Scraping the Bottom

Our political discourse over the last couple of years has been pretty nasty, with new lows seen almost weekly during this last Congressional recess. It is disheartening to many of us. Yet, here I am, simply stunned that it could be brought any lower. Tonight, as our fairly elected President addressed the Congress, a Republican lawmaker heckled him! He shouted out and called the President a liar! What has this country come to that such blatant displays of disrespect are tolerated?

Can you imagine the outcry if a Democrat had dared called Bush a liar during a Congressional address? Oh Lordy, the press would have had field day! "Traitor!" "UnAmerican!" Those would be but two of the choice words we'd have heard screamed from the rooftops. The GOP would never have allowed it to go unpunished. How times change.

I think the GOP needs to take a step back and engage in some serious introspection. President Obama won the election less than year ago, by margins larger than his predecessor could have ever dreamed. The majority of voters WANT him to bring the change he promised. Your scare tactics, your lies, and now your bold-faced disrespect of our President is not going to bring your party back into the good graces of voters. When you show such insolence and contempt toward our democratically elected leader, you show contempt for us, the people. Eventually, that contempt is going to come full circle, so I hope you have a good job that offers health benefits waiting in the wings when we the people finally tire of your do-nothing, fear mongering, ways. Karma can be a real bitch.

Are We a Christian Nation?

I see and hear this a lot. Lately, I see it on signs being carried by protesters, or hear it being screamed at some rally. I have to admit that I am utterly befuddled by these people. While they are out there shouting about how "Christian" we are supposed to be, I see nothing Christian in their actions, or their arguments. They say we are a Christian nation, but they are angry over wanting to provide healthcare to those that don't have it. They don't simply disagree, they are downright angry. Over HEALTHCARE. I have tried and tried, but for the life of me, I cannot see what Christian principle is driving their views. Jesus was pretty adamant about how he felt when it comes to the sick and the poor. He wanted them to be cared for. Isn't a government that chooses to provide care for all its citizens regardless of income or education espousing and modeling the very lessons taught by Jesus? Why then, are people who call themselves Christian so angry about that? Matthew 25 : 40 tells us “ AND THE KING SHALL ANSWER AND SAY UNTO THEM, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, INASMUCH AS YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME.” Our government wants to reach out and help the least of our brethren - a very Christian principle. What is there in the government's desire to care for its people do some Christians find so abhorrent? Their position makes no sense.

Perhaps we simply have very different views about what constitutes "Christian nation." When I think of a Christian nation, I think of a government that espouses the foundational teachings of Jesus in the way they treat their citizens. When others think of a Christian nation, I get the distinct feeling that they feel it is the governments job to enforce particular beliefs on everyone. I don't think enforcing one groups religious views on everyone is at all a Christian approach. Jesus wants us to share our faith by modeling it, not by demanding it from others. Why then, should we be upset at our government modeling those principles?

And while we are on the subject of Christianity, I am wholly disgusted by a certain Pastor, who has been praying for the death and damnation of the President. From his sermon, titled "Why I Hate Barack Obama": "Nope. I'm not gonna pray for his good. I'm going to pray that he dies and goes to hell. When I go to bed tonight, that's what I'm going to pray. And you say, 'Are you just saying that?' No. When I go to bed tonight, Steven L. Anderson is going to pray for Barack Obama to die and go to hell."

Pastor Anderson, what bible are you reading from, sir, because it very clearly is not the same bible I grew up with. What theological institution taught you? You say "that God is a God of wrath and vengeance." The God I know is a God of love, compassion, grace and forgiveness. You may be ordained, but you are not Christian by any measurable standard.

Perhaps this is why some Christians are so angry at our democratically elected President. He can model the teachings of Jesus till the cows come home, but if people who are supposed to be Christian leaders are out there spewing such vile hatred in the pulpit every Sunday, it stands to reason that people would be confused. I guess all I can do is pray more fervently than Pastor Stevens, for my President's safety, and for guidance as he seeks to actualize true Christian principles within our government. I hope others will do the same. The future of our country depends on it.

Random Tales From the Motherhood Trail

So I'm trying to potty train Elijah and Gabe at the same time. Oh joy. I have to tip my hat to you moms of twins and triplets or more. On the first really serious keep-them-at-home-and-naked-and-make-them-drink-too-much-water day of our adventure, I started with the method that had worked so magically with Nicholas. Potty presents!!! They each had their own basket full of goodies haphazardly wrapped in brightly colored tissue, and told them they could have one each time they went on the potty. As it turns out, this is the same day they both suddenly developed bladders of steel. I made them start drinking water, and kept them drinking, but when we went to sit . . . nada. I basically spent the first, oh, three hours of my day going up and down the hall putting kids on the potty every 10 minutes, and I have to tell ya, it's wayyy more exhausting than it sounds. Eventually, we went in, Elijah sat down first and "Hallelujah!" there was pee!!! Never thought I'd ever get that excited about a bodily fluid. So, after much excitement and celebratory high fives, Elijah gets down and Gabey gets on, and . . . nothing. Elijah, being the helper that he is (I'll have to have a whole separate post about this new phase), he says to his brother, "Gabey, you got to pwess you bewwy button! Dat make it go!" Alas, Gabey's button wasn't registering quite yet. He did get his first success shortly thereafter, and had only one accident that day. I ended the day very excited at the prospect of moving out of diapers. The next day I got them their first new underwear, which was a fun diversion for all of a day. Turns out I have to check the enthusiasm a bit.

It's been fun watching how Elijah's brain works. Whereas Nick, at the same stage thought "Cool, I get presents for going potty. I can do that." Elijah thought "JACKPOT!" He very quickly turned the training into a tool for aquiring new things. He would ask for a present for the slightest amount of production. He'd go for about a second and a half, and then give me this wide-eyed look and say "It stopped. Now I got to get a potty pwesent!" Then he'd go right back to the potty, and if it didn't happen, he'd say "I think I need some wa-ter" and go drink some more. I ran out of potty presents that day. I made an emergency shopping trip that night while they were in bed and bought every cheap toy from ever dollar store bin in the area. Nick's rewards lasted much longer, but he isn't the manipulator Elijah is turning out to be. Eventually we had to turn to M-n-Ms (thank you Godmommy!) They are cheaper and last longer, but Elijah is still doing his best to finagle as many M-n-Ms has he can. Gabe, on the other hand has pretty much decided it was fun for awhile , but now he's over it and may I have my diaper back please? ~~sigh~~

School started and Gabe still has to wear the diapers to school because he has no bowel control, but I sent the M-n-Ms and they will work with him there, and when he gets home, I make him run around sans britches. He will get there. It's just going to take a while longer. Elijah is basically there, he just needs to work on the bowel control. He has the pee mastered, but he's still working the M-n-Ms to the best of his ability. He also started saying, when he sits down and nothing happens immediately, "Just give it few seconds." Gee, I wonder where he learned that?

When they are both finally done, and I can cross diapers off my to do list forever, I am throwing one big party. Who wants to come?

Seven Years Ago Today

After months alternating between fear and anticipation, and 15 hours of labor, I met my miracle. He was born at 9:05 am, and weighed exactly seven pounds. Although he made it to 38 weeks and was a healthy weight, he still was whisked away from me before I could hold him. For seven hours, I had no idea what was happening with my baby boy. I was taken to my room, and my only distraction was news coverage of a massive fire that had broken out at the newly built Santana Row shopping complex. And a nurse aptly named Charity. Charity came and sat on my bed and wrapped her arms around me and just let me sob. She stayed with me for quite awhile, and came back often. She got me through the longest seven hours of my life. Finally, at 4:00 in the afternoon, I was able to go to the NICU and see my beautiful Gabriel George. His heart wasn't working properly and he couldn't keep his oxygen levels up. Over the next ten days, we met with cardiologists, and Gabe and I worked very very hard to establish nursing. Not easy when your baby is too tired to wake up and has the muscle tone of a rag doll, which is exactly how he felt when we held him. After ten days, we were allowed to take him home, along with several boxes of oxygen and extra cannulas. Seven months later he had surgery to repair his heart.

And now, seven years later, he is the most amazing little human I have ever known. He loves music and dance. He loves his brothers, and has a particularly tight bond with his baby brother. If I dare show up to pick him up from school without Elijah, the first words out of his mouth are "Mommy? Where zha-zha?" He has no shortage of self esteem. He is quite in love with himself, really. He will dance in front of the turned off TV and watch himself in the reflection all day long if I let him. This June he performed in his seventh recital.
He loves going to school, and is on the cusp of reading.

There really aren't words sufficient to describe the love we share. He is an amazing miracle and I am so grateful he is mine.
I am, without a doubt, the luckiest mom in the whole world.

A Special Day

Yes, it has been too long since I've posted. What can I say, except I'm a slacker. I promise to do better in the future. Since it's been so long I'll keep this one short and to-the-point. Gabe's class went to the Special Games event put on by the local Kiwanis. It was a fantastic day, and Gabe had a grand time. Really, the look on his face says it all. If that is not the epitome of joy, then there is no such thing. Check out my Peanut. Dontcha just want to eat him up?

Better Late Than Never: Buddy Walk '08!

I promised to put up pictures from the Buddy Walk 3 months ago, but my camera got dropped and met its maker, somehow in the process corrupting a file on the card, so we couldn't download them. No reader could find the pics. My awesome super genius hunny figured out a way to get them onto his work computer, so now we finally have them YAYYY! To recap - this year's Buddy Walk was a success in terms of turnout, despite the downpours of rain - which I actually quite enjoyed, as opposed to the heat of years past. Fundraising was down, but that was to be expected. The best part was having Sharkie , the San Jose Sharks mascot there! Gabriel and Nicholas even made it onto the local news!!! (Not sure if the link is still good, but if it is, you can see the segment here. Gabriel and Robert are at 1:42, and Nick is at 2:20 into the video.)Sharkie helped our team lead off the walk, and both Nick and Gabe loved him! Elijah was a bit timid, what with him being terrified of his own shadow and all. So, I'll stop blathering now, as I know all you really care about are the pictures. Enjoy!

Here is Gabriel with Sharkie:

Getting ready to start the walk, with storm clouds looming in the not-so-distant distance:

The Firefighters came and brought an engine for the kids to explore. The kids loved this more than the bounce houses!

He make look like he's all cuteness and light, but behind the precocious smile lies the heart of a true troublemaker. I can't fathom where he gets it!

My Sweet Peanut. Dontcha just want to eat him up? This kid melts my heart daily.This is my amazing wonder woman friend, Marcie, and her beautiful daughter Maddie. We're hoping to be related by marriage someday. =)

Life with Boys

I get asked every so often what's it like to live with all boys. I think daily life is best described by these handful of words that constitute 90% of my daily conversation:

NO! Get your hands out of your pants! Get your finger out of your nose! Don't put that there! Get off your brother's head! I said NO! Why is your (jacket/shirt/shoes/jammies) on the floor and what are you going to do about it? Ewwww. If you'd listened the first three times, I wouldn't be yelling. Your shirt is not a napkin. Don't pester your brother. Don't hit your brother. Don't bite your brother. Don't touch. Give that back. Share or I'll take it away. Don't put that in your mouth! Don't put that in your ear! Dont' use that tone of voice with me. Get off the table. Get off the counter. Get off me! Stop running. Stop yelling. Just stop. Be nice to your brother. Go to your room. Go outside. Go jump on Dad. Go to bed. I love you. I love you more. I love to the end of the universe and back. Sweet dreams, I'll see you in the morning.

Another Christmas Has Come and Gone

It came so suddenly this year, it seems. Here we are in January, and I still have Christmas cards I haven't mailed. Or maybe I'm just that disorganized.

Nick was sick so we started Christmas Eve rather slowly, just hanging out in our PJs, and tracking Santa on NORAD. I LOVE that site! I also love that my 8 year old still wholeheartedly believes in Santa. I'm not sure how many years of that magic we have left, but thanks to NORAD, I think we can make it last a wee bit longer. We had to scrap our plans to attend church together, because Nick' fever hit 103 in the afternoon. I told him we'd have to stay home, and he was quite distressed at the thought of not going to Grammy and Papa's, which is our tradition. We gave him some medicine and told him to sleep. His fever came down so we decided to go. This is a picture of them getting ready to go, in their matching outfits. I'm thinking I won't have too many more opportunities to do that either. At some point Nick is bound to balk at the thought of dressing just like his two pesty little brothers. I couldn't get them to all smile so I said "Say Santa!" and this is what I got:






Here they are patiently (or in Gabey's case, NOT so patiently) waiting for their one Christmas Eve gift before bed. Could Gabe possibly look more disinterested? Had to throw in a pic of Robert and me. I don't ever get any good pictures of me, not that I would say this is a "good" picture, but at least it is photographic evidence of my presence at Christmas.

Gabey in his Troy Bolton shirt. I am quite disappointed to report that I didn't get any good pictures of Gabey's Winter Recital this year. He was amazing. Seriously. The kid kicked ass and took names. He had memorized the entire dance from the end of High School Musical to the song "We're All In This Together", but then got up there and decided to just improvise - he was AWESOME! He was throwing together moves from Grease, HSM, Wiggles, and then he struck a couple of poses. He was just so exuberate and happy! Several parents stopped us afterward to tell us they thought he stole the show. He does so love to perform, and it shows. Maybe he's got a future in it? Who knows.

I'll post more photos later. I am having all manner of issue with the upload on this, so you'll just have to suffer with these few. Merry Belated Christmas and Happy New Year!

Snow Day!

Last week, like most of the country, we experienced some extreme weather. It was much much colder than is usual for our area, and there was snow in the low foothills around the valley, a rare occurrence indeed. So one day after school, I took the boys for a drive up to Skyline and had a play day in the snow! Nick was thrilled! When we were getting ready to come home for some hot chocolate, he told me "Oh mom! This was a dream come true!" I just love how the simplest things make him SO happy. Elijah threw one of his monster tantrums when we first got there, but he finally took a moment to look around and notice everyone else was having fun, and caved to the pressure. The boys don't know yet as we want to surprise them, but we are planning to drive to Washington for New Year's Eve, where they can really enjoy the snow!

New Family Portraits

Finally got around to getting new pictures done with the whole family. What do you think? I look at Elijah and think "One of these things is not like the other . . ." I can't believe we managed to get all of them smiling at the same time, and more than once! Miracles never cease! If the grandparents see these, I know what you're thinking . . . your hard copies are coming via eight reindeer and a jolly fat man!