Celebrating a Decade August 19, 2009

A decade is a significant amount of time!  A lot happens in 10 years.  It is so hard to believe that 10 years ago right now I was laying in a hospital bed waiting to meet my firstborn, my son!  Brent and I were beside ourselves with excitement.  Well, technically, I think by this point in the day I may have been beside myself with some “happy drugs”… boy, did I like those!  But, I was very happy!  And very insistent that I wasn’t falling asleep… although Brent would beg to differ… since he was the undrugged, wide-awake one of us and all.

But then he came!  Trent Whittaker was born!!  We were so in love!  That hasn’t stopped in the last 10 years.  At times we have been frustrated, angry, confused, and bewildered by him and his antics… but way more than any of that we have been enamored, proud, awed, and pleased at the boy growing up before us… and in many cases, in spite of us.  We are excited to see what the next 10 years hold for this young man… because that is exactly what he is becoming!

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy!!  We love the kind, sensitive, loving son, brother and friend that you’ve always been!

Seeing the Other Side of Things August 16, 2009

There have been a lot of heated discussions about health care in recent days.  Some in town hall meetings, some on news programs, some in people’s living rooms.

I would venture a guess that most (if not all) of the people that are pushing or buying into the fearmongering of the government getting involved in our health care have acceptable health insurance.  It’s easy to fear what we don’t know and natural to want to cover our own butts.  However, a huge part of what got our country into the financial disarray that we’re in now is our selfishness and sense of entitlement.  I know I certainly have been a part of that.

I’m not going to pretend to understand every side of this issue, but I would like to show another side that maybe not everyone sees.  I would also encourage you, if you are concerned about what is happening, to talk to someone who does not currently have health insurance and hear their side.  If you don’t know such a person, that may tell you something too.

Here is a recent quote from President Obama, and the response below it of one of my friends:

“In the end, this isn’t about politics. This is about people’s lives and livelihoods. This is about people’s businesses. This is about America’s future, and whether we will be able to look back years from now and say that this was the moment whe n we made the changes we needed, and gave our children a better life. I believe we can, and I believe we will.”

Let’s get past the politics of this and get the real information. The real deal is that because of a health condition I’ve lived with for years Anthem wants to charge me $1200 A MONTH for health insurance. Who is that good for? Instead we live off of meager coverage that Art’s school provides and hope nothing goes wrong…I’m ready for some new options…

Happy 5th Birthday, Avery! August 1, 2009

It is so hard to believe that Avery is turning 5 already.   She has been so excited for this birthday to come, and I have to be honest, I have been too.  I think I sort of survive the toddler years, which I’m sure is a horrible thing to say.  They fly by and there is  fun in watching each child learn new things and become the little person that they are.  But it’s soooo hard!  I’ve always “joked” that I would have a ton of kids if I could have them from newborn to 1, then have someone else take them and then get them back again at 4.  Yeah, I know… CPS is on its way…!  (All I can say is that they can spend a morning with Tessa and they’ll agree… but it’s not her story today,so.)

Avery.  She has grown into such a sweet little girl!  She has grown up so much this past year with her emotional and social maturity.  She has learned that now she’s a big sister too, not just a little sister, and she cherishes the role and does it very well… most of the time.  She has learned how to write her name and her ABC’s.  Avery has learned how to be a good sharerer (her word) and how to talk when she doesn’t get her way- instead of constantly melting down.  She has learned that mom and dad really mean what they say.  She has learned to take responsibility for her things and herself and her actions.

I’m guessing that I’m not the only adult that is still working on a lot of these things.  It amazes me how I am constantly being humbled that I don’t get half of this right all the time.  Kids have an amazing way of teaching us that we are still learners too.  And they have a much nicer way of teaching it than I do.  Avery loves to remind me that I am her “favorite mommy EVER!” and that she loves me “every day, and every night, and every sight.”  Love this girl!!!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, AVERY CLARE!!