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Saturday, 07 November 2009

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    The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir
    By Katrina Kenison
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    So, This Is How it Will Be...

    Yesterday, rather early in the morning, I got a call from my OB. She needed me to go for a bio physical NOW to check on the baby. A bio physical is an ultrasound where they look for specific things. In this case - she wanted them to measure the amniotic fluid to make sure the levels were OK - if there were too low she wanted to induce right then. So, I called Holly & canceled our breakfast plans (which sucked - I was going to take her to The Grove!) and then called my husband to let him know what was going on. I think he heard the anxiety in my voice because all he said was, "I'll be there in 15 minutes."  I ran around like a crazy person: showering, dressing and throwing things in my hospital bag just in case this was IT.

    The ultrasound went fine - the amniotic fluid level is holding steady & Baby Yates still looks good. But...the placenta is starting to show signs of calcification - not a good sign. It was only designed to last 2 weeks beyond a 40 gestation, then it starts to shut down. Since I'm at 41 weeks today, that makes sense.

    My OB, while she had me on the phone prior to my ultrasound, let me know what was what too. I had thought that I'd have my regular appointment Monday afternoon and then we'd check on things and decide where to go from there. She informed me that she did some checking with Labor & Delivery at the hospital and they can't schedule me to be induced on Tuesday - no beds. They can't guarantee I'll have a bed Wednesday either. And at that point - she feels I'm getting too far past my due date to risk waiting any longer. So...she has scheduled me to be induced on Monday morning (starting very early! I have to be at the hospital at 5:30am). This is to insure I have a bed when I need one, since inducing for some tends to draw out labor.

    On one hand I'm relived to have a firm date to get this started. On the other hand I'm incredibly frightened.
    But, Jesse and I have been praying (without ceasing as Paul exhorted us to do!) and feel that this is part of His plan and that while it may not have been our first choice for how things would go down, that He is in control of it all.



Wednesday, 04 November 2009

  • Update on Baby Yates

    The baby ticker I have on this blog, is mocking me. Yes, I am completely aware that I'm 40 weeks plus 4 days pregnant. Thank you very much. If I have to listen to one more well meaning soul to joke "gee, you're STILL pregnant?!" I am going to lose it.

    Yesterday, I had my weekly appointment with my OB to see where things were at. Well...no good news or good options really. First let me say that I am still healthy and that the baby is still healthy. That is the good news to be had, actually. But...the downside: while he is still head down, he has not dropped into the birth canal. There are still no signs of labor (effacement, dilation. Sorry, if that is too much info for my readers). And...these issues compounded by the chance it might be necessary to induce labor at some point, complicated by that he *might* be bigger than they originally thought - means I am looking at a 50% chance of needing a c-section right now. It's all rather complex and I'm skimming the details here.

    I burst into tears when she told me all this. I just couldn't help it. I'm so abjectly miserable & uncomfortable at this state of pregnancy - and I'm one of those women who actually liked being pregnant! I'm so swollen that I actually have cankles and am supposed to stay off my feet to help with the swelling. My fingers are in a state of constant numbness thanks to carpel tunnel (another lovely late-stage symptom of pregnancy no one tells you about). I can't sleep. I waddle when I walk. Oh, and I have to wear my bedroom slippers when I go out since none of my shoes fit. I'm sure there is something else I'm forgetting, but that gives you an idea.

    When you are pregnant, you have in your head a certain hope for how the birth will go. And when that hope is dashed - it is like getting ice water thrown in the face. I had hoped for sure, something was happening...but no. That said, she gave me a couple of choices: we can move to start inducement now if we want. Or, we can wait a week, until next Monday, regroup and see where things are at then. If by then I still show no improvement...considering setting a date to induce is more likely by her as she has indicated she will not allow me to go 14 days past my due date (it doubles the risk of stillborn to go 2 weeks past the due date).  If I choose not to induce..she'll send me for another ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid level. If it has dropped - they must induce right away, anyway.

    Medical inducement does pose certain risks too - as do most medical procedures and most prescription drugs. Some are very serious - rare - but still the chance. She gave me a list of the drugs used to induce and told me to educate myself on them so I could make a better choice. Jesse and I looked them up and researched them last night & ruled out a couple. We have prayed about it and feel like we're supposed to wait a week. We feel like it's a faith thing. We have peace about that. Even if we wind up having to induce - there is no guarantee this will not end up in a c-section - a possibility when you induce labor. Neither are fantastic options. I'm trying not to think about that now. So, Jesse will go with me to the next appointment on Monday and we'll make a decision from there what to do.

    So, if you are a prayer - please pray that Jess and I would have discernment and wisdom. Inducement would not be a hastily made choice - but a last resort rather. Pray for my health & safety too - I'm frightened. And the baby's health too, of course. Inducement is hard on them too.

    "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." 

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

  • The Wal-Mart Incident

    Because many of you have asked me what the "Wal-Mart letter" means, I'm posting a copy of it here. The formatting got hinky, but you get the idea.

    October 12, 2009

     

    Wal-Mart Corporate Headquarters

    Attn: Customer Service Relations

    702 SW 8th Street

    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

    Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611

     

     

    RE: Recent Store Experience

     

    To Whom It May Concern,

     

                I am writing to let you know of the worst customer service experience I have ever had at a Wal-Mart store, which happened yesterday October 11, 2009.

     

                I went to the Wal-Mart Supercenter, store #850 to make an exchange. I had purchased two weeks earlier from store #5491 a bottle of Spray & Wash “Bright & White” laundry additive. After I got home with it, I realized I had bought the wrong kind; I only wanted the regular Spray & Wash laundry stain remover. I had not used a single drop out of the bottle. I had my receipt with me and I was well within the 90 day period. It should have been a simple exchange, right?

     

                Well, as it turned out, no. I waited patiently for 10 minutes at the Customer Service desk. I explained what happened (as mentioned above). The girl waiting on me poured out some of the liquid into the cap and then poured it back into the bottle and sniffed it. Apparently - they have had people use a bottle of laundry detergent, then refill it with water & then return it. She told me to go get what I needed and come back for an exchange only. I explained that I had several other items to pick up too. She told me then to go through the regular line with my items, just don't let them ring up the new bottle of Spray & Wash and they'll exchange it then. OK...I wasn't happy about the extra trip but fine. So, I did my shopping, checked out (another 10 minutes in line) and went back to customer service. When it was my turn again (after waiting another 7 minutes) - they told me that a manager by the name of “Peter” was refusing the exchange. They told me that the liquid was "watered down" and "missing half of its contents".  I was furious, but I kept my cool - they were essentially calling me a liar and a thief – without actually saying it. I explained that it was that consistency when I purchased it, that Spray & Wash Bright and White was thinner than regular laundry detergent, etc. They either didn’t care or were too stupid to figure it out. So, I asked to speak to another manager. It wasn't about the money - it was a matter of principal at this point.

    Before the other manager could show up to address the matter – a lady named “Gabby” called out from the back, that to “go ahead and just handle it”. She reversed the decision the other manager had made. They marked out as defective the bottle I originally bought (even though there was nothing wrong with it!) and then exchanged it for the one I needed.

    It was stupid, humiliating and made me just plain angry. I have never had such a misery inducing, wretched customer service experience before. I was well within the exchange policy they have posted behind the customer service desk.  I will never visit Wal-Mart store #850 again. And I’m seriously considering just doing my shopping at local grocery stores and Target from now on, as result of this visit. I'm 9 months pregnant and to make anyone suffer through that indignity is just plain wrong – regardless if they are pregnant or not! If a few bad apples are scamming the store by returning bottles of laundry detergent – that is not the fault of the rest of us honest people who have legitimate returns for products we purchase – and we should not be punished as such.

     

     

    I wanted to make you aware of this sort of bad service that is being given and how matters are being handled at this Wal-Mart location.

     

     

    Regards,

     

     

    Darcy

Thursday, 08 October 2009

  • Why I'm Cranky About the Postal Service

    Yesterday on FB I posted a rant that went something like this:

    "is now completely convinced how worthless the US Postal Service is and hopes their demise is soon to get rid of idiots like my mailman."

    Some people liked my comment, but wanted me to elaborate. Others thought I was being harsh, but still wanted me to elaborate. So, I will.

    Ever since we moved into this house, almost two years ago, we have had ongoing mail issues. Mainly, the biggest issue is mail wasn't getting picked up. When I finally called the post office to find out what the deal was, they informed me that since my box was attached to the side of my house (as most are in this neighborhood) that the postman only picked up outgoing mail if there was mail that needed to be delivered too. I'd never heard of such a thing (having only had mailboxes on the curb growing up - for which the regulations are different) but, I accepted their explanation. However, we still have a problem with mail getting picked up even when they deliver mail. They just open the lid on the box and toss it in the incoming mail - never taking an extra 2 seconds to look for outgoing mail. This only happens when my regular mailman (a taciturn man who I envision as just counting the days until he retires) is out and they have a sub mailman on the route.

    Yesterday, I heard the mailman (who was a sub) put mail in the box. As it was still pretty early in the morning, I went to go get it out - he did not take my outgoing mail. So, I grabbed it and chased him down the sidewalk, since I really needed to get this mail out today.

    Me: "Excuse me sir! You missed my outgoing mail" I called to him.

    Mailman: "Where was it"?

    Me: (Taken aback) "....in the box"

    Mailman: "in the box?" 

    Me: Yes...in the box. In plain sight in the box"

    Mailman: "You don't put your mail outside the box?"

    Me: "How can I put it outside the box?"

    Mailman: (with a hint of sarcasm in his voice) "with a clothespin. You attach it outside the box. I never look in the box."

    Me: "well...thank you for taking this mail (and I handed it to him) today."

    I then turned and stalked back into the house with as much dignity as I could muster being I'm 9 months pregnant and I was in my bathrobe, pajamas and slippers still.

    I was livid then. And I'm still pretty annoyed about this encounter for several reasons. One being, I looked up USPS.com their guidelines for outgoing mail. It says the following:

    The United States Postal Service makes every effort to pickup and deliver your mail. Outgoing mail is picked up:

    All mail picked up by letter carriers must comply with normal weight and size restrictions:

    If you are concerned that you may have too much mail for the letter carrier to pick it all up, you may either:

    If your mailbox is located on the street, letter carriers should pickup outgoing mail if the flag is up. If your mailbox is attached to the house, letter carriers are not required to pickup mail if they have no mail to deliver. Mail cannot be delivered to or picked up from a blocked mailbox..


    No where in their published guidelines does it say I must hang my mail out like laundry for all the neighborhood to see & to put me at greater risk for mail theft - just to get it picked up! I should NOT have to chase down my mailman to beg to get outgoing mail (when he delivering mail too) picked up. He should be doing his damn job, looking in the box and grabbing the mail - then depositing the mail he is delivering. Instead, he does the least amount of work he has to and instead wants me to use a clothespin to make things more convenient for him. And treats me like a moron because I won't.

    Second, I think the USPS is subsidized by money from the federal government. But I'm not sure on this point.  I have read a few things online written by postal workers who swear that since 1984 they have not taken federal money. I find this hard to believe because this past summer, there was a Senate subcommittee who called the postmaster general, John E. Potter, to testify before them and rake him over the coals for a projected 7 billion dollar shortfall this year. 7 billion dollars!  If the post office takes no federal funding, then why would they be called to account before the United States Senate being in the red by 7 billion? Last year it was 2.8 billion short.

    So, my point behind all this is, I think it is an atrocious waste of money, possibly my tax dollars, that the Postal Service is burning through and what do they have to show for it? Mail still doesn't get picked up! Customer service can be hit or miss. Mostly miss. And all in all - many of those employees don't care because they are government employees and know that it would take a lot for them to get fired. It's job security for them. Unfortunately, lack of caring and lack of good service are not things that will get them fired.
    If a private company like Fed Ex or UPS ran this way - they would have been out of business long ago. Prices still go up at USPS - but service never seems to match that - it keeps going down.

    To be fair - I concede the point that it is cheap to mail a letter in this country. And I concede the point that if mail service were privatized, it might make mail service for rural customers very expensive. And in fairness, I will also note that the postal service station that I go to on a regular basis has friendly clerks who work hard and are efficent whenever I go in to mail a package or buy stamps. However, these points are not valid reasons to cling to an outdated status quo system at USPS of doing "business as usual". Arrogant, ineffective postal workers who think they can do the bare minimum should be called into question - instead of defended by their superiors. Long lines at the post office with only one clerk working - while the other takes their lunch break - should be a thing of the past. It should not take an act of God to get your mail delivery restarted again after you put a hold on it. I could go on and on. Suffice to say, there is a valid reason why people in this country hate USPS. The problem is USPS just does not seem to care.




Tuesday, 06 October 2009

  • On Food & Eating

    I've had this post rattling around in my head for a few weeks. It seems to me that lately - it's all about food, eating and foodies. (And just incase you were wondering what a "foodie" was you can find that info here). I'm not just saying this because I'm pregnant either. It seems like I can't open my Facebook page these days without someone posting about what they just ate, what they are making, what they want to eat soon, or just rhapsodizing about food in general. Same thing with blog posts - a good friend was posting about all these amazing vegetable dishes she was making. The summertime hit movie "Julie & Julia" made food into an icon. We are not over eaters...we just like good food. I've been wondering if there is a correlation between the economy tanking and food/eating too. Now that there is not as much disposable income floating around, are people eating at home more? Are they discovering the joy of cooking? Maybe with economic uncertainty, comes stability & pleasure that home cooked meals provide. Like in some cathartic way they can control things, in an out of control world, more by eating and cooking at home.

    It seems like people are trading more recipes too. I know I've been asked for recipes twice in the last month and have begged a recipe also from someone in the last month. We all like to talk about it too. I was recently texted by a dear friend, not to say hi, but so she could ask me what a scallion was. We like to read about it. I heard yesterday that Gourmet magazine was going under. The blogsphere was in shock. The common refrain was "what will I read now?" (I've heard Saveur magazine is a great foodie mag by the way). Food websites for recipes are sure popular too. I just surfed to Allrecipes.com to see if I could find some interesting recipes for apples that do not involve pie since my husband wants me to "do something" with all the apples we bought. I came across some amazing sounding recipes that I'd like to try. And just today, I was thumbing through a couple of my cookbooks planning a menu out and thinking to myself, "maybe I need some new cookbooks..."

    I guess all this cooking and food is really a good thing. Getting back to the basics and all that. I know that when I have a clean kitchen (for some reason that is important to me, before I mess it up) I really enjoy cooking and especially enjoy baking. What are your thoughts? Are you eating in more? Trying out new foods/recipes? Do you consider yourself a foodie? Do people seem to be raving about food all the time to you too?

Calinda

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    • Name: Calinda
    • Member Since: 4/7/2004

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  • anonymous
    Oh okay i understand and respect that
  • Calinda
    @ruok25 - Sorry, but I only accept 'friends' for people I personally know.
    • Posted 1/26/2009 11:11 AM
    • by Calinda
  • anonymous
    Hi wll you add me as your friend?