Wow, it's been a while

So yeah, it's been busy here lately. Not much time for blog updates, and since I really hate how my pictures turn out with the lack of appropriate lighting, I've not wanted to do much food blogging.

So quick update, we've been working on using workboxes for the kids for homeschool, which has been working out quite nicely. They are getting tons of work done in less time than before. Using a timer helps tremendously as well. I am hoping to upgrade from paper covered cereal boxes to nice little drawers before long, but those cost money, so it might be a while :) They do work nice though, so that's a good thing.

Zachary, our youngest, turned 2 on Sunday. Well, technically not quite, as his birthday is officially the 29th of February, which only comes every 4 years. But we use the 28th for his alternate birthday, since we have plenty of March birthdays already, and that fits in with our goal of having one baby in every month.

Our oldest, Ben, will be TEN YEARS OLD!!! Oh Lordy, where has the time gone? He's gotten so big, and grown so much since he was just the tiny little squirt I held so long ago. I know in a few years he will be driving, and then getting all grown up and moving away.

I do hope to start updating again before long. At least a little more often than once every 4 months, hopefully.

Absolutely Sick

Abortion is something that I feel very strongly about. It is murder, pure and simple. It is the taking of a life, a human being. It should not be allowed, and yet it is fought over as a "right" of the mother. Apparently, with the fetus not being human and all, it doesn't deserve any rights, according to them anyway.

If then, the fetus is not human, why would these doctors be making such a big deal over this case?

Fla. doctor investigated in badly botched abortion
By CHRISTINE ARMARIO

Eighteen and pregnant, Sycloria Williams went to an abortion clinic outside Miami and paid $1,200 for Dr. Pierre Jean-Jacque Renelique to terminate her 23-week pregnancy.

Three days later, she sat in a reclining chair, medicated to dilate her cervix and otherwise get her ready for the procedure.

Only Renelique didn't arrive in time. According to Williams and the Florida Department of Health, she went into labor and delivered a live baby girl.

What Williams and the Health Department say happened next has shocked people on both sides of the abortion debate: One of the clinic's owners, who has no medical license, cut the infant's umbilical cord. Williams says the woman placed the baby in a plastic biohazard bag and threw it out.

Police recovered the decomposing remains in a cardboard box a week later after getting anonymous tips.

"I don't care what your politics are, what your morals are, this should not be happening in our community," said Tom Pennekamp, a Miami attorney representing Williams in her lawsuit against Renelique (ren-uh-LEEK') and the clinic owners.

The state Board of Medicine is to hear Renelique's case in Tampa on Friday and determine whether to strip his license. The state attorney's homicide division is investigating, though no charges have been filed. Terry Chavez, a spokeswoman with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office, said this week that prosecutors were nearing a decision.

Renelique's attorney, Joseph Harrison, called the allegations at best "misguided and incomplete" in an e-mail to The Associated Press. He didn't provide details.

The case has riled the anti-abortion community, which contends the clinic's actions constitute murder.

"The baby was just treated as a piece of garbage," said Tom Brejcha, president of The Thomas More Society, a law firm that is also representing Williams. "People all over the country are just aghast."

Even those who support abortion rights are concerned about the allegations.

"It really disturbed me," said Joanne Sterner, president of the Broward County chapter of the National Organization for Women, after reviewing the administrative complaint against Renelique. "I know that there are clinics out there like this. And I hope that we can keep (women) from going to these types of clinics."

According to state records, Renelique received his medical training at the State University of Haiti. In 1991, he completed a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Interfaith Medical Center in New York.

New York records show that Renelique has made at least five medical malpractice payments in the past decade, the circumstances of which were not detailed in the filings.

Several attempts to reach Renelique were unsuccessful. Some of his office numbers were disconnected, no home number could be found and he did not return messages left with his attorney.

Williams struggled with the decision to have an abortion, Pennekamp said. She declined an interview request made through him.

She concluded she didn't have the resources or maturity to raise a child, he said, and went to the Miramar Women's Center on July 17, 2006. Sonograms indicated she was 23 weeks pregnant, according to the Department of Health. She met Renelique at a second clinic two days later.

Renelique gave Williams laminaria, a drug that dilates the cervix, and prescribed three other medications, according to the administrative complaint filed by the Health Department. She was told to go to yet another clinic, A Gyn Diagnostic Center in Hialeah, where the procedure would be performed the next day, on July 20, 2006.

Williams arrived in the morning and was given more medication.

The Department of Health account continues as follows: Just before noon she began to feel ill. The clinic contacted Renelique. Two hours later, he still hadn't shown up. Williams went into labor and delivered the baby.

"She came face to face with a human being," Pennekamp said. "And that changed everything."

The complaint says one of the clinic owners, Belkis Gonzalez came in and cut the umbilical cord with scissors, then placed the baby in a plastic bag, and the bag in a trash can.

Williams' lawsuit offers a cruder account: She says Gonzalez knocked the baby off the recliner chair where she had given birth, onto the floor. The baby's umbilical cord was not clamped, allowing her to bleed out. Gonzalez scooped the baby, placenta and afterbirth into a red plastic biohazard bag and threw it out.

No working telephone number could be found for Gonzalez, and an attorney who has represented the clinic in the past did not return a message.

At 23 weeks, an otherwise healthy fetus would have a slim but legitimate chance of survival. Quadruplets born at 23 weeks last year at The Nebraska Medical Center survived.

An autopsy determined Williams' baby - she named her Shanice - had filled her lungs with air, meaning she had been born alive, according to the Department of Health. The cause of death was listed as extreme prematurity.

The Department of Health believes Renelique committed malpractice by failing to ensure that licensed personnel would be present when Williams was there, among other missteps.

The department wants the Board of Medicine, a separate agency, to permanently revoke Renelique's license, among other penalties. His license is currently restricted, permitting him to only perform abortions when another licensed physician is present and can review his medical records.

Should prosecutors file murder charges, they'd have to prove the baby was born alive, said Robert Batey, a professor of criminal law at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport. The defense might contend that the child would have died anyway, but most courts would not allow that argument, he said.

"Hastening the death of an individual who is terminally ill is still considered causing the death of that individual," Batey said. "And I think a court would rule similarly in this type of case."

What bothers me the most, aside from the baby being kicked to the floor, tossed in a bag and then into the garbage like some sort of waste, is this part.

"Hastening the death of an individual who is terminally ill is still considered causing the death of that individual," Batey said. "And I think a court would rule similarly in this type of case."

Terminally ill? Terminally ill??? That baby was just fine before these murderers decided to pump the mother full of drugs in an effort to kill the baby by premature birth. Whether or not it was supposed to be the kind of abortion where they shove a pair of scissors into the head of the baby, making sure the head stays inside the mother so it doesn't get the chance to breathe in air (therefore making it a "live" birth), the article doesn't say. It shouldn't matter. It's still a life, whether you allow that child to have air in it's lungs or not. Whether or not you allow that child to see your face, it's still a child. It has been a child all along. A difference of inches and air does not make a difference.

Sooo... Would This Be A Face Only A Mother Could Love?

These would be my two middle boys, the one with dark hair turned 5 yesterday. This was supposed to be a cute picture of him, until the 3yo decided to get involved. Ah, boys. Gotta love 'em, right?

So What Does This Mean For Me??

Such an interesting article. I'm not sure whether to laugh, cry, or be depressed.

Depression More Common With Baby Boys
Post-Partum Depression More Common After Boys Born

A new study says giving birth to a boy is more likely to lower a woman's quality of life and raises her risk of post-partum depression.

A team from Univesite Nancy 2 in France found one-third of women had PPD four to eight weeks after giving birth. Three-quarters of those with depression had given birth to a boy.

Even those who were not clinically depressed felt that their quality of life had fallen more if they had a boy, lead author Professor Claude Tychey said. Lower quality-of-life scores were seen in 70 percent of the women with new sons.
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"We also discovered that being a first-time mother had no effect on quality of life scores. Women had the same general scores regardless of whether the recent birth was their first or second baby," Tychey said.

"Previous studies have shown that women who live in cultures where greater value is placed on sons are more likely to suffer from (depression) if they give birth to a girl. However, we believe that this study -- carried out in a French community where women didn't face cultural pressures over the sex of their baby -- is the first to show that women who give birth to boys are more likely to suffer from severe (depression) and reduced quality of life," he said.

That Creepy Spinning Baby....

Okay, so I know the creepy spinning baby to the right says 55 days until my due date. Technically, that's correct. Sort of. My delivery date, however, is different. A whole 9 days earlier (yay!). Hey, 9 days to a pregnant woman means a LOT at this point. So, we're looking at 46 days. I can make it.

So yes, we will be delivering on..... February 29th! A leap day baby. I can hardly wait to hold this squirmy little baby in my arms (and not my belly). We have decided that, what with finding out we are having yet ANOTHER boy (I was so looking forward to making some cute little dresses), that this little man will be named Zachary William. William was my great grandfather's name, though he usually went by the name Glenn. I never did think to ask why, I should do that one of these days. Anyway, he was always an important part of most of my summers, and many holidays as well. We were both tall and gangly, with the same double joints, and I was the one who usually got to share his recliner so that I could cuddle up with him. I've been wanting to use the name for a while, but could never seem to come up with something to go along with it. I'm a firm believer in the power of names, not only in their definitions, but in the meaning they hold for us as well. Zachary means "God has remembered". William means "Strong-willed warrior". Oh boy, this is going to be fun. I'm wondering if I should rethink the "strong-willed" part ;) But, Granddad was always so sweet and even tempered, I'm hoping for that part of his personality to come through.

Remember, It's For The Children

I haven't paid much attention to the cigarette tax that's coming up, mostly because I don't smoke. I don't agree with it because it's just another stupid tax to take money away from people who want to make bad decisions in life. As I was reading an article on wisn.com today though, this particular line caught my eye.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids predicts the higher tax will stop nearly 66,000 Wisconsin children from starting smoking. And it will make 33,300 smokers quit.

First of all, I highly doubt that the cost of cigarettes will stop children from smoking. At that age, it's a peer thing. Of course, I suppose that at any age it's a peer thing, as there's no good reason to start smoking. But aside from that, since when has it become the government's right to stop anyone from smoking something that is perfectly legal? Why should it be the government's job to "make" people quit by raising taxes? Is this just another feel-good-ism type of tax that's supposed to "fix" some "problem" that they've come up with? Yes, there are probably people who will finally quit smoking because of the cost. Likely, they wanted to quit before but didn't have a good enough reason. However, I doubt it will affect that much, certainly not the numbers they're predicting anyway.

I Don't Think I Could Have Done It

I'm sorry, but Mary, riding on a donkey, right before she gave birth, I don't think I could have managed that. I can barely sit on a chair, let alone a donkey. But, I suppose when you're carrying the Savior in your womb, you're bound to try to do things you wouldn't normally do, right? Still, that had to hurt.

Where Have All The Parents Gone?

This is just another example of how young children are running free to the point of destruction. 12 and 14 year old boys, with enough boredom, or anger, or whatever the case may be, going to a store and destroying and stealing property. Where are their parents? Where is any influence in their young lives telling them that what they are doing is wrong? Has no one told them that destroying another person's property is a bad idea?

In my opinion, the parents of these children should be held at least partially responsible. The parents are supposed to teach the children values and respect for others. These are their children, and they have a certain amount of responsibility until those children are adults.

When my oldest son, who was 4 at the time, developed a bit of a klepto problem, we dealt with it strictly and immediately. He still does it around the house now and then, but he is punished each time. And it becomes further between each time. When he stole something from a store, we made him take it back, apologize, pay for it, and kept it from him. A candy bar once, a pen another time. We paid for them, and then threw them away. It upset him terribly, but now he is more willing to work for the money to buy these things. He is learning that there are consequences to actions, and that there are ways of getting something that is desired, without stealing. Where was that sort of teaching for these boys? Where are the parents in all this?

Does anyone else think the parents should be responsible for their children's actions?

I Am Never Going Out In Public With Him Again!

Okay, maybe not "never", that would be impossible. I'm talking about my 2 1/2 year old son, the one my friends and family refer to as "challenging". Let me start from the beginning of the most recent incident. Just a little background first, I have 5 children, ages 7, 6, 4, 2 1/2, and 1. My husband is not with me today because he is working. So it's me, alone, with 5 kids.

Today, I had to go out for a little errand. Nothing big, but it was close to dinner time. I had some certificates for Noodles & Company through the library reading program, for free bowls of whatever their little hearts desired which was, of course, mac & cheese. So, I did my errand, went to the restaurant, and ordered their mac & cheese, along with a nice little bowl of chicken soup. We were doing good, for about 5 minutes. Then suddenly, my son decides that he doesn't want me helping with his water. Well, that's not happening. There wasn't a lid on the cup, and he's just not that talented yet with such a large glass. So I told him I would help him hold it while he drank. He wanted none of it. So he started screaming. And I mean the I'm-not-getting -my-way-I-must-let-the-entire-shopping-complex-know-I've-been-wronged kind of screaming. So I finally managed to calm him down. For a minute. I tried to convince him to eat some of his mac & cheese. He thought I needed some so I took a bite. Now, it's not exactly my favorite thing to eat while I'm pregnant, but I was trying to humor him. Bad idea. He felt I needed more, and when I refused, trying to tell him that I already had my own food, he tried to throw his whole bowl of mac & cheese. I wasn't having any of that, so I grabbed him up and hugged him to me. After a moment or two he gave up, but then we were back to the water issue again. He wanted to hold it all by himself, which meant trying to tip it up while sucking on the straw, and again, I wouldn't let him. So again, he started screaming and trying to throw things.

Now, while all of this is going on, his three older siblings were happily munching away at their mac & cheese, and the youngest was occasionally squawking for more mac & cheese of his own. I was only giving him a bite at a time since he was in his stroller, and I didn't feel the need for a high chair.

There are thankfully very few people for the most part. I'm really only noticing stares from some late high-school aged boys, who probably think this whole thing is just fascinating. I finally give up and get take out boxes to dump all the mac & cheese into, so we can leave. I have never had to leave anywhere. I was so completely embarrassed by the behavior of my child I was shaking. I couldn't calm him down, I couldn't get him to see reason, there was nothing I could do. I felt helpless. Then to top it all off, when I said "We're leaving, let's go", he jumps up and shouts "Yay! We're leaving!". So this is what he wanted all along! I couldn't believe it. I tried fighting back tears at this point, unsuccessfully. I just couldn't comprehend the situation. He'd been fine most of the day, had had a nap, and had been behaving for the most part.

So now what? I've just done the worst thing I can think of, which is giving in. If I sit back down, the screaming re-commences. If I leave, he gets what he wants. He doesn't understand punishment, and no matter how hard I've tried with him, he just wants his own way to the point of abusing his siblings, or himself. Where do I go from here? My oldest son was strong headed, but would eventually see reason. There is no reason with this child. He can be the sweetest, most loving child in the world, until something happens that he doesn't like. Then the horns come out and all hell breaks loose. I hate to say something so awful about him, but even our closest friends and family have commented the same thing. I've had to leave church services several times because of him, but at least I could leave the other kids with friends or daddy, and come back after a few minutes.

Has anyone ever dealt with a child like this? Do I need to get him into behavioral therapy? I'm really at a complete loss, especially after today.

Baby Diva Contest

This is definitely a contest worth checking out. Go here first, and read Baby Diva's Story. Then, Raise awareness about congenital heart defects and be a winner like Baby Diva. Then, post the story on your site, and sign up for the contest. It's so easy!! Go wish Baby Diva a happy first birthday!

Fruits Of A Misspent Youth?

After reading this story, I will definitely be a lot more careful about which of my children's friends have access to our house.

Police: Girls, 10, 12, Kidnap Baby For Ransom

Ransom Note Demanded $200,000

ENID, Okla. -- A pair of pre-teen sisters are accused of kidnapping an infant in Enid on Thursday, police said.

The 10-year-old and 12-year-old girl allegedly broke into a neighbor's home Thursday morning about 5:30 a.m., taking a 1-year-old baby while his mother, Sheila Wells, slept, police said. A ransom note was left. According to police, they were accused of kidnapping for extortion and first-degree burglary.

Officers said the girls not only took the baby boy, Brandon Wells, from a crib in which he was sleeping, they also took assorted baby items, $20 in cash and left a ransom note telling the mother of the baby that "if you want to see your son again, then you won't call police and report him missing, and you will leave $200,000 on the sofa tonight, and we will return your son back safe."

Police said the note was signed "the kidnappers."

The mother of the suspects told investigators that she noticed the baby with the girls, who told her that they had "found the baby on the corner," police said.

The mother recognized the baby as belonging to the victim, who lives about a block away. The suspects' family and the victims are acquaintances.

As girls' mother tried to find Sheila Wells' telephone number, the 12-year-old returned to Wells' residence and told her it was the younger sister who was responsible for the abduction, police Capt. Dean Grassino said.

Wells immediately retrieved her child from the girls' home and police were called, Grassino said.

Wells said she knew the girls and had banned the 10-year-old girl from her home a few weeks ago, but did not say why.

Neither of the juveniles allegedly would give detectives any explanation as to why they took the baby, police said. The girls were transported to the Enid Police Department's Community Intervention Center.

Really, what were these girls thinking? Did they really think that they would get away with their little scheme? Did they really think they could make it through a whole day without someone noticing that they had a baby with them? 10 and 12 years old. They should still be playing with Barbies, not kidnapping their neighbor's child. Obviously the mother was paying some attention, when she banned one of the girls from her home, though I'm very curious as to why.

The question now, is what is going to happen to these girls? It's highly unlikely they'll be tried as adults, they're still in grade school, not even junior high. I can't even imagine what malice they could have had at their age. Even if they are locked up in a juvenile detention center, their age will likely get them out by the time they turn 18 or so.

I sincerely hope they are able to get help. They need someone in their lives that will guide them through this, and help them to see how wrong it was for them to do this. Pray that they will never even consider anything like this again.

I'm Blessed

I am blessed to have funny, cute, mostly obedient children. They have such an interesting perspective on things. The way they tackle problems, and the way they interact with the world. Sometimes it works, often it doesn't, but they are happy in the end.

Today, my four year old said something that really struck me. It was amusing at the time, but I realize how true it really is. This child has an amazing grasp of language, even from a young age. He has always been very verbal, and usually comes up with some great lines that just make you stop and make a funny face as you try to figure out how on earth he would have come up with so cute a phrase.

Today, while we were at breakfast, he sneezed. Not out of the ordinary, everyone in the house is sneezing right now. But today when I blessed him for sneezing, he answered me back with

"I'm blessed Momma."


That boy is too cute for words.

Children

Ah, children. So sweet, so lovable, and yet so incredibly frustrating some days.

Today has been one of those days that most mothers come to dread. Ears seem to stop functioning properly; all reason is thrown out the window; daredevil tactics run amok; all the things you'd expect in a house that is mostly filled with boys.

However, I am reminded that we often behave the same way. God tells us to do something, and we seem to think we know better, or just don't listen in the first place. I know I do some days. But I also know that God forgives, and loves me anyway.

It's Still March, So I Can Still Post This!

This is one of my favorite Veggie stories, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Works-For-Me-Wednesday

Today's WFMW is somewhat about myself, and my son. When I was a child, I was diagnosed with ADD (they hadn't come up with ADHD, but that probably would have been closer to what I really was dealing with). After many years of medication, with regular increases in dosage and little result, my mother turned to the Feingold Diet, discovering that my real issue was allergies to preservatives, colors, and basically anything that really had no business being in good food to begin with. She immediately forbade me to eat any of the things I had grown to love, and noticed a drastic improvement in my behavior. The only thing that she did wrong, was to cut me off completely. I essentially went into withdrawl for the things that I liked to eat, especially candy. Because of that, I rebelled and ate candy whenever I could. Unfortunately, she could tell just by the sound of my voice if I'd had candy during the day, and would find me out almost immediately.

Now, I am noticing some of the same things in my son. While I'm not sure he has the major issues that I did as a child, I know for sure that his bad behavior trigger is chocolate. If he gets chocolate, he's nearly certifiable. He's aggressive, can't listen or sit still, and it's very difficult to get him to focus. He's already had trouble with taking chocolate and candy without asking, so I know he has the same desire for the things he shouldn't have that I did.

For him, I came up with this idea. I remembered how difficult it was for me to give up those things that I couldn't eat, so for my son I decided that he could have chocolate one day a week. He could have chocolate one day a week, close to bedtime (so it wouldn't affect his behavior too much). I allowed him to pick the day that he could have chocolate so that he felt like he was involved. I explained why it was so important for him to not have chocolate at any other time, and hopefully his seven year old mind can understand it. This is our first week, and tomorrow is his first Chocolate Day. I will post next week about how this process is going.

Visit Rocks In My Dryer for more great Works-For-Me-Wednesday tips.

My Son, the Knight

I currently have four boys, and one girl, with another on the way. They are Boy, 7, Girl, 5, Boy, almost 4, Boy, 2, and Boy 9 months. It is sometimes a very loud household, but I have been blessed.

Recently, my soon-to-be-4-year-old-boy, has decided that he is my knight, and that he must protect me from the dragon, and the lizard.

Today he started asking me questions about being a knight, and what knights can do. As we were getting ready for church, he asked if knights could go to church. Later, he asked me if knights used the potty (we're still working on potty training, but if this works, I'm all for it!). After that he asked if knights could play games. Of course, the answers to all of them were yes, and he was very happy with that. As he runs around the house, protecting his princess from danger, I am reminded that God's love is abundant, and very tangible in times like these. God protects us from the dangers around us, and keeps us safe from the dragons.

For a great definition of Knighthood, read this post by Everyday Mommy. Read the rest of the posts before it here, here, here, and here. There are more to come, so keep your eyes out for them.

Life Application: Suffer The Little Children

Mark 10:14-16
Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.

I bring this verse up with several thoughts in mind, and I may have to break this up into a few topics so please bear with me.

I will start with a young boy from my church. He is about eight I think, or close to it. He has cerebral palsy. He also has the most steadfast faith of anyone I know.

He holds weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) services, in which he offers eucharist. He has been given special permission to use consecrated elements with his parents supervision. He has a few friends that even come for these services. He even baptises his friends that aren't baptised, and leads them into lives filled with God's grace.

This child is even a prophet of sorts. He occasionally has a word for us that no child of eight should even be able to comprehend on a good day.

He is an amazing gift of God. So full of unquestioning faith in God, so ready to be used as His instrument.

Think for a moment with me. What if this boy was not allowed to follow God's will in his life? What if he were quieted every time he tried to speak? Told that he couldn't bring his friends into the loving grace of God? What if he weren't allowed to tell his friends that God loves them and that Jesus died for them?

Mark 9:42
And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone be hanged around his neck, and he be cast into the sea.

Children are far more intelligent and intuitive than we realize sometimes. Even I have to remind myself of this constantly. We must be responsible for allowing our children to come to Jesus even when we don't see God's call for them.