Thursday, January 31, 2008
Update on Abby
Sadly, I don't have anything to report in terms of improvement, because really there hasn't been any. We get little flashes of hope now and then--"She actually ate an entire breakfast!" or "Her fever stayed down 4 hours after her Tylenol wore off!"--but she always goes back to her miserable, fevery, coughy sleeping-on-mommy self. Today was day 9. We've done a chest x-ray, a blood draw, and a urinalysis so far to determine the cause; at this point the x-ray and a couple blood tests are the only things that have come back, and they've all been negative, which is good since they would have shown scary things. The doctor really thinks it's just a horrific influenza, and said the fever could last 10 days. If that's the case, we should see some significant improvement by the weekend. We should also get the results of most of the other tests tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
FotF revisited
Focus on the Family finally added Ron Paul to their list of candidates. Thanks to those of you who brought their error to their attention!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Fever, I curse thee!
Abby is one sick little girl. I feel so bad for her! Today is day five of this awful fever that simply won't stop. Actually, I take that back--it does stop now and then; last night she was totally fever-free--but it always comes back. She woke up fine, but now, two hours later, is asleep on the couch and her temperature is 103.9.
Fevers are one of those things that really freak me out. I think because of all the books I've read set back in the 1800's when people died from them (supposedly) or became blind or deaf. Like Mary in the Little House on the Prairie books. But my head knows that it's not the fever that's to blame, it's whatever infection is in there that, back then, they didn't know about and couldn't see. All they saw was the fever, so that's what got blamed.
I have this awesome book called, "Raising a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor." The fever chapter is so interesting. Apparently the body will not allow its temperature to reach 106 if the cause is an infection or something viral. It will always cycle itself down. And under 106 fevers don't do damage--it's the ones above that which are caused by things like poisoning or heatstroke that can actually harm you. And, of course, it talks about how the fever is your body's way of killing off whatever you're sick with, so trying to reduce the fever just suppresses your immune system and keeps you sicker longer.
So I've been pretty good about resisting the urge to pump her with Tylenol or sponge her down, though I have caved a couple times. Yesterday she stopped eating or drinking, and that really worried me, so we gave her some Tylenol and she perked up in, like, ten minutes! I got some food in her, and a bunch of water, before her fever went up again and she was back to being miserable. Hopefully she won't do that to me again today. I can handle the fever; I can't handle the thought of her getting dehydrated.
So it looks like my birthday will be spent in the same manner as the last three days have been: on the couch with a hot little body curled up on my lap, or else wandering around the backyard with her in my arms. (every once in a while she'll say, "Outside!" I feel like we should have her in a robe on a deck chair with a quilt tucked around her legs. The Morrow Convalescent Home.) I'm going to need some serious chiropractic care after all this is over. And a massage. Mmmmm, massage...
Fevers are one of those things that really freak me out. I think because of all the books I've read set back in the 1800's when people died from them (supposedly) or became blind or deaf. Like Mary in the Little House on the Prairie books. But my head knows that it's not the fever that's to blame, it's whatever infection is in there that, back then, they didn't know about and couldn't see. All they saw was the fever, so that's what got blamed.
I have this awesome book called, "Raising a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor." The fever chapter is so interesting. Apparently the body will not allow its temperature to reach 106 if the cause is an infection or something viral. It will always cycle itself down. And under 106 fevers don't do damage--it's the ones above that which are caused by things like poisoning or heatstroke that can actually harm you. And, of course, it talks about how the fever is your body's way of killing off whatever you're sick with, so trying to reduce the fever just suppresses your immune system and keeps you sicker longer.
So I've been pretty good about resisting the urge to pump her with Tylenol or sponge her down, though I have caved a couple times. Yesterday she stopped eating or drinking, and that really worried me, so we gave her some Tylenol and she perked up in, like, ten minutes! I got some food in her, and a bunch of water, before her fever went up again and she was back to being miserable. Hopefully she won't do that to me again today. I can handle the fever; I can't handle the thought of her getting dehydrated.
So it looks like my birthday will be spent in the same manner as the last three days have been: on the couch with a hot little body curled up on my lap, or else wandering around the backyard with her in my arms. (every once in a while she'll say, "Outside!" I feel like we should have her in a robe on a deck chair with a quilt tucked around her legs. The Morrow Convalescent Home.) I'm going to need some serious chiropractic care after all this is over. And a massage. Mmmmm, massage...
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Shame on you, Focus on the Family!
There's no love lost between me and FotF, but had I been a supporter I would have withdrawn it over this. I (naively, I know) expect organizations like theirs to give us the side of the story that the mainstream media buries, but in this case they're just as bad. Check out their presidential candidate page and ask yourself who's missing. Is it "I don't salute the flag" Obama? Is it pro-abortion Clinton? No, it's pro-life, pro-family, pro-America, Christian Ron Paul. One of the few candidates who is most in line with FotF's beliefs, and he's not included.
I've no doubt they'd sound the battle cry and call for a boycott were Huckabee excluded from a secular voter's guide--but apparently they have no problem engaging in such deceitful behavior themselves. So sad.
I've no doubt they'd sound the battle cry and call for a boycott were Huckabee excluded from a secular voter's guide--but apparently they have no problem engaging in such deceitful behavior themselves. So sad.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Congratulations, baby!
Dan's blog was listed today as one of Wordpress's top 5 fastest growing blogs! Have you checked it out yet? He's got some fascinating stuff on there. If you're looking for something that will keep you up at night, check out his videos page--the documentaries there will get your mind spinning. And if you are one of the drifting Fred Thompson supporters, check out his post on the similarities between Fred and Ron Paul--you may just find yourself with a new candidate to support.
Fallen by Matthew Raley
This week's CFBA offering is Fallen by Matthew Raley.
Matthew Raley is senior pastor of the Orland Evangelical Free Church in northern California, where he lives with his wife and two young children. For fun, he enjoys playing chamber music with friends, giving occasional solo recitals, and playing first violin in the North State Symphony. This is his first book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Jim was at work when his eyes drifted to the coffee shop visible from his office window. An attractive woman driving a Mercedes pulled up to the curb . . . and Jim’s married pastor emerged from the car. When Jim delves deeper into his pastor’s world, will he be able to handle what he discovers? Is he right to suspect that Dave is having an affair? In the behind-the-scenes church battle that ensues, Jim is torn between duty to his church and a desire to show grace. A ripped-from-the-headlines drama of suspense that keeps you engaged to the last page.
Fallen is the story about Jim’s relationship with Dave—how Jim tries to do the right thing to keep Dave accountable, but finds the situation getting worse and worse. It’s also about Jim’s other relationships. Just as he discovers hypocrisy in Dave, Jim discovers his own sins against his wife and daughter.
Matthew Raley is senior pastor of the Orland Evangelical Free Church in northern California, where he lives with his wife and two young children. For fun, he enjoys playing chamber music with friends, giving occasional solo recitals, and playing first violin in the North State Symphony. This is his first book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Jim was at work when his eyes drifted to the coffee shop visible from his office window. An attractive woman driving a Mercedes pulled up to the curb . . . and Jim’s married pastor emerged from the car. When Jim delves deeper into his pastor’s world, will he be able to handle what he discovers? Is he right to suspect that Dave is having an affair? In the behind-the-scenes church battle that ensues, Jim is torn between duty to his church and a desire to show grace. A ripped-from-the-headlines drama of suspense that keeps you engaged to the last page.
Fallen is the story about Jim’s relationship with Dave—how Jim tries to do the right thing to keep Dave accountable, but finds the situation getting worse and worse. It’s also about Jim’s other relationships. Just as he discovers hypocrisy in Dave, Jim discovers his own sins against his wife and daughter.
spoke too soon
fever's back. 104.0. man, whatever this bug is, it sucks. i don't like it when my baby's burning up. :(
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Blast from the past
Last week one of my best friends from high school came to visit with her hubby and kids. Meg and I have kept up via email since going our separate ways after graduation. I sang at her wedding back in 2000, but have only seen her once since then, back in '01. So having her show up at my door with adorable Lucy (3yo) and precious Eddie (almost 2!) and her fun hubby Joel was a HUGE treat.
They were escaping the Minnesota tundra, and thankfully the rain we're having this week held off and allowed us a great day at the beach, the San Diego Zoo, and LegoLand. We played the Wii one night after the kids hit the sheets, and Meg and I got to compare parenting notes and talk books and writing and heaven only knows what else. And, bless their hearts, they withstood our zealous political rantings and even managed to appear interested at times. THAT is a good friend, I tell you what.
I think the best part for me, though, was seeing Abby make an honest-to-goodness friend. Well, two of them, really. I've never seen her play with other kids the way she played with Lu and Ed. I have to admit her introversion makes me sad sometimes, but it was so encouraging to see that she could indeed connect with other kids and have a good time--and be so into playing with them that she didn't mind when I left her in the care of Meg and Joel so I could take a shower. Typically she'd be in the bathroom with me and would freak out if I tried to leave her like that. But no, she happily ran around with them--and even TALKED to Joel a few times. Talk about personal growth! 'Course it's just our luck that she'd click with kids she probably won't see for years. *sigh* At least I know it *can* happen.
It's amazing to me that after so many years you can still click with someone. And man, thank you Lord for the Internet--instead of spending a week catching up on what our lives have been like for the last 7 years, we were able to just hang out and enjoy each other's company.
But now they're back to their St. Paul home, torn up as it is from renovations, and we're battling some wacky cough and fever combo that had Abby burning up at 105.8 yesterday afternoon. Thankfully she's doing much better now, even without Tylenol, and her appetite seems to have returned as she has just polished off a ton of sweet potato. Not my idea of comfort food, but hey, whatever floats your boat, right?
They were escaping the Minnesota tundra, and thankfully the rain we're having this week held off and allowed us a great day at the beach, the San Diego Zoo, and LegoLand. We played the Wii one night after the kids hit the sheets, and Meg and I got to compare parenting notes and talk books and writing and heaven only knows what else. And, bless their hearts, they withstood our zealous political rantings and even managed to appear interested at times. THAT is a good friend, I tell you what.
I think the best part for me, though, was seeing Abby make an honest-to-goodness friend. Well, two of them, really. I've never seen her play with other kids the way she played with Lu and Ed. I have to admit her introversion makes me sad sometimes, but it was so encouraging to see that she could indeed connect with other kids and have a good time--and be so into playing with them that she didn't mind when I left her in the care of Meg and Joel so I could take a shower. Typically she'd be in the bathroom with me and would freak out if I tried to leave her like that. But no, she happily ran around with them--and even TALKED to Joel a few times. Talk about personal growth! 'Course it's just our luck that she'd click with kids she probably won't see for years. *sigh* At least I know it *can* happen.
It's amazing to me that after so many years you can still click with someone. And man, thank you Lord for the Internet--instead of spending a week catching up on what our lives have been like for the last 7 years, we were able to just hang out and enjoy each other's company.
But now they're back to their St. Paul home, torn up as it is from renovations, and we're battling some wacky cough and fever combo that had Abby burning up at 105.8 yesterday afternoon. Thankfully she's doing much better now, even without Tylenol, and her appetite seems to have returned as she has just polished off a ton of sweet potato. Not my idea of comfort food, but hey, whatever floats your boat, right?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Well that's scary.
H.R. 393: Universal National Service Act of 2007
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-393
"To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the favorable treatment afforded combat pay under the earned income tax credit, and for other purposes."
This bill was proposed to the House of Representatives this week. Feel like joining the army?
Yet another reason I'm voting for Ron Paul.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-393
"To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the favorable treatment afforded combat pay under the earned income tax credit, and for other purposes."
This bill was proposed to the House of Representatives this week. Feel like joining the army?
Yet another reason I'm voting for Ron Paul.
Christian Writers Market Guide by Sally Stuart
I've really been slacking on posting reviews for the CFBA. No excuse other than laziness, and for that I apologize. Anyway, this week's offering is the Christian Writers Market Guide. For those of you who are trying to break into the Christian writing market, this book is an invaluable resource. Check it out!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sally Stuart has been writing for the last 40+ years, and has been putting out the annual "Christian Writers' Market Guide" for the last 23 years. Her other writing includes several Christian education resources books, a children's picture book, a basic writing text, writing resources, and a western novel--plus hundreds of articles and marketing columns. She writes marketing columns for the "Christian Communicator," "Advanced Christian Writer," and the Oregon Christian Writers' Newsletter. She speaks and teaches at Christian Writers' Conferences nationwide. Sally is the mother of 3 and grandmother of 8. She and her husband, Norm, spend their free time vacationing on the Oregon coast.
Check out her blog!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The essential reference tool for the Christian writer, Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide is now in its 23rd annual edition!
Check out the section on Blogging on page 69...the CFBA is listed!
Writers’ Conference listings, Book Publishers, Magazine Publishers, and a Bookstore filled with the resources you need to be successful in this business. Get a Book Contract or Manuscript Evaluation, and check out the Writer’s Resource links. This book has all you need to connect to all these valuable helps for the beginning, intermediate, or professional writer.
To keep you up to date with the latest marketing news, visit Sally Stuart’s new marketing blog, Christian Writers’ Marketplace, at http://www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com/.
A new, updated version of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide is available about January 15 each year.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sally Stuart has been writing for the last 40+ years, and has been putting out the annual "Christian Writers' Market Guide" for the last 23 years. Her other writing includes several Christian education resources books, a children's picture book, a basic writing text, writing resources, and a western novel--plus hundreds of articles and marketing columns. She writes marketing columns for the "Christian Communicator," "Advanced Christian Writer," and the Oregon Christian Writers' Newsletter. She speaks and teaches at Christian Writers' Conferences nationwide. Sally is the mother of 3 and grandmother of 8. She and her husband, Norm, spend their free time vacationing on the Oregon coast.
Check out her blog!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The essential reference tool for the Christian writer, Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide is now in its 23rd annual edition!
Check out the section on Blogging on page 69...the CFBA is listed!
Writers’ Conference listings, Book Publishers, Magazine Publishers, and a Bookstore filled with the resources you need to be successful in this business. Get a Book Contract or Manuscript Evaluation, and check out the Writer’s Resource links. This book has all you need to connect to all these valuable helps for the beginning, intermediate, or professional writer.
To keep you up to date with the latest marketing news, visit Sally Stuart’s new marketing blog, Christian Writers’ Marketplace, at http://www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com/.
A new, updated version of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide is available about January 15 each year.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Not at all surprised
I found out something new about Ron Paul: he's a Christian! When I found the link to his statement of faith, my emotion was akin to learning that the guy you have a crush on has a crush on you too. I also felt vindicated, in a way--I was following my heart and my head and not jumping on the Huckabee bandwagon simply because of his faith, and lo and behold Dr. Paul's a Christian, too. Like I was being rewarded for having faith in him or something. Silly, I know, and totally not true, but that's just how it felt.
They're planning another online donation bomb on MLK Jr. Day for Ron Paul. If you haven't yet checked out his site and read up on his politics, I urge you to do it before that date so that you can donate to the war chest along with the rest of us if you decide to support him.
They're planning another online donation bomb on MLK Jr. Day for Ron Paul. If you haven't yet checked out his site and read up on his politics, I urge you to do it before that date so that you can donate to the war chest along with the rest of us if you decide to support him.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Check out the Morrow Baby Prediction Contest!
I did this when I was pregnant with Abby and it was fun seeing what everyone predicted. So we're gonna do it again! Head on over to my pregnancy blog and check out what the old wives' tales say we're having. There are prizes to be won! I'll stop taking entries on March 4, which is two weeks before my due date.
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