In The Life Of A Child Is Home To The Following:
Scroll down for individual details…
The Finding Courage Through Sharing Blog Carnival is officially ready for launch!
Finding Courage Through Sharing is a monthly blog carnival hosted at In The Life Of A Child on the last Thursday of each month. The very first edition will begin this month on Thursday, April 24th.
Now I bet you have some questions… yep… I thought so. I see that hand!
So, what is this all about?
Oh, I’m so glad you asked! Through blogging, I’ve become aware of a large community of parents struggling through extreme medical challenges with their children. The purpose of this carnival is to give these parents a voice, a place to connect, to grieve a loss or a setback, to share a concern, a frustration, or to share those rare and wonderful triumphs… and to begin trying to heal. It is meant for any parent who has been through any form of medical challenge with their child, and also for those who are still in the midst of facing those challenges.
So, where do you fit in?
Me? I’m one of those parents. I’ve been there. I get it. I’ve seen my child code in the NICU, and again in an MRI suite. I’ve done that emergency trach change all by myself as my child turned blue before my eyes. I know what it feels like to not be able to hold your baby because of all those wires and tubes blocking any chance of a cuddle. I’ve fought with those insurance companies while I was ready to drop from exhaustion so my child could have a shot at life. I know what it feels like to get up every ten minutes throughout the night to alarming feeding pumps and apnea monitors. I know how intimidating those laundry piles look when your child suffers from insanely relentless reflux. Just take a peek at Jacqui’s Story and you’ll know why I have a heart for this sort of thing.
How is this going to work?
On the 15th of every month, I will post a topic for the month so you can start working on your post if you choose to participate. Then on the last Thursday of the month come back here and you will find a post entitled ‘Finding Courage Through Sharing Blog Carnival ~ April 2008′, or whatever the current date is. The first part of the post will contain my post contribution and at the end of the post you will see a little “Mr. Linky” box that looks like this:
In the first blank in the box, enter your name or your screen name. In the second blank box, enter the URL (Uniform Resource Locater, or web address) of your post. This is different from the web address of your blog. To find the web address of your post, simply click on the title of your post in your blog then look up at the top of your screen in that first really long white box up there. The URL of your post should start with “http://”. Copy that whole line and paste it into that second blank in the box at my place. Then click enter. Your link will now show up in my post. Note that it will say “delete link” next to your name, but don’t worry… you are the only one who can see the “delete link” next to your name. Since you are the author of the link, it gives you the option to delete what you just posted if you choose to. Finally, scroll down and leave a comment with anything you have to say (hopefully nice) about my post and you can leave a brief note about your post there as well, if you like. Some people like to leave a link to their post in the comment too, and you are welcome to do so. Then go start clicking on some of the other great posts that start showing up and share a few tears, hugs or a good laugh. Make some new friends, or get to know some old friends better. Find the courage to get up in the morning and start the day over again… that is what this is all about.
Are there any rules?
Oh, don’t be silly… of course there are rules. 
I’m a mom… rules are what I do. Don’t worry… they won’t be too hard.
1. Please keep in mind when you are writing posts for this carnival, that In The Life Of A Child is “family friendly” blog and I work very hard to keep it that way. I reserve the right to remove links to posts which include offensive or inappropriate language, or those containing rude, or objectionable content. I will always make an effort to contact the author of such a post, refer them to the participation rules, notify them that their link has been removed, and offer them the opportunity to reformat their post for re-submission.
2. Please mention the Finding Courage Through Sharing Blog Carnival in your post, and publish a link back to my master list here at In The Life Of A Child. Please make sure you link specifically to the URL for my blog carnival post for that month and not just to my home page.
3. You are most welcome, and I encourage you to publish the button code provided below in your entry post and/or your sidebar, but it is not a requirement. It just helps spread the word so that more parents will be interested in joining in. (And you’ll have my undying gratitude!)
Get The Code For The Finding Courage Through Sharing Blog Carnival Button:
(Just copy the code below and paste into your post or sidebar template)
If you need more detailed help on how to add images to your post, click here.
4. Please only leave a link if you have written a post specifically for this carnival. Empty links, spam links or links that are off topic will be deleted.
5. Please link specifically to your Finding Courage Through Sharing post, not to the front page of your blog. This is called a permalink and you can click here for an explanation of how to set one up and why this is important.
6. I prefer to keep things simple, with In The Life Of A Child as the only home page for Finding Courage Through Sharing and have registered it through Mr. Linky as a private meme. Please do not attempt to host a copy of Finding Courage Through Sharing at your own site using your own “Mr. Linky” account.
What is the topic for April?
After April, I will be posting the topic for the month on the 15th of each month, but this month you get to see it early. For our first edition here, let’s just get acquainted. In whatever format you choose, write a post sharing who you are, the basics of your child’s story and one thing that really stood out to you from your child’s first major hospital or medical experience and why. I’ll put up a reminder post this month one week before the 24th so you don’t forget. Click on the “Subscribe” button in the upper left corner of my blog and you’ll make sure you never miss an update. Sound like a plan? Ok then… start writing, spread the word, and we’ll see you on the 24th!
Want to look up an older ‘Finding Courage Through Sharing’ post? Visit the Finding Courage Through Sharing Archive!
Calling All Parents…The Picky Eater’s Club is coming to you soon!
This monthly blog carnival style tips feature will soon be hosted at In The Life Of A Child on the second Thursday of every month. Are you ready? Mark your calendars, because the very first edition begins Thursday, May 8th!
What’s that, you say? You’ve got some questions? Well, let’s hear them!
So, what is this Picky Eater’s Club that I keep hearing about?
The Picky Eater’s Club is an opportunity for parents to share tips on how they have gotten their picky eaters to eat, to solicit advice from other families who have had successes, and to otherwise commiserate and encourage each other as parents in the challenges of getting our picky little kiddos to eat something other than ice cream and chicken nuggets. It’s also intended to be a resource for parents facing extreme eating challenges with a child. Ever hear of feeding clinic? Have a kid on a G-tube that you are trying to get to even tolerate having food in the same room with them? Welcome. You’ve come to the right place. The entire spectrum of picky-ness is welcome here - whether you just wish you could get your child to eat a vegatable now and then, or you would be ecstatic if your child would allow anything near their mouth without the aid of general anesthesia, this is the place for you. Together we can accomplish great things!
So, what’s your story?
Are you sure you want to hear it? Well, ok… My daughter has both severe reflux and a rare condition known as cyclic vomiting syndrome, or CVS (Well… among other things). When she was two weeks old, her windpipe collapsed and she spent the next six weeks on a ventillator. A trach and G-tube were placed and it was another three weeks before we brought her home. My husband and I simultaneously battled to attempt to control her reflux and interest her in eating by mouth through endless hours in feeding clinic and therapy at home. It was a long process. And that is the understatement of the century. At eighteen months old she had a Nissen fundoplication surgery to prevent her constant vomiting. It was another seven months until she was additionally diagnosed with CVS and another 9 months before we learned how to manage that diagnosis. She was four years old before we successfully weaned her off tube feedings and she still has intermittent tube feedings during her CVS episodes. And now we are additionally dealing with the typical challenges of a picky eater. So let’s just say I’ve been around the dining table a few times. I’m learning new ideas from ingenious parents on this subject nearly every day though. And I’m looking forward to learning even more from each of you… and sharing with you some of my hard learned tricks for getting picky kiddos and children with extreme medical challenges to eat as well.
How is this going to work?
On the first of every month, I will post a topic for the month so you can start working on your post if you choose to participate. Then on the second Thursday of the month, come back here and you will find a post entitled ‘Picky Eaters Club ~ May 2008′, or whatever the current date is. The first part of the post will contain my post contribution and at the end of the post you will see a little “Mr. Linky” box that looks like this:
In the first blank in the box, enter your name or your screen name. In the second blank box, enter the URL (Uniform Resource Locater, or web address) of your post. This is different from the web address of your blog. To find the web address of your post, simply click on the title of your post in your blog then look up at the top of your screen in that first really long white box up there. The URL of your post should start with “http://”. Copy that whole line and paste it into that second blank in the box at my place. Then click enter. Your link will now show up in my post. Note that it will say “delete link” next to your name, but don’t worry… you are the only one who can see the “delete link” next to your name. Since you are the author of the link, it gives you the option to delete what you just posted if you choose to. Finally, scroll down and leave a comment with anything you have to say (hopefully nice) about my post and you can leave a brief note about your post there as well, if you like. Some people like to leave a link to their post in the comment too, and you are welcome to do so. Then go start clicking on some of the other great posts that start showing up and share a few tears, hugs or a good laugh. Learn something new, share a recent breakthrough, find the strength to face another month of breakfast battles. Together we can accomplish great things!
Are there any rules?
Of course there are! Now what kind of a mom would I be if there weren’t any rules?
(Don’t worry though… they’re pretty straightforward.)
1. Please keep in mind when you are writing posts for Picky Eater’s Club, that In The Life Of A Child is “family friendly” blog and I work very hard to keep it that way. I reserve the right to remove links to posts which include offensive or inappropriate language, or those containing rude, or objectionable content. I will always make an effort to contact the author of such a post, refer them to the participation rules, notify them that their link has been removed, and offer them the opportunity to reformat their post for re-submission.
2. Please mention Picky Eater’s Club in your post, and publish a link back to my master list here at In The Life Of A Child. Please make sure you link specifically to the URL for my Picky Eater’s Club post for that month and not just to my home page.
3. You are most welcome, and I encourage you to publish the button code provided below in your entry post and/or your sidebar, but it is not a requirement. It just helps spread the word so that more parents will be interested in joining in. (And you’ll have my undying gratitude!)
Get The Code For The Picky Eater’s Club:
(Just copy the code below and paste into your post or sidebar template)
If you need more detailed help on how to add images to your post, click here.
4. Please only leave a link if you have written a post specifically for Picky Eater’s Club. Empty links, spam links or links that are off topic will be deleted.
5. Please link specifically to your Picky Eater’s Club post, not to the front page of your blog. This is called a permalink and you can click here for an explanation of how to set one up and why this is important.
6. I prefer to keep things simple, with In The Life Of A Child as the only home page for Picky Eater’s Club and have registered it through Mr. Linky as a private meme. Please do not attempt to host a copy of Picky Eater’s Club at your own site using your own “Mr. Linky” account.
What is the topic for May?
After May, I will be posting the topic for the month on the first of each month, but you get to see it early this time. For our first edition here, let’s introduce ourselves, and our picky eater (or eaters). Then in whatever format you choose, share one tip for a success you’ve had with your picky eater, or ask for tips for dealing one challenge that you’ve been facing with your picky eater. I’ll try to include a tip both for the standard picky eater and for the picky eater with additional medical challenges in each of my posts. I will put up a reminder post one week before May 8th so you don’t forget. Click on the “Subscribe” button in the upper left corner of my blog and you’ll make sure you never miss an update. Are you ready to do this? Good! Then start working on that post, spread the word, and we’ll see you back here on May 8th!
Want to look up an older ‘Picky Eater’s Club’ Post? Visit the Picky Eater’s Club Archive!
The Singing In The Rain Award from In The Life Of A Child is a very special award that I will be bestowing for posts that I find around the blogosphere demonstrating perseverance through extreme challenges, beginning April, 2008. If you receive this award, you are welcome to pass it along to another blogger when you find them keeping a spring in their step and a smile on their face during tough times. So start singing… you never know when I might be listening in…
Want read some of the ‘Singing In The Rain Award’ recipient’s posts? Visit the Singing In The Rain Award Recipient Archive!
