Who is me?

My name is Judye.  I am wife of Craig.  Mommy to Tessa and Amanda.  And Mommy also to Alexander who is a CHERUB in Heaven.

I am a parent who has lost a child.  Alexander was my first baby.  He was diagnosed at 16wks gestation with Congenital  Diaphragmatic Hernia, a birth defect that occurs 1 out of 2500 births.  I faced a difficult pregnancy and ended up on bed rest in the hospital for part of it, experiencing some scary side effects from medications.  He was born at 32 wks and weighed 4 lbs 4.5oz.  Pretty big for a 32 wk preemie.  He fought for 6 hours.  And we held him only long enough to say goodbye.

I had our daughter, Tessa, one year and ten days later.  She is a smart and very sweet-hearted little girl.  She is my mini-me.  She looks like me.  Is a clutz like me.  And even talks like me.

Our second daughter was born 22 months after Tessa.  Amanda is our fey-touched little girl.  She was diagnosed with Autism at 28 months old.  Every day is a struggle for our smart little girl but she is so smart, beautiful and has a laugh that never fails to make me smile.

I enjoy crocheting, knitting, sewing, reading and playing online video games( yes, I am THAT type of geek). I have been crocheting and knitting for CHERUBS which is a support for families dealing with CDH and I am now trying to branch out in Bereavement items for families that are losing a child.

Feel free to join along for some geek talk, crocheting and knitting, charity work and my insane life.