Lance (well, his GF) expecting #4

[kermit]

The saving grace is that this child will never want for anything. Being born into the Armstrong dynasty, he will be set. The best nanny, the best schools and if he/she is born with his genes might be a great athlete. We all have something that drives us, demons from the past or in my case fear of cellulite. I agree with Irulan, everyone has issues, its how you deal with them that counts. I think he will be a great dad, when time permits and when the tour is over, his kids will be a priority. His ego is so big he will never find a women that suits him but maybe he will settle down.

[Deborajen]

My first thought (o.k., it's a little evil) was that he's getting what he deserves and maybe God is punishing him. I mean, this guy's middle-aged, has three children that count on him and look up to him, and he's the leader of a cancer foundation and supposed to be setting a "he's one of us" example. Now he's knocked up girlfriend # ??? since divorcing Kristin - ? If a non-cancer-survivor had just done something like this, we'd be calling him a jerk (it wouldn't be a "miracle").

On the other hand, I feel really sorry for the baby. Adults can do what they want, but don't mess with the kids. They have to count on us, and this baby probably has to look forward to growing up with a single mom/visiting dad or otherwise being tossed around between parents. The baby might "need a dad" more than Lance claims he didn't.

Do you think Lance's mom is chewing him out right about now? That's another part of his history - he grew up with a single mom. She might have a lot to say to him.

Deb

[Irulan]

My first thought (o.k., it's a little evil) was that he's getting what he deserves and maybe God is punishing him. I mean, this guy's middle-aged, has three children that count on him and look up to him, and he's the leader of a cancer foundation and supposed to be setting a "he's one of us" example. Now he's knocked up girlfriend # ??? since divorcing Kristin - ? If a non-cancer-survivor had just done something like this, we'd be calling him a jerk (it wouldn't be a "miracle").

On the other hand, I feel really sorry for the baby. Adults can do what they want, but don't mess with the kids. They have to count on us, and this baby probably has to look forward to growing up with a single mom/visiting dad or otherwise being tossed around between parents. The baby might "need a dad" more than Lance claims he didn't.

Do you think Lance's mom is chewing him out right about now? That's another part of his history - he grew up with a single mom. She might have a lot to say to him.

Deb

Thanks Deb, that's what I was trying to say but you are more eloquent than I. Who knows, maybe his mom supports it. In the end it's none of our business, just more fodder for the celebrity mill....

[sundial]

+1 for Deborajen and Irulan.

[RoadRaven]

On the other hand, I feel really sorry for the baby. Adults can do what they want, but don't mess with the kids. They have to count on us...

Well said Debora. We must be the advocates for children and infants have the least "power" of us all.

[xeney]

Jesus. This kid is not even born yet and you guys already have it neglected and abandoned. I did not realize there was this level of judgmentalism on this board -- I am really disappointed and a little bit disgusted.

[Deborajen]

This kid is not even born yet and you guys already have it neglected and abandoned.

Nobody said that. But kids do count on their parents for support and look to their parents for example. Personally, I get tired of hearing discussion and news about the "miracle" and whether or not the parents are happy about this - like that's all that matters. There's more at stake here.

Deb

[xeney]

Well, yeah, you did:

On the other hand, I feel really sorry for the baby. Adults can do what they want, but don't mess with the kids. They have to count on us, and this baby probably has to look forward to growing up with a single mom/visiting dad or otherwise being tossed around between parents. The baby might "need a dad" more than Lance claims he didn't.

You have no reason to believe that Lance is going to "mess with" this kid. And no, I don't think we'd be calling the person a "jerk" if the person had good medical reasons to believe he was sterile and then got someone pregnant anyway. God is punishing him? What on earth is wrong with you? Why would you say such a hateful thing? A man who went to extraordinary lengths to have his first three kids, and who is by every account I've ever read a committed and devoted dad, is being "punished" by the birth of a baby?

That is a very sick way to view the world and is not remotely supported by Armstrong's reported reaction to the news. Shame on you for making it into something so vicious and ugly. Shame on you for painting divorced fathers with such a broad brush.

[Irulan]

Jesus. This kid is not even born yet and you guys already have it neglected and abandoned. I did not realize there was this level of judgmentalism on this board -- I am really disappointed and a little bit disgusted.

mebbe.

When someone is out there in the public eye, with Celebrity, Hero or Star status ( Lance, Barack, Britney, Madonna, Paris, Will, etc) they are setting examples and being role models whether they want that or not. Frankly, I'd rather have my heroes and role models modeling postive things, such as intact families. And if you are in the public eye, people will see and comment on what you choose.

Maybe I should just trash Madonna for being too tired to have sex with Guy since she's working out so hard. (in case you missed it, that's one reason cited for their split....)

[Selkie]

Maybe I should just trash Madonna for being too tired to have sex with Guy since she's working out so hard. (in case you missed it, that's one reason cited for their split....)

Now that's ironic! I personally thought she looked better when she had a little more meat on her bones.

I don't follow celebrity gossip or news. If either parent had a history of child abuse, abandonment, etc, I'd find this more newsworthy. The scientific aspect of it makes it interesting, for certain. As for the personal stuff, it's their business.

[Deborajen]

Xeney, what on earth is wrong with me? Why would I say such a hateful thing as "God is punishing him?" Well, geez, I've asked myself lots of times if God is punishing me or something when I've been overwhelmed. This would be overwhelming.

Then you say that this is a sick way to look at the world, shame on me for making it so vicious and ugly . . . Well, I'm sorry you feel that way because I disagree because, again, my main point is that there's a kid coming into this world and he/she will have needs and it won't be easy - it will be very difficult to meet those needs. Surely you don't disagree with that, and surely you don't think that's sick, ugly, hateful, something wrong with me, etc. There's a lot more at stake than whether or not Lance and GF are happy.

Deb

[MauiRockHopper]

If I were diagnosed with cancer I wouldn't feel so enthused to potentially pass that gene onto a child. But maybe there's a chance he'd create another cycling hero.

[salsabike]

If I were diagnosed with cancer I wouldn't feel so enthused to potentially pass that gene onto a child. But maybe there's a chance he'd create another cycling hero.

It's my understanding that most cancers are not thought of as being caused by inheritable genetic characteristics. Some few are strongly connected to genes; some to random mutations, which are not inherited; some from human activities; some are thought to have viral origins. They really still don't know much about what causes cancer. There are quite a lot of people with cancer who have children, and all parties end up doing quite well.

[Irulan]

OK, I promised some inclement weather pix:

1. the county send a loader to clean out the culdesac I live on, this pile is at least 7' high...



2. View out of one of our windows:


3. putting the snow thrower to good use:


It did warm up today and melt a lot, but more is coming....