Glide Bike

I need a little bit of outside input on my current dilemma...I think Allie will need a bike for the summer...I may be jumping the gun a bit on this purchase, but she's so coordinated and interested in everything big sis is doing I think I need to think proactively in this situation.

Here's the problem...most people start their children on a trike, then move on to the bike with training wheels, then eventually graduate to the big kid bike. Well...in my searches for a cute little trike that was decent quality and not to heavy I stumbled upon what is referred to as the "glide bike". I had never heard of these little rigs before, but apparently the are the cool trend in Europe and they are starting to catch on in the US...basically they are a big kid bike with no pedals. The model I like has foot pegs. The kids are able to propel themselves by pushing with their feet and then "gliding" along. It is supposed to teach them balance and eliminate the need for the trike and training wheels. To me this sounds like a fantastic idea and it makes total sense. Eli thinks it's totally ridiculous as does Uncle Kip. They both think I would be wasting money by buying such a "stupid piece of crap". I think they are closed minded. The one I like is called the PV Mini Glider and it sells for about $85 at Costco.com. I think that's a bargain for a good quality starter bike. And...it's PINK!!!!

Any opinion on the subject would be greatly appreciated!!

MaryStarr...you look fabulous. I believe your pregnant body may in fact be more attractive than my body has ever looked...EVER!!! And I love the picture of Ava.

27 weeks along...

Hey, Been busy here. Vivian had strep throat. I think my kids have immune systems of steel though. The boys didn't get it at all.

sick

hello darlings-
everyone here has been sick as dogs this week. i got off work saturday and went to pick up the girls at my mother's house only to find out that they had been puking for hours. so they proceded to puke all over me and, covered in my vomit-strewn scrubs, went back to work so they could go to the ER. fun. fortunately, it was only a nasty stomach virus. that little bug, though, did hit me, dan, my sister, my mother, and my BIL. basically, everyone that was near the girls that day. lil' Outbreak monkies...i swear...
so i don't have much to post but i did want to drop in for a sec.

xoxo
kri

Marystarr, That book does sound interesting. Might have to see if I can find it at the library (I hate buying a book and finding out I do not like it, much prefer to read before buying).

Maigan, Hope Eli is feeling better soon. It does suck that almost every bank is getting painted with the same brush. I have long been a Wells Fargo customer and have yet to find a reason to be upset with the business dealings.

Book

MaryStarr...that book sounds intriguing...I think I might pick up a copy. Are there a lot of good suggestions in it that you have found to be useful? My only concern would be finding the ingredients...where do you buy those kinds of things? A natural food store?

Things here have been pretty much the same old thing. Just plugging away at work and enjoying my time home with the kiddos. Nothing too spectacular. Eli hurt his back and has been off work for nearly two weeks now. It's making him very grumpy. He's supposed to be at the doctor's office right now to get cleared to go back to work...hopefully he gets a clean bill of health!

I made the mistake of wearing my Wells Fargo jacket out in public last week when I stopped to get gas and the attendant gave me the evil eye and started questioning me about the ethics of Wells Fargo and on and on...it was horrible. I have tried to avoid the topic outside of work, but I feel the need to adress it at this point. I have never been on the negative end of media attention, and it's truly awful. The story that hit was potentially misleading...the "junket" was actually a four day recognition event for employees who generated over $230 billion in mortgage loans for our customers. The general public doesn't fully understand the way the funds Wells Fargo recieved were directed and that just adds to the misrepresentation. Wells Fargo was actually forced by the government to accept the funds, Wells did not ask nor need to be bailed out. They are sitting in a reserve account and Wells Fargo is paying dividends to the government. It sucks for employees becuase now upper management has been forced to cancel all of the recognition events for 2009. It's sad because Wells Fargo is a good company and has made good decissions, but has now been grouped with the other lenders out there who made bad choices. I am sure the attention will pass, but it still is very frustrating.

hello quiet and sleepy friends

let's be more chatty, shall we?  hehe.  I know this is always a busy time of year, but we need to RALLY (as we say in New Hampshuh).  

Amy, big hugs.  I think it is probably incredibly overwhelming to think of the task ahead in helping Samuel live with autism... and in living with it yourself.  I am sorry honey that it has you down and out.  It makes sense that you will have huge ups and downs in your perspective and your ability to deal... some days you will feel like a supermom who is blessed with a challenge of a special and unique scenario of child raising, other days, like now, it will bum you out and make you feel tired and doubt that you are up to a challenge such as this.  That is ok, friend.  It doesn't mean that you AREN'T up to it.  Everybody has doubts and frankly, humility is your best friend because it reminds you that you need support and nourishment too.  This is a huge, HUGE karmic path you are on with your son.  Please take care of yourself and be gentle with yourself.  You can only be strong for Samuel if you do.  Big hugs.  Big love.

We are finally getting some rain here in our drought ridden state.  Apparently this is the worst drought ever in California history, worse than in the 70's when there was statewide water rationing.  I am wondering when they will institute water rationing for us...  We are in year three of it and desperate for some heavy rains, but most of January was 70's and sunny.  It was lovely, don't get me wrong... but totally not what we need.  Hopefully the rains keep up now through march and we can store a little water. I am worried about fire season.

Ava was sick this weekend but made a quick recovery, thankfully.  I have a great book, called 'naturally healthy babies and children' by Aviva Jill Romm, which has great information in it about herbal nutrition and healing for kids.  I made Ava an infusion (that's a very strong tea) of red clover blossoms, rose hips and nettle with lemon and honey and she drank it all day on the day she spiked a crazy fever.  It was really cool, because it brought her fever down and I didn't have to give her ibuprofen or tylenol.  Plus I am certain it kept her from getting sicker because nettle is an antibacterial, and rose hips are an immune support.  The book has a foreword written by Dr. Sears, so in case any of you are wary of alternative medicine you know it comes highly regarded from the pediatric community.  I really appreciate having ideas for fostering wellness, so that she will be sick less and for shorter times.  I like having more of a role in it than just bringing her to the doctors office.

Ok.  25 weeks now.  Doing well, feeling good.  My gestational diabetes really kicked into high gear though, so now I am on the super diet.  No more bread for mama, which sucks, because I really love sandwiches.  That's ok... it is only 3 more months.  Since I have been off any sugars for the whole pregnancy, now all I have to drop is the complex carbs.  I can do the south beach thing for three months.  oy.  But I do get a little tired of salad and meat.

how is everyone else?

MaryStarr

Man am I tired. Just that downright, out and out exhausted for no real reason tired. Plenty of sleep but I haven't been waking up feeling rested.

I am just feeling overly anxious about Samuel. He is such a sweet little boy, but I am feeling overwhelmed. Raising him feels like an insurmountable task at the moment. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want him to be 'normal' for all the world because that would change everything about him. It just seem so uncertain.

Sorry for complaining.