Tonight we celebrated Ben’s 4th Birthday!
All three of my boys carved our pumpkins and filled them with candles and put them out on the porch. We are expecting our first big snowstorm tonight, and so it was fun to be out in the dark with the wind whipping and the cold creeping, it made it feel very Octoberish.
Well, it was exactly four years ago today that we welcomed our Benjamin into our home. Here is a link to his birth story:
Bens Birth

As always I am a strong supporter and promoter of home birth:
Here are a couple more links for your information…
Here
and Here.

Jeff with the pumpkins he carved tonight.
Jenny Hatch

Here is a synopsis of the news stories and Commentary I found interesting on the web in the past few days:
Hospital Mistake Paralyzes New Mom
“INDIANAPOLIS — A hospital that gave lethal doses of a drug to three premature babies has made another medication mistake, giving a new mother a painkiller 10 times faster than intended and making her temporarily unable to walk.
Amber Baise, 18, of Indianapolis, who received the painkiller during childbirth, has regained some movement in her legs as she recovers from what Methodist Hospital are calling a doctor’s mistake.”
Bigger families see a little boom
“Laura Bennett isn’t bound by convention. Professionally, at age 42, she’s pursuing a mid-career switch into big-time fashion design. At home, she’s a mother of five — with No. 6 due next month.
“It was nothing that we planned ahead of time,” Bennett says. “It’s more that we were enjoying all the kids.
“We have a happy home. Why not have as many children as we can?””

Democrats Find Their Values Issue
“So the newly minted Party of Virtue, the Legion of Decency reborn, insists that Hastert must go and Republicans must lose control of the House because – unbeknownst to them – a pathetic little perv from the Sunshine State sent suggestive instant messages to pages.
Will the Democrats now turn over a new page and denounce efforts to abolish age of consent laws, support the Boy Scouts of America, and push for passage of the Child Custody Protection Act?
Fat chance.”
The good news about nuclear destruction
“What possible good news could there ever be about nuclear destruction coming to America, whether it is dirty bombs, terrorist nukes or ICBMs from afar?
In a word, they are all survivable for the vast majority of American families, if they know what to do beforehand and have made even the most modest preparations.
Tragically, though, most Americans today won’t give much credence to this good news, much less seek out such vital life-saving instruction, as they have been jaded by our culture’s pervasive myths of nuclear un-survivability.”

Ben eating his dirty toes after a camping trip to Rocky Mountain National park
WHAT TO DO IF A NUCLEAR DISASTER IS IMMINENT!
I have linked to this article before, but do so again, because it is so comprehensive…Jen

2nd warning for Muslims to leave U.S. before attack
WASHINGTON – “Another Pakistani journalist is reporting receiving another threat – this one from a senior Taliban leader – warning all Muslims to leave the U.S. in anticipation of a major terrorist attack before the end of Ramadan.
The head of the Islamabad-based al-Quds Center reported receiving an audio message from Mullah Masoom Afghani urging U.S. Muslims to get out of the country “because Allah’s punishment would fall on America in the month of Ramadan.”
Muslims are observing Ramadan this year Sept. 24 to Oct. 23.”

Teachers pass ‘illiterate’ boy
“Mr Ryan said parents could insist on their child being held back a year, but there were other factors taken into consideration, including a student’s age, size and maturity.
An Education Queensland spokeswoman said the school would work closely with the father and son to help Anthony through his final years, including the possibility of a school-based apprenticeship.
“Given the parent’s strong views, the school will arrange to meet with the parent to further discuss his concerns and options for the future,” the spokeswoman said.
“The school is committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for this student.””
Nice to know it is not only America who has an “education deficit” when it comes to educational “bear-o-cracy”. Our Aussie friends seem to be struggling with these issues as well.
Tyrants and the Bomb
Tyrants and the Bomb
There’s a deep history to this latest Kim Jong Il move.
By Ion Mihai Pacepa
“The detonation of a nuclear device by North Korea’s tyrant is an apocalyptic event calling for America’s unity against one of her most indoctrinated foes. “Let’s exterminate our sworn enemy U.S. imperialism!” reads a slogan posted inside North Korean jet cockpits, sailor’s cabins, and army guard posts. Instead, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called for an investigation of the Bush administration’s “failed North Korea policies.” I once belonged to the sanctum sanctorum of the impregnable citadel of Communist nuclear intrigue, and I have hard reasons to believe that no atomic diplomacy on earth could have stopped Kim Jong Il from achieving nuclear weapons.
In my other life, as a Romanian intelligence general, I was at the beck and call of another 5’4” dictator involved in building nuclear weapons in a defiant bid for survival and respect, and nothing short of death was able to deter him from achieving that goal. Not even the defection of his top nuclear-weapon adviser — myself.
Eleven years later, in 1989, Ceausescu was executed for genocide, and Romania’s new government reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency that it had discovered plutonium separated in a Triga nuclear reactor. The amount of plutonium found at that time was small, but the act was a clear violation of Romania’s commitments made under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. According to a Canadian study, “a more extensive nuclear weapons program may have been covered up.””
I love the writings of Mr. Pacepa, here is another of my favorites, an interview at Front Page which makes the whole WMD debate mute in regards to Sadaam Hussein.

Can we talk?
Thomas Sowell:
“Young people educated at our most prestigious colleges and universities are learning the lesson that storm trooper tactics can silence those who are not in vogue on campus, and honest expressions of opinion about issues involving anything from affirmative action to women in the military can get you suspended if you refuse the humiliation and hypocrisy of being “re-educated.”
Meanwhile, liberals in Congress have long been advocating a return to the so-called “fairness” doctrine requiring “balance” in broadcasting. Talk radio is overwhelmingly conservative simply because liberal talk radio has failed repeatedly to attract comparable-sized audiences.”
A DARK GLOBALISM
Mark Steyn:
“So an insurgency that lurks within a religion automatically has a global network. And you don’t need “deep cover”: You can hang your shingle on Main Street and we won’t even notice it. And when we do – as we did on 9/11 – we still won’t do anything about it, because, well, it’s a religion, and modern man is disinclined to go after any faith except perhaps his own.”

Nukes and More Nukes
“THE MOST critical question following North Korea’s reported nuclear test is whether anything can be done to stop other states or terrorist groups from acquiring such weapons in coming years. Can North Korea be prevented from exporting its nukes? Is the world entering an era in which nuclear war will be virtually inevitable? Based on the response to North Korea last week, the outlook isn’t good.”
Gene Mutation Raises Autism Risk
OH, THAT’s what is causing it……I never would have guessed…
Glorious Food? English Schoolchildren Think Not
“Five months after the celebrity chef Jamie Oliver succeeded in cajoling, threatening and shaming the British government into banning junk food from its school cafeterias, many schools are learning that you can lead a child to a healthy lunch, but you can’t make him eat.
The fancy new menu at the Rawmarsh School here?
“It’s rubbish,” said Andreas Petrou, an 11th grader. Instead, en route to school recently, he was enjoying a north of England specialty known as a chip butty: a French-fries-and-butter sandwich doused in vinegar.
“We didn’t get a choice,” he said of the school food. “They just told us we were having it.””
This is what I have learned with my own four teenagers: if you want school children to eat healthfully, you have to use stealth. I make them brownies that have all of the fat and sugar included in the original recipe, but I make them with whole wheat flour, flax seed meal, and any other nutritious ingredient I can throw into the batter without them noticing.
I also make waffles, which they smother in syrup and butter, with whole grains and organic dairy, just to get some whole foods into them.
Chocolate chips are a mothers best friend when trying to get that “medicine” into children who crave sweets and are constantly on the run. Whole wheat cookies baked with chips are my ticket to the children chowing down some whole foods.

Whole Wheat Cookies with Chocolate Chips
I say we need to pick our battles with children, with the understanding and acceptance that most obesity problems begin way before little Johnny or Susie start school. Babies who are Formula fed have a markedly higher incidence of obesity. If we are going to play gestapo with our kids diets, why not take on the more difficult task of educating young mothers with the FACTS about breastfeeding, rather than causing more rebellion in our teens by taking a dictatorial stance in regards to what they put in their mouths?

Bird Flu Vaccine May Hit Many Strains
“Human trials indicate an H5N1 bird flu vaccine developed using a virus isolated in Vietnam can neutralize antibodies from H5N1 viruses found in other countries, the vaccine’s manufacturer said Wednesday.
The preliminary trial results raised hopes that vaccines based on older H5N1 bird flu strains might prove effective against future variants of the virus in the event of a pandemic.”
I don’t plan on using this vaccine, no matter what they claim about it.

Boating on Lake Estes summer 2006
Meningitis Shot May Hold Higher GBS Risk
“Young people who get a new meningitis shot may be at a slightly higher risk of developing a paralyzing side effect, federal researchers said Thursday.
Even so, federal health officials said the benefits far outweigh the risk of getting the rare condition, Guillain-Barre syndrome. They are not backing off their recommendation that most students be vaccinated.
The researchers cautioned that they are uncertain about their risk estimate, and a larger study is being planned.”
Another study? Man, I feel better knowing the Feds are on the case….
Drug Errors Send 700,000 to ER Every Year
“Experts from the CDC and FDA estimate that every year, more than 700,000 people visit U.S. emergency departments because of side effects, accidental overdoses, and other adverse drug events”
Why not JUST SAY NO?
2 Preemies Dead, 3rd Critical After Receiving Adult Dose of Drug at Ind. Hospital
“Two premature infants died and a third was in critical condition after being given adult-size doses of medication, prompting hospital officials to review drug-handling procedures.
Adult doses of the blood-thinner Heparin were somehow placed in a drug cabinet at the Newborn Intensive Care Unit of Methodist Hospital, said Sam Odle, chief executive of Methodist and Indiana University Hospitals. The hospital said human error was to blame.”
Why don’t we teach our young mothers how to carry to term with good nutrition???
Cardinals Beat Mets to Win NL Pennant
“With that, the Cardinals earned their second pennant in three years and a date with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night in Game 1 of the World Series.
Hey Motown, here come the Cards.”
I was a teenager the last time Detroit won the World Series. As a Michigander with tons of ties to Detroit, I am thrilled for my home state. Good Times. Paul and I will prob be watching most of the games with our kids.
Jenny Hatch

In honor of the upcoming election, I put together a Political Vest to wear in public. I plan to wear this with my Anti-Hillary T-Shirt to various outings with my family, as well as Free Republic Events (Freeps), and the various Colorado GOP party events until Mitt Romney has safely landed in the White House.
Here are some pictures:

On the front of the Vest I have an Anti Che picture which I cut out from a T-Shirt and sewed onto the vest. Here is a link to where you can purchase this T-Shirt.

On the back of the vest I sewed this picture of Ronald Reagan, purchased at the same online store. You can purchase it here.
As soon as Mitt Romney officially declares his candidacy, I plan to get some stickers, buttons, etc to put on the vest.
Oh, and I wear this T-Shirt under the vest:
So far I have worn my political stuff to play volleyball, softball, to my son’s soccer game (that struck me as particularly symbolic as we soccer moms seem to be the one’s most talked about during the political season – No Dems, you are not going to tell this soccer Mom how to think and how to vote, and you sure as heck don’t speak for me).
I have had several perplexed people come up to me and ask me why I am against Che. Another person told me that he had a doctorate in Political Science from an Ivy League school and he just didn’t get the Hillary Communism connection. I just smiled at him. After talking to him I decided that perhaps I should have suggested the idea that some important information was left out of his amazingly expensive education. But I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
Those of us who are politically active republicans often came to our conclusions about politics after a heart felt search to learn the truth about Freedom, Democracy, and the ugliness of Collectivism. I would not want to rob from this newly credentialed young father of three the satisfaction he must be feeling at becoming a “Doctor” in Political Science. The fact that his credentials do little more than qualify him to be the local dog catcher, or perhaps teach politics on some third rate Ivy League Communist Concentration Camp Campus will soon enough become plain to him. But I don’t need to shove his face in it.
I read this piece the other day on Govenor Romney at National Review.
Rockin’ the Evangelical House
“Inside was a largely different story. Romney implored those listening — both inside Tremont Temple Baptist, once part of the Underground Railroad, and those potentioanlly 80 million people (according to FRC) watching across the country via a video simulcast — to “show an outpouring of respect and tolerance for all people, regardless of their differences or their different choices” and to “vigorously reject discrimination.” Due to a technical difficulty, Romney was brought back on stage for a second take. Gently but firmly, the governor emphasized this point — no doubt having heard the more combative speaker who followed his first appearance. “I believe God loves all of his children,” Romney said.
While urging support for a federal marriage amendment that would protect traditional marriage, children were the focus of the governor’s remarks. “Marriage,” Romney said, “is primarily about the nurturing and development of children.” He added, “A child’s development is enhanced by the nurturing of both genders. Every child deserves a mother and a father.” And, driving the point home: “The price for same-sex marriage is paid by children.”
Romney’s presence and focus impressed Lesette Wright, an energetic youth minister at the church. “I was very impressed with what he said about children. He understands.” Talking about how violence and other behavioral problems are often seen in children she works with who come from broken families and families with no father present, she said of Romney’s remarks, “That pain is real.”
Romney’s appearance stood in stark contrast with others in the Massachusetts statehouse who are working against marriage, Boston resident Kym Ayala told NRO. “He was wonderful…. We need politicians fighting that fight.” “It was amazing to see him and his wife stand here right with us for the family. He was the highlight of the evening,” added Linda Strothar.
And what about the much talked about “Mormon problem”? Speaking to the British Times recently, when asked if his religion would be a problem if he chose to run for the White House, Romney said: “People used to wonder whether a divorced actor could be elected … or whether a Mormon could win Massachusetts, a state that is 55% Catholic.”
He continued, “There was probably a time when people cared which church you went to, but that’s past. People today look to see a person’s faith in the way they live in their home with their family.”
I will be working hard these next two years to help get Gov. Romney elected to the presidency.
Jenny Hatch