Blessings

We were privileged to have Emily blessed on August 2nd. It was fun having both sets of grand parents and the Martins over to help us celebrate.
 
Emily did great, I had to nurse her almost up until it was time for the blessing, but we made it! Her blessing was very sweet and I look forward to seeing her claim the blessings that have been pronounced upon her head.

Here are the brothers, looking so cute!

Daily Dose of Devon

                This morning, to appease the masses who were fighting over a single blanket (even though we have at least two dozen blankets of various size easily accessible to all) I made flapjacks. We had just settled in to commence the meal, when it was discovered that Devon had once again in his possession the coveted binky.  Charles promptly ripped it from his mouth and threw it across the living room.  Devon dissolved under the table in a heap and we continued our meal, occasionally avoiding Devon as he attacked our toes. 

                After the meal was finished I left to nurse Emily as her patience had at last run out. While everyone had stepped away from the table to return to various activities, Devon decided now was the time to act! He got himself a flapjack and proceeded to get it ready. That’s when he noticed the butter dish. Ahh, the butter dish, I don’t know what it is about this unassuming piece of crockery that attracts children so powerfully, but each child has had at least one episode with the dish. Today the pull of the butter was too strong for Devon and he proceeded to cover his plate with the remains of the butter, about a third of a cup. Next he realized that any artist needs another color to make their masterpiece complete so he assessed his options and turned to his old friend milk.

                He dumped his cup of milk cheerfully over his plate and mixed with abandon. It was at this moment that he noticed the floor. The poor neglected floor, how much better it would look with a golden gloss. He began to help the floor regain its perky color with copious amounts of butter.  It was dutifully filled into every nook and cranny. The joys of hard wood floors.  At this point he decided to share his masterpiece, he came to get me.

                I was nursing in the dim light of my bedroom so when Devon entered and proudly displayed his hands I could not readily determine what they were coated with. I laid Emily down and followed him out of the room and soon took in the full impact of Devon’s masterpiece. As I can be extremely eloquent when startled, I exclaimed, “Is that butter?” To which my proud two-year old nodded enthusiastically.  “Oh, is that all butter?” Like I said, eloquent. So I commenced cleaning it up and sent Devon to change his clothes since they too burnished the golden goodness.  Just a regular morning at the Bartholomews.

Last Essay

Here is my final essay for my class. I chose to write about how Daniel and I got together. Actually, it was his idea for my essay. I said to him, "I have to write a personal narrative for at least 2 pages, what am I going to do?" He suggested writing about our 2 dates. "I'm sure that you can write 2 pages on that!" He was right.

Well I Never!

            “Never say never!” was a common motto growing up.  I was fed on the stories of life going awry due to some uncalculated utterance that began, “I will never…” The more emphatic the declaration, the more certain the event will occur.  Like the time my mother said, “I will never raise my kids in Utah!” We consequently spent seven years in Happy Valley. Growing up with this knowledge should have forestalled me from any such mishap in my own life. Alas, I am a poor listener.

            Over the years many small occurrences seemed to prove the point, but somehow those evidences did not prevent me from declaring with certainty when we moved to Bremerton, a Navy town, that I would never date a Navy guy! I had never lived in a military town and was not prepared for the onslaught of stories about the horrors of military life. When confronted with the overwhelming evidence against marrying into the military, I declared with fervor, “I will never date a Navy guy!”

            As you can imagine, the local singles ward was chock full of Navy guys. This limits dating partners when over half are automatically crossed off the list. Still, there were plenty of non-military fellows to date and there was nothing wrong with being friends with military personnel.  I went on many excursions and to hundreds of dances with an array of military and non-military guys.

            Then the fateful day arrived. I got a call from Daniel asking me out. I knew he was military, but one date couldn’t hurt right? I did not want to be rude, so I acquiesced. Daniel showed up at my house in a silver 1979 Datsun 280z that was showing its age. He had affectionately named it Norman, after his grandfather, who had also served in the Navy.  My driveway was quite steep and he had forgotten to put on the emergency brake. As he walked me to the car, in full gentlemanly stature, he seated me in the passenger side and shut the door just as the car began rolling down the driveway.  I scrambled to pull the brake while Daniel ran and jumped over the hood of the car like a stunt man from The Dukes of Hazzard. He got in and started Norman up just as it hit the street. Clearly my before mentioned declaration was getting the best of me.

            After the excitement of a runaway car wore off and we were headed on the highway I asked him where we were going. He said, “I heard about this park with a waterfall.” It sounded lovely. Unfortunately, he had only a vague idea of where said “park” was located and consequently, after about 20 minutes, we were hopelessly lost.  Now, I am geographically challenged, so getting lost is no uncommon occurrence in my life. I have learned to enjoy it. Daniel, on the other hand, was a navigator in the Navy. Getting lost was not something he did. We drove aimlessly for a while before stopping at a city park. Jackson and Lund, it was called. Perhaps it was a sign, since Daniel was stationed on the Jackson at the time.  So we pulled in and started to walk as aimlessly as we drove, but as we walked we talked.

            We talked about where we grew up, what we liked to do, etc. We walked and talked for about an hour through thickly forested trees. I found it most pleasant, but from Daniel’s point of view, it was not going so well. He dropped me off and that was that. We still saw each other at church and at various activities, but we did not go on another date until a year later.

             My family has a tradition where everyone 18 and older would get a date and go to dinner and then to the Valentine’s dance held by the stake. I love this tradition. There is nothing quite as fun for me, then eating good food with my family and friends and then dancing. I was all excited to go when my date called the day before the dance to tell me he was stuck in Seattle and would not be able to make it. I was devastated! This would be my first year missing it (except for when I was on my mission). Knowing that Daniel might know who was not already going in the ward I called him up for advice. He could tell right away that I was upset. I asked him if he knew of anyone I could take last minute to the dance.

             “Well, you could take me.” He replied.

            “You want to go?” I asked incredulously.  He assured me that he was planning on going anyway, just stag; at least this way he would have a date. It was agreed.  He sent me a huge floral arrangement, which completely floored me.  The dinner was wonderful and the dance was quite fun. Daniel loves to dance so we had a blast. We lindy hopped and slow danced the night away.  In the end I knew what I had to do. Nine years and four kids later, marrying Daniel is still the best decision I ever made. 

            In the end having to live out my “Never” became the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, so maybe it’s just as well I never listened to the advice, “Never say Never!”

Introducing Emily

So it finally happened! The day came and I was ready! I went to my pre-op appointment on Saturday and was informed that the hospital had a few new procedures, the biggest one was I had to bathe the night before the surgery and use this special soap they provided me, and use these special cleansing wipes on my belly. They were like those car wash shams only pre-soaped.  Then I had to use a fresh towel and put fresh pj's on and fresh sheets on the bed. Daniel also had to shower with the special soap. Then I had to do it all over again in the morning. I guess I looked filthy to the hospital staff.
  Showers completed, we headed off to our appointment with destiny! Everything was going smoothly, since it was the awful hour of 5 AM parking was amazing. We got in right away, the only down side was passing every fountain, each one gleaming and mocking my thirst. Yet I remained strong! So we got to the room and we began the totally exciting game of... Waiting for the Doctor! I don't really understand why we have to be there so early, it seems to me that the entire prep process takes about 30 minutes. The nurse fitted me with an IV after a failed attempt on one arm. Then surprise, surprise, I was washed by the antiseptic wipes again! After a little shaving, and a awful medicine I had to drink, I was ready. Daniel received his stellar paper jumpsuit, complete with head and feet covers. So styling!
  My Doctor,Robyn Lew, who I highly recommend, got stuck in traffic so we started a tad late. Daniel put his paper suit on and  went to a different waiting area. The nurse and I walked to the OR, my first time walking into an operating room. It was a little surreal, I got up on the table and prepared myself to, "Embrace my inner Shrimp." As the anesthetist called it. If you have never had an epidural or a spinal before than this won't make much sense. In order to put the needle in the right spot you have to hunch over while simultaneously pushing out your lower spine. Like a shrimp. I think that this is the most uncomfortable part of the procedure, for me anyway. Hunching over a  full belly that fights back, while trying to push out your lower back, it's hard to do. Especially when they ask you to relax while doing it! But I digress. I was given the star shrimp award. Huzzah!
  After a successful spinal, I was laid on the table and then up went the screen and the real fun began in earnest. Daniel was finally let into the room. Here we are all ready to meet our new addition.

  The weird thing about a c-section is that you can still feel a little of what they are doing, just not the pain. So after a bit of pulling and tugging, I finally heard Emily's cries. Boy can she wail! I think that she'll fit right in with our crew. Here she is!

  Here she has a firm grip on Daddy.

  She was born at 8:08 AM and she weighed 7 lbs 7 oz. She was 19 1/2 inches long and just perfect!

I finally got to "hold" her. 

Here we are together.

  After a bit of sewing I was rolled into the recovery room for two hours and could finally have some ice chips! Later the whole crew came by to visit their new sibling. 

Here's Dr Lew with Little Emily.

   I love that my bed was called S-502 Stryker.If I ever write a sci-fi novel this will be the main character's spaceship!

 Here I am finally!

   Here is Grandma!

Here's my two most recent write ups. The first is a critical thinking piece and the second is a persuasive essay.

Do Questions Lead to Truth?

            In the course of learning Spanish, I had many questions and doubts about my ability to adequately speak a foreign language. I even began to question my instructor’s ability to teach me appropriately. This was a frustrating and disappointing time for me. I felt that I had a predisposition for the language, coming from a duel language home where Spanish words were frequently used, but not consistently. I felt that it was in my blood and so I should naturally pick it up without difficulty. I was mistaken. I realized that learning for oneself is a bumpy road of self discovery and soul searching. As human beings we naturally question that which is unfamiliar and seek for understanding. Having doubts is a natural part of gaining a testimony.

            In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, many might see having doubts as a crisis of faith, but addressing doubts is a way to find greater understanding. As President Deiter F. Uchtdorf has stated,

It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty…First doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Come Join With Us” By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (OCT 2013 General Conference)

           

            Questions are what help us learn. If we don’t seek the truth, then we are static in our progression. Asking questions lead to the restoration of the gospel in latter days. Without questions we are not challenging ourselves or our ideals, but passively accepting what we are being fed.   

            Studying and questioning in of itself is a natural course for learning. The difficult part is separating the information and putting it to the Lord first, instead of being bogged down by the question itself. President Uchtdorf reminds us of this when he stated,

Sometimes questions arise because we simply don’t have all the information and we just need a bit more patience. When the entire truth is eventually known, things that didn’t make sense to us before will be resolved to our satisfaction. “Come Join with Us” By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (OCT 2013 General Conference)

           

            There is nothing wrong with seeking truth and questioning sources, we must remember, however, to pit those questions against the eternal source of all truth, Heavenly Father. He will answer the burning questions of our hearts and only He is the purveyor of all truth. He will use the Holy Ghost to bring to your mind and heart the truth of what you seek, if you will put your trust in His time table and authority. Doubts and questions are a natural and necessary part of learning and of gaining a testimony.

Something to Swallow

            The history of Fluoridation has a long and controversial past. It was first studied in 1909 in East Colorado after Dr Frederick McKay discovered a condition known as Colorado Brown Stain. Thirty years later Dr. MacKay hypothesized that adding smaller, safer, amounts of Fluoride could strengthen tooth enamel. The Fluoride was from aluminum plants which were being targeted for their fluoride waste as part of their production. Their solution? Truck the unwanted fluoride to other cities and sell it for their water supply. Such an ingenious plan; not only did it free up the waste from large industries, but it helps teeth to boot! This plan had to be implemented in a way that the populace would, literally, swallow. Enter Dr. Gerald Cox of the Mellon Institute. He was Uncle Sam’s personal Physician. If anyone could sell fluoride to the masses it was Dr. Cox. He repeatedly praised the virtue of fluoride on tooth enamel.

            Today fluoride continues to be used in the battle against tooth decay. Nearly all toothpastes on the market contain fluoride as its active ingredient; water fluoridation projects currently affect over 200 million Americans. Fluoride has been used in the United States for nearly 70 years to maintain healthy dentine. However, fluoride has been systematically harming the populace for years through over exposure, unsafe procedures and most importantly lack of information. This can only be prevented with individual education.

            Fluoride is harmful in many ways, the body has no need of fluoride, it is not an essential nutrient. Since the body cannot use it, the fluoride accumulates in bones and other tissue. Fluoride exposure has been linked to a range of chronic ailments including arthritis, bone fragility, bone and bladder cancer; thyroid disease, gastric distress, and cardiovascular disease. As well as increased risk of ADHD and loss of IQ.

            Proponents of Fluoridation believe that the health benefits far outweigh the possible negative outcomes. Dental health has increased dramatically in the last thirty years. Fluoridation is considered the catch all for preventative tooth decay. However, studies have shown that countries without fluoridation have reported a similar rate of improved Dental Health.

             “For the past 50 years, CWF [community water fluoridation] has been considered the most cost-effective measure for the control of caries at the community level. However, it is now accepted that systemic fluoride plays a limited role in caries prevention. Several epidemiologic studies conducted in fluoridated and nonfluoridated communities clearly indicated that CWF may be unnecessary for caries prevention, particularly in the industrialized countries where the caries level has become low.” SOURCE: Pizzo G, Piscopo MR, Pizzo I, Giuliana G. 2007. Community water fluoridation and caries prevention: a critical review. Clinical Oral Investigations 11(3):189-93.

            The main benefits of fluoride can be achieved when applied topically to teeth. Researchers have now overwhelmingly rejected the notion that swallowing fluoride is effective for preventing decay. Instead, the current consensus is that fluoride’s benefit comes from topical contact with teeth. As the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated in 1999: “fluoride prevents dental caries predominately after eruption of the tooth into the mouth, and its actions primarily are topical for both adults and children.”

            Since fluoride is so widely used, it is impossible to determine just how much each individual is receiving on a daily basis. We are hopelessly overexposed. Not only is fluoride in most public water, it is in most food and beverages processed in the United States. Pesticides, teas, processed meats and even the air in industrial workplaces contain fluoride. It is in nearly every dental product on the market.

            Not only are these trends alarming, but the fluoride that is placed in our drinking water is not pharmaceutical-grade at all. According to the CDC, the main chemicals used to fluoridate drinking water are known as “silicofluorides”. Silicofluorides are unprocessed industrial by-products of the phosphate fertilizer industry and they can contain elevated levels of arsenic. How is unfiltered industrial waste safe for drinking?

            The big issue is how the government is forcing widespread medication of the masses. There is neither written consent, nor even information given that you might be consuming fluoride. The Food & Drug Administration accepts that fluoride is a Drug, not a nutrient, when used to prevent disease.

            Whether by ignorance or negligence, the people of the United States have been deceived about the benefits of fluoridation and have been quietly swallowing their medicine. This harmful practice must stop. People need to know what they are consuming and why. This will only be obtained when individuals and communities come together to determine what is healthy for them. Please educate yourself on the practices and usages of fluoride. Further information can be found at http://fluoridealert.org/.

Newest Essay

My latest essay is about something that I believe. We read/listened to a few on http://thisibelieve.org After a few hours of thinking about it I finally came up with an idea. Maybe because I was tired at the time... Any way, here it is:

Napping is Amazing

            I believe in the power of naps. When I was a child I would fight the urge to close my eyes, knowing that I would miss out on some great adventure. The inevitable nap was like time travel, I’d wake to find myself in a new place hours after I had given in to the magnetic pull of exhaustion. How I ended up in my bed after falling asleep in the kitchen was a complete mystery.

            When I became a youth, naps became more of a survival technique. I am by nature a night owl, so getting up early was particularly difficult for me. Naps became my partner in keeping me alert and involved in my many academic pursuits. Some benefits of napping have been stated by the National Sleep Foundation, “Naps can restore alertness, enhance performance, and reduce mistakes and accidents. Naps can increase alertness in the period directly following the nap and may extend alertness a few hours later in the day. Napping has psychological benefits. A nap can be a pleasant luxury, a mini-vacation. It can provide an easy way to get some relaxation and rejuvenation.”1 I love the thought that a mini-vacation is within my reach with twenty minutes of Zzzzzs.

            As a mother I have found naps to be a saving grace for my rambunctious children. When I notice that tell tale look in their eyes, and the increased sensitivity in their reactions, I know it is time for a nap. I can give them a little leeway for their sudden stubbornness or grumpiness, because I understand how functioning on too little sleep can have disastrous effects. As I put them down for their much needed slumber, I breathe a sigh of relief and realize that now I can accomplish something around the house without constant interruptions. That is a marvelous benefit of the power of naps. Sometimes my children awake refreshed and raring to go, at other times they need to cuddle until fully awake. I love that part.

             In short, I believe that naps have the unique ability to change people for the better. Whether it is through making someone feel better, or helping you see the world a little clearer, naps have a power all on their own and I, for one, am glad for it.

References:

1 National Sleep Foundation sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/napping/page/01

My Love Letter

As some of you know, I am taking a course through the Pathway program which is in partnership with BYU-I. The class that I am currently taking is an English class which requires certain writing assignments. So I thought I'd post them here too. My first assignment was to write a love letter to something. Here's mine:

A Love Letter to My Happy Place

            When first I met you I was very young and your kind welcoming exterior pulled me in. Little did I know then how much I would depend upon you throughout my life. I love how you have supported me in every aspect of my life. Your face has changed over the years, but the serenity you provide has never dimmed.

             I love to wander down your familiar halls in search of a great new find. What will it be: non-fiction, a novel, a mystery, an old favorite or a new acquaintance? I love the smell of the pages as I peruse the well-worn shelves. There is the scent of glue and a slight mustiness of old tomes long forgotten. So many hidden gems lying like diamonds in the rough just waiting to be discovered.

            I love the comfort that you provide on rainy days when the storm outside sets a metered rhythm against your windowpanes. Countless drizzly hours were spent in your warm embrace.  How sumptuous to be able to curl up with a good book and let the world fade away. You have always given me more than I could have hoped for; like how you accommodate my growing family. My children love to play in your rooms and are entertained by the fun activities that you supply. From princess parties to animal exhibits you consistently surprise us with new knowledge that leaves us yearning for more.

            I love how you shun no one, all are welcome to enjoy the beauty and find solace in your loving embrace. There is space here for learning, growing, and stretching the imagination to new unthought-of heights. There is entertainment and enlightenment. There is permission to find unfettered joy in whatever brings you joy. 

             I must thank you, Public Library, for being my happy place. You have helped me to better myself. You made me realize that each voice is special and deserves to be heard. Thank you for taking care of those voices from every era. I will always love you!