Family

From Clancy even though she didn't tag me :-)

1. Cloth or disposable? Both, prefer cloth.
2. Breast or bottle? Bottle
3. Eczema or reflux? Reflux, and it's pretty bad.
4. Jumparoo or play mat? Playmat, she's too young for jumparoo.
5. Mommy or Daddy? Mommy, of course.
6. Sling, front carrier, or stroller? Front carrier
7. Pacifier or thumb? BINKY!
8. Bumbo seat or bouncy seat? BOUNCY, STILL TOO YOUNG FOR BUMBO
9. White noise or silence while sleeping? White noise, LOUD -- and ceiling fan
10. Crib, Pack'n'Play, or parents' bed? Pack'n'Play

As I have spent the last 2 and half months in my own newborn baby induced bliss (and sleep deprivation) with the addition of Princess Peanut to the household (no pictures posted as she is foster/adopt and still a ward of the state) I have done a piss poor job of blogging (more about the peanut later and/or via private email). What has drawn me out of my blogging hiatus (late though it may be) is the story of beautiful Rowan Santos who has been diagnosed with retinoblastoma. What makes this diagnosis so special is not only that she is the infant daughter of one of our graduate students , but that her condition was caught not by doctors but by one of her mom Megan's cyber friends who saw the tell-tale "white eye" in pictures that the two proud mamas shared.

As a new mama myself I cried when I first heard about Rowan's condition, but while she will lose her eye her prognosis is good. All of the big media outlets have picked up the story and it made the Today show today . The Santos clan is traveling from Tampa to Miami for chemo and surgery and anyone who has ever had to travel for healthcare (our brood included) knows how expensive that can be, especially when gas is 4 bucks a gallon. MWZ has spread the word that those so inclined can come together and help defray the costs for the Santos clan (and maybe buy a new buddy for Rowan)

Please consider sending a donation of ANY amount to help defray these considerable expenses. Checks can be made payable to Rowan or Marc Santos and mailed to:

SunTrust Bank, Tampa Bay
Attention Customer Service
2208 East Fowler Ave
Tampa, Fl 33612

In the memo line of the check, *please include the account number: 1000074628628* (four zeros after that first 1).

As ya'll may recall I have had issues with insomnia since I was a kid. Well it has been back for the last 3 weeks or so. I have been knitting, gaming, and watching LOTS of bad t.v. Well tonight (actually this morning) I watched my 4th bad game movie in a week's time. Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Doom, and Dungeons & Dragons

I mentioned this to Lisa and she said it clearly means that I have not been playing enough games, so since it is only 4:45 and I am destined to be up for another couple of hours I guess I will go up and play some games. We can thank Lisa for that one.