Rev. Lauren Greene is baptizing Nathan, Noah, and Marcelle today. Erin and Brandon are the godparents, and they are stoked. The parents are actually single moms, which makes this time very special. Diana, Marcelle's mom, and Sandra, Nathan and Noah's mom, are all set for the Christining.
Parents and Godparents, name these children. Victoria Marcelle, Noah Blair, and Nathan James. Parents, Godparents, and congregation, rather than use the Book of Common Prayer, you may follow along in the leaflets. Lauren is a cancer survivor, and her vision changed after chemo in 1992.
Do you promise to love and support these children as they grow with God in Christ?
We will with God's help.
Do you renounce Satan and all of the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
I renounce them.
Members of the congregation, do you promise to serve as witnesses and counselors to these children as they grow with Christ in this parish?
We will with God's help.
Please stand as we renew our own baptismal covenant.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth who has blessed me with the Son of God in Christ.
Please present the first child. Diana steps forward. I present, Victoria Marcelle for the Sacrement of Baptism. Lauren continues. Victoria Marcelle, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Victoria Marcelle, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and marked as Christ's own, forever.
Please present the next children. Sandra steps forward. I present, Noah Blair and Nathan James, for the Sacrement of Holy Baptism.
Nathan James and Noah Blair, I baptize you in the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Nathan James and Noah Blair, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and marked as Christ's own, forever.
The baptismal candles are lit, and handed to the families. Let us welcome the newly baptized.
We recive you into the household of God, Confess the Faith of Christ Crucified, and welcome you into His Holy Kingdom. Amen.
The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Although this is paraphrased, it's proof that I pay attention in church. What a special day.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Recent Growth
Now that you've read some posts about me and my mom, here's another that I am happy about. School years were very difficult, and I didn't have loyal friends until college. UH Main was the best 7 years of my life. Despite not having all accommodations in place, I proudly held my head up, and attacked my classes with gusto. I started out in Psychology, moved to French, Spanish, and Philosophy. Then, in 2002, I walked, feeling even more euphoric. Even though we dealt with 2 suicides before graduation, all of my fellow Cougars came together to support their families, and we comforted each other. One was an acting student, and the other had autism. It was tragic because they were due to walk with us. I struggled in 2004 while moving on in my life, but that quickly subsided when we made our move to Spring. Ten years later, we are back in Fort Bend County, attending The Episcopal Church Of The Epiphany.
While in Spring, I managed to work 2 jobs, and go back to school for a year, studying medical science and coding. The school specialized in medical sciences, and I proved everyone wrong again. Ha ha! My knowledge I now have has carried over to my daily life. Eat your heart out ICD 10! Booyah!
Today, I am working in the Market Research field, and it fits me like a glove. I do everything from online surveys to home based studies for upcoming products, and consulting with other clients. Not only am I growing at work and with my family, but I am also growing at Epiphany. In my lifetime, I never thought I'd see a clergy change as significant as this current one. I am still getting to know Christine and Lisa, and having Joseph as music director is also a blessing.
I am humbled and excited. Not only do we welcome Joseph and Tracy as a gay couple, but welcoming Christine and Lisa as female rectors as well helps me feel like I belong. I came out in 1997, and Mom was with me. And being a woman with male clergy was not bad, but I always felt misunderstood. Today, all of that has changed. Even though I have challenges that are not always glorious, God continues to help me grow, while being a lesbian woman in modern society today.
Christine blessed me when I turned 41, but she said, "May Susana learn new things." I still am. Growth abounds. Lisa also prays for me, and this is very helpful. The spiritual adventures continue.
While in Spring, I managed to work 2 jobs, and go back to school for a year, studying medical science and coding. The school specialized in medical sciences, and I proved everyone wrong again. Ha ha! My knowledge I now have has carried over to my daily life. Eat your heart out ICD 10! Booyah!
Today, I am working in the Market Research field, and it fits me like a glove. I do everything from online surveys to home based studies for upcoming products, and consulting with other clients. Not only am I growing at work and with my family, but I am also growing at Epiphany. In my lifetime, I never thought I'd see a clergy change as significant as this current one. I am still getting to know Christine and Lisa, and having Joseph as music director is also a blessing.
I am humbled and excited. Not only do we welcome Joseph and Tracy as a gay couple, but welcoming Christine and Lisa as female rectors as well helps me feel like I belong. I came out in 1997, and Mom was with me. And being a woman with male clergy was not bad, but I always felt misunderstood. Today, all of that has changed. Even though I have challenges that are not always glorious, God continues to help me grow, while being a lesbian woman in modern society today.
Christine blessed me when I turned 41, but she said, "May Susana learn new things." I still am. Growth abounds. Lisa also prays for me, and this is very helpful. The spiritual adventures continue.
Article From 1981
When I was six years old, Mom and I flew to DC before a congressional committee for a hearing regarding the hospital care and adoption of special needs children. One little boy with Down's didn't survive, prompting the hearing. The hospitals failed to help him due to lack of funding and the idea that special needs children cannot live well with disabilities. I kept the articles that my aunt laminated, and it was tragic to be young and hear not only this case, but another, in which the mother abused her son. I was across the table from another Dallas boy, who also had Down's, and the two of us became fast acquaintances. My mom spoke out, with bravery, courage, and honesty. "If you can't make a solid commitment to adopt and raise a special needs child, simply, don't do it." In the article, due to the privacy act, we were protected.
My adoption was closed, and my neonatologist said, "I can help this little baby." My mom not only fostered me, but later said, "I want to keep her." From that point, mom drove me to specialists, therapists, PT and OT, countless hospital stays, and more. I lost this beautiful woman in 2016 to Altzheimer's Disease, a battle she fought for 8 years. The role reversal was one of pure love. I bravely stepped up.
She was my world. Today, she's proud of me. I kept all of our mother/daughter advice in my letter box, and brain. CP patients have a keen ability to remember more details than those without it. I am one of them. It's a far cry from 1981, but I can honestly say, it was so worth it. My thoughts now are whether or not the senators from the hearing are still alive. A small number of people I knew, including doctors, have passed, but I am still around. My team didn't give up, and neither did I.
My adoption was closed, and my neonatologist said, "I can help this little baby." My mom not only fostered me, but later said, "I want to keep her." From that point, mom drove me to specialists, therapists, PT and OT, countless hospital stays, and more. I lost this beautiful woman in 2016 to Altzheimer's Disease, a battle she fought for 8 years. The role reversal was one of pure love. I bravely stepped up.
She was my world. Today, she's proud of me. I kept all of our mother/daughter advice in my letter box, and brain. CP patients have a keen ability to remember more details than those without it. I am one of them. It's a far cry from 1981, but I can honestly say, it was so worth it. My thoughts now are whether or not the senators from the hearing are still alive. A small number of people I knew, including doctors, have passed, but I am still around. My team didn't give up, and neither did I.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Dissociation Christmas Baby Update
Little Marcy is finally home! For the record, she is named after my dental hygienist. Or, shall we say, semi-retired, in Aggieland. Whoop! Love you Marcelle!
The boys are still in the NICU. What a road to be traveled. Kristie and Erica, at Memorial Hermann, The Woodlands, I suited up to head to the NICU and see the babies. What a humbling time that was.
Reality can hit me in all directions. Dissociative Identity Disorder is nothing to sneeze at. I have been embracing my mental illness for years, and celebrate my milestones. Today, there are 40 of them. And my Baylor MD knows the story of Sybil, so she has a keen medical insight, since my case is rare. Cerebral Palsy caused medical trauma, and thus, the splitting. My first split happened in 1979, and my final split happened in 2010. The Posse is 14 women, 4 men, and 2 little girls. The other 20, Class Act, are 10 Russian students, and 10 Japanese students.
The homecoming of little Marcy is just another chapter. Abbi and Melissa are doctors. They specialize in gynecology, and complex births. The boys are being cared for by Connie, Steven, and Tess.
The downside to this disorder happens when I get told that it's my imagination. I wouldn't be on medications or seeing a psychiatrist if this were indeed imaginary. That's just as ignorant as someone telling a depressed patient to smile. My two key medications are Prozac and Zyprexa. My new normal came when I got a Baclofen Pump implant in 2006. We finally have my Cerebral Palsy, CP, and DID under control. The key, simply put, is, I am not ashamed. Education is key. Having suffered from depression and more in the process of being where I am is also important.
On the outside, I am put together, and very articulate. I work from home now. My colleagues get it. Agoraphobia is sometimes something I value. I can't hold a job because of my CP. It's considered a work away from home liability since I only qualify for part time work, and would have zero insurance coverage. It's why previous jobs were a year or less. I was still paid, and a volunteer, but the risks were simply too great. Working from home means I can set my own hours, earn what I can, and live independently while under my dad's roof.
With the babies where they are, I can still live a full, rich life while watching them grow in their incubator. This is not a misprint. They need each other's touch and mine, to survive and thrive.
Upon release from the hospital, all 3 babies will be baptized into the Episcopal Church. Marcy is awaiting her new friends' homecoming.
These Dreams, by Heart, is playing right now. Joy! Music has saved me from a lot of medical complications, all outpatient. ER cures my headaches. When Melissa and I wed, we knew we had something special. She started out her medical career as an ER physicician, and 2 years ago, in 2014, she became Chief of Surgery at Mansion Medical Hospital. I work in the family wing, helping families cope with surgery times when loved ones are in the ER and OR. Abbi is an ER EMT. She not only transports patients, but she stays in the ER to treat them prior to sending them to the OR.
Going back to school has paid off for me. Medical coding and courses can be done by disabled populations, much like our counterparts. Sometimes, we exceed expectations, and end up doing more than they do. This is a time when I can honestly take a stand to tell you I am able, and proved it.
The twins are just the beginning. More to come...
The boys are still in the NICU. What a road to be traveled. Kristie and Erica, at Memorial Hermann, The Woodlands, I suited up to head to the NICU and see the babies. What a humbling time that was.
Reality can hit me in all directions. Dissociative Identity Disorder is nothing to sneeze at. I have been embracing my mental illness for years, and celebrate my milestones. Today, there are 40 of them. And my Baylor MD knows the story of Sybil, so she has a keen medical insight, since my case is rare. Cerebral Palsy caused medical trauma, and thus, the splitting. My first split happened in 1979, and my final split happened in 2010. The Posse is 14 women, 4 men, and 2 little girls. The other 20, Class Act, are 10 Russian students, and 10 Japanese students.
The homecoming of little Marcy is just another chapter. Abbi and Melissa are doctors. They specialize in gynecology, and complex births. The boys are being cared for by Connie, Steven, and Tess.
The downside to this disorder happens when I get told that it's my imagination. I wouldn't be on medications or seeing a psychiatrist if this were indeed imaginary. That's just as ignorant as someone telling a depressed patient to smile. My two key medications are Prozac and Zyprexa. My new normal came when I got a Baclofen Pump implant in 2006. We finally have my Cerebral Palsy, CP, and DID under control. The key, simply put, is, I am not ashamed. Education is key. Having suffered from depression and more in the process of being where I am is also important.
On the outside, I am put together, and very articulate. I work from home now. My colleagues get it. Agoraphobia is sometimes something I value. I can't hold a job because of my CP. It's considered a work away from home liability since I only qualify for part time work, and would have zero insurance coverage. It's why previous jobs were a year or less. I was still paid, and a volunteer, but the risks were simply too great. Working from home means I can set my own hours, earn what I can, and live independently while under my dad's roof.
With the babies where they are, I can still live a full, rich life while watching them grow in their incubator. This is not a misprint. They need each other's touch and mine, to survive and thrive.
Upon release from the hospital, all 3 babies will be baptized into the Episcopal Church. Marcy is awaiting her new friends' homecoming.
These Dreams, by Heart, is playing right now. Joy! Music has saved me from a lot of medical complications, all outpatient. ER cures my headaches. When Melissa and I wed, we knew we had something special. She started out her medical career as an ER physicician, and 2 years ago, in 2014, she became Chief of Surgery at Mansion Medical Hospital. I work in the family wing, helping families cope with surgery times when loved ones are in the ER and OR. Abbi is an ER EMT. She not only transports patients, but she stays in the ER to treat them prior to sending them to the OR.
Going back to school has paid off for me. Medical coding and courses can be done by disabled populations, much like our counterparts. Sometimes, we exceed expectations, and end up doing more than they do. This is a time when I can honestly take a stand to tell you I am able, and proved it.
The twins are just the beginning. More to come...
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Christmas Babies
Could life get any cooler close to Christmas? Yes. One of Abbi's patients just had a baby girl, Victoria Marcelle Stutphin. Congratulations to the Stutphin family! Little Marcy weighed in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces, and both mommy and baby are in the L&D department resting.
There was also a second birth down the hall, so Abbi and Melissa have had their hands full. Another patient just gave birth to twin boys, identical, and they have a disability. Nathan James and Noah Blair have CP, 2 different types. My mom would love to see this, as she orchistrates it from heaven. Babies deserve a chance to live, especially the ones in our NICU at Mansion Medical Hospital. The boys are 3 pounds each. The road is long, the miracle a blessing.
And they said I wouldn't amount to anything. The boys will thrive thanks to our staff, and teamwork. Be on the lookout for more from my writer's mind.
There was also a second birth down the hall, so Abbi and Melissa have had their hands full. Another patient just gave birth to twin boys, identical, and they have a disability. Nathan James and Noah Blair have CP, 2 different types. My mom would love to see this, as she orchistrates it from heaven. Babies deserve a chance to live, especially the ones in our NICU at Mansion Medical Hospital. The boys are 3 pounds each. The road is long, the miracle a blessing.
And they said I wouldn't amount to anything. The boys will thrive thanks to our staff, and teamwork. Be on the lookout for more from my writer's mind.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Bonjour De Richmond, Au Texas!
Cette semaine etait bien pour moi avec traviller et mon argent pour mon voyage a CA cette ete avec mon amie Abby et sa famille.
This week was great for me with work, and my savings for my trip to CA this summer with my friend Abby and her family.
Maintenant, je suis triste comme une personne qui disordre de bi polar.
Right now, I am sad like a person who has bi polar disorder.
Pour ma part, je ne l'ai pas.
I don't have it.
Le mystere....The mystery......
This week was great for me with work, and my savings for my trip to CA this summer with my friend Abby and her family.
Maintenant, je suis triste comme une personne qui disordre de bi polar.
Right now, I am sad like a person who has bi polar disorder.
Pour ma part, je ne l'ai pas.
I don't have it.
Le mystere....The mystery......
Monday, February 15, 2016
Espanol
My brain is compressing after a "silent siezure" right now. My medication works, but there are those times when a siezure sneaks up on me, and I can feel the compressions. The way I cope is through music in Spanish. As long as I retain the language, there will be less brain damage, according to my wife. My MD said that every siezure I have leads to brain damage, and recall is key to my recovery.
Martika es mi canta favorita. Tambien, yo amo Suzanne Vega, Luka en espanol. No preguntas, no que fue...aie aie aie....Yo no quines, protestar....Oy que falda.
Para mi, espanol y frances, todos son mas importante. Pour moi, espanol et francais, toutes sont tres important. Ingles y anglais-non, y no. Yo hablo espanol y frances porque eso es mi vida.
Buenos tardes! Bon apres midi!
Martika es mi canta favorita. Tambien, yo amo Suzanne Vega, Luka en espanol. No preguntas, no que fue...aie aie aie....Yo no quines, protestar....Oy que falda.
Para mi, espanol y frances, todos son mas importante. Pour moi, espanol et francais, toutes sont tres important. Ingles y anglais-non, y no. Yo hablo espanol y frances porque eso es mi vida.
Buenos tardes! Bon apres midi!
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