Pumpkin's Pantaloon Package Train

[K8's Fate]

MeShell, thank you for sharing this news. I'm so happy that you're able to feel some relief at this tense time. All the best with the rest of your pregnancy.

[cowgirlmama04]

*MeShell peeks out from the corner and sees if it's safe to come out now...*

First of all, great packages so far everyone! I'm still sad that I can't ride on any pkg trains for awhile...but I'm doing really good with my saving right now and I will pay back my debt loan as fast as I possibly can!! Plan to be done and be able to ride 100% for the advent train for sure! But no matter what, I will stalk all the threads and chat with you all in the meantime

Anyways, I guess I am ready to give you a real update now. Ok, here it goes. (this probably will be a long post, sorry!) The emotional ride we've been on first started a couple weeks ago when we got that "screen positive" blood test result. (To remind you, it was a positive for the "chance" of having a baby with down syndrome....not a result saying our baby does have it) We were a little upset to hear that but weren't too worried since the percentage was very very low of the possibility. A couple days after hearing those results, we were off to our second ultrasound of this pregnancy. The day after the ultrasound, my OBGYN called me and I immediately knew something was wrong. Most doctors don't personally call their clients and especially on a Saturday. Anyways, he told us that the ultrasound is showing that our baby has a cleft lip. Now......I know there's a lot worse out there....there's babies with cancers, worse birth defects, or people who can't have babies.......but to us, this was still devastating to hear especially when we have a perfectly healthy kid already at home. We went to see our OBGYN on the Monday and he pretty much just said the same thing to us that he said to me on the phone, but let us know that he was referring us down to Children's Hospital for a more detailed ultrasound.

So, just this past Monday, we had our day at BC Children's/Women's hospital and actually, it was quite an amazing experience to be there. Everyone was so positive, caring, nice, etc etc etc. We had meetings with genetic counsellors and doctors. We had a two and a half hours long ultrasound!!!! In the afternoon, we sat down with the "team" and they said they were really positive about our situation. It's definitely showing a cleft (and we did get to somewhat see it ourselves during a 3D part of the ultrasound). It's only one sided and they even believe that it's quite a minor cleft and might not even go all the way up to the nose. They can't be 100% sure until the baby is born, but they are pretty sure that it doesn't involve the palate at all, which is a huge relief. Baby should only need one surgery when its about 3 or 4 months old to close the cleft. They are quite positive that since it seems more of a "minor" cleft and the best cause scenario we could wish for in a cleft lip, that baby shouldn't have any problems with speech, dental, hearing, etc that are common with a cleft lip/palate. They also reassured us that they didn't see any factors on the ultrasound that would lead them to believe the baby had signs of down syndrome. They said that baby seems to be growing and developing good. We will have to go back one more time before the birth to meet with the plastic surgeon/cranofacial team. We left the hospital, after buying Starbucks and a BC Children's Charity Lottery ticket of course, with smiles on our faces. The sun was shining and as we were driving home, back over the Port Mann bridge, leaving Vancouver, it swept over me and I started to cry for the first time that day, because I felt good and I felt somewhat relieved that it's going to be okay

We're still very anxious about the surgery after baby is born, it will be super hard to take baby in for that and poor baby will have to be in this arm splints/coat thing that prevents them from touching their face for a week or two, but we are feeling positive/relieved that it seems minor and it will be all okay eventually and we couldn't ask for a better place to take care of our child.

Thank you everyone for your support, kind words, and hugs over the past couple weeks. I truly appreciate it

Thank you for sharing with us, I hope and pray that the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly. Your baby is a very privileged and lucky, to have you for it's parents and a great team of doctors looking out for him.

[dlee]

as others have said, thank you for sharing. you are an amazing parent and that baby is going to be so loved!

my dream job is to work at BC Children's Hospital..I'm almost there! A few more years in Child Protection and Welfare and I will be the perfect candidate to work there! =) or at least I hope! I want to be part of that supportive caring environment!

*MeShell peeks out from the corner and sees if it's safe to come out now...*

First of all, great packages so far everyone! I'm still sad that I can't ride on any pkg trains for awhile...but I'm doing really good with my saving right now and I will pay back my debt loan as fast as I possibly can!! Plan to be done and be able to ride 100% for the advent train for sure! But no matter what, I will stalk all the threads and chat with you all in the meantime

Anyways, I guess I am ready to give you a real update now. Ok, here it goes. (this probably will be a long post, sorry!) The emotional ride we've been on first started a couple weeks ago when we got that "screen positive" blood test result. (To remind you, it was a positive for the "chance" of having a baby with down syndrome....not a result saying our baby does have it) We were a little upset to hear that but weren't too worried since the percentage was very very low of the possibility. A couple days after hearing those results, we were off to our second ultrasound of this pregnancy. The day after the ultrasound, my OBGYN called me and I immediately knew something was wrong. Most doctors don't personally call their clients and especially on a Saturday. Anyways, he told us that the ultrasound is showing that our baby has a cleft lip. Now......I know there's a lot worse out there....there's babies with cancers, worse birth defects, or people who can't have babies.......but to us, this was still devastating to hear especially when we have a perfectly healthy kid already at home. We went to see our OBGYN on the Monday and he pretty much just said the same thing to us that he said to me on the phone, but let us know that he was referring us down to Children's Hospital for a more detailed ultrasound.

So, just this past Monday, we had our day at BC Children's/Women's hospital and actually, it was quite an amazing experience to be there. Everyone was so positive, caring, nice, etc etc etc. We had meetings with genetic counsellors and doctors. We had a two and a half hours long ultrasound!!!! In the afternoon, we sat down with the "team" and they said they were really positive about our situation. It's definitely showing a cleft (and we did get to somewhat see it ourselves during a 3D part of the ultrasound). It's only one sided and they even believe that it's quite a minor cleft and might not even go all the way up to the nose. They can't be 100% sure until the baby is born, but they are pretty sure that it doesn't involve the palate at all, which is a huge relief. Baby should only need one surgery when its about 3 or 4 months old to close the cleft. They are quite positive that since it seems more of a "minor" cleft and the best cause scenario we could wish for in a cleft lip, that baby shouldn't have any problems with speech, dental, hearing, etc that are common with a cleft lip/palate. They also reassured us that they didn't see any factors on the ultrasound that would lead them to believe the baby had signs of down syndrome. They said that baby seems to be growing and developing good. We will have to go back one more time before the birth to meet with the plastic surgeon/cranofacial team. We left the hospital, after buying Starbucks and a BC Children's Charity Lottery ticket of course, with smiles on our faces. The sun was shining and as we were driving home, back over the Port Mann bridge, leaving Vancouver, it swept over me and I started to cry for the first time that day, because I felt good and I felt somewhat relieved that it's going to be okay

We're still very anxious about the surgery after baby is born, it will be super hard to take baby in for that and poor baby will have to be in this arm splints/coat thing that prevents them from touching their face for a week or two, but we are feeling positive/relieved that it seems minor and it will be all okay eventually and we couldn't ask for a better place to take care of our child.

Thank you everyone for your support, kind words, and hugs over the past couple weeks. I truly appreciate it

[PammieD]

Ok... not to be a B%$TCH, but am I the only one that gets tired of hearing brags from people using like 25 Zantac coupons per transaction at Walmart to get their stuff free? I mean, ok if it's a few, but I've seen some brags recently that in a matter of a few days, people have consistently gone back and used over 100 coupons to get their stuff free! I'm just waiting for it to bite us all in the A$$ and companies will stop issuing coupons of any value, let alone HV...

OK, sorry, end of rant.. I should remain out of the brag thread...

Especially when the coupon states a restriction of one per person/transaction...can't remember the exact wording and I'm sitting in a bar at Pearson so not able to whip one out (dh "suggested" I don't need my couponing to follow me to Vancouver...)

So, I missed Alexa rolling over AGAIN today. Seriously. And now I'm sitting in a bar drinking a Caesar with my baby lol. #WorstMotherAward

And just like that, I'm over it.

MeShell - soooo happy for you. I'm tearing up in public like a moron. Not even the alcohol talking! Yet....
But seriously happy to hear that you're going to have a hapoy and healthy little baby soon! The pallate is the best news feeding/dental/speech wise

[NickiB]

I TOTALLY AGREEE!! I hate it so much!! I know it's still "in the rules" but ugh...I want to punch someone every time I see one of those brags. blah.

ARMYGIRL - who was your buddy?!?!?!?! That package is AMAZING!!!!!!!! Crap. Seriously. I need to step up my game in the next train!

LOL!!! I was gonna say I felt like punching someone but didn't want to say too much! I don't know, but most of those Zantac coupons say one per customer, which we all know what that means!

That is a totally awesome package, I agree! Man oh man MICH you are super talented.. look at all the homemade items! For sure lots of thought and effort went into that lovely box!

*MeShell peeks out from the corner and sees if it's safe to come out now...*

First of all, great packages so far everyone! I'm still sad that I can't ride on any pkg trains for awhile...but I'm doing really good with my saving right now and I will pay back my debt loan as fast as I possibly can!! Plan to be done and be able to ride 100% for the advent train for sure! But no matter what, I will stalk all the threads and chat with you all in the meantime

Anyways, I guess I am ready to give you a real update now. Ok, here it goes. (this probably will be a long post, sorry!) The emotional ride we've been on first started a couple weeks ago when we got that "screen positive" blood test result. (To remind you, it was a positive for the "chance" of having a baby with down syndrome....not a result saying our baby does have it) We were a little upset to hear that but weren't too worried since the percentage was very very low of the possibility. A couple days after hearing those results, we were off to our second ultrasound of this pregnancy. The day after the ultrasound, my OBGYN called me and I immediately knew something was wrong. Most doctors don't personally call their clients and especially on a Saturday. Anyways, he told us that the ultrasound is showing that our baby has a cleft lip. Now......I know there's a lot worse out there....there's babies with cancers, worse birth defects, or people who can't have babies.......but to us, this was still devastating to hear especially when we have a perfectly healthy kid already at home. We went to see our OBGYN on the Monday and he pretty much just said the same thing to us that he said to me on the phone, but let us know that he was referring us down to Children's Hospital for a more detailed ultrasound.

So, just this past Monday, we had our day at BC Children's/Women's hospital and actually, it was quite an amazing experience to be there. Everyone was so positive, caring, nice, etc etc etc. We had meetings with genetic counsellors and doctors. We had a two and a half hours long ultrasound!!!! In the afternoon, we sat down with the "team" and they said they were really positive about our situation. It's definitely showing a cleft (and we did get to somewhat see it ourselves during a 3D part of the ultrasound). It's only one sided and they even believe that it's quite a minor cleft and might not even go all the way up to the nose. They can't be 100% sure until the baby is born, but they are pretty sure that it doesn't involve the palate at all, which is a huge relief. Baby should only need one surgery when its about 3 or 4 months old to close the cleft. They are quite positive that since it seems more of a "minor" cleft and the best cause scenario we could wish for in a cleft lip, that baby shouldn't have any problems with speech, dental, hearing, etc that are common with a cleft lip/palate. They also reassured us that they didn't see any factors on the ultrasound that would lead them to believe the baby had signs of down syndrome. They said that baby seems to be growing and developing good. We will have to go back one more time before the birth to meet with the plastic surgeon/cranofacial team. We left the hospital, after buying Starbucks and a BC Children's Charity Lottery ticket of course, with smiles on our faces. The sun was shining and as we were driving home, back over the Port Mann bridge, leaving Vancouver, it swept over me and I started to cry for the first time that day, because I felt good and I felt somewhat relieved that it's going to be okay

We're still very anxious about the surgery after baby is born, it will be super hard to take baby in for that and poor baby will have to be in this arm splints/coat thing that prevents them from touching their face for a week or two, but we are feeling positive/relieved that it seems minor and it will be all okay eventually and we couldn't ask for a better place to take care of our child.

Thank you everyone for your support, kind words, and hugs over the past couple weeks. I truly appreciate it

MeShell, I'm so glad you are back and that everything is looking to be more positive... we've all been thinking of you and saying our little prayers for you and the little one... I'm sure everything from here on will go smoothly, and once baby arrives, everything will go as scheduled... Happy you are ok, and pop in and stalk us anytime... (p.s. a bunch of us are stalking in the Easter train too, come on over!)

[bluzsuz]

Big Hugs to you MeShell... that is a blow. But for a bad situation it does sound positive so far <3
I don't have personal experience with this but a friend of mine adopted a baby from China with a severe cleft malformation and after coming to the US and the amazing health care we have in North America you can barely tell she had anything wrong with her. It has been an amazing and inspiring journey to watch. And we will all be here to take your journey with you.

[coyote00]

HUGE Hugs MeShell . I am so relieved that the complications are correctable.

*MeShell peeks out from the corner and sees if it's safe to come out now...*

First of all, great packages so far everyone! I'm still sad that I can't ride on any pkg trains for awhile...but I'm doing really good with my saving right now and I will pay back my debt loan as fast as I possibly can!! Plan to be done and be able to ride 100% for the advent train for sure! But no matter what, I will stalk all the threads and chat with you all in the meantime

Anyways, I guess I am ready to give you a real update now. Ok, here it goes. (this probably will be a long post, sorry!) The emotional ride we've been on first started a couple weeks ago when we got that "screen positive" blood test result. (To remind you, it was a positive for the "chance" of having a baby with down syndrome....not a result saying our baby does have it) We were a little upset to hear that but weren't too worried since the percentage was very very low of the possibility. A couple days after hearing those results, we were off to our second ultrasound of this pregnancy. The day after the ultrasound, my OBGYN called me and I immediately knew something was wrong. Most doctors don't personally call their clients and especially on a Saturday. Anyways, he told us that the ultrasound is showing that our baby has a cleft lip. Now......I know there's a lot worse out there....there's babies with cancers, worse birth defects, or people who can't have babies.......but to us, this was still devastating to hear especially when we have a perfectly healthy kid already at home. We went to see our OBGYN on the Monday and he pretty much just said the same thing to us that he said to me on the phone, but let us know that he was referring us down to Children's Hospital for a more detailed ultrasound.

So, just this past Monday, we had our day at BC Children's/Women's hospital and actually, it was quite an amazing experience to be there. Everyone was so positive, caring, nice, etc etc etc. We had meetings with genetic counsellors and doctors. We had a two and a half hours long ultrasound!!!! In the afternoon, we sat down with the "team" and they said they were really positive about our situation. It's definitely showing a cleft (and we did get to somewhat see it ourselves during a 3D part of the ultrasound). It's only one sided and they even believe that it's quite a minor cleft and might not even go all the way up to the nose. They can't be 100% sure until the baby is born, but they are pretty sure that it doesn't involve the palate at all, which is a huge relief. Baby should only need one surgery when its about 3 or 4 months old to close the cleft. They are quite positive that since it seems more of a "minor" cleft and the best cause scenario we could wish for in a cleft lip, that baby shouldn't have any problems with speech, dental, hearing, etc that are common with a cleft lip/palate. They also reassured us that they didn't see any factors on the ultrasound that would lead them to believe the baby had signs of down syndrome. They said that baby seems to be growing and developing good. We will have to go back one more time before the birth to meet with the plastic surgeon/cranofacial team. We left the hospital, after buying Starbucks and a BC Children's Charity Lottery ticket of course, with smiles on our faces. The sun was shining and as we were driving home, back over the Port Mann bridge, leaving Vancouver, it swept over me and I started to cry for the first time that day, because I felt good and I felt somewhat relieved that it's going to be okay

We're still very anxious about the surgery after baby is born, it will be super hard to take baby in for that and poor baby will have to be in this arm splints/coat thing that prevents them from touching their face for a week or two, but we are feeling positive/relieved that it seems minor and it will be all okay eventually and we couldn't ask for a better place to take care of our child.

Thank you everyone for your support, kind words, and hugs over the past couple weeks. I truly appreciate it

[coyote00]

More Awesomeness!!!!!!!!!! Those pantaloons are 100% ROCKING. Sneaking over to steal armygirl's pantaloons BAAAHAAAHAAA

[coyote00]

RANT TIME



OH I am a fuming over here! I just received a cell phone bill for my daughter for $901.95...yes thats correct NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!!!

Freak out is not the word for what I feel at the moment. I called the carrier and they said, yes those are in fact valid charges WTH!!!! These are all data charges....did she download all the seasons of Sons of Anarchy??? I mean come on. 4045.09 MB Data Usage that was chargeable. They are seeing what they can do to reduce the charge. Reduce?? I can't afford a 900 cell bill on the eve of my vacation.

Off to the corner to cry and calm down before I need to speak with her

[dlee]

Jezz - found a bunch of the Melitta in the stash. Pm me your address please!! =) I know I have it somewhere but too lazy to find it. haha.

[PammieD]

RANT TIME



OH I am a fuming over here! I just received a cell phone bill for my daughter for $901.95...yes thats correct NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!!!

Freak out is not the word for what I feel at the moment. I called the carrier and they said, yes those are in fact valid charges WTH!!!! These are all data charges....did she download all the seasons of Sons of Anarchy??? I mean come on. 4045.09 MB Data Usage that was chargeable. They are seeing what they can do to reduce the charge. Reduce?? I can't afford a 900 cell bill on the eve of my vacation.

Off to the corner to cry and calm down before I need to speak with her

Wooowwww...that's impressive! Have you asked her yet what it's from? Was she skyping for weeks on end? I lose it when our internet goes $30 over (cause Rogers' system SUCKS snd has a MAJOR flaw). I can't even imagine the sinking feeling you had. Does she pay any portion of it?

[dlee]

OH MY GOODNESS!!! 900?!?!?!?! WOW!!! Did you talk to her about it? Oh dear.

RANT TIME



OH I am a fuming over here! I just received a cell phone bill for my daughter for $901.95...yes thats correct NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!!!

Freak out is not the word for what I feel at the moment. I called the carrier and they said, yes those are in fact valid charges WTH!!!! These are all data charges....did she download all the seasons of Sons of Anarchy??? I mean come on. 4045.09 MB Data Usage that was chargeable. They are seeing what they can do to reduce the charge. Reduce?? I can't afford a 900 cell bill on the eve of my vacation.

Off to the corner to cry and calm down before I need to speak with her

[slambert]

OMG Coyote....don't kill her, come have a drink with me in the corner. I'd be thinking up some EVIL chores for her to do to pay off her bill and the phone would be gone! I hope there is a logical explanation and the bill gets removed for you.

[cowgirlmama04]

RANT TIME



OH I am a fuming over here! I just received a cell phone bill for my daughter for $901.95...yes thats correct NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!!!

Freak out is not the word for what I feel at the moment. I called the carrier and they said, yes those are in fact valid charges WTH!!!! These are all data charges....did she download all the seasons of Sons of Anarchy??? I mean come on. 4045.09 MB Data Usage that was chargeable. They are seeing what they can do to reduce the charge. Reduce?? I can't afford a 900 cell bill on the eve of my vacation.

Off to the corner to cry and calm down before I need to speak with her

I would be fuming too.... Holy moly!!! Hope they reduce the charges for you, I can't imagine how anyone can honestly use that much data.

[coyote00]

I have no idea what she has done to end up with so much billable data usage. She is lying down right now as she started work at 5 am and only arrived home about an hr ago.

I am not waking her up until she is wide awake and I am more level headed. This way we can get to the bottom of this in a clear and concise manner.

There is no doubt in my mind that I will be making her responsible for the excessive charges. That said I know I will need to fork out the money first or ruin my credit rating. I am going to have the account switched over to her name when I get back and she can pay all future bills.

OK, lets just forget all this and concentrate on the lovely packages