, stomach bugs, and more.

All of that being said, we are in complete agreement when it comes to vaccinations.  We are adamantly in favor of vaccinating our children.

I still believe there are always side-effects to any medication, and I have to admit, I occasionally thinking to myself that I survived the chicken pox just fine, why do my kiddos need a vaccine against it... but the truth is, we trust the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, and we want our children vaccinated against diseases.

Tracey Ann had her four-month vaccinations just last week, and we had a rough afternoon when we got home.  Her little leg really hurt as her body was developing anti-bodies against these diseases.  We experienced a full hour of screaming followed by 24 hours of baby Tylenol (yes, there is a time and a place for over-the-counter medicine), and all of this was hard to watch as a parent... but never would we even consider not vaccinating our children.

A little sore leg for an afternoon is NOTHING compared to the ravages of diseases, which the vaccines prevent.  One of the vaccines Tracey Ann received at this appointment was against Polio.  Tracey Ann's Papa, my dad, was responsible for organizing the Polio vaccine drive, which vaccinated his entire county in the 1960s, when the vaccine was discovered and mass-produced.  I have always known that, but Tracey Ann getting this vaccine led me to ask my dad some details about Polio.  I have always known about some effects of Polio, but never the medical details.

Polio is a horrible disease.  It is a disease that attacks a person's central nervous system can causes gradual paralysis.  There was no treatment for Polio, as it was a virus that a patients body could either fight off, or couldn't.  My dad said that there was always an increase of Polio cases in August, which led doctors at the time to wonder if it lived in lakes or pools.  As far as my dad knows, they never did determine how the virus is transferred -- it was not contagious between people, but it was a deadly virus.

As the Polio virus caused paralysis over different parts of a patient's body, eventually the paralysis would take over the patient's diaphragm making it impossible for the patient to breathe.  This is when the patient would be put in a metal tube called a Negative Pressure Ventilator, or Iron Lung, which would force air into the patient's lungs allowing them to continue breathing when their diaphragm was paralyzed.

As soon as I asked my dad about Polio, he immediately shared with me the horrors of this disease that he had to watch attack child after child while he was in medical school and residency.  As teachers, Hubby and I have students who we will remember forever.  As a pediatrician, my daddy has patients he will remember forever, and as soon as he began telling me about Polio, he brought up a thirteen-year-old girl, who had to go into the Iron Lung, and who died from Polio.  Watching child after child suffer from and die from Polio is what motivated my dad to work so hard to get his entire county vaccinated when the vaccine was mass-produced.

I know many parents who refuse vaccines focus more on the measles/mumps/chicken pox variety... but the fact of the matter is, I will try any natural remedy before I run to the pharmacy... but disease prevention through vaccines is a horse of a different color.  I want my daughter to have a strong natural immunity... but I don't need her to be at risk for numerous life-threatening diseases when preventative measures are available.  The world has enough dangers from which I cannot protect her, so the horrors from which I can protect her, I intend to do so.

My baby girl had a really rough afternoon because of her four-month vaccines... but her sore leg was NOTHING compared to a paralyzed diaphragm due to Polio... and believe me, I told myself that many times while she was crying.

We are a household full of natural remedies.
We are also a household that strongly believes in vaccinations.

Gratitude: Day 16

Today, I am grateful for the doctors in my life.

When I was living in Greeley last month, a friend of mine was having some problems feeding her 9-week-old baby.  She had a question for her pediatrician and I was in the car and overheard her conversation with the pediatrician's secretary.  The bottom line is that she was never even allowed to leave a message for the pediatrician because the baby had not been to his first appointment with that practice yet.  His two-year-old big sister was a patient, and he had an upcoming appointment scheduled for the following week, but the secretary would not let the mother ask a question about her son, because he had not yet been seen by the pediatrician.

I was appalled, and promptly called my Daddy (a pediatrician for nearly 60 years) and had her talk to him about her baby.  My dad (as per usual) listened very carefully, made several recommendations, encouraged her to call back any time, and eased her fears.  He gave her wonderful advice.

Today, I am SO grateful that with three phone calls, I can talk to three doctors -- no secretaries involved.

Last night, I had a little medical scare, and within twenty minutes, I had spoken to three doctors -- after hours, on their cell phones -- my dad, my sister-in-law, and my friend.

I have never had to depend on a secretary to LET me leave a message for a doctor, and I have probably taken that for granted in my life.

Today, I am SO grateful for the doctors that I can reach at a moment's notice, and who offer excellent, calming, quality medical advice.

15 days down -- 5 to go!!!

News From My Field

Many of you know that I work with students who are blind and visually impaired.

There are very rewarding parts of my job, and very challenging parts of my job.

Thus far, the most challenging part of my job has been working with a student who is slowing losing his vision... he doesn't exactly need my services today, but I have to try to prepare him to adjust to the idea that someday he might need my services -- and by that time he might be out of school, and I won't be there.

There are several eye diseases that slowly rob people of their sight, but last night on NBC Nightly News, they announced a tremendous breakthrough for people with one specific eye disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa.

I have a few students with this disease and know several adults who have lost, or are losing their vision to this disease.  The below news story is an answer to prayer and the biggest breakthrough people with Retinitis Pigmentosa have ever seen.

Wouldn't it be amazing if, in time, eventually, I had to find a new job because people's vision had been restored through the miracle of science and technology?  Please, Lord, let it be!

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