Like most of you, I imagine, I have been glued to the non-stop coverage of the “Miracle on the Hudson”. It is a totally fascinating story with an amazing outcome. But the one thing that keeps bothering me is the statement that I hear over and over again- that there were no casualties. Um. But what about the birds? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it is brilliant that no human lives were lost, but there is a bit of a tragedy that birds did die. Right? I mean the more I think about it it really upsets me…
Speaking of flying (groan. I know.) I had hoped that I would be able to make a cross country flight this week to Northern California. Unfortunately I seem to have all kinds of covert notes on my chart at the OB’s office as there was no way that they would sign off on travel this week or on a trip I wanted to make in February. Turns out my visit a month or so ago to have them check out my fat ankles red-flagged me for third trimester travel. (well it was the early edema coupled with that OB appointment where I had high blood pressure) And I am all for being careful, but I am having a bit of a pout over the good times I am missing.
And just what in the hay is going on in Northern California? I’m glad you asked. It’s a gathering, a meeting, a get together of bloggers that will be working with a super cool company called 23andMe. You might have heard about this company on Oprah or read about it in several national news articles. (it was Time’s best invention of 2008!) I have been given the opportunity to write about the experience of getting this kind of DNA testing. Pretty cool.
As a gal with very little information about an entire half of her genetic background I am extremely curious about learning MORE about, well, me. The test was super easy, just a bit of lady-like spitting, and in a few weeks I will be in receipt of all kinds of genetic information. It will be a journey of learning and I am looking forward to taking you guys along the ride and sharing what I find out.
The things that I am most enthused to learn about have to do with ancestry and with health & genetic traits. And I keep thinking what a massive tool this could be in raising Snork. And of course I keep thinking of that old childhood song, “Do your ears hang low, do they wiggle to and fro…”
So I am bummed to be grounded, so to speak, from being able to mingle and meet so many of the people that I have been working with (& the other bloggers!). They have done a wonderful job of keeping those that could not attend in the loop and when I can share more I certainly will.
In other news of the day- Mother and I had a very smooth and pleasant meeting with our Hospice Nurse this morning. She is a well-seasoned type with a serious can-do attitude and quick draw cell phone to the pharmacy power. She already had helpful input about GM’s medication and was so, so sweet with GM. I adore her because she really sat and talked to me about what to expect in the Spring. She had many suggestions and thoughts about how we can make it a smooth transition between Snork’s arrival and taking care of GM. She even has a pediatrician to hook me up with that will make house calls!
In a few hours a health aid will be coming by to give GM a bath. And all I have to do is show her the tub and put out clean clothes and towels! It is a profound relief to have a team of people take care of us as we take care of GM.
Of course it would have been nice to be in Northern California right about now too…but being able to relax a bit this afternoon while someone pampers GM? That is pure gold.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
i thought about the birds too.
What great news and information!
AND I can’t wait to hear more about 23andMe!
Yay! I’m so glad hospice is working out wonderfully! And that nurse sounds amazing! Way to make some good connections there. Too bad about the flying, but it will be interesting to see what the genetic testing reveals. Hopefully nothing too scary.
I think it would be amazing to have the genetic testing…. I also think it would be nerve-wracking. But to know what you were more susceptible to and be able to alterr your lifestyle so as to avoid those thing….(if that’s even possible) – I mean wow! I am sorry you are grounded, is there any way that they will keep you in the know from the conference? I hope so. And yet given how long you tried for Snork, I don’t think you should let not getting to fly get you down tooo much. And yes, I too wondered about the birds…. i think it’s just awful. But like you I am glad that there were no human fatalities. Anyway…. i love you bunches and bunches!!! And I absolutely cannot believe that you are now in month 8 – where has the time gone??? smooch!
Yes, but it was the birds FAULT.
They deserved what they got. (Kidding, you know I am kidding, right?)
23andMe sounds really awesome. If I had lots and lots of money, I’d do it too.
Wait a minute–did you say “a pediatrician who makes house calls”??? I’m SO GLAD that Hospice is hooking you up with the resources you’ll need once your son arrives. I’m also glad that this nurse recognizes that caring for your baby and caring for your GM will go hand-in-hand. Once again, hooray for Hospice!
I’m so glad that hospice is helping you so much. The hospice we used for my grandmother had a facility that would keep your family member there if they needed more in depth treatment for something and didn’t quite need a hospital stay. You could also use it as a place to leave them for a week here or there to give yourself a break.
I don’t think there is a magic cut off as far as stopping the all night bathroom trips this late in the game.
You are surely getting some of this cold weather aren’t you? I’m not that far north of you and it was 20 this morning when I drove P to school.
Hooray for hospice!
I’m so glad you have a good hospice nurse. Now you have a whole team on your side. It’s no longer you and your mom shouldering the whole burden of care.
DNA testing sounds great but trust me, you do NOT want to fly at your stage of pregnancy. I ended up giving birth in a London hospital just because I was pigheaded and refused to listen to the doc’s advice on not flying at over eight months. It really was a nice hospital and I had excellent care but I would have liked to have been home.
If you don’t mind my asking, why do you only know about half your family history? maybe I missed that in an earlier post.
Dude you can travel if you want. Southwest just says “use your judgment.” Which is so nice, lots of airlines believe we pregnant women HAVE no judgment. United doesn’t care, as long as you are more than a month from your due date. I just flew and nobody said a word to me (I was 31 days from my due date, but I may not look it ) American and NW (I think) are the same.
I was sorry about the birds too. : ( And I’m soooo pleased that you have this new Can Do woman. I love Can Do people. Excellent news. xxxx
Too bad that you can’t travel — that would really bug me too. In terms of the birds, I noticed that too!
I was also sad about the birds.
Though I was especially glad about no human casualties because a whole bunch of my students *watched the entire thing happen.* Yikes.
Can’t wait to hear about the DNA stuff. Wow!
We missed you.
But I am glad you enjoyed your time!
I keep thinking about the birds too. Also, the 23andme thing sounds awesome! I’m definitely going to save my money and get that done…We know nothing at all about my paternal grandfather’s medical history..It would be nice to know if I’m at risk for certain diseases.
As for the birds, yes it’s too bad, but have any of you gotten really close to Canada geese? Like all geese, they can be aggressive. And messy? Try strolling in a park where Canada geese have been picnicking. They crap frequently and abundantly. They hiss and charge after anyone innocently walking near where they are. Playing golf when they decide that they own the fairway is NOT a relaxing pastime. They have been known to take over playing fields and attack little kids.
I’m NOT a bird-hater, but I’ve seen these guys in action. In the wild they’d be fine but they don’t adapt well to living cheek-by-jowl to humans. This is not their fault, but taking a Disneyesque view of nature is foolish. How many of the people who “feel bad for those birds” don’t have a second thought over chowing down on a chicken sandwich?