My Expectations of President Obama

Obama won a second term. While I'm not pleased with the results, it is what it is. That being said, as an American citizen, I'd like to lay out my expectations for President Obama.

1. Transparency. We were promised a transparent Obama Administration in 2008 and we don't have it. I'd like to see the transparency we were promised.

2. A budget. I expect our Country to have a budget, just as every American family must have. President Obama, please call Harry Reid and get this done.

3. The truth of what happened in Libya. The election is over and you don't need to sugar coat anything anymore. Please, just be honest with the American people and tell us what really happened in Libya.

4. Replace Eric Holder as Attorney General. This is pretty self explanatory.

5. Cut the deficit. President Obama, you promised to cut the deficit in half back in 2008. Our National debt has increased to 16 trillion. And when I say cut the deficit, I mean the deficit amount you promised to cut in half back in 2008, not the one you just inherited from...well, yourself.

6. Respect the American public...not just those who voted for you. Please, respect ALL Americans.

7. Go to your meetings. This really shouldn't be that hard and shouldn't have to be said....but I guess it does. 

8. And last but not least, UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, don't try to wiggle your way around it. We have a great system in place.

These are the expectations I have off of the top of my head after a long night watching results. You've just inherited a big mess from yourself. Get a mop and roll up your sleeves. And please, cut back on the rounds of golf.

Why I'm Voting For Romney...

Yes, during the Iowa Caucus I was a Santorum supporter. But here are the reasons I'm voting for Romney.

I'm getting really tired of people pegging me as an anti-woman's rights, all about the bottom line, Conservative.

So I care about babies. I believe that life begins at conception.

So I believe that people should be responsible for their decisions, it's how I was raised. I was raised Catholic and we're raising our boys Catholic. Even though my husband and I skewed from our faith by conceiving Liam before we were married, there was no discussion of abortion. We both knew we were going to be parents. And almost 7 years later, I couldn't imagine my life without him.

So I think that people should live within their means, again how I was raised. I drive a van that's 19 years old but you know what? It's paid for. It runs. It gets me and my boys from point A to point B. Our "new" car, the 2005 Corolla is paid off. Granted, it can't fit everyone in the family anymore, it's a good to and from work vehicle for my husband....and speaking of work....

I believe in hard work. I work hard. My husband works hard. He works a lot of 12-16 hour days and provides our insurance. I'm often up at 2 AM working on articles. We work hard. Granted, we're not in the coal mines in America, but we work hard.

So I don't think people should live on the Government assistance if they can work for themselves.

I nursed all of my babies and have always given away my formula samples (from the hospital/Doctor) to my Church and woman's shelter. I've worked in a soup kitchen. I coupon like crazy and give my excess to my local food bank. I'd much rather donate out of my heart rather than "donate" out of force (taken from my paycheck).

So I have faith in our military. My husband served in Iraq and was away from me and our first born for a year. I had so many sleepless nights waiting for the call that didn't come....and I went to work and took our toddler to daycare the following day. It was tough, but I did it. Because I believed in America. In the America he was fighting for. In the change that he was bringing to the women of Iraq. They deserved the same freedoms that I enjoyed. While it would have been great to have him safe and sound in my bed, that would have been selfish of me. I'm not sure how many lives he saved while he was over there (he's a medic) but what's he has discussed, it was a few. 

So I don't believe in the Government State. I believe that Americans are a very prosperous, educated, intelligent people. I believe they are a God fearing, independent, freedom-loving people.

So I'm voting for Romney for all of those reasons and the hope that my children will know a free America, the same America I knew growing up.

I'm mean...

I just sent Dave with Sean, B and Beckett to get Beckett's shots (Beckett is our cat). Pray for Dave.

BPA? It's Not What The Media Wants You To Think

I'll admit, I'm a news junkie. Baby Harry sleeps in the bouncer while I work and all of the commercials he hears on Fox News during the day, I'm pretty sure he's going to be an attorney for women who've had a bad experience with vaginal mesh or those with Mesothelioma....and then he'll take his earnings to buy gold. I only hope he never has to use a catheter (even if it does lubricate itself in the package).

So when news breaks on something that can effect my kids, of course I research it. While I'm nursing Baby Harry and he has yet to have a bottle, I'll admit, I got a little swept up in the BPA scare. But me being me, I did the research. And guess what...it's not bad for you or your kids.

Shocker, right? After all of the media scare, after tossing bottles and buying new ones, you could have saved quite a chunk of change by doing your own research. And with three (yes, three) in diapers, I'm all about saving money where I can.

Canada, one of the first Nations to ban BPA are now saying there's no real direct link between BPA and health issues. But that's not what the media would have you believe. I suppose on a slow news day they have to run something, but it is important to know the facts as parents.

Do your research, you could save a lot of money (and sleepless nights) by reading the actual reports instead of just believing the reports from the media.

My First Grounding...

It's official. I'm a mean mom. Or so I've been told. Because I just grounded my oldest child for the first time. Why, you ask? Oh, there's a good reason.

When Liam (our 6 year old), gets off of the bus, most days (unless we have Faith Formation), his Grandpa is there to pick him up. If Grandpa isn't there, he knows to walk home (less than 1/2 of a block).

On Monday, I get a panicked call from Grandma. Grandpa had called her and Liam didn't get off of the bus. I called the school, who radioed the bus, and said yes, "William" (which is what he goes by at school cause he's a 'big boy') got off of the bus. Panic.

I immediately ran two houses down to his friend Kaiden's house. Kaiden's sister answered the door and said, "Yeah, William got off of the bus with us. And then he went to play with Kaiden. But Kaiden is here. I don't know where William is."

PANIC.

I turn around to walk home, tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. And then I see him. Sauntering down the sidewalk, kicking a rock, on his way home. I screamed "WILLIAM!" Somehow I managed to hug and spank him at the same time. We went inside, I called Grandma to have her call Grandpa (who was already on his way back to the school) and let him know that Liam was safe. In trouble, but safe. Grandpa came by to give Liam a talk...and then it was back to his room.

And yes, I used the "Just wait until your father gets home" line. 

For the rest of the week, he's not allowed to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Except for dinner, showers and school, he's in his room. And I'm a "mean mom".

I couldn't help but find the irony in the fact that this all happened the same day I gave Grandma the free "If your child is lost, use this card as a photo for authorities".

Maybe I shouldn't have given her the card?? What I do know is he won't run off again. So, do you think I'm a "mean mom"??

Last Day of Kindergarten!

It's been awhile since I updated the blog, but today's post is a good one to start blogging again.

Today is Liam's last day of Kindergarten. I found the same outfit he wore on his first day and thought it would make a great bookend of pictures.

I can't believe he's going to be in first grade this fall. I can't believe all of the changes we went through this year. We moved, they all got bigger and I'm expecting baby boy #4. What a crazy couple of months! Here's the blog about his first day of kindergarten.

As promised for comparison, here's the first and last day pictures.

First day!

 And last day!

 He's so big!!! This fall, FIRST GRADE!!!

Power of Prayer

I won't go into the messy details of why, but the last few days I've found myself praying a lot more than normal. Of course I pray every night with my boys before they go to bed, we always make sure to pray before meals, but over the last few days I've been turning to God more often, praying for guidance. Praying for understanding, both for me and others, and praying for strength.

Today was different. After I took my youngest two to visit with Grandma so I could work, rather than going straight home, I took a detour. I went to our Church. I needed to refill my holy water, but I also knew I wanted to pray. Maybe along with the holy water, I also realized I needed to refill my spirit.

As I entered the Church, something told me that the appropriate prayer for my situation would be the prayer of St. Francis. Having been brought up in the Catholic Church and being a singer, it's a hymn I know by heart. I filled my holy water, made the sign of the cross and knelt in the pew. I began to pray.

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love,
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there's doubt true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

O Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul!

Make me a channel of your peace:
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

 "To be understood as to understand" and "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned" really struck a chord with me.  And yes, I cried. But I felt better.

I tweeted that I had just been to Church and said the Prayer of St. Francis. A former co-worker responded, "Thanks for sharing that. I just looked it up online and said it at my desk. Great to stay grounded throughout the day."

It was nice knowing that my tweet helped someone. So I shared the prayer on my facebook wall when I got home. I thought I would share it on the blog too. If it helped one person by tweeting it, maybe others would be helped by the blog.

It's about helping others.

I hope the power of prayer helps everyone.

Listening to your body...

Originally posted over at Mommy's Recess.

I know, I know. This should be a no brainer. But for moms, it's not. We often put ourselves (and our health) on the back burner. And we shouldn't. I have to remind myself of the instructions on a airplane. "In case of a lack of cabin pressure, put on YOUR oxygen mask first, and then help others." But I failed to do that.

As you know, I'm involved in politics. And the Iowa Caucus? That's like the Superbowl for us Iowans...and it only comes once every four years. Between moving in November, hosting my six year old's birthday party and Thanksgiving, a house warming party, preparing for Christmas and the caucus, I've been busy...and been having low back pain. But I put it off. "I'll get it checked out after the caucus" I kept telling myself. And being tough, I refused to take anything for it. That was probably a good call on my behalf.

On New Years Eve, an Uncle of mine unexpectedly passed away. They scheduled the funeral for the day after the caucus. On caucus day, we had the Huffington Post follow us around and get the point of view of caucus attendees. You can watch our caucus experience here.

It was a whirlwind day. Interviews, caucus, victory party...and I was named a Washington Post Reader Favorite Top Iowa Political Tweeter (you can follow me on twitter @bowmama, and our blog is also on twitter @mommysrecess). At our caucus location I spoke on behalf of Rick Santorum...in front of about 1200 people and a slew of reporters. Did I mention I had to follow Rick Perry (himself) and Ann Romney (wife of Mitt)? Yeah, no pressure there.  All the while, I had to mentally prep myself as I was doing the readings at my Uncle's funeral mass the next day.

Our boys spent the night at Grandma and Grandpas (thankfully) because we didn't get to bed until after 1AM and had to get up at 6AM in order to make it back to the funeral in time.

I made it through the readings without crying, but after I read, I saw my mom crying and, well, you know how it is when your mom cries...you cry. So I cried. At the luncheon after the cemetary, we learned that my great aunt had been in a car accident and was being life-flighted to Omaha. She had two collapsed lungs, broke her C2 and C3, compressed disks, etc etc. The remainder of the week was spent checking in with mom to see how my Great Aunt was doing, and trying to get back into a normal routine.

And then Saturday night happened. My husband worked on Saturday. When he got home, we had dinner. At dinner, I stood up to get a napkin and started bleeding. Heavy. Fast. I raced to the bathroom and even my medic husband was concerned. I called Mercy Nurse and she told me to come in. I explained the back pain and we both thought an ovarian cyst had ruptured (I have a history of cysts). My husband dressed the boys and called his parents. We rushed them over and went to the ER. The nurse took my vitals, asked for a urine sample and took blood. They hooked me up to an IV because I was dizzy from all of the blood I lost. And then it was time for an ultrasound to see where the cyst had ruptured.

But there was no cyst. There was, however, a strong heart beat. And a 7 week 5 day baby inside. Surprise.

The first thing I said? "Holy CRAP! There's a baby in there!" Not the most eloquent thing I've ever said but I was in shock!

My husband and I were both so surprised. And so was the ultrasound tech. And the nurse. And the Doctor. The amount of blood I lost, we had prepped ourselves for the possibility of a miscarriage. But like his/her mom, "Noodle" (what my oldest has nicknamed the baby) is strong.

They did find a bleed and called it a subchorianic hemorrhage. My instructions were to take it easy and monitor the bleeding. I go to the doctor today for a check up. 

Long story short? Listen to your body. Had I gone to the Doctor when I had the pain weeks ago, this probably couldn't have been avoided but at least I would have known.

I've had enough drama in 2012 to write a whole Christmas letter. You hear that 2012? No more drama. And I've learned to listen to my body. Don't put your health off. And be sure to put on the oxygen mask first, and then assist others.