Gianna Jessen is living proof that babies are miracles, if they are given the chance.  When Gianna’s birth mother was 7 1/2 months pregnant she tried to abort Gianna.  The doctor chose to abort Gianna with saline.  For 18 hours, saline was swirling around in her mother’s womb in an attempt to kill her.  But Gianna was a fighter.  The doctor suspected that she would be “born” dead around 9 a.m. so he wasn’t in the office when she made her arrival at 6 a.m.  When Gianna was born alive an amazing nurse called the paramedics and Gianna was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors worked very hard to save her life.  Their attempt worked and Gianna survived.  That was 31 years ago.  In her lifetime she has met 12 other people who have survived abortions. 

It almost is a double negative when you say “survived an abortion.”  When an abortion is meant to kill but you can survive.  I guess that just shows you how cruel and unusual some of the abortion procedures can be.  Even though the Born Alive Infant Protection Act was passed in 2002 there are still clinics that practice this type of abortion.  It was recently noted that a Planned Parenthood Clinic in the east coast was still performing this method.  Some babies who are meant to be aborted actually come out alive.  There is no statistic showing how many survive and are still alive today to talk about it.  And there is no statistic that shows how many survive but die shortly after because they are not cared for properly.

How scary does that sound?

Monday night I went to the New Kids on the Block concert with my sister and friend Nicole B.  We totally dorked out and made puffy paint t-shirts for the concert.  When we got there we fit in perfectly because a lot of the fans were wearing their retro neon gear from the 80s.  It was a riot.

There were 20,000 fans at the concert (I would say only 100 were men of the 20,000.)  Many of us were there reminising about our younger days when the New Kids were on top of the music world.  They were the 90s version of the Beatles. 

It has been 15 years since they last played together.

 Joey by far is the best looking.

But Jordan, who was my favorite, has the best voice.  He still can hit those high notes.  Oh the feeling of a childhood crush.

The concert was amazing (second best-right after U2) and we had the time of our lives.  I felt like a little kid all over again.  Singing and dancing and screaming like a little girl.  It was great.

I originally said that I wouldn’t talk about politics again on this website, at least until the next election.  Well, unfortunately I was wrong.  Last week I was getting ready for Bible Study and one of the questions I had to answer was, “How does God want to use you to advance His Kingdom?”  I instantly realized God is using my blog to promote His message.  It seems to be my only outlet and apparently people listen.  And the more I sat and thought about it the more I realized I couldn’t, and shouldn’t, remain silent for four years. 

I think that is the big problem with the pro-life movement.  We only seem to come out with our arms swinging during election time.  If we have a successful election then we go back in hiding until the next election.  If the election is not successful then we sit and wait until something happens that affects the pro-life movement.  By doing this the movement gets lost and slowly fades away.  And eventually abortion won’t be an issue anymore.

With that said, I’ve decided that I need to devote more time to the cause.  Occasionally I need to write on my blog about important issues in the movement.  And even outside the blog I need to be more proactive in my daily life.  I guess that is how God is using me to advance His Kingdom.

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I was surfing the net this morning and saw that Obama is planning on overturning at least 200 of the Bush administration actions and executive orders.  Does every president come in office and do this?  Just wondering because if that is the case then each election we would be taking steps backwards and then again forward when the next president comes.  I’m sure that doesn’t make sense when you read it but I know what I meant in my head.

Jill Stanek blogged today about the actions & orders that have to do with the pro-life movement.  If you read her post you will get an idea of Obama’s priorities before he is sworn into office.  He complains about all the money we as taxpayers are investing into the war yet he is okay with our tax money paying for abortions in the US and in other countries?  Even though I am against the war I still would rather see my money go there then to funding abortions.  What about you.  Of the two, would you rather fund the war or abortions in the US and other countries?

We let Mary Rene pick the winner

She actually picked a piece of paper out of the tupperware bowl (a little blurry)

And the winner is…

Yeah to Laura!  Caden will love the ointment!  Or I guess I should say you will love the ointment.  Enjoy and I will see you next Sunday!

The wonderful folks at Lansinoh sent me their diaper rash product so I could try it out on Mary Rene.  Let me tell you it is the best rash ointment I’ve used thus far!  I was using Destin because I heard it was the best.  Destin had such a strong smell that I hated to put it on Mary Rene’s little tush.  One night I came home from a meeting and I instantly smelled that Frank had put the Destin on Mary’s diaper (I have a super sniffer.)  Plus it was so thick and left her butt all white and it wasn’t easy to get off.  Lansinoh’s ointment is scentless and goes on white but dries clear.  It goes on really smooth too and feels like lotion.  When I used it the rash cleared up by the second diaper change!  I put the Destin away and I am going to start using this rash ointment instead.  Much much better on the behind.

So, does anyone out there want to win a free tube of the Lansinoh Diaper Rash Ointment?  If so, leave a comment on this post about an exploding poop situation.  All comments left by 5 p.m. on Sunday will be put in the drawing for the free diaper rash.  Good luck!

On Halloween when I went to take Mary Rene’s Halloween picture her pumpkin was missing off the porch.  I found it laying in the yard.  Some animal had carried it off the porch and started eating it.

Later that night when we came home from Jim & Nicole C.’s house the pumpkin was missing. 

The last few days while I was nursing Mary Rene on the front couch I could hear an animal eating away at Frank’s pumpkin.  I kept trying to sneak a peek to see what type of animal it was but I could never get there in time.

Yesterday when I left for Emily’s house for a playdate this is what the animal had done to Frank’s pumpkin.  Looks like they had a nice little treat.

There are large claw marks on the top so we are thinking it is a raccoon. 

When I went for my walk last night the animal had a claw mark on my pumpkin (the little one next to Frank’s pumpkin.)  I guess we should stop being lazy and throw the pumpkins away.

As was predicted and as expected, Obama will be our next president.  Let’s just pray that he forgets what he told Planned Parenthood last year regarding FOCA.  And if he remembers, let’s just pray that FOCA gets vetoed.  As an American I will support my president, like McCain requested in his concession speech, but I will not support his radical ideas regarding life.  FOCA is too extreme.  None of the Obama supporters have yet to explain to me why partial birth abortion is necessary. 

I remember when Mary Rene was growing inside of me and starting to run out of room.  As it got more crowded in my belly I could feel her constantly moving.  Sometimes she would gab her foot or hand against the wall of my uterus.  I would press against that foot or hand and she would respond by kicking back.  It was a little game I played with her.  So how can someone tell me that a baby can’t feel an abortion doctor squeezing their brains to pieces? 

Please join me in prayer that FOCA will not get passed.

One day until the election.  After today I will go back to talking about the amazingly beautiful Mary Rene (who is having exploding poop today-might be because I ate Mexican last night!)  I’m going to take this opportunity to address a few issues that have come up in the comment section on some of my last post.

1. I never voted for Bush.  He definitely isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.  And frankly I will be glad when he is out of office.  But honestly, can we blame Bush for all of our problems?  Is it really his fault that the banks are collapsing?  Is it really his fault that the housing market has dropped?  That the price of gas is high?  Do you honestly believe as Americans we have given enough power to one man to bring our country down?  I’m not saying he is perfect but by no means did he create all the messes that we are in today.  I think a lot of it has to do with greed.  Greed on the banks who want more money.  Greed on the Americans who want more and more and more.  Sure Bush hasn’t done much to fix the problem but we haven’t either.  My dad works for Chrysler and they just closed another shift at his plant.  Eventually he might be forced into early retirement.  Because of my dad working there, I have never and will never buy a foreign car.  (One of the guys I dated in high school drove a Honda and he was not allowed to park in front of my parents’ house!)  I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart.  I only buy groceries from the local food chains.  I wish I could say I only buy American when it comes to clothes but that is just plain hard.  But I am trying to do my part.
2. I can only think of two good things that Bush has done while in office:  passed the Born Alive Infant Act and banned partial birth abortion.  To me, those are amazing accomplishments.  Unfortunately partial birth abortion might be overturned.
3. I hate war.  I was angry when we went to war with Iraq years ago.  The war is the biggest reason I don’t support Bush.  I still don’t get the war and why we are there.  But we are there and we can’t leave now.  We have to finish what we started.  We can’t just pick up and leave.  Many people don’t realize that we still have troops in Germany from World War II.  We still have troops in Korea from the Korean War.  Our American troops are stationed voluntarily around the world-protecting our freedom.  My uncle, who is one of my closest friends, is stationed in Afghanistan right now.  He volunteered and trust me his wife is pissed!  He volunteered two years ago to be stationed in Iraq.  He volunteered years ago to be stationed in Kuwait.  He willingly knows he is risking his life but he does this because he loves his country.  He does more then I can say I have ever done for this country.  I applaud him and all the troops for their bravery.  And I thank them with all my heart for what they are doing for us.  But they did volunteer.  They were not drafted.  Which to me is more honorable that they did volunteer.
4. I am not republican.  In fact, tomorrow I will be voting for both democrats and republicans.  I am actually pretty liberal in my thoughts and a lot of my views upset my husband (just like you Lerin!)  Frank and I have fought over some of my liberal views!  Obama would be the perfect candidate for me if he was pro-life.  But that one issue pushes me away from him.
5. Education is important.  That is why I am voting for McCain.  Right now, everyone pays for the public school system in the community they live.  If you decide to send your child to a charter or private school, you still pay for the public school through taxes yet you don’t get any assistance with private education.  McCain wants to make it possible that everyone gets vouchers so they can send their children to any school they want-public, private or charter.  We plan on sending our children to a Catholic private school and if someday I have the luxury of being a stay-at-home mom, the voucher will help.  I don’t think it is fair to be restricted to the local public school because you can’t afford the luxuries of a charter or private school
6. Fixing the economy is important.  Winning the war is important.  But none of this matters without life.  I can’t put the life issue to the side on the account of another issue.  It is innocent life we are talking about.  These babies are not volunteering to be killed.  They have no choice.  They can’t speak for themselves.  That is our job as Christians. 
7. I remember months before Mary Rene was born and I couldn’t sleep because she was moving around so much.  This could easily have been at six months, seven, eight or nine.  She still is a little fireball and I love her with every ounce of my body.  If FOCA is passed, a baby could be aborted up to the ninth month.  That sickens me. 
8. If FOCA is passed partial birth abortion will be legal again.  Can anyone out there give justification for this extreme form of abortion?  Seriously?  Give me one reason that this type of abortion is necessary. 
9. In 16 years, Mary Rene can legally drive.  In 18 years she can legally vote.  In 21 years she can legally drink.  But if FOCA is passed she will be able to legally kill a baby at any age without my parental consent.  That just doesn’t make sense.
10. As a practicing Catholic it is my duty to put life first.  I cannot receive the amazing gift of the Eucharist on Sunday and vote pro-choice.  That would make me a hypocrite to God.  I would much rather be a hypocrite in the eyes of the public then to my Lord and Savior.  When the minister says, “The Body of Christ” I couldn’t be honest and say “Amen” if I voted against Christ.  If I voted pro-choice I couldn’t receive Communion this Sunday and there is no way I am doing that.  Receiving the Eucharist is the most important thing I do during the week and I will not deny myself that amazing gift.

Abortion is my issue and more so now with FOCA coming back into the picture.  The other issues don’t matter to me.  I know many people out there do not agree that I, and many practicing Catholics and Christians, vote on one issue.  But we believe it is our duty to Christ.  He gave me the ultimate sacrifice of His life and I owe Him for that.  He is not asking me to better my country by voting for the candidate who will get us out of the war.  He is not asking me to better my country by voting for the candidate who will improve the economy.  He is not asking me to better my country by improving our schools.  Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God, is asking me to protect His children.  And that is what I intend to do.  As long as I breath the air that God gave me, I will vote pro-life.  I made too many wrong votes in the past because I wasn’t one with my church and someday I will have to answer to God.  I can only hope that God will forgive me for my past mistakes and recognize the changes I have made.

Since the campaign ads on tv are one-sided (and truthfully make no sense!) I have dug up some interesting videos regarding one of the candidates and his feelings on a very important issue.  Obama is one of the most extreme pro-choice candidates that has ever seeked presidential title.  He doesn’t talk about the issue much but he is pretty darn clear where he stands. 

The Freedom of Choice Act is going to be up again in Congress for another vote.  Basically FOCA makes abortion a “right” throughout the nine months of pregnancy, no government body can deny the right to an abortion, women would NOT need to be told the risk of abortion, parents would NOT need to be informed of the abortion, conscience protection laws would end, abortions would NOT have to be performed by a licensed physician, and the list goes on.

Check out this video on youtube where in 2007 he tells a Planned Parenthood audience that the first bill he will pass as president is FOCA.  You see where his priorities are now?  Not the economy.  Not the war.  Just a horrible bill to make it easier to get an abortion.

Want more evidence?  This video explains where he stood on the Born Alive Infant Act.  These were babies that were meant to die through an abortion but miraculously lived.  But instead of being cared for like any other human being, they were taken to a closet and left to die.  I’m not lying.  This practice was true.  And thankfully to the persistence of Jill Stanek a law was created to stop this practice.  As the video points out, 98% of legislation voted for the Born Alive Infant Act to be passed.  Did Obama?  No.  Three times he voted against it.  Why?

These are only two examples of his views on such an important issue.  The Internet is filled with many more.  Know where your candidate stands before you vote.