Walking incubator

I only wish that I had been a better incubator. My son suffered for weeks in this little box, because my body failed him. The most important thing I have ever done was give life to my son. I will never forgive myself or my body for causing him so much pain. How can women kill their children?

Leaving the scene of the crime.

I snapped this picture of Holden right as he was escaping. He took every item of clothing out of the dryer, looked around, and ran quickly away. Needless to say, I was laughing pretty hard as I brought him to time out. Couldn't let him think he got away with his shenanigans ;).

Shallow post about movies.

So, I'm taking a huge turn from my usual serious and or mommying ways to talk about Hollywood. Nothing about abortion, nothing about corruption of youth, simply an asinine topic on a recent movie.

The movie is Woody Allen's new movie "Scoop".

My first complaint is scarlet Johansen. I don't like her, and I don't like that she refers to herself as "Woody Allen's Muse". Why does it bother me? Because I don't think she can even hope to be on the same level as Woody Allen. I know he is an abominable person, but he is a fabulous director and actor. I know he's a dirty old man who is infatuated with her, but he is most defiantly a great artist. She is not.

My second complaint is the way the movie is being marketed. It is hailed a great movie by the "director of Match Point". Wait, "Match Point"?! Are the youth of today so out of touch with cinematic history, that saying "From Director Woody Allen" is too obscure? Also, if we're going to mention a specific movie, wouldn't "Annie Hall" be much more appropriate than Allen's latest lackluster(though interesting) film?

I suppose I'm just out of the realm of marketing for this movie.

Where are the feminists?

My friend Katherine has a great post over at her blog A nonstory.

Here's a sample of her post:

have been reminded time and time again why women need abortions to keep from "ruining" her life. She'll be fired, she'll be kicked out of school, kicked out of her home, she'll be held back and utterly fail at life, not only ruining her life, but making her child's life miserable too.

If this is true, and I am certainly willing to believe it is because I have known women who had these things happen to them, where the hell are the feminists?

Go read the rest, you'll be glad you did!

Holden took his first step today!

I can't believe how fast he's growing up. It seems like only a few weeks ago he was in the hospital hooked to a million machines. Praise God for my miracle man!

Lose your virginity! All the cool kids are doing it!

I have never seen such a blatant attack on virginity what I discovered at a Canadian planned parenthood site for teens. I answered questions on a quiz regarding virginity as I felt when I was a virgin. A bit embarrassed because of the social pressure to have sex, a bit disproving of my peers who were having sex, turning down sexual advances, but still a bit curious about the whole sex thing. I answered the way most young girls would answer. These were my results:

Sometimes you feel like it's not your choice. Maybe your religion or parents are influencing your decision. Take control. Remind yourself that what you do is always a choice. You choose whether to follow the values of your religion. You choose whether to be honest with your parents. They may not be easy choices, and others may not agree with the choices you make. But they are still YOUR choices and they should be based on what's important to you.

Maybe you feel ready to do it, but haven't found the right opportunity or person. This is still your choice. You are choosing to respect your partners that don't want to have sex. You are choosing to have sex in a situation that feels right for you. Other people may make different choices than you. That doesn't mean that one of you is right and one is wrong. Every person has different values and reasons. Get to know yours.

So basically, you're a brainwashed little Jesus freak who needs to get into bed and get into bed quick! You've been thinking about sex, so obviously you should do it! Sex is fun, it's not wrong, and shame on you for thinking that premarital sex is immoral. As soon as you find the right guy(or any guy!) you'll rethink your silly views on sex.

I was honestly revolted by this answer. Teens are going to think about having sex. We are human and we sin. When a teen comes to a crossing point, they deserve respect and guidance, not to be told that "everyone else is having sex, you should too!". I lost my virginity to a person who didn't care about me, at a time when I really REALLY needed someone to come and show me God's love, and his plan for my life.

I can not even begin to explain how much pain it causes me to think about my past. I feel like I have cheated on my husband, and though he would never say such a thing, I know he feels it as well. Having sex at 15 was not something I should have been doing. I can never take back those times, and though I know I am forgiven, it grieves my heart to know the past exists.

If during that summer before my Junior year of highschool someone had come to me with love and encouraged my virginity, I know I would be living in regret. Instead I was given the same message I received today at planned parenthood's website. It wasn't so blatant, but it was all around me. Have sex, forget religion, everyone else is and you're a freak if you're not. Teenagers deserve so much better.

You've got to be kidding me.

I read about the Canadian planned parenthood website for teens at Dawn Patrol
I highly recommend reading her article, especially if you are a parent to teenagers. I further investigated the site Dawn links in her blog, and found this appalling, but predictable table involving teen pregnancy.

Parenting

* Babies are
o completely dependent on you for their health and survival
o a big responsibility

* Parenting is
o a 24 hour job
o completely different to babysitting or looking after a younger sibling

Wow, that seems very optimistic. Apparently caring for a child is such utter drudgery and horror, that it warrants a mere four line mention and a disapproving glare.

The options for adoption and fostering are equally negative. But wow, take a look at abortion!

It is the female's right to ask for a procedure that terminates her pregnancy in its early stages.

Abortion is

* a legal medical procedure in Canada
* causes the fetus to separate from the side of the uterus and to leave the female's body through her vagina
* is usually done in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy
*

There are three common types of abortions:

* Medical:
A medical (non-surgical) abortion is
o performed up to 7 weeks from your last menstrual period.
o an injection stops the growth of the pregnancy, while several tablets inserted into the vagina cause the uterus to contract and expel its contents.

* Surgical – up to 8 weeks:
o performed up to 8 weeks from you last menstrual period.
o a flexible tube attached to a plastic syringe is inserted into the uterus.
o the syringe creates a suction and removes the contents of the uterus.
o you are awake for the procedure, which takes less than 10 minutes.

* Surgical – 8 to 20 weeks:
o performed up to 14 weeks in hospital (while you are asleep)
o performed up to 20 weeks in a free-standing clinic (while you are awake).
o the cervix is dilated and a gentle suction is used to remove the contents of the uterus.
o the procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes.



top of page

Confidentiality

* If you are trying to have an abortion in secret, be sure to still use a legal abortion clinic.
* Concerned about keeping things confidential?
o tell you doctor
o ask what they do with your medical information
o if you don't trust the doctor, leave
* Doctors usually have to keep patient information confidential.
Doctors can usually tell others if:
o they have your permission
o are making a referral
o suspect abuse
o OR feel you're incapable of understanding medical advice or the consequences of your decisions

I shouldn't be surpriseded. It'appalling that not a single negative is mentioned with abortion. No mention that "Abortion is a medical procedure, and thus carries risks" no mention that "some women feel emotionally distraught after abortion"(However, emotional distress is mentioned in the context of adoption). No mention of the fetus, no mention of killing the fetus, no mention of what the procedure actually entails for the fetus. I know the object is to dehumanize the child as much as possible, but this is truly ridiculous. Can planned parenthood honestly claim they offer options? Can they honestly claim they are not "pro-abortion"? I'll let you be the judge
"spiderbytes"

Pat the bunny.

I really like this picture. Holden is reading his favorite part of his favorite book. Every time we get to the "little book" part of "Pat the Bunny", Holden flips to the last page and waits for me to whisper "Shh, Bunny is sleeping!". We continue this for quite some time before moving on.

I love the simple, little moments we share. I'm constantly amazed by his mind and his gentle spirit. We bought him some foam letters for the bath and he went back and forth gathering up all the orange letters. He seems to categorize by color more than shape. He also likes things to be in pairs. One of his favorite(abet not entirely sanitary) games is to sort out a pile of shoes for matching pairs. I don't think I've ever seen him mismatch a set!

He amazes me daily with his empathy. He seems to understand my disappointment in a failed casserole but share in my celebration upon finishing the laundry. He is aware of all the mundane fluctuations of the day, yet seems to realize that he is completely safe and secure. My heart melts when he looks up at me with a sly, toothy grin and engages me in a spontaneous game of "peek-a-boo".

I realize that these baby times will not last long. I can not shelter him from the world, nor can I change man's sinful nature. I pray that we equip our son to face the world with dignity and righteousness and empower him to give glory to God. It feels like he's off to a great start!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: What Lauren is thankful for this week I am thankful that my husband's promotion is finally going through after 8 long months of waiting. I am thankful that my son is healthy and happy and survived dispite the odds. I am thankful for my new found relationship with my father. I am so blessed that he has come into my life. I am thankful for my mother in law and all that she does for us. She is my spiritual mentor and I am so thankful that she has come into my life. I am thankful to have found this blog http://www.wilhoite.blogspot.com/ Amy gives true glory to God even through horrendous struggle in a way that has inspired me. Links to other Thankful Thursdays (If you participate, leave your link in the comments and I'll post it below; or, you can post in the comments)

Click here for the Thankful Thursday code

Click here for Chrixean's blog


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What is so scary about abstinence?

I recently read this gem of a quote over at plannedparenthood.org

MISH(Medical Institute for Sexual Health) is best known for the abstinence-only materials it provides to youth organizations and educators that rely largely on scare tactics. The group states that "behavior choices for optimum health are sexual abstinence for unmarried individuals and faithfulness within marriage." Translation: abstinence is the only acceptable method for unmarried couples to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

I'm sorry, but the MISH quote hardly sounds like a "scare tactic". I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't believe that "behavior choices for optimum health are sexual abstinence for unmarried individuals and faithfulness within marriage". We aren't talking about moral judgments, we're talking about physical health. Apparently the fact that promiscuous sex often comes with disease(...err I'm sorry "infections") is threatening to a industry that specializes in promiscuous sex.

Promiscuous sex, no matter how "safe" is not a physically healthy activity. My mother, an ardent defender of choice, is a highschool counselor. In her office she has a diagram that is labeled "How well do you know the 64 people you slept with last night" It assumes each partner has had two additional partners and spreads accordingly. Three sexual partners is not at all outlandish for our time. I'm sure there are many people who would call that number modest.

Can we trust our bodies to people we've never met in the name of sexual freedom? Why, in a world where young women are the fastest growing victims of AIDS, should we shun the one thing that will assure their safety? Do we trust condoms and boyfriends to keep women safe? Condoms break, horny teenage boys lie. The only person who can keep a woman safe from infection is herself. Why is planned parenthood against giving women the tools and strength to say "No" and protect herself? What do they gain by the destruction of female bodies? The answer is unspeakable, and yet must be spoken.

Planned parenthood is selling out our daughters health in order to profit from the destruction of their children. Planned parenthood is an industry and promiscuous sex keeps them in business.

Murder in Texas?

As most of you know, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has been asked to decide if doctors performing abortions on minors without parental consent or elective third trimester abortions can be charged with capital murder*. The prolife organizations are downplaying this possibility and essentially saying that the murder of a fetus is not equal to the murder of a 3 year old.

I find it very disturbing that the prolife apologists are assuring everyone that they would never hope to see an abortionists charged with murder, but would rather he be charged with a third degree felony and sent on his way.

Before any pro-choice diction nazi's come to attack, let me explain that Texas law SB 419 defines the fetus as an "individual" defines the illegal taking of its life as "unlawful". The unlawful taking of an individual's life is murder.

I refuse to tiptoe around the choicers with politically correct nonsense. We have defined these killings as murder, yet refuse to enact a penalty befitting the crime. Imagine how you would feel if your son's murder was sentenced to two years in prison and a 10,000 dollar fine. Has justice been served?

The findings of Greg Abbott are meaningless. We do not want to pursue the hitmen making their living on the destruction of the smallest life. If it is murder, let's treat it as such. Please, the children they've killed deserve at least that.

*I am not advocating the death penalty, I am deeply opposed to state sanctioned killing. I do however advocate life imprionsment of these creatures who have the audacity to call themselves doctors.

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I'm Back

Sorry, I've been staying at my mother in laws the past few days because I was helping her with a wedding. My MIL is a fabulous wedding planner/decorator and this wedding was no exception. I'll post pictures when they come in, but suffice it to say that everything was beautiful.

The wedding was a bit of a rush job because the groom was shipping out to Japan in a few weeks and had to get back to his base the day after the wedding. The bride and groom met online and there was a bit of a scandal surrounding the ceremony. After meeting the groom and his family, I feel much better about the whole thing. Please pray for their marriage.
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What happens when my boys "make the bed"

Thanks guys! It seems Holden has already become "partners in crime" with Oli. I love my boys.

Please pray for my son.

Holden has an appointment with his uroligist today. They are planning on starting his treatment that will lead up to his surgery. I'm a bit weary of the method because it includes hormone therapy for my 14 month old. I know the doctor knows more about this than I do, but it's still a little disconcerting. So please pray for my son, both that he will not be adversely affected by the hormones, and also that he will be safe through surgery and have a speedy recovery.

Ending a pregnancy when the child is incompatible with life.

I haven't fully developed my opinion on this matter, so I'm hoping that this post can spur a discussion on the issue. My question is this, can ending a pregnancy due to a condition incompatible with life be a moral/loving decision? I want to clarify that this post is ONLY about inducing labor(not D&E) of a child who can not live due to a condition i.e. anacephally,certain types of dwarfism ect.

My initial instinct is that it can. I recently read a story of a couple whose preborn child was diagnosed with a type of dwarfism that was always terminal. They choose to end the pregnancy(note: they did not choose to kill their child, but rather induce labor and allow the child to die in their arms). While I could never choose such an option, doing such seems more akin to taking someone off a respirator than to the atrocity that defines most abortions.

Of course, I am uneasy saying that this type of termination of pregnancy is ok, because it seems to open the gateway for others. It also opens the door for end of life issues. I am defiantly against any sort of futile care laws, but as I said, there are some cases when removing a respirator seems moral. I'd really be interested in hearing what others have to say on the issue.

EDIT: Thank Jaque for reminding me of my convictions. I realize that I was railing against the institution that would allow such death rather than the acceptablity of a termination. I have the deepest sympathy for the couples who have fallen victim to this mentality. Praise God and HIS plan.