Our Big Day

2 years ago our son Sam was born and found to have a rare blood disorder called NAIT. The condition is so rare that it took the doctors many days and many tests to figure out the cause of his low blood platelets.

We did some research on NAIT and found out that because my body has built up antibodies against all my future pregnancies, it may be very hard to carry another baby without dangerous complications.

Last year at the NICU reunion we ran into Sam's doctor who was excited to inform us that there was now a specialist in our area that had experience treating NAIT patients.

Today, after weeks of being excited/afraid/thrilled/nervous, we met the maternal fetal medicine doctor to discuss our options.

He was extremely positive.

Doctor Barford explained to the both of us that because Matt is homozygous for the antigen PLA1, the next pregnancy will for sure need to be treated for NAIT. Because of this, we don't have to do any high risk testing during the pregnancy. At 12 weeks gestation, I will start getting immunoglobulin suppressant transfusions once a week throughout the entire pregnancy. This will be extremely difficult for me, to say the least, but I know it will all be worth it.

I will have to deliver through c-section to lower the risk of bruising to the baby, but the chances of delivering a normal platelet count baby are very good.

Although the treatments for a future pregnancy are extremely expensive and strenuous, there is hope for us to grow our family. It was extremely good news to hear after years of being in the dark about our future.

The next steps are to get better insurance, get an appointment with my fertility doctor and....hire a stork :)

To add to our exciting day, Matt had a really great interview for an AMAZING job. Please think positive thoughts for us...we are hoping and praying that things finally work out this time.

What I know (so far) about chickens.

I am no chicken guru, and I am learning a lot as I go, but I have recently had a lot of questions in regards to "backyard chickens." I figured it would be easiest to answer them all in one big post.

Here ya go!


Are they loud?

Not really. So far (our girls are only 15 weeks old) they have been really quiet. Chickens, unlike roosters, try to stay unannounced to predators so they only make small noises when they are "talking" to each other. Throughout the day they make little "bock" sounds, but you cant even hear it from a few feet away. I have been told though, that they make a loud squawk when they lay, which is only once a day.

How many eggs do you get?

Each chicken will likely lay 1 small egg every day in the first year. Each year the egg will get larger, but less constant. At about age 5 they start to lay about 2-5 a week.

Are they allowed in your neighborhood?

Check out your county regulation. In Snohoish, where we live, hens are allowed 2 to a home. However, your chicken flock should be at least 3 hens so that if something happens to one of the ladies, the other two have each other to keep company.

How expensive are they?

Chickens themselves are VERY cheap. Our hens cost about $2 each. The food and bedding is also very in-expensive, but the coop can cost a pretty penny. When we were looking we found coops anywhere from $200-$700.

What kinds of breeds do you recommend?

I am VERY new at backyard chickens, but I did a little research when I was investigating the idea of having hens. First decide what you want from your chickens. Companionship, hardiness, good egg laying or even just for looks are all reasons to house hens. We got three different breeds; Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock and a White Leghorn. They all have very different personalities.

How do you build a coop or where can I find one?

There are a lot of coops and builders on Criagslist or you could check out your local grange for ideas as well. We didn't find one that worked for our family so we found out what the requirements are for a safe coop and designed our own. Coops should be completely closed off to predators, their nesting area should be up off the ground to keep it free from moisture and insects and it needs to be large enough for your entire flock. 

How hard are they to care for?

So far, they are very easy. We clean out their coop once a week and make sure they have food and water daily. If you are a traveler, chickens are perfect for you. If you get a large feeder, chickens can be left alone for days at a time. When they start laying, their eggs will need to be collected as often as possible to keep them from brooding. We spoil our chickens by letting them have free range of the yard during the day, and we make sure they are locked up and safe every night. 

Do they fly?

Kinda...not really...but kinda. Our Leghorn has made it to the top of our fence, and could easily get away if she was brave enough. Ooccasionally when something startles them the girls will "fly" from one side of the yard to the other. If you notice that they are gaining height, clip one of their wings which is an easy and pain free task to keep them more grounded.

Do they ruin your yard or garden?

Our grass seems to be immune to the daily peckings. They do eat it, but it doesn't seem to be a problem.  However, my girls are extremely fond of Hostas, Bush Bean Leaves and Blueberries. So I have to net off the plants that they bother to keep them from destroying my plant babies. BUT, did you know that chicken manure is the best fertilizer for yards and gardens? Well, it is. So they are actually doing a lot of good there.

Are you going to eat them?

Probably not. Dotty and Doris are both considered "meat" birds but we are pretty attached to our fouls. There are people who butcher and dinner-ize their birds after they stop laying eggs daily. I understand this, but I'm not sure I have the stomach for it. But, if an emergency arises, I could do it. I would just leave the "murder" task to Matty. :)

When do they start producing eggs?

Most chicken breeds start laying eggs at about 20-25 weeks of age. They grown FAST. We are very excited for our fresh eggs to start appearing!


I hope that helps! If there are any questions I left unanswered, there are tons of great websites out there for people hoping to add chickens to their yard. There is even a "Chicken Keeping for Dummies" book!

Update #2 - The "Chick Inn"

Matt and I searched for weeks trying to find a chicken coop that we liked. We wanted something that didn't take up a lot of room, was small enough for 3 chickens and cheap enough to keep our bank accounts at a positive.

We didn't find anything we liked or could afford. So we put together a design of our own.

We sawed, measured and hammered for about a week straight. It was a lot of work but so worth it. The finished product turned out better than I could have ever imagined.

Matthew is the man. He painted it and framed it the same color as our own house. I am so impressed with the "Chick Inn!"

We installed a locking "egg" door so that they wont have to be bothered when we collect eggs in the morning.

This is my artistic addition to the house. :) I also made a pretty fancy ladder.

Our lucky chickens even have porch lights. We are hoping that these, along with the solar powered motion light, deter raccoons and other predators from bothering the girls.

They have a lovely view of the garden. The whole front of the coop opens up for easy cleaning and the bottom door is opened for them every morning to have access to the backyard.

Hanging food buckets. These are imperative to keeping bugs and dirt out of the food and water. These were a good investment.

Oh yeah, and the girls LOVE their house. They can dig for bugs in the gravel, sleep in a warm room and gaze our their window.
Every morning they greet me at their front door, and every night they snuggle up together in their roost just as the sun goes down.

Moley Russell's Wart

(If you are confused in regards to my post title, please rent yourself "Uncle Buck" and come back when you're more comically prepared.)


I have many moles.  But I am lucky enough to have had 7 of them removed, tested and found to be benign.

(Don't be confused by the above image. I am talking about skin moles. But let's be honest, a big picture of one of those wouldnt be nearly as cute as that guy.)

Yesterday I went in to have a full body check with my dermatologist and ended up having one mole "shave biopsied". This mole was taken off more for vengeance purposes (it grew really big and ugly when I was pregnant) rather than any pre-cancerous worry. It was right in my hair line and I was always self conscience about it when I pulled my hair up. And now, it's gone. Mwahaha.

I am a big baby when it comes to needles, doctors or any one cutting my skin off. (weird, I know.) But it was so much easier than I could have imagined. I actually walked out of there wishing I had had more removed.

The Doc said that none of my moles were looking suspicious and that all I needed to do was wear sun screen and come back in a year for another check up.

So, readers, now that the summer has finally arrived make sure you are UV protected and make an apt with your dermatologist if you have any "odd" moles or concerns. Here are some great links with some important information that I found very reassuring.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/moles-freckles-skin-tags

http://moleswartremover.com/tag/skin-cancer-symptoms/

Also, check this out. Did you know that there are MOLE READINGS? According to this website I am "Prone to have trouble during childbirth" and "Prone to be robbed".

http://wenhousecrafts.com/facereading/moles2.htm

Let me know what your moles say about you!