I'm Sure It will be Funny Tomorrow

A tribute to Mother Teresa

2007-04-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

I thought that this was a beautiful and inspiring tribute to Blessed Mother Teresa. Do check it out. Website Tribute Here

"...Prayer does not demand that we interrupt our work, but that we continue working as if it were a prayer." Mother Teresa

My Girls

2007-04-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

First Sisterly Bath together :)

Water Baby!

~ Sweeties ~

~ Pretty Girl ~

This was the 8th picture and as you see Colette has had enough.

Internet Personality Profile

2007-03-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, I’m impressed. It’s pretty much right on except for the part about being Impulsive and off the wall, plus I don't think I make that many snap decisions. All in all its right on.

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion:

You have low extroversion.
You are quiet and reserved in most social situations.
A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you.
You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people.

Conscientiousness:

You have low conscientiousness.
Impulsive and off the wall, you don't take life too seriously.
Unfortunately, you sometimes end up regretting your snap decisions.
Overall, you tend to lack focus, and it's difficult for you to get important things done.

Agreeableness:

You have medium agreeableness.
You're generally a friendly and trusting person.
But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism.
You get along well with others, as long as they play fair.

Neuroticism:

You have medium neuroticism.
You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic.
Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy.
Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is medium.
You are generally broad minded when it come to new things.
But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it.
You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

The Five Factor Personality Test

Winter "Bug" Hits

2007-03-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

Well hello world. It has been a LONG few weeks. Our community was hit with a bug that really attacked our family here. On the 14^th of February my 6 month old abruptly stopped nursing. She would not take anything except water from a sippy cup. She did not eat or drink for a week and a half. The very idea of nursing seemed to be repulse her. I finally starting using a medicine dispenser and slowly would make her have a few teaspoons. In a desperate attempt I added some milk to baby cereal and spoon-fed her. She seemed to like this new concept of feeding and ate a full box in one day. She still refused to drink anything though and because of this become extremely constipated. The doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with her and was as puzzled as I. I was advised by someone I hold much confidence that if I would give her Rice milk the constipation would go away. One problem… she was not drinking anything. I warmed up some rice milk and forced her to try it. She did fight back quite a bit but Mother’s determination won out. After she let herself taste the milk she started wolfing it down. You can imaging the relief I felt that she was drinking something. The next day she had a successful bowel movement! Two evenings ago Emily decided that she would try nursing. Just like that, no big deal. *sigh* Like I said, its been a long few weeks.

The A-B-C's of Homemaking

2007-02-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Tagged by Michelle. Thanks!

Aprons- Y/N?

Yes, I am actually in the process of sewing one now. I love wearing my"Edwardian" Apron I made but I like it so much I don't like wearing it all the time for fear that it will get stained.

Baking-Favorite Things to Bake?

I love baking Cookies!

Clothesline- Y/N?

Yes, we have one in the back yard. I don't use it all that much though.

Donuts- Ever made them?
Yes, I love home-made donuts. The recipe I have used calls for mashed potatoes. They are very good!

Everyday- One homemaking thing you do everyday?

Dishes

Freezer- Do you have a separate deep freezer?

No, but we are looking into buying one this summer.

Garbage Disposal- Y/N?

Yes, I enjoy having it.

Handbook- Y/N?

I was inspired by Kim’s Home Mgt Journal Project at Starry Sky Ranch. I have started my own like many others and am very pleased with the results.

Ironing- Love it or hate it?

Hate it!

Junk Drawer- Where is it?

lol, we have a few of these. Kitchen, hallway and yes even my top dresser drawer.

Kitchen- Design and decorating?
I enjoy my kitchen. On the counter there are few tiles that have some cute little geese with bows around their necks. I don’t think I would have put them there myself but they are sweet.

Love- What is your favorite part of homemaking?

Oh gosh there are so many... Being able to prepare a nice dinner for my family. The satisfaction of stepping back and looking at a clean bathroom, kitchen or heck whatever is clean and orderly.

Mop- Y/N?
Yes

Nylons- Wash by hand or in the washer?

Wash them in the washer and then air dry

Oven- Do you use the window or open it to check?

Open the door I don’t trust my judgment by looking through the window

Pizza- What do you put on yours?

I like pretty much everything on it.

Quiet- What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?

It has been my computer time but I'm trying to make it my personal prayer time however here I am having fun with a Meme.

Recipe card box- Y/N?

That and more.

Style of house-

One story bluish grayish house, three bedrooms two baths.

Tablecloths and napkins- Y/N?

I love tablecloths but I have not been able to find one that fits my square table. We do use paper napkins.

Under the kitchen sink- Organized or toxic wasteland?
Toxic wasteland.

Vacuum- How many times a week?
4-5 times

Wash- How many loads do you do a week?

I guess I've never counted. Its constant thing.

X's- Do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off?

Sometimes

Yard- Who does what?

My DH tends to most things outdoors but I do a bit myself

ZZZ's- What is your last homemaking task for the day?

Check on children and make sure they are covered, Kiss Dh good night, and God bless.

Carmel Popcorn

2007-02-06T15:27:00.000-08:00

This Sunday as many of you know was the Supper bowl. I have never big football fan I but always look forward to supper bowl parties an account of all the wonderful snacks. :) I brought a family favorite of Carmel Popcorn and I'm happy to report that is was a hit! Here is the recipe if anyone is looking for tasty popcorn treat.

Easy Caramel Popcorn

2 bags (micro) popcorn or approx.. 1 cup regular, popped

1 stick margarine

1/4 C. light corn syrup

1 C. brown sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 brown paper bag

Place popped corn in brown bag. Melt margarine, brown sugar and syrup in microwave on high for 5 min stirring once every 2 1/2 min. ( I never do it that long.)

Stir in baking soda, mixture will foam! Pour over popcorn in bag and shake well. Place in Microwave on high for 1 in. Shake again, heat for one more min.

Shake, pour into bowl to cool and then enjoy!

Special indulgence for February 11

2007-02-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

For many people (and perhaps most) visiting the sick and dying could be critical in their salvation. All for the Glory of God!

______________________________________________________

"Catholics who participate in events connected with the Feb. 11 celebration of the World Day of the Sick can receive a special indulgence, the Vatican announced.

Pope Benedict XVI authorized the indulgences in order "to enrich" the World Day of the Sick and to highlight Christian teaching on "the value and function of suffering" accepted as a way to express sorrow for one's sins and trust in the fact that Christ's suffering is a source of salvation, said the Vatican statement released Feb. 5.

The statement was signed by U.S. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, head of the Vatican tribunal that deals with indulgences and with matters related to the sacrament of penance.

An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins he or she has committed.

A plenary, or full, indulgence is being offered to those who join the official celebrations of the World Day of the Sick in Seoul, South Korea, or in their own dioceses or parishes.

Plenary indulgences also can be obtained Feb. 11 by people who dedicate at least several hours that day to providing loving care for a sick person, especially one with an incurable or terminal illness, and by the sick themselves.

All those who want to receive the indulgence must go to confession, receive the Eucharist -- or promise to do so as soon as possible -- and pray for the intentions of the pope, all in a spirit of total detachment from the attraction of sin.

Cardinal Stafford said partial indulgences are being offered "between Feb. 9-11 to all the faithful each time they address, with a contrite heart, devoted prayers to the merciful God" on behalf of someone who is sick.

Source: Catholic News Service

A Fun Quiz

2007-02-01T21:26:00.000-08:00

You are a 100% traditional Catholic!

Congratulations! You are more knowlegeable than most modern theologians! You have achieved mastery over the most important doctrines of the Catholic Faith! You should share your incredible understanding with others!

Do You Know Your Baltimore Catechism?
Make Your Own Quiz

You know the Bible 80%!

Wow! You are truly a student of the Bible! Some of the questions were difficult, but they didn't slow you down! You know the books, the characters, the events . . . Very impressive!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes

Umm, I'm going to have to improve on my knowledge when it comes to the order of the books. :) As for the talking donkey…that did not even ring a bell so I’ll have to look that up. :)

Santa Barbara Visit

2007-01-30T15:57:00.000-08:00

This last weekend we drove down to Santa Barbara for an overnighter. My mom volunteered to have Colette come stay with them for a few days so we would not have to carry two babies over sand and such.

I was a little despite at this point and aloud Emily to indulged in some bread as we waited for lunch to be served. She was delighted in experiencing the difference of texture and slobbered on it for quite a while. I'm sure she would like it if someone offered it to her again but I'm just not ready in having her indulge with solid food yet.

Joseph and Gerard were fascinated with this small shark here.

We walk onto the beach just to feel the sand between out toes, as it was a chilly day. As you see though the boys didn't stay dry very long and we ended up letting them take their pant off to fully enjoy running from the waves.

Splash at the Beach

At the beach I splash and splash
In the water I dash and dash
In the sun or in the rain,
No matter what I play and play

By J.B.

What better thing to do on a cold day but to eat ice cream! Cotton Candy and Sherbet! Surprisingly I thought the Cotton Candy was pretty good, for a Cotton Candy flavor that is.

Sibling Kiss in the Womb

2007-01-17T09:13:00.001-08:00

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. ~ Jeremiah 1:5

I just had to post this picture and link. A precious look at the awesomeness of life at its most vulnerable stage in development. “

“God’s love does not distinguish between the infant in the mother’s womb or the child or the youth or the adult or the older person. In each one God sees His image and likeness. Human life is a manifestation of God and His glory.”
~ Pope Benedict XVI ~

A Comparative Look at Our Sweet Girl

2007-01-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

Our Baby is growing so fast. It’s always amazing to me how much they grow during the first 12 months of life that they are with us. What incredible treasures babies are! I am realizing that for every baby I’ve had, I only become more and more amazed in the magnificence of babies. I truly believe that babies are a taste of heaven. That feeling a mother has of desperately loving her baby yet still craving more. It’s a feeling of wanting to absorb these heavenly gifts into our very souls.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. - Psalm 127:3

1 Week Old

5 1/2 Months

Little Cherubs Singing

2007-01-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

Well, we figured out how to load a clip, ok my husband pretty much did it all. This was a part of our Christmas Concert a few weeks ago. We got quite a kick out of 2-year-old Colette taking part in the 4 and up group of cherubs. First row on the right.

My Saint For The year 2007 - Saints Cosmas and Damian

2007-01-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

STS. COSMAS and DAMIAN were brothers, and born in Arabia, but studied the sciences in Syria, and became eminent for their skill in physic. Being Christians, and full of that holy temper of charity in which the spirit of our divine religion consists, they practised their profession with great application and wonderful success, but never took any fee. which led them to be nicknamed anargyroi or The Silverless. During the persecution under Diocletian, Cosmas and Damian were arrested by order of the Prefect of Cilicia, one Lysias who is otherwise unknown, who ordered them under torture to recant. However, according to legend they stayed true to their faith through a series of gruesome tortures that did not harm them, and finally suffered execution by beheading. In Brazil, the twin saints are regarded as protectors of children, and the 27th of September is commemorated by giving children bags of candy with the saints' effigy printed on them.

Reflection.—We may sanctify our labor or industry, if actuated by the motive of charity toward others, even whilst we fulfil the obligation we owe to ourselves and our families of procuring an honest and necessary subsistence, which of itself is no less noble a virtue, if founded in motives equally pure and perfect.

Born: Arabic
Died: c.303
Canonized: Pre-Congregation

Patronage:
apothecaries, barbers, blind people, chemical industry, chemical manufacturers, doctors, druggists, hairdressers, hernias, midwives, physicians, pharmacists, relief from pestilence, surgeons

2007 Saint For the Year

2007-01-10T22:25:00.000-08:00

In my hometown there is this devotion all our Catholic families partake in. It’s the practice of picking from a big bag of saint that have been writing down on slips of paper. Whichever Saint is picked is our special saint for the year. It is a lot of fun to do each year especially when you begin to see the connection between yourself and the saint that has choosing you.

St. Faustina actually did the same thing with her sisters I have learned. In her diary she writes.

“There is a custom among us of drawing by lot, on New Year's Day, special Patrons for ourselves for the whole year. In the morning during meditation, there arose within me a secret desire that the Eucharistic Jesus be my special Patron for this year also, as in the past. But, hiding this desire from my Beloved, I spoke to Him about everything else but that. When we came to refectory for breakfast, we blessed ourselves and began drawing our patrons. When I approached the holy cards on which the names of the patrons were written, without hesitation I took one, but I didn't read the name immediately as I wanted to mortify myself for a few minutes. Suddenly, I heard a voice in my soul: ‘I am your patron. Read.’ I looked at once at the inscription and read, ‘Patron for the Year 1935 - the Most Blessed Eucharist.’ My heart leapt with joy, and I slipped quietly away from the sisters and went for a short visit before the Blessed Sacrament, where I poured out my heart. But Jesus sweetly admonished me that I should be at that moment together with the sisters. I went immediately in obedience to the rule.” Excerpt from Divine Mercy in My Soul, the Diary of St. Faustina"

In the past I’ve just had my mom pick out names for my family, since we did not live nearby anymore. But now I am thrilled to say I have a bag full of names as well. I’m hopeful that perhaps we can start the devotion in my own Catholic community. I believe it’s a wonderful way to start the year out right. The children love picking their saint and possibly learning about someone they haven’t heard of before. The Saint I picked or I guess I should say Saints were Sts. Cosmas & Damian. Our household will also be having The Prophet Elijah, St. Patrick, Sts. Joachim and Ann, St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori and St. Timothy as our families Saints for this Year.

Over at A Catholic Life Moneybags, as he likes to be called, is doing the same thing. He asks that people that would like to participate send their name or screenname, and a saint is picked at random to be their holy protector for the year. What a wonderful idea to spread the devotion, so I thought I would pass on the invitation to anyone who is interested. If anyone would like, I would gladly, prayerfully, pick out a Saint for those of you that want to partake in it or you can go through Moneybags site. He has a lovely blog, and I have been enjoying browsing through it.

Children's Christmas Concert

2007-01-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

Well we finally had our Home School Christmas Concert this last Sunday. It had to be canceled on account of there being too much ice on the roads for drivers. Gerard and Colette participated in the Little Cherub choir. I have to say that it was a complete proud mother moment for me as I watched my own little cherubs. Although technical Colette is a tad young, (two) to be in the choir, she is not speaking entirely understandable, as of yet, she was aloud to participate in the evening’s event. She had always paid close attention at singing practice and followed all the hand movements as best she could that our Choir Director, and my Aunt, said she could take part. As soon as I figure out how, I will post a little video clip. In the meantime here are a few pictures.

Our Little Cherubs

Colette taking a wee break

Grandma Peggy with her Great-Grandchild Emily.

Gerard and Joseph. Joseph (right) did not partake in the singing this year. He told me that he just did not like people looking at him. I was pleased that he could articulate that so I decided that I wouldn’t push it.

My little girl 5 month old. :)

Catholic Devotion Meme

2007-01-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

I’m excited because Michelle tagged me. My first one and what a lovely one it is.

1. Favorite devotion or prayer to Jesus?
The Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart Prayer

2. Favorite Marian devotion or prayer?
The Rosary but I love the Memorare and the Angelus very much.

3. Do you wear a scapular or medal?
I try to always wear the scapular and I have a St. Benedict and Miraculous medal that I wear.

4. Do you have holy water in your home?
Yes! We have a holy water font by the front door but it sure evaporates fast. We do have a big bottle of it though on me dresser.

5. Do you ‘offer up’ your sufferings?
Yes - I offer this up for your love, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.'”

6. Do you observe First Fridays and First Saturdays?
Sadly we do not have Saturday Morning Mass but I do try to go on First Fridays.

7. Do you go to Eucharistic Adoration?
We only have Adoration on First Fridays here so I don’t go that often I’m regretful to say.

8. Are you a Saturday evening Mass person or Sunday morning Mass person?
8:00 Sunday Morning

9. Do you say prayers at mealtime?
Lol, Yes, and sometimes the children insist on before dessert as well.

10. Favorite Saint(s)?
Oh my there are so many.
St. Maria Faustina
St. Padre Pio
St. Gerard
St. Maximilian Kolbe
Mother Teresa and future saint: Pope John Paul II to name a few.

11. Can you recite the Apostles Creed by heart?
Yes

12. Do you usually say short prayers (aspirations) during the course of the day?
Yes - J.M.J I love you, save souls. I say this every morning as well. “We wish to gain all the indulgences attached to the prayers we shall say and to all the good works we shall perform this day. Amen”

13. Where is your favorite place to pray?
Oh gosh if only I had a favorite place. At the moment its where ever I happen to have the chance. I find that when I'm nursing the baby is a good time.

14. Bonus Question: When you pass by an automobile accident or other serious mishap, do you say a quick prayer for the folks involved?
Yes

Feast of The Holy Family

2006-12-31T15:06:00.000-08:00

While Joseph supported the Holy Family by handwork, Mary managed the household, and Jesus assisted both of them. They were united in their daily tasks, which they made holy by prayer and meditation. By practicing the domestic virtues of charity, obedience, and mutual help, they sanctified family life. What a magnificent example for us to aim for. Give us the grace Lord.

Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Family

Dear Lord, bless our family. Be so kind as to give us the unity, peace, and mutual love that You found in Your own family in the little town of Nazareth.

Saint Joseph, bless the head of our family. Obtain for him the strength, the wisdom, and the prudence he needs to support and direct those under his care.

Mother Mary, bless the mother of our family. Help her to be pure and kind, gentle and self-sacrificing. For the more she resembles you, the better will our family be.

Lord Jesus, bless the children of our family. Help them to be obedient and devoted to their parents. Make them more and more like You. Let them grow, as You did, in wisdom and age and grace before God and man.

Holy Family of Nazareth, make our family and home more and more like Yours, until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with You. Amen.

This was from an Address by Pope Paul V!
Nazareth, A Model

Nazareth is a kind of school where we may begin to discover what Christ's life was like and even to understand his Gospel. Here we can observe and ponder the simple appeal of the way God's Son came to be known, profound yet full of hidden meaning. And gradually we may even learn to imitate him.
Here we can learn to realize who Christ really is. And here we can sense and take account of the conditions and circumstances that surrounded and affected his life on earth: the places, the tenor of the times, the culture, the language, religious customs, in brief everything which Jesus used to make himself known to the world. Here everything speaks to us, everything has meaning. Here we can learn the importance of spiritual discipline for all who wish to follow Christ and to live by the teachings of his Gospel.
How I would like to return to my childhood and attend the simple yet profound school that is Nazareth! How wonderful to be close to Mary, learning again God's truths. But here we are only on pilgrimage. Time presses and I must set aside my desire to stay and carry on my education in the Gospel, for that education is never finished. But I cannot leave without recalling, briefly and in passing, some thoughts I take with me from Nazareth.
First, we learn from its silence if only we could once again appreciate its great value. We need this wonderful state of mind, beset as we are by the cacophony of strident protests and conflicting claims so characteristic of these turbulent times. The silence of Nazareth should teach us how to meditate in peace and quiet, to reflect on the deeply spiritual, and to be open to the voice of God's inner wisdom and the counsel of his true teachers. Nazareth can teach us the value of study and preparation, of meditation, of a well-ordered personal spiritual life, and of silent prayer that is known only to God.
Second, we learn about family life. May Nazareth serve as a model of what the family should be. May it show us the family's holy and enduring character and exemplifying its basic function in society: a community of love and sharing, beautiful for the problems it poses and the rewards it brings; in sum, the perfect setting for rearing children - and for this there is no substitute.
Finally, in Nazareth, the home of a craftsman's son, we learn about work and the discipline it entails. I would especially like to recognize its value - demanding yet redeeming - and to give it proper respect. I would remind everyone that work has its own dignity. On the other hand, it is not an end in itself. Its value and free character, however, derive not only from it place in the economic system, as they say, but rather from the purpose it serves.
In closing, may I express my deep regard for people everywhere who work for a living. To them I would point out their great model, Christ their brother, our Lord and God, who is their prophet in every cause that promotes their well being.

Beautiful Christmas

2006-12-31T14:26:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely Christmas, Praise be Jesus Christ. We went to the Christmas Eve vigil and the next morning woke up extremely early to open the Christmas presents and then after a short while drove up to Grandma and Grandpa Santoro’s house for Christmas day. Everything went so well that we actually spent two nights. Shawn (dh) was a great sport and we all had a wonderful time. Here are just a few pictures.

A Trip to the Zoo

2006-12-19T10:34:00.000-08:00

The 1st of December call me crazy...but I decided to take my herd to the Fresno zoo. Easier said than done. :) We had a lovely time with my mom and siblings meeting us the zoo park for lunch first. It worked out quite well since my children had been sitting in the car for 2 ½ hours. I tend to be fond of the Fresno Zoo versus the La Zoo because it is smaller yet all the essential animals are still there.

With help of my family we managed to leave with the same children that we started out with.

Here are some of the images of our outing.

No, its not real but it sure looked cool!

Short Absence but I’m back.

2006-12-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

My goodness November and December sure are flying past aren’t they? I did not necessarily plan on taking a little break from the computer but it turned into a rest for the best.

I still am trying to figure out a way for my household to run smoothly with a 4 month old and three other children the eldest being only 5. Many people have told me that two is the hardest but once you have three it gets easier and four is a piece of cake. Now I don’t want to appear snobbish at all but I have been thinking about this and have come to my own conclusion. The mothers that have told me this are the ones that by the time they had their forth, their eldest was not still in preschool. For me having four is much more of a challenge. Patience is the grace I am begging God for this Christmas. Aside from trying to be more of a loving mother then a scolding one life is very good. God has blessed me with four healthy, beautiful children and a wonderfully supportive husband. God is indeed Good!

Wal-Mart Will be Saying Merry Christmas!

2006-11-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

I just have to laugh. The No.1 retailer has decided to abandon its generic “Happy Holidays’ greeting and is now returning to ‘Merry Christmas’ Here is an article I found on the Internet. I find it amusing that their spokeswomen say’s "We're not afraid to use the term 'Merry Christmas.' We'll use it early, and we'll use it often." Lol *sigh* money sure talks doesn’t it?

My Super Heros

2006-11-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

I find that after Halloween sales are a great way to find year round dress-ups. It sure doesn't take a lot to make little boys happy does it?

“We’re not flying, we’re falling with style!”

"Did you see me flying mom? Did you?"

"To infinity and beyond!"

"Do you think this cape is magic or do I go higher because I'm 5 now?"

Disasterous Election for the Prolife Movement.

2006-11-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

I can't help but be extremely disappointed in my follow Americans today. We are literally killing ourselves, yet somehow this is progress?

California Rejected The Parents Right to Know proposition.
I just don’t get this one. I really thought that this would pass. We are hurting our children more then we now.

Missouri passed the stem-cell bill
Millions of embryos could soon be used and discarded without a thought for their little souls.

Dakota rejected the abortion measure
and
Arizona rejected the gay marriage ban

The Catholic Church teaches that it is a mortal sin to vote for a politician that supports abortion if there is a candidate running who is against abortion (read more).

The pro-life issue trumps all other issues people; and this not me saying this, this the Church.

To be Catholic is to be unconditionally pro-life. We just have to keep praying for God to have mercy on our country. Have Mercy, Jesus. Have Mercy.

A Little Humor For Election Day

2006-11-07T17:09:00.000-08:00

Lol this is great! Hatip to Jimmy.

Note: Being a very strong supporter of Aragorn I do not necessarily approve this ad. ;)

All Saints Day

2006-11-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

I pray you all had a very blessed All Saints Day this past Wednesday. Ours was truly wonderful and I am saying that even after forgetting our saint’s outfits at home. Our catholic community were we live sadly did not have a saints party for the children this year, so we wen to my moms about two hours away for their Saints Day gathering.

All the children participating did a fabulous job in representing their saints. My boys wanted to be St. George on account of him fighting a dragon. My sisters thought Colette should be some kind of queen or princess so we choose St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Luckily we had some fabric that made very nice last minuet costumes for the children. They couldn’t have been happier.

November and the Souls in Purgatory

2006-10-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

Our Holy Mother Church is very generous in granting us many opportunities to be generous to the Holy Souls during the month of November.

An indulgence can either be partial or plenary. It is partial if it removes only part of the temporal punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all punishment.

To attain a plenary indulgence, three conditions must accompany the prescribed act:
1. the faithful must receive the sacrament of confession, either eight days before or after the pious act is performed,
2. receive Holy Communion on that day
3. and recite prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (one Our Father and one Hail Mary is the minimum, but any other additional prayers may be added).

A partial indulgence can be obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed, even if the prayer is only mental. One can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory.

A plenary indulgence, again applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on November 2. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.

Prayer of St. Gertrude for the Holy Souls
Our Lord promised would save 1,000 souls from purgatory.

Eternal Father, I offer you the Most Precious Blood of yoru Divine Son, Jesus, in union with all the masses said throughout the world today for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

The pain of purgatory is greater than any pain that can be experienced on earth. But she also says that the pain of purgatory is more joyful than the greatest joys on earth.
--St. Catherine of Genoa

The holy souls are eager for the prayers of the faithful which can gain indulgences for them. Their intercession is powerful. Pray unceasingly. We must empty Purgatory! -- St. Padre Pio.

"Become our deliverers and we will become your powerful intercessors forever."

Menu Plan Monday

2006-10-30T13:39:00.000-08:00

Laura at Organizing Junkie is hosting "Menu Plan Monday" and I thought I would join in to find some great new recipes as well as ideas for the week.

So lets see... this week I think the menu plan will be...

Monday
Colorful Chicken Fettuccine from my Taste of Home issueAugust/September 2006

Tuesday
Ham Casserole

Wednesday
Leftovers

Thursday
Dinner at my moms

Friday
Salman

Saturday
Chile and Cornbread

Sunday
Lasagna

How Do They Do This??

2006-10-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

My cousin sent this to me and I just had to share it. Is this not a great illusion?

Happy Birthday My 5 year Old!

2006-10-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

Joseph had his 5th birthday on the 24th. It turned out to be very nice. I was a little worried that he would be disappointed that he did not have little friends come over on account that I was battling Mastitis and not feeling to great but he was very happy. He and Gerard had a lot of fun decorating his snake cake. Looks pretty good for a 5year old if I do say so myself.

Grandma Pat sent this this little pyramid kit for the boys. They had great fun chiseling and using the little brush to find the mummy bones inside.

The Power of One Hail Mary!

2006-10-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

I found this message today. Millions of Catholics often say the Hail Mary. Some repeat it hastily not even thinking on the words they are saying. Hopefully reading this will help us all say it more thoughtfully.

Hail Mary,Full of Grace,The Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women, and Blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,and at the hour of death. Amen.

One Hail Mary well said fills the heart of Our Lady with delight and obtains for us indescribably great graces. One Hail Mary well said gives us more graces than a thousand thoughtlessly said.

The Hail Mary is like a mine of gold that we can always take from but never exhaust. Is it hard to say the Hail Mary well? All we have to dois to know its value and understand its meaning.

St. Jerome tells us that "the truths contained in the Hail Mary are so sublime, so wonderful that no man or Angel could fully understand them."

St. Thomas Aquinas, the Prince of Theologians, "the wisest of Saints and holiest of wise men," as Leo XIII called him, preached for 40 days in Rome on the Hail Mary, filling his hearers with rapture.

Father F. Suarez, the holy and learned Jesuit, declared when dying that he would willingly give all the many learned books he wrote, all his life's labors, for the merit of one Hail Mary prayerfully and devoutly said.

St. Mechtilde, who loved our Lady very much, was one day striving to compose a beautiful prayer in her honor. Our Lady appeared to her, with the golden letters on her breast of: "Hail Mary full of grace." She said to her: "Desist, dear child, from your labor for no prayer you could possibly compose would give me the joy and delight of the Hail Mary."

A certain man found joy in saying slowly the Hail Mary. The Blessed Virgin in return appeared to him smiling and announced to him the day and hour that he should die, granting him a most holy and happy death. After death a beautiful white lily grew from his mouth having written onits petals: "Hail Mary."

Cesarius recounts a similar incident. A humble and holy monk lived in the monastery. His poor mind and memory were so weak that he could only repeat one prayer which was the "Hail Mary." After death a tree grew over his grave and on all its leaves was written: "Hail Mary."

These beautiful legends show us how much devotion to Our Lady was valued, and the power attributed to the Hail Mary devoutly prayed.

Each time that we say the Hail Mary we are repeating the very same words with which St. Gabriel the Archangel saluted Mary on the day of the Annunciation, when she was made Mother of the Son of God. Many graces and joys filled the soul of Mary at that moment.

Now when we say the Hail Mary we offer anew all these graces and joys toOur Lady and she accepts them with Immense delight. In return she gives us a share in these joys.

Once Our Lord asked St. Francis Assisi to give Him something. The Saint replied: "Dear Lord, I can give You nothing for I have already given you all, all my love." Jesus smiled and said: "Francis, give Me it all again and again, it will give Me the same pleasure."

So with our dearest Mother, she accepts from us each time we say the Hail Mary the joys and delight she received from the words of St.Gabriel.

Almighty God gave His Blessed Mother all the dignity, greatness and holiness necessary to make her His own most perfect Mother. But He also gave her all the sweetness, love, tenderness and affection necessary to make her our most loving Mother. Mary is truly and really our Mother. As children when in trouble run to their mothers for help, so ought we to run at once with unbounded confidence to Mary.

St. Bernard and many Saints said that it was never, never heard at anytime or in any place that Mary refused to hear the prayers of her children on earth. Why do we not realize this most consoling truth? Why refuse the love and consolation that God's Sweet Mother is offering us?

Is it our lamentable ignorance which deprives us of such help and consolation. To love and trust Mary is to be happy on earth now and afterwards to be happy in Heaven.

Dr. Hugh Lammer was a staunch Protestant, with strong prejudices against the Catholic Church. One day he found an explanation of the Hail Maryand read it. He was so charmed with it that he began to say it daily.Insensibly all his anti-Catholic animosity began to disappear. He became a Catholic, a holy priest and a professor of Catholic Theology in Breslau.

A priest was called to the bedside of a man who was dying in despair because of his sins. Yet he refused obstinately to go to confession. As a last recourse the priest asked him to say at least the Hail Mary afterwhich the poor man made a sincere confession and died a holy death.

In England, a parish priest was asked to go and see a Protestant lady who was gravely ill, and who wished to become a Catholic. Asked if she had ever gone to a Catholic Church, or, if she had spoken to Catholics,or if she had read Catholic books? She replied, "No, no." All she could remember was that------when a child------she had learned from a little Catholic neighbor girl the Hail Mary, which she said every night. She was Baptized and before dying had the happiness of seeing her husband and children Baptized.

St. Gertrude tells us in her book, "Revelations" that when we thank God for the graces He has given to any Saint, we get a great share of those particular graces. What graces, then, do we not receive when we say the Hail Mary while thanking God for all the unspeakable graces He has given His Blessed Mother?

An Overheard Conversation

2006-10-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

Joseph: Do you know what a road-runner does Gerard?

Gerard: No

Joseph: a road runner runs on a road.

Gerard: Why?

The All- Knowing-Joseph: Because they like to get run over from cars.

Gerard: Oh, that's sad. we don't want to get run over. then we would die.

Joseph: yea.

Sometimes you just have to shake your head and say, whatever, I'm not going to get into it.

Our Family Photo - Santoro Side

2006-10-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, this picture was truly a gift from God. Everyone’s eyes are open, no one is crying, we all are looking happy. How rare is that in a large family photo? For all of you out there with big families you know what I'm talking about.

My sister Angela flew back from Franciscan University for Matthew’s funeral and my brother Christopher drove from Las Vegas as well. Although it was under sad circumstances that brought us together it was wonderful being together for a while. It would be great if we could one day get the whole Keller family together for a family picture as well.

From left to right:

Clara, Christopher, Dad, My Shawn, My Gerard

Stephanie, Marybeth (has the bandana), Angela, Mom, James, I am holding Emily, Margaret,

My Colette, Anne Catharine, My Joseph

Matthew Covey - September 25, 1982 - October 7, 2006

2006-10-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Our community is reeling after hearing news that Matthew Covey might very well have died. He and a friend were by the ohio river sometime Saturday morning when they decided to jump from the Fort Steuben Bridge. The friend never actually saw Matt jump since he himself got hurt from jumping and went to their tuck to take care of himself. Matthew has not been seen since. Emergency crews spent much of Saturday and Sunday searching the Ohio River Matt but called off the search yesterday.
His mom and dad are there now as I type this. His mother was at the birth of my baby Emily.

Matthew was only 24 years old and a good friend to many people here. We will really miss him. For those of you that read this would you please say three “Hail Mary’s” for Matthew, his family and that they find the body so there can be some kind of closer.

Matt we will never forgott you. Until we meet again. May you reast in peace.

Matthews Body Has Been Found - For all of you that prayed for the recovery of Matthews’s body, thank you. He was discovered shortly after his mother flew in from California. In his mothers words, “he was beautiful.” We praise you Jesus that they found him so family and friends can start having closure.

Bakersfield Kern County Fair

2006-10-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Last week we took the children to the "School Day" of the county fair. It was free admission from 9 until 12 for all younger school age children. My sister Margaret brought Ann Catherine to enjoy the day alongside her nephews. They had a wonderful day looking at all the animals and got great pleasure in watching a little circus performance. All and all a great day!

Camouflage

2006-10-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Here are my boys camouflaging themselves. We were all watching the old combat shows and they wanted to know why the men had branches and twigs in their helmets. Of course after explaining Joseph and Gerard had to try it themselves. “Can you see us now, mom?”

I had to add this photo because Colette has a way of getting dirty FAST and I just want to show that she does look nice and tidy in the morning.

1909 Breastfeeding Instructions

2006-09-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

This article was in a 1909 issue of McCall's. lol, Can you believe it?

"In breast feeding, which is, of course, the best for babies, great care must be taken in teaching the little one how to nurse. When putting the child to the breast, do not place it in such a position as to have the baby's head crowded so hard against the breast that it is impossible for it to nurse. Be sure the baby's nose is not obstructed, as breathing must of necessity be through the nose. Babies should not be nursed more than fifteen minutes at a time. Let the nursing periods be regular. Fix certain times - hours - just as we do in supplying the food needs of grown-ups. Care of the nipple is most important. Wash it both before and after nursing in cold boiled water.

A baby should be nursed for the first three months at intervals of two and one-quarter hours, beginning at six o'clock in the morning. It should not have more than nine nursings in twenty-four hours. From three to six months old, nursings should be at three hour intervals during the day - seven or eight nursings during twenty-four hours.

From six to nine months, the child takes a larger quantity at each nursing and should be nursed at three or three and a half hour intervals.

All children shouold be weaned at the age of twelve months, except in midsummer or if otherwise ordered by a physician. A good way for a mother to spoil a child's digestion and temper is for the mother to take it up and nurse it whenever it cries or to rock the cradle or carriage every time it is fretful."

Then it goes on to say that all children should sleep in a crib, calls this "a most important health rule" because "no baby can sleep with a grown person or anyone older without suffering therefore in loss of strength and vitality, although such loss may not be apparent to those about."

Amazing!

Some Chinese

2006-09-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I thought I would try my hand at making Chinese food. I was so delighted with the outcome that I have posted the recipes.
I found the Beef and Broccoli recipe on recipezaar.com and a friend gave the Chow Mein(sp?) recipe to me years ago as a wedding gift. I never made it before. Boy had we been missing out. The whole family enjoyed both of this dishes immensely.

Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry #69229

Beef and Broccoli is a favorite of mine. It's important to take your time, mix well and marinate for the full 3 hours. You wont be sorry!
3 hours 15 minutes 3 hrs prep

3/4 lb very thin beef, strips,pencil thin and no longer that 2 inches in length
3 cups bite sized broccoli florets
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce (not lite)
2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg white, beaten until frothy
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons sherry wine
1/4 cup oyster sauce
3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1. In a medium mixing bowl add together the beef strips and soy sauce.

2. Mix to be sure all the beef is coated.

3. Add the sugar and pepper, stirring for 3 minutes to be sure each piece is evenly coated and sugar is dissolving.

4. Add the whipped egg white and slowly stir in the cornstarch, again stirring for 3 minutes to make sure the beef is evenly coated.

5. You DO NOT want to see any sugar or cornstarch.

6. Cover and let stand in the fridge for 3 hours, stirring well after 1 and 1/2 hours.

7. Bring a large pot of water to boil and bring a wok to medium high heat.

8. Par boil the broccoli for 1 minute. Drain in colander in sink.

9. Add 2 T. oil and garlic to wok and quickly"mush" around.

10. Stir fry the broccoli until tender crisp, around 5-6 minutes tops. Remove broccoli to a bowl.

11. Add the remaining oil if needed and stir fry the meat until just under done.

12. Return broccoli to wok and stir.

13. Add the sherry and oyster sauce.

14. Stir fry for 1 minute making sure broccoli and beef is thoroughly coated with sauce.

15. Serve over hot white rice.
3-4 servings

Vegetable Chow Mein

1 Pkg. Chinese style noodles
3 cups bean sprouts
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup sliced onion
1 cup chicken broth
½ cup sliced celery
½ cup sliced mushrooms
3 T soy sauce
1 T corn starch
½ t garlic salt
½ t fresh ginger (2/4 t. ground)
Oil

Cook noodles as directed, then toss with 2T soy sauce. Heat 1-2 T oil in large skillet. Spread 1/3 of noodles in skillet & brown; when brown turn over but don’t stir. Repeat with remaining noodles & keep warm.

Heat 2T oil and add garlic salt and ginger. Sauté carrots & onions 1 minute. Add celery, mushrooms & bean sprouts; sauté 3 min.

Combine broth, cornstarch and 1T soy sauce; stir and add to vegetable mix. Cook until thickened then pour over warm noodles. Enjoy!

We’ve been Babymooning!

2006-09-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems like I have some catching up too do since I last blogged. I have not been corresponding much via the Internet since Emily’s arrival but I hope to start up again. My apologies to those I have not gotten back to yet.

Emily was baptized on August 19th in my hometown of Porterville. My cousin Julie and her husband Daniel Smith were the Godparents.

Here are some other pics of our dear girl during her first month in the world.

U.S. approves over counter 'morning-after' pill

2006-08-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

The fruit of abortion is nuclear war. ~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

The United States has just approved the morning-after pill. The drug prevents pregnancy by preventing embryos from attaching to the wall of the uterus.

The beautifulul little life simply dies. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee! May God have mercy on our country.

According to this article they expect to kill up to three million babies a year with it. Of course they don’t phrase it that way.

Our Baby Doll Has Finally Arrived!

2006-08-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

She’s adorable and oh, how sweet she is.

Emily Grace was born at home on August 3rd at 9:41 pm weighing 8 lbs 14 oz. and 21 inches long.

Everything went very smoothly from start to finish. It was only about a 6 hour labor. There is something special and unique about every delivery I’ve had but the one thing that made this one so special was that I actually caught the baby myself, meaning Shawn and Linda pretty much just watched as I caught the baby and brought her up to me. I will never forget how she looked as I was bringing her up.

Pregnancy Up-Date

2006-07-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

It's totally impossible, and to make matters worse Colette has been coming to bed with us on account of her not feeling well. Sick children tend not to lie very still. I don't know if it's due to lack of sleep or just the end of pregnancy hormones, but I've been feeling really grouchy and emotional these past few days.

Overall this pregnancy has by far gone the best then my other three but this last month has been the worst as far as being extremely achy. I am ready for my baby and I to be two separate people. I feel like one large lump.

My Poor husband Shawn has been a great sport but I know that he too would like to get his wife back.

I am about one week away from the due date but I have my reservations about that as well. I have always been about two weeks late and that would put me in early August which just seems VERY far away when I already feel like I can’t go on like this one more day. *sigh* Oh well, All for thee, Jesus.

This is a 3-D picture of what a 3rd Term baby looks like. Pretty cramped in there.
Most of the lanugo is gone as the baby prepares for its final womb days. The lungs are maturing and surfactant production is increasing. The baby can't move too much anymore as its womb space has become very crowded. The average size baby is over seven pounds at this point.

Little Fever Pick-Me-Up

2006-07-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Colette has not been feeling well for a few days. She tends to get more fevers then the boys had at this age. Fevers always bother me but Colette has been drinking water and juice like there’s no tomorrow, which is the best things for her. Last night however she had a delightful time playing in the kitchen sink for at least 45 minutes. It was nice to see back to her old self for a while.

Free movie tickets for kids

2006-07-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

I thought that this was worth passing on for larger families that are always looking for fun yet affordable things to do together. Participating movie theaters are offering movie tickets for kids and family for $1 or less. Most are matinees and G- or PG-rated.

Regal Entertainment Group offers free 10 am admission every
Tuesday and Wednesday
AMC Theaters offer free 10:30 am admission every Wednesday
CineMark offers 10 shows for $5 or $1 per show
Crown Theaters offer up to two free tickets to "A" and "B" students.

Just Heartbreaking

2006-07-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

Many of you probable know of Regina Doman. She is the author of several Catholic young adult and children’s books, including "Angel in the Waters”. Her book “Shadow of a Bear” was my favorite book as a teen.

Her 4-year-old son Joshua died in tragic car accident that the parents were driving. *Sigh* I can only imaging what the family is going through. I know that there are many parents that have lost their children through tragedy but this particular incident has really hit me personally. Please say a short Hail Mary for this family right now. We can never underestimate the power of prayer.

O Lord, whose ways are beyond understanding,
listen to the prayers of your faithful people:
that those weighed down by grief
at the loss of this (little) child
may we find assurance in your infinite goodness.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

An article by Father Jonathan Morris.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203336,00.html

Regina Doman's Notepad
http://www.snowwhiteandrosered.com/reginaupdate.htm

4th of July!

2006-07-06T08:37:00.000-07:00
We went down to my parent’s house for the 4th. It was just for the day but we had a good time. Around dinnertime we went to our friends house for a BBQ and Pool party. Here are some photos of the day.

Car Purchase

2006-07-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Here is Colette showing off the car we bought this last weekend. It's a 03 Mazda Prodigy. A replacement car for daddy after what happened this last month. After praying a 9-day novena to St. Joseph we really feel like this was the right purchase to make and both Shawn and I happy with it. I am so used to driving the mini van that this one is a fun change.

Children... Children Everywere!

2006-06-29T17:49:00.000-07:00
We were going to have our monthly Midwife Meeting at my house this last Wednesday but one of Linda's Bakersfield mothers went into labor so we had to reschedule until the 5th of July. Since we had already made plans to meet some of us mothers still got together. There were six of us mommies, two of which are expecting and a total of 24 children under the age of ten. Lol, even I have to sit back and ask myself…”how do we do it?”

Ice Cream Faces

2006-06-19T10:31:00.000-07:00
4 ½ year old Joseph treated his siblings to Thrifty Ice cream the other day with 5 dollars that he received from family. What a sweet boy. This is Colette’s first hands-on ice cream cone. She made a mess but it was worth seeing her enjoy her treat as much as she did.

Happy Father's Day

2006-06-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

TO my darling husband. You are an amazing husband and father. God blessed us with a very special man to care and share with us. A father who has made our world a happy place to be in. Happy Father's Day!

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children
to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord."
~Ephesians 6:4~

His Special Place

Mother is all that is noble and fine,
And all that is right and good.
She richly deserves every sonnet that’s sung
To her glorious motherhood.
And when Mother receives some fresh acclaim
The whole wide world is glad,
But away down deep in every heart
There’s a place that is just for Dad.

We may not shower him with praise
Nor mention his name in song,
And sometimes it seems that we forget
The joy he spreads as he goes along,
Bu tit doesn’t mean that we don’t know
The wonderful role that he has had.
And away down deep in every heart
There’s a place that is just for Dad.

- Author Unknown

And now just a little history on the beginning of Fathers Day.

Sonora Dodd, of Washington, first had the idea of a "father's day." She thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.

After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. President Richard Nixon signed the law which finally made it permanent in 1972.

And in the same way -- by our faith -- the Holy Spirit helps us with
our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know
what we should pray for, nor how to pray as we should; but the
Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be
expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows,
of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us in harmony
with God’s own will. And we know that all that happens to us is
working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.
Romans 8:26-29

Camping

2006-06-17T21:39:00.000-07:00
Because of not being able to post pictures this post is a little late. We went camping in the middle of May. Better late then never though. :)

Our first camping trip and I must say a great success for a family with three children under 5. We went to Lake Isabella, which is only about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from where we live. We brought my 9-year-old brother, James with us and they all seemed to have a wonderful time.

Colette was eating Red Liqurorish. She tried to put the last two pieces on her ears for earrings. :)

The squirrels were VERY friendly. Joseph had a grand time giving them peanuts to open.

Daddy and Gerard fishing together. I love this one. :)

You can see Daddy way out in the water trying to fish. I’m afraid the children are not very good at no splashing while fishing.

I'm Back

2006-06-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I have been having a heck of a time with this blog. I could not post pictures for the longest time. Thanks to my man, Shawn I am now back and running. :)

Ramblings on Birth and Safety

2006-06-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

I don’t know if anyone saw this story on dateline NBC but it was just tragic. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9818616/ A mother lost her life after having a “routine” epidural. This brings up a bunch of issues for me, as I'm sure it does for others. Epidurals are a risk! When you tell people that you plan on having a natural childbirth most people look at you in shock. “I could never do that, you’re so brave.” People think that you are some “nature girl”. Lol No people, you’re the brave one if you have epidurals. A long needle going into my back. Drugs going into my SPINE! Augh. No thank you!

I have never been able to understand the concept that some people have on not wanting to have a baby at home just because it not as “sterile” as a hospital. What a bunch of bunk. Like it says in the article up above. “Infections contracted in hospitals are the fourth largest killer in the United States, causing as many deaths as AIDS, breast cancer and auto accidents combined.” For myself just being with my husband in the hospital overnight I can say that my house is a lot cleaner then the hospital, and we are not talking about clutter, I would loses on that one. :) While we were in the ER I saw plenty of blood drops on the ground and when they did get around to “cleaning” it was just with a wipe of some sort. I would rather take a chance with the germs I am accustomed to in my own home.

Why my husband and I have choosing to have home births is not just because of this one concern but because of many different reasons. We feel that as parents we have a duty and responsibility to learn as much about pregnancy and birth from balanced and accurate sources so we can make the best-informed decision as possible. Is homebirth for everyone? Absolutely note. Is hospital birth for everyone? No. Most people who are not educated or familiar with the benefits and safety of homebirth and midwifery care have the reaction, “how could you do something so stupid?” Most of their information is what they have seen on TV, heard from others, and often it’s a competition of the most dramatic and problematic births. It would really empower women if they would take the time to question and learn about risks and befits of who they birth with and where they birth and not just let doctors use big words on their patents expecting them to follow their every word. Sometimes - the priority in the hospital is procedures, liability, protocols and convenience of staff and not our wishes for what is best for us or what we consider to be best for our baby's health and well being. It really is sad how misinformed society is about natural birthing. If more hospitals aloud midwives to play a more active and authoritative role we might just move up from being # 17 in the world on the mortality rate.

Shawn and I have decided to birth at home for some of these reasons:

1) We believe that pregnancy and birth are normal, physiological functions of a woman's body and that unless a clear medical indication presents itself they are not medical conditions to be "managed" or manipulated.

2) In most normal circumstances - A woman's body will instinctively know when the time is right to begin labor (don't need pharmaceutical inductions) if supported in the best environment for the woman with the most appropriate caregivers and surrounded by the best support system.

3) I want too ultimately have the right to decide who attends my birth and have the right to touch MY baby and bond with it gently as apposed to being staff-handled in the name of procedures and protocols.

4) Shawn and I have opted not to receive many of the newborn tests and procedures routinely done in a hospital and didn't want to have to fight the system each time (these include but are not limited to - eye ointment, vaccinations on the newborn, vitamin K shots, heel pricks/blood sugar testing, observation in the nursery, administering sugar water to an infant, pacifiers, etc)

5) I preferred to be up and mobile as opposed to flat on my back. I want to eat and drink at my will as opposed to an IV and ice chips (or nothing). I prefer my own clothes in my own home without feeling inhibited in an unfamiliar surrounding.

6) At home, we will be able to utilize many and various coping techniques. In the hospital, drugs and anesthesia are the most common type of 'help' repeatedly suggested to laboring women. From my own experience I believe that pain management is MUCH better at home!

We believe that for healthy, no/low risk women, homebirth is as safe or safer then being in a hospital. We are adults who shoulder the responsibility and the privilege of making these decisions about our baby’s birth.

I have found that since my husband and I have really researched this topic in great detail I am not at all hindered by negative remakes and can only feel badly for those that feel threatened by homebirthers when they decide that’s its not for them. We are all adults that need to feel like we have made the best-informed decision for our baby and us.

The largest North American study shows the safety of homebirth compared to hospital birth. It was published in the British Medical Journal a year ago.

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/conte...505/1416?ehom_

Car Accident

2006-06-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

June 2nd, my husband Shawn and Joseph, my 4 year old were involved in a car accident in an intersection not far from our home. They are both going to be fine so Thanks be to God! Shawn does not remember anything after slowing down behind two cars at the stoplight. They were both unconscious after the crash for a short time but miraculously they had no trauma to the head at all. Shawn and Joseph were flown out by helicopter to KMC in Bakersfield because of that fact to see if there was any unseen damage. I was able to bring Joseph home late that night and he seems to be bouncing back just fine. Shawn had to stay over night in ER because of liver concerns. He is home now with medications for the pain. In the picture at the top you can see Shawn in the background. He is the one with the red shirt on lying by the road with the neck brace.

I feel very confidant the their angels were the ones responsible for keeping them alive and with no major complications. God is Good.

Shawn and I are just praising God that Joseph is still with us after looking at the pictures. I am so glad that I did not see the car till after seeing Shawn and Joseph first. Gilbert took these pictures today when he went to get our stuff from the car. The van that hit the car actually left his license plate in the trunk of our car. I'm sure everyone will be happy to hear that Shawn's PDA is still working, *Alleluia!!* although he is a little bummed that his cell phone is working too as it is starting to flake out on him. ;)

This is the article that our paper had on the collision.
http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/viewarticle.php?cat_id=383&post=16686

Free childrens' stories for the iPod

2006-05-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

I found out about listening to stories on the Internet by another blogger momma. What a neat idea. We have collected quite a collection of stories on tape for the children to listen to when we are driving in the car, playing in the bedroom or for falling asleep at night. The kids really enjoy listing to them.

http://storynory.com/ is a great new concept in entertainment and education for children. It offers a growing library of classic and original children's stories for iPod owners (or any other MP3 player). The best part is you can listen to all their children's stories for free! Their stories include: A Christmas Carol, Hansel and Gretel, The Three Little Pigs, The Snow Queen, Little Red Riding Hood and they feature at least one new story every week.

StoryNory is our favorite but there are some other spots you can check out as well, such as:

http://www.playtime-books.com
http://www.astoryforbedtime.com
http://kayray.org/audiobooks/
Kayray is more for the older children since these are full books like, The Secret Garden and Heidi.

If anyone knows of some more great sites PLEASE let me know. :)

Study: mothers deserve $134,000

2006-05-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

I wonder if I am worth even more for having 4 children, 4 and under?
:) I got this from Yahoo News.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A full-time stay-at-home mother would earn $134,121 a year if paid for all her work, an amount similar to a top U.S. ad executive, a marketing director or a judge, according to a study released Wednesday.

To reach the projected pay figures, the survey calculated the earning power of the 10 jobs respondents said most closely comprise a mother's role -- housekeeper, day-care teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive and psychologist.

"You can't put a dollar value on it. It's worth a lot more," said Kristen Krauss, 35, as she hurriedly packed her four children, all aged under 8, into a minivan in New York while searching frantically for her keys. "Just look at me."

Employed mothers reported spending on average 44 hours a week at their outside job and 49.8 hours at their home job, while the stay-at-home mother worked 91.6 hours a week, it showed.

An estimated 5.6 million women in the United States are stay-at-home mothers with children under age 15, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data.

NOT 'JUST A MOM'

"It's good to acknowledge the job that's being done, and that it's not that these women are settling for 'just a mom,'" said Bill Coleman, senior vice president of compensation at Salary.com. "They are actually doing an awful lot."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some 26 million women with children under age 18 work in the nation's paid labor force.

Both employed and stay-at-home mothers said the lowest-paying job of housekeeper was their most common role, with employed mothers working 7.2 hours a week as housekeeper and stay-at-home mothers working 22.1 hours in that role.

"Every husband I've ever spoken to said, 'I'm keeping my job. You keep yours.' It's a tough one," said Gillian Forrest, 39, a stay-at-home mother of 22-month-old Alex in New York. "I don't know if you could put a dollar amount on it but it would be nice to get something."

To compile its study, Salary.com surveyed about 400 mothers online over the last two months.

Salary.com offers a Web site (http://www.mom.salary.com) where mothers can calculate what they could be paid, based on how many children they have, where they live and other factors. The site will produce a printable document that looks like a paycheck, Coleman said.

"It's obviously not negotiable," he said.

On average, the mother who works outside the house earns a base pay of $62,798 for a 40-hour at-home work week and $23,078 in overtime; a stay-at-home mother earned a base pay of $45,697 and $88,424 in overtime, it said.

In a Salary.com study conducted last year, stay-at-home mothers earned $131,471. The potential earnings of mothers who work outside the home was not calculated in the previous study.

The Flu Bug Bites Hard

2006-05-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

I think I can safely say that this week has been one of the more challenging ones God has asked of me in a long time. It all started the 22 of April when I realized that despite my best efforts I had developed a tract infection. I have already had one this pregnancy and really did not want to go on antibiotic again. Since it was the weekend anyway I thought I would pump up on cranberry, Vitamin C see and all those other herbal pills to get me through this. I guess I caught it too late because by Tuesday I felt *Ugh* the worse I ever wanted to get. Thank heavens my aunt volunteered to watch my children for the morning for I do not know how I would of coped. Shawn came home to help go to the doctors. Well to make a long story short my doctor was not in and the office refused to place me with someone else since I am having a home birth and they don’t want to be held accountable, can you believe it? I finally had to just go to ER too get the darn subscription. While waiting in the ER I started to get real clammy and thats when the effects of the flu hit me…hard. *sigh* What a day. For the next few days I was pretty much in bed having no appetite what so ever. Colette got it next. A 17 month old with the throw-up flu is not a fun thing as one can imagine. Friday seemed like things were getting back to normal. I actual was able to get down to Bakersfield with my cousin Julie while her sister watched my children for a few hours until Shawn would get home. I had a very enjoyable afternoon…lol until I got back. I walk into the house and see vomit on my rug minus a body over it. My husband throwing up in the bathroom and Gerard standing next to him half undressed with vomit on himself. Colette is screaming in her crib and Joseph who threw up earlier is in Gerard’s bed with a bowl next to his face. I don’t think I need to go on. You can get the picture of how the rest of my week went.

Why is it that when most likely needs their doctor they are not there? A child will always choose to become ill in the middle of the night. And last but not least: Any child who throws up will have invariably eaten something red, something chocolatey or something that requires a fork to clean it up?

By the end of our Flu invasion I was a basket case. I think the straw that broke the camel’s back was when I brought the boys something to drink and Gerard asked me what it was. I replied that it was 7-UP and he said, “no its not, it soda.” I fled to my bedroom crying hysterically. After that anything and everything could make me cry.

It’s been two days now that things have been calm. The laundry is running smoothly again. I know that more then likely we I have many more days like these but all I can do is ask God for the grace to get through one day at a time.

A Mother's Prayer

2006-05-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day,
With little time to stop and pray,
For life's been anything but calm,
Since you called on me to be a mom.

Running errands, matching socks,
Building dreams with building blocks.
Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes,
And other stuff that children lose.

Fitting lids on bottled bugs,
Wiping tears and giving hugs.
A stack of last week's mail to read,
So where's the quiet time I need?

Yet when I steal a minute Lord,
Just at the sink or ironing board,
To ask the blessings of your grace,

I see then in my small one's face,
That you have blessed me all the while,
As I stop to kiss that precious smile.

...Author Unknown

The Keller's Easter

2006-04-21T08:22:00.000-07:00
Boy have we been busy since Easter. Let me start off by saying that we had a lovely Easter. We went down to my parent’s house late Friday night. The Santoro family is in the process of moving from their country home of 15 years or so into the city limits of Porterville. They have to be out by the 28th so it is coming down to the wire. After going to an early 7:30 mass we had a beautiful breakfast that my sister Margaret had prepared for us since she had gone to the 6 am earlier mass. The children had a WONDERFUL time hunting for Easter eggs. Shawn and I decided too just to let the boys go for it as far as stuffing their faces with candy. Gosh, did they ever. Even Colette got into some of the action as you can see in some of the pictures I posted. All in all it was a splendid day. We went home that night with James and Anne Catherine so that my mom could get some intense packing done that would have been more difficult if they were underfoot.

Colette having a grand time playing with all the empty Easter Eggs.

I don't think Gerard quite knew that CANDY was going to be in the eggs!

Colette taking advantage of the commotion to eat the stray candies.

I coundn't just pick one I thought they were so cute. She had those on for a good while. :)

My mom and I took some of the children to the park later so that Shawn and my dad could rest for a while. Colette loved the swings.

Anne Cathrine is the one in front. You can see Gerard and James in the back.

Our Crack and Grow Egglings! :)

2006-04-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Is this cute or what? I wasn’t too sure how this would work but as you can see for yourself my boys are thrilled. I got this idea from another mother’s blog. I wish I hade the link to post but sadly I have misplaced it. Here is anther site though that gives you the idea of how to do it on your own. http://www.eggling.com/index.htm

Here is Gerard water his eggling after giving it a haircut. I thought the medicine dropper worked really well. It’s so easy to have an overflow resulting in getting the paper base soggy.

Another cute picture of the boys

Our egglings back on the kitchen windowsill with there new haircuts.

Is it Just a Lost Cause?

2006-04-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

Now doesn’t the first photo look so nice? I straightened out the hallway Linen closet today. I’m sure many of you know how rewarding it is to straighten up something that was quite cluttered before, right? Well, that was how I was feeling until I took a few steps into the living room to find my children playing happily but destructively as it seems most toddlers do. Gosh, I feel almost like I am going through the house all day, every day cleaning up but by the end of the day I don’t have much to show for it. *sigh*

Although the mess maker has already left the scene, from past experience I can say with full confidence it was Colette.

Gerard wrapping spoons up with new toilet paper.

Sunday Birthday Party

2006-04-04T10:18:00.000-07:00
We went down to Porterville this last Sunday for my little sister, Ann Catherine’s 5th Birthday. Joseph had a sticker countdown 10 days before the big day. Luckily it was a beautiful day so the children played outside mostly. Joseph gave his Aunt a stuffed beetle that he found in his toy box to give her. His reasoning for giving it to her was that he had another one just like it so he would give her this one because he wouldn’t miss it… My, how generous. Here are some pictures from the day.

Mom and the Birthday Girl!

Aunt Margaret and Gerard

Aunt Stephanie and Colette

Our little friend, Andrew Miller

23 Weeks

2006-04-04T07:53:00.000-07:00
23 weeks last Saturday and still seem to be doing great. When I say "still" I mean that I don’t feel as awkward and uncomfortable as I usually do at this time, I will have plenty of time to complain of un-comforts later on. My last pre-natal visit with the midwife was last Tuesday.

My blood pressure, pulse and everything else was just fine. My baby’s heartbeat was 140… little girl heart beat. :) I’m measuring about 24 but I’ve always measured big with all the children and still am late. :(

Paper Towel Rockets!

2006-04-01T09:35:00.000-08:00
The boys had a fabulous time this morning stacking up our newly purchase of Costco paper towels. Figures that since their daddy is an airplane man they would build rockets instead of towers. They have since abounded their towels and have now moved on to playing with all the kitchen utensils in the living room. They are cooking with the stuffed animals, the animal being the food of course.

Snowflakes

2006-03-26T14:55:00.000-08:00

This is a very cool (ha, no pun intended) website, Especially for homeschoolers. Joseph and I had a fabulous time looking at all the different shapes of snowflakes. His comment after looking through them all was, "God sure is incredibly!” I bookmarked this site for further use when my children are old enough to do some science projects. This site will be a wonderful resource for them.
www.snowcrystals.com

The Blanket of Wipes

2006-03-22T14:21:00.000-08:00
Do you ever have those times when the children have been playing wonderfully together for at least 45 minutes without any problems? When one has little ones ages 4 down, these times only come once in a very great while. I happen to be experience this blissful time right now. I can hear Joseph and Gerard playing together happily in their room while Colette is in her crib watching them.

There is a catch though...

A few minutes ago I crept back there to check on them. Joseph was playing with his little people; Colette was playing with her books and GERARD… well Gerard was sitting in the middle of the room covering himself up with wipes. The freshly opened pack of wipes are probably at this point laying all around him as his blanket. They KNOW daddy and I don’t like it when they do this but there he is ruining them all. So here’s the dilemma, do I go in there and scold him for taking out the wipes and put them all back and try to salvage some of them or do I just walk away knowing that if I were to walk in, the “happy play” would end. Colette would remember that I abandoned her; boys would be hunger and so on and so forth. *sigh* yes walking away was the thing to do. I’ll just chalk the wipe waste up to Homeschool imaginary play.

Something’s You Just can’t save.

2006-03-21T21:24:00.000-08:00
We had tacos for dinner tonight with grape jello for dessert that the boys made this afternoon. A little while after dinner Shawn and I noticed a wet patch on Gerard's front pocket. I guess Gerard thought he would save some for later. lol!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

2006-03-17T15:12:00.000-08:00
I thought I would make homemade clam chowder for dinner tonight. It is simmering on the stove right now. I don't know what it is but there is definitely something missing from it. I guess I just need to keep looking on the Internet until a keeper. Until then the strawberry shortcake in marinating the fridge is sounding better and better for dinner. :)

Here is a beautiful prayer, St. Patrick's Breastplate:

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe

St. Patrick of Ireland, pray for us!

Were I not a Stay-at-Home-Mommy

2006-03-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, the living room is cluttered, the dishes need to be washed, clothes need folding and I will I will have a mess of toys to clean up later, but I wouldn’t trade my stay-at-home Motherhood for anything. All mothers should be able to spend rainy days inside with their children at the dinning room table, making a mess but having a good time. I for one have many wonderful childhood memories of such days.

I Couldn't Stop Laughing!

2006-03-08T14:52:00.000-08:00
A very proper lady began planning a week's camping vacation for her Baptist church group. She wrote to a campground for reservations. She wanted to make sure that the campground was fully equipped and modern, but couldn't bring herself to write the word "toilet" in her letter, so she decided on the old-fashioned term "bathroom commode." Once it was written down, she still was not comfortable. Finally she decided on the abbreviation "B.C." and wrote, "Does your campground have its own B.C.?"

When the campground manager received the letter, he couldn't figure out what she meant by "B.C." He showed it to several of the campers, one of whom suggested the lady was obviously referring to a Baptist Church, since there was a letterhead on the paper which referred to a Baptist Church.

He sent the following reply:

Dear Madam:

The B.C. is located nine miles from the campground in a beautiful grove of trees. I admit it is quite a distance if you are in the habit of going regularly. No doubt you will be pleased to know that it will seat 350 people at one time, and it is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday of each week. Some folks like to take their lunch and make a day of it. The acoustics are very good, so everyone can hear even the quietest passages. We are having a fund-raiser to purchase new seats, as the old ones have holes in them. It may interest you to know that my daughter met her husband there. Unfortunately, my wife is ill and has not been able to attend regularly. It's been a good six months since she last went. It pains her very much not to be able to go more often. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort, especially in cold weather. Perhaps I could accompany you the first time you go, sit with you, and introduce you to all the other folks who will be there. I look forward to your visit. We offer a very friendly campground.

Coming to a Close

2006-03-07T19:10:00.000-08:00
The day is coming to a close. The boys will be going to bed in about 20 minutes ready to start the day all over tomorrow morning at 6:30. Gerard and Colette have had baths (Only a bath could get all that Vaseline off of Gerard) and the boys are playing happily with paper airplanes that daddy made for them. Colette is sitting on the couch singing to her doll. Our life is most defenitely chaotic and a hair-raising at times but it’s a blessed beautiful life in the end. I better sign off now before some crisis happens which will make me delete this entire post.

Grey Hairs

2006-03-07T14:36:00.000-08:00
Gerard, my 3 year old in April, decided today that he wanted to make a tower with all the toilette rolls we had stored in one of our narrow bathroom cupboards. Now all mothers know that when it comes to greediness in toddlers there is no true difference in their sex, so it comes as no surprise that Gerard had to have the last two rolls that were shoved in the far back of the cupboard. I do not have the complete details as how it happened but he managed to get his head and one arm stuck in our very narrow cupboard. Joseph (4 years old) was the one that came running out too the living room yelling that Gerard was stuck and needed help. Some of you might be wondering why I did not come running to Gerard’s as soon as I heard the cries but I just have to say for the record that Gerard gets stuck A LOT and its usually a not to bad situation. Anyway, when I saw the gravity of it all I went into a whole different mode. Gerard’s head and arm would not come out and to make matters worse he desperately needed a diaper change. I tried different ways to get him out but the screams only got worse. Vaseline, short of calling 911, seemed to be my best bet. No luck. I was starting to get panicky but didn’t want him and Joseph knowing it. Joseph kept telling me through Gerard’s screams and me trying to calm him down that “Maybe we should get band-aids mom?” I really did not want to call 911, my reasoning at the time that I did not want Gerard wanting that long for help but I was getting to point that I did not know what else to do. I was afraid that his arm could break if I tried pulling harder or lifting him in different positions. Finally in a desperate attempt amidst the screams I smothered Vaseline in all the places I could, said a swift, “you better help me kind of prayer” and don’t ask me how but got a very red eared little boy out.

My thoughts and reactions –
Complete relief, Could cry at any moment, So happy that I have my little boys head and arm back where I can see them. More then ready to embrace my sweet Gerard and give him all the comfort and love he needs.

Gerard’s words and reactions –

1. Out pops his head and arm
2. Wipes his eyes smeared with tears and snots
3. Says in a calm and extremely hurried voice, “Mom, could you get me the rolls please?” pointing to the back of the cupboard.
4. I get them for him not knowing what else to do or say. “Thanks mom.” He says and runs out of the bathroom with Joseph to finish his !%* tower.

(sigh) I’m sure it will be funny tomorrow.

Laundry

2006-03-07T07:28:00.000-08:00
So yesterday I broke down and did something I have never done before. I took all of my clothes to the laundry mat even though I have perfectly good laundry equipment at home. I have never liked doing laundry so having had morning sickness the past few months has just made it extremely hard to keep up, to the point where I just haven’t. My laundry room (thank goodness for doors that close) had gotten piled so high with clothes that I just wouldn’t want to go in there. In truth it had become quite overwhelming. Anyway, Shawn got home early yesterday from work so I loaded up the van with all the clothes and headed over to the laundromat. I’m SO GLAD I did THAT!! I was there for about two hours whereas if I had somehow managed to do it at home it would have been an all day project and with children it most probably would have been more then one day. I already have about half the clothes folded and am excited to be able to start fresh (no pun intended J ) with the laundry. It will be nice to be able to walk into my laundry room without having to step over all he clothes. Oh (sigh) the simple things in life.

A Lot Has Happened

2006-03-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

So wow, I lot has happened since my last post. I’m expecting our forth blessing from God and I’m due July 29th. This pregnancy by far has gone a lot faster then my last three. I think I can attribute that to the fact that I am just a little bit busier then before and that I have been exercising more and even though I am almost half-way there (19 weeks) I am just starting to feel like I’m pregnant. My energy has gone up quite a bit since I have been taking much more calcium during this pregnancy then any other before. So yes, life is good and I am looking forward in meeting my little girl. Yes! We are having a girl! Two boy and two girls, how great is that? It only took Joseph a few moments to switch gears and except the fact that we indeed were having a girl. His first question was, “Do you think tomorrow it will be a boy?” He had been set on having a little brother called Freddy, I have no idea were Freddy came from. So anyway we are all doing well and continue to thank God for all He does for us.

'And a darkness came over the whole land'

2005-03-23T08:26:00.000-08:00
Well, I guess this was not a good time to start a Blog on my family and the fun things that they do. This whole case on Terrie Schiavo has just weighed me down incredibly.

Is it not intristing that Terri Schiavo's agony will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the encyclical "Evangelium Vitae," which warned of an encroaching "culture of death? "The Schiavo case demonstrates that that document was prophetic," said Legionary of Christ Father Thomas Williams, dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome. In fact, the Holy Father wrote in No. 64 of the encyclical: "Here we are faced with one of the more alarming symptoms of the 'culture of death,' which is advancing above all in prosperous societies, marked by an attitude of excessive preoccupation with efficiency and which sees the growing number of elderly and disabled people as intolerable and too burdensome."
It's not a question of Terri's parents being right and Terri's husband wrong," he said. "The problem lies in giving anyone the power over another's life. Society must not permit that a person's life or death hang in the balance because of the way others feel about them. All human life must be defended and protected in law, not for what it means to others, but for what it is in itself.John Paul II signed the encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" on March 25, 1995, the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. In "Evangelium Vitae" the Holy Father condemns euthanasia in the strongest terms. "Pope John Paul II encourages us to call things by their names," said Father Williams. "And euthanasia, regardless of the motives behind it, always means homicide: the deliberate elimination of an innocent human life." The Pope writes in No. 66: "The choice of euthanasia becomes more serious when it takes the form of a murder committed by others on a person who has in no way requested it and who has never consented to it."

Here is a Shocking Affidavit from Terri's Nurse - READ THIS 3-20-5

AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF FLORIDA )

COUNTY OF PINELLAS )

BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:

1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make this statement of my own personal knowledge.

2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.

3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in Largo, Florida from April of 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there.

4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consisted solely of the instruction "Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated." This struck me as extremely odd.

5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo's intimidation. Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always had an overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as "This is my order and you're going to follow it." He is very large and uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you, getting right in your face and practically shouting.

6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there. I became concerned because nothing was being done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together, and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.

7. Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented. When I worked with her, she was alert and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn't say the "n" sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort by saying "pay" and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal area. Other ways that she would indicate that she was in pain included pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper.

8. When I came into her room and said "Hi, Terri", she would always recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way toward me, saying "Haaaiiiii" sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a "hi", which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound being only a second or two long. When I told her humorous stories about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle, sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body, upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act, and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.

9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death. Michael would say "When is she going to die?," "Has she died yet?" and "When is that bitch gonna die?" These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I recall him making include "Can't you do anything to accelerate her death - won't she ever die?" When she wouldn't die, Michael would be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter.

10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!," and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.

11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I'd check her blood

sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift as I recall. Normally Terri's blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting.

12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the reasons I've said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named Carolyn Adams, known as "Andy" Adams who was a particular concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift, but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as "They are old - let them die." I couldn't believe her attitude or the fact that it didn't seem to attract any attention. She made many comments about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She

said it was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were cited, but I was convinced it was because of my "rocking the boat."

13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would tell me afterward and relay orders from him.

14. While at Palm Gardens, I became fearful for my personal safety. This was due to Michael's constant intimidation, including his menacing body language, vocal tone and mannerisms.

15. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn't stand by and let Terri die without the truth being known.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.

CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of September, 2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida driver's license as identification, and who did / did not take an oath.

(Non-text portions of this message have been removed)

Pretty scary is it not? God forgive our whole country.

Palm Sunday!

2005-03-20T15:44:00.000-08:00
Oh my, how lent has flown by. I can't believe that we are now entering Holy Week. I still need to get my thoughts together as far as planning my baking and getting together something for the boys Easter Baskets. I think that I am going to get them a nice gift, a few little trinkets and forgo must of the candy. They still have a few years before they find out how much more others get. So don't any of you reading this, tell them. ;) Shawn and I are thinking of getting a tricycle for Joseph but we still haven’t made up our mind for Gerard’s gift. Colette will have to be contented with looking pretty on Easter. As for me, I will have to be content with not losing as much weight as I would have like since giving birth to my sweetie pie.

First Post!

2005-03-19T10:11:00.000-08:00
Ok, I've been trying to get a blog going for a while with Movable Type so I could have more options but alas to have options one needs to be a little more adept at HTML. I will learn but in the meantime E-Blogger will do just fine.

Terrie Schiavo has been with outthought food and water now for about 24 hours. I am sick at heart to know that this is going on. It is hard for me to believe that there are such people in the world that could starve someone to death. What a terrible, terrible way to die. When Schindler attorney Barbara Weller told Terri they were going to remove her feeding tube, "Terri began to cry and tried to say 'I want to live..' Attorney Weller said she had a difficult time calming Terri down." Have Mercy Dear Lord on us all.

I hope to update from time to time on my day-to-day life as a wife and mother of my little ones. Joseph 2-1/2 Gerard 2 and Colette 3 months will no doubt give me plenty to write about.