Is that the END of the Tunnel???

There has been sickness in da house. Icky, exhausting and annoying sickness. First Jack got it, then I got it, then Alex got it. Annie came down with something entirely different. Lucy has remained unscathed...and I'm nervous even writing this post because for sure she will get sick tonight.

And that is another thing, why do kids always get sick at night...right when you need to rest most. I mean how are parents ever supposed to get better when they can never sleep?

Drugs are good...at least the prescription kind. My OB put me on one and Annie is on one. Annie's transformation in the first 24 hours of hers was incredible. We must have caught her strep really quickly becasue she has bounced back like a super ball on speed. Mine has definitely helped - I can sleep lying down again - rather than upright in a chair so I don't cough ALL night long. And let's just say that a intense cough and being 31 weeks pregnant with a baby right on your bladder don't mix all that well...shudder.

So it hasn't been fun...not one bit. But yesterday I was reminded of something great while Annie and I sat in the doctor's office. Until yesterday, Annie hadn't been for a sick visit in more than 18 months. She has had colds here and there and the occasional stomach thing but nothing that warranted a doctor visit in that long. For Lucy it has been 14 months and counting, the last time she even darkened the door of the office was for her well check last March. Jack had a rough year in 2007 being hospitalized twice for stomach flus...but even with that he hasn't been to the office since April of last year. (we never made it to the office in Sept we went right to the ER)

All this to say that even though everyone being sick at the same time really sucks...we have been blessed with health recently. And last week was an okay week for us to have to slow down and focus on wellness. To drink lots of yummy warm beverages and eat healthy and hearty meals. To rest when our bodies said rest and have an opportunity to care for one another in ways we don't always do when we are well. It felt nice to be taken care of...to have the kids bring me ice water and fresh navel oranges. I was touched by how they all asked me several times a day how I was feeling. They all seemed to understand in a different way what it meant for mommy to be sick.

Alex was a beast when it came to laundry and cooking. He ran this ship very efficiently - put me to shame really. It's so funny how spouses do things so differently. His strengths really do compliment my weaknesses and vice versa. It's great to be reminded of how God designs it all.

I think we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Alex is gone this weekend at a retreat...please send all of the good vibes our way for a healthy and fun weekend sans daddy.

A Good Thing

Well it finally snowed more than an inch this past week. Last Monday we got a good 6-7 inches of snow here in Pittsburgh and while it wasn't the blizzard I've been hoping for it was an improvement.

The really sad thing is that I was flat on my back sick in bed while Alex and the kids romped around in the fluffy white stuff. They did throw a couple of snowballs at my window and took pictures of their adventures for me to see. I was just so sad to miss it.

Here is a picture of the kids and their friend Frosty! (he is still there now but tomorrow it is supposed to be 51 and rainy...bye bye Frosty)

This article (copied from here) really sums up how I feel as someone who is pro-life and an Obama supporter.



Why I'm Pro-life and Pro-Obama
Frank Schaeffer

I am an Obama supporter. I am also pro-life. In fact, without my family's involvement in the pro-life movement it would not exist as we know it. Evangelicals weren't politicized until after my late father and evangelical leader Francis Schaeffer, Dr. Koop (Reagan's soon-to-be Surgeon General) and I stirred them up over the issue of abortion in the mid-1970s. Our Whatever Happened to the Human Race? book, movie series and seminars brought the evangelicals into the pro-life movement.

(Dad's political influence persists. Last week one of my father's followers -- Mike Huckabee -- was interviewed by Katie Couric, along with all the other presidential candidates. Couric asked the candidates if they were to be sent to a desert island and could only take one book besides the Bible, what would that that book be? Huckabee answered that he'd take my father's book Whatever Happened To The Human Race?)

Fast forward...

In 2000, we elected a president who claimed he believed God created the earth and who, as president, put car manufacturers and oil company's interests ahead of caring for that creation. We elected a pro-life Republican Congress that did nothing to actually care for pregnant women and babies. And they took their sincere evangelical followers for granted, and played them for suckers.

The so-called evangelical leadership -- Dobson, Robertson et al. also played the pro-life community for suckers. While thousands of men and women in the crisis pregnancy movement gave of themselves to help women and babies, their evangelical "leaders" did little more than cash in on fundraising opportunities and represent themselves as power-brokers to the craven politicians willing to kowtow to them.

Fast forward...

Today when I listen to Obama speak (and to his remarkable wife, Michelle) what I hear is a world view that actually nurtures life. Obama is trying to lead this country to a place where the intrinsic worth of each individual is celebrated. A leader who believes in hope, the future, trying to save our planet and providing a just and good life for everyone is someone who is actually pro-life.

Conversely the "pro-life" ethic of George W. Bush manifested itself in a series of squandered opportunities to call us to our better natures. After 9/11, Bush told most Americans to go shopping while saddling the few who volunteered for military service with endless tours of duty (something I know a little about since my son was a Marine and deployed several times). The Bush doctrine of life was expressed by starting an unnecessary war in Iraq that has killed thousands of Americans and wounded tens of thousands more.

The society that Obama is calling us to sacrifice for is a place wherein life would be valued not just talked about. As he said in his speech delivered on February 6 in New Orleans, "Too often, we lose our sense of common destiny; that understanding that we are all tied together; that when a woman has less than nothing in this country, that makes us all poorer." Obama was talking about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but his words also apply to our overall view of ourselves.

Regardless of the official position of the Supreme Court on abortion, a country in which all Americans are offered some sort of dignity and hopeful future would be a place conducive to the kind of optimism each of us must hold in our hearts if we are to welcome children into this world. But if our highest aspiration is to be a consumer with no thought or care for our neighbor, we will remain a culture in which abortion is not only inevitable but logical.

What we need in America is a spiritual rebirth, a turning away from the false value of consumerism and utilitarianism that have trumped every aspect of human life. To implement this vision we need leaders that inspire but to do so they have to be what they say they are. It's not about policy it's about character.

Obama's rivals for the nomination -- the Clintons -- do not inspire. When the Clintons were in the White House they talked about humane values while Bill Clinton betrayed every single person who voted for him by carrying on an unseemly sexual dalliance in the Oval Office with a young woman barely out of her teens. Since that time the Clintons have enriched themselves through their connections to a point where they're able to make a $5 million personal loan to their campaign.

For someone who says she has spent "the last 35 years of my life as an advocate for children" and/or "fighting for healthcare" that's a lot of money to have collected through doing good works. Presidential Mother Teresa wannabes shouldn't be doing deals with uranium mining outfits in Kazakhstan while schmoozing with the likes of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and wealthy mining magnates -- not if they want the moral authority to lead.

Similarly the Republicans have also been hypocrites while talking big, for instance about their pro-life ethic. But what have they achieved? First, through their puritanical war on sex education they've hindered our country from actually preventing unwanted pregnancy. Second, through the Republican Party's marriage to the greediest and most polluting earth-destroying corporations they've created a climate (both moral and physical) that has scorched the earth for-profit, with no regard to future generations whatsoever. The Republicans are to the pro-life movement what the Clintons are to selfless public service.

The real solution to abortion is to change the heart of America, not the law. We need to stop seeing ourselves as consumers. We need to stop seeing ourselves as me and begin to think of we. Our country needs someone to show us a better way, a president who is what he seems, someone with actual moral authority that our diverse population can believe in who has the qualities that make us want to follow him. Obama is that person.

Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of "CRAZY FOR GOD -- How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back"

Catching Up

I feel as if it has been a while since I provided anyone reading with an update on our family. Sometimes it is just easier to do a fly by and post an article or video. But I have a few quiet moments so I'll try and fill you all in on life with us.

*I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant! I feel really good for the most part. Sleeping is getting a bit arduous but generally speaking I feel amazingly good for being this far along. We had a follow up ultrasound and the baby (definitely ALL boy) looks great. The docs saw all they wanted to see but hadn't the first time and from the looks of things our baby is healthy and developing normally. Thanks be to God!

*Jack and Lucy are coming upon their 4th and 6th birthdays repectively. It is hard for me to believe they are that old already. Especially Jack - I think because I thought he was going to be my last I have kept him a baby in my heart for all of this time. But that is all about to change when we bring home a squeaking, squirming newborn. Jack wants another Cars party (since he got sick and ended up in the hospital last year) and Lucy's party will be at a local bowling alley!

*Annie has become rather entralled by the idea of her new brother. She took a while to get used to the idea but now she wants to watch shows about babies being born and the first days of life. She pretends each day to be pregnant (complete will doll under her shirt) and give birth. She dotes on her baby, who she's named Adrienne, and she really is a good little mama. I can't wait for her to meet the baby...I know it will be love at first sight.

*I am still feeling happy about the Super Bowl! I am so glad the Giants won and that the Patriots lost...and it was a really good game.

*Alex is in the midst of Lent at church...a busy time. He has a retreat later this month and several other events coming up on the calendar. He tried to plan for this semester to be loaded on the front end so he can have a more calm schedule after the baby arrives.

*I'm about to begin knitting a blanket for the baby...hopefully I can get it done before he goes to college! I'm keeping busy with schooling the girls and figuring out how I can possibly volunteer for Barack Obama since it looks like the Pennsylvania primary will actually matter for a change. I don't know what I can do but I'm very interested in looking into it.

Well that's about all for now...I'll try to be better about all of this in the future. Here are some pictures to update you on the kiddos!

An Eloquent Endorsement

In today's New York Times Op-Ed section Caroline Kennedy (daughter of JFK) wrote a moving and eloquent endorsement of Barack Obama. I hope that regardless of your political leanings, you'll take the time to read it.


A President Like My Father
Caroline Kennedy

Over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.

My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.

Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.

Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.

I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.

Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.

AND He Has a Sense of Humor!!!

My Last Football Post Until Training Camp

So the Steelers season is over. It was a respectable year for the first year with a new coach. We need lots of work in this off season - especially our offensive line. If we lose Alan Faneca (which is pretty much a foregone conclusion) then we will really need to beef up the line so Ben has a chance to work his magic next fall.

So now, I turn my attention to the tundra known as Green Bay, Wisconsin and throw all of my support behind Brett Favre and the Packers. As much as I might like to see Eli Manning make it to the big show and beat he who shall not be named but goes by the initials TB - I think it might be Brett's year. In '06 when the Steelers brought home the Lombardi Trophy, it was Jerome Bettis' year of destiny. I think this year might be just that for Favre. He wasn't expected to do anything of substance this year...in fact many people thought he should have retired. But he seems to be possessed by something greater than ego or himself - what it is I don't know but it is inspiring lots of people.

So in addition to routing against the New England Hatetriots I will be routing for the current hero of everyman, Brett Favre, to lead his team to victory. Let's go PACK!!!

Celebrating Zachary and Ethan

On January 6th of last year my dear friend Sarah gave birth to twin boys, Zachary and Ethan. They were born at 28 weeks gestation (normal is 40 weeks) due to the fact that the bag of waters around Ethan had been leaking for 10 weeks. Sarah endured a lot in those 10 weeks including bed rest and a 4 week hospitalization. Both boys were very small when they were born and rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the hospital where they were attended to by their mom and dad as well as some of the most gifted doctors and nurses in the city.

Sadly, the struggle for life was just too much for little Ethan and he passed a way on January 7, 2007...one year ago.

Zachary has thrived - he is a normally developing one year old who has the most amazing eyes you've ever seen. His mom calls him a superstar and that title is so very accurate for this little man. He is a wonderful child. Yesterday we joined in the celebration of Zachary's first year. Their house was filled with people who love Zack and were eager to party in honor of his birthday.

Then today, with a smaller group we joined in on the celebration of Ethan. We went to a local park and after Sarah and her mom read a Jewish prayer of mourning in Hebrew balloons were released. Even the weather was perfect...it was warm and cloudy with some peeks of blue in the sky. It seemed to be saying that it understood what was going on. Zack held onto the balloons with his mom and dad and when they said so he let go and then we all watched as they soared into the heavens...a birthday present for an angel baby who was with us for far too short a time.

Happy Birthday to the little superstar, Zack and also to his angel brother, Ethan.

Thank You Iowa!!!

A huge victory for Barack Obama in the Iowa Caucus last night! Winning by 9 and 10% over Edwards and Clinton gives amazing momentum to this candidate of hope in what is being called the most important election in modern history. I encourage all of my readers (even if you think your mind is made up) to go to Barack Obama's website and listen to some of the speeches they have there. Even if they don't change your vote, they will make you think and re-evaluate where America is headed and the "audacity of hope" that Obama hopes to bring.

Here is a great song about voting and Obama:


">

Another Contest!

Kim the owner of thebabymarketplace.com - a great online spot for Baby Clothing, Shoes, Toys, Gifts and Cloth Diapers is hosting the January Gift Card Give-Away @ mommyknows.com go on over and comment and be entered to Win one of two $100 Gift Cards!