E's signing

Little E has been doing lots of sign language these days.

His first sign a few weeks ago was "more". At first, he would clap his hands together. Now he's refined it a bit and pokes his thumb into the palm of his other hand.

Other words he's been signing:
Water
All done (mostly just an all out flailing of the hands!)
Nuk (a home made sign where he just points his thumb towards his mouth)

Big bro is having lots of fun re-remembering his signs and teaching them to E. He's even been absent mindedly signing "please" to me - very sweet.

Why we've chosen not to

Next week will be little E's 1 year well-baby check. Our old pediatrician (who was used to our ways) has moved so now we've got to break in a new doctor and set of nurses with our choices in child health care. So since it's always a good idea to remember why you're doing things the way you are, the other night I decided to refresh myself on the reasons why we've chosen not to vaccinate our kids. I was again reminded of the reasons why I strongly oppose most vaccinations.

(Please note that I of course understand that this is a personal decision for each family - I have family and friends who have chosen both routes and I respect both. I also think I'm right, and I'd better otherwise I have no business doing what I'm doing.

* My first objection is to the amount of vaccines that are given to tiny infants: "Before reaching the age of two, he or she will have received 32 vaccinations . . . seven vaccines injected into a 13-pound, two-month old infant are equivalent to 70 doses in a 130 pound adult." It is said that a child can safely receive the recommended amount of vaccines; however they have not proven that it is safe for an infant.

* The CDC has not done any studies regarding the long-term side effects of vaccines - the only studies that have been done have been over the course of three to four weeks. Not exactly long-term.

* Some shots (I don't know which ones) contain aborted fetuses

* Mercury is used as a preservative in vaccines (mercury is being or has been linked to the increase in Alzheimer's and a slew of other immune system disorders). Aren't we all trying to stay away from fish that has high mercury levels?

* I think that the folks who research whether or not a vaccine is safe own stock in what they are testing and are therefore ready to approve poison (if they think they can get away with it) - I've read about legitimate circumstances where this is true (plus I think I'm a closet conspiracy theorist!)

What's more, why has there been an insane increase in the amount of neurological and immune system disorders in our nation's children? Why does one in every 68 American families have an autistic child (I know of four families with an autistic child). Other issues rarely seen prior to mandatory vaccination schedules: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and bowel disorders.

I will admit that vaccines may not be the one and only link to the above mentioned problems. I also think that many of the toxins in our medicine cabinets (acetaminophen, etc), preservatives and chemicals in our skin products, and the preservatives, pasteurization, pesticides, etc. that's in or been done to our food, and lack of sleep are contributing factors. When all these factors are pumped into our bodies - it's no wonder why we have weak immune systems and are so sick.

Did you know that doctors are actually the leading cause of death . . . the death rate goes down when doctors go on strike. In all fairness, I trust my doctors to have the best interest of my kids at heart, I just don't trust what they trust - their training and research sources.

By the way, did you know that the CDC has admitted that the flu vaccine doesn't actually work.

Okay, I'll get off my soap box now. Much of this information came from What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations by Stephanie Cave with Deborah Mitchell and an article from the Mercola website (mercola.com) written by Donald W. Miller, Jr.

Right on the money

I spent lots of time pondering what to get H for Christmas this last year. I hoped to get H something that he would get hours and hours of pleasure out of and to inspire creative play. I think it worked. As a little girl, I always wanted those cardboard building blocks that are about the size of Kleenex boxes. I wasn't sure if I was just trying to live out a childhood dream so I suggested this idea to EH, but he seemed to like it too. So, we bought them, wrapped them, tucked the "big" gift behind the Christmas tree and waited. The wrapping went flying and EH set to assembling them all. Building with these blocks has become and almost daily activity now - he's always saying "wanna build something Mom?", I'm sure many of you have been asked as well. Here is a list of the things we have built (many of them H's ideas):

* A fire station and fire fighting gear
* An Island complete with water, boat, hut, fire-pit, palm tree and of course a buried treasure
* A zoo
* A pet shop
* Library complete with card scanner
* Store
* Fort upon fort upon fort
* Mazes
* Towers
* Quick towers for E to crash so he won't crash the "real thing"
* and many more to come . . .



P.S. H got an additional box of blocks from his Ga so he can really have fun!

A day in the life . . .

This will probably hold no interest to most folks but for the sake of posterity I'm posting our daily schedule/weekly menu and whatever other routines I think might be good for a chuckle in twenty years.

7:00 or so: Wake up and eat breakfast, see Papa off to work
8:00: Get boys dressed, shower and dress myself while the boys play in our bedroom/bathroom listening to kids music
9:00: Everyone gets their Bibles out and we quietly read by ourselves then together and pray (sometimes this works . . )
9:30: E's play in his crib time (sometimes turns into a nap time) / H and I do school
10:00: H's movie/snack time
11:00: Hmmm. . . . stuff
12:00: Lunch and clean up in the kitchen
1:00: PLAY TIME with Mom
(we play off and on through out the morning but this is our designated don't let anything get in the way time)
1:30: Read E a book and put him down for a nap
1:45: Read H a book and he plays in this room (sometimes naps)
3:00: H's movie/snack time
4:00: It's a jumble of getting ready for dinner/ playing and finishing up projects
6:15: Dinner
7:15: Bath for E
7:45: Bath for H (and of course a 'night 'night snack) and bed for E
8:30: Bed for H
10-11:15: Bed for EH and I

Weekly dinner menu:
Sunday: Breakfast food
Monday: Sandwich night
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Chicken something???
Thursday: Pasta
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Something out of a box since it's also church night for us

Odds 'n ends:
Sunday: Growth group
Monday: Bake and water the plants
Tuesday: MOM's group at church. My work night - EH plays with and puts the boys to bed
Friday: Wash sheets. Game night (this has not been very consistent yet)
Saturday: Church

Marriage boiled down

It was my turn to go to the farm to get our milk for our milk co-op today - which means 4-5 hours on the road. Rather than hauling the boys along for the entire ride, their WI auntie was willing to take them in for a few hours - much to their delight! Fourteen gallons of milk later, we left auntie's with much pleading to stay a little longer . . . Pleeeeease? Sorry, we gotta go. We're on the road and we're about to pull on to a major highway when H gets me with this conversation.

H says "Mom, I want E (his very sweet 5 year old girl cousin) to be married."
Me: "Um, what did you say"
H: " I want E to be married"
Me: "To who?"
H: " Me, 'cause then I wouldn't have to leave playing with her!"
Me: "Oh, hmmm" thinking to myself "How sweet and what on Earth am I supposed to say!"
H: "I want to get married at the church you and Papa got married at."
Me: "Oh, that's a nice church. Is there anything else you'd like?"
H: (very sweetly, almost shyly): Yes, blue flower petals (and then he giggles like crazy)

Thinking back, I remember wishing for the time before EH and I's wedding to go more quickly so we wouldn't have to leave each other every night. That must be one of the best parts of marriage - contentment as you snuggle up to sleep.

Island retreat

Island retreat, in my dreams! . . . oh, wait dreams are for folks who actually sleep. Well actually I can't complain too much. E has slept solid through the night (without the need for a fresh nappy) two nights this week. Hooray!

Well about that island retreat - I have found one! Silence abounds (at least the sounds of young ones has been traded for adult conversation), umbrella drinks (AKA: fancy hot chocolate from the coffee shop), heat from the sun beats down (AKA the "happy" light bulb), and a luxurious sun chair (AKA the couch). Located in my very own living room! Such has become my retreat when my dear sis-in-law J comes over after the kiddies have been tucked in bed. It's company just for me. We knit, talk, and contemplate our navels to our hearts delight and it does my soul SO much good!

Always remembered

Always remembered will be the babe whose birth was anticipated this month

Always remembered will be the babe whose sweet breath against our cheeks was longed for

Always remembered will be the babe who was called home to Heaven before we had the chance to cradle

Always remembered

Always loved

Love,
Auntie S

Catching up

I hope your comfortable 'cause I've got a lot of catching up to do. I've been jotting down notes of what the boys have been up to on scraps of paper and receipts for weeks now!

As I write EH is working his way through a cloud of dust in the basement as he sands the sheet-rock - God bless him for the endless job that has become. He warned me that once we started, it would be everywhere. He is so faithful to hang plastic over doorways to prevent the spread but lately when I bring canned/boxed food up from the storage room it all has this fine layer of white. Ah - be careful what you wish for!


H has dropped a few good lines lately. Let's see . . . there's this one he said after he tells me he wants to know more about airplanes:
"Am I looking at the wrong teacher?" - a guess I've told him that a few times when I think papa would give a better answer. I promptly called EH for the name of that website where you can find out about stuff (howstuffworks.com).

This one was from awhile ago but it's too good not to write about. As H is watching his bread toast in the toaster oven he asks me "Mom, are those light sabers in there?"

The question I hear at least 25+ times a day: "Mom what do you want to do with me?" Depending on the day, sometimes I don't allow myself to respond, just smile. A week ago he started declaring "Man oh man!" about just about everything.

After dinner H is required to ask to be excused which is usually followed by him delivering his dishes to the kitchen counter (called "bussing" the dishes). I realized that I had not been quit clear on what I was asking of him when one night he said to me, "should I bust my dishes?"

And finally, a tribute to the fine people who make Tom's of Maine Fluoride Free Silly Strawberry toothpaste. (Why fluoride free? : http://www.mercola.com/2004/jun/9/fluoride_deception.htm) Tooth brushing as been a battle every since I can remember - In fact we just didn't do it for a long time. Then a pediatric dentist came to my church MOMs group and showed us the nasty pictures of what happens when you don't brush. Augh! So we endured the battle for a month or so, THEN H said he didn't like the stingy mint - Ah ha! I can do something about that! I vaguely remember my sis-in-law saying her kids brushed exclusively with silly strawberry and loved it. Now our only problem is getting past the giggles when brushing that silly stuff.

On to my dear little E (AKA the screeching E - anyone else a Princess Bride fan?). He is definitely walking. It's obvious he loves the freedom! He has also mastered the steps in reverse. He's so proud of himself - now if he would just remember not to stand and throw his hands up in the air half way down - I've had to swallow my insides back down a few times after dashing to stand guard. The best part of the steps though is watching him crawl towards the steps - from the top and turn himself around to go down backwards. Sometimes he gets a little confused and just keeps on crawling in circles until he finally plops his lower half down and starts shoving himself in which ever direction he thinks is down. My mom could barely catch her breath from laughing so hard after seeing this.

He loves to hold things up to his ear and pretend he's on the phone, "help" unload the dryer into the laundry basket, comes tearing across the house as soon as he hears the dishwasher open up, he can unload a bookshelf in about 15 seconds, and he loves covering his ears or talking after he's put a plastic bowl on his head to hear the difference. Thirteen days to go until we celebrate his birth!