Bilzzard Fleece & HIV

I know, weird title today. But it's the two topics I'm thinking about right now, so it made sense to me.

Kate Schutz has me thinking about HIV+ babies and kids. She got me started reading on an addictive blog by a mom of 11 kids, 2 HIV+ ETH babies. The blog is here: Full House Full Hearts Full Hands. Read it, it's superbly amazing!! Basically this woman just opened up her heart and this is where her and her husband landed. She is now an advocate for HIV+ and transracial adoption and works at an adoption agency. Click here to learn more about HIV+ adoption.

For those who don't know, because I see this blog as educational as well as super-fun, HIV is no longer considered a terminal disease. It is chronic and managable. In fact, many babies born to HIV + moms have such low levels in their blood that they only required frequent medical checks, no medications at all. Others require daily medication but suffer no ill side effects. Gone are the days of completely shot immune systems. These kids are living healthy, active, "normal" lives, (whatever that means.) Its really amazing how far medicine has come. And heck, the chances of a "cure" in our lifetimes seems more like a reality every day, so who knows what the future holds.

Since I'm a person with a chronic, non-fatal disease, I think I am uniquely qualified to "get" chronic diseases. As such, I really want to open up my heart and see what happens. Gregg and I have started by "opening up" the conversation. Does this mean we are going to adoption an HIV+ baby/toddler/older child for adoption No. 2? I don't know. It means we are considering it. And I have to say, my heart is really leading me in that direction. In the meantime, it means we are becoming more educated and hopefully, are going to become advocates for HIV+ adoption. Why? Because ALL kids deserve forever families. Period. End of story.

Blizzard Fleece what? Blizzard fleece is just a type of printed fleece fabric. It's great for blankets. I'm looking at blizzard fleece fabrics online because I'm going to enjoy the current sale going on at my local fabric store and get fabrics tonight for the Christmas blankets I'm making. I already called my mom and got the "green light" on a John Deere blanket for dad. I think he's gonna love it! Instead of the uber-expensive Disney licensed fleece ($12.99/year) for Em, I think she's gonna get butterflies or balerinas. She'll still love it. I am looking for dinosaurs for Liv, but my fallback is Pooh. (since it's not disney it's not so expensive.) Most of the Blizzard Fleece is now on sale for $4.99/yard which, with my 10% off coupon, is too good to pass up. (And keep in mind that toddler blankets are about 1/2 the size of adult blankets so it takes almost no material!)

I'll go tonight and will be in fleece heaven at home by 7:30 pm. I think I'm gonna make one for myself as well, considering Lola has appropriated all of my throw blankets in the house. By appropriated, I mean she has taken them, slobbered on them, carries them around like a binky in her mouth, and has chewed holes in them. Nice! so I need my own blanket because I'm not interested in dog slobber while I'm trying to take a nap. Call me crazy, but there it is. I found a gorgous pink & brown argyle and I think I'm gonna pair it with a pink ribbon print on the other side. Who's living room doesn't need more pink? Right??