Sunday, July 06, 2008
The business...
I highly recommend that any mother facing birth watch this movie. If nothing else it will convince you how important it is to be informed so as to be able to make good decisions for you and your baby. The old adage a little knowledge is dangerous - far from applies in today's high tech approach to birth. Today a woman needs to have every "little piece" of information that she can find. She needs to be an informed consumer so as to not come away from what can be the most empowering experience of her life - feeling stripped of her independence and every shred of her dignity.
Whether you are expecting your first or your fifth or simply know someone expecting - watch this very enlightening and thought provoking movie. I bet none of you knew that the US, of all the industrialized countries has the second highest maternal mortality rate. I didn't.
This movie is available for rent from Netflix both in the instant watch format as well as a DVD that can be mailed to your home.
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Friday, July 04, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Down for the count...
I was often tired... very tired.
This morning I woke up exceptionally tired.
As I was reading my email I happened to rub my fingers over my check bones and it seemed swollen. For weeks now - if I pushed on my sinus - one tooth hurt.
I compared cheeks. Yes, the right one was just a bit more chubby than the left. So I pushed my tongue up onto my left gum and there was a pea sized lump on my gum over the tooth that hurt when I push on my sinus.
So I called the dentist. Two hours later I left the office with a prescription in hand. It appears that I have a sinus infection and an abscessed tooth. Hmmm, maybe that is why I am so tired. Maybe that is why I have been having chills one minute and boiling hot the next.
Now I am off to Wal-mart to pick up my prescription that I dropped off a few hours ago. But I bet if I asked Hugo really nicely - he would get it for me! Then I can take a nap. I hope to be back online in a day or two - but if I'm not, you all know why!
Please ignore the
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Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Home safe and sound....
I agree, I am tried and was most anxious to get home... but what happened to those exhausted children. You know, the ones who couldn't wait to get out and stretch and then head to bed.
I only hear kids who are hyper, loud and far too awake for my taste.
Tomorrow we will be busy cleaning out the van, washing the clothes and getting groceries. So this post plus an update on Gracie below, is all that you will see from me tomorrow.
Update on Gracie... PLEASE PRAY
| TUESDAY, JULY 01, 2008 04:48 PM, CDT |
URGENT! GRACIE JUST BEGAN TO "DE-SAT" IN HER OXYGEN INTAKE. THEY ASKED MOM AND I TO STEP OUT WHILE THEY CHANGED OUT THE C-PAP TUBE IN HER NOSE. PRAY THAT THIS TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM!! SHE HAS A LOT OF SECRETIONS IN HER CHEST. PLEASE PRAY THEY CAN RESOLVE THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO INTUBATE AGAIN. THANKS, AMANDA |
| |
| TUESDAY, JULY 01, 2008 01:50 PM, CDT |
SO FAR....SO GOOD! GRACIE LOOKS BETTER THIS TIME THAN LAST TIME AND SO FAR, HER LABS AND SATS LOOK GREAT! KEEP PRAYING! TODD AND I WILL STAY CLOSE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS WE KEEP PRAYING AND TRUSTING IN A MIRACLE! BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT GRACIE! SHE HAS A C-PAP TUBE IN HER NOSE THAT IS TRANSITIONING HER TO COMPLETE EXTUBATION....THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE BUT NECESSARY....PRAY IT CAN COME OUT SOON!! TODD AND AMANDA |
| |
| TUESDAY, JULY 01, 2008 10:04 AM, CDT |
THE VENTILATOR TUBE IS BEING PULLED RIGHT NOW!! PRAY HARD!! PRAY THAT GRACIE BREATHES! We will not know until the end of the day how Gracie does--but we want her to stay off!! PRAY! THANK YOU--PRAY ALL DAY! Todd and Amanda |
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Stealing from the past...
Hugo is terribly busy and I am hoping that we will be moving this summer so I have not made much of an attempt to look for space for my scanner so once more, I am borrowing from the past. We have also started our summer semester and this being the first week back... it has been somewhat hectic. Some of my readers, no doubt wonder how I can torture my children with a summer semester but if you are familiar with the climate you will quickly agree that for many hours of the day - it is simply too hot to be spending any time outside. (Those not familiar with the climate can click here. In fact, we frequently experience weather warnings that are for air quality and not for storms or tornadoes. Though we have our fair share of those too. On those days, our children with asthma have to remain indoors as much as possible. Sometimes we will have three or more days like that in a row so... we might as well be productive and stretch our brains.
Now onto the glimpse from the past. To view click here.
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Monday, June 30, 2008
Anna's chocolate chip cookies... with a twist
INGREDIENTS
* 2 cup butter ***
* 1 cup white sugar
* 2 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 4 eggs
* 5 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 teaspoon salt
* 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
(And for a really yummy and unique change add one LARGE bag on M&M chocolate covered peanuts)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the vanilla and eggs one at a time. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Finally, mix in the chocolate chips. (And M&M peanuts at this time) Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are golden. Remove from baking sheet to cool on wire racks.
Depending on the size of cookies that one bakes you can have several dozen cookies and the cook time can vary from 8 to 15 minutes - again depending on size.
*** when I made this recipe last week, I accidentally left 1 of the 2 cups of butter out - and it made NO discernible difference. We only realized it when we discovered the two butter sticks I had put in the microwave to soften - still in the microwave and the cookies already half gone!)
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Sunday, June 29, 2008
Happy 125th
Ignore the
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Saturday, June 28, 2008
Back Pack update

After wearing her back pack and little else all day, Elsa finally fell asleep and was put to bed. So I took the opportunity to discover just what enough is to a three year old.
Enough for an over night trip is:
4 t-shirts
1 pair of shorts
1 dress
1 pair of P.J. bottoms
1 P.J. top from different set than the pj bottoms
1 bathing suit
1 pair of yellow flip flops
3 sheets of paper and 2 pencils
... just enough, eh?
PLEASE IGNORE THE
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From the peanut gallery
But I digress, as part of my preps I caved in and bought two cute, but rather small back backs for Emma and Elsa. Spying hers at breakfast time, Elsa properly ooohed and awed over it and announced she needed to pack it NOW.
A few minutes later she flew down the stairs in her typical style and fashioned her very full pack hanging from her shoulders for me.
"Oh", I asked, "what did you pack?"
"Enough!"
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Thursday, June 26, 2008
Something Important....
To read about it click here. And for those wondering why we did not return to Canada following my husband's job loss - this is the answer. The crumbling health system is why we sought a transfer to the States. Please take the time to read this article and know - when they say patients are participating in lotteries to see the local doctor - they are not joking. Many towns no longer even have a single doctor's office open. Saint George, New Brunswick is such a town. My father and step mother have to drive to Saint John, a city an hour away, for medical care. As do all the residents of Saint George.
Oh, and in Canada - health care providers can, and do, go on strike. The doctors were on strike when we left Canada in January of 1997. We had an 18 month old son requiring surgery at the time and we were told to wait for our transfer to the States as the waiting list, due to the strike, was so long - he would not get it done in Canada before the strike was over. We were told this in November of 1996.
And keep this in mind. If the Doctor, through negligence, removes your left ovary when he was to remove the right one and so you end up with NO ovaries - who do you sue? His employer? Which is ... the government. Ever hear of anyone suing the government and winning?
Nah, me neither.
So please read this and think very carefully about what you want your health care to look like in few years before you vote in November. I am only 46. The system was broken when we left and that was 11 years ago. The government system came online AFTER I was born. It took less than thirty-five years to fall apart.
Please ignore
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Some of Anna's photos for ...
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
A word of warning
Here is a quote from a recent post there:
"The ride there was hilariously bad, with The Baby screaming "SOMEONE HELP ME! THEY ARE CHOKING ME WITH MY CARSEAT!" for a solid HOUR."
Elsa would SO love to have a line like this up her sleeve, so I repeat, do NOT show this blog to my child.
Ignore the
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Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Updates on prayer requests!
According to a recent email, Nick Y has had surgery and is expected to be in hospital 5 - 7 days. I do not know if he is still in ICU but very well maybe as he has a chest tube. Apparently this happened, to him, once before - five years ago. Please uphold this family in your prayers. While they are part of a very loving parish and will get much support - they are in a particularly challenging situation. In January they were transfered to a nearby State. Nick, due to school, opted to stay in NC. Therefor while the family is here (with ALL of other 7 the children) they do not have a home to call their own. As I said, they have lots of support here, but still - this has to add to the stress!
STORY
On a positive note STORY has been released from hospital and has gone home with her two loving parents. To see her enjoying the experience of being at home click here.
GRACIE
Gracie, continues to need much prayers as do her family. Gracie is around 3 to 4 months old and here is a quote from her caringbridge site as to where she is now:
"Options for Gracie:
Spend the next few weeks (1-2 months) giving Gracie physical/occupational therapy, giving her lots of love and food here at Duke, then proceeding to the second open heart surgery and praying that her heart is strong enough. If they decide this, they may also give her a tracheotomy.
#2- Proceed towards transplant because they feel her heart is not strong enough to handle a second open heart surgery. If this is the case, we have no idea when a heart will come and Gracie is very low on sedation…and the ventilator tube is driving her crazy! But if this is the option—she cannot have a tracheotomy because it will change her transplant status.
GRACIE HAS TO HAVE ONE OF THESE TWO OPTIONS TO SURVIVE."
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Too clever by half!
Elsa, however, is too clever by half. For instance yesterday when her Daddy announced he was going "eat Elsa for supper" she responded; "You can eat Elta all up for supper, but I am NOT Elta!" and when telling me about this later, he shared how she typically agrees to this threat to be eaten for supper with: "Emma is for supper, I am dessert!"
This is a girl that will not be falling for any pick up lines!
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Monday, June 23, 2008
Urgent Prayer Request
" Please pray for healing and for wisdom for the doctors at (the local) Medical Center. Nick Y., Dean and Bridget Y.'s oldest son, is in ICU with a collapsed lung. He is in serious condition. "
The following Psalm was attached to the prayer request.
71:1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15ab and 17
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
June 23rd...
some photos from a year ago - today.
Mr and Mrs Ryan leave the church, no longer single adults but now united as one couple through the sacrament of marriage, a living joyful sacrament.
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There are SO many wonderful photos that Paul Tomas took that captured such special moments through out the day - it was so difficult to chose which ones to share here, but my goal was to just touch on the highlights. I hope you enjoyed revisiting that day with me.
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Saturday, June 21, 2008
This weeks question...

"One more thing: Enjoyed the towel plan. Read an article about large families and dirty dishes (family fun magazine). This mom's solution was to pack away all dishes, buy dollar tree clear glass plates, paint names on plates, everyone has one dish (large flat bottom bowl) and washes their own. No more dishwasher. Can't eat if your plate is dirty. Downside was washing dish between courses (dinner, dessert, soup or salad) So here's my Saturday request: how do you handle dishes?"
Well, I have to say that while we were experiencing drainage problems, we were using disposable dishes as much as possible because washing the dishes had become an excruciating chore with whoever was on dishes having to constantly check the level of water in the pail below. More often than not - we experienced an overflow due to the level of water sneaking up on us. Thankfully this is no longer a problem!
I have to admit that the chore of washing the dishes has been a thorn in our family's side for some time. This was due to the tendency of the child on duty for the day ultimately leaving a few dishes behind. This was also my fault. By the end of the day and supper chores time, I am usually quite beat and often do not double check the kitchen so as to ensure that not only all chores have been completed - but have been done thoroughly. This would result in arguments the following day...
Finally the children themselves came up with a solution. They suggested that we make the chores permanent and not constantly revolving. As I mentioned in a previous post, I did not like the idea of the chores being permanent. I want children to experience a variety of chores and then there is the reality that some chores are easier than others. So I compromised and came up with a 3 month revolving list as opposed to a daily revolving list. This semi permanency of the chores has completely eliminated the constant bickering that not properly done or incomplete chores had been causing. I am also finding that children are taking more pride in the areas assigned to them. I imagine because it is evident to themselves they have not done a good job and also realize it is evident to the whole family that, for example, the living room is not swept well - because they did not sweep it well. It has also made it infinitely easier for me to keep track of who is responsible for which chore - which also makes it easier to crack down on sloppy work.
Over all I am happy with this solution and wish we had come up with it sooner. We have tried many ways of encouraging chores to be done well and consistently and this has by far been our best solution.
Thanks for the question Peg! I hope you, and the other readers, enjoyed the response, as well as found it helpful.
Be sure to submit a question you might have about the challenges of parenting a large family - or parenting in general. You can leave it in the comment section or email it directly to me.
Oh, as to the lady who decided to buy one plate and cup per child, I have to wonder what happens if a dish breaks? Did she have some put away as back up or does the kid have to wait and borrow another child's dish until the mum found another dollar dish that would suffice as a bowl/plate. Her idea is quite unique but I know dish breakage would be a definite challenge for us!
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Friday, June 20, 2008
FRIDAY BONUS!
Well - not to keep you in anymore suspense click here to to satisfy your curiosity. Warning to EXPECTANT mums- empty bladder before reading.
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Finally - Fun Friday!

Nope - I don't have a scanner up and working but decided for the sake of the many new readers that I have I would dig up some old cartoons to share. To see a fun post about how to know if you are a large family click here. The cartoon was drawn by Anna who was 11 at the time. Enjoy! (For this post please ignore the read more link) Read more!













