We went to a local pumpkin patch last weekend and took a lot of pictures. I have to resize them then I'll post them!
Hopefully that will happen sooner than later.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Coming Soon
I have some new pictures to share on my not-so-super-duper-top-secret photo blog!
We went to a local pumpkin patch last weekend and took a lot of pictures. I have to resize them then I'll post them!
Hopefully that will happen sooner than later.
We went to a local pumpkin patch last weekend and took a lot of pictures. I have to resize them then I'll post them!
Hopefully that will happen sooner than later.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Just "Fruit Fly" research!
I am utterly disgusted at this clip of Sarah Palin commenting on Fruit Fly research--well, disparaging the fruit fly research that has given scientists insight into the genetic markers of autism.
She's essentially making fun of autism research for political gain.
Wow. So much for her crusade to help special needs children and their families.
She's essentially making fun of autism research for political gain.
Wow. So much for her crusade to help special needs children and their families.
Surgery!
Background: Over the summer we noticed C's tonsils were giving him lots of problems. Well, he's always had a lot of sore throats and infections and things but this last summer he really began showing major symptoms so we took him to his doc. He said he was pretty sure they would need to be removed (we'd also had the conversation the year before to keep an eye on it) but we had to see an ENT.
C went to the ENT today. She took one look at his tonsils and said, "Yep, they need to come out! They are huge!"
He goes in to surgery Nov 18th--they still have to call us with the time but we were told to plan for about 6 hours at the hospital if everything goes well. They'll decide whether or not to leave his adenoids during surgery.
We're going in a couple of weeks to a Surgery Party. The hospital throws "parties" every Wednesday evening for kids who have an upcoming surgery so they can play in the operating room, see all of the equipment and a little about where they will be at and get some kind of goodie bag with "doctor stuff".
The surgery will be outpatient unless he reacts badly to something or just doesn't bounce back after a few hours. Then he's home from school for at least 7 days though she said some kids need the full 14 days. We're hoping he'll be good in time for Thanksgiving but we're prepared that he may not be up to a lot. We usually have everyone over for Thanksgiving so he will be home if we do host again--if not we'll work it out so he's comfortable.
He says he'll be glad to get it done but he's getting scared already. They saw on the family medical history that J had his out when he was 21 and every person who saw that on the chart audibly groaned and commented about how awful it is--and it was pretty much a nightmare for him--but each time C got a little more scared. Thankfully we have a lot of time to talk to him and give whatever reassurances we can.
Poor guy. It will be good for him--he's always got a sore throat and he do not sleep well at night because he's got sleep apnea so badly. He snores so loud and he stops breathing, wakes up choking. It's pretty bad. We're grateful they got him on the surgery schedule so quickly even though he's going to be miserable. It will be so much better for him in the long run.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
I Put My Vote Where My Mouth Is!
This morning J and I went to our county elections office to cast our vote for the next President of the United States! I proudly cast my vote for Obama/Biden! I admit, I was a little verkelmpt voting in this historical election. No matter the outcome our country can be proud we have taken a step forward--I just hope my guys win!
Along with voting in this important Presidential election we also had three questions on our ballots.
The first question was whether to continue having our judges appointed (no) or hold elections to choose them (yes). I voted "no". I could easily argue this both ways--voting "yes" inserts politics into our courts making judges have to lobby for votes and voting "no" continues our current practice which has worked and also interjects politics in the courtrooms--only the judges are lobbying elected officials. Ultimately, I chose "no" because I feel like we elect our officials thereby asking them to speak on our behalf with their appointments and after judges are appointed we vote whether to retain them in office.
The second question was whether to approve or not the Johnson County Research Triangle and increase sales taxes by one-eighth of a percent to fund the Research Triangle. I voted "yes". This tax increase will create a source of funding for cancer research, food safety research and animal health research to state the University of Kansas Edwards Campus, Johnson County Community College and a local location of Kansas State University. Essentially, this tax increase helps bring this important research local and will impact our community positively by creating a clinical trails cancer research center right here. It gives us an opportunity to have cutting edge care available to us at the earliest stage of development.
The third question was a city question that asked voters to approve bonds to improve our public school district--more specifically this bond would fund the moving of 9th grade to the high schools and 6th grade to the junior high schools. Our district is among the top in the nation because voters have consistently funded improvement projects to upgrade technology, facilities and increase teacher pay. Our family is a huge proponent of public education and we understand that along with being actively involved in our children's education we need to be willing to fund advancement opportunities as our district is rapidly growing. My vote was "yes"!
Early voting began in Kansas yesterday and election workers were telling us that just yesterday alone they had 2000 voters and by 8:45 this morning they had already seen 300 voters. I am excited to see such a huge turnout of voters. I am hopeful there are enough of us Obama/Biden voters to turn Kansas blue--and if not blue, at least purple!
Party politics aside, we, as a nation, cannot accomplish anything unless we exercise our right to vote. Please VOTE!!! No matter who you support it is important to be counted and heard!
Along with voting in this important Presidential election we also had three questions on our ballots.
The first question was whether to continue having our judges appointed (no) or hold elections to choose them (yes). I voted "no". I could easily argue this both ways--voting "yes" inserts politics into our courts making judges have to lobby for votes and voting "no" continues our current practice which has worked and also interjects politics in the courtrooms--only the judges are lobbying elected officials. Ultimately, I chose "no" because I feel like we elect our officials thereby asking them to speak on our behalf with their appointments and after judges are appointed we vote whether to retain them in office.
The second question was whether to approve or not the Johnson County Research Triangle and increase sales taxes by one-eighth of a percent to fund the Research Triangle. I voted "yes". This tax increase will create a source of funding for cancer research, food safety research and animal health research to state the University of Kansas Edwards Campus, Johnson County Community College and a local location of Kansas State University. Essentially, this tax increase helps bring this important research local and will impact our community positively by creating a clinical trails cancer research center right here. It gives us an opportunity to have cutting edge care available to us at the earliest stage of development.
The third question was a city question that asked voters to approve bonds to improve our public school district--more specifically this bond would fund the moving of 9th grade to the high schools and 6th grade to the junior high schools. Our district is among the top in the nation because voters have consistently funded improvement projects to upgrade technology, facilities and increase teacher pay. Our family is a huge proponent of public education and we understand that along with being actively involved in our children's education we need to be willing to fund advancement opportunities as our district is rapidly growing. My vote was "yes"!
Early voting began in Kansas yesterday and election workers were telling us that just yesterday alone they had 2000 voters and by 8:45 this morning they had already seen 300 voters. I am excited to see such a huge turnout of voters. I am hopeful there are enough of us Obama/Biden voters to turn Kansas blue--and if not blue, at least purple!
Party politics aside, we, as a nation, cannot accomplish anything unless we exercise our right to vote. Please VOTE!!! No matter who you support it is important to be counted and heard!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Colin Powell
This clip needs no introduction.
Many thanks to PunditMom for posting this clip where I first watched Powell's interview.
Many thanks to PunditMom for posting this clip where I first watched Powell's interview.
Read This 10/18
The House by Bentley LittleMy review
rating: 3 of 5 stars
When I first began The House, I was impressed by the overall creepy tone. The story flowed and the mystery built up into--a big let down for me. It is almost as if the author was tired of writing this story and the climax was quite anticlimactic. I did like the book and I would suggest it to anyone who likes thrillers.
View all my reviews.
Yes We Can
Help Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the White House!!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/LaurieA
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/LaurieA
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Working It Out
A few days ago I wrote about our 5K on Saturday and how we only had the goal to finish. We have decided to do another 5K at the end of November. Our goal for this 5K is to beat our last time.
To do that we've started a fitness plan at the gym. We're going daily and working out for an hour. That hour includes a lot of time walking and running on the treadmill to help increase our endurance. I did about 100 crunches on the ab machine yesterday, I need the work there.
Funny--last night when I was running on the treadmill, Sebastian asked me a question and that somehow threw off my stride and I nearly ate it!
To do that we've started a fitness plan at the gym. We're going daily and working out for an hour. That hour includes a lot of time walking and running on the treadmill to help increase our endurance. I did about 100 crunches on the ab machine yesterday, I need the work there.
Funny--last night when I was running on the treadmill, Sebastian asked me a question and that somehow threw off my stride and I nearly ate it!
Read This 10/14
Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee CurtisMy review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just love this book. All of Jamie Lee's books are wonderful but there is just something very special about this book.
View all my reviews.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Read This
The Report Card by Andrew ClementsMy review
rating: 4 of 5 stars
My kids read this book over and over!
View all my reviews.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
It's All For a Good Cause
This morning J, M and I ran...err...umm...walked and ran in the 10th Annual Jared Coones Memorial 5K Pumpkin Run/Walk!
This memorial 5K is in memory of Jared Coones, a local elementary student who lost his battle with leukemia in 1998. His family, with the support of our local community, got together in an effort to raise awareness and funds for cancer research began the annual tradition of the Pumpkin Run in his memory. The race begins and ends at the elementary school Jared attended and each year the race has grown bigger and bigger. Sadly, in late 2006, Jayne Coones, Jared's mom, lost her life to breast cancer and the Pumpkin Run has been rededicated to honor both Jared and Jayne. The Coones family has been devastated by cancer and feel more strongly than ever the need to raise funds for research and support organizations. Today we helped give the Coones family hope as today was the largest turnout yet with just about 3000 runners and walkers!
As J, M and I ran/walked the 3.1 miles we realized how simple it was to help--we just had to walk or run or both as it turned out! The entry fee was under $15 and I think more than the money, the Coones family and friends were thrilled to see such community support. Their losses are unspeakably devastating so I hope that by seeing all of us thousands of participants they know we are committed to them, cancer research and funding.
It got difficult to keep going right about the 2.5 mile point but we kept going. I checked my wrist and saw my Livestrong bracelet and remembered the close losses in my life to cancer--my grandpa to bone cancer and most recently my uncle to esophageal cancer and found the encouragement to finish strong and run across the finish line. My time was kind of pathetic at just under 58 minutes (official times will be posted tomorrow on the running club website)--that's about 20 minutes a mile but the point, for me, wasn't to be the quickest (I knew I wouldn't be) but to finish. It is the least I could do in the face of something as devastating as cancer.
This memorial 5K is in memory of Jared Coones, a local elementary student who lost his battle with leukemia in 1998. His family, with the support of our local community, got together in an effort to raise awareness and funds for cancer research began the annual tradition of the Pumpkin Run in his memory. The race begins and ends at the elementary school Jared attended and each year the race has grown bigger and bigger. Sadly, in late 2006, Jayne Coones, Jared's mom, lost her life to breast cancer and the Pumpkin Run has been rededicated to honor both Jared and Jayne. The Coones family has been devastated by cancer and feel more strongly than ever the need to raise funds for research and support organizations. Today we helped give the Coones family hope as today was the largest turnout yet with just about 3000 runners and walkers!
As J, M and I ran/walked the 3.1 miles we realized how simple it was to help--we just had to walk or run or both as it turned out! The entry fee was under $15 and I think more than the money, the Coones family and friends were thrilled to see such community support. Their losses are unspeakably devastating so I hope that by seeing all of us thousands of participants they know we are committed to them, cancer research and funding.
It got difficult to keep going right about the 2.5 mile point but we kept going. I checked my wrist and saw my Livestrong bracelet and remembered the close losses in my life to cancer--my grandpa to bone cancer and most recently my uncle to esophageal cancer and found the encouragement to finish strong and run across the finish line. My time was kind of pathetic at just under 58 minutes (official times will be posted tomorrow on the running club website)--that's about 20 minutes a mile but the point, for me, wasn't to be the quickest (I knew I wouldn't be) but to finish. It is the least I could do in the face of something as devastating as cancer.
Friday, October 10, 2008
New Pictures!!
I posted some new pictures on my super-duper top secret photo blog!! http://visuallyinspiredlife.blogspot.com/
If you can't see them and want to, just leave a comment and I'll open the gate!
If you can't see them and want to, just leave a comment and I'll open the gate!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
This is what Pure Hatred Looks Like
I first saw these videos on PunditMom and was shocked to see the level of hatred for Obama and his supporters. This video has language and is not appropriate for children to hear--though some the things children said in the video are the most disturbing.
Robert Gibbs=My New Hero
Sean Hannity did not like it so much when his smear tactics were used against him to prove a point. We are not guilty by our associations!
Way to go Robert Gibbs!
Way to go Robert Gibbs!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Read This
Back Roads by Tawni O'DellMy review
rating: 3 of 5 stars
Back Roads was a disturbing story of abuse, shame, regret, and mental illness. The story was well-written and had very creative imagery but I think what struck me most about Back Roads was the words left unwritten. There is a lot of room for the reader to draw her own conclusions or make her own assumptions about the characters.
The story, unfortunately, is very characteristic of the type of novel Oprah's Book Club would choose. It was heavy with predictable "victims" and dramatic scenes that were both disturbing and sad.
View all my reviews.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Read This
Disney The Magic Kitchen Cookbook by Stephanie KarpinskeMy review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
This cookbook is full of yummy, kid friendly recipes easy enough for little ones to create themselves!
View all my reviews.
About McCain's Health Care Plan
This is a great article discussing the pitfalls of McCain's proposed health care plan from MOMocrats.
McCain's Health Care Plan: Making Consumers Suffer More
Health care--or how the average person will be denied health care--is one of my top concerns with a McCain/Palin administration.
McCain's Health Care Plan: Making Consumers Suffer More
Health care--or how the average person will be denied health care--is one of my top concerns with a McCain/Palin administration.
Listen to This
Tim Kay--My World
I first heard this song about a year ago during the closing credits of Jamie Oliver's Food Network show Jamie at Home. I loved it and immediately looked it up to download. But it wasn't available. So after every episode I heard the song and wanted it even more. I kept checking and finally I saw a brief message saying iTunes was now carrying My World! So I promptly bought it!
Enjoy!
You have to switch your iTunes store to the UK to find Tim Kay but he's well worth the effort. Or you can click HERE.
I first heard this song about a year ago during the closing credits of Jamie Oliver's Food Network show Jamie at Home. I loved it and immediately looked it up to download. But it wasn't available. So after every episode I heard the song and wanted it even more. I kept checking and finally I saw a brief message saying iTunes was now carrying My World! So I promptly bought it!
Enjoy!
You have to switch your iTunes store to the UK to find Tim Kay but he's well worth the effort. Or you can click HERE.
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