Big Fun Friday Night

Around our house, on Friday night, we have started a new tradition that I thought I'd share. It's lovingly called "Big Fun Friday Night". The evening starts after daddy gets home from work, changes into "going out" clothes (jeans instead of the suit and tie) and reveals his plans for "Big Fun".

We've only just recently instituted BFFN, but some of the adventures we've had have included feeding the ducks in a local park, followed by dining at Cici's Pizza, going to the "puppy store" (aka PetSmart) and dining at Cici's Pizza, walking around Walmart and dining at the Subway housed inside, and my personal favorite...walking around the mall, visiting the pet store and eating "rice" (Chinese) at the food court while topping the evening off with a ride (or 5) on the "Bid Uhstairs" or as the rest of us know it, the escalator.

Can you think of anything more fun?

Here are some recent pictures that I'll share as well. The first is of Emily "helping" daddy install a new kitchen faucet. She has her "heemer" at the ready. The second and third are from today. We are going, along with our extended family, on a vacation to Disney World in June, so I bought Em a bathing suit with Minnie Mouse (her favorite). This is the second try. The first one (a size 4) was too short and small. This is a size 5! The bottom is a little too big and the top could still be bigger. Our 2.5 year old is going to be Amazon woman!

An Emily Update (What Else?)

In my last post, I mentioned that we had an appointment with a developmental specialist to discuss Emily and her speech struggles. Initially I had made the appointment to try to determine if Emily had a disorder known as Verbal Apraxia. I was referred to the specialist (by our pediatrician) sometime before Christmas, when Miss Em was saying only 5 or so single-syllable words. The appointment was this past Friday and it went well. Now that we have a very good speech therapist in place, Emily is making dramatic improvements...to the point where yesterday she said a seven-word sentence more than once. So, while I'm thrilled with the improvements and I felt a little sheepish about still seeing the dev. specialist, I decided to keep the appointment to get a second official opinion.

As it turned out, I'm glad I kept the appointment. It was nice to be able to talk with doctor and get a brand new set of eyes and ears to observe Emily as she talked and played. I found out that, at 2 years, 7 months old, she is 31.7 lbs and a whopping 39.25 inches tall. (This kid is going to be 6 feet tall if she continues growing like this....she's always been above the 100th% for height.) Anyhow, I also got to talk to the doctor about Emily's sleeping battles, her sensitivities to certain things, her persistence (otherwise known as extreme stubborness), her insistence on routines and her speech difficulties. What the doctor had to say was helpful and encouraging.

She started out by stating that Emily was most definitely a very strong-willed child. Now, while this was not news to me, it did sort of reafirm what I have believed all along....and it reminded me that I am not simply a bad parent with poor parenting skills. Instead the doctor encouraged me to keep doing the things I was already doing and to be even more firm at times (like bedtime, in particular). I needed to hear from a professional that it's okay to let Emily cry for a LONG time, if need be at this stage, because this is her strong will coming into play. It's hard, but it's okay and it's what she needs.

Next the doctor encouraged us to continue with speech therapy, as Emily will definitely still need it once we are finished with our current program that will kick her out when she turns three in the fall. Again, this was nothing new, but it was nice to hear that the progress she's making is good, and that the specialists' opinion was the same as our speech therapists'. When I brought up the concern about Apraxia, the doctor agreed that there was probably some component of that at work in Emily. (For more info on apraxia and some pretty accurate representations of what we hear from Emily, visit Signs of Apraxia). Apraxia is a motor planning disorder. It's neurological in nature and a lot is still largely unknown. It is the same disorder that makes it difficult for some stroke victims to speak. In other words, it can be quite serious and difficult to overcome. It also has varying degrees of severity and is often misdiagnosed. In Emily's case, I think the diagnosis is correct and it seems from all accounts that her case is rather mild, for which we are all thankful. Still, it's going to be a long road to travel.

Lastly the doctor mentioned that our pediatrician was concerned about possible Asperger's (related to autism). This was sort of a shock to me as our pediatrician had never told me she had that concern. I knew she had asked me several times about some signs of autism, but my answers had always been no to her questions, so I was a little surprised and concerned that she had not mentioned this to me. I've never been overly comfortable with this new pediatrician, so I'm thinking of switching again. Anyhow, the developmental specialist thought is was a possibility too, but only mildly and it doesn't affect her social skills. (Emily is a little social butterfly 99% of the time.) I don't know how I feel about this diagnosis. I don't really agree, but then again, I think it's also still too early to make a real diagnosis, and the specialist just mentioned it as a possibility, so I guess I'm okay with it for now. Overall, she told us that she thinks Emily will outgrow most of our concerns and that she was a delightful little girl and that we didn't even need a follow-up appointment, so I think for now, we'll just keep doing what we're doing.

So, that's our update. Thanks to all who prayed for us on Friday. Thanks to all who have read through this monster post and stayed awake! I've been trying to process everything and get my own thoughts straight, so I apologize for the slight delay in posting....plus it's really nice outside!

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Emily has been learning to sing some songs recently. Here are some of her renditions of the classics:

1. "Pintle, Pintle dittle tar....how I wonder what you awe." (Heard while Em was "taking care of business" in the bathroom the other day.)

2. "Baa baa back seep, have you enny foow, yessir, yessir, yessir, yessir, yessir, yessir, yessir....free bads foow."

3. "Wheels bus, wheels bus, wheels bus...."

4. "Oh dingle tat, oh dingle tat, oh dingle tat, oh dingle tat..." (This is her own creation, based upon a Christmas book entitled "Jingle Cat".)


These are a few of her favorites, and in case you were wondering what the first three were.

1. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
2. Baa Baa Black Sheep
3. The Wheels on the Bus

We have got to get this on video!

I'm Baaaccckkkk!!

Yes, I am still here and still alive, though on Sunday, I didn't feel all that lively. I've been sick with a nasty early spring cold, brought on, I am certain by all the crazy temperature fluctuations. Today I feel a bit more human and capable of doing the everyday stuff again. I'm glad to be on the up-swing.

So, although I know that I hardly posted at all last week, don't expect too much this week either. I have A TON (and I don't think that's an overstatement) of laundry to catch up on plus some other everyday stuff to do and an important doctor's evaluation for Emily this Friday at 8:00 am. (That time's gonna be rough for mom and miss Em.)

For my praying readers, keep this appointment in your prayers. We scheduled this evaluation with a developmental pediatrician sometime before Christmas, when Em was barely saying any words. Her progress has been stunning, but she still has a long row to hoe...so to speak. We are keeping the appt. because I still think it's a good idea to get this doctor's more specialized opinion on Emily's speech issues, so I'm excited and hopeful and a little nervous too. It's been a long time coming so I'm curious to see what she thinks of our darling Emmy (as she calls herself these days).

And now I'm off to put some clothes in the dryer....Let the fun continue!

This Easter Week in Pictures

Emily dyeing her first batch of Easter eggs.

Emily wearing the "baabaa ears" that Aunt Kathy sent her.

The egg-dyeing process in full swing.

Below is the view from the front door today.

On Tuesday, the temperature was 72. Today, it's 28 with a fierce wind and constant snow. Is this really necessary?

Cat Saves Family

I know that several of my loyal readers disagree with my preference of cats over dogs and the battles have been fierce, but here is proof that cats are indeed intelligent and worthy of some love.

From Fox News:

NEW CASTLE, Ind. — A cat helped spare a family from death by carbon monoxide poisoning by jumping on the bed and meowing wildly as fumes filled the home, the owners said.

Eric and Cathy Keesling said their 14-year-old cat, Winnie, played a crucial role in saving their lives March 24 after a gasoline-powered water pump in their basement caused the odorless but deadly gas to build up.
About 1 a.m., the domestic shorthair began nudging Cathy's ear and meowing loudly.

"It was a crazy meow, almost like she was screaming," said Cathy, who hesitated to get up until Winnie's caterwauling and jumping persisted.
When she finally climbed from bed, she realized she was nauseous and dizzy and couldn't awaken her husband. Because he had undergone minor neck surgery the previous day, she decided to call 911 but was so disoriented she had trouble dialing.

Paramedics found the couple's 14-year-old son, Michael, unconscious on the floor near his bedroom. The Keeslings were taken from the home in oxygen masks, treated for carbon monoxide poisoning and soon recovered.

Cathy Keesling said Winnie acted similarly last summer when tornadoes tore through the area, 45 miles east of Indianapolis.

So there you have it, folks. Cats aren't all bad...

An Unexpected Honor

When I woke up this morning, I certainly wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary...particularly not a blogging honor, but one of good internet friends (we still have yet to meet face to face despite living pretty close and knowing each other for several years now) bestowed upon me the "Thinking Blogger" award.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not the most qualified recipient of this award, yet I am still honored that Beth chose me. It's nice (and somewhat suprising) that my semi-weekly ramblings occasionally seem coherent to anyone else out there, much less provoke any serious thoughts.

And now it is my turn to bestow this award to some bloggers who make me think.

First up is Malott's Blog. This blog is one of the first that I routinely read, thus spurring me on to begin my own blog. His posts range from the extremely deep and thought-provoking to the zany and bizarre, but always entertaining. I appreciate his views on life and politics and I appreciate his encouragement here at my own blog.

Second is Skyepuppy. I found Skyepuppy's blog when I first began visiting the links from Malott's blog. I was immediately impressed with her ability to paint with words and to capture such a vivid image and share it with the rest of us. Her love for life is obvious and she is an amazing Christian lady who has encouraged me on quite a few occasions, both in my Christian walk and my new adventures at motherhood. I expect great things from her blogging as she is getting ready to set out on a year-long RV adventure across America with her mom. So if you haven't yet visited her blog...now is a great time to start!

Third up is Bekah's Bits. Rebekah is a dear friend of mine for 10+ years now. We were college roomates and our friendship has lasted even though we don't live quite as close anymore. Blogging helps us keep in touch, but it also allows me (and the rest of you) to know Bekah on a deeper level. Her writing is funny, heartfelt, thought-provoking and real. She has a way with words that can make me laugh and touch my heart at the same time. Her friendship and encouragement mean so much to me and this is the least I can do to thank her for both.

Fourth in line is Janice. Janice is another "find" from Malott's blogs link column. Janice is passionate about politics, among other things, and her updates help keep me informed on what's going on in this increasingly busy world. She has also been a wonderful encouragement to this newer mommy, which is much appreciated.

And finally, I honor Adrienne of Noah Steven's blog. I stumbled across this blog from another blog that I frequent and have been so touched by this young mother who has been through so much lately. I started visiting Adrienne's blog a few weeks before she lost her baby boy. The blog chronicles Noah's and the family's struggles as he spent months in the hospital battling a mystery illness that eventually took his life. It's and incredibly sad story, yet Adrienne has somehow managed to share her story, her faith and her pain in such a way that I have been encouraged and challenged as well. Check it out if you have some time, but be forewarned that you may end up reading nearly a year's worth of posts over several days, as I did, to get the background of this amazing woman's journey. It's not easy to read, but she has some really good things to say.

And so, I pass along this award to all of you, who are much more deserving. Now it's your chance to pass the award along to 5 more people who have inspired you to think.

Thanks to you all!

Links Column Updated - Check out the New Additions

I finally had a few minutes to do a little updating today. So, if you haven't already noticed...take a few minutes and check out some of the new links. I tried to separate them into more personal blogs and those that are affiliated with an organization of some sort. Some of the new links under the "Favorite Blogs" title have some really good (but tough) stuff relating to personal tragedies, yet they are uplifting and encouraging at the same time, so I wanted to share them with my faithful readers.

Enjoy!

So Disturbing I Hardly Have Words

Fox News has a story on their website today that just makes me sick and outraged and terrified and furious and speechless. Here is the story (it's a little long, but it needs to be read by every parent and decent human being out there).

SEATTLE — A Web site created by a pedophile is a virtual "how-to" manual, complete with the best places in western Washington state to see little girls, and tips on how to avoid getting caught by the police.

The site, titled "Seattle-Tacoma-Everett Girl Love," has been around for a few years. The police know all about it, yet they say they can't shut it down because the site is legal.

"As disturbing and offensive as we find this, there's no evidence of a crime, or even suspicion of illegal activity," said Rebecca Hover of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department.

The man who runs it, 45-year-old Jack McClellan, has never been convicted of a sex crime, which means he can attend any family-friendly events where children are present, and take all the pictures he wants for his Web site. He also lives close to a school bus stop.

McClellan says his purpose is to promote association, friendship and legal, consensual hugging and cuddling between men and pre-pubescent girls. He admitted to FOX News that his "age of attraction" is between 3 and 11 years old.

"I guess the main thing is I just think they're cute, a lot cuter than women. I admit there is kind of an erotic arousal there," McClellan said.

"It makes me happy simply. Like I said, I think girls are cute, beautiful, just children in general make me happy ... being around lots of them. ... I'm doing what anyone else would do with a hobby. If someone's into birds they're taking pictures of birds. I'm convinced that none of these images are illegal."

McClellan wants to bring pedophiles out of the closet and give them a way to get some relief, by going out and being around little girls. He suggests a number of places, such as plays at elementary schools, parks, swimming pools and libraries.

"I really think a lot of this pedophilia hysteria is overblown. I think there are a lot of people like me. They have the attraction but they're not going to do anything physical because of the laws. It just makes me happy to attend these events."

McClellan said that for pedophiles, just being around children is almost like a "legal high" that makes them happy.

But "I can understand the fear," he added. "I hope that what I'm doing is setting myself up as an example that it is possible to have these attractions and not be out of control."

But he said while it's OK to look, it's not OK to touch, given the many state laws in place to protect children against that.

"I know it sounds kind of crazy, but there's kind of a code of ethics that these pedophiles have developed and what it is ... the contact has to be completely consensual, no coercion, if you're going to do it," McClellan said.

Parents are understandably outraged. FOX News spoke to the mother of an 8-year-old girl whose picture appeared on the Web site. The picture was taken at a dance recital.

"I needed to get those pictures off of there. I didn't want the pedophile community having any visibility to my daughter or her friends or any of the children that were on that site," said parent Ann Cialoa. "Whether it's a physical threat, a perceived threat, whatever threat it is. It's our jobs as parents to protect our kids from threats, and he is a threat, and people like him are a threat."

Some legal experts have said the best course of action for parents who see their kids' pictures on sites like these, is to get a temporary restraining order against McClellan and demand that his Web site be taken down.

"You have one in your face and you can't do anything about it because there's not a law to protect them from that," Cialoa said. "It's scary, and the fact that we're going to wait around for him to violate before we do something."

Neighbors of McClellan's say there's a man who rides his bike around town at night and peeps into others' windows. They believe that may be McClellan.

"You'll notice that every single person in this neighborhood has very large attack dogs," said neighbor Melissa Henry.

The Web site was taken down by the Internet service provider after FOX News called the company about it this week. The company is investigating whether any material on the site is illegal.

At least one area school has sent McClellan a letter saying if he comes onto school property or attends their functions, they will consider it trespassing and will have him arrested.

Police and prosecutors are watching him closely to see if he crosses the line. A handful of state legislators are looking at drafting a new law to deal with such Web sites. But until they do, McClellan is free to continue pushing pedophilia.

There is something horribly wrong with this being legal and with the police and parents having their hands tied to do anything to help keep innocent children safe from such terrible people as this. I really don't even know what else to say...

Who Will Lead Us?

It seems like just yesterday that the mid-term elections were being held, yet already, the field is thick with candidates vying for their spot in the 2008 Presidential campaign. I haven't been around for all that many elections, but I am fairly certain that the campaigning has rarely started so early and with such vigor. It seems as though a war is being waged for the hearts and minds of the American public and only one side will come out ahead. Whichever side wins will weild more power than ever before and yet at the same time be held responsible for whatever happens in an increasingly dangerous world.

To say that the job opening is huge is an understatement. I certainly don't want it, nor do many other well-qualified people and who can blame them? It is an often thankless job that ages a person prematurely, places the weight of the free world on his shoulders and expects him to never make a mistake in judgement, both professionally and personally. To say that this job is for the weak of heart, weak of character, weak of stomach and weak of mind is also an understatement. Very few candidates meet the standards and even the ones who will make it to or through the primaries will not be perfect. The task is daunting and choosing the right candidate to vie for the Presidency is of the utmost importance. So who will lead us?

Thus far, as a Christian conservative Republican, the choices are underwhelming. So far, there are several contenders, yet none have really ignited the interest of the conservative Republican base.

John McCain is too cozy with the press and the liberal left on important issues to be a good staunch conservative candidate. Many true conservatives have a great deal of discomfort with McCain and with good reason. He cannot be trusted to represent the Republican base.

Rudy Giuliani is a proven leader. He led New York city to a lower crime rate and then, on the single most catastrophic day in American history, Giuliani led amidst the chaos of the terrorist attacks on September 11th. He is brave, well-spoken, likeable, well-known and firm on his stances, yet many Christian conservatives struggle with his much more liberal domestic policies on abortion and same-sex marriage. He would certainly be a strong voice in the war on terror, which is hugely important, but to many (myself included) the war on traditional Christian family values is equally important.

Next in line is Massachusetts governor and former 2002 Winter Olympic CEO Mitt Romney. Romney first made news when he eliminated a $379 million dollar operating deficit and successfully organized the Salt Lake City winter olympic games mere months after the terror attacks of 9/11. Clearly, he seems to be yet another strong leader, and it would seem, he also has a strong financial sense. However, his Mormon religion might be a stumbling block to some and he is still somewhat unknown, at least compared to the powerhouse names McCain and Giuliani.

California Representative Duncan Hunter has also announced his bid for the presidency. Hunter has an excellent voting record that Christian conservatives can (and should) cheer, but he is relatively unknown, associated with some scandal and largely considered a long-shot.

So far, no one really sparks a huge interest among those currently in the running for President. However, a small sizzle seems to be starting among the base surrounding former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson. Although he has not yet announced a bid for the presidency, many speculate that he will and if he does, he may be the candidate to watch.

I have to admit, I know little about Thompson, but I have heard bits and pieces of interviews and most of an interview yesterday with Laura Ingraham, and thus far, I am impressed. Thompson seems to know where he stands on the issues, he can communicate his ideas effectively and he seems to interested in serving his country rather than simply power-hungry. It could be interesting.

In the meantime, I plan on keeping an eye on the race and all the candidates, both Republican and Democrat. America's future is too important to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on all that is transpiring around us.

The Many Moods (and faces) of Miss Em

Why are you interupting me from watching Clifford, mom?

Emily "worting" on her "beasel".

Uh-oh...what did I do?

Em, showing off her new spring haircut. She was very brave!

Emily, showing off her "bob" from the back.

What a Week it Was

Last week was one of "those" weeks. The best thing I can say for it is that it is finally over.

It began last Sunday with a trip to the pediatrician to find out that Emily had pneumonia. So, we got the prescribed antibiotics and hoped for the best. Since Miss Em was boycotting taking any kind of medicine (a new twist for us), upon the advice of the Dr., we tried to mix the first double dose of medicine into her applesauce. It didn't even begin to work, so right off the bat, we had wasted a dose of medicine. So we forced the antibiotics in her for the next couple days, but then ran out. So two phone calls to the Doctors' office and two phonecalls to the pharmacy, plus one more trip there, and $20 extra dollars later, we had enough medicine to last the final two days. Thankfully, other than a persistent cough and hoarseness, Emily is doing much better.

Then on Wednesday, I finally broke out of the "sick house" to go to a late-night worship band practice at our church. This church happens to be 30 minutes away, but I didn't mind the drive...I was free for a while! Around 9:30 or so that evening, practice ended and I walked back out in the dark parking lot and climbed into my van, put the key in the ignition, turned it and....nothing. No lights, no radio, no sound whatsoever from the ignition. I quickly walked back up to the church where I discovered that all the doors were locked from the outside. I pounded on the doors and prayed that the few remaining band members would hear. Thankfully, they did and I explained my car troubles. So the consensus was that we should try to jump the battery. And we did...and nothing happened. So, the worship leader and his wife offered to drive me home because of course by now, it was after 10:00pm and I had the van with the carseat, meaning Andrew couldn't come get me since he was home with Emily. So I moved the stroller and carseat into their car and got home about 10:30 or so.

Now of course, this isn't such a big deal really, except that we had spent Tuesday and Wednesday trying to figure out if we could swing a pretty substantial paycut that would result if we accepted a new job position with a private firm here in town. It was going to be uncomfortably tight, but before church, Andrew and I had pretty much decided we were going to give it a shot. An unexpected car repair was not a welcome thing.
So Thursday rolls around. Andrew went in to work to resign and I called the tow truck and dealt with the car repair issues. Around noon, I talked with Andrew and long story short, we turned 180 degrees on the job situation due to some new information. (really the details are boring, but we really believe God was answering prayer here, just in an unusual way). I then spent the rest of the afternoon switching cars with Andrew, taking him back to work, waiting for the tow truck, consoling a very upset Emily (who missed her nap), meeting the tow truck and driving back home. Fun stuff.

Friday was filled with haggling over car repairs (none of which, of course, were covered under the extended warranty). Nearly $600 later...we all felt like we had been through the ringer. But Saturday was coming...a day for something nice and relaxing.

Andrew watched Emily on Saturday while I got out of the house for a while. I went to the mall to do a little therapeutic shopping and pampering. I needed to do something about the highlights in my hair, so I took care of that while I was there. I told the lady that I wanted something very subtle, I wanted to get rid of the out-grown highlights and I wanted something a little richer and warmer...but very subtle. I'm a natural dark blonde, by the way.

At this point, I think I'll let the pictures do the talking. (I hate almost all pictures of myself, by the way, so this is humbling, but I think it must be done to prove a point.) So here goes:

Before:

After:

The beautician swears this is a shade of blonde, and while the pictures don't really do it justice, this is NOT any shade of blonde anyone, male or female, has ever seen. So now I'm living life as a rather dark brunette. I'm not sure if I'll keep it or not....

Spring is in the Air

I'm airing out the house. All the windows are open, it's currently 70 degrees, sunny with a gentle breeze and it couldn't be more pleasant. I've missed the sun and the warmth and the grass. And I have but two requests: Germs...be gone! and MORE SPRING!!!

The last two days have been better for Emily. I think the antibiotics are definitely helping, even though I have to physically hold her down while trying to aim the syringe into her mouth and try to prevent Miss Em from spitting it back out, or choking, in the process. Fun, fun, fun...but I'm glad it's working.

She's getting more fiesty and stubborn, so she's on the mend. Now we just have to get rid of this wicked cough!

In other news, Miss Emily, who will be 2 and a half on Thursday, had her first graduation of sorts. She has been working with a developmental therapist since she was around 20 months old. Today, nearly 10 months later, we said goodbye to Miss Sarah, our very favorite therapist.

Sarah called me a couple weeks ago and told me that she thought Emily had learned all that she needed to know to be age appropriate (and above) with her fine motor skills and so therapy would no longer be needed. While we are sad to see Miss Sarah go, we are thrilled with the progress Emily has made and how hard she worked to get to this level. She is still working with a speech therapist, and probably will be for some time to come, but she's making great strides here too, so I thought I'd brag on her just a bit.

Hey, I can't help it. I'm her mom!

Sick

This will be a quick post, but I wanted to explain my absence.

My little angel has pneumonia. She is miserable and I am so ready to have her little spunky self back, chasing herself around the house, jumping and spinning and playing and dancing again. I miss Emily. It's been a week now...enough sickness.

So, that's the scoop. If you pray...pray that the antibiotics and cough meds work quickly and effectively.

Thanks for understanding my absence.

Sexual Agenda in Schools Angers Parents

Freshman orientation isn't what it used to be.

When I was in school, I don't even remember any type of freshman orientation, but if we did have it, it would have revolved around who the teachers were, what kind of supplies and schedules we could expect and what new rules we might have to follow. Stuff like that...normal stuff...helpful, basic rules for highschool survival. The one sure thing that it did not include was a presentation from the "Straight and Gay Alliance". I'm pretty certain I would have remembered that.

Ahhh how times have changed.

Deerfield High School in Illinois, has recently come under fire from parents who are angry about the mandatory freshman orientation which includes, among other things, a presentation from a school club, the Straight and Gay alliance, that touches on topics such as bullying homosexuals and being a good friend to homosexual students. The discussions include talks from self-professed homosexual students.

Parents are understandably upset about the class, and some have opted to pull their students out of any discussions on homosexuality, but they are unhappy with the whole premise of the class. One parent, Lora Sue Hauser, who heads the North Shore Student Advocacy group, wants to put a stop to the discussions. She says, "...sexuality issues are better addressed by parents and trained counselors...the panel is one of several ways that Deerfield High and other schools treat homosexuality as morally acceptable without presenting the viewpoints of those who disagree."

The Chicago Tribune reports that "many parents are upset over the homosexuality discussion, saying it denounces religions that believe homosexual relations to be wrong or immoral."

This is a disturbing story, in part because it's one I'm hearing more and more often. Schools and the media and tv and movies are all intent on pushing their secular and often sexual agenda at all costs and to increasingly younger, more impressionable audiences. The information is often inaccurate and based on secular beliefs rather than actual facts, all of which point to the dangers and health risks involved in promiscuous and homosexual behaviors. No wonder there are many parents, myself being one of them, who are concerned that our children are being inundated on every front with dangerous and potentially harmful information, all in the name of tolerance.

Hanging in Here

Well, I suppose I should try to post something in the month of March, huh? The problem is...I just don't have much to say, or at least nothing that anyone else would really care about. Then again, that's never stopped me before.

I haven't been posting much because the "A" key on our laptop keyboard was broken off making it quite difficult to type. (Why does this never happen to the "Page up" key? So far, we have broken the "o" and "a" keys on two different keyboards. Now the third one is installed and hopefully this one will last.

I had considered trying to post something yesterday, but alas...the best laid plans always fall through. Emily woke up coughing and then by noon was puking. Thankfully she really hadn't had anything to eat since dinner the night before so while she still felt miserable most of the day, she didn't have a lot in her tummy to get out. However, she still has a fever (in fact, it's higher today) and I know she still doesn't feel great. So far, she says her tummy feels better today and that all the "ickies" are gone, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're out of the woods yet. She's currently napping, but if she wakes up with the same (or higher) fever, then a trip to the doctor's office might be necessary. I really hope not though. Em hasn't really had any fevers of note before, so this is new territory for me.

So anyhow, that's the scoop here. Nothing any fun going on, but it could be worse. Yesterday was worse...so hopefully we're headed in the right direction at least. Bear with me...I'll be back when I can!

Toddler-Talk Test

As I've mentioned before, my two-and-a-half year old has some speech problems. Thankfully, with a lot of prayer, time and a wonderful new speech therapist, Emily is starting to talk and it can be quite interesting. She is trying all kinds of new words every day which is tremendously encouraging, but sometimes those words don't quite come out with the traditional pronunciation, leading to quite the battle to figure out the word before she gets so frustrated that she quits trying to say it. (Thankfully her stubborn persistent nature is an asset in this.)

So I thought that I'd list a few of the more unusual words and see if my readers can guess what they mean. I'll spell them phonetically to help.

~beebe
~sad
~peetee (not what you're thinking)
~pint (short "i" sound there)
~bid
~rotting
~boo
~yeyo
~otay
~fah-tsa
~chichen
~tinky
~pah-put
~bah-bees
~pity
~mitch (our personal favorite)

Good luck!

Update:

Here are the answers to yesterday's toddler-talk test. Thanks to all who played...Many of you got a few correct, so kudos to you~! The highest scorer was Skyepuppy with 6 correct and Bekah in a close second with 5.

~beebe........Blankie, but it sounds very similar to her version of Baby too
~sad.....Slide (like sliding board) but can also mean Sad (that one confused daddy pretty badly one night!
~peetee....Cookie. (Yeah, that one took us quite a while, but she can't say hard "c" or "k" sounds yet, so she substitutes.)
~pint....Pink
~bid....Big ("g" sounds are tough too)
~rotting....Rocking. Sometimes she tells me "done rotting, mama" before bed. So Chris wasn't far off...
~boo...Blue. Blended sounds are hard too.
~yeyo....Yellow
~otay...Okay. Yep, we have our own little Buckwheat!
~fah-tsa...Pizza. Sometimes if a sound is hard for her, she'll make the hard sound, but substitute an incorrect sound for one she can usually make like "f" for "p".
~chichen...this is usually Chicken (sometimes paired with "nunnets" or nuggets), but can also be Kitchen
~tinky....Stinky
~pah-put.....Pocket
~bah-bees....Bubbles
~pity....Pretty
~mitch....Book. Why? We haven't a clue, but it's pretty funny to hear her running around looking for her "mitches"!

Now, who's ready to come babysit?

Merck to Halt Vaccine Promotion

Finally, parents' voices have been heard.

Merck, the maker of Gardasil, a new vaccine that helps prevent some times of cervical cancers by preventing the spread of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus or HPV, has decided to back off from their heavy-handed push for the mandatory vaccination of all school-age girls. From LifeSite:

"Growing opposition among family and medical organizations, along with allegations that the vaccine was inadequately tested and had produced serious side effects, together convinced the massive drug conglomerate to pull back from campaign efforts promoting the Gardasil vaccine, Bloomberg reported Feb.20.

Among the groups opposed to the campaign was the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta."

Family and medical groups have been lobbying to stop the push for the mandate of the vaccine, in part because HPV is spread through sexual contact and is therefore preventable, primarily through simple abstinence. HPV is not a highly contagious disease like the mumps or measles, both of which have vaccines which are required for all school-age children. For this reason, parents and medical groups have concerns about requiring the vaccine for all girls who will attend school. Add to those concerns that the vaccine is still very new and needs more testing to truly be declared safe.

"In a statement to the press June 27, 2006, the NVIC criticized the Food and Drug Administration for “fast-tracking) the vaccine without adequate tests of its safety for young girls, and accused Merck of obscuring side effects that resulted from clinical trials of the vaccine.

'Merck and the FDA have not been completely honest with the people about the pre-licensure clinical trials,' said NVIC president Barbara Loe Fisher. 'Merck's pre and post-licensure marketing strategy has positioned mass use of this vaccine by pre-teens as a morality play in order to avoid talking about the flawed science they used to get it licensed. This is not just about teenagers having sex, it is also about whether Gardasil has been proven safe and effective for little girls.'

In particular, the use of aluminum in the vaccine and placebo used in trials raised concern, since studies have linked aluminum to brain cell death and joint inflammation. About 60 percent of those participating in trials experienced headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, or diarrhea, the NVIC reported. Among those who received Gardasil, more serious side effects included gastroenteritis, appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, asthma, bronchospasm and arthritis."

These are serious concerns, not to mention the fact the article mentions that previous studies resulted in 102 serious adverse side effects and 17 deaths. Clearly, more testing needs to be done before this vaccine is widely marketed, much less mandated, yet that is not what was being done.

"More than 20 states are considering legislation that would make the vaccine mandatory for all girls entering high school. Texas Gov. Rick Perry earlier this month bypassed the state legislature to push through a requirement that girls aged 11-12 receive the shot, with an opt-out clause included for parents who object."

I for one, do not appreciate the government interfering in my life any more than is absolutely necessary, and I most certainly do not want them to force me to make medical choices that may or may not be safe or appropriate for my family. In the case of Texas Gov. Perry, there was an opt-out clause for objecters, but many parents don't take the time to educate themselves on the risks of certain medical interventions, and if mandated, the vaccine could pose very serious risks to their daughters' future health. Wouldn't it just be easier and safer for everyone to heavily promote abstinence?

Lost Girls

I've tried so hard to ignore it. I didn't want to give in and take up space in my blog with a post about it. But I had to do it. The time has come to comment on the out-of-control nature of young female celebrities.

Allow me to first say that I have never been a big fan of pop culture. I don't personally care one bit about celebrities. I don't buy the miriad of magazines focused on catching celebrities in compromising positions. I don't agree with the tactics of the paparazzi who stalk certain mega-stars and basically make their lives miserable. I've also never been a celebrity (in case you were wondering), so I'm sure it's harder to live in the public eye than I can imagine...but still, sometimes these celebrities we claim to "love" need someone to tell them "Get a grip!".

Case in point: Britney Spears. She began her career as a wholesome Mouseketeer on the Disney channel. Then her career took off and she became famous for her school-girl vixen looks in her now-famous music videos. Men of all ages found her attractive and young girls thought she was pretty. Then her videos (and concerts) became more risque and overtly sexual in nature, using skimpy clothing and prop like live snakes. Next came the kiss with Madonna (hardly a wholesome role model for a young woman). All of these things show a pattern of escalation that couldn't possibly end well, and as feared, it doesn't look good.

Britney went on to get married and then have that marriage annulled in a record number of hours. Most people attributed this "mistake" to being young and in love and, quite possibly, drunk, but no one really thought too much about it. Then Ms. Spears married Kevin Federline, a young male who had already sired several children by another woman, with one more on the way. We all knew this would not end well. Britney got pregnant, had her baby and then made some mistakes that, unfortunately were caught on camera. (For this, I can feel some sympathy, since new moms make a lot of mistakes.) She got pregnant again very quickly, which probably wasn't her plan, and that's when (I think) things got out of control. Britney had her second baby and lost control. She was frequently spotted in nightclubs, very drunk, with her "friends" Lindsey Lohan (now herself in rehab) and Paris Hilton (caught on tape having sex, among other things). She was photographed not once, but twice, exiting her limo in a very un-lady-like manner, wearing no underwear. And now, Britney has shaved her head a la Sinead O'Connor. It's not pretty and a part of me thinks she has gone off the deep end.

Which begs the following questions: Where are her parents? Where are her true friends? Where are her children? Why do we continue to accept (and eagerly eat up) this kind of behavior? And last, but certainly not least, when will girls like Britney, Lindsey and Paris realize that unless they change their dangerous ways now, they will end up just like Anna Nicole Smith?

Check Your Peanut Butter!

This is probably old news for most of my 6-or-so readers, but just in case you've managed to miss it...the FDA is recalling Peter Pan and Great Value (Walmart) brands of peanut butter due to the risk of contamination by Salmonella.

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee (a bacterium that causes foodborne illness). The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number "2111." Both the Peter Pan and Great Value brands are manufactured in a single facility in Georgia by ConAgra. Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected.

If consumers have any of this Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter in their home that has been purchased since May 2006, they should discard it.

Symptoms of foodborne illness caused by Salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Individuals who have recently eaten Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.

FDA's warning is based on a just-completed epidemiological study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the states and local health agencies, which links 288 cases of foodborne illness in 39 states to consumption of varying types of Peter Pan peanut butter. This report was provided to FDA on February 13."

As a result, I will now be throwing out the remainder of the Great Value brand peanut butter from my pantry. (I normally buy Peter Pan, but Walmart was out...go figure!) No one here got sick, thank goodness, but I'd still rather not play with fire on this one.

Now go check your peanut butter before you forget!