I'm Taking Over Marilyn's Ranting...

I have 2 things to rant about, and then I'll go back to cute pictures of grandkids...

1. I despise politics! Everyone thinks they are right! As I look through the years that I've been around, I can see that people are unhappy no matter what. First they aren't happy with democrats, so they go republican...then they are unhappy with the Republicans, so they go democrat. David loves the whole arguing, debating stuff. It just makes me feel nauseous. I've already voted, and I feel pretty strongly about some parts of politics, but can't we all just get along?

2. I am frustrated with the idea that "vaccinations are a cause of autism." There was a segment on the Today Show today. There have been 16 different studies that have tried to link autism to vaccines, and the link is not there. Here is a quote from Dr. Paul Offit:

"But the reason I say vaccines don’t cause autism is that they don’t. I say this because the false alarm about vaccines and autism continues to harm a lot of children — harm from not getting needed vaccines, harm from potentially dangerous treatments to eliminate mercury, and harm from therapies as absurd as testosterone ablation and electric shock. I say this because the feared vaccine–autism link, which has now been disproved, diverts research dollars from more promising leads. I say this because I care about children with autism."

This doctor has seen outbreaks from people that will not vaccinate their children. Do we really want to go back to the days of deadly diseases that can and should have been obliterated?

Dr. Offit has had tons of hate mail, and even a death threat. To read more about this, go to: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27440647/.

Autism is a terrible thing, but it's not caused by vaccines. Get your kids vaccinated!

Why Do Birds Hate Me?

So, while I was in Georgia, I had 2 more bird incidents. One day, I was down in Emily's kitchen, and I kept hearing a knocking. I went to a window in their family room, and there was a bird tapping on the window. Of course, it freaked me out, and I shooed it away. The creepy thing was that it kept coming back...probably 5 times! Emily said that had never happened before.

The really freaky thing was on Sunday before I left. I went out to the backyard with Alice, and looked up in some high trees. There were no less than 10 giant buzzards up there, some with their wings spread, others flying around, and others just waiting for me. I looked around, and noticed at least 2 other trees full of them as well. It was one of those things that you can't quite take your eyes off, even if it is a horrible sight. I held onto Alice for dear life, and when they would start to fly, I would run back into the house. Why we didn't take a picture, I can't explain...well, I didn't because I was going out of my mind with fear. Emily said that she has never seen anything like that either. Bill says that they can feel my fear...

Other Grandkids

Sally had her 2nd birthday while I was here, on the 13th. We had a party in the park with the Lewises. Sally loved the cake, she kept calling it "Happy cake". She is such a cutie, it has been so fun to be with her. She just plops herself on my lap when she wants to read a story.

Coleman came for the weekend, it wasn't long enough, but it was so great to have the Lewises here. Coleman is obsessed with dinosaurs, and knows then name of lots of them. Listen to this:

Coleman and Sally did pretty well together, considering that they are both 2-year-olds! On the first day, they were so excited to be with each other. Here's them together.

It's so fun to be with the southern grandkids! I love, love, love them all!

I Spoke Too Soon!

So, it's not even 24 hours later, and we have our little granddaughter, Alice Marie Nicolich! She was born on October 7, 2008 at 8:20 AM. She weighs 7 lb 11 oz. and is 20 1/4 inches. Mom and baby are doing well. Emily did the natural thing again...wow, what a tough cookie! The midwife (who happens to be a man) was very willing to let Emily do it her way. No more of that lying on your back for the convenience of everyone except the mother. When it got close, he asked me if I wanted to help. I said "yes," and he told me to put on some gloves. "Wait a minute," I thought, "What am I getting into?" Well, I didn't have to worry, she was born almost immediately, so I missed my chance at I-don't-know-what. Bill was a great coach and helped Emily through everything.




What an amazing thing the birth of a baby is! I will never cease to be amazed at it. And what a blessing to be able to be a part of it. Thanks Emily and Bill for letting me see a miracle today.

Emily is STILL pregnant!!!

I am in Georgia. waiting for Emily to have her baby...with NOTHING HAPPENING YET! We've been walking, and today we went and had eggplant parmesan. Here is how Emily looks all the time...
Sally is so cute and fun to be with. She wasn't shy with me even the first time I saw her. This is how she says "Grandma" What could be better than hearing this?