The Standard Deviation

Ack! I’ve officially hit that time of year (besides Christmas, that is) when everything happens at once, and my schedule gets insane! Between weddings and babies and birthdays and anniversaries and showers and vacations and book clubs, things have gotten just a little out of hand. ‘Course I’m one of those people who thrive on a little crazy once in a while.

So tomorrow I am helping my mother-in-law throw a baby shower for my cousin Natalie. (She’s actually my mother-in-law’s cousin’s daughter-in-law — got that?) She and her husband Marty are having their first baby, and they’ve had quite a journey getting to this point. Several years ago, and only a few months after they’d gotten married, Marty was diagnosed with Leukemia. He endured a long battle with it, but finally, and luckily, he conquered. One of the lasting effects from the treatment, however, is an inability to father children… ever. Luckily, they planned ahead before he started treatment and were able to freeze some embryos (I think that’s how it works…or is it just fertilized eggs?) for later use.

So fast forward a few years, and the couple is ready to start a family. Apparently the in vitro costs about $10,000 or so, which, of course, they didn’t have lying around. So they applied for a grant that would pay for it. Only problem is that the application process for this grant is much like trying to adopt. They had to jump through so many hoops and interview so many times and even have someone come to inspect their home. When they were finally granted the funds, they began the agonizing process of preparing for the in vitro. I had no idea this whole thing was so involved. Poor Natalie had to undergo a hormonal treatment in which she gave herself daily injections and endured nausea and mood swings and all kinds of horrible side effects. After all that, they implanted three or four embryos and then had to wait to see if any of them would take.

Well… first try… and… nothing. Absolutely devastating!! Sure they could try again, but get this — they had to start the entire application process over again! My heart just broke for them. I get a little teary just thinking about it. But, hey! Fast forward again… They made it through the whole process a second time… and… Jacob William Moore is healthy as can be and due to be delivered on August 8th (which just so happens to be Charlie’s first birthday :)).

So tomorrow is the shower. I know most people hate shower games (or at least claim to hate them), but I figured I’d prepare a couple anyway. In one game, you’re supposed to match the crazy baby names to the celebrities that came up with them. For instance, here is an excerpt, already matched:

Johnny Depp      –     Lily-Rose Melody
Erykah Badu      –     Puma & Seven
Penn Gillette       –     Moxie CrimeFighter

It ought to be kinda fun. Anyway, more fun to come — every day for the next few weeks, pretty much. Hopefully I’ll get a chance periodically to write about all the goings-on. Ta ta!

P.S. um… re-reading this entry, it occurs to me that sometimes I sound like such a girl. Weird.