Local media blogger writes about my creation, Data Planet, and I'm quoted.
More Hecker stories coming in tomorrow's paper.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
More Hecker again today
More Hecker stories in today's paper. One on the divorce and another on latest developments in the bankruptcy.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
In today's PiPress
I've got another Hecker story on the front page
And a story announcing that the Data Planet page (which is my creation) has been redesigned and that we've updated the public employee salaries database (which I created last year).
It's highly likely I'll have another story on tomorrow's front page, too. That one got bumped yesterday due to the breaking news in the Hecker case.
And a story announcing that the Data Planet page (which is my creation) has been redesigned and that we've updated the public employee salaries database (which I created last year).
It's highly likely I'll have another story on tomorrow's front page, too. That one got bumped yesterday due to the breaking news in the Hecker case.
Ben's CT scan
We took Ben to Children's Hospital in St. Paul this morning for a CT scan of his jaw. A few months ago we found a bony lump on the underside of his chin. The pediatrician and plastic surgeon were both stumped and said a CT scan was the only way to find out what it is.
So we were all set for the CT. They told us Ben would need to be sedated, since he had to be still during the procedure.
But when we got there, the nurse suggested we try doing it without sedation first. She said sometimes it works with kids his age, sometimes it doesn't.
So they strapped Ben onto the bed and wrapped up his arms, then put a strap across his forehead. At first it was obvious that he was just fascinated by the strange equipment and new faces.
When the bed started moving, he looked like he was starting to get freaked out. Jamey and I stood right over him (with lead vests on, of course) and so we started singing to him and that seemed to calm him down just enough. And the radiologists did their work just fast enough to get it done before he got too freaked out. Right when it was done he started crying just a little and clearly was heading for more if we didn't get him out. But the radiologists got the images they needed and we didn't need to sedate him. How wonderful!
Ben was such a little trooper! I'm so proud of him.
Big thanks to my aunt Ann who showed up at the crack of dawn to take care of Maddie, so we didn't have to haul her along too.
We won't find out the results of the CT until we can get an appointment with the plastic surgeon. Hopefully they can squeeze us in next week.
So we were all set for the CT. They told us Ben would need to be sedated, since he had to be still during the procedure.
But when we got there, the nurse suggested we try doing it without sedation first. She said sometimes it works with kids his age, sometimes it doesn't.
So they strapped Ben onto the bed and wrapped up his arms, then put a strap across his forehead. At first it was obvious that he was just fascinated by the strange equipment and new faces.
When the bed started moving, he looked like he was starting to get freaked out. Jamey and I stood right over him (with lead vests on, of course) and so we started singing to him and that seemed to calm him down just enough. And the radiologists did their work just fast enough to get it done before he got too freaked out. Right when it was done he started crying just a little and clearly was heading for more if we didn't get him out. But the radiologists got the images they needed and we didn't need to sedate him. How wonderful!
Ben was such a little trooper! I'm so proud of him.
Big thanks to my aunt Ann who showed up at the crack of dawn to take care of Maddie, so we didn't have to haul her along too.
We won't find out the results of the CT until we can get an appointment with the plastic surgeon. Hopefully they can squeeze us in next week.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Classy moves: Pioneer Press congratulates Star Tribune
Very interesting. I had no idea we were doing this. From a local blogger who covers the media scene:
MinnPost - Braublog: Classy moves: Pioneer Press congratulates Star Tribune
Shared via AddThis
MinnPost - Braublog: Classy moves: Pioneer Press congratulates Star Tribune
Shared via AddThis
Sunday, October 4, 2009
More twins
My good friend, Noemi, from graduate school had boy-girl twins this past week! She and her husband, Borja, are both Spanish and live in Madrid. These are their first children. I've only heard that their names are Inigo (there's a tilde on the N) and Valeria and that everything went well.
Noemi and I worked together at Investigative Reporters and Editors and I visited her and Borja in Madrid in early 2003. They treated me like a queen for 10 days, making sure I experienced every nuance of Spanish culture in addition to the best tourist destinations. They were tour guides, translators and very, very good hosts. I wish we were closer so I could lend her a hand.
Hopefully someday when our kids are older we can visit each other and the sets of twins can get to know each other.
Noemi and I worked together at Investigative Reporters and Editors and I visited her and Borja in Madrid in early 2003. They treated me like a queen for 10 days, making sure I experienced every nuance of Spanish culture in addition to the best tourist destinations. They were tour guides, translators and very, very good hosts. I wish we were closer so I could lend her a hand.
Hopefully someday when our kids are older we can visit each other and the sets of twins can get to know each other.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Updates
Yesterday Ben & Maddie had their 9-month well visit. The news from that was that both are in the 25th percentile for height and Ben is below the 25th percentile for weight and Maddie is between 25-50th percentile. And yes, Maddie still weighs more than Ben!
Maddie checked out fine. Just a little excema to deal with.
Ben is going to see a pediatric opthamologist, first because of the clogged tearduct he has had since birth and second because the doctor thought she noticed something in one of his eyes that might indicate it's not working properly. Jamey had the same problem as a child and it was never fully corrected, so now he can only see out of one eye. So that is a bit disturbing -- particularly on top of the fact that Ben is having a CT scan next Wednesday to check out the hard, bony lump on his chin. They will have to sedate him for that, so I'm sure it's not going to be a fun day.
Last night I went out with some of my sorority sisters. We went to the BODIES exhibit at the Mall of America and then got drinks and something to eat. I didn't get home until 11:30.
Then had to be up and out the door before 6:30 am to work at the Moms of Multiples sale. I also had a chance to shop and brought home lots of clothes and toys and a few books. I got some ride-on and walker type things that they will like when they start walking in a few months, so those are tucked away. Then a few other smaller toys that they will start using now or perhaps in a few months. All the clothes will be for this winter.
Tomorrow I'm thinking about taking them to an orchard in White Bear Lake. I want to get apples and I thought maybe they'd like to stroller around there a little -- if it's nicer than today. So maybe I'll have some pictures from that to post.
Waiting for them to wake up from afternoon nap, which should happen anytime. So I better go.
Maddie checked out fine. Just a little excema to deal with.
Ben is going to see a pediatric opthamologist, first because of the clogged tearduct he has had since birth and second because the doctor thought she noticed something in one of his eyes that might indicate it's not working properly. Jamey had the same problem as a child and it was never fully corrected, so now he can only see out of one eye. So that is a bit disturbing -- particularly on top of the fact that Ben is having a CT scan next Wednesday to check out the hard, bony lump on his chin. They will have to sedate him for that, so I'm sure it's not going to be a fun day.
Last night I went out with some of my sorority sisters. We went to the BODIES exhibit at the Mall of America and then got drinks and something to eat. I didn't get home until 11:30.
Then had to be up and out the door before 6:30 am to work at the Moms of Multiples sale. I also had a chance to shop and brought home lots of clothes and toys and a few books. I got some ride-on and walker type things that they will like when they start walking in a few months, so those are tucked away. Then a few other smaller toys that they will start using now or perhaps in a few months. All the clothes will be for this winter.
Tomorrow I'm thinking about taking them to an orchard in White Bear Lake. I want to get apples and I thought maybe they'd like to stroller around there a little -- if it's nicer than today. So maybe I'll have some pictures from that to post.
Waiting for them to wake up from afternoon nap, which should happen anytime. So I better go.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
9 months old
Now that it is October 1st, that means Ben & Maddie are 9 months old. That also means that they have been alive longer than they were in the womb. What a milestone!
They are changing every day. Some days it seems like they are different when I get home from work than they were that morning.
Both are crawling in their own ways. Maddie squirms across the floor on her belly, one arm bent in a 90-degree angle that she uses to leverage herself forward, the other arm more in a reaching position. Sometimes she gets up on her knees and rocks back and forth, looking like she's ready to do a traditional crawl.
Ben on the other hand just got up on his hands and knees and within a day was crawling. He only goes a few paces at a time before falling down, but each day he goes a bit further and a bit faster.
Gates will have to be added to our household decor very soon!
Ben now has six teeth -- four across the top and two on the bottom. Maddie has two on the bottom and two on top, and is getting a third on top. (It seems to be causing her a bit of pain, unfortunately)
Both are now babbling like crazy. Baba, mama, dada are the most common sounds. Not sure if "mama" and "dada" actually refer to us or are just sounds they are making. Still it makes my heart melt when they say "Mama."
I'll end my birthday message for my babies with this fabulous quote from a fellow Minnesotan that I just found at the end of a magazine. It was displayed along with a picture of a mom and her baby.
"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much a heart can hold." --Zelda Fitzgerald.
They are changing every day. Some days it seems like they are different when I get home from work than they were that morning.
Both are crawling in their own ways. Maddie squirms across the floor on her belly, one arm bent in a 90-degree angle that she uses to leverage herself forward, the other arm more in a reaching position. Sometimes she gets up on her knees and rocks back and forth, looking like she's ready to do a traditional crawl.
Ben on the other hand just got up on his hands and knees and within a day was crawling. He only goes a few paces at a time before falling down, but each day he goes a bit further and a bit faster.
Gates will have to be added to our household decor very soon!
Ben now has six teeth -- four across the top and two on the bottom. Maddie has two on the bottom and two on top, and is getting a third on top. (It seems to be causing her a bit of pain, unfortunately)
Both are now babbling like crazy. Baba, mama, dada are the most common sounds. Not sure if "mama" and "dada" actually refer to us or are just sounds they are making. Still it makes my heart melt when they say "Mama."
I'll end my birthday message for my babies with this fabulous quote from a fellow Minnesotan that I just found at the end of a magazine. It was displayed along with a picture of a mom and her baby.
"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much a heart can hold." --Zelda Fitzgerald.
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