Conversations with Anya

One of the most enjoyable things about motherhood is having conversations with your kids. Darling Anya has given me a little bit of that sweet joy with her cute conversation.


About Death and Heaven

Rachel: Anya, when you die and go to heaven...
Anya: I do not want to go to heaven! I want to stay here.
Anya turning to me: Mom, I just want to stay here. Are you going to go to heaven?
Me (knowing she is talking about death): No. I think I will stay here with you.
Anya: Oh thank you, Mom!

About Who to Marry

Anya: I played with (insert the boys name that I cannot recall) in my class today.
Me (often a teasing mom): Is that the boy you want to marry.
Anya (laughing): No!!! I want to marry a boy who is tall. And I don't want this. (She then circled her hand around John's belly .)
Anya (laughing some more):  I don't want him to be fat!

(John wasn't particularly fat when we got married. He just gets pregnant along  me, but then doesn't drop the weight as easily ;))

Baby Pictures

 My awesome sister in law, Rosanne, took these pictures  for me.

The Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities

This was written by Amanda Mitchell, who took the time to read and find out what the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disablities is all about. This is a U.N. document that United States Senate is expected to pass this month. While, this document is for children with disabilities it will likely effect everyone. It will take the right to decide the care and education away from parents with children with disabilities and give that right to the government. I urge everyone to read through this and contact your senator and tell him/her to vote "No on CRPD". 

Government Knows Best?

Amanda Mitchell

I am trying to get the word out about the CRPD and its long-term consequences. I believe this issue will be important to you. I believe the consequences for ratifying the CRPD are more grave than realized and urgent action needs to be taken. I hope that you will listen to my point of view and, I thank you in advance for your time.

The CRPD stands for The Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is a United Nation's treaty that may soon be going to a ratification vote by the U.S. Senate. I have done my own research and am horrified that we would even consider this. This treaty has many of the same problems as The Convention on the Rights of a Child which, rightly, has never been ratified by the U.S. - in spite of the fact it has been around since 1989.

Similar to The Convention on the Rights of the Child, the CRPD gives the UN and government agencies control over what is in the "best interests" of our children, this time specifically our disabled children. It also claims the right to make decisions for disabled adults - all in the name of protecting them. It supersedes many of our own fundamental rights like the right to self-govern, our laws and our Constitution. And instead of "We the People" it gives further control over to government to do what "it" thinks is best.

It scares me, because Hitler didn't just come to power overnight and then start committing atrocities. People really believed in change and the "best for the Motherland". It wasn't about killing people, but about success, improvement and a better way of life for the people of Germany. If the people of the country were looking at long term consequences of their ideology, how many do you think would have stopped it before it got out of hand?

Some Examples

What is defined as best by government is not always what is best for individuals. Euthanasia is a good example. Belgium is one of the countries that have adopted these UN treaties. If a doctor believes the child under the age of one will suffer in life because of a disability, the government has given power to doctors to decide whether or not to end that child's life. Parents can protest, but the doctor decides. This is not unlike what Hitler did. At first the disabled were taken care of and put in homes, and then they were given "merciful deaths."

In Sweden, it is a "child's right" to childcare outside the family home. The government provides maternity leave until the child reaches about 16 months of age and then expects that families place their children in childcare After all, the government knows the "best interests" of your child. If you home school in Sweden, you can look forward to being hunted down and your children taken. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I cannot think of a time in history where once government gained a foothold - often using the term "human rights" - that it ever let go of its pre y. Human rights were defined no longer by individuals, but by the few on top who rule.

And is it really "human rights" at the end of the day or a way to sugarcoat another person's beliefs that you will be forced to live by? Before we know it, we will have lost all that we have, by trying to do good, and only a few will have gained in the end. These treaties do sound good; they deceive many people and many nations.

I believe in families, kids, parents and individuals. It really saddens me to see our freedoms and way of life slip away. More and more governmental control only leads to oppression and suppression, even if it was started with good intentions.

What's in The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Article 7 of the CRPD states:

1. STATES PARTIES shall take all necessary measures to ensure the full enjoyment by children with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children.

2. In all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

3. STATES PARTIES shall ensure that children with disabilities have the right to express their views freely on all matters affecting them, their views being given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity, on an equal basis with other children, and to be provided with disability and age-appropriate assistance to realize that right.

There is no consideration in this article for parental rights and it states that "in ALL actions...the best interests of the child shall be the PRIMARY consideration." And who is going to be considering what is in the best interest of my child? The government or "STATES PARTIES". My child shall also "... be provided with disability and age-appropriate assistance to realize that right." That means government shall undermine and take over the parents' role to "provide" the "assistance to realize that "right." However, I still believe it is a fundamental right and responsibility of a parent to decide what is in the best interest of a child and to GUIDE their child. What is a parent without this right?

No one knows a child like a parent. A parent sees the small things that add up to big things in a child's life. We make it our priority. Each child is different and every family is different. I know that we have to take unique things into consideration with each child in our family when deciding what is needed for our child's success and happiness. There will never be a one size fits all.

How can a government begin to monitor and "ensure" the "enjoyment" of those with disabilities to be equal to others without establishing precedence for it? Firm standards would need to be established requiring defined rights, best interests and happiness of those with disabilities and those without. Thus, our freedom and liberty will be diminished in light of a government-controlled and pre-determined definition of "rights" and "happiness" and "best interests"; a one-size-fits-all cliché. Worse yet, the treaty gives power to an unelected group of international bureaucrats to dictate to countries what is required of each country to meet their obligations under this treaty.

Conclusion

A government does not consider differences in each child, individual or family and no one will do as much for our kids as we, the parents, will. No bureaucrat or politician's beliefs should take precedence over a parent when it comes to a child. Please do not give anyone the right to overstep this boundary. It is not what is going to help our children, families or individual freedom. In addition, the CRPD is supposed to help secure the "fundamental freedoms" of those with disabilities, yet the UN doesn't have the ability or power to protect even the most basic "fundamental freedoms" of people around the world.

Who would have Guessed

I just got a letter from John's awesome, 92 year old Grandma. She said that Arwen is her 85th great grandchild. Isn't that amazing? She had 6 children and 40 grandchildren. What is more amazing is that she remembers everyone's birthdays including in-laws like me. My kids all get a nice home made card and $10 from their Great Grandma every birthday.

Joseph Conversations

Conversation 1

John: Joseph look at your new sister.
Joseph: That is Joshua.
John: No, that is Arwen, your new sister.
Joseph: That is just Kate.
John: This is your new sister.
Joseph: Oh, she is so little.


Conversation 2

John showing Joseph his unloaded gun.
Joseph: Can I try it?
John: Okay, this is how you hold it.
Joseph trying the gun: Oh, the batteries are dead, Dad.


Conversation 3

Joshua playing with Joseph's pop gun.
Joseph: Joshua, that is my pop gun. You are too young. It is dangerous. Pop guns can kill you.

The Birth Story and Postpartum

I have been slow blogging since my sweet little Arwen arrived. Partly because I am tired from late night newborn care and partly because the rest of my family has our computers tied up at all times.

The Birth Story

John and I got to the hospital at 8:40 instead of 8:00. That turned out to be good. Apparently, we never got the phone message to come in at 2pm instead. They said they wouldn't kick us out, but wouldn't rush to get things going either.

So at 9:45 when I starting having some pretty heavy contractions about 2 minutes apart (not unusual for me, but they generally don't keep going), the nurse decided it was time to get the IV in. Pitocin was started at 10. Since I was already having some heavy regular contractions, I could not tell the difference.

At 11:30 am, the doctor was able to stop by to break my water. I was 6cm dilated and completely effaced. I was also nervous about getting my water broken because I knew that meant transition. Around 11:45 when I had to breath through the contractions, the nurse checked me again. I was about 9cm, so she called the doctor.

The doctor showed up about 10 minutes later and told me to push. Pushing was harder than it has ever been. I could tell that my uterine muscles are just wearing out. The doctor said that I was pushing the baby more down then out, so the nurses and John helped me position my legs to make pushing easier. I was really glad to have the nurses helping me through this part. After that, with just 2 more pushes, Arwen's head appeared. But, unlike all of my other deliveries, her shoulders got stuck. It took another couple of pushes and a huge gush of fluid and Arwen finally arrived at 12:09.

My new little daughter was placed on my stomach and John and I got to touch her and cuddle her before she was taken away to be checked. I really love getting to be one of the first people to hold my child. I never liked the nurses and doctors rushing my baby away from me, so now, I ask to see my baby before the baby is checked out as long as everything is normal.

Right away we could feel Arwen's sweet good spirit. I am always amazed at how spiritual the birth of a child is.

Like with Joshua, this labor and delivery was another good experience. While my muscles are clearly not as good as they used to be, I am a lot better at tolerating the pain and keeping up with some humor to help things along. When the pushing was obviously difficult the doctor said, "You just tell us what you want to do." I jokingly responded, "I think I'll just quit." Everyone chuckled and the nurse played along and said she'd start removing the IV. I'd say humor does relieve even physical pain.

Postpartum

 

Arwen is lovely and sweet. Most of the family has been basking in and enjoying her wonderful newborn goodness. Arwen likes to held all of the time, and since she is baby number 9, she has plenty takers. Arwen is definitely adored by all.

Postpartum recovery is stressful. I get headaches, my legs and hips and chest ache, I am bleeding and very tired. The whole family can feel the stress. I have a hard time patiently waiting for my body to recover. I want to get up and do everything, but hesitate to ignore what my body is telling me lest the recovery goes on even longer. The kids have a hard time with me sitting down more. The older kids have been helping a lot since John broke his leg. I know they were disappointed that I couldn't just come home from the hospital, do all of the chores, and take them on fun adventures. The little kids are aching to go places and to get out of the house. John has a hard time knowing how to deal with my postpartum emotions and my lack of interest in him. His leg is still broken and casted and he is stressed. We are all trying, and slowly, things are getting a little easier. Postpartum recovery is stressful. Newborns are wonderful.

She's Here

Our Beautiful baby girl arrived at 12:09 on Friday, July 27th. She was 7lbs 5 ozs and 19.5 inches long. We named her Arwen Eve and we are so happy to have this little sweet baby here with us.