Skoda VRS Mega Man-Pram

While trying to get ideas for baby gear, I came across this webpage talking about this souped-up stroller for really manly dads.  Apparently, the Czech automaker, Skoda, surveyed over 1,000 fathers about why they don’t spend more time pushing their babies around in strollers.  The overwhelming answer was that baby strollers aren’t manly enough.  So, Skoda decided to design and manufacture the VRS Mega Man-Pram Baby Stroller, targeted specifically at fathers.  It has 20-inch wheels, hydraulic suspension, a spoiler, mirrors, over-sized brake calipers, brake lights, and a head lamp.  Unfortunately, they never made them available to buy, but it looks fun nonetheless. 

I’m sure I can find a body shop to do some custom work on our stroller!  Maybe add some NOS, a 3-point seatbelt harness, hand-stitched leather interior, and a sparkly paint job.

Setback

Lord, we found out today that neither of the embryos from the last cycle are without issues.  So, that leaves us with just the one from the first cycle.  To say the least, this is a major setback, not just to the process, but to our already unstable, immature hope.  This has become unbelievably scary and confusing.  We are literally putting all of our eggs in one basket.  I am not concerned with whether You can or will make something of that one.  I still believe in Your promise and Your awesome power.  But I would be lying if I said I wasn't warring against my humanity.  I'm scared.  I wanted to have unshakable faith, but I'm scared.  So, I'm bringing it to You.  Bring me peace.  Let me feel that You're still with me.  And not just me, but my wife too.  We need You more than ever.

I'm trying not to think too far ahead, but I know we had our hearts set on at least two.  Which now seems like a distant possibility now.  But those conversations are going to come up, and we're going to need Your guidance.  I know You have a plan and that we may not get to see it all now, but help us stay focused on You.  I know that what You do is better...I know it, but sometimes it's hard to accept in the midst of it all.  Please draw us closer to You and each other.  Help us endure.

Our Pre-Babies Might Be Mammoths

Every time I talk to my wife, I learn more and more about this process.  Our two little pre-babies passed the first checklist and went for genetic screening.  This process apparently takes a while, and the pre-babies can’t survive that long outside the womb, so they freeze them until they get the green light and we’re ready to proceed.

When my wife told me this, I immediately imagined our pre-babies frozen in a block of clear ice like one of those mammoths in the movies.  Some crazy expression frozen on its face, caught and preserved.  I don’t guess pre-babies have faces or expressions yet at this stage.  Although, my super-intelligent wife would probably tell me that they’re expressing genes and traits already…or some such overly-scientific explanation.  Whereas, I choose to live in my imagination.  An imagination where pre-babies are painted on cave walls, possibly being hunted by primitive man, or being love and revered.  And besides this crude expression of life, we now have actual evidence frozen in time.  Proof that pre-babies exist and did exist.

Frozo Baby

Father, we just received news from the clinic that both of our pre-babies from the second round are growing and progressing.  One of them is unusually-shaped, so it's not guaranteed to be healthy.  The next step is genetic screening, so we're not out of the woods yet, but it is another milestone to be thankful for.  Thank You so much for blessing us.  Thank You for hope.  Please watch over them.  Help them be healthy and okay.  We commit them into Your loving hands.

Please watch over our frozo-baby too.  Keep it safe until You're ready to bring it into the world.  Give us patience and hope.  Allow us to enjoy this moment with You now.  And thank You for being amazing and proving the world wrong through us.

Mutant Pre-Babies

We received a call today from the clinic that one of our little pre-babies has an oddity about it.  It has developed a cavity in the middle of it that is normally not seen for another 2-3 days.  The clinician said that in her 15 years of doing this, she has never seen a pre-baby do this this early.  She said at this point, all we can do is wait to see what it will do next.

So, it appears that our pre-baby is a mutant or something.  We’re pretty sure it will come out with super powers, so the question remains as to how it will manifest itself.  The spousal unit believes it will come out with super speed like Quicksilver, whereas I think it’s going to come out with accelerated regeneration like Wolverine.  We’re both pretty adamant that we’re right, so I guess it’ll be resolved when the baby comes out with lamb chops on its cheeks!

The Thirsty Whale

We were going to the clinic today for another egg extraction.  Of course, the side activity is an extraction of my very own.  This round has been a little harder and less “happy” than the last one.  I think life has just been beating us both down a little, and it’s been harder to stay positive and happy about the process.  I figured that we needed all of the encouragement that we could get, so I wore the Thirsty Whale shirt that I got in Bar Harbor, MA.  I needed the boys to swim, and I figured what better way to show them what I wanted than to wear a shirt with a whale on it.