Update on baby Samantha from hudsonsinaf (Shannon). She told me to thank you all so much for your prayers!!
I'm just going to copy and paste the group e-mail she sent me:
Tuesday evening we got a call from the pediatrician about the labs they ran on Samantha. Nothing showed up... this is good on one hand, but confusing on the other. Let me try to explain. Normally when your body is fighting an infection, your white blood cells willl increase - not so in hers. Usually with cancers, you willl see changes as well - none. With swelling/inflammation, you will see changes - especially an increase in "C reactive proteins" - not so in hers. While on one hand this sounds great, on the other it is frustrating. We know something is going on, including swelling, yet her bloodwork isn't showing it.
Wednesday - headed to MUSC to the oncology floor. We got there a little before 10, which was our appointment time, checked in and was taken straight to the back. Woohooo we thought - we'll get this appintment started and figure things out. Ummmm not so. After waiting in the waiting room in the back, Sam got called up... for a weight check and blood pressure check. Back to waiting. We were finally seen by the doctor around 1215. She talked with us for a few minutes about what has been going on, looked at Sam, and then told us we needed a CT scan. We had expected that already. Then we were told that a patient coordinator would call us to set it up. What? We weren't doing anything that day? Nope - it could not be scheduled that day. Feeling a little frustrated, Brad, Sam and I left and went and grabbed some lunch and talked over everything. Thank goodness our neighbor and friend, Donna was watching the other three. This was the first time Brad and I could openly talk about everything going on.
Thursday - headed back to the pediatrician's office for a weight check. at 0730. That meant waking everyone up at 0500. AHHHH what an early morning... but we made it. We have to go that early so the "sickies" as the pediatrician calls them, haven't been in the office yet. With not knowing what is going on, we really do not want her sick on top of everything else. Anyways, Sam got weighed and she gained almost a quarter of a pound in two days. WOOOHOOOOO we were excited!I filled him inon the prior day's events and he informed me the waiting on that floor is normal, unless your child is one of the sicker ones that day. I praise God we weren't one of the sicker ones and pray we never will be! He and I then talked about the labs. He was funny talking about the "C-reactive proteins" and how they weren't elevated when "she was supposedly swollen" He said maybe we were just looking at an assymetrical head. Then hew looked at Sam, who wasn't as swollen that morning and was like no - she was definitely swollen that day... Good news is we don't have to go back for a weight check until the following week. Yay 
That afternoon we were called about the CT scan... it was set up for the following day at 1 PM
Friday - off to MUSC. We get there with a fed. content, sleeping baby. This turns out to be a good thing, because shortly after we register her, she is taken back, laid on the table, wrapped up so she cannot move and is protected, and the CT scan is done. I ask when we will know something. She tells me the pictures will be read that day... the report possibly written that afternoon, and then it has to be sent to the doctor. My heart kinda dropped with the knowledge that we probably wouldn't hear anything until the beginning of next week. Sure enough, we left knowing nothing and we still don't.
So, that is where we are now. On one hand it feels like things are moving kinda slow. I guess because I want answers now On the other hand, things are truly moving quickly. A week has not even gone by yet since we first found out we had to go see the oncologist. Speaking of which - let me apologize - a couple of you have asked me what an oncologisy is... this is a doctor that specializes is cancer. Let me reiterate - we do NOT know that she has cancer. We are only looking into the possibility.
Again, we thank you for your prayers. How awesome it is to know we serve a God that loves us and hears us. He has blessed Brad and I with four beautiful children. I have been asked what Sam or we have done to deserve this, especially if it ends up being cancer. We have not done anything to "deserve" this. God has not caused this. Did He allow it - yes, but we live in a fallen world - where sin and disease are on the rampage. So should we be angry at God? No. God will use this situation in mighty ways. In some manner this situation will be used to bring glory to His Kingdom. Perhaps this is a trial for us, to build us stronger to rely more heavily on Him. Perhaps it is to reach out to someone who does not know Him. I do not know why it is happening, but I do KNOW that God will use it for His Glory. How awesome it is to be used!!!! God has given both Brad and I a peace that only He can give.
We're snowed in! The roads are closed, school is cancelled and work just called to say the mall is closing at 1. What's a girl to do? Well, DIS and sew of course!! LOL I bought the coming and going bag pattern from YCMT the other day and I made one and it's so cute! I'm working on another one this afternoon.
That is just WRONG for this time of year!!!!
That is awesome!! How did you do that?
YAY!! You finally got to share the pictures!! I've been busting at the seams because I couldn't tell anyone about this!!
CARLA: I LOOOOVE this dress! It's exactly what I was hoping you would make!
She is SOOO cute!! I love the outfit!!! Tell her
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! from me!!
I starterd laughing as soon as I read "My "favorite" pediatrician appointment ever"
I just KNEW which story you were going to tell!!
Oh yeah, it's DEFINITELY a THIRD child thing!!! In my experience, the second child is the one who is by far the smartest.
I knew you'd like to hear that one again! I wish I would have had a video camera in there!
In my experience, the 3rd child is always the most intelligent- followed by the 1st child, and then the 2nd child is usually rather slow.
(don't get offended anyone, Teresa and I are just picking on each other!)
So I THOUGHT Violet was better, then she woke up around three this morning and threw up everywhere. Now I'm not sure if she's sick or what, because that seems like an awful lot of puking for one week. =P
The poor thing! Poor you for having to clean it up!
Penny, your grandbabies are gorgeous! And I love Carla's new pattern! I made Jayden an Easter dress like that when she was 2 using a commercial pattern. I loved it but I have never made it again because I hate the pattern! I'll have to get it out and put it on Lily. It may fit. And since I haven't made her an Easter dress this year... It will also qualify as a "one of the first things I ever made" photo.
I wanna see a picture!
Carla, if you haven't heard it lately THANK YOU for what you do!! Did you know that you empower us? Really! I have always said I can't make clothes, I can't sew. And it was true. But your directions and patterns have changed that. I really can make beautiful things for my children. I'm even proud enough of them to give my creations as gifts. NEVER would have happened without your patterns and this group of wonderful people. Thank you!!!
I'd like to second that!!
That is so cute, Jessica! What a neat gift!
Wow, you did a GREAT job! That looks like a different pose than I've seen before, too!
Okay I have to tell you that I almost done with my next outfit and it includes a SHIRRED top and a skirt. Thanks to Haganfam5 who encouraged me to do the shirring....I was hoping to finish it yesterday but we had a huge snow storm and I got distracted with two sick kids at home. We just got back from the doctors....!
Snow storms at the end of March are WRONG!!! It's SPRING!!
How are the kiddos doing? I'm sorry to hear they're both sick!
Oops...I knew I forgot something.....CONGRATULATIONS Snubie!!!!!! I am so excited for you!!! We suffered with unexplained infertility for years and never was successful. I used to get so upset and never understood why I couldn't get pregnant. It was truly heart-breaking, as we wanted a child more than anything. It just turned out that there was a different path for us to take. When I held our DD for the first time I immediately realized why I never could get pregnant.....because THIS child was meant for us all along!!! And WE were meant for her!!! This overwhelming feeling just took me over at that moment and I couldn't help but cry!
You made me cry, too. But, it was a good cry! I love the way you put everything!
Baby Names-
Hannah
Danielle
Rachel
are the top contenders.
I liked the middle name Opal (my Grammie's name) but DH says no way- too old fashioned and she will be teased for it. ;(
Lucia (my Great grandmother's name) and surprisingly he likes that better than Opal
Hannah Lucia......???
I also like May- no particular reason, just like the sound of it.
my middle name is Lyn, as is DD and my Mother's, but guess it's weird to give 2 sisters the same middle name.
DH likes Kaelyn and Kathryn. But our last name starts with a K and Im not huge on the double illiteration......and Kaelyn, caitlyn, etc is VERY popular now.
I liked Hannah years ago because I love the Book of Samuel and can relate to what Hannah went through...now it's getting to be popular and now theres even a Hannah Montana- but oh well, it's still a name I like....
I also really like Anna, but I dont think DH was open to it. Even more so, i like Ana- but he veto'd that.
All of the names are beautiful!! I really like Opal for a middle name! I don't know if name popularity means anything to you, but you can go to this website to see the top baby names for any given year. You can even type in the name you're thinking of and it will tell you how popular it is!
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
Both the dress and your DD are ADORABLE!!! You can do a Mickey head applique!! I know you can do it!! Just practice on a scrap piece first until you get the hang of it.
Hi, Im a beginer sewer but think this is a neat idea. Also I love to make stuff and am curently learning how to make doll clothes. Anyone have any tips? I love to make puffy sleaved dresses. I want to make a special dress for a very special little girl and her extra special doll that shes had since she was a baby.
CarlaC's patterns on
www.youcanmakethis.com have girls and boys patterns with matching doll patterns included!! They're really easy to make with great instructions! I would check them out if I were you. They're well worth the money and you can use them over and over for a variety of sizes.
It's going to be weird without Gregg Wiggle but Sam seems to fit in quite nicely and has a great voice
For some reason it's captain feathersword that does it for me
My sister and I were just talking about the yummy men in our childrens shows, Like Joe from Blues clues and she likes the long haired guy from the Upsidedown show.
You women are seriously disturbed!
Oh my goodness, your granddaughters are ADORABLE!!!!! I love their minnie outfits, too!!!
OK, I spent hours getting my hair colored and hightlited and cut but I am all set for spring now! I am sooo tired.....Can you tell I am too tired to spell and color this?
You could have saved yourself the money and just cut your hair yourself, like me!
I almost didn't recognize you without your colorful letters!
I have several patterns for basic yoke dresses like this one. I'd be curious to see what she does different, but I have some that are super easy.
If any of you gals know of any endometriosis treatment centers/specialists that are somewhat closer to me than Georgia please pm me or let me know. Georgia is the closest I have found so far. I'm 3 years and 3 surgeries out and I hurt worse than ever. I think it is time to find a specialist. I am not willing to give up my ovaries and uterus just yet. Everyone wants to just cut em out like they are spare parts.
I have heard great things about specialists completely removing the endometriosis and it not coming back. I just want to find someone really good. It makes me sick to think of the money we have spent and I still am hurting this bad. I am having trouble picking up my DD. That is the worse feeling in the world!!!!! Now would be a great time for her to potty train...
I have yet to find a commercial pattern that I would describe as "super easy"!! I think you must just have more experience than most of us on here. I've only been sewing for about 1 1/2 years (my sewing anniversary is in July- the same month I started reading this thread), so the YCMT patterns being in "English" really helps!
for all you're going through with endometriosis. I don't have any info for you, but I hope someone else can help you out.
STEPH: I love the new minnie dot stuff! Good for Jacob, doing so well at flag football!
PENNY: Your grandkids are absolutely beautiful! Seriously!!
Or any of the sewing links I had....oh the misery of it all 
You all are so encouraging!!!
