New 'tude

Shyla's got this new 'tude going on. I'm not sure I like it. I already feel that her 2's were easier than her 3's are going to be! Sometimes she gets in these moods where NOTHING you do to her, with her, or for her, gets through to her. I've found that if I get the camera and take pictures or video of her (most of the time I just fake it) that she quiets down real fast. I don't think she understands what "capturing her on camera" really means, but it works and that's all that matters, haha.

Can Anyone...

Tell what this is a picture of?

Walk Around The Neighborhood

I can't wait to take pictures of the kids in a field of wildflowers! But for now, here are some fun shots from our walk around the neighborhood last week. The weather was so gorgeous... this week not to much. But we are getting some much needed wet weather, so I can't complain.

The street below is lined with a particular tree. You can see about 8 trees in the picture and there are some more when you get around the corner. Count this as a "before" picture. They look so much more beautiful when they are covered in while flowers. I can't remember the name. It's the kind that turns white with the pretty flowers in the Sping that when they drop they line the street all white! I think I have a post of it from last year, but I'm sure I'll be posting it again.I'm working on composition in my photography. Which one do you like best?

One After Another

It all started last week.

Wednesday-ish- Jacob started to have a stuffy nose and didn't sound like he was feeling very well. Everything pointed to him teething, so we thought that's what it was. Each day after though he just didn't sound any better. And he was waking up at night, which he doesn't typically do.

Saturday night and Sunday night- Jacob woke up during the night a couple times having a hard time breathing. You could hear and feel him deep breathing and making funny sounds. It scared me at first because I didn't know what was wrong. He eventually quieted down and went to sleep.

Monday- Shyla started to sound like she was getting sick and she had a fever of 101.3. Jacob got a fever of 101.7. Nothing too high, but neither one certainly wasn't feeling well.

Tuesday- Jake started to get sick with a slight fever. I'm not surprised with all the coughing going on. What I was surprised about was how I hadn't gotten sick yet. Usually, me or one of the kids gets sick, then the rest of us get sick, and Jake usually doesn't. I emailed the kids doctor and he put Albuterol on file in case we needed it. That evening there was a Relief Society Ice Cream Social that I went to and I noticed that my neck was hurting.

I woke up on Wednesday feeling like I tweaked a muscle. As the day wore on, my shoulder started hurting really bad. Sure enough... pinched nerve! I also could tell that I was starting to not feel well.

Wednesday night- Jacob went to sleep around 6:30pm. He woke up a couple times before we went to bed. He woke up again literally when our heads hit the pillows around 11:00pm. For almost an hour, Jake tried to get him back to sleep. Eventually he took him downstairs. I went down to see if there was anything I could do and we decided I had to go to the pharmary at the hospital and get the Albuterol. I thought it was going to come as an inhalant or nebulizer, but it was in liquid form. Jacob FINALLY went to sleep a little after 1am. We went to sleep around 1:30am. At 4am, I woke up and was practically in tears because my shoulder hurt so bad! I tossed and turned until 4:30. At 5am, Jacob woke up. I went to get him and he stayed awake until 11am or so when he slept for 7 minutes in the Sleepy Wrap I had him in.

Thursday- I went to get him and he stayed awake until 11am or so when he slept for 7 minutes in the Sleepy Wrap I had him in. Here he is just before he took a "nap". Since yesterday and today melted together, it was only about 10:30am and I thought I was going to loose my mind. Thinking that no one would want to come over and watch the kids so I could sleep and get some things done, I called my parents and my dad was kind enough to come over to help me take care of the kids. My dad took them for a walk. When he got back he said Jacob went to sleep, so we left him in the stroller. He slept a grand total of 15 minutes!

Jacob had a doctors appointment in the afternoon to hopefully get some answers. After the appointment it was determined that the Albuterol can give kids a "caffeine-like" effect thus keeping them *ahem* WIRED! Poor baby was moaning and SO TIRED and whining for sleep. The doctor also said he has bronchiolitis. I believe that's the inflammation of the bronchioles. He said to try "halfing" the dose of medicine. I think that's why my grandma Dottie says "After all, the doctors are just practicing medicine", haha!

Friday- My parents were already planning on coming over here to help me out and give me a chance to get some things done without having to worry about taking care of the kids. I warned them of the sickness in the house, but they still came over. I wasn't going to argue, I could really use the help! They were here for several hours helping me do chores around the house, my dad took the kids on a walk to the park, and even took on the task walking the dogs! On one of his walks he discovered that there is a back entrance about 2 blocks away to a park that I thought was farther than it is. I'm glad because now I can take the kids to a park without having to pack them in the car and drive to it.

Fast forward to the nighttime. I put the kids to bed and about 20 minutes after they were both down Shyla started screaming. I went in there and turns out she threw up all over herself and the bed. I spared you the image by not taking a picture, but I will say... it was in her hair, her neck, pillow, bed, blanket, and jammies. Off to the bath we went. It took about an hour and a half to clean her up, bathe her, and get her bedding changed before I got her back to sleep. Jake was working for Concord PD tonight so he wasn't able to help until he got home, which by then everything was all cleaned up. Good thing I ended up keeping Shyla home all week from preschool. I don't think anyone would want their kids around her! I felt bad though because on Tuesday I got her all dressed to go and then all morning she sounded worse and worse until Jake said she should probably stay home. Then she kept saying all sad, "But I want to go to preschool" and "I'm sad, I want to go." She has ballet class and a birthday party tomorrow, but we're playing those by ear. If she's still coughing a lot we'll probably keep her home.

Hopefully tomorrow I have ballet and a birthday party to write about...

GOING PRIVATE

I'm going private. Please leave your email address if you'd like to be added as a reader. Or you can send me an email with your email. Thanks for reading!

God VS Science

It's very long-winded, but I sure like what it says. It makes me think of the line from The Santa Clause with Tim Allen. The son says, "Have you ever seen a million dollars?" To which is answered, "No, I haven't". The boy replies, "Just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it doesn't exsist."

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A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to thestudents, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." Theatheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asksone of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for amoment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over hereand you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would youtry?";

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if youcould.Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't,does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though heprayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can youanswer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of waterfrom a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evilin this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God createdeverything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according tothe principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality?Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats hisquestion. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly thelecturer breaks away to face in front of the classroom. The class ismesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do youbelieve in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you useto identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled yourJesus?Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God forthat matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem sciencehas with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question ofhis own. "Professor, is there such a thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There' s heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. Theroom suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You canhave lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimitedheat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anythingcalled 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is noheat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thingas cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmitsenergy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmitenergy.Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir,cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannotmeasure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy.Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if itisn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absenceof something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light,flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothingand it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to definethe word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to makedarkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. Thiswill be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed tostart with, and so your conclu sion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Canyou explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains."You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a badGod. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, somethingwe can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much lessfully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolvedfrom a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man,yes, of co urse I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizeswhere the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work andcannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are younot teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but apreacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotionhas subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student,let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class whohas ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the pro fessor's brain, feltthe professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No oneappears to have done so. So, according to the established rules ofempirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you haveno brain - with all due respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures,sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, hisface unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guessyou'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists withlife," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see iteveryday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It isin the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. Thesemanifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least itdoes not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It isjust like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describethe absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of whathappens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It'slike the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

Two 1-year old Birthdays

Happy 1st Birthday to Carter Dizon! The kids enjoyed an indoor bouncy house and helping Carter open his gifts. Happy 1st Birthday to Karlie Rocha! There were lots of activities to keep the kids entertained. Big plastic ball they could roll around in, swingset, clubhouse with TV, seesaw, putting green, beanbag toss, and more!It's been a long, no napped day, but lots of fun and we were able to play catch up with a few friends. I want to take a trip the Amazon now. The first party was jungle themed and the second was a monkey party. Oooh oooh oohhh ahhh aahh!

Just For This Afternoon

In light of my last posting about "special times" with my children, I decided to do just that with Shyla. She's been feeling the jealousy bug quite strongly recently so it seemed a good time to start.

"Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them."

I am SO GUILTY of doing this. I'm infamous for standing over Shyla while we bake something in an effort to not have the kitchen get too messy. While I wasn't able to take on the task of having her help me bake cookies (as Jacob has developed quite the attachment issue), I did let her make her own PJ and J. I've let her do it before, but I'm always sticking my hands in trying to help and not let her make a mess. Today, other than holding the jelly jar because she said it was too heavy and invading her bubble of space to take pictures... I stayed out of the way. I just enjoyed the moment and let her make a mess. I congratulated her as she made progress and she was all too happy to eat the finished project. I tried really hard to let the smeared goo, crumbs on the floor, and a now very sticky jelly jar not bother me. It felt really good to just let her be her.

To all you moms out there... try this once in a while. I found it rather refreshing if only for a few minutes to enjoy my daughter througholy enjoying herself. It was over too fast though as her brother entered the picture. The image of her having F-U-N will stay with me forever!

To My Children

I received this as an email forward a long time ago, but the time seems fitting for me to blog about it now. I've been having a really hard time lately transitioning from having a job and going to school every day to staying home and taking care of the house and kids. I absolutely love it and wouldn't change anything. I know there are going to be trying times as a parent, but that doesn't mean it's always going to be easy. Regardless of what anyone else has gone through, what advice may be given, or what mistakes are made, we all have had, and will continue to have tough times during parenting.

After having a second child 8 short months ago, I've really had these thoughts on my mind. As our sons and daughters become adults, let's remember and continue with the "special" times. I hope that my kids will always love me for the love I've given and mistakes I've made while they were growing up.

********************************************************

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry,
and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink,
and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off,
and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck,
and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up,
or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies,
and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal,
so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms,
and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub,
and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late
while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours,
and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray,
I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.

Happy Birthday Mom and Joe (and Shyla, again!)

It's that time of year again! Every year during this weekend we go to Los Banos to celebrate the "February birthdays". There are usually 3 birthdays to celebrate and they are all on February 5th (different years of course). My mom, the husband of my parents best friends, and Sunny a dear family friend who turned 104 last February. This year though Sunny was not there to celebrate. She passed away in July of 2009. I miss her a lot! But it was her time to go. There were 11 of us there. My grandma makes the best yummy, moist cakes. She typically makes 2 of them. This year, since Sunny wasn't able to be with us, my grandma wanted to make a cake for Shyla's birthday. Any reason for a celebration! Shyla loved having us sing to her. It's the little things in life!

Different as Night and Day

You always know in the back of your mind that your second child is going to probably be nothing like your first. As much as I knew this, it still came as a big surprise to me. My two kids are as different as night and day on everything so far, down to the really small things. Here are some of them. Yes, this is only some of them!

Shyla always liked her bottles/food warm.
Jacob temperature doesn't matter.

Shyla loves to swing.
Jacob doesn't.

Shyla liked to be held up on the shoulder all the time.
Jacob likes to be cradled.

Shyla at bedtime/naptime wanted to be put in her crib while still awake to go to sleep on her own. She would wake up and play with the crib toys for about an hour (sometimes more, sometimes less) before wanting to get out of the crib.
Jacob at bedtime/naptime wants to be held until he's asleep, or at least REALLY sleepy. He won't play in his crib. He wants out as soon as he wakes up.

Shyla wanted/wants to stay up late and then sleep in.
Jacob wants to go to bed early and wake up at 7am (regardless of what time he went to sleep).

Shyla is VERY independent.
Jacob is quite the opposite. He recently started clinging to me whenever I put him in his crib or carseat.

Shyla's teeth came in early, fast, and didn't bother her much (except her top 4 front teeth that all tried to come in at the same time).
Jacob's teeth are coming in slow (actually they are probably coming in at the normal time but it seems slow compared to Shyla), one at a time, he gets really cranky and wants to be held (more than usual if that's possible), always wants a bottle, and will wake up during the night.

Shyla talked/babbled a LOT.
Jacob not so much. He's 8 months now and is fairly quiet most of the day/week/month.

Shyla was a skinny minny.
Jacob is a little chubbier.

Shyla wasn't a cuddler.
Jacob is ALWAYS ready and wanting to cuddle.

Hansen Park (Lots o' Pics)

It was beautiful weather today and I just couldn't justify staying in the house. We packed up the car, took lunch to Jake at a house he was working at in Oakley, and came back to Antioch to go a park near our house. I love this park because it's in a safe area, it's not too busy (though sometimes I wish there were more kids/parents there), and it doesn't have sand/tanbark stuff to get everything messy. There is a sandbox there to play in but the rest of the play area is bouncy ground type of ground. Shyla absolutely LOVES swings! She has since the very first time she sat in one. She loved to sit and swing in her baby swing for HOURS as a baby and even enjoyed it when we'd swing her doorway jumper! She definitely has a great fondness for swings. Maybe it's the feeling of the wind in her hair, haha! Slides come in a close second for her. She likes to climb up them. Climb down them. Go on them by herself or with someone else. Anyone really who will play with her on the slides she'll play with. I went down the twirly one with her today and it was fun. EXCEPT for the fact that I just don't slide as fast as I used to. Although I can still remember going down them as a child! I did used to go faster. Jacob didn't like the swing, but he did enjoy crawling on the ground where some sand was that got misplaced from kids taking it out of the sand area. It was very comforting to see my baby so happy. While he was loving the sand and leaves on the ground I could hear Shyla laughing on the slide. I enjoyed being able to take my kids out to play at the park. It's a blessing that in other countries may never be possible. I'm so blessed to be able to provide happiness and growth for my children. I tried to get some shots in of the kids in the grass, but as you can see Jacob didn't want to cooperate. Shyla tried hard to get him to sit and smile. Again, I need another hand while I'm taking pictures. One of these days it'll happen and I'm sure to get awesome photos!

Secret Sister

For Valentine's Day, my Relief Society is doing Secret Sister. It's like Secret Santa, but with the sister's in the ward. There is one gift per week and I got my first one! Cookies and oranges, yum! I got a juicer for Christmas so I best be getting to work making some homemade OJ.