Puke Fest

I got to spend some quality time with Gabriel and Zeke today. Daddy took Houston up to the mountains to visit Granny and Grumps, so it was just me and the boys for the afternoon and evening.

They were also on a different nap schedule, which is not the norm, so I got to do some one-on-one bonding, as well. It was nice, although certainly not a vacation … turns out that all the Dillingham dudes are a challenge, even when hangin’ solo with Mommy.

Zeke says, “Look at what a big boy I am!”

The major stress of my domestic life these days is the twins’ puke. I’ve mentioned if before, but it is completely insane. So much so, that my pediatrician referred the boys to a gastrointestinal specialist. Yes, they’re gaining weight and seem healthy, but they pretty much puke nonstop, no matter how much I feed them, how often I feed them, what I feed them, if they sit up for a half hour after I feed them, etc.

I know there’s always going to be some issue to stress me out as a mom, but this constant barfing sometimes has me at my wit’s end. We even chatted with our pastor to see if he had any pearls of wisdom as to how to cope with the stress of the incessant vomiting and the subsequent chaos it creates. He said to pray and read the Bible daily. I’ve been doing the former and started the latter a few days ago. Hope it helps me deal.

Silly-boy Houston says, “I’m good at making Daddy laugh.”

Tending to the puke can totally suck up all my time, if I let it. Luckily, Houston helps me clean it up when he’s playing with brothers. I also try to ignore it when possible, but oftentimes the liquid mess is so dangerous that I must tend to it immediately. In fact, Gabriel smashed his nose on the floor, Zeke bruised his head, and I almost bit the dust when slipping in the expansive puddles that tend to cover the nursery floor.

It’s so crazy that I felt compelled to warn Auntie Lisa about the severity of the situation before she comes to visit. Fortunately for me, she says she ain’t scared. She’s heading to Clan Dillingham tomorrow to help out with the boys, as well as have a little non-kid fun with Stephen and me. I am so looking forward to having an extra set of hands!

Other highlights:

  • On 7/29, Houston had a check-up at the pediatrician. Now that he’s 2, we restarted his vaccinations; we picked up where we left off since putting his shots on hold after his 9-month visit last year. Houston the brave got three shots in the leg and is now to up-to-date on his vaccination schedule.
  • That day, Houston also weighed in at a whopping 45 pounds and measured 39 3/8″ long!

Gabriel says, “Trucks are sooooooo cool!”

  • On 8/1, Zeke’s two bottom teeth finally popped through his bottom gum. Now we have two snaggle-tooth babies!
  • On 8/7, Gabriel pulled himself into a standing position in the crib for the first time. I’m confident one or both of the twins will be walking soon … maybe the erect walking position will help to curb the puke fest. One can only hope!
  • Last week I began bathing Gabriel and Zeke in the bathtub at the same time. The real tub is so much more convenient than dealing with their little infant tub. Plus, cleaning both boys simultaneuously is a real time-saver for me and lots of fun for them.

A few new pics have been added to the end of the late-July gallery. Click the above photo of Gabriel to check ’em out. And click the middle pic of Houston and Daddy in the pool to view the August photos.

Snitch This Mama Out to Obama!

You can now view video of my speech from yesterday’s rally. 

As you will see, I am not even close to surrendering my 1st Amendment rights because Linda Douglass, the director of communications for the White House’s office of health reform, is using scare tactics.

In a video blog titled, “Facts are stubborn things,” she asked Americans to snitch on their fellow citizens who are attending these types of events and/or posting “disinformation” on blogs or sending “fishy” emails about the president’s stance on the healthcare control bill.

Reason TV does a great parody video of the big-brother depths to which the Obama administration will sink in order to smear those who don’t agree with them. You can also check out Douglass’ verbally dull, yet frighteningly intriguing White House video here.

“Dissent is patriotic.” Remember that refrain the Democrats were syphoning through the echo chamber during the anti-war rallies when Bush was in office?

Remember during the presidential campaign when Obama urged his supporters to “argue with neighbors, get in their faceabout spreading his message of hope and change?

Remember when Obama said, “I’ve been inspired by the civil rights movement and people working at a grassroots level to bring about change to get people involved with shaping their own destiny … You can actually match the power of corporations and lobbies to actually influence what’s going on in a place like Washington.”

Notice in the video there is no mention of citizens matching the power of the federal government.

Remember when Obama’s campaign manager wrote on his campaign site, “Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies … Throughout our history, ordinary people have made good on America’s promise by organizing for change from the bottom up.”

Shouldn’t our commander-in-chief, who launched his political career in the community organizing movement, celebrate freedom of speech, whether he disagrees with it or not?

Instead of being seen as a sign of vibrant democracy, informed dissent and grassroots organizing is now being sold as a conspiracy to bring down our “historical” president. Hell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claims folks at town hall meetings are carrying swastikas, for crying out loud. Lock your doors and rat out your neighbor, there’s an angry mob in town!

Moreover, has any American president ever been entitled to blind deference? Are members of congress ever due undisputed reverence simply because of their privileged positions of power?

The answer in our Constitutional Republic is of course not, especially when considering that we “tea-bagging rednecks” didn’t start this fight; moms like me are simply retaliating, from the ground up.

Yes, Mr. President. Facts indeed are stubborn things.

“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in  order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” — John F. Kennedy

We’re In the Newspaper

I ended up delivering a 5-minute speech at the Patients First stop in Burlington this evening. You can check out the local newspaper’s take on the event here. And be sure to enlarge the accompanying photo; you can see our posse (from left to right: Miss Heather, me, Gabriel, Zeke, Stephen, Houston, Auntie Merdy and Uncle Greg) on the right-hand side of the picture. More details, video and photos forthcoming.