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This is the place to talk about reviews posted on the website. Agree or disagree. Be respectful and you're welcome to comment.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
The ultrasound was not good. Although there is renal tissue, the baby's kidneys are shriveled, and there is no amniotic fluid. This is called Potter's Syndrome. The only hope for this child is to hope for a true miracle.
My brother and his wife seem to be handling this as well as can be expected, but it certainly won't be easy. Considering the situation, they went ahead and learned that this baby is a boy.
This is obviously a sad time, but life does go forward. Beyond that, I'm out of words, because no words can truly represent what a tragedy this is.
Christina
My brother and his wife seem to be handling this as well as can be expected, but it certainly won't be easy. Considering the situation, they went ahead and learned that this baby is a boy.
This is obviously a sad time, but life does go forward. Beyond that, I'm out of words, because no words can truly represent what a tragedy this is.
Christina
Thursday, May 25, 2006
I don't have the heart to rewrite this, so I'm going to copy/past what I wrote to friends.
*****
My brother and his wife are expecting a baby in August. They learned today that the ultrasound tech couldn't find either kidney or the kidneys' blood vessels. Apparently, the baby doesn't appear to be making urine, either.
They're going to a specialist in Fort Wayne soon for a better ultrasound. The doctor has allowed that the baby may have been moving around too much, so they're hoping to find even just one kidney. I have a sad feeling that was said more to comfort them and allow some hope than for any other reason. I hope to God I'm wrong about that. If the initial ultrasound was correct, this baby has no chance of survival.
Either way, they plan to learn the gender (they were going to wait for it to be a surprise) so they can name it.
They've been married just shy of two years and both have had a lot of struggles. This is their first child together (her abusive ex-husband forced her to have an abortion several years ago).
Christina
Right now, this blog looks very plain with just the bookshelf image in the background. As I get more time, I'll tinker and make it look better.
For now, it is late and I have a hectic week ahead of me.
Christina
I'm getting ready to post a review for Showdown by Tilly Bagshawe. The hardcover is scheduled to be released on June 13, 2006.
I reviewed Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard this week. I gave it "5-Books" and titled the review "Profound." It WAS profound. The book was told from the main character's perspective and followed the worst four years of her life. As a twelve-year-old, her two little sisters were murdered--almost literally under her nose--by a schizophrenic man. The story stretched from that to the point at which she chose to pursue her version of justice.
This book has been sliding on the bestseller list (#32 on NYT's list as of yesterday), and nobody can figure out why. I certainly don't have answers, but it got me thinking. Do we go through cycles of reading comedies versus tragedies? If so, would this be in response to their lives, world/national news, or the seasons? After 9/11 began to settle a bit, it seemed that comedies were in raving demand. People wanted to think about something happy.
What do you think? For books like Cage of Stars, is success dependent on the news or weather? Or is success dependent solely on the author's storytelling ability and reputation?
Again, I sure don't know. But I'll tell you, when you're in a good emotional place, read Cage of Stars. It will make you think. A lot.
Christina
I'm Christina, the owner, operator, and head reviewer for Wantz Upon A Time Book Reviews. I started the site in December 2005, and it's been growing ever since. I strive to provide fair book reviews that don't go over people's heads. So many reviewers write in a style more suited to literary academia that the average reader ends up scratching his or her head and saying "Huh?"
The purpose for this blog is to share reactions to the reviews posted on the site. My reviewers and I usually know what we're doing, but we're not perfect, and a review is a matter of opinion anyway.
So feel free to share your opinions, as long as you show respect to the other commenters. I reserve the right to remove offensive or inflammatory posts, and I will do it should that become necessary.
Again, Welcome. I hope you enjoy the Wantz Upon A Time Blog!
Christina Wantz Fixemer
www.wantzuponatime.com
*****
My brother and his wife are expecting a baby in August. They learned today that the ultrasound tech couldn't find either kidney or the kidneys' blood vessels. Apparently, the baby doesn't appear to be making urine, either.
They're going to a specialist in Fort Wayne soon for a better ultrasound. The doctor has allowed that the baby may have been moving around too much, so they're hoping to find even just one kidney. I have a sad feeling that was said more to comfort them and allow some hope than for any other reason. I hope to God I'm wrong about that. If the initial ultrasound was correct, this baby has no chance of survival.
Either way, they plan to learn the gender (they were going to wait for it to be a surprise) so they can name it.
They've been married just shy of two years and both have had a lot of struggles. This is their first child together (her abusive ex-husband forced her to have an abortion several years ago).
Christina
Sunday, May 21, 2006
New Look - I'm Getting Braver with my Blog
I am SO proud! Everything I know about web publishing is something I learned on my own. Tonight, I finally figured out that I CAN customize my blog without destroying it, and now it will match the main website.Right now, this blog looks very plain with just the bookshelf image in the background. As I get more time, I'll tinker and make it look better.
For now, it is late and I have a hectic week ahead of me.
Christina
Friday, May 19, 2006
Updates, New Reviews, & Cage of Stars
I got my Dreamweaver 8 upgrade software today. For those who don't know, Dreamweaver is one of the leading web design tools. This upgrade has mixed reviews, but by all accounts, it should be a step up from Dreamweaver 4, which I've been using for several years. That said, I plan to upgrade the site in some ways. You all might not see the changes, but they'll save me a lot of time!I'm getting ready to post a review for Showdown by Tilly Bagshawe. The hardcover is scheduled to be released on June 13, 2006.
I reviewed Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard this week. I gave it "5-Books" and titled the review "Profound." It WAS profound. The book was told from the main character's perspective and followed the worst four years of her life. As a twelve-year-old, her two little sisters were murdered--almost literally under her nose--by a schizophrenic man. The story stretched from that to the point at which she chose to pursue her version of justice.
This book has been sliding on the bestseller list (#32 on NYT's list as of yesterday), and nobody can figure out why. I certainly don't have answers, but it got me thinking. Do we go through cycles of reading comedies versus tragedies? If so, would this be in response to their lives, world/national news, or the seasons? After 9/11 began to settle a bit, it seemed that comedies were in raving demand. People wanted to think about something happy.
What do you think? For books like Cage of Stars, is success dependent on the news or weather? Or is success dependent solely on the author's storytelling ability and reputation?
Again, I sure don't know. But I'll tell you, when you're in a good emotional place, read Cage of Stars. It will make you think. A lot.
Christina
Monday, May 15, 2006
Welcome to the Wantz Upon A Time Blog!
I'm Christina, the owner, operator, and head reviewer for Wantz Upon A Time Book Reviews. I started the site in December 2005, and it's been growing ever since. I strive to provide fair book reviews that don't go over people's heads. So many reviewers write in a style more suited to literary academia that the average reader ends up scratching his or her head and saying "Huh?"
The purpose for this blog is to share reactions to the reviews posted on the site. My reviewers and I usually know what we're doing, but we're not perfect, and a review is a matter of opinion anyway.
So feel free to share your opinions, as long as you show respect to the other commenters. I reserve the right to remove offensive or inflammatory posts, and I will do it should that become necessary.
Again, Welcome. I hope you enjoy the Wantz Upon A Time Blog!
Christina Wantz Fixemer
www.wantzuponatime.com
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