Answer this however you want!?

Question

If you want 2 points, go for it! Say whatever you feel like saying

Answer 1

Ok, this is a letter I wrote and it explains a lot. For anyone who doesn't already know our daughter Julianne was born with Cystic Fibrosis....this is a letter I wrote to introduce myself to a CF support group....it is from the heart and describes her birth as well as our experiences so far.....anyone who wants to look up Cf go to www.cff.org . It is the official website and will have all the most up to date info for everyone....we are just learning too or I would try to explain it all myself....so here is the letter and I will write more later on all of this....Love you all, Mandy



Hi I wanted to introduce myself and let you all know why I am here. My name is Mandy and I live in Fairview Pennsylvania. I am a 28 year old married mother of 2 beautiful kids. I have a great husband and my kids have the best father! We live in a small house we rent and have 2 dogs. My husband works hard to try to give us the best possible life sometimes putting 14 hours in in one day. It leaves me home alone with the kids a lot but I know he is trying to do what is best for us and I admire and respect him more than he knows!

Our son Dylan is 2 1/2 and the most wonderful little boy in the world. He was our first miracle....we didn't think that I could sucessfully carry a pregnancy to term after 5 years of trying and 2 miscarriages....so my sister had our son for us. He is my husband and my sister's blood....but he is our son 100%. We have had him since birth, I stayed in the hospital with him and my sister during their entire stay after he was born. He has been a joy every day for the past 2 1/2 years! He has been healthy the entire time and full of life!

Then there is our second miracle and the reason that I am writing this. Our 3 week old daughter Julianne. By the grace of God I got pregnant last October and we caught it really early. I found out that the reason my last 2 pregnancies had failed was lack of progesterone...so I was put on progesterone suppositories until I was 13 weeks. We were unsure if they would work and that we would keep the pregnancy but it stuck and I was pregnant! We found out in January that my diabetes (usually diet and oral medication controlled) was all out of whack and that I would have to be on insulin for the remainder of my pregnancy. I was terrified but it became more of a pain in the butt than anything after a while. I was on high doses of insulin by the end taking 4 shots a day and still having highs. ( It is back to the way it was pre pregnancy now.)

We found out at 18 weeks that our baby was a girl! I was so happy since we already had a boy. I wanted a girl so that I could have that close mother daughter bond that I have seen shared for generations in my family. I made them check at almost every sonogram to be sure that nothing had grown in and made our girl a boy....lol. They told me at some point that I had tested possitive for being a carrier of Cystic Fibrosis. I never really thought of it because I didn't realize that there was much of a risk of anything bad happening. I didn't know anything at all about it and just knew we didn't have the money to have my hubby tested like they suggested, we didn't realize when we went how high the cost was and that insurance didn't cover any of it. So basically I forgot all about it. I had really bad swelling in my hands and feet during the last 4 months. By the end I couldn't stand or walk much at all without terrible pain. I was begging to be induced to stop the pain. They thought that she was measuring big in my womb due to the diabetes and I had weekly appointents that consisted of a doctor visit, a sonogram, and a non- stress test. They took hours and were a pretty long drive. My hubby works as I said so getting rides was a hard deal as well.

They finally took me in on July 11th ( my due date was the 19th) to induce me due to the size they thought she was. They used cervidil (spelled wrong I think) at 7:30 am that morning and I started getting contractions about 1:30 that were pretty bad by about 4pm. At 7:30 pm after 12 hours in they took that one out and put in another one in around 9pm I think it was. That put me in real pain and I had contractions one overlapping the other for a while. Well at 9 am on the 12th after getting a shot for pain and a few hours sleep they came in to take out that one and to check my progress. I was only dialated to one and had been in labor at least 18 hours. They offered me a c-section ( which until that moment I was strictly against!) at that point. They said I could go that route or I could be put on a pitocin drip and possible still not progress and have to have a c section anyhow later. I decided the best choice to stop all the pain was to go ahead and have the surgery. I was terrified and cried. Then my water broke on the way to the bathroom. That was no fun! I cried and cried because the reality of having to have this baby was hitting me hard! They came in a short time later and did all the prep stuff and then in a whirlwind they came in and told me they were going to do the surgery right then. They had said that I had time but then changed their minds and took me next. I really started freaking out as they pumped fluids into my IV and started the epidural in my back. But all of a sudden I was on my back and they were working on me. The most amazing moment came so quickly after when I heard them tell us it was a girl and I heard her cry. They popped her up over the top of the curtain and I cried and cried. My hubby held her and I asked to kiss her little feet and face. Then I came to again in the recovery room and really seen my baby for the first time. (It was so amazing that I am tearing up writing about it! ) She was so perfect in every way! Beautiful with a full head of hair and her Daddy's eyes! The rest of my stay at the hospital was painful but wonderful. She was quiet and calm. Never putting up a fuss at all.

We went home on that Monday the 16th and I made her first appointment for the 24th of July. At that appointment my family Dr told us that she had tested possitive for CF. He gave me a handout and told me they were going to get her in for a sweat test. I didn't know anything but what that one paper that was seriously outdated said. The information on that paper said the median survival age was 28 and that it was usually fatal in childhood. I cried and prayed! I imagined my little girl at 2 choking on her lung mucus and dying in my arms. That is the impression I got from that stupid paper. It was horrible. They did the sweat test on the 25th which came back possitive. We were in Pittsburgh Childrens Hospital on the 31st to learn about it and meet her team. That appointment shed a whole new light on CF. I found out the real information. The truth and medical point of view. Along with a whole new attitude! They told me to plan on middle school awkwardness, teen boyfriends, first dances and dates, graduation, planning her wedding with her...to save money for her to go to college and to help her with that first car. I was so happy to know that there was a chance that I could watch my little girl grow up. They said the median age is now 36 and that with all the advances in treatments and care that kids live pretty good lives! I know the reality that anything can happen. I know I still have a chance of out living my little girl. But I have a chance as well at her having a great life and even maybe having grandkids....who knows. By the time 36 years goes by they might even have a cure!

I love my kids so much and couldn't imagine my life without them now. My son loves his baby sister and my hubby is such a tender loving father to them both. I know the road will be long and hard...but with the support of my family and groups like this and others I plan to stay strong and help my daughter get through all of this the best I can. She is already on enzymes and I get weird looks when I have to give applesauce with the medication in it to my obviously so young daughter...but I challenge them to say something about it...because I am here to tell them that they need not judge me...I am doing the best I can for both of my kids and we will get thru all this!

Anyhow that is an overview of us and how I got here. I hope to hear other peoples stories and get some real life experience stories to round out my view. All I have is the medical view of CF so I'd love to read about everyone elses experiences and talk to anyone about this! Thank you for listening and I hope that I didn't bore anyone too badly...lol. Mandy

Answer 2

Happy Holidays!♥

Answer 3

Ok! :)

Ever had a chance that you can't think of what to say, because you have too much to say?

That's what I'm thinking right now. Given the chance to say something, I can't just put down one thing right now, I'm thinking about too much! haha. Mind is blank _________.

Have a happy day! :))

Answer 4

I love a nice warm fish taco

Answer 5

I just want to take this opportunity to make a public apology to my good friend JC.
Happy belated B-Day man!

Answer 6

aw thats nice of you loosing 5 points so all of us can get two points.
lol
thanks
my best christmas present
eveeeeer
i will reach level three one day!!
xxx

Answer 7

Hi, I new to this

Answer 8

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!! =)

Answer 9

Its the end of a crazy weird year! Thank God it is over!

Answer 10

Have a nice day

Answer 11

I got my first violation today!! Whohooo
Thanks Y!

and here I forgot to get you anything for Christmas If feel like such an a.....ah ah ah I won't be fooled again!