Mom's mass email 9/14/2001:
I know that may of you have been waiting for an update and I apologize for any anxiety this may have caused. The days have passed without me being aware of which day it is. This afternoon I asked Ashley what day it was. I was surprised to hear that it was Wednesday!
Ashley came home yesterday from the hospital. Baby Charlotte is still in the Baby ICU and doing VERY well. For the first two days after she was born, she was being fed intravenously and receiving humidified air through a breathing tube. She has been a model patient and has not given us any major cause for concern. Yesterday they took her off the breathing treatment and dressed her in a little green sleeper. The doctor has said she is doing quite well.
Charlotte needs to be able to digest 3 [oz] of her mother's milk before she can be released from the hospital. She has been able to digest 1 CC [mL] so far. We are optimistic that she will be able to come home by this weekend.
Every day, Ashley is able to go to the hospital for what they call "touch time." Premature babies have a difficult time handling too much stimulation, so Ashley can only touch the baby every four hours. (which is much easier when you're in the hospital too rather than 45 minutes away. We only go once a day.). During "touch time" Ashley changes Charlotte's diaper, cuddles her, and kisses her. Ashley said she would like me to have the chance to hold Charlotte tomorrow when we go.
Malachi is doing well in spite of all the excitement around him. I don't think Charlotte is real to him yet, but his parent's have been talking to him about his new little sister and teaching him her name. It'll be interesting to see what he does when the baby comes home and inhabits his space.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
So how are you guys doing these days?
Excerpts from an email David wrote (with some tidbits from me added afterward):
Things are going alright here, over all, though this has been one of the more challenging times in our lives. I've moved to Georgia where I've spent the last month looking for work, so far without apparent success. Ashley and Malachi are still in the Glens Falls area, now living with her parents, while I'm looking for work.
Malachi has started to speak, and he has a vocabulary that consists mostly of English and Chinese, though it's clear that he understands Spanish, as well. He can also identify a number of common farm animals by pictures and the sounds they make. He's learned to walk, and is now tall enough to reach counter tops. He also likes to climb things, which keeps Ashley very busy (he climbed half-way up the dog kennel and got stuck once - that's the only thing he's only tried to climb once); and he can open doors that have handle-style mechanisms, though he hasn't yet figured out knobs.
Living in Georgia has its challenges; I was lucky enough to have a place to stay-- Ashley has an old roommate who is from here, and I'm staying with that family.
I'm gradually coming to terms with the fact that what I do doesn't fit into any job descriptions. The more I go out and present myself to prospective employers (as yet, I haven't had a single actual interview), what I'm finding more and more is that many people could use my skill set, but very few are willing to pay for it right now. The kind of standardized, homogenized workplaces that I've been looking at simply aren't equipped at this juncture to put my skills as a researcher/knowledge synthesizer/information presenter to work in-house. It seems likely that, to find a niche where I can compete for work, I'm going to have to look into specialty markets, like consulting firms, or invent a job, or figure out how to go into business for myself.
That's a summary of our life right now. We've felt confirmation that we'll make it through this, and that we'll find the employment we need. Patience is hard, though, sometimes.
We love you. (Thank you for caring about and praying for us.)
Things are going alright here, over all, though this has been one of the more challenging times in our lives. I've moved to Georgia where I've spent the last month looking for work, so far without apparent success. Ashley and Malachi are still in the Glens Falls area, now living with her parents, while I'm looking for work.
Malachi has started to speak, and he has a vocabulary that consists mostly of English and Chinese, though it's clear that he understands Spanish, as well. He can also identify a number of common farm animals by pictures and the sounds they make. He's learned to walk, and is now tall enough to reach counter tops. He also likes to climb things, which keeps Ashley very busy (he climbed half-way up the dog kennel and got stuck once - that's the only thing he's only tried to climb once); and he can open doors that have handle-style mechanisms, though he hasn't yet figured out knobs.
Living in Georgia has its challenges; I was lucky enough to have a place to stay-- Ashley has an old roommate who is from here, and I'm staying with that family.
I'm gradually coming to terms with the fact that what I do doesn't fit into any job descriptions. The more I go out and present myself to prospective employers (as yet, I haven't had a single actual interview), what I'm finding more and more is that many people could use my skill set, but very few are willing to pay for it right now. The kind of standardized, homogenized workplaces that I've been looking at simply aren't equipped at this juncture to put my skills as a researcher/knowledge synthesizer/information presenter to work in-house. It seems likely that, to find a niche where I can compete for work, I'm going to have to look into specialty markets, like consulting firms, or invent a job, or figure out how to go into business for myself.
That's a summary of our life right now. We've felt confirmation that we'll make it through this, and that we'll find the employment we need. Patience is hard, though, sometimes.
We love you. (Thank you for caring about and praying for us.)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Some Spiritual Things
Malachi is growing, and just this morning he figured out how to pull himself up to standing in his pack'n'play - which he uses as a bed. Fun stuff.
Wow! Conference was amazing!!! I have tools for how to be a better member missionary, less-active-member-re-activator, wife, Mommy, and disciple of Christ. I am so excited to take my personal scripture study, family scripture study and commitment to the Savior to a new level. Here we go!!!
David is close to getting a job now we think. Keep us in your prayers.
I had an opportunity to help someone in need this week, and I gave her a pass-along card and told her we would give her and her children a ride to Church if they would like to join us. It was exciting, and I felt that the Lord was pleased with my efforts.
One of the Mexican members of our ward, is having a bad time with his roommates. They are cruel, I think, in their teasing of him for coming to Church and trying to live the Gospel. He didn't come for several weeks, and we were very sad and prayed hard. Ultimately, he decided (we talked with him Sunday between sessions of Conference) that they didn't know what they were doing, that they were really making fun of the Savior. When we told him Church was in Albany next week because of Stake Conference, he said (translated) "Wherever Church is, I'll be there." I felt strengthened by his testimony, and I hope it meant something to him when I shared mine with him, even though it was through David translating. It was a special experience for me.
So, we hope you will keep doing your best there to do the Lord's work where you are, and we will keep doing the same here.
Wow! Conference was amazing!!! I have tools for how to be a better member missionary, less-active-member-re-activator, wife, Mommy, and disciple of Christ. I am so excited to take my personal scripture study, family scripture study and commitment to the Savior to a new level. Here we go!!!
David is close to getting a job now we think. Keep us in your prayers.
I had an opportunity to help someone in need this week, and I gave her a pass-along card and told her we would give her and her children a ride to Church if they would like to join us. It was exciting, and I felt that the Lord was pleased with my efforts.
One of the Mexican members of our ward, is having a bad time with his roommates. They are cruel, I think, in their teasing of him for coming to Church and trying to live the Gospel. He didn't come for several weeks, and we were very sad and prayed hard. Ultimately, he decided (we talked with him Sunday between sessions of Conference) that they didn't know what they were doing, that they were really making fun of the Savior. When we told him Church was in Albany next week because of Stake Conference, he said (translated) "Wherever Church is, I'll be there." I felt strengthened by his testimony, and I hope it meant something to him when I shared mine with him, even though it was through David translating. It was a special experience for me.
So, we hope you will keep doing your best there to do the Lord's work where you are, and we will keep doing the same here.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
My Life in 200 Words
When I was young I wanted to be a singer. When I grew old enough to realize how much time singers often spend away from home, I decided that my profession of choice would be a full-time Mommy. I didn't waste any time waiting for my dream to come true, though. Various opportunities brought me to Mexico, Canada, England, Spain, Denmark, and Scotland. Then, part way through my time at college, I had an opportunity to volunteer to teach English to school children in China. It was a difficult, enjoyable, and also eye-opening experience. Turns out that this helped me prepare for another unexpected turn in my life: serving a mission for the Church for a year and a half in Taiwan. After my mission, I reunited with a good friend of mine from freshman year, and soon we were married. I graduated with my BA in Early Childhood/Special Education, and he earned his in Business Management a semester later. Now he is looking for work. Unemployment is no walk in the park, but the Lord has been good to us. And my dream of being a Mom and singing my baby to sleep has become a reality at last.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Remembering to Forget: 7 Ways to Move On
Memories replay in your head like bad news on TV. You wonder if he or she ever really loved you. Then you remind yourself that you’re trying forget all that and move on. But how? Here are tips from people who have been where you are, and are happy now:
1) Throw it out. Give that sweatshirt to Good Will. Search for every email and computer file that has to do with them, and delete them. Then don’t forget to empty your recycle bin!
2) Get out. Find some new fun and new friends in new places. In some cases, you may need to move before healing can really begin.
3) Get together with your friends. Have some honest fun in a big group, rather than trying to find a date right away
4) Let yourself cry. This doesn’t mean lock yourself up for days going through photo files. Just don’t beat yourself up for letting it hurt. This is a process, and you need time to grieve.
5) Seek support from the successful. Everyone needs to vent, but don’t ask your single friends for advice. Turn to happily married friends and relatives for the unique help they can offer.
6) Chase other dreams. Make a list of things you’ve always wanted to do. Then pick one, and go do it.
7) Say Good-bye. Get out some clean lined paper and hand-write all the things you wish you could still say. Positive and negative. Get it all out. Then step outside. Burn it over a candle, or tear it into pieces and let them fly away. Cry or pray or go for a walk. It’s over and it’s o.k.
Note: This is the first of a series. Stay tuned to read more about each of these seven ways.
1) Throw it out. Give that sweatshirt to Good Will. Search for every email and computer file that has to do with them, and delete them. Then don’t forget to empty your recycle bin!
2) Get out. Find some new fun and new friends in new places. In some cases, you may need to move before healing can really begin.
3) Get together with your friends. Have some honest fun in a big group, rather than trying to find a date right away
4) Let yourself cry. This doesn’t mean lock yourself up for days going through photo files. Just don’t beat yourself up for letting it hurt. This is a process, and you need time to grieve.
5) Seek support from the successful. Everyone needs to vent, but don’t ask your single friends for advice. Turn to happily married friends and relatives for the unique help they can offer.
6) Chase other dreams. Make a list of things you’ve always wanted to do. Then pick one, and go do it.
7) Say Good-bye. Get out some clean lined paper and hand-write all the things you wish you could still say. Positive and negative. Get it all out. Then step outside. Burn it over a candle, or tear it into pieces and let them fly away. Cry or pray or go for a walk. It’s over and it’s o.k.
Note: This is the first of a series. Stay tuned to read more about each of these seven ways.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Nances are in New York!
David has graduated! How exciting! Now we are in New York living with my parents and looking for work.
Malachi, of course, is growing fast. Now he's moving round too! He puts both hands flat on the floor and pulls his whole body forward with them. Sometimes he pushes his body off the floor first as if it will help - but it usually doesn't. One step closer to crawling, though!
I am so grateful for my time serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for many reason. One reason is that I know it had made me a better wife and mother.
I am of the strong opinion that "Mommy" is the noblest job in the world for a woman. I want to stay home with Malachi but I am going to have to find something to get paid for doing while is still looking for a job and times are really tight. I feel like I should pick up writing again, even though my composition skills have become a bit rusty with disuse. If you know/hear of anyone who needs and underwriter/ghostwriter or a literary journal looking for submissions, I hope you'll let me know. We're searching and studying and praying and staying close to the Lord, though, and we have faith that he will take care of us. I don't know how people survive in this world any other way!
Go Malachi! (Now I really need to clean our room!) We love you!
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