Apr 30, 2009

Why does our government insist on inciting panic?











By April 28, the new strain was confirmed to have spread to Spain, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Israel, and the virus was suspected in many other nations, with a total of over 3,000 candidate cases, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to change its pandemic alert phase to "Phase 5", which denotes "widespread human infection". Despite the scale of the alert, the WHO stated on April 29 that the majority of people infected with the virus have made a full recovery without need of medical attention or antiviral drugs.



We find it interesting how and why our government and socialist news networks love to instill fear into the masses for virtually every issue relating to life in our country. From violent crime like murder (last year 0.00005316% of the population of this country). How the economy is crashing and we're going to be knocked back to the third world if we don't allow the government to spend HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of dollars before we have a chance to think it through and come to our senses, or allow enough time for our elected officials to ever READ IT!!! Or how we're all going to get kidnapped and killed by drug cartels in Mexico, or how our children and even adults will all die if we don't get our DTAP vaccine, NOT once, not twice, not even FIVE times, but ongoing for the rest of our lives, up to over TEN doses! They love to create panic. And what better sales pitch then to tell you YOU'RE GOING TO DIE! But before we all freak out, board up our houses, let's stop and analyze what's going on here. We are not really "panicked" by nature, but perhaps our government and news on the most benign side ARE, and on the most sinister side are quite evil and manipulative, not making any accusations, just wondering, are they evil or stupid? Now, not to say that any of these issues aren't serious, or potentially serious, but do we really want people running the show that are either Pansie scare'dy cats or are evil manipulators? So, what's all the Hype?

On February 5, 1976, an army recruit at Fort Dix said he felt tired and weak. He died the next day and four of his fellow soldiers were later hospitalized. Two weeks after his death, health officials announced that swine flu was the cause of death and that this strain of flu appeared to be closely related to the strain involved in the 1918 flu pandemic. Alarmed public-health officials decided that action must be taken to head off another major pandemic, and they urged President Gerald Ford that every person in the U.S. be vaccinated for the disease. The vaccination program was plagued by delays and public relations problems, but about 24% of the population had been vaccinated by the time the program was canceled. Only one person, the Fort Dix army recruit, died from the flu, more people died from the vaccine that was issued then the flu. About 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, resulting in death from severe pulmonary complications for more than 25 people, were probably caused by an immunopathological reaction to the 1976 vaccine.

So to recap: Swine flu in 1976 claimed ONE life, and the Vaccine Killed more than 25 known and paralyzed at least 500!



We refuse to panic, but we also refuse to dismiss the potential seriousness of this strain of flu out of hand. So we will take the appropriate precautions...just as you should regardless if there is a "pandemic". Wash your hands, eat healthy, get enough sleep, exercise!



Other links to read if you are so scared like the media is making you feel:



http://drtenpenny.com/swine_flu.aspx



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518266,00.html

Apr 28, 2009

We are moving....

Sorry for the lack of updates and pictures. 
We are in the process of moving will update soon with pictures!  

2 Month Check-Up

Dr. Andersen said that Owen looked "PERFECT"

2 months stats: 
17.2 pounds
24 1/4 inches long



Apr 25, 2009

Rain Rain Go Away!

Rain Rain Go Away.
We had a beautiful week with temperatures in the 70s to 80s.
Now our weekend forecast and much of the week ahead is
RAIN!

So we say......


and Daddy & Mommy have to pack and move!

Apr 24, 2009

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

We took the boys to their very first baseball game. Jacob loves baseball and enjoyed watching the game, and of course eating a hot dog and popcorn.
Daddy and Jacob at the game.
Mommy & Owen
Iowa Cubs vs. Albuquerque Isotopes
Jacob LOVES baseball. Go Cubbies

Apr 23, 2009

Owen is 2 months!


Two months already!
Where is time going?
Please slow down and be our tiny baby longer!
We are enjoying every minute

At two months Owen is smiling, cooing and he is starting to reach for dangling toys.
He recognizes Mommy, Daddy & Jacob's voice.
He is a very good sleeper. Usually sleeps for 4 to 5 hour stretch at night.
When he is not sleeping, he just kicks his legs and swings his arms.
Owen also enjoys tummy time. We think he may crawl early. He tries so hard when on his tummy to get to things.
He enjoys bath time.
Owen is continuing to be a very good eater, and nursing is going well for Mommy and him.
He loves getting kisses. Good thing, because he gets A LOT of them.

Owen is smiling more and more everyday. He is smiling now in response to your voice.
Big brother enertains Owen. Owen will watch Jacob play, and run in circles. Jacob is very interseted in wanting to share with Owen but only certain toys. He even reads his "Read Along Book" to Owen. (Thanks Browns).
These are a few of his favorite things!
He loves his swing (Thanks Aunt Chandell & Uncle Brent).
His favorite toy is his lion (Thanks Tammy, Curtis, & boys).
He loves his mobile in his bed (thanks Grammy & Pappy).
He also has certain jammies and a blanket he prefers.

He gets to go to his first baseball game at 2months.

Next week is Owen's 2 month check up with Dr. Andersen.

Apr 20, 2009

Brothers....


*Saturday 4.18.09
At first Jacob did not want for Owen to sit in his chair. Then he didn't want Owen to leave as he wanted him to play.

*Sunday 4.19.09
Jacob was saying Mommy Owen is crying, like this...ahhhhhh :)

Apr 19, 2009

How we got $157 worth of FREE diapers and wipes!


Melinda has become pretty addicted to cutting coupons and saving money for our family. As you can tell in the picture we recently stocked up majorly on diapers and wipes.

Diapers: We purchased 10 packs of Huggies Supereme Gentle Care Size 2 diapers (40 count) at Walmart.
Each pack was: $9.72
Subtract $5.00 (Huggies Coupon)
Makes each pack $4.72
10 packs of diapers for $ 47.20 making each diaper cost less than 11 cents! Great deal because before the coupon each diaper cost about 24 cents!

Wipes: We purchased 18 packs of Huggies Supereme Gentle Care Wipes (180 count) at Target. The wipes were on sale!
Each pack was: $5.49 (normally $5.99)
Subtract: $ 5.00 (Huggies Coupon)
Makes Each Pack: .49 cents!
18 packs of wipes for $ 8.82 making each wipe costing less than .002 cents. S0 not even a penny a wipe! A wonderful deal because before the coupon each wipe cost 3 cents.

The last great deal, also in picture..Huggies Supereme Gentle Care Wipes (320 count) purchase on sale at Target.
Pack was: $ 8.99 (normally $10.99)
Subtract: $5.00 (Huggies Coupon)
Subtract: $ 1.00 (Target Coupon)
Makes pack: $2.99
So one pack of Huggies Refill Wipes (320 count) at $2.99 makes each wipe cost less than .009 cents....again not even a penny per wipe!
So for 10 packs of diapers, 18 packs of 3 refills, and 1 pack of 5 refills ....
Should have been: $216.01.....Our Final Cost: $59.01

Savings of $157.00
UPDATE: There have been questions as to where did we find the coupon. It was on coupons.com a few weeks ago you could print it off multiple times from each computer, and Melinda's Mom and sister sent us the coupons that they would not us as well.

Apr 17, 2009

A 5k as a family......

On May 2nd, we are participating in a 5k for March of Dimes, which is an organization for premature babies. The money raised supports programs in our community that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. It also funds research to find answers to the serious problems that threaten babies that are born too early.

We are very excited to do this as a family for a very worthy cause.

Apr 16, 2009

Mommy Won!

Yeah, Mommy won a gift card to her favorite store.
TARGET
Wonder what she will buy?
Probably stuff for the boys, or stuff for the new house!

Apr 14, 2009

We are MOVING!

Extra! Extra!
Read all about it!

We are MOVING out of the city........

May 1st we will be moving to Collins Iowa. Its about thirty miles north east of Des Moines.
Collins is a very small town. We are very excited to be back in a rural area.

Its a 3 bedroom, 2 bath with kitchen, dining room, livingroom, den, and basement.
Check out the new house.

Front of the house
Back of the house. Melinda is really excited to have a big back yard. She is anxious to get a small garden out, and plant flowers out front.

Kitchen

Livingroom, with the staircase leading to the upstairs with 3 bedrooms and a bathroom.

Apr 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Grandpa.

Today would have been Melinda's Grandpa Glenn 76th birthday.
He went home to be with Jesus almost 2 years ago.

*Picture: October 2006 This was the first and last time that Grandpa got to meet his great-grandson. Wish he could have met Owen ;(

Happy Birthday Grandpa!
We love and miss you.

Happy 7 weeks Owen!

Mommy and Owen
Owen at 7 weeks!
Thank you Grammy & Pap for the Easter shirt.

Apr 12, 2009

Brothers....

Jacob and Owen
There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother.
Jacob loves his little brother!

Jacob and Owen...

HAPPY EASTER


Happy Easter!

Apr 10, 2009

Jacob...

Daddy & Mommy love you...
when you give us hugs
when you give us kisses
when you giggle hysterically
want to just be in your diaper
when you say 'yucky'
even though you chuck big fits sometimes
when you call me 'momma' and you say Daddy
when you snuggle
even though you want to eat CANDY all day long
when you dance
even though you pick your nose
when you play ball
when you line all your cars or toys in a line
when you help pick up your toys
even when you wake up in the middle of the night because you're sick
when you sing 'Wheels on the bus' and 'Super Why' theme song
when you help Mommy unload the dishwasher
even when your stinky
when you want to rub lotion on yourself (and try to eat it)
when you give your baby brother kisses
even when sometimes the kisses are a little too rough on little Owen
when you try to help take care of Owen when he's crying
even when you shove his pacifier so hard on his face.
when you quote lines from the cartoons...
and we love when you tell us..
I love you Daddy...and I love you Momma!

We love you bubby!



Apr 8, 2009

Last Easter

This was Jacob last Easter! My how the time flies! He looks so grown up now!

Apr 6, 2009

Apr 5, 2009

Happy Birthday Daddy!


When we married, I saw you as perfect,
The ideal husband and more;
I thought I knew all about you,
All the things to love and adore.




But when you became a father,
I saw new qualities to treasure.
You enrich all our lives in fresh ways;
As a dad, you bring so much pleasure.




Our boys are forever blessed
To have a father like you,
And I love you more than ever,
You’re the best man I ever knew.

Happy Birthday Andrew.
We love you!