Back to Reality

I think its fair to say we are settled back in Midland. Nathan's back to work on his photo column, and I'm trying to get the house re-organized. Really we're going to be focusing on really getting our lives re-organized. Being the babies of our families, which we blame everyone on, we tend to be spoiled. We even spoil ourselves. We both really lack discipline and we pretty much do what we want, when we want. So we're really going to focus on implementing more structure and discipline. Nathan even agreed to setting a bedtime! That is huge for someone who is still functioning on a college student time schedule. Hopefully these changes will not only help us in our daily lives, but also help prepare us for our coming foster child.

Speaking of foster child, we're still waiting. The holidays of course slow things down, but hopefully things will begin to see more progress. The nursery is pretty much ready. I have most of what I need. I still need a couple things like a stroller and some kind of chest of drawers, but that isn't an immediate necessity. I will definitely keep you updated as I know more.

Back to Christmas, Nathan and I were definitely spoiled this year. Our parents, my brothers, Nathan... everyone was just very generous. Nathan received his iPod touch, which I have to admit is pretty stinkin' awesome. Its basically the same as an iPhone minus the phone and camera. I received a much needed winter coat, books, gift cards, diaper bag (well a bag I am making my diaper bag,) and a bunch of other things. One book I was given was Jenny McCarthy's new one. I'm on page 60 something and its incredible. If you have or know someone with an autistic child or child with a developmental delay or you are just interested in the autistic epidemic, I highly suggest reading her book. She details the battle between the AAP (American Association of Pediatrics) and the autistic community of parents, the struggle to be heard, the alternative therapies and biomedical therapies that are allowing children to recover that are being ignored by the medical community. Jenny flat out points the finger at the AAP and pediatricians who are ignoring the 'scientific evidence' these families have living in their homes. There are thousands of families out there who are living proof that there is an autistic trigger in the vaccinations and that there is hope for recovery. As I said, I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. And of course the recovery is not as simple as reading a book, but it definitely is a source for learning what has caused success in certain children and a source for hope and support.

If you're back to work tomorrow, I wish you a great day... if not... Yay for you! Enjoy the rest of your holiday break!