Hormones, Progress, and Boobs

Claire is finally starting to see some changes start up again from the new dose of hormones. Our visit to the endo a couple of months ago revealed that her dose of the past year wasn't really high enough to suppress the evil testosterone levels enough to let the estrogen really work. So now she's off the patch and on pills.

We're definitely seeing the effects of the T dropping, which is awesome.

Of course, the *big* issue around here is bra size. She's a full A now, and thrilled to be so. She is rather tall and thin (grrr - so jealous!) so if she hits a full B she'll be happy. What I find funny is the fact that she is a combination of enthralled and miserable at the current growth. Pains, tenderness, etc--while uncomfortable--are reassuring because they are accompanied by growth. I catch her prodding them sometimes and marveling at the real breast tissue that is giving her the long awaited proper changes. For instance, overheard in the Rushden house the other night - "wow, they're getting HEAVY!"

But the part that makes me really giggle is when she tries to go to sleep. She shifts around about 5 times sighing and fussing because the way she's slept her whole life doesn't work anymore now that she has boobs in the way (cue evil laughter as I recall abject misery during pregnancy). I have no sympathy. She doesn't know where to put her arms to sleep, and I find it so funny. She's cute in her misery ;)

She has discovered tank tops and now walks around the house braless in the tank top and lovely swishy linen pants, her hair now past her shoulders and highlighted with blonde streaks, feeling lovely and girly, and looking like a vision of beauty to me.

What a cool journey this is :)

Annie

We're still alive and kicking :)

Sorry for the long dry spell.

We've been doing great. We had a lovely Thanksgiving. I hope you did as well.

I really have a lot to say, but I've put this off too late tonight. So, I'll just post a couple of quick things.

I really like Atlanta. Claire doesn't. But two things happened today that made me proud to be here.

First, this morning, I needed some milk for my tea and coffee, so I ran to the corner shop to get some. I passed an older black man in a wheelchair outside, and watched a younger black man giving him some food. Well, from what I gather, he either was begging for food (it was 45 degrees out) or the young man just did it anyway. He apparently bought him two chili dogs and a drink from inside this store.

While I was standing in line, an altercation broke out when the woman (she's generally not a pleasant woman--so I normally don't shop there) that owns the shop walked in followed by the man in the wheelchair. He was raising his voice telling her "I did NOT steal from your shop. I haven't been in here before this very moment. That nice young man gave me this food! I am not a thief!!" She argued with him for a couple of minutes with him asserting his innocence and asking for an apology, because she apparently accused him in public in front of people.

Well, the murmurs started in line from customers...gradually getting louder (and of course, I chimed in too)
"How do you sneak into a store unseen in a wheelchair?"
"I saw someone giving him food"
"Being disabled does not make you a thief"
"He may have been panhandling but why are you accusing him of theft? He hasn't been in here."
(me) The hot dogs are not self serve, they are fixed up and handed to the cashier. How can you steal that? Besides, I saw the guy give him the food."

Finally he left, pride a little mended due to the support he received. As I walked out (vowing to not come back) a coworker fussed and said "I just don't understand why someone would equate wheelchair with thievery. Un-REAL."

Three cheers for people sticking up against bias!!

-=-

On the way home, something happened on MARTA that was also quite funny. Two seeing-impaired gentlemen were making their way to the train platform with the use of their canes. Now, I'm pretty sure that everyone knows that someone with a red-tipped white cane doesn't see very well. Right?

Well, this woman, maybe 25 years old, was standing on the platform with her back to the gentlemen. They came up behind her (tap tap tap - no missing it) and *gasp* tapped her shoe.

Well, rather than just understanding and either moving aside, saying hi or anything else... she (get ready for it) gave them a filthy look (because it's such an effective communication tool in this case?) and moved 10 feet away from them, scowling and rolling her eyes and looking like she had been molested - being quite the drama queen for the crowd.

Now, that's not the great part. The great part was the crowd that witnessed this. A slow murmur of comments started to swell and finally reached the woman's ears saying things like:
"holiday spirit left at the table?"
"wow, *really* mature"
"whoo, honey, that's SOME attitude."
and my personal favorite-
"I guess that hurt your dignity, huh young lady? At least you made sure to put him in his place. Feel better?"

She walked off to the other end of the platform.

That's what I like about Atlanta. In general, people pretty much don't tolerate open disdain of others for disabilities, race etc--at least in a public forum. Of course, it isn't perfect. But that made me feel proud to be part of the community today.

Anyway, take care all, I'll try to post again tomorrow :)

Annie