tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75888386939064608902024-02-02T04:21:20.871-05:00Screaser's ScreeBits and pieces that I want to get out of my head, which don't fit in elsewhere...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-47354997579336269642014-06-27T11:31:00.000-04:002014-06-27T11:31:01.912-04:00Maddie Status Check @ 26.5 MonthsI don't think there is a narrative to this one; just want to brain dump a bit (maybe I'll edit before posting. Maybe not.)<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Good</b><br />
<br />
When nothing bothering her, she's a very happy little baby.<br />
<br />
Babbling lots!<br />
<br />
Reaching for things... wants to crawl... <br />
<br />
Good at hand (fine-motor) control.<br />
<br />
Still no <i>real</i> reason to think this is permanent.**<br />
<br />
Switched to a new formula that seems to be making her much less uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
Rigged a "cold bag" such that we don't have to refill her formula in the middle of the night... just have to get up 3-10 times to deal with bubbles.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Bad</b><br />
<br />
Still no talking, no crawling, no sitting unassisted.<br />
<br />
Not taking any food or drink by mouth.<br />
<br />
24 months of crying... really wears on you. She has 2 in particular that really get me:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Nnnnnnngggg nnnnnnggggg (sounds like she is yelling with no tongue... like nails on a chalkboard)</li>
<li>Huh uh huh uh huh uh huh (this machine-gun like "I'm unhappy" thing that she can do -- literally -- for hours straight. Gasp inhale, sharp whiny exhale. Repeat x1000.)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Likes to choke while traveling in the car. Always fun.<br />
<br />
Still not taking good naps... no sleep schedule...<br />
<br />
The new formula is thick, so we can't "run open loop" like we used to. More work dealing with bubbles this way.<br />
<br />
Still can't seem to handle bolus feeds, currently... so we're on the pump ~20 hours/day doing continuous drips. Makes it hard to leave the house.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The $*#@!$$#</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Still retching about 3 times a day... big ones too -- face turns red, sometimes gets tiny burst capillaries on her face, etc.<br />
<br />
The retches seem to be caused by one of two things:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Bile; after most (but not all) retches we see yellow fluid in her g-tube... seems like whenever a bit of bile hits her tummy she feels nauseous and loses it. </li>
<li>Gas; still fighting gas all the time, and when it builds up she just can't seem to burp, and eventually loses it. Or when on her back, the gas pushes fluid up into her throat and she chokes and loses it. </li>
</ul>
<div>
At 26 months, she seems to have the development of a 10-month old. We've been seeing signs of talking, crawling, sitting for ~6 months, but progress is glacial.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Haven't shared a bedroom with the wife in well over a year now. Thatskindafuckedupisntit?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
** this one is screwed up in its own right though; we still have no real diagnosis for any of this. Just symptoms.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-69398820005610710392014-04-05T21:34:00.001-04:002014-04-05T21:35:32.885-04:00Nachos are Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNkwIWwqWjoMxiae9ONye0041IJ_Ne9oIjh3nwo2diiNMIhHSGL6RaR0A7UCZbqNjjzZ_ualJOKBkejWUI-9s9P079h1ehgqhKmkqIFp1PCrs-ttsjtAS9dBfe5gTodrc7bF83ERZisU/s1600/nachos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNkwIWwqWjoMxiae9ONye0041IJ_Ne9oIjh3nwo2diiNMIhHSGL6RaR0A7UCZbqNjjzZ_ualJOKBkejWUI-9s9P079h1ehgqhKmkqIFp1PCrs-ttsjtAS9dBfe5gTodrc7bF83ERZisU/s1600/nachos.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Had an epiphany over breakfast (yes, this was my breakfast today):<br />
<br />
Nachos have a magical power.<br />
<br />
Here's what I mean.<br />
<br />
Take a couple of big handfuls of cheese... I mean more than you would possibly in a hundred years think of taking out of the bag and just eating... an amount that would certainly make you feel sick to your stomach... and add that cheese to your chips, chili, and peppers. Melt it.<br />
<br />
Abracadabra!<br />
<br />
It has suddenly become a perfectly reasonable amount of cheese to consume.<br />
<br />
Delicious magic, I tell you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-21825082924228898872014-04-01T20:58:00.003-04:002014-04-01T20:58:24.031-04:00Maddie Status Check<div>
I want to write a quick note on Maddie's medical progress/status as she approaches her second birthday.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wow, to be honest it feels weird to even say that... kind of like how using the word "wife" sounds funny for a while, and later when you have to get used to the idea that you're actually a "daddy". For some reason it's hard to think of Maddie having a birthday, since she's sort of stuck in time...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b><div>
<b><br /></b></div>
Why post this?</b><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Three reasons, I think.</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Get it out of my head... clear the air. (And there is plenty of air in my head lately.)</li>
<li>For us to look back at a year or three from now, to remember what things were like behind the scenes... and also hopefully see just how far we will have come.</li>
<li>One in a million shot someone else dealing with similar issues reads this and feels less alone.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Quick Status</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So as she approaches two years old, we do continue to see progress; albeit at a snail's pace. We just can't seem to get the weight on, though the last week or so has been promising. She is developing though; making more babbling sounds these days, and her face is definitely less infant-like. She's stronger too and wants to move around, which is great but also makes her hard to hold... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately she still needs to be tended 24/7... can't set her down on the ground for more than a few seconds, or she'll retch. Can't sit up yet, so she has to be held pretty much constantly. We just spend most of the day sitting on a pad on the ground with Maddie sitting between our legs, handing her one toy after another. Hasn't said her first word yet, which is one of the hardest things... if we just had some real communication I think everything else would be a bit easier to handle. No crawling yet; can't really hold herself up on 4-point, though when she stands (with help) she seems really proud!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She's very interested in tasting things at the table these days, but can't eat anything... so we're still just trying to push food in the g-tube every hour of the day and night. Stomach gas continues to be more challenging than you could believe -- if she was just not 25x as bubbly as most babies, or if she could just learn to burp I feel like we'd be on easy street by comparison... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're still with the CDSA program until she's 3; after that we have to transition to the school system for support, so just starting to figure all of that out. Might end up getting into CAP/C or Developmental Services. A bit nervous about all that, actually.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Our Schedule</b></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So for the time being, we're stuck in a mode of tag-team parenting of Maddie at all times... one holds her, the other can get some work done or can play with Sydney. Tolerable, though it makes it very hard to actually get anything done -- no real time for focus, unless I force an hour or two and then take Maddie for the rest of the day...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still splitting night shifts, so we live basically a 48-hour schedule.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Up at 6am after a night's sleep. Make formula, do chores, and wait for Sydney to wake up. Maddie starts her eating schedule at 8am... Melissa gets up after a 3 hour nap and by 10:30 we're through everyone's staggered morning routines and perhaps we can start doing something productive. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tag-team through the day, around her therapies (M-F, 6 times per week, currently). Maddie goes down sometime between 7pm and 11pm, and it's my turn to tend her through the night... a good night has you up 3-4 times, and a bad night you just get naps.... 6am is shift change, and I get to settle in for my own 3 hour nap. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rinse, Repeat.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Maybe there is a better schedule, but we haven't figured it out yet. Suggestions are welcome!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-3199288361521799192014-02-04T07:46:00.000-05:002014-02-04T07:46:24.176-05:00Addicted to Money (NY Times article by Sam Polk)I'll admit it -- from time to time I've read about the million$ that young kids are making on Wall Street and I've felt jealousy. I could have done that, I say to myself... and I'd be stinking rich by now.<br />
<br />
Somehow it never occurred to me as a career path. After reading this article by Sam Polk I'm happy I didn't try to go down that road.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/opinion/sunday/for-the-love-of-money.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/opinion/sunday/for-the-love-of-money.html?_r=0</a><br />
<br />
I hope that link works for you (with the Times' paywall) because it's a really great read. Here's one of the money quotes:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">From that moment on, I started to see Wall Street with new eyes. I noticed the vitriol that traders directed at the government for limiting bonuses after the crash. I heard the fury in their voices at the mention of higher taxes. These traders despised anything or anyone that threatened their bonuses. Ever see what a drug addict is like when he’s used up his junk? He’ll do anything — walk 20 miles in the snow, rob a grandma — to get a fix. Wall Street was like that. </span></blockquote>
<br />
It somehow never occurred to me before that money could be <i>that</i> addicting -- but of course it makes so many things that rich and powerful people do make more sense, once you really absorb the idea.<br />
<br />
In any case, thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/SamPolk" target="_blank">Sam</a> for giving me an eye-opening look at what it's like in that world... no doubt in my mind that Wall Street would have been a toxic environment for me. No regrets anymore about avoiding that career.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-45841073801560099032014-01-13T22:12:00.000-05:002014-01-13T22:12:01.483-05:00Quicky: LegalZoom Cares More About $8 than a Customer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJYpQFOt7h991fD3uC33sBKI2mtqOQwsgO5pm6YqpCww5aAZ8mgBC3TabSpelbQ6NqAInLjJr_UpwEVLZBxJBD3bFv_8mB28nYVe5AhJC07T9qjPHJ0bEe585UPAXwZJP2ALzPpvhRIo/s1600/legalzoom.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJYpQFOt7h991fD3uC33sBKI2mtqOQwsgO5pm6YqpCww5aAZ8mgBC3TabSpelbQ6NqAInLjJr_UpwEVLZBxJBD3bFv_8mB28nYVe5AhJC07T9qjPHJ0bEe585UPAXwZJP2ALzPpvhRIo/s320/legalzoom.png" width="320" /></a></div>
TL;DR: LegalZoom sucks.<br />
<br />
Slightly longer version: I used them about 6 weeks ago to set up a LLC. At the time there was some wording about "wow you also get a free trial of lame-service-you-don't-want!"<br />
<br />
There was <b>no</b> way to opt out of said free trial.<br />
<br />
I did get an email 2/3 of the way through the free trial reminding me that I had only 10 days left to enjoy these *cough* benefits... but not a word about "you will automatically be billed if you don't pick up the phone, call us (there is no way to cancel via their website, even if you try), and listen to our rep reading a script designed to make you feel silly about canceling".<br />
<br />
Since I never agreed to automatic billing, I went about my business. Lo and behold -- without a single additional email making clear what was going on -- my credit card was recently billed for $7.99.<br />
<br />
Now, $8 is not a Big Deal, but I'm loathe to pay for things I didn't want, didn't request, and didn't give someone explicit permission to bill my credit card for.<br />
<br />
So I called the 800 number that was provided (again, you can't cancel via the website, only buy).<br />
<br />
While the rep was courteous, they made it clear that company policy was that there are never any refunds for "services" like this that were added (a) without my option, (b) without my desire, and (c) without my using said service during the period I'm being charged $8 for. Even if it makes the difference between a satisfied customer and one that feels taken advantage of.<br />
<br />
Let me clarify: LegalZoom would rather have my $8 than have a customer who feels they were treated fairly.<br />
<br />
Now... given that these cats are lawyers, I have zero doubt that what they did here was 100% legal.<br />
<br />
But it also sucks big hairy moose dick. And it's no way to run a business.<br />
<br />
So if I ever have the opportunity to recommend a legal service, it will not be LegalZoom.<br />
<br />
Shit; they're treating their customers as bas as cable companies or cell carriers, but without the lock-in effects those other companies have... it's almost like they *want* to fail.<br />
<br />
Let's help them fail.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-29217563285350648432014-01-01T11:39:00.002-05:002014-01-01T11:39:26.871-05:00New year, new blog, new experiments...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vVIgtKFauAyi0W-dXhovQXPrmDqCHyQTkXKun8My8lHI_bdTvjTeGhJjcB7UZJk97ng4aFolsoq7aG4FZAFbHpOBbqRT0ISXRv0Tq7lGljtL37rIye8jhpSUr2Kgvl9EGDOTwJ-UE8A/s1600/experiment.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vVIgtKFauAyi0W-dXhovQXPrmDqCHyQTkXKun8My8lHI_bdTvjTeGhJjcB7UZJk97ng4aFolsoq7aG4FZAFbHpOBbqRT0ISXRv0Tq7lGljtL37rIye8jhpSUr2Kgvl9EGDOTwJ-UE8A/s320/experiment.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>I'm a huge fan of Monthly Experiments.</b><br />
<br />
Try on a habit for one month, like you are taking a new outfit for a thorough test-wear... try it on, live with it for long enough to understand how it fits (or doesn't) into what you want your life to be.<br />
<br />
At the end of the month, decide whether to keep the new habit, tweak it, or let it go. With just a little experiment every month you can create an entirely new life by the end of the year. Groovy.<br />
<br />
For January 2014 my experiment is "write every day", and I've decided to start a new blog over at <a href="http://itsalwaysmorning.com/">ItsAlwaysMorning.com</a> to think out loud about living more intentionally.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Here's my current writing plan:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Personal growth experiments, inspirational ideas I come across, experiments in work-life balance, and projects I undertake (including thinking about a lifestyle business) will live at <a href="http://itsalwaysmorning.com/">ItsAlwaysMorning.com</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Everything I learn about startups as I try to help build Coursefork (my friend <a href="http://www.brianpmarks.com/" target="_blank">Brian</a>'s company) will be shared at <a href="http://stevereaser.com/">SteveReaser.com</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Personal bits and pieces that don't fit into one of those broad themes will continue to land here, as I need to get them out of my head.</li>
</ul>
<div>
So yeah, this is a bit messy, but let's give it a go and see where it takes me!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-89098180272591784942013-11-24T15:14:00.000-05:002013-11-24T15:14:01.416-05:00Sometimes the Little Things Are HugeI got to thinking last night -- virtually all of the challenges we have faced with Maddie over the last 19 months boil down to the simple fact that she is gassy. <b>Really</b> gassy. Not "oh yeah, my baby was bubbly too... had to make sure to burp her twice after every feeding" gassy... I mean something-is-fundamentally-not-working-in-her-GI-tract gassy.<br />
<br />
And in a way, the fact that it is such a simple, basic thing makes it all the more frustrating.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr4_oIbA0pbSkUjllWjdI-54jfcXGzmAdxplj8VXVieSQwtn_K0Eq7hKBtNA_8sJQdmU2Pu28IZWRJqyj3aYknpu2BCO9d9LJMCfPhX9iTLMVSnNXv4OQuXBPpJ9Xxhiw1HWh0n7Uq8o/s1600/even-simple-tasks-can-be-frustrating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr4_oIbA0pbSkUjllWjdI-54jfcXGzmAdxplj8VXVieSQwtn_K0Eq7hKBtNA_8sJQdmU2Pu28IZWRJqyj3aYknpu2BCO9d9LJMCfPhX9iTLMVSnNXv4OQuXBPpJ9Xxhiw1HWh0n7Uq8o/s200/even-simple-tasks-can-be-frustrating.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i>(aside: I don't really intend for this blog to be all about Maddie's issues; I have other fun stuff to write about, actually -- but might as well make it three in a row and then hopefully back to more interesting stuff.)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Gassy from Day One</b><br />
<br />
Even back to the beginning, when we were trying to breastfeed, gas was probably the biggest problem. Yes Maddie had some trouble taking food in, but she was determined and generally took enough in. But then the gas would hit, and she'd lose it all... she was never good at burping (that continues to today) but mostly I think it was the sheer quantity of gas in her tummy that made keeping food down nearly impossible.<br />
<br />
At age two-months we gave up on breastfeeding, and used a NG-tube plus bottle to get the formula down. Tried a few different formulas; never found one that seemed truly easy on her stomach. Several months of this... constantly feeding, then holding her <b>ever so carefully</b> hoping to avoid any jiggle that might cause her to lose it all; and generally failing.<br />
<br />
<i>Throwing up everything she ate... all because of gas.</i><br />
<br />
<b>G-Tube + Fundoplication<span style="color: #777777; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 1em; line-height: 18px;"> </span></b><br />
<br />
She was seven months old when we had to make the call to go with surgery. Everything in us wanted to avoid this step; if she could just get over this hump, we felt, then better to press on through and avoid permanently altering the geometry of her insides.<br />
<br />
But sometimes toughing it out just doesn't cut it.<br />
<br />
The fundoplication surgery <i>essentially </i>makes her incapable of throwing up. It also might make it harder to burp; which we're still paying for today. The G-tube allowed us to push more formula in than we were able to get her to take by mouth, and with less swallowing of air. This sounded like it should do the trick, then, but instead what we ended up with was a pressure cooker inside her tummy.<br />
<br />
We use a pump to push formula into her tummy... in theory you can do this all day long, and just tend to her a bit (change the bag, vent the stomach) every few hours. But in our case, venting was basically a constant thing... every 5-10 minutes at times -- sometimes things built up such that we had to turn the pump off and spend an hour venting, holding, and rocking to try to get all the gas out before resuming feeding.<br />
<br />
<i>~20 hours per day trying to feed, and several bad retches per day; all because of gas.</i><br />
<br />
Gas Bloat Syndrome, they now say; which literally means "Wow, this is one gassy baby... and now it's harder for the pressure to escape. Hmm that ain't good. Sorry about that!"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWB9M0TPZUwSrnzllCA7a7n7EJiICkmvKrwWAls-qWZln4Mgxf-v_HVj7cxbTDt82JFFNJs9HyAaCLRzZDzoOcZDTRuP7HNVp55sgDz4YvyKfjrjjoFzzt6GKKek_0S217i_UGVVr4bM/s1600/GJ-tube.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWB9M0TPZUwSrnzllCA7a7n7EJiICkmvKrwWAls-qWZln4Mgxf-v_HVj7cxbTDt82JFFNJs9HyAaCLRzZDzoOcZDTRuP7HNVp55sgDz4YvyKfjrjjoFzzt6GKKek_0S217i_UGVVr4bM/s320/GJ-tube.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>GJ Tube... Well, it Was Worth a Try!</b><br />
<br />
The weight gain continued to elude us; she was getting about 600 calories/day rather than the 800 she needed, and it showed.<br />
<br />
Another surgical procedure, and now she essentially had an input tube and an output tube... the way they described the venting port was "and in the unlikely case that she has a bubble, you can vent it". So of corse in practice, we had to keep her vented 24-7, even though we weren't putting anything at all into her tummy.<br />
<br />
Much of the gas ended up shifted lower, leading to hour-long inconsolable screaming fits a couple of times per night. Still, it got her the calories she needed, and we would have stuck it out with the GJ if she hadn't suddenly developed a complete intolerance to the tube in her jejunum.<br />
<br />
Our best guess is that the gas in her intestine started pushing bile back up into her tummy, causing retches about every hour.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Lots of pain and lost sleep for everyone including Maddie, and again, all because of the gas.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Back to G, Blenderizing</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
So we went home, and got to play home surgeon -- took the GJ-tube out and popped in a G-tube again. We're back to a single port to push in food and get out gas... but we're determined to get her the calories she needs if at all possible. (There is a surgical plan B, but let's not go there.)<br />
<br />
We're trying to move away from formula, since she doesn't seem to be able to really tolerate it. Experimenting with different blends of food during the day -- and still feeding formula all night -- it's all trial and error because nobody really has any answers on this stuff.<br />
<br />
In brief, it seems like this is going to work, but we have a lot more to figure out and a long slog any way you cut it... this would all be so much easier if it weren't for that <i><b>one thing</b></i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Such a Simple Thing -- Just Gas?</b><br />
<br />
It sounds so innocuous. Just some gas; how big of a deal can that be? Right:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Net net: 19 months old; development of a ~9 month old.</li>
<li>She can't really handle being on her back. Which means you can't set her down like any other baby... have to hold her pretty much all day.</li>
<li>When you do put her down for a nap, within minutes she'll start coughing. Not a little "tickle in my throat" cough mind you; but a red-faced-trying-to-hack-up-a-lung cough that she can't recover from without help.</li>
<li>Working nearly 24-hours a day to get food in her and keep it inside... yep, night shifts.</li>
<li>When we <i>do</i> stop for a couple of hours, for PT for example to see friends, that cuts into her calories for the day.</li>
<li>Hasn't learned to crawl; in part because she can't tolerate tummy time (and is contending with a vent tube, as well). Even sitting seems to upset her stomach.</li>
<li>Any time you put her in a chair, get her up, etc you have to deal with the tube. Tape things in place, make sure she can't get at them, etc... "tucking her in" means tucking in the tubes.</li>
<li>Inconsolable screaming fits; still hasn't spoken her first word so she can't tell us what she needs.</li>
<li>Still retches ~ once per day... poor little girl.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>And really, this all stems from the gas problem.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97vtkSBOsznzpmQiSURm6rhloYb0Bl4b68Ted52uuHzh1qNjQOGp4shDBxzS85tBGL2fBsomrEE_uhqJ2LLv4l9qqludl_CuGGhnnQnzBcZWrBRLObzMJEq8-AqJUk6JCj1Sz5bEZOAY/s1600/domino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97vtkSBOsznzpmQiSURm6rhloYb0Bl4b68Ted52uuHzh1qNjQOGp4shDBxzS85tBGL2fBsomrEE_uhqJ2LLv4l9qqludl_CuGGhnnQnzBcZWrBRLObzMJEq8-AqJUk6JCj1Sz5bEZOAY/s320/domino.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
Now the point of this isn't "oh, poor us". It does feel good to write this out... but the thought I started with is the main point that I wanted to end with:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's such a simple thing... tummy gas. Most people just burp it out without thinking; it's just amazing even to me that such a simple thing could cascade into so many serious and life-changing results.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're in a little domino-effect loop... and it's <i>all because of the gas</i>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-47331669552795416382013-09-28T16:05:00.001-04:002013-09-28T16:05:23.210-04:00Sept 25 -- A Whole New Chapter for Madison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2rgJY-_cpoKPYC6uam1LRKDPDxPhrC5yqRDmL01y7BPQ4zFV38RUnJkJB5poVsdsF6Hn1yefK-WBv87BKEXj-DF6r2Lt4kzMTS1AoBTMZwBucBu_EvcVdPGdjRLmlLH5SpHNZx2VjU4/s1600/brand_new_day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2rgJY-_cpoKPYC6uam1LRKDPDxPhrC5yqRDmL01y7BPQ4zFV38RUnJkJB5poVsdsF6Hn1yefK-WBv87BKEXj-DF6r2Lt4kzMTS1AoBTMZwBucBu_EvcVdPGdjRLmlLH5SpHNZx2VjU4/s320/brand_new_day.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feels like a brand new day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
While it's only been three days since the procedure, I think we will look back at September 25th as the inflection point when things finally started to really get better for Maddie. And by extension for all of us. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Since then, she's had several retches (usually when trying to lay on her back with anything in her stomach). She tries to throw up but can't, and unfortunately that gets uncomfortable... her face turns red and she gets hot and sweaty... after a few minutes it subsides and she's back to her normal happy self. Usually.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Last night she woke at 2am with intestinal gas... 45 minutes of screaming and thrashing until she got some bubbles out and passed out. Followed shortly by us passing out.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
She able to tolerate being on her back for a short time; a few minutes, it seems, without getting gaggy. Sometimes we wonder how she manages to sleep on her back at night (her crib is inclined, but still).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And all day long we're still venting her... about hourly she'll need to push out a bubble of gas from her tummy, even though we're not putting food in her belly anymore.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf3lgLnTif_Q0z2puo4RDN1okXZbJM2pA_cYD7QzYnNHKDvKH4L7lUPyL4rqmwh13noP6ycGrlIERnGRmspkw6ek4pL7hVEQ8s0sPo7AmDV1J1Og_VZtJAsSv5dFJwhArGakhtmqZ5MU/s1600/GJ_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf3lgLnTif_Q0z2puo4RDN1okXZbJM2pA_cYD7QzYnNHKDvKH4L7lUPyL4rqmwh13noP6ycGrlIERnGRmspkw6ek4pL7hVEQ8s0sPo7AmDV1J1Og_VZtJAsSv5dFJwhArGakhtmqZ5MU/s320/GJ_button.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute new GJ button!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Still -- this is all WAY better than it was before we changed from the G-tube to a GJ tube. Really. It's not night and day... but it feels like a whole different and more level of insanity.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Before, she could generally only take a few seconds on her back, not minutes. The gas was at least 20 times as prolific; so we spent 12+ hours a day holding her and venting her. Couldn't set her down and couldn't leave her unattended for a minute because she was so prone to retching... all day you were on pins and needles vigilantly listening for the warning sounds of a bad gas bubble brewing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You know that feeling when you step out of the car into a really cold wind and you just grit your teeth and mostly hold your breath until you get into the house... yeah it's felt like that for the last year or so.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So while we still have a long ways to go and while we're still figuring out a new schedule and the mechanics of GJ feeding, I'd say this is finally on the solid upswing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Gotta go... time to feed her again...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-52193829227677462292013-08-20T14:43:00.001-04:002013-08-21T11:31:30.135-04:00Baby Formula CalculatorWe have had to experiment with different concentrations of baby formula; oddly enough I could not find an online calculator to let me easily figure out how much water and formula to mix to obtain the concentration (calories per ounce) that I wanted.<br />
<br />
So I made this -- I hope you find it useful! (Use arrow keys to navigate.)<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmOKxefFoY7idFctN0hiWEVxRDBLaDZUZnZIejlueXc&usp=sharing" width="575"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><< <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmOKxefFoY7idFctN0hiWEVxRDBLaDZUZnZIejlueXc&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Or Click Here to Embiggen</a> >></b></div>
<br />
<br />
This formula calculator assumes that your formula follows the same "standard" that I've seen on every formula I've checked; that is, 1 scoop of formula per 2 oz of water to create formula with 20 calories per ounce.<br />
<br />
On the formula cans I checked, this "caloric density" was stated in the nutrition area as 100 calories per 5 oz serving. They also stated that each scoop of formula added 0.2 oz to the final volume; so that's what I used in the calculations.<br />
<br />
This calculator lets you run the numbers 3 different ways:<br />
<br />
1) If you are trying to hit a particular total number of calories with a particular caloric density -- for example if you are making up a pitcher for the day -- the first row should do the trick. Just enter your calorie target and desired concentration in the green cells.<br />
<br />
2) As a variation on #1, if you have already figured out that you plan to use a particular number of scoops of formula and know the caloric density you need, try the second version.<br />
<br />
2) If, instead, you want to find out what caloric density a particular combination of water and scoops would yield, the third row has you covered.<br />
<br />
If you find this useful please drop me a comment! (Also if there are any other calculation variations that you would find extremely helpful, let me know and I'll improve the calculator if I can.)<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-81135940091126859102013-08-15T20:33:00.003-04:002013-08-15T20:33:43.041-04:004/3 years old!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf6Pa2nwQs-ZSrfaFrRkYitxUs7PO1Rzzkmu0__bybOWHOXLQZUT9RjEIFcRnAfzOR2YNOxa3GunRFsU128bFZkrXszIalpYVC54osKxfp5TRE0JIwKTkq8GLk-Zo5Qh5Rj1iiA7SSsA/s1600/maddie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf6Pa2nwQs-ZSrfaFrRkYitxUs7PO1Rzzkmu0__bybOWHOXLQZUT9RjEIFcRnAfzOR2YNOxa3GunRFsU128bFZkrXszIalpYVC54osKxfp5TRE0JIwKTkq8GLk-Zo5Qh5Rj1iiA7SSsA/s320/maddie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank goodness I'm cute...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our "Maddie Maddie" is 16 months old today.<br />
<br />
Hard to believe. The last few months have been a blur as we've doubled down on trying to get her back on track; it's still been impossible thus far to get all of her prescribed therapies in, and she's not finishing her pitchers of formula these days... which just means we have more work ahead of us.<br />
<br />
She's 16 months; but in many ways is the equivalent of a 6-month-old. She's responsive and interested in people, toys, etc... but is stuck in a body that just hasn't developed yet.<br />
<br />
We'll get there -- and today things are still far better than they were just a few months ago -- but just for posterity here's where we sit today:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>She can't yet walk, crawl, hold in "4-point", or even sit unassisted.</li>
<li>Still waiting for that first real word! (by now Sydney had a 250+ word vocabulary)</li>
<li>Spending ~20 hours/day tending to Maddie, one way or another...</li>
<li>Fighting constantly to get enough food in her g-tube</li>
<li>Alternating nights "on duty"... she is on the pump all night, so you need to change the bag once around 1-2am, and also need to vent Maddie between 4 and 10 times a night. We tag out at 6am so the night person can get a three hour nap, at least...</li>
<li>In theory, we're supposed to have her in her ankle braces at least an hour in the morning and in the afternoon.</li>
<li>Should be putting her in her stander at least twice a day...</li>
<li>Should be practicing eating purees 2-3 times/day...</li>
<li>Floor time -- she needs as much as she can get. But with her tummy it's a challenge to get 10 minutes/day.</li>
<li>Poops and baths are generally a 2-person job, due to the vent tube.</li>
<li>Bubbles vent gurgle vent bubbles vent vent vent... aaaaaarch!... vent...</li>
</ul>
<div>
She clearly wants to move and do things, which means everything. And at least we are, perhaps, done with the retching at last! Nothing we did; she seems to finally be growing out of that... and it's been a few weeks at least since the last non-stop full-volume inconsolable thrashing and screaming fit at 1am. (Wow gas pains are fun, right?)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still things are progressing, albeit slowly. One day this will all just be a memory. The day we get to purge our house of all the medical supplies that currently occupy her room and the kitchen -- well, that will be a beautiful day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>"We put one foot in front of the other..."</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-84174900637478820672013-06-29T20:52:00.002-04:002013-06-29T20:52:49.498-04:00What a year (Maddie's challenges)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQcgXHHeTiy1vf1W5cLKAmRwVEFzWg3DC8Q8LSMvSOS93q8YBBUDpGCAGiBioHRpBwqK5DCywg6waRmqBdtGj-1y2jYNX3AXctUooIP_IpEP1Eug0ORzdRLuZ8XGxEqX_vcA3DhJV2wQ/s1280/stander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQcgXHHeTiy1vf1W5cLKAmRwVEFzWg3DC8Q8LSMvSOS93q8YBBUDpGCAGiBioHRpBwqK5DCywg6waRmqBdtGj-1y2jYNX3AXctUooIP_IpEP1Eug0ORzdRLuZ8XGxEqX_vcA3DhJV2wQ/s320/stander.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney is the best big sister ever!<br />Playing with Maddie in her "stander".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Whew... what a year... <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
June 29, 2012 was a bit of a turning point for the ol' family... that was the day we had to check into the hospital because Maddie wasn't eating like she should.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since then it's just been one foot in front of the other, as we help her work through these issues and get to the point where she can hit the ground running (at this point we'd settle for crawling) and keep growing naturally.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So FWIW we've been through these phases:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Two weeks in the hospital, trying to get her breastfeeding, supplementing nutrition everywhichway.</li>
<li>NG tube putting formula into her stomach, to supply calories to reverse her wasting...</li>
<li>Some success eating formula from the bottle, and we are discharged from the hospital with some work to do.</li>
<li>Settle in to life with a food pump more or less around-the-clock.</li>
<li>Cut back on outside activities, responsibilities...</li>
<li>Just not gaining weight like she should... do we do surgery or not? Really an agonizing decision for parents to have to make.</li>
<li>Surgery. When well. OMG huge sigh of relief... should all get better from here, right?</li>
<li>Recovery, eating through the g-tube...</li>
<li>Slow slow slow slow weight gain while spending about 18 hours/day tending to her intestinal needs. Gas, coughing/gagging, retching... but at least she's gaining weight! All will be OK, right?</li>
<li>Oh crap she lost weight... yes only 1/2 pound, but that's 3% of her weight so still -- yikes.</li>
<li>Refocus. Shed still more external responsibilities/activities.</li>
<li>Back on the weight gain train. By now it's pretty much the only thing we can focus on. No work, no friends, and unfortunately not enough Sydney attention... but we're going to get through this no matter what.</li>
<li>Glimmers of progress. She's gaining weight, getting less prone to startling, and getting stronger... still can't crawl or do what a 14-month-old would normally do, but it does seem like things are heading in the right direction.</li>
<li>Settled in for the long haul. One day at a time. One foot in front of the other. We're marching on.</li>
</ul>
<div>
At this point it really definitely like we'll get through this, but it's taking everything we've got. Someday we hope to be able to say "wow do you remember when..." and in a way it's a blessing that both girls are young enough that they probably won't remember a single bit of this...</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not sharing this out of a need for sympathy or anything; just wanted to put words to what we've accomplished over the last year. This is the kind of thing that you can't plan for, can't prepare for, and until it happens you don't know if you can handle it... but part of being a parent is that when it *does* happen, somehow, you just do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's to the next 12-months going "up and to the right".</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-20682474685532942392012-11-12T18:16:00.000-05:002012-11-12T18:38:19.648-05:00Maddie's Surgery<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Short version: </b></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Maddie is good. Surgery went exactly according to plan, and she is mostly sleeping as she recovers. Tomorrow we should learn all about the tube; no word yet when we might go home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPJO4Bz7Yzf8YRMaJZzddiGtpwFcMd5GcTq179kwUjYNLGc4j-dslhv_3xMSN1jd1BXO9a98s3hAbkoyfOhwb9UwKZNlOrjO_53cbZ5_19BGCPFMSSLypx1I-uKbwNR13ZJ23TNoj6rc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPJO4Bz7Yzf8YRMaJZzddiGtpwFcMd5GcTq179kwUjYNLGc4j-dslhv_3xMSN1jd1BXO9a98s3hAbkoyfOhwb9UwKZNlOrjO_53cbZ5_19BGCPFMSSLypx1I-uKbwNR13ZJ23TNoj6rc/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<b>Longer version:</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Long, stressful day… but hopefully this is a turning point for Maddie and it's all growth from here.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
We had to get to Wake Med by 5:30am, and Maddie couldn't eat after midnight… we were pretty worried about how she would handle that, since she's still eating every 3-4 hours (yes, even at night) but luckily she was awake and fussy all night Sunday until her 11:30pm feeding, after which she passed out <i>hard…</i> she slept pretty much the whole time until she went into the OR at 7:30am.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Watching them wheel her into the OR was one of those moments you don't forget.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
With 2 hours to pass, we went to the cafeteria to get some breakfast. Don't think I really tasted anything I ate... </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
About 70 minutes into the surgery they paged me and I was told to pick up a phone… Was not expecting any updates until the end, so alarms were going off in my head -- I'm pretty sure I didn't breathe until I heard the update: the surgeon just wanted us to know that things were going well… asked the nurse to call us from the OR. Whew. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
The surgery was supposed to take ~2 hours. About 2:20 after we left Maddie, we finally saw the surgeon walk out into the waiting room -- incredibly relieved to see that he was smiling broadly as he looked for us. He gave us some pictures from the laparoscopic camera; It seemed like he enjoyed showing off his handiwork. It also added to the feeling of just how amazing these surgeries really are… especially when you remember that this is a tiny tiny baby. Those photos definitely have to make the baby book. ;)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Another 30 minutes or so later, we were taken to the post-anesthesia recovery unit and finally got to see Maddie. Tubes and wires notwithstanding, was sooooo good to hold her again! She noticeable calmed down as soon as she was passed from nurse to Mommy. In this room they were weaning her off the general anesthesia and onto pain medication. She was grumpy and tired with a very hoarse throat; understandable of course. We're not allowed to give her any food or water yet, though… just "eating" off the IV for today. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Turns out Maddie does not respond well to the narcotic pain meds they tried; it was tricky finding the balance of enough pain suppression but not so much that her breathing was unaffected. Couple of hours of alternating between oxygen and room air until she got off the narcotic and seemed OK with just tylenol. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Finally got to our recovery room around 1:30pm, and it's the exact same room we were in for two weeks back in July. (Funny, eh? I'm putting it down as a good sign.)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Since then, Maddie has basically been sleeping… just waking up intermittently to cry out once or twice (usually) especially when her pain meds are low. They tried some morphine around 3pm; but she's had a bad reaction to that as well -- so for the last hour the alarms have been going off every few minutes as she temporarily slows her heart and breathing… but she snaps out of it quickly every time, so the docs are not worried. They'll be avoiding morphine from here on out though. (Alarm just went off again…)</div>
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Melissa is finally getting a deserved nap, and to be honest there's very little we can do here -- Maddie has woken up a few times enough to see us and we got a little smile out of her… but primarily we just need to let her sleep and heal. Tomorrow we start the work of g-tube feeding, which will be with us for the next few months at least.</div>
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That's about all I know… hope all are well, and thanks for all the support!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Update: Someone pointed out that I never said what the surgery actually was. She had a laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication and G-tube placement.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Basically, we've been struggling with her weight since shortly after birth... she's well below the one-percentile in weight, and after months of trying to get her back up with other methods, it was time to go with something a bit more drastic. So this surgery should keep her from her bad spit-ups, which should generally improve her quality of life, and gives us the ability to push extra calories right into the stomach and also vent her stomach gas (she tends to swallow air and is a bad burper). The venting and the cessation of bad spits could help her learn to eat more and more, as well.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-74597588999875325722012-06-27T00:54:00.000-04:002012-06-27T00:54:16.916-04:00New chapter - take 1<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">First road warrior trip back to Colorado. Yippee! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Of course today brings back all the repressed memories of just how much of a hassle (time-suck, mainly) air travel brings... it’s a system optimized entirely around cost efficiency for the airlines -- not for travelers. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Getting your checked luggage, for example: a bunch of presumably busy people standing around for 20-30 minutes to self-select bags from a slow belt? There surely must be a better way. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">How about something like this: each bag is scanned and deposited into a locker. You get a text when yours is there, with the locker number. You walk up (from getting a drink, or otherwise being useful) and your ticket unlocks the locker and you leave. Bam -- thousands of wasted traveler hours just got saved. Someone build this, m’kay?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I remember now: typing on a plane -- kinda sucks, even with the MB Air. Someday when I’m a billionaire I’ll ride first class just to avoid that. Oh, and the kids kicking the back of your seat too... worth paying good money to be away from that.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The connection in Atlanta completely borked my day. Lessons:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">nonstop only (as much as possible)</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">no scheduling meetings within 2 hours of touchdown, just in case</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the bus is nice and cheap(ish), but adds a time delay... Note to self: check out RTD park-n-ride in Table Mesa?</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m on the bus now as I type this. (Literally.) It’s a good bus system; we’ll see after a couple of trips how much overall time waste it adds to my work day, and weigh that against the costs of using some kind of parking here at DEN. Turns out that the seats on the bus are just as tight front-to-back as economy class on the plane. Well, when I’m rich enough to fly first class I guess the bus goes away as well... covered remote parking here I come!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In any case, it feels good to be back in Colorado. I’ve missed my startup. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ah... we just came around a bend and there is what I’ve been looking for -- that mountain view doesn’t ever get old. Even with the clouds (smoke?) it gives me that warm, happy feeling in my tummy.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I think I can get good at this bi-coastal thing. Only one way to find out...</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-66272092653427568222012-06-17T22:56:00.000-04:002012-06-17T22:56:25.575-04:00Raleigh - New House, New ChapterAs of today, I consider us to have fulfilled the first phase of "settling in" to our new (to us) house in Raleigh.<br />
<br />
There are still boxes everywhere, the fridge is frighteningly empty, we don't know where most important sellers-of-things are nearby, the TV is on the floor, and Sydney has yet to make it through a night without waking up crying all disoriented... but it's feeling comfortable nonetheless.<br />
<br />
Turns out here are the things (in priority order) that are sufficient to make a place feel like home:<br />
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* Two corners of the house utterly devoid of boxes and fully livable</div>
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* Broadband wireless internet</div>
* Fridge serving clean water and ice<br />
* Knowing the location of some extra socks, underwear, and t-shirts<br />
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* Ample supply of a few favorite food and beverage items</div>
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* Towels and a hot shower</div>
<br />
That's it really. Life is pretty simple when you boil it down to the basics.<br />
<br />
And really #2 is the thing that has finally allowed me to relax... having internet (for real; not counting mooching off of neighbors with a spotty signal) is the lynchpin. I don't need to be plugged in 24-7 (no, really!) but I need that ability... I love being able to hop online and catch up on work email, order that pizza, figure out where to go for takeout food... my stress level dropped several notches when I finally saw that little green light up and was able to paint the place with glorious glorious bandwidth.<br />
<br />
Data is almost as important as oxygen these days, it seems; without proper internet I was imagining my phone slowly sipping away at my limited data plan... feeling the emails pile up that I just couldn't quite handle effectively on a phone... just like having a fridge dispensing unlimited clean water lets you utterly forget about your need for water; having the wifi working lets you stop worrying about whether you'll be able to handle whatever it is that is about to jump up and demand your attention.<br />
<br />
Interesting world we live in.<br />
<br />
(Oh, and for those that are confused by the title -- yes, we did just move back to Raleigh, NC. Got a house next to my sister Jenny and pretty soon I'll start commuting out to Boulder to continue building my business. Great to be near family again! Eventually, though, they all clearly need to move out to Colorado with us. Some day.)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-5987670403636854212012-05-22T22:47:00.000-04:002012-05-22T22:47:18.496-04:00Status Update May 2012More color will eventually return to this blog. For now, nuts and bolts...<br />
<br />
As many already know, we're moving back to Raleigh, NC. If all holds to plan, we are leaving Colorado on June 11th (some by plane, some heading out on a cross-country road trip).<br />
<br />
Bought a house in Raleigh next door to my sister Jenny, which is merely step one in creating a Reaser Family Commune. (Step 4 is to move the commune to Colorado, btw.)<br />
<br />
The company I'm creating here in Boulder is budding. Very very close to launching with real live paying customers, and it looks like we have a solid shot at making some big things happen.<br />
<br />
We have an offer in progress on our home in Colorado; assuming that all works out, I clearly will need to spend at least some time out here working on the company -- so I've secured an apartment and will fly out every 2-3 weeks for about 4 days... enough time to make great things happen here and stay engaged with the amazing Boulder startup ecosystem... but balanced with time with immediate and extended family in Raleigh.<br />
<br />
So it comes time to launch into a dual life.<br />
<br />
Home, family, and more family in NC... and Work, Boulder ecosystem, and occasional bliss-in-the-outdoors in Colorado.<br />
<br />
Game on.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-44866438782676589862012-02-09T19:40:00.001-05:002012-02-09T19:40:54.067-05:00Snow fort againWent out and played on the deck again today... We made a little tunnel in it, and for about 10 minutes it was the most amazing fun thing Sydney had ever seen! Oh the squeals...<br />
<br />
Even before it was big enough for her she dove in face-first (and got snow everywhere) and tried to burrow through. <br />
<br />
No fear... and loves the outside, that little girl. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhC41OWHEfCqUkPWysKi0PZRljVXQBMAy9GlC2Kk5INPxXGyAsPkApwh66IvKaNXDC2pubkgPt4XjBhXSdqX57WqDB44F26OETkwhuSuEUjBAIRmmj0Y4m_1swkWQfFRxFck2-c_Y94fc/s640/blogger-image-1750305741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhC41OWHEfCqUkPWysKi0PZRljVXQBMAy9GlC2Kk5INPxXGyAsPkApwh66IvKaNXDC2pubkgPt4XjBhXSdqX57WqDB44F26OETkwhuSuEUjBAIRmmj0Y4m_1swkWQfFRxFck2-c_Y94fc/s640/blogger-image-1750305741.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-82982312958141747672012-02-01T23:22:00.002-05:002012-02-01T23:22:44.988-05:00Mornings in ColoradoThis picture (as always) completely does not do this justice... but the sunrises here in Colorado take my breath away almost every morning.<br />
<br />
It actually looks about 10,000x times better than this in person. Breathtaking.<br />
<br />
Beethoven's 9th playing in my head... arms raise and spirit lifts... I feel so alive here. Every single sunrise feels like the opportunity to start anew... to create... to breathe... and to be a part of something more vast and more purposeful.<br />
<br />
I wish I could get a picture that really captures what this is like.<br />
<br />
Pura Vida ... pure life.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6w_S4PaGjvm0owAOmAJUXUhYSlkLZe0WnD654hX762ichMh2gchI-Rs-csfeICY-8YJnH6tWHGpIgi1tIygCDavHvs5IkWlyTHLf3e8OoHQZChH31f8leSCcx1ieEKCyrrL7rRjXUqHA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6w_S4PaGjvm0owAOmAJUXUhYSlkLZe0WnD654hX762ichMh2gchI-Rs-csfeICY-8YJnH6tWHGpIgi1tIygCDavHvs5IkWlyTHLf3e8OoHQZChH31f8leSCcx1ieEKCyrrL7rRjXUqHA/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-87611260748463129742012-01-26T09:54:00.001-05:002012-01-26T09:54:25.742-05:00iTVThis is why I believe Apple could be developing a TV. <br />
<br />
Mess o' cables... Setting thus up? PITA Adding a new device? PITA. Moving, etc? PITA. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZpApryYuvkp2ccW5RVcFDFwZFDULfv7qYwCfFfkCSR-4sRa8AMYMqTr4T6DH29EI-ZTJvjW-v_sE5yVeY3YklwxQE5FawoLmC0o6yhzEzQJYDd4HkbNzzZPbckC40s6LdbInGLB6re4/s640/blogger-image--1225104940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZpApryYuvkp2ccW5RVcFDFwZFDULfv7qYwCfFfkCSR-4sRa8AMYMqTr4T6DH29EI-ZTJvjW-v_sE5yVeY3YklwxQE5FawoLmC0o6yhzEzQJYDd4HkbNzzZPbckC40s6LdbInGLB6re4/s640/blogger-image--1225104940.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-90252715412719936332012-01-07T21:34:00.000-05:002012-01-07T21:34:07.207-05:00Refilled the well<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuSn5gBAmXZ4Nxw6ULlzUqB1vJfZaCD8PWOVofgy9X9_XlrEpHtcRFNhUg-DkRgZKAsWH0ceQkd4rt2EJ-jOUL1KvNn6pE4r5SQdMV6gbPSSW79F8O1W5FNjDDtCIxnp6jAzW2iIkfNM/s1600/skiing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuSn5gBAmXZ4Nxw6ULlzUqB1vJfZaCD8PWOVofgy9X9_XlrEpHtcRFNhUg-DkRgZKAsWH0ceQkd4rt2EJ-jOUL1KvNn6pE4r5SQdMV6gbPSSW79F8O1W5FNjDDtCIxnp6jAzW2iIkfNM/s320/skiing.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Woo hoo! Finally got out and had some fun in the Colorado mountains!<br />
<br />
It's been an unusually non-snowy winter so far; that's been great for easing Melissa into Colorado, but of course not the best for snow-play.<br />
<br />
Still, the in-laws are here for a visit, so it was time to get out and give it a go, lack of powder be damned... and it was a friggin' blast!<br />
<br />
Bonus: since it was a weekday (nice to have a flexible "job"), and since there was no recent snow (just a decent groomed base) we pretty much had the place to ourselves. No lines at all, and wide open slopes.<br />
<br />
The views from the top of the mountain (10,800 feet) were positively stunning. Every time we got up to the top you would hear the "hallelujah" chorus playing in your head and feel a tear coming on... there is just so much beauty here.<br />
<br />
Of course I was unbelievably rusty after 5 years off (damn you, Raleigh)... in fact I crashed at least once on every single run except for the last one, so of course today I'm sore all over. Still, by the end of the day it was all coming back to me. I stopped having to think about every little move I was making, it's an awesome feeling when you can feel the mountain through your toes and somehow your thoughts take you whichever way you want to go.<br />
<br />
Getting out and doing things like this makes me feel alive again. I always forget how much of a difference adventure makes to my soul. Today I feel like a whole new person -- I can take on the world.<br />
<br />
It's not a "new year's resolution" but you better believe I'm gonna be getting outside and climbing/hiking/boarding/snowshoeing/cross-country-skiing a lot more this year. Nothing like a day off my ass to remind me what's important.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-52495180576144798122011-12-31T18:39:00.004-05:002011-12-31T18:40:56.714-05:00So long 2011, 2012 is gonna rock!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So like everyone, it seems, I'm thinking back on 2011, and trying to create my vision for an amazing 2012.<br />
<br />
And for those of you who feel that marking some arbitrary place in the orbit of the planet as a time to reflect, celebrate, and start anew is silly... I say to you with all due respect: suck it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2011 brought a few big changes...</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>We now have a 15-month old</b> running around. There's a world of difference between the 3-month old baby that we started the year with and the rambunctious, opinionated, stubborn, sweet, inquisitive, smart, and thoroughly enjoyable toddler that currently owns our household. But wow.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Left my job of 11 years.</b> While it was time to move on, starting from absolute zero again is tough. It's been a crazy six months of "post-WebAssign" life... and I think there has been some great growth and self-discovery. I got the chance to really sit down and mull: What do I want to do when I grow up? What am I good at? What am I passionate about? Still a journey, but it's something I don't think I would have done if I was still at WebAssign.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Moved the family to Colorado.</b> I love it here, but again this ain't easy. Moving is truly a pain in the a$$; moving cross-country is slightly worse; and moving with a child just adds to the fun and games. We miss things from Raleigh... mostly the people, but also some of our favorite hangouts and activities. The possibilities here are tantalizing, but just like with the new career we're starting out from zero and need to figure out a whole new world. Really, though, the opportunity for adventure and crafting new memories far outweighs the downside.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>So what does 2012 look like in my mind?</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b>Another little girl</b> heading our way around May 4. Just when we thought we had things under control... and this time we'll have Sydney around as well. I'll be outnumbered 3-1 here, and may have to take emergency steps to stay sane. ;)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Building a business!</b> At least giving it a serious whack. More to come on that.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Exploring Colorado.</b> I want to try to get out <i>at least</i> once every 2 weeks; whether that's snowboarding, hiking, climbing... we're living in the shadow of some amazing mountains and it's time to go enjoy them.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Sound Body = Happier.</b> Holy crap I need to get back in shape. Seriously; I've taken a couple of steps backwards in the fitness section of my "<a href="http://screaser.blogspot.com/2011/05/draft-of-my-impossible-list.html">impossible list</a>". Will phase back into it, but the goal is 5 days per week of doing something for the body; hopefully most of those will be fun activities. Have some ideas on how to eat a bit healthier and still enjoy it, too...</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Building Skillz.</b> Hoping to dedicate one evening per week to improving my graphic design, UX, and programming abilities. Because I want to.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>More art.</b> Want to create much more often... writing, sketching, building... no reason I shouldn't write something every single day.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Staying Connected. </b>Couple of trips to Raleigh... and more thoughtful use of Skype, Facebook, and other ways of remaining in touch with the people we care about.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>One Big New Adventure.</b> Don't know what it is yet... but I intend to give it some serious thought. Life's too short to not build amazing memories every year.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
So what about you? What are you going to do in 2012 that you're excited about?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-65215960778082085362011-11-07T08:42:00.001-05:002011-11-07T08:42:44.065-05:00"My Seat!"So this is now where Sydney likes to have her bottles. Every time. <br />
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I feel like she's going to be heartbroken when we take the seat away to install it in the car. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPVfPlOc4DMeek2spdguwQNnRMmv5-s3yMTY7IrJdz9tBYJKF9Q2nLCFpJnGGDw3GEdbZa4N7Yr59NunyQXWMTtIm6NYIUk808fhhi9ruhBwzLm7o82tXxKzAa6shyW5RrOgT9MLsGC8/s640/blogger-image--393157560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPVfPlOc4DMeek2spdguwQNnRMmv5-s3yMTY7IrJdz9tBYJKF9Q2nLCFpJnGGDw3GEdbZa4N7Yr59NunyQXWMTtIm6NYIUk808fhhi9ruhBwzLm7o82tXxKzAa6shyW5RrOgT9MLsGC8/s640/blogger-image--393157560.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-50182716615553159102011-11-01T14:53:00.001-04:002011-11-01T14:53:02.246-04:00Cardboard box FTW!Because when you get a box like this, *not* making a fort would be criminal. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfu9N3D-lwY1WjhEPPdpK2gFcUh-BBuF2XAJxh1eeHgx2IOBR4CfXLjcJjpwRQq8c24v1Zkxcrjl7k73FKc0T-il0IfE_cff6jDD_PI-GkILZnd0axiAA-ho7rmvlML0bwlM8YyN3JCU/s640/blogger-image-1994657969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfu9N3D-lwY1WjhEPPdpK2gFcUh-BBuF2XAJxh1eeHgx2IOBR4CfXLjcJjpwRQq8c24v1Zkxcrjl7k73FKc0T-il0IfE_cff6jDD_PI-GkILZnd0axiAA-ho7rmvlML0bwlM8YyN3JCU/s640/blogger-image-1994657969.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsImLYR5OUVI9ZdlJMmRopgMT5QxFIm5d4x34R_cUtdJgTRPFfK0u9-Bf91uO1G9SFhyI9maOB2EKryqJFNJEZhNCJtr6knyINItmFTJwPCT_1AeCCgr3fcD0gpid2mxEvyAOiUCIHe7A/s640/blogger-image-1906502127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsImLYR5OUVI9ZdlJMmRopgMT5QxFIm5d4x34R_cUtdJgTRPFfK0u9-Bf91uO1G9SFhyI9maOB2EKryqJFNJEZhNCJtr6knyINItmFTJwPCT_1AeCCgr3fcD0gpid2mxEvyAOiUCIHe7A/s640/blogger-image-1906502127.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vjdvChg53SUkmUZyqmxfia1TIQp1eQ0CnaAfdZg0zPg7MvutitT3jEIQkcRLAwuvlTlQS05WYpiPd5RG_ZAyYLMKZG8vcQsuEXfrcKRi_a3lhG9tqJ6LTmETDF3tV-SD8vJTuD6hmRI/s640/blogger-image-1731357967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vjdvChg53SUkmUZyqmxfia1TIQp1eQ0CnaAfdZg0zPg7MvutitT3jEIQkcRLAwuvlTlQS05WYpiPd5RG_ZAyYLMKZG8vcQsuEXfrcKRi_a3lhG9tqJ6LTmETDF3tV-SD8vJTuD6hmRI/s640/blogger-image-1731357967.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBusQJTpSDQfiD3Phomt7_AsSBcbz79EUuMpE-BCz4l7IwPox_KXJ_SOKU93Jxi5T42AZ1Vr72flJF-d5gZcmOKCTT5dpC2yMxXdSOwrhp1-Y36_OtCibB15Ahl5pg85fpCDEBDGbg_3w/s640/blogger-image--1795501128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBusQJTpSDQfiD3Phomt7_AsSBcbz79EUuMpE-BCz4l7IwPox_KXJ_SOKU93Jxi5T42AZ1Vr72flJF-d5gZcmOKCTT5dpC2yMxXdSOwrhp1-Y36_OtCibB15Ahl5pg85fpCDEBDGbg_3w/s640/blogger-image--1795501128.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlBq9DM5Mbr4hjv5UgTepBOLXTOCqP-w0QqCLZAcrmcssUdktrWrODCT2GLw1DLNE8oCunvH0a28O9AL5uJFrjI9EAKFgmoLG9wIrtGxDlG0EnK20-96AaLS_SISfClaMNUAz4KklriQ/s640/blogger-image-1333968617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlBq9DM5Mbr4hjv5UgTepBOLXTOCqP-w0QqCLZAcrmcssUdktrWrODCT2GLw1DLNE8oCunvH0a28O9AL5uJFrjI9EAKFgmoLG9wIrtGxDlG0EnK20-96AaLS_SISfClaMNUAz4KklriQ/s640/blogger-image-1333968617.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-91117046731684422182011-10-26T08:18:00.001-04:002011-10-26T08:18:52.654-04:00Uh oh... White!Sydney is pretty surprised by what she sees outside today. Keeps going back to the window and staring. <br />
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About 4-5" and still falling...<br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kS0mFqa9r8uzHc6zEb82yEYBRmQt6Fofi4SEidL4oP5PITe8Pk9E5BzXWwBpQ_hdxhntMpbEC15dLUPnrVOfuJtw8LjIOqdtA34l92o_3VjsCnnPU7g1k2PpiYICLIYH23Hw3sYT_aw/s640/blogger-image--618617804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kS0mFqa9r8uzHc6zEb82yEYBRmQt6Fofi4SEidL4oP5PITe8Pk9E5BzXWwBpQ_hdxhntMpbEC15dLUPnrVOfuJtw8LjIOqdtA34l92o_3VjsCnnPU7g1k2PpiYICLIYH23Hw3sYT_aw/s640/blogger-image--618617804.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-37077992731148321212011-10-19T09:38:00.001-04:002011-10-19T09:38:56.249-04:00First frost!Winter is on the way... ('course it's gonna be 70 tomorrow...)<br />
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Can't wait for some snowboarding... The high mountains to the west are already frosted on top. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhV012BKH5E89weJrDN_domCJpIvgGOb4eo0_uZWWRyH2hIhxrbfz3ILJv7ztZXyh0PSiUfVZHmYgCqp3xr8cbzURWpHoG-W5d7qu2BHrnonRAgA_1u2lU6QJ2OHPrNwWpA1erDqeFIU/s640/blogger-image-1234648893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhV012BKH5E89weJrDN_domCJpIvgGOb4eo0_uZWWRyH2hIhxrbfz3ILJv7ztZXyh0PSiUfVZHmYgCqp3xr8cbzURWpHoG-W5d7qu2BHrnonRAgA_1u2lU6QJ2OHPrNwWpA1erDqeFIU/s640/blogger-image-1234648893.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkZydlavjqxTsXIqlYM3WNXD2O7ChbuGJMjoM8-0fD105sT_dlBNkIwD6uQC-pGkb2a8yxx_sC3py6MzeICP8LakO3dxlkPJFlSGQhw_tmSpg3gsGWQSKeU_0kgjl703tjMiw3slLiuQ/s640/blogger-image-1201961654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkZydlavjqxTsXIqlYM3WNXD2O7ChbuGJMjoM8-0fD105sT_dlBNkIwD6uQC-pGkb2a8yxx_sC3py6MzeICP8LakO3dxlkPJFlSGQhw_tmSpg3gsGWQSKeU_0kgjl703tjMiw3slLiuQ/s640/blogger-image-1201961654.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588838693906460890.post-87682537798375662011-09-23T21:44:00.001-04:002011-09-23T21:44:20.250-04:00Snaaaaaakes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Went out with Sydney to get the mail this week, and look what we found on our front porch! </div>
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Little guy is about 8 inches long, and shakes his tail like a rattlesnake -- though there is no rattle to be seen and his head doesn't look like a rattler...</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8StShfLlwpPL4gMjJVzIRkWA564CpNefe5BVYgPJ3GAMH9Sc06pGSJycjQYq82hjjGO5ebimroMvQOxlFfG1xa8Z_uVr3GgC1nrkzZUY4GFCujlCz2bQAKbKtbHF_Wat4zGLb6FZa3Tk/s1600/P1010716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8StShfLlwpPL4gMjJVzIRkWA564CpNefe5BVYgPJ3GAMH9Sc06pGSJycjQYq82hjjGO5ebimroMvQOxlFfG1xa8Z_uVr3GgC1nrkzZUY4GFCujlCz2bQAKbKtbHF_Wat4zGLb6FZa3Tk/s320/P1010716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A little Googling leads me to believe that he's a "Night snake", non-poisonous and in fact very docile and easy to "tame". He's been sunning out on our porch, so he's pretty active... but I give it a go: yeah he tries to bite me. Twice. (Just little love-nips, right??)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrulfSAXfKG6ayF52FLmoZi3s68eS-cXdqoN24vc_4Hk-pwXqdO4g8P4NwarsVGYbDMMVy4anvoFYLIRj2FCj92A3WuVFiUqXALIhl7h8o3mujejPciUY4K1G9qx6NS9HMX_u6MIsZ-k/s1600/P1010718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrulfSAXfKG6ayF52FLmoZi3s68eS-cXdqoN24vc_4Hk-pwXqdO4g8P4NwarsVGYbDMMVy4anvoFYLIRj2FCj92A3WuVFiUqXALIhl7h8o3mujejPciUY4K1G9qx6NS9HMX_u6MIsZ-k/s320/P1010718.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sydney, by the way? LOVES IT! Wants to pick it up, love it and rub it and name it George. No fear in that little girl.<br />
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So we look around a bit more, and check out the crack at the side of the concrete porch... and lo and behold -- there's another one!<br />
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And wait, another head in there... is that 3? 4?<br />
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Last count, we have 7 little Night Snakes living on our front porch... they've been there for the last 3 days now and show no signs of leaving...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKpXR5Z-sXdfP9K7WwJdC1kjC8luq7unMtpHh6f9hhWlyC_QmAb3Z-9RDKIsgM4vOK-O9wKRBrLiBubDwdWxQwvRUi8zhAiKZm7OIuHR7gUtgmd_2YEGWPEz93sIQrHfPWBHWAPejyGQ/s1600/P1010717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKpXR5Z-sXdfP9K7WwJdC1kjC8luq7unMtpHh6f9hhWlyC_QmAb3Z-9RDKIsgM4vOK-O9wKRBrLiBubDwdWxQwvRUi8zhAiKZm7OIuHR7gUtgmd_2YEGWPEz93sIQrHfPWBHWAPejyGQ/s320/P1010717.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Which is fine by the way -- I think they're awesome, and Sydney is still excited when she sees them. If I can get George (I named the first one George) to calm down with the nipping a little bit, maybe one of these days Sydney can hold him...<br />
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Colorado rocks!<br />
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Horses... snakes... groundhogs... dragon flies (and almost no mosquitos)... and mountains whenever you look West, which does something for the soul.<br />
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(Now if we can just get out and play more!!!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01377150630505818480noreply@blogger.com0