"Pretty School"

Well, after a couple of weeks of meetings and evaluations and many months of therapy, we now know our next step. Emily will be going into the public school system to receive group speech therapy two times a week for an hour and a half at a time. Basically, she's going to a speech-oriented preschool, or "pretty school" as Emily calls it.

Last Thursday, I took Emily for an evaluation to see if she would qualify for school-based services. I was pretty confident that she would, as Andrew and I can still barely understand her many times. The speech therapist for the school administered several tests to determine Emily's receptive and expressive verbal and language skills. The results were not surprising.

On the receptive language portion (language Emily understands), she was amazing. She had to miss so many questions in a row to stop the test. Last week she was 2 years, 11 months old. We were somewhere in the 5 year old category on the test and she still had not missed enough questions to stop testing, but the therapist said she thought she knew enough. Needless to say, her receptive language skills, far from being a hindrance, are a very strong strength.

On the other hand, Emily's expressive language skills are lacking. While she clearly understands far more than her age would indicate, she is quite difficult to understand due to poor articulation and letter substitutions. For example, spoon is "foon", sparkle is "fartle" (that one cracks us up) and Veggie Tales are pronounced "Wedgie Tales"...again, I kind of like that one! Still, all this adds up to about 50% intelligibility overall. Now, this might not be such a problem, but with such a high receptive language ability, the frustration level at not being understood when she understands so much is quite high. So we continue with therapy.

Normally, Emily would receive this either in a preschool that the public school services or in private therapy once a week, but she was recommended for the other class that is typically for older kids because she did score so well on what she understood, plus it was obvious to the therapist that Miss Emily could probably hold her own with the older kids. (No doubt about that!) Plus, factor in the fact that she is the height of most of the kindergarteners there....and she'll be just fine.

We got to check out her classroom and find out all the drop-off/pick-up info and so now we just have to wait until Emily is officially three years old. Emily seemed to like her classroom...there was talk of a sand and water table and that was all Emily needed to convince her that this was the place to be! She's excited and I'm excited because that gives me a whole 3 hours a week to myself....which, for the last 3 years has been unheard-of. Whatever will I do?.....

Moose Gas Bad for Environment

http://www.moosefoundation.org/moose-camp.jpg

Fox News is reporting that, according to Norwegian researchers, moose (ahem) "emissions" of methane are very harmful to the environment. Their belches and and, umm...toots, create methane in amounts equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted on a car trip of more than 8,000 miles. Factor in that there are more than 100,000 moose in Norway alone and that cows are also equally suspect, and we've got a pretty serious problem (if you're a Norwegian researcher who believes in this "Global Warming Crisis").

Now of course, we all know that America is the worst offender of causing global warming. I mean, we must be since we're the "great satan" and so technologically advanced and capitalists and rich and powerful. That obviously equates with "great satan" and "global polluter", right?

But I have to ask, if this article is correct and the moose and cows are so dangerous, why is America still the worst polluter? Wouldn't it stand to reason that India would be a pretty big contributer? After all, the cows roam free in the streets, worshipped as gods, while the people starve, but no one's blaming them for global destruction. Norway obviously has a disproportionately large number of Moose, probably second only to Canada, yet no one's blaming them either.

Huh...that doesn't seem fair.

Idiots!

Wild Wednesday Night

Well, it started out like any other day. Emily and I woke up, got ready for the day and then met with a couple of friends for lunch at McDonalds. Emily ate more than any of us (two adults and another child) and then we went grocery shopping at Walmart. Nothing too exciting there.

We had a hurried dinner around 7:00pm, but Em didn't eat much, claiming that her food would make her tummy hurt. I didn't press the issue, particularly since she was still willing to eat candy. At 7:30, I left for music rehearsal at church. Andrew had Emily duty and they watched videos together and then he put her in bed.

I got home around 10:00pm , said "Hi" to Andrew and then headed upstairs to change into my pjs with the hopes of going back downstairs, grabbing a cold drink and relaxing for a few minutes. It was not to be.

As I walked upstairs, I hear Emily crying a little, which really isn't all that unusual as she still fights bedtime. I changed into my pjs and got ready to go back downstairs, but something about the way she would cry for a minute, then stop, then start again...made me decide to check in on her. I'm glad I did. She was almost incoherent, rolling around, crying every minute or so and complaining that her tummy hurt. She was obviously not feeling good, plus she had a fever over 102. So I called Andrew up to sit with her while I called the Dr. to see whether we should get her checked out. After taking forever to get through, the on-call doc agreed that we should probably take her to the ER to rule out anything more than a tummy bug, especially since she was complaining that her tummy hurt to the touch in the middle and on one side.

So, Andrew and I took her in our bedroom, he held her while I changed back into my clothes and then I took my turn holding Em. Almost immediately, she vomited ALL over one side of me. Oh joy....but at least it didn't happen in her bed for once. So, we cleaned up as much as possible, I changed clothes again and we headed off to the hospital.

As we were turning into the ER parking area, an announcement came over the radio that we were under a tornado watch (did I mention that it was lightening and raining like crazy already) and that the counties around us were under a tornado warning (as in take shelter immediately). Oh Great!

So we parked in the garage, got out and I stood at the check-in window while Andrew held Emily. About the time that I was trying to talk to the receptionist, Emily started puking all over Andrew and herself again. Poor guy and girl. They had to sit there, covered in yuck, until we could get a room.

We finally got to go back and get Miss Em checked out. This included a temperature reading that wasn't so pleasant (if you get my drift) during which Emily kept crying, "Just put my diaper back on", a blood draw (her first) while Andrew and I held her down, X-rays and a physical exam by the doctor. Then we had to wait for a urine analysis. They wanted to know if she would pee in a cup...Yeah Right! We tried, and failed, at that. There was more vomit, more crying, more fever and finally a special "U-bag" to help catch her urine. If that didn't work, we were going to have to do a catheter....not anyone's idea of fun.

To make a long story short, after some tylenol that we forced her to take and finally some phenergan to stop the vomiting, it was determined that she just had a bad tummy bug. The phenergan was GOOD stuff, though a VILE smelling and looking green. It completely stopped the vomiting and knocked the poor kid out cold.

So all in all, we spent five and a half hours in the ER (from 11:00 pm to 4:30 am), had tornados raging just south of us and got vomited on. But at least Emily is on the mend again, after spending all day yesterday on the couch.

I can only imagine the next time we will have so much fun...oh wait, that'll be the day the bill comes!

Finally, Something to Make Life Easier

These are the new shopping carts at Meijer. For the cost of $1.00, I can rent a few moments peace and quiet while grocery shopping. Okay, so maybe it's not quiet, but there generally isn't much fussing and that is peaceful.

The new carts feature tv's that play either The Wiggles, Bob the Builder or if you're really really desperate, Barney. Emily loves the Wiggles, so for about 45 minutes to an hour, she gets to watch them while I shop. The $1.00 rental fee might seem steep just for a cart, but the proceeds benefit Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis and mom, right here at home, so it's a win-win. At least until the only cart available is Barney....

Just for Bekah and Beth

I really don't like to post pictures of myself, but I thought I'd share my alternative hairstyle with Bekah so that she would recognize me as I look on a non-theme-park, roller-coaster-blown, curly-haired normal day.

It's not the best picture, but there I am....curls all over my head. I don't know if I love it or hate it, but it's the look I have for now. I have grown to like the color, though I haven't had it colored since the end of June and the roots are not growing in much lighter.

Sometimes I straighten my hair....mostly when I'm feeling lazy, but usually I style it with curls. It's quite a change from long and straight, huh!

Disney: The Supporting Cast (cont.)

Crazy Uncle Peter, Aunt Jenny, Aunt Katy and Aunt Jen-Ball, riding with Emily on the bus.

Daddy and Emily on Small World. Em looks very thoughtful, doesn't she?

Dad and Mom, aka Andrew and Christina. Ignore the hair....

Emily and Pa, "hand dancing" while in line for Pirates of the Carribean. She slept through the ride.

Aunt Jenny, Uncle Peter, Aunt Jen-Ball and Aunt Katy (l-r) being silly on and adults-only night at MGM. Emily stayed with Grandma and Grandpa so mom and dad could have a break!

Disney: The Supporting Cast

"Bama" aka Grandma holding Emily line, with Pa looking on.

Aunt Katy, "Aunt Jen-Ball" and Emily on the bus.

Emily and Grandma sharing a chip at the Rainforest Cafe.

Emily and Aunt Katy outside the Rainforest Cafe.

Pa, patiently waiting in line for Dumbo...again!

Disney: The Rides

Riding Dumbo with "Pa". We spent A LOT of time on Dumbo.

Emily enjoying the "horsies" on the carousel.

The view on the way up the Everest roller coaster. Yes, I took it while riding!

The view of the Animal Kingdom, from the top of Everest.

The dancing dolls from the Small World ride. "It's a small world after all..." This was also one of Emily's favorites. I lost count how many times we rode.

Disney: More Characters

Cinderella and our Princess-in-training!

One of Cinderella's mice, visiting during our dinner/show in the castle.

A kiss for Mickey, during a visit at our dinner at Epcot.

Posing with the Stars and Stripes Mickey statue in the lobby of our hotel, Shades of Green. (For military families)

Emily petting Pluto's nose.

Disney: The Characters

We weren't sure how Emily would react to the characters, but she LOVED them. Here she is with her favorite, Minnie Mouse.

Emily, with Donald and Daisy

Emily and Pluto

Ah...a hug for Mickey!

Emily met Cinderella before dining in her castle on our first evening in the Magic Kingdom. I think she was awestruck. Could this picture be any cuter?

Disney: The Scenery

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, in front of Cinderella's Castle

The view as you walk through the gates into the Magic Kingdom

The most recognized golf ball: Epcot

Still at Epcot, the rainbow after the rain.

Disney's newest attraction, Everest. Very Cool!

She's Alive!

No excuses, I just haven't felt like blogging and I've been busy with being a mom to a high-maintenance toddler and hosting my family for a week. So there you have it. Everything here is just fine, for those who have been worried (Bekah and Janice!).

And so, for your patience and viewing pleasure...I present many posts full of pictures from our Disney World trip and the month of June!

July 4th

"The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." -- John Quincy Adams

If you want to read more...check out the link to Beth's blog on the right or visit http://twolittlevikings.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday America!

The Nut House

Well, I've once again been negligent in the upkeep of my blog. It's not that I don't have things to write about. I have plenty of ideas, but not enough time. Add to that a crabby toddler and the preparations all this week (and some last week) for the much-anticipated extended-family vacation to, where else?, Disney World.

Now ordinarily, I would not be brave enough (read: crazy enough) to take a 2.5 year old to Disney, especially in the summer, but Grandma and Grandpa, mom and dad, Emily, two aunts an uncle and an honorary "aunt" are also going, so we have reinforcements. Still, it will likely result in quite a few blog-worthy moments (and pictures) of course.

Oh, did I mention that we will be caravanning in 3 vehicles? I don't know how many hours it will take, but even with the newly purchased and already much beloved mobile DVD player in our van, I have a feeling we'll all be experiencing some bad cases of "Butt-Rot".

In other news, last weekend, the hubby and I attempted to do a little outdoor-around-the-house work. We weeded the huge front flower bed and then decided to do something about the two basically dead shrubs that flank the right side of our front steps. So we cut the first one down in only a few minutes, but while doing so, I noticed that a bird had flown into the one right beside it that was slating for removal next. I mentioned this to Andrew and said that there was probably a nest there. We looked through the shrub as well as we could, but didn't see anything, so we started chopping. Andrew would chop and I would pull out the freed branches. We got three-quarters of the tree out and then I heard it...splat!!PeeepppPEeeeppPEEEEEP!!!!SQWAUCK!

There was indeed a nest, and in it...two newly-hatched baby birds. Well, at least, they used to be in the nest. Now they were lying on the sidewalk, with momma bird screaming at us from a nearby tree. As you can imagine, we were horrified to have done this. As Andrew attempted to provide some shade for the birds, Emily kept saying, "Poor baby birdies just want their momma and daddy" and I tried to find someone to help us save them on Saturday afternoon. The animal control people basically told us to leave them there, which I could not in good conscience do, as it was very hot, sunny and they would have baked on the sidewalk. So we grabbed some cardboard, scooped the birds and nest up, put the nest at the base of the tree we had been cutting down and slid the birds back in the nest. (Oh, I forgot to mention that Emily sort of stepped of the back legs of one of them in her zeal to "help".)

Later that afternoon, we saw the momma bird feeding at least one of the birds and sitting back with them, so we had hoped for the best, but within two days, both birds died. It was a rough weekend here, waiting for the inevitable. Thankfully, Emily seems oblivious to their deaths, so we don't have to explain that quite yet.

So there you have it...life in my house for less than a week! I think we'll just rename it "The Nut House".

Seven Years

This Sunday, May 27th, marks my seventh wedding anniversary to a man I would marry all over again.

I read once that the average marriage lasts only seven years. Seven short years. Married life has just begun at seven years. You've had a few years together as a couple, you might have a child or two and you're just beginning to get into the meaty part of life and marriage...the ups and downs, the struggles and joys, the challenges and victories.

And yet, so many give up so soon. There are a lot of reasons why, some good and some bad, but the end result is the same...a lot of broken marriages and broken hurting people.

I'm one of the blessed ones. I was picky and married a man who was Godly and gentle and loving and selfless and kind and funny and thoughtful and better than I deserved. The first seven years have flown by and yet I feel like I've known him all my life, like he's been a part of life since the very beginning...and in a way he has. I know God had him in mind for me before I was even born (Andrew is a few years older than me, after all!) We were made for each other and when we finally found each other, through a blind date of all things, we knew we had found, quite literally, our better half.

And so on Sunday, we will once again remember and honor those vows that we took and meant and were determined to live by...to love, honor, obey and cherish each other, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or poorer as long as we both shall live.

I meant it then and I still mean it, perhaps even more, today. Happy Seventh Anniversary, Andrew! I love you!

Photos: Pictures of pictures by Theis photography

American Idol Gets it WRONG!!

Warning!!! If you watch American Idol and somehow missed last night, this is a spoiler....

Okay, with the warning out of the way, I have to break down and post about American Idol. I usually avoid blogging about tv shows, but I am a fan of American Idol and have been since the Clay Aiken/Ruben Studdard year. I'm a musician...I can't help it.

That being said, I may have to stop watching after this season. Almost never does the American public get it right. Usually the second or third place contestant ends up being more famous than the winner (except in Carrie Underwood's case, and that's saying a lot, as I can't stand country music!) This season may be the most egregious voting by the American public ever. The final three were most deserving...Blake, Jordin and Melinda. I liked them all. Blake wasn't really my style, but what he did, he did well. Jordin is amazing, especially since she's only 17. She will go on to have a great career. I can definitely see her doing Disney voices or something like that.

And then there was Melinda. She was flawless, even in Simon's eyes. She was my pick for the winner from the day she auditioned. The former back-up singer is the real deal. She sounds a lot like a young Aretha Franklin or Gladys Knight. She is phenomenal and probably by far the most versatile, talented, polished and consistent performer American Idol has ever seen.

Last night, Melinda was voted off, leaving Blake and Jordin in the final two. It just isn't right. Blake thought he was leaving. He should have left. It should have been Jordin and Melinda, but it isn't and I am sorely disappointed. My only consolation is that someone WILL sign Melinda Dolittle and soon. She's that good and she has obviously worked hard for the opportunity to be the one in the spotlight.

I suppose I'll still watch the finale, but it just won't be the same. Now I just hope that Jordin wins. She's earned the top spot. Come on America...get it right this time.

Our Big Girl

Well, it's official. We have a big girl now. We moved Emily into her big girl bed and after a little bit of a rough start the first evening, it's going well now. Here are a few pictures of the big girl herself, showing off in her new bed (it's actually on loan from Grandma and "Pa", as it was her daddy's, uncle Peter's and Aunt Katy's beds, respectively.)



And the following two pictures are of Emily and her "twin". (Heaven help us!) Actually, it was a mirror image at the mall play area. She had fun seeing two of herself on the camera.

An Update on Our Crazy Little Life

This post is going to be a bit of a hodge-podge of topics, so please bear with me.

This first picture is from "Big Fun Friday Night" two weeks ago. (Last week we had big fun cleaning the house for Grandma and Grandpa!) Daddy took his "girls" out to buy a new lawnmower (self-propelled this time), out to dinner and then bowling. This was Emily's first time bowling. I think we started too late, because she only lasted about 3 frames before she was pretty much done.

The following picture is of our scores. Emily bowled a respectable 77, I bowled a pitiful 104 (I used to be good, but it's been 3+ years...) and Daddy won with 132.

And now in other news...Below is a picture of our pool and deck. And a duck. I found this guy swimming in our pool last Friday evening. I thought it was kind of funny, so of course, I took a picture and planned to post it on my blog.

And then, the next morning...there were two! A male and a female, just hanging out on the pool deck for hours. I can just imagine the conversation the night before:

male duck: Hey honey, I found a great new place for us to live...the water's clear and there's even carpeting! Now, there aren't any fish, but I think we can make do on bugs....

female duck: Oh it's perfect! I love how my feet look under this nice clear water and the carpet will be perfect for out little ducklings to practice their waddling.

We're pretty sure they tried to make a nest under one end of the pool deck (pretty smart if you ask me) but so far, no eggs. Emily is quite thrilled, as you might imagine. So far, they've made an appearance every day except today...so we'll see what happens.

Anyone Need Lotion?

We've all had some version of a cold recently. Em has an ongoing one, Andrew seems to be "manning up" and fighting his off and I, after one good day, now seem to be heading back in the wrong direction.

So Miss Emily and I were running all over town doing some errands today and stopped for a quick in-the-van lunch of McDonalds. Just after I ordered and was waiting in line in the drive-through this is the conversation we had:

Emily: "Look mommy, I'm putting lotion on my face!"

Me, (knowing she had no lotion): "Where did you get the lotion from?"

Emily: "I got it from in my nose!" (While simultaneously grinning and sticking her finger back in her nose.)

EWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

We've Lost Our Minds

The world is going to the apes...literally. I wish I were joking. I wish this was someone's idea of a sick joke that ends with "...Gotcha!!" but it isn't.

According to an Associated Press story out of Vienna, Austria:

In some ways, Hiasl is like any other Viennese: He indulges a weakness for pastry, likes to paint and enjoys chilling out by watching TV.

But he doesn't care for coffee, and he isn't actually a person — at least not yet.

In a closely watched test case that could set a global legal precedent for granting basic rights to apes, Austrian animal rights advocates are waging an unusual court battle to get the 26-year-old male chimpanzeee legally declared a "person."

Hiasl's supporters argue that he needs that status to become a legal entity who can receive donations and get a guardian to look out for his interests.

"Our main argument is that Hiasl is a person and has basic legal rights," said Eberhart Theuer, a lawyer leading the challenge on behalf of the Association Against Animal Factories, a Vienna animal rights group.

"We mean the right to life, the right to not be tortured, the right to freedom under certain conditions," Theuer said.

Why, you might ask, is a chimp in need of the status of "personhood"? Apparently, Hiasl and Rosi are both chimps who have been living in an animal sanctuary for the last 25 years. However, the sanctuary eventually went bankrupt, and seeing as how the chimps monthly bills can run upwards of $6800 and the life expectancy of a chimp is about 60 years....well, money was a problem. So what's to be done? Well obviously, the chimps deserve to be declared human beings so that they can be given basic human rights....oh and so they (or more accurately, their caretakers) can receive charitable donations, which is currently illegal.

"If we can get Hiasl declared a person, he would have the right to own property. Then, if people wanted to donate something to him, he'd have the right to receive it," said Theuer, who has vowed if necessary to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

Austria isn't the only country where primate rights are being debated. Spain's parliament is considering a bill that would endorse the Great Ape Project, a Seattle-based international initiative to extend "fundamental moral and legal protections" to apes.

If Hiasl gets a guardian, "it will be the first time the species barrier will have been crossed for legal 'personhood,"' said Jan Creamer, chief executive of Animal Defenders International, which is working to end the use of primates in research."

Ahhh...it's all getting clearer now.


"Martin Balluch, a scientist who heads the Association Against Animal Factories, since has asked a federal court for a ruling on the guardianship issue.

"Chimps share 99.4 percent of their DNA with humans," he said. "OK, they're not homo sapiens. But they're obviously also not things — the only other option the law provides."

So, let me get this straight. They're almost humans, they're definitely not "things", so let's just grant them human, personhood status.

But Stibbe [who petitioned to be Hiasl's legal trustee], who brings Hiasl sweets and yogurt and watches him draw, paint and clown around by dressing up in knee-high rubber Wellington boots, insists he deserves more legal rights "than bricks or apples or potatoes."

"He can be very playful but also thoughtful," she said. "Being with him is like playing with someone who can't talk."

A date for the appeal hasn't yet been set, but Hiasl's legal team already has lined up several expert witnesses. Theuer said they include Jane Goodall, the world's foremost observer of chimpanzee behavior, who revolutionized research on primates during the 1960s when she studied them at close range in Tanzania.

"When you see Hiasl, he really comes across as a person," Theuer said.

"He has a real personality. It strikes you immediately: This is an individual. You just have to look him in the eye to see that."

This literally has to be one of the most insane and frightening cases I've seen in a long time. To put it in perspective, Austria, and apparently Spain and Seattle, are seriously debating the merits of giving apes human status and rights, yet a human BABY can legally be aborted because it's only a fetus...a non-human....a thing....a possession....an object to be tossed away without a thought.

I can't even think straight. More on this later...maybe when I cool off.