Welcome to our lovely new home for Everyday Mom, decorated with lots of calming Hylands-blue, and an easier-to-use format. We'll be unpacking over the next few weeks, adding to our blogroll, and starting a resource section for things that moms need to know.

Help us move in. If you have a website or blog that you'd like me to add, just leave a comment here and it will be done. Same thing on resources. All of us have services (like Craigs List for babysitters, or Kangaroo Korners for slings) that we'd like to share, and what better way to build community than to spread those around.

Glad you're here,

Miriam

This week was filled with more doctor's appointments for the baby.

On Tuesday we went to the pediatrician. Amelia is gaining weight, and has officially been declared a Thriving Baby. All's well that ends well, I thought. The doctor didn't want to do any follow ups. No weekly weight checks, no more blood drawn or urine tests, as I thought. All good, see you at nine months for a well baby check up.

On Thursday, we returned to the Children's Hospital for the big tests. I was so sure this would be a folly waste of money. Totally sure. The first test, a renal sonogram, turned up a pair of healthy kidneys, but can I tell you how weird it is to view the inside of your child's body? There we were, in the darkened room, with a very nice sonogram tech named Rob. Isn't that me who should be on the table? Peering at my baby inside? Pregnancy is the only time I've ever had sonograms.

No. It's Amelia on the table, and the smallest little sonogram tool rubbed gently on the lower part of her abdomen. And her state of mind: well, the TV was on. (Funny note: SpongeBob was on when we entered the room, and the very nice sonogram man changed it of his own accord to Clifford the Big Red Dog. He didn't want to be the one to introduce the baby to Sponge Bob.) I'm not sure Amelia has seen much TV. It's rarely on in our house, not because we're stridently against TV, but well, it just never seems to be on except for HBO on Sunday nights. She was captivated, and the sonogram was over quickly.

The VCUG was a bit more intense. It raised more issues for me, since it's a series of x-rays. Yes, as it turned out, it was necessary. The techs kept telling me it's a pediatric dose, and no more radiation than one experiences on a beach, or on an airplane ride. I'm trying to figure out who I know who can comment on the truthfulness of all this. The upshot: I got to see my baby's bladder. And the reason she had a UTI (read below): she has reflux from her bladder. Apparently it's relatively common. That's not to say lots of kids have it, but it's a known condition, and will often fix itself in a few years as kids grow, and if not there are surgical options, not that we want ever to go there. A valve has not properly formed, and urine from her bladder goes back up toward her kidney. But happily, only on the left side.

I tell you, even when the diagnosis is not terrible, these tests tack their toll. Yes, little Amelia has her condition, and we'll watch it, and yes, this mom has had a few weeks filled with doctor visits and hospitals and big tests that thank goodness our insurance company is paying for. Yes, it's been hard and we worry. But there's a context. The hospital is filled with very sick parents and their kids. While waiting for the VCUG, I comforted a mom who's first language was not English, who'd just been in a car accident, and her daughter was in surgery and having her spleen removed as a result. I talked with another family who's one year old son was in a stroller loaded with monitors and tubes and feeding bags. I didn't even ask what was wrong, just looked at my little baby, now seven months old, with her one condition, and a totally manageable one at that, and counted my blessings.

Yes. Counted my blessings, and sent good wishes to families who are taking care of very,very sick children, offering them strength and hopes for their children's healing. Through it all, Amelia got very tired, but she's still smiley and happy and calm. We've made it through the rough period, haven't we.