Peaks and Valleys

I once read that marriage is full of Peaks and Valleys.

We started this trail together. Packed with a few essentials, a compass, some guides, and the guts.

Two souls, filled with passion, dreams and potential. Waking to unblemished days, uncomplicated decisions. Learning to trust and walk hand in hand. Oh sweet ignorance and youth! The climb was easy in the beginning. We had endurance and our burdens were light.

Days became long and nights even longer with the miracle of creation. Double duty rested on our weak shoulders. We attempted to rise to the occasion. Only to stumble at times. HE secured feeble knees and shouldered what we could not. HE carried us all through the basins and gorges of human nature. All were blessed. All were loved. All thrived. We began again, as we must daily, and attempted the ascent.

Blessed beyond measure, miracles were given. Manna fell from the heavens and gave us more sustenance. We learn little by little. Challenge by challenge. Progress comes by faith and obedience. Love comes by work and service. Commitment comes from choice.

It is all around us now. The ripples of good choices. The echos of those who testified of true happiness.

Sometimes, when we listen hard enough, we can hear them. Calling down from the mount. Calling us to remembrance. Encouraging us to continue to climb.

Smiles, tears, laughter, screams, smelly diapers, colored markers, Johnson and Johnson, peanut butter, little shoes, smoking trains, smudgy fingerprints, crayoned sick figures, Disney songs, scary monsters, McDonald's toys, hugs and kisses.

It is all around us now.

Can the climb be both easy and hard. Sad and Happy. Good and Bad?

Can the low Valley's last for years and peaks rise from unstable ground?

Can Eight short years change your life forever?

Yes, yes it can.

Here is to you my love, my life, my friend.-Eight years has flown by.

They haven't been without some trials. Like every marriage, the peaks and valleys have been present. Sometimes we were in different places. You on a peak, me in a valley. The trick is helping eachother to the summit and finishing together. Our journey continues. I'm grateful for your companionship on the trek of life. It makes the valleys easier to cross and rise from. It sweetens the peaks and enhances the views. Here's to the journey. Oh, the joy in the journey. Here is to our Peaks and Valleys. What endurance they have built. What muscles, what lessons, what faith.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

What a load of Croup!

All the boys have been ill. It has not been fun around here.Asher got Croup this past week. Zach and Tanner both had some kind of cold going on. Fevers were out of control. Mike and I have not been sleeping at all. UGGG!


You may notice that my baby is missing something in these pictures. His CURLS!!!
We gave him a haircut that turned into something we hadn't anticipated. Now we have to wait for it to grow out to see our curly boy again.

Since we have had lots of time indoors, we have made the most out of the library. We had a couple books that just tickled me. One was called Halloween Night by Marjorie Dennis Murray. IT has the cutest illustrations. Its a parody of the Night before Christmas. My boys loved it. Especially the scene with the dead spiders on the floor. Zach said "mom, that looks like garage". My face turned pink, Im sure.
Also, a book called Skeleton Hiccups. Pretty darn cute.
Looks like my love of Halloween is rubbing off on everyone. YIPPEE!

Life goes on

Things are as busy as usual around here. Here are a few pictures.


We went to Lancaster on Mikes day off.

Tanner refused to take pictures all day.

Doesnt this look like a postcard?

>
The pirate ship playground

No Debate Please...Perplexed over flu shot

I have been researching vaccinations for the past 4 months. I have done a ton of reading online about various opinions. I am trying to stay open minded about the issue.

With all that said, my positions is not anti vaccination. Just delayed schedule from what they are recommending. Also, I DO believe Autism can occur from vaccinations on children who are already prone to certain neuro-based problems and carry a genetic or predisposition prior to injections. I do believe that with those predispositions (ie: mitochondria disorders, etc.) children can develop an ASD (Austism Spectrum Disorder).

When the twins were born, I was given very little say about what they received as far as shots, etc. due to their prematurity. Both were given the routine shots when born. I was glad being that Zachary endured three blood transfusions during his first weeks of life.
During the boys first years, Tanner showed extreme reactions to the vaccinations. Everytime he spiked fevers, had night terrors, became inconsolable with crying or afraid of his parents, I was told this was normal behavior post shot.
On Tanners 2nd birthday, he started to seize and was rushed to the ER following his DPT shots. They told me that he had an ear infection (why they gave him the shot knowing this, I'll never know) and that he had a febrile seizure due to the infection. He had 2 more febrile seizures over the next 4 months. They happened anytime he ran a high fever. He was labeled "allergy to DTP" in his chart.He has never had another vaccination, and he has never had another seizure.

With Asher I was a bit more informed, and alot more vigilant in knowing what he was getting and why. Because a doctor says so, has never been enough for me.
So here we are now. The N1H1 virus is making its rounds again. They are suggesting that everyone get immunized. My doctors office called to schedule us all for shots. I took the appointment in Nov, but I am really worried about it for Asher.
Im nervous about the thirmerosal (mercury) that is in the flu shot. But, I also dont want him to catch the N1H1 virus and have serious problems or death. Its a toss up right now.
I hate not having all the facts. I hate that people dont know more about mercury and its effects on children under 2 .
Dr. Sears has a book with an alternative vaccination schedule (you can find it in stores or online). This is what I have been doing. Im for vaccinations, but not all at once, spread out, and over a longer time period.
This doctor http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html has some interesting points (his credentials are at the bottom). He suggests that children under 2 not receive ANY immunizations. Start after they are 2 yrs. Im starting to feel like that is a good idea. I just dont want to be pressured by the government and medical society. I also dont want to get sucked into extremist frenzy...like they say "the devil loves a sinner as much as an fanatic".

Unfortunately, the most dangerous place to catch it, in my opinion, is at church. Asher will go to nursery in Oct. I worry, because there are people who will bring their kids to church, regardless of illness. Which makes me mad!
It wont be the end of the world if you miss church due to illness. Your ox is in the mire, people!!!

(making light of a past conference talk: we dont have a sign the says "perfect people only" over the door. But, I might make one saying "healthy children only" over the nursey door this time of year!)

Anyway, Im struggling with all of this. I want my kids to be safe, and healthy, without posing risks to other peoples kids as well. Its a hard place to be and I feel like Im stuck weighing the pros and cons of both decisions. UGGGG, its frustrating! I will keep my apt until I decide on Asher. Im just Bugged and needed to vent and document my feelings.

FUDDRUCKERS

Zachary has been using some foul language lately. We have been trying to make sure he understands how inappropriate it is. Its been difficult to make sure he isnt saying naughty things to friends. So far, he only says these things to Tanner.

A while ago I let him watch Back to the Future 3. The one with the flying train. He likes the whole cowboy thing, and trains, so I figured it would be ok. Little did I remember that they say "A--h---" about 20 times in this film. I turned it off when I realized what they were saying. Not even thinking that Zach had heard it.
So one day we are in the car, and I hear him say "Tanner, you are such a A------".
Mike and I were floored. He was sternly talked to. Mike looked at me, like I had been saying it. I was insulted. But, thought hard into my recollection to see if there was a kernel of truth in the blame.
My mouth has been known to extremes when stressed or angry. Its a bad habit I struggle with on occassion. Then I remembered the movie. I felt better that I believed he hadnt heard it from me.

Monday he was sitting in the car next to Tanner and again we hear him say "Tanner, your a S---Head". WHAT????
After he gets reprimanded again, Mike turns to me and says "Nice job, Mom". Then he starts chuckling under his breath. -Had I said that word? Had I said it in front of him? Its not something I say, but maybe...I racked my brain. Feeling guilty all the way home.
Seriously, I have no idea where he is hearing all this stuff. I am going to have to repent majorly for anything I may have said. Then I need to throw away all our TV'S. I really cant trust the shows on television anymore. -who knows.

I honestly cannot be blamed for what he calls his favorite restaurant. He has a hard time with his R's.
He cant pronounce FUDDRUCKERS correctly. It comes out explicit if you change your R to and F.- I promise, I dont call it that. My apologies to our old Home teachers, who were exposed to this phenomena repeatedly. I really dont call it that.
Hopefully, this will be a lesson to me about my language. Also, I must be more mindful of all the things the kids are hearing these days. They are soaking it all in. Even if I think they are unaware.

DO RE MI

I couldn't resist posting this. For anyone who knows me well, you can see why I would love this. Its totally something I would do.

200 dancers in Belgium pulled this off, with the regular travelers completely unaware. With only 2 practices this happened...pretty good if you ask me. And funny!

I've always believed that music can change people and environments.

This is why its important to listen to good music.

Watch how it changes the people in the station. Could you not be happy after seeing this?

Family night and Joyschool

Just a couple of pictures of the kids various activities this week.

Monday night we had family night with our friends the Neilson's. I should note here that between the two families we have 7 children. They have 6 year old triplets. Zach and Tanner love the boys and they all get along extremely well.

We had dinner and a campfire. Smores were a hit!

Jana and the kids

Why Mike, Why???? Im pretty sure this was unintentional, but geez!

Zach and Abigail

FIRE!

A Band of Brothers

Also, the twins started Joyschool this week. They were so excited. They packed their backpacks and took things for show and tell. It was a day of introductions and getting to know you. I told them to each pick two things to take to show and tell about themselves. Zach picked his Lightning McQueen cars and a cage (of course, a cage). Tanner picked a car also, and his favorite book STOP THAT PICKLE!. They loved joyschool. Here is a picture post school.

I cant contain myself

On the way to North Carolina, I asked Mike to listen to NEW MOON on CD. Even though I have already read the book, its nice to hear it, and remember the story. I am embarrassed to say that I love the series, even more now. I was a little disappointed with the first movie. I didnt like the way it was directed. Im hoping for this new director to redeem the series with NEW MOON, which opens November 20th 2009. I may skip opening night, to avoid the screaming teenage girls that were in the Twilight opening. I will definitely be there in the first couple days. It looks to be amazing. And the cast, WOW, they got some great actors for this film. Yes, that is Dakota Fanning in the picture above. CANT WAIT!!
I was going to throw a Harry Potter Party for the boys and friends for Halloween. But, my October is crazy with Justin getting married and the trip to Utah. I will be gone for two weeks. So, I dont have much time to do a party. So...instead I am going to throw a Volturi/ New Moon/ Wolf Pack PARTY for my girlfriends. A little themed dinner , some New Moon discussion and some Vampire goodies, then off to the film. Can you tell Im churning over this already
I am so excited and its months away still....ARRGGG!
Anyone want to go with me? -hehehe