Pee pee in the potty!!

I would just like to write a quick note to mark this momentous occasion. Jack went pee in the potty! We got him some Elmo big-boy underwear and put them on him after we got back from the beach today and, I might add, after he had already peed on the rug upstairs. About 20 minutes later, I asked him if he had to go pee, and he said yes. Glenn put him on the potty, and the rest is history. Yay, Jack! I will be so ecstatic to not have to buy diapers anymore, at least, and then to not have to constantly clean up his messies.

July 4th

Hey everyone, I know I don't post here very often, but I had some things to say, and I don't have my own blog.

Today is Friday, July 3rd, the day before what should be the most celebrated holiday on the calander for every American. However, I have really heard very little about it this year. I have become concerned in the past couple years about my country. Not about the economy, not about the jobless numbers, not even about N. Korea or Iran. I am concerned about the lack of patriotism in America today.

I remember growing up, July 4th, it was a lesson in patriotism from my father, and the fireworks. I never had a doubt that my father was proud of his country, even after coming home from Vietnam to the rediculous "welcome" our wonderful American people gave him (being spit on, called a baby killer, etc...) my father never lost his pride in his country. From a very early age, both my parents instilled in me a great sence of pride in America. Now, I see kids (early 20's) who think that the Canadian health care system is better then the greatest healthcare system in the world. I see people who think France and Germany's social programs are "the way it should be". When did this happen? The only thing I can think is that as parents, we are not doing enough to instill the values of patriotism into our children.

Tomorrow, I will be taking my children to the fireworks. But I will ensure they know why we are celebrating. Great men fought and shed blood for this great country. The least we can do is pass it on to our children.

Glenn Sinclair

NO MORE!!!

For at least 6 months now, our now 2-year-old, Jack, has been taking off his diapers quite often. At first, it seemed like he was just doing it because he could, but I have reached the point where I simply will go crazy if I have to clean up any more poop or pee. I tried putting them on backwards, using Pull-Ups, putting onesies or one-piece pajamas on him (which was really the only thing that worked, but it is currently way too hot to put those PJs on him). This morning, he had taken off his poopy diaper when he woke up and then sat on his brother's bed. After I put him to bed this evening, he took it upon himself to take his diaper off before he went to sleep, and when I went to check on him, his sheet was soaked. NO MORE, I say. NO MORE. I think we are going to try with him what we did with older brother Jeff. When we potty-trained Jeff, we just threw some underwear on him and took away the diapers. After a few accidents, he got the hang of it after just a few days. It sure beat putting him in Pull-Ups for several months beforehand, which didn't do a thing. I figure it can't hurt to start the potty training process, since I am always cleaning up after him anyhow. He might as well be learning something as long as I have to clean up his "messes."

Losing a child

Last week, my husband came home from work and told me something devastating. A Marine he worked with in San Diego (and whom I had met at the squadron Christmas party along with her two little girls) was set to be stationed here in Pensacola. The Marine, Delia, was on leave visiting family in the Midwest and was going to be headed down here when she was in a tragic car accident. She was in the car with her two young daughters, ages 2 and 4. Delia was critically hurt, and her sweet 4 year old daughter was killed. The 2-year-old was, thankfully, okay. I was jolted and heartbroken to hear this news. All I could do was pray and pray for Delia and her family. I also couldn't help thinking that for the most part I knew what they were feeling, and I also wished that there was some way I could take the suffering of losing a child away from them, though I knew I couldn't. In a way, I sit here and think to myself "I just can't imagine," but I can. I guess I can't imagine such an unexpected and violent loss. With Glennie, we knew his passing would be coming. That doesn't make it any easier to deal with, but I guess it's the shock value that gets to me. Our shock came more when Glennie was diagnosed, and it had time to dissipate a little before he passed. Still, losing a child is losing a child, whether you see it coming or it comes suddenly and shockingly. Either way it happens, God has a plan for it and plans to use it for good, whether we realize it or not. I am thankful to know this, and I pray that others who lose people they love will know this, too. Whenever I hear of tragedies like this, whether it be somebody you worked with or Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett, I pray fervently that the families of the deceased will turn to God in their sorrow and not away.

It Has Been A While

It has been quite a while since my last blog, almost a month. We have been quite busy in that time. We left San Diego to move to Florida on June 9th. We drove down here in separate cars; me with little Jack in my van, and Glenn with Jeff. The trip went pretty smoothly, and I only got lost once. That was in downtown Baton Rouge. It was nighttime, and I had just gotten stopped by the police for tailgating Glenn. I was following so closely so that I didn't lose him. The cop let me off easy with a warning, and from then on I was terrified of getting stopped again, so I kept my distance. That was where we got separated. Glenn called me to tell me to get over to the right to stay on I-10, but by then it was too late. Off I went into downtown in the dark of the late night. After a few failed attempts at getting back on the freeway, I parked in a school parking lot and told Glenn to turn around and come get me. Fun times.

We are still settling into our little rental condo and will be moving soon anyway. We had planned to buy a house, but since that didn't pan out we are now either moving into base housing or renting another place. We are looking forward to a few changes in the next few months, one of those being the move. I am also looking for another job and hopefully will be working from home again soon. We are also set to send Jeff to preschool in August! I am very excited and also nervous. I know I will be more sad than he will on that first day of school. I am excited because I know he will LOVE school. He adores going to Sunday School at church and interacting with other kids and being in the school environment. Ah, our first experience with sending a child to school.

I just had to post to let anyone who reads this know that I am back to blogging!

Late at night

You know, I always feel a little guilty for staying up late at night. On one hand, it is a time where my husband and I can have some down time after the boys go to bed. On the other hand, we stay up so late! I have always been a nighthawk anyway, so I don't know what to think about this.

Tonight while tooling around on my blog, I have seen things that remind me of Glennie, and remind me of disease and pain and strength and courage. Take Jonah Williams. Jonah is a 3-month-old baby boy with Epidermolysis Bullosa. EB is an extremely rare genetic condition where pressure on the skin causes painful blisters and other problems. You can read about Jonah by clicking on the "Pray for Jonah" button on my sidebar. Many babies with this disease don't make it past one year. Jonah is a beautiful boy, with big blue eyes that remind me a little of Glennie's. Lately I have been drawn to stories of children with serious illnesses. I'm not sure why; I guess I want so much to help in some way. It's amazing to me to see such fragile-bodied children like Jonah and Glennie with such strong and courageous spirits, children who can glow and smile and laugh through what they are enduring. It is also amazing to me the lessons they can teach us and the lessons that God is trying to teach us through these precious little lives.

I don't mean to be a downer, but I really felt the need to write this post. It is at times like this when I wish I had more money or more resources so I could give it away to those who need it the most. For starts, I will pray every day for children like Jonah and their families. I know all to well what it is like to be told your baby is going to die due to a disease you have never heard of. Even if I didn't, prayer is still necessary and needed.

Scrumdiddilyumptious Oatmeal Raisin Cinnamon Chip Cookies

Here is what you need to do: Go to the grocery store, and see if you can find some Hershey's Cinnamon Baking Chips. They are in the baking section next to the chocolate chips. If you can find them, buy them then use this recipe:

http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=6197

I am on a baking kick lately and really seem to like baking and cooking new things. I am always on the lookout for treats that don't involve chocolate but are still tasty to me, as Glenn hates chocolate and I like to make things that everyone can enjoy. I made these in bars, and though they were too crumbly to really cut into squares, they are absolutely delicious. Everyone had a taste, and we are going out again to the grocery store tonight to get some vanilla ice cream to eat with them for dessert tonight. I think I myself may skip dinner and just go for the Oatmeal Raisin Cinnamon Chip bars with vanilla ice cream and a cinnamon dolce latte made from my Dolce Gusto. Making stuff at home rules!