Tuesday, November 2, 2010

I don't know her, but I know about her loss.

I know nothing about Lily Allen.  She is a celebrity.  A singer, I think.  Anyhow, I saw today that she lost the child that she was carrying.  She was due in January. 

How horrible for her. 

I don't know what caused the death, but she had previously suffered from a miscarriage. 

She knew this baby was a boy. 

She had less than three months to go.  (I have no idea the exact due date, but still.) 

I can tell you that given how far along she was, she had to give birth to a stillborn child.  I can't tell you in how many ways that is horrible.  How my heart absolutely breaks for her.  How you have to go through such a difficult thing such as hearing that the child you are carrying has now passed away, but you can't even digest that when you are raced off to give birth to a child that will not be newborn pink.  That baby will not cry.  Oh, you hope that there was some glitch in something that they used.  Perhaps they are wrong.  You hope that they are wrong.  You want them to be wrong.

They aren't.

I have no idea who she is, but I know her pain.  How sad I am for her.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Trick or treat and treat and treat and treat and treat.

Yes, we went 5 times.  No, we aren't candy pigs, though the haul does help to replenish the candy stash at work.  (We buy a hunk of candy back from K-.  She gets good things like puzzles, activity books and whatnot.  We get the piece of mind in knowing that not every single tooth is going to rot out of her face.)  Allow me to give you our lovely list:

Thursday night-- Trick or treating in my parents neighborhood.  The houses are far apart.  It took us about a half hour to walk it and we hit maybe 10 houses.  It's my old stomping ground, so it is good to take the kiddo so that folks can see her at least before she outgrows me in height.

Friday night-- Surprise!  It was trick or treat in our neighborhood.  We didn't find out until a half hour before, because a flier was never placed in our box.  We all think it is because of our "No solicitors, please" sign.  The neighbors have promised to let us know next year.  We did have treats and since we had just come back from K-'s Halloween party at school, her costume was all ready to go.  We had more trick or treaters than I've ever seen.  (Confirmed also by the neighbor who has lived here since 1975.)  The sidewalks were packed.  I think that people were driving around with dressed children, looking for a place to beg.  We had a mini van pull up beside us, the door opened and 4 children poured out.  They were left behind without adult supervision and I presume that the person came back to get them later.  We didn't get to take my sister and her family with us since the notice was so late.  K- did get to trick or treat with her friend next door, so that was good.  The girls made the whole route in about an hour. 

Saturday afternoon-- Toys R Us trick or treat.  I admit that it was a little lame this year.  I mean, it was great that they had it, but the one glow thing that Crayola had them demo-ing didn't work that well.  We were in the first run, so they hadn't developed a rhythm yet.  The very lovely bags that they gave?  Um, they kind of stink really bad.  I know, I appreciate them doing it.  It's all good.  K- had a good time, so that is what matters.

Saturday night-- Trick or treat in the back neighborhood where we walk and Hubs runs.  This was the actual city scheduled trick or treat.  My sister and her family were able to come for this one and we made the whole route with 6 children and 5 adults with time to spare.  We thought one of them were coming down with the yucky stomach bug, but that fear passed.  My niece tripped a few times, once landing in the middle of the road.  I had to be heartless, tell her to hop up and then we would do body part inventory.  (She was fine.)  She cried and cried like her limb had been severed. 

Sunday night-- Trick or treat at the in-law's.  We're only doing the first hour, since K- has school tomorrow.  We'll be having dinner with them, too. 

We'll be spending time with some family this week, so I'll be out until probably Tuesday of next week.  At least by that point, my phone will have stopped ringing with the annoying political recordings. 

Have a great week!