So I've decided to blog

I am a sharing-type person. I love to share news, favorites, recipes, inventions, stories, and all sorts of other things that I may find interesting. I frequently run out of people with whom I can share! -This drives my poor husband crazy because I then tell him the same stories over and over, putting him into a stupor.


So I've decided to blog. It is a perfect solution because I can pretend I am sharing with, and helping hundreds of people when in reality I may just be talking to myself and enjoying it way too much. That's the beauty of it.


And now I'll cut to the chase: my fourth child was born on October 15, 2009 with arthrogryposis (ARTH-row-gripe-OH-siss) Muliplex Congenita (AMC). It affects joints and makes them stiff, and sometimes stuck in one position. I did not know he had this condition until he was born. We named him Brigham, and aside from his arms being fixed in a straightened position, his wrists and hands looking folded and twisted, and his knees that were bent and would not straighten to 90 degrees, and his poor little clubfeet, he's absolutely perfect. The emotions I had were sadness, grief, loss, and worry. People frequently ask me "Well, couldn't you see it on ultrasound?" The answer there would be YES. I could definitely see that he looked different. The ultrasound technician could also tell he was different. I know this because she said things like "Hmmm... that's a funny position, but his spine looks good" "there's nothing wrong" (second ultrasound) "oh, yeah, I remember THIS baby, he's the one who doesn't like the fetal position" (third ultrasound) "Oh, there's that little baby again" I paid extra for 3D pictures that time, but she would only give me pictures of his face, which in hindsight I really should have brought up with her. I could have asked the doctor to look at him, but when you have a certified technician there telling you 'everything is fine' it doesn't cross your mind as much as it does after you learn something really WAS wrong.


 My suggestion to you is: Question EVERYTHING!! ...and if you feel uncomfortable or like a big Meany doing it, just blame me. I won't mind. I just want the awareness to get out there for people like me and so many others who were thrown into this without any previous knowledge of the rare condition called arthrogryposis, how to deal with it, or even how to spell it. To those who feel lost, sad, scared out of their minds, helpless, hopeless, and are worrying, I want to help you through it and perhaps make it a bit easier.


So I've decided to blog... Because of Brigham.