But I still celebrate it.
Pictures to come as soon as Leah get's them uploaded, but for now - here is the aftermath of too many Christmases at our house.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas
As much fun as our family has around Christmas, and as much as I enjoy getting together with everyone, the whole concept of it drives me nuts in more than one way.
But I still celebrate it.
Pictures to come as soon as Leah get's them uploaded, but for now - here is the aftermath of too many Christmases at our house.
But I still celebrate it.
Pictures to come as soon as Leah get's them uploaded, but for now - here is the aftermath of too many Christmases at our house.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Darkness!
The sickness has hit our home! However, it seems to have only hit Leah thankfully. She was out of commission for 24 hours yesterday - laid up in bed or on the pot desperately trying to sleep or keep whatever she tried to eat down.
Yesterday morning she says "I want some ice and coke" ... we only have cherry coke ... "I know that's what I want." Weird - for someone puking but - she got it down and kept it down! The movement to be better the rest of the day was great. I was able to get some things done for work and Meema and help clean up the garage a bit.
Today I will be finishing up some things at the office, building a little thing, and closing up shop until after the holidays! I gave Dave (our part time driver and long time family friend) the next week off because we had nothing scheduled. Then - of course we got a call that we need runs Monday through Thursday! Great for business, and Dave doesn't mind, but I knew it would happen!
Now I just need to get some space leased and recycle everyone's cardboard!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Projects!
So last yesterday I was able to get a project done that we were really aching to get done. The previous owner had an office off of our dining room. However - for some reason there was no light there! I ran a line from the outlet through the wall, to a switch, up through the ceiling to a light in the center of the room. Now - if only the light bulb hadn't broke! One of those new 2 pronged halogens or something?
Then Leah and Caleb and Dylan went over to see Steve and Susie for a bit... Dylan HATES the cold weather! However, he makes a pretty adorable abominable snowman... RAWR!
Last night was the eclipse - and sadly I did not get up to see it. However it was very cloudy in our part of the state anyway. Some of the photos are pretty amazing, and I guess I'll have to wait another 450+/- years to see another one coincide with the winter solstice!
Oh - Leah thinks she has the flu just in time for Christmas! Hooray!
Then Leah and Caleb and Dylan went over to see Steve and Susie for a bit... Dylan HATES the cold weather! However, he makes a pretty adorable abominable snowman... RAWR!
Last night was the eclipse - and sadly I did not get up to see it. However it was very cloudy in our part of the state anyway. Some of the photos are pretty amazing, and I guess I'll have to wait another 450+/- years to see another one coincide with the winter solstice!
Oh - Leah thinks she has the flu just in time for Christmas! Hooray!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Norlin Goals
So over the past few days I've been struggling with a direction to take Norlin for the future. We have 50,000 square feet available, so what do we do with it? I have been toying with options - and do we want to be greedy or focus on creating sustainable wealth for our firm? In all reality if I found a company to rent our entire space we have no immediate growth strategy - other than more driving services.
If we find a few firms to provide services to we could expand our suite of services that we offer - however our expenses would increase exponentially with the services. More, smaller clients means more paperwork, more employee costs, more stress with performance requirements, and more worries about getting paid.
If we find a company to put a business in our location - IE hire people and run it themselves - then we don't have any worries about our costs, just collecting a check every month. However - this puts me in a position of saying "what next" or, "all my eggs are in one basket." Sometimes this can be great - a-la Fairmont Foods for 40 years. Sometimes - a fly by night could drop out of sight in a year!
However - I feel that a combination of marketing efforts to both options is our best way to move forward. The past 2 years have been extremely frustrating for me getting turned down on a daily / weekly / monthly basis. However, I feel that approaching the new year with a renewed vigor and strategy may be just what the doctor ordered.
I am picking the top 20 businesses within 60 miles that I want to get business from, and marketing to them physically, digitally, and verbally every 2 weeks until I get a meeting. Now - I am not offering a sale up front - rather new market information in their industry that could be of potential interest to them. After doing some research I see that to get clients and keep them, you need to teach them.
What can I offer you? Why should you meet with me? What is going to come of my time? Not - buy from me. I think this is a better way of going at people instead of saying "hey I want you to buy this from me." So - over the next 2 weeks I will be developing some marketing materials that are specifically designed for these individuals and our industry. Information on 2011 concerns on transportation in Pennsylvania. Information on cardboard recycling price volatility. And information on storage issues in a down economy.
I'm excited - for the first time in a long time - about the potential business we can earn and the possible future growth of Norlin.
If we find a few firms to provide services to we could expand our suite of services that we offer - however our expenses would increase exponentially with the services. More, smaller clients means more paperwork, more employee costs, more stress with performance requirements, and more worries about getting paid.
If we find a company to put a business in our location - IE hire people and run it themselves - then we don't have any worries about our costs, just collecting a check every month. However - this puts me in a position of saying "what next" or, "all my eggs are in one basket." Sometimes this can be great - a-la Fairmont Foods for 40 years. Sometimes - a fly by night could drop out of sight in a year!
However - I feel that a combination of marketing efforts to both options is our best way to move forward. The past 2 years have been extremely frustrating for me getting turned down on a daily / weekly / monthly basis. However, I feel that approaching the new year with a renewed vigor and strategy may be just what the doctor ordered.
I am picking the top 20 businesses within 60 miles that I want to get business from, and marketing to them physically, digitally, and verbally every 2 weeks until I get a meeting. Now - I am not offering a sale up front - rather new market information in their industry that could be of potential interest to them. After doing some research I see that to get clients and keep them, you need to teach them.
What can I offer you? Why should you meet with me? What is going to come of my time? Not - buy from me. I think this is a better way of going at people instead of saying "hey I want you to buy this from me." So - over the next 2 weeks I will be developing some marketing materials that are specifically designed for these individuals and our industry. Information on 2011 concerns on transportation in Pennsylvania. Information on cardboard recycling price volatility. And information on storage issues in a down economy.
I'm excited - for the first time in a long time - about the potential business we can earn and the possible future growth of Norlin.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
What's up homeslice?
The twins had their 2 month checkup yesterday (about 2 weeks late) and got some shots to boot. I wasn't able to go to the appointment, but thankfully Leah's mom was available to help her out. Everything went great, and they are growing like they should be.
Dylan is 11lbs, 11oz, and 23 inches. Just shy of the 50th percentile which is great, considering he was a twin and had stomach surgery!
Chelsea is 9lbs, 5oz, and 21 3/4 inches. This is probably in the 30th percentile, which is also great considering the terrible amounts of colic and inability to eat she has faced. She is now on Prevacid and Zantac to help with her reflux - which - knock on wood after the Prevacid last night she has been draining bottles!
Caleb is now 28lbs and 35 inches. I have no idea what percentile that is, but most likely the 20th or so - he is going to be on the smaller side we think. Apparently, with heart babies that is relatively normal.
So it looks like we might have 2 Leah size kids and 1 me size. Although Dylan is on pace to grow much bigger at his exponential rise! But health updates aside things are going well at our house. Although we are going to have a slumber party with Caleb - he is very jealous of the fact that the babies sleep in our room. We have explained it is because they get up all the time, but to a 2 year old that doesn't always make a difference.
His vocabulary is pretty intense. And he is starting to enjoy reading a lot - at least 2 books before bedtime plus all the time during the day (when he isn't playing something, or imagining he is cleaning, or cooking, or sometimes watching TV because you need a break and have 2 other kids to hold (my wife is super woman) ). We are now working on the I, ME, MY instead of Caleb, Caleb, Caleb. Note: new parents - don't correct your child by saying their name, correct them using the proper pronoun!
Both of the babies are cooing, wiggling, focusing and following, and recognize people now. Dylan especially recognizes me, and smiles any time he hears me or I get in front of him - melts my heart. AND last night he GIGGLED at Leah! I missed it, but Leah swears he did. Here he is in a nice little hat for Chelsea - but he was up!
Looking forward to seeing everyone and having people meet the new kids at Christmas!
Dylan is 11lbs, 11oz, and 23 inches. Just shy of the 50th percentile which is great, considering he was a twin and had stomach surgery!
Chelsea is 9lbs, 5oz, and 21 3/4 inches. This is probably in the 30th percentile, which is also great considering the terrible amounts of colic and inability to eat she has faced. She is now on Prevacid and Zantac to help with her reflux - which - knock on wood after the Prevacid last night she has been draining bottles!
Caleb is now 28lbs and 35 inches. I have no idea what percentile that is, but most likely the 20th or so - he is going to be on the smaller side we think. Apparently, with heart babies that is relatively normal.
So it looks like we might have 2 Leah size kids and 1 me size. Although Dylan is on pace to grow much bigger at his exponential rise! But health updates aside things are going well at our house. Although we are going to have a slumber party with Caleb - he is very jealous of the fact that the babies sleep in our room. We have explained it is because they get up all the time, but to a 2 year old that doesn't always make a difference.
His vocabulary is pretty intense. And he is starting to enjoy reading a lot - at least 2 books before bedtime plus all the time during the day (when he isn't playing something, or imagining he is cleaning, or cooking, or sometimes watching TV because you need a break and have 2 other kids to hold (my wife is super woman) ). We are now working on the I, ME, MY instead of Caleb, Caleb, Caleb. Note: new parents - don't correct your child by saying their name, correct them using the proper pronoun!
Both of the babies are cooing, wiggling, focusing and following, and recognize people now. Dylan especially recognizes me, and smiles any time he hears me or I get in front of him - melts my heart. AND last night he GIGGLED at Leah! I missed it, but Leah swears he did. Here he is in a nice little hat for Chelsea - but he was up!
Looking forward to seeing everyone and having people meet the new kids at Christmas!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Politics Again
So - the people in Washington are playing games with our money again.
Here are my feelings. People who have been on unemployment for 2 years should be cut off. Period. No excuses, there are jobs out there you just aren't WILLING to do them. No wonder out Hispanic population has all the jobs - they are willing to do things you aren't.
Also - I was on unemployment plus 1 day of work for almost a year, and I didn't get an extension, so I took an offer from the same company for less money because I am not going to sit on my ass and do nothing. Although I did turn down a potential job for more because driving an hour a day extra to make a little more with 3 kids - just not worth it, I am still off the system.
Tax cuts, tax breaks, more unemployment, estate tax , can't we just have smaller government oversight? The government has grown by over 290,000 jobs in the past two years - come on! And still - the unemployment rates climbed! What's that mean? I think the government is hiring to many people for oversight and privacy invasion that we don't need.
As for tax rates - I shouldn't care if the rich get a tax break, as long as I do as well. Why are people so terribly jealous of that? The majority of the Democratic party thinks the Republics are just for the rich people. But why do people care if they make more money too? Proportionally the rich pay more than anyone as it is. "They don't need more money," so I guess poor people don't then either. There shouldn't be a limit on who gets breaks in my opinion.
In fact, I am a proponent of a flat tax. Everyone pays the same rate if you make over poverty levels - period. No exemptions, no wiggle room - just the same rate. Could you imagine how much money could be saved on IRS oversight? Find a new job you tax agents - nobody needs you anymore! If you make a million, you pay X%, if you make 50k you still pay X%, proportionally everything is fair. This would also eliminate double taxation problems AND encourage investment and job growth! However - you would need to destroy the current tax code to do it - no more shelters, tax deferments, or exempt income for the richest of the rich. Heck - Warren Buffet paid LESS tax than his SECRETARY!
And estate tax? What total bullshit is that. The tax has ALREADY been paid on those assets for the original owner to gain them. If your mother spent her whole life making a company worth millions, paid the taxes on it over those years, why oh why should you have to pay millions in taxes if you want to inherit it? Total. Absolute. Bull. Shit.
Anyway, just had to rant a little. Hope everyone is gearing up nicely for the holidays!
Here are my feelings. People who have been on unemployment for 2 years should be cut off. Period. No excuses, there are jobs out there you just aren't WILLING to do them. No wonder out Hispanic population has all the jobs - they are willing to do things you aren't.
Also - I was on unemployment plus 1 day of work for almost a year, and I didn't get an extension, so I took an offer from the same company for less money because I am not going to sit on my ass and do nothing. Although I did turn down a potential job for more because driving an hour a day extra to make a little more with 3 kids - just not worth it, I am still off the system.
Tax cuts, tax breaks, more unemployment, estate tax , can't we just have smaller government oversight? The government has grown by over 290,000 jobs in the past two years - come on! And still - the unemployment rates climbed! What's that mean? I think the government is hiring to many people for oversight and privacy invasion that we don't need.
As for tax rates - I shouldn't care if the rich get a tax break, as long as I do as well. Why are people so terribly jealous of that? The majority of the Democratic party thinks the Republics are just for the rich people. But why do people care if they make more money too? Proportionally the rich pay more than anyone as it is. "They don't need more money," so I guess poor people don't then either. There shouldn't be a limit on who gets breaks in my opinion.
In fact, I am a proponent of a flat tax. Everyone pays the same rate if you make over poverty levels - period. No exemptions, no wiggle room - just the same rate. Could you imagine how much money could be saved on IRS oversight? Find a new job you tax agents - nobody needs you anymore! If you make a million, you pay X%, if you make 50k you still pay X%, proportionally everything is fair. This would also eliminate double taxation problems AND encourage investment and job growth! However - you would need to destroy the current tax code to do it - no more shelters, tax deferments, or exempt income for the richest of the rich. Heck - Warren Buffet paid LESS tax than his SECRETARY!
And estate tax? What total bullshit is that. The tax has ALREADY been paid on those assets for the original owner to gain them. If your mother spent her whole life making a company worth millions, paid the taxes on it over those years, why oh why should you have to pay millions in taxes if you want to inherit it? Total. Absolute. Bull. Shit.
Anyway, just had to rant a little. Hope everyone is gearing up nicely for the holidays!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Christmas Approaches!
So as Christmas time approaches, we have had to start cleaning up the garage (to put the van back in!) because there was a bit of an explosion of holiday related items. Let's just say 1/2 of our entire attic is Christmas / Holiday decorations.Add to that the extra stuff I brought down of things we haven't touched since we moved home from Frederick (some since COLLEGE) and we had some cleaning up to do! But we made some pretty good progress - and I am parting with about 200 (+) books just because it is time. Some college books, but mostly fiction & non-fiction that I really have enjoyed reading over the past 4 years.To make matters even more crazy we decided to wrap some presents last night. Twas interesting with all 3 up and Caleb running around like a mad man with his tube. That was nearly a 1/2 full roll... til he got his hands on it. Oh well - kept him busy!
I went to a friends wedding from college on Friday night and when I got back Saturday (I was up and ready to go at 8, then took a 45 minute shower at the hotel, then proceeded to try and find my jacket from the night before... yea too much gin. I've decided that if Leah isn't with me I must stick to water). But when I got home we went out to eat, Pizza Hut!
I am also trying to figure out why a 6MP camera on my DROID X is TERRIBLE! Anyway, we went home and had a pretty good evening - and I got to spend some quality belly time with Dylan - never mind the double chin there!
I am so looking to the time when they are moving much more and shaking a whole bunch! They are already very attentive and alert, following, cooing, making some fun noises. Dylan DESPERATELY tries to laugh when you tickle him but only gets out noises instead. In time Daddy, in time.
11 shopping days until Christmas! GET IN GEAR!
I went to a friends wedding from college on Friday night and when I got back Saturday (I was up and ready to go at 8, then took a 45 minute shower at the hotel, then proceeded to try and find my jacket from the night before... yea too much gin. I've decided that if Leah isn't with me I must stick to water). But when I got home we went out to eat, Pizza Hut!
I am also trying to figure out why a 6MP camera on my DROID X is TERRIBLE! Anyway, we went home and had a pretty good evening - and I got to spend some quality belly time with Dylan - never mind the double chin there!
I am so looking to the time when they are moving much more and shaking a whole bunch! They are already very attentive and alert, following, cooing, making some fun noises. Dylan DESPERATELY tries to laugh when you tickle him but only gets out noises instead. In time Daddy, in time.
11 shopping days until Christmas! GET IN GEAR!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Top 10
Reasons I Miss It Being Just Leah and I:
1. Up and leaving with Leah for a weekend or a night for the hell of it.
2. Getting projects and renovations done on a timely schedule.
3. Going out with the boys - even though it was once a quarter.
4. Being able to play video games.
5. Sleep.
Reasons I Wouldn't Change It For the World:
1. Being absolutely terrible at hide and seek.
2. Seeing the smiles that my kids make for others.
3. "Maybe it's not" (No, it is dark out. Repeat ad nauseam)
4. Giggles, coos, laughs, and crying.
5. I'm "Daddy."
As we approach the Christmas season - as much a problem I have with the "birth of Jesus on Christmas" fib - I still support the basis behind gift giving. I for one am grateful to a large constituency of people for making my life the way it is - the very best of whom live in my house.
I am lucky to still have all 4 of them as my family, and I just viewed this video from a Facebook friend of people who don't anymore. Count your blessings today, every day, and especially throughout this season into the new year if your loved ones are still with you. And if you make it through this video without at least tearing up you should have your heart checked. Of course, if you have been in anything close to this situation with any part of your family - let alone your own children I expect full on tears.
1. Up and leaving with Leah for a weekend or a night for the hell of it.
2. Getting projects and renovations done on a timely schedule.
3. Going out with the boys - even though it was once a quarter.
4. Being able to play video games.
5. Sleep.
Reasons I Wouldn't Change It For the World:
1. Being absolutely terrible at hide and seek.
2. Seeing the smiles that my kids make for others.
3. "Maybe it's not" (No, it is dark out. Repeat ad nauseam)
4. Giggles, coos, laughs, and crying.
5. I'm "Daddy."
As we approach the Christmas season - as much a problem I have with the "birth of Jesus on Christmas" fib - I still support the basis behind gift giving. I for one am grateful to a large constituency of people for making my life the way it is - the very best of whom live in my house.
I am lucky to still have all 4 of them as my family, and I just viewed this video from a Facebook friend of people who don't anymore. Count your blessings today, every day, and especially throughout this season into the new year if your loved ones are still with you. And if you make it through this video without at least tearing up you should have your heart checked. Of course, if you have been in anything close to this situation with any part of your family - let alone your own children I expect full on tears.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Too long!
So I have been away too long, and need to update everything.
Last night - Caleb spent the night at Grammies sleeping with Gam Gam! Leah cried a little, but he was so excited to go - and it was only suggested on a whim! The twins ate (ok, Dylan drained his bottle Chelsea cried through 1/2 of hers) at 8, were out by 9, and slept until 6AM!
Talk about a break through of sleep last night, surprisingly I feel even more tired today even though I got 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep - literally didn't know I fell asleep until my alarm went off! And I forgot my coffee in the kitchen this AM - D'oh!
Chelsea is terrible though. Crying fits for the past week - obscene crying fits - that she won't snap out of and can't stop. She cries through them, and suffers. We went to the doctor yesterday to try and figure something out, but nothing seems to be working. Hopefully she can get through this and settle her belly!
Christmas is almost upon us - and we need a Christmas miracle! So last week I get a call that someone wants to come through our space - great. They did yesterday, and so did someone else. Hopefully by the end of this week 25k total of our 50 will be rented out!
Plus - I love my DROID. I have passed on the previous 5-6 years of upgrades on my phone so Leah could upgrade. We have even switched a company phone upgrade for her! This year was my turn - and it has paid off nicely! Love it!
Last night - Caleb spent the night at Grammies sleeping with Gam Gam! Leah cried a little, but he was so excited to go - and it was only suggested on a whim! The twins ate (ok, Dylan drained his bottle Chelsea cried through 1/2 of hers) at 8, were out by 9, and slept until 6AM!
Talk about a break through of sleep last night, surprisingly I feel even more tired today even though I got 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep - literally didn't know I fell asleep until my alarm went off! And I forgot my coffee in the kitchen this AM - D'oh!
Chelsea is terrible though. Crying fits for the past week - obscene crying fits - that she won't snap out of and can't stop. She cries through them, and suffers. We went to the doctor yesterday to try and figure something out, but nothing seems to be working. Hopefully she can get through this and settle her belly!
Christmas is almost upon us - and we need a Christmas miracle! So last week I get a call that someone wants to come through our space - great. They did yesterday, and so did someone else. Hopefully by the end of this week 25k total of our 50 will be rented out!
Plus - I love my DROID. I have passed on the previous 5-6 years of upgrades on my phone so Leah could upgrade. We have even switched a company phone upgrade for her! This year was my turn - and it has paid off nicely! Love it!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Play time with the girls!
So we had our friends up last night - Brooke & Malana (and Libby & Michelle) to play and have some pizza. The first 10 minutes were pretty quiet - but then... things got crazy.
My son, by the end of the night - ends up pimping. He was giving everyone hugs and kisses and making sure everyone was ok. He wanted to take the girls up stairs for binky time in bed (he and Melana were caught last time up there jumping and switching binkies!) Here he is taking advantage of poor Brooke! Who am I kidding - she was all about it (you know it Libby!)
I pulled down the entire attic - which 1/2 of it housed Christmas decorations. In addition to the decorations I also pulled down a bunch of boxes that haven't been gone through since we moved from college! Now I am going through a bunch of books and stuff from back then and starting to actually read the ones I had in college that I skimmed. "Who Wrote the Bible" is my current target.
We have successfully put up our Christmas tree - which was decorated and designed by Caleb. The colored LED lights are obscenely bright - but they save money! (Hella expensive to start!) Next year I may upgrade the outside to LED too - if one goes out they don't all go out!
Caleb really enjoyed decorating, and it has been fun trying to keep his hands off of stuff. He also hid a tiny pickle in the tree somewhere for me to find for a special present ... who knows. I thought I had it narrowed down to the bottom half - but mommy said she helped out too!
I've also got all the lights up on the outside of the house - and Leah and her mom need to do the porches and then we can get rid of the most of the other decorations that we are no longer going to keep or use. All the while going through the rest of the stuff we have to make some more storage space! Of course, this time next year we will be getting rid of a TON of stuff! No more baby junk!
My son, by the end of the night - ends up pimping. He was giving everyone hugs and kisses and making sure everyone was ok. He wanted to take the girls up stairs for binky time in bed (he and Melana were caught last time up there jumping and switching binkies!) Here he is taking advantage of poor Brooke! Who am I kidding - she was all about it (you know it Libby!)I pulled down the entire attic - which 1/2 of it housed Christmas decorations. In addition to the decorations I also pulled down a bunch of boxes that haven't been gone through since we moved from college! Now I am going through a bunch of books and stuff from back then and starting to actually read the ones I had in college that I skimmed. "Who Wrote the Bible" is my current target.We have successfully put up our Christmas tree - which was decorated and designed by Caleb. The colored LED lights are obscenely bright - but they save money! (Hella expensive to start!) Next year I may upgrade the outside to LED too - if one goes out they don't all go out!Caleb really enjoyed decorating, and it has been fun trying to keep his hands off of stuff. He also hid a tiny pickle in the tree somewhere for me to find for a special present ... who knows. I thought I had it narrowed down to the bottom half - but mommy said she helped out too!
I've also got all the lights up on the outside of the house - and Leah and her mom need to do the porches and then we can get rid of the most of the other decorations that we are no longer going to keep or use. All the while going through the rest of the stuff we have to make some more storage space! Of course, this time next year we will be getting rid of a TON of stuff! No more baby junk!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Turkey Day + Old Photo
So we had lots of people to our house on Thursday, missing from the picture is myself, Leah's mom Suzan, and our twins who were ACTUALLY SLEEPING! 4 generations in one household! Missing from the event are Chad, Jess and Bryce... Ryan, Bethany, Gabe and Addie... and Darren. That means, if everyone comes next year we will have:
15 Adults, 1 x 10 yr old, 1 x 7 yr old, 3 x 3 yr old, 2 x 2 yr old, and 2 x 1 yr old. 15 adults and 9 kids. I LOVE IT. The crazy times that are about to ensue makes me very happy!
This is Caleb and Leland (Maggie, Leah's middle sister's son). Caleb is 2 and Leland is 1 - and the trouble that these guys are going to get into is just going to be disastrous!
Here is a photo of all the kids in the family so far. Emmie and Dylan, Maggie and Leland, Leah and Cheslea, myself and Caleb. Going to be fun times in the future! More to come!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
THANKSGIVING!
BUT FIRST.... BOWS!!!!
So Leah loves them and thinks they are adorable -which I must agree - they are pretty cute.
We went to State College on Saturday with all 3. The twins slept nearly the whole time and Caleb was amazingly patient in line to see Santa. He was so excited to see him, sit on his lap, and tell him what he wanted. Until he got there! Leah had to sit with him and sneak a picture from the side! (I forgot to scan it yet but yeah, soon enough.)
Monday I took Sue to get all of her things from Phoenixville to move home for good! We also picked up Emmie - off for Thanksgiving break then back to school until Christmas. Everything went smoothly then, and when we came home. Yesterday was a rough patch for Chelsea - she still has her screaming fits that we have to work through.
Strange though - then she goes 4-5 hours without eating and sleeping like a peach. Such a range of emotions she shows - sometimes she is so happy and restful and her face is like a porcelain doll - just perfect. Then the stress and pain she shows in a fit just destroys that perfectness.
I can't wait until we get through this next month or so and hopefully she grows out of it. We think Dylan may be slowing his bottomless pit eating down - from draining 5-6 oz every 4 hours to perhaps just a little less. He is OVER 10 POUNDS! 10lbs 6oz in fact, Chelsea is tipping the scales at 8lbs 3oz. Hopefully she can catch up - however the doctor thinks she might just be a smaller baby - good for a girl I guess?
So tomorrow we are going to have 15 or so people at our house for Thanksgiving. We've made the apologies many times - but with 2 month old twins and a 2 year old - and having to go to everyone's if we go to anyone's - we are making people come to us if they want. We have offered to host everything for everyone - but only Leah's mom's family has accepted.
Most of mine will be away, and the Creighton side is having it at MB's house. Not a biggie - there is only time for one in a day anyway! But as for Christmas - people still have to understand that at that point it is our house or we are going to miss it. The Norton Christmas eve is at our house - yay! As for what everyone else is doing we don't know yet - but we do know that we are not going out.
Packing up 2 kids and bottles and diapers and naps and a 2 year old and presents and doing it repeatedly over a few days is just too much. Period. If they were all Caleb's age it would be easy! He is so low maintenance now - just throw him in the car with a few diapers and as long as he doesn't miss nap he is great!
Anyway, more to come after the Holidays.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Week Haitus.
So - I have been out a week dealing with some family medical issues. We took Chelsea to the emergency room last Tuesday as she was presenting with the same symptoms Dylan had before his surgery 3 weeks ago now. (By the way - he is a freaking bottomless pit now - eating us out of house and home.)
We were in the ER for what, 3 hours and they did an ultrasound and sent us to Danville. We got to Danville around 6, and were scheduled for surgery @ 8AM the next day. Instead - thankfully - they decided to do their own ultrasound in the AM and realized that Lewistown had, basically, measured the wrong things and there was no need for surgery.
So we got transferred to the Peed's service instead of the surgical team. We got to see a lot of different nurses and it was fun and relaxing to only have to worry about one kid that slept all the time but I much rather would have been at home. Chelsea started eating again - and they think she has some issues with her intestines as well as colic. Awesome.
Now that we are home things are back to normal? We had a terrible Friday (or was it Saturday?) with lots of crying and fussing and little sleep. We now have to give Chelsea some meds morning and night and gas drops before each feeding to try and make her less gassy. It seems to be working - kind of.
We also got all our Christmas stuff out over the weekend - now both cars have to be parked outside because of the amount of stuff in it! We also put up a round of garland with lights in Caleb's room - yes - I had to put nails all through the top 1 inch of wall. I must love Leah a lot. Lots of trees and decorations and pictures to come, by the day after Thanksgiving.
Meema had a spell - but she is getting better now. Now I am back to work - but only for a bit. I have a lot to get done but getting in and out trying to get things done for lots of people in lots of places. Being torn all over the place is a little rough, but I have lots of hats to wear and a strong back to carry as much of the load as possible. Perhaps I am finally growing up a bit huh?
We were in the ER for what, 3 hours and they did an ultrasound and sent us to Danville. We got to Danville around 6, and were scheduled for surgery @ 8AM the next day. Instead - thankfully - they decided to do their own ultrasound in the AM and realized that Lewistown had, basically, measured the wrong things and there was no need for surgery.
So we got transferred to the Peed's service instead of the surgical team. We got to see a lot of different nurses and it was fun and relaxing to only have to worry about one kid that slept all the time but I much rather would have been at home. Chelsea started eating again - and they think she has some issues with her intestines as well as colic. Awesome.
Now that we are home things are back to normal? We had a terrible Friday (or was it Saturday?) with lots of crying and fussing and little sleep. We now have to give Chelsea some meds morning and night and gas drops before each feeding to try and make her less gassy. It seems to be working - kind of.
We also got all our Christmas stuff out over the weekend - now both cars have to be parked outside because of the amount of stuff in it! We also put up a round of garland with lights in Caleb's room - yes - I had to put nails all through the top 1 inch of wall. I must love Leah a lot. Lots of trees and decorations and pictures to come, by the day after Thanksgiving.
Meema had a spell - but she is getting better now. Now I am back to work - but only for a bit. I have a lot to get done but getting in and out trying to get things done for lots of people in lots of places. Being torn all over the place is a little rough, but I have lots of hats to wear and a strong back to carry as much of the load as possible. Perhaps I am finally growing up a bit huh?
Monday, November 15, 2010
First Tubby!
So we had our first real tubby last night (well, mini-tubby). And they were peaceful and happy even though they were starving! Now we know what to do if they are screaming uncontrollably!
Dylan is eating us out of house and home. It is pretty amazing that after his surgery we really can't keep him full. He is quite alert and mobile to the point that if we had a bike on him he would pedal miles his legs go so fast!
Chelsea - well - still screaming a bit after eating, so we decided to change formulas to the expensive kind again (like with Caleb). Hopefully this will help her belly out a bit so that she doesn't have the same screaming anymore! Her gas has just been terrible and 45 minutes after she eats she has been throwing fits like crazy.
We had a great weekend though. And let's just say it is nice to have Leah's mom home. She has been very helpful at home and keeping Leah from going nuts. I had a great time with Caleb on Saturday, we went to Lowe's to get some project materials, and then hung out at home doing stuff together. Leah was able to go to a jewelry party at her cousin's place in Huntingdon and that side of the family got to see the twins for the first time.
We then proceeded to watch PSU get whooped (in the second half). Was some great football this weekend though - but the Steelers lost too - so that sucked. Another thing that sucked, Leah's sister Emmie had a car accident this weekend - well she was parked, in the house, and someone hit her. So - nobody was hurt - but she is going to have to deal with a bunch of B.S. to get it fixed! Not a big deal, everyone had insurance and is covered, just annoying!
Last but not least, I'm to the point that I am losing my filter with some family members. So help me, if I hear one more thing in person I just might lose it and tell someone off. Period.
Dylan is eating us out of house and home. It is pretty amazing that after his surgery we really can't keep him full. He is quite alert and mobile to the point that if we had a bike on him he would pedal miles his legs go so fast!Chelsea - well - still screaming a bit after eating, so we decided to change formulas to the expensive kind again (like with Caleb). Hopefully this will help her belly out a bit so that she doesn't have the same screaming anymore! Her gas has just been terrible and 45 minutes after she eats she has been throwing fits like crazy.
We had a great weekend though. And let's just say it is nice to have Leah's mom home. She has been very helpful at home and keeping Leah from going nuts. I had a great time with Caleb on Saturday, we went to Lowe's to get some project materials, and then hung out at home doing stuff together. Leah was able to go to a jewelry party at her cousin's place in Huntingdon and that side of the family got to see the twins for the first time.
We then proceeded to watch PSU get whooped (in the second half). Was some great football this weekend though - but the Steelers lost too - so that sucked. Another thing that sucked, Leah's sister Emmie had a car accident this weekend - well she was parked, in the house, and someone hit her. So - nobody was hurt - but she is going to have to deal with a bunch of B.S. to get it fixed! Not a big deal, everyone had insurance and is covered, just annoying!
Last but not least, I'm to the point that I am losing my filter with some family members. So help me, if I hear one more thing in person I just might lose it and tell someone off. Period.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
PICTURES!
Finally, I have Halloween pictures up. For those of you on my Facebook (probably all of you) there are more there, but for those of you who aren't - here is some eye candy!
And Dylan's hospital trip - what fun that was for mommy.
Sorry about my rant yesterday. I just run into some people sometimes that drive me nuts. Or do certain things like invite me to follow their blog and not care to follow mine? Random spam blogger ... wtf really?
So Chelsea seems to be calming down a bit, eating more, and still sleeping only 4 hours at a clip. We are going to try some rice in the formula with different nipples - hoping to achieve a longer sleeping time (please!). It was easy when they slept 22 hours a day but now Leah is having some issues that they want to be awake A LOT!
Steve and I put in a new door last night at home, but it isn't right. I'm going to have to re-do it today because there is a rather large gap at the bottom - even though both sides are plum inside and out and the top and bottom is level - I think we just drew in the side a bit to much and pulled the frame out. Remove screw, insert shim, win.
The twins in their outfit that mommy made
Mommy and Caleb in his M&M outfit she made (not quite closed up yet):
And Dylan's hospital trip - what fun that was for mommy.Sorry about my rant yesterday. I just run into some people sometimes that drive me nuts. Or do certain things like invite me to follow their blog and not care to follow mine? Random spam blogger ... wtf really?
So Chelsea seems to be calming down a bit, eating more, and still sleeping only 4 hours at a clip. We are going to try some rice in the formula with different nipples - hoping to achieve a longer sleeping time (please!). It was easy when they slept 22 hours a day but now Leah is having some issues that they want to be awake A LOT!
Steve and I put in a new door last night at home, but it isn't right. I'm going to have to re-do it today because there is a rather large gap at the bottom - even though both sides are plum inside and out and the top and bottom is level - I think we just drew in the side a bit to much and pulled the frame out. Remove screw, insert shim, win.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Hodge Podge
So today I felt like writing about a few things today. One is the fact that Chelsea - while not showing signs of a pyloric stenosis - has shown signs of (and confirmation on Friday) acid reflux and is now on Zantac. It seems to be helping, but it takes a few days to have a true effect (Affect? I'm terrible with grammar!) on her system.
So now when she feeds - she either sucks it down like a beer bong or screams the whole way through it. Either way she always fusses afterward. If she doesn't show a change by Thursday (7 days of medicine) we will be switching formula to try something different.
Dylan on the other hand we can't keep full now. He must be making up for his 5 days of not getting much, because man, on the dot if not before the 4 hour mark he is like an alarm! FEED ME SEYMOUR! They are being awake more, which makes for a more stressful time for both Leah and Caleb. I feel terrible because Caleb isn't getting the attention he deserves or had for the past two years.
I feel that he may actually fall behind his amazingly accelerated educational schedule due to this, and that bothers me. Are we bad parents because we can't give him that attention? However, at the age of two he can count to 10 (and if he is paying attention count items to the right number) and knows his letters and some things that start with them up to F (in order... like A apple, B baby, C CALEB!, D Daddy, E Elephant, F Frank (who knows why Frank!?). He also knows a few random others too.
He knows all his colors, shapes, and has very good problem solving, negotiation, and reasoning skills, but still has breakdowns even though he agreed to "5 more minutes then tubby." He's two, I guess I can't expect the world right?
So things at home are settling in to a nice routine, and we decided to go out on Saturday - we went to Joe's OIP and Lowe's. Joe's was great - the twins were sleeping. Then in Lowe's we had a big poop by Chelsea (I think) and then Dylan started crying too. So, while trying to keep those 2 satisfied and calm we turn around for a second and Caleb is climbing a mountain of rock salt boxes - at the top of a heap 4 high he is so proud of himself!
Other things... I tried to upload pictures. However we switched cameras for Halloween because the flash on our Nikon is busted. Now the Nikon doesn't recognize the card so I have to upload them from the old camera but I couldn't find the cord for that (it is somewhere, just have to locate it). So I owe you pictures I know.
At work we moved some stuff around to keep it warmer - has to stay above 55, and the warehouse will hit the 50's over night. I am having a guy come in this week to see if we have a better option for heating than space heaters (rather, more efficient.). Also, ADT is coming by to talk security system options because we have had minimal vandalism and I'd like to get something up, and we are talking about framing out and insulating another 2,000 sq feet for our shop to make things a little more habitable there for us. Right now I am about to go out and drill out some bull rings from a scrap trailer so we can use them in a good trailer to deliver about $250k of product value more securely next week.
One thing I have been really upset by recently - religious zealots. People who try to convert everyone and believe that their position is the only right one. IE: most Christians. Note - Jesus was a Jew, and (if I am correct) never in the old testament did he call himself God nor refer to himself as the Son of God. All of the references to Jesus calling himself God / the son of / Christ are from the New Testament - which most people know was written / started primarily by Paul/Saul and his followers AFTER he was kicked out of / left the Essene Church / it was decimated by the Roman's and basically FOUNDED CHRISTIANITY by changing names, dates, and doctrine! So, as fro Christianity ok - but don't get me started on how the Catholics have destroyed a once semi-beautiful religion. Ok - that was my piece for the day. Your task: go read the Coptic scrolls, the Gospel of Thomas, the Vedas, Dead Sea, Essene Gospels, and more Esoteric teachings (if you want I have over 20GB of E-books, most of which I haven't read YET - but some I have).
(...End rant)
So now when she feeds - she either sucks it down like a beer bong or screams the whole way through it. Either way she always fusses afterward. If she doesn't show a change by Thursday (7 days of medicine) we will be switching formula to try something different.
Dylan on the other hand we can't keep full now. He must be making up for his 5 days of not getting much, because man, on the dot if not before the 4 hour mark he is like an alarm! FEED ME SEYMOUR! They are being awake more, which makes for a more stressful time for both Leah and Caleb. I feel terrible because Caleb isn't getting the attention he deserves or had for the past two years.
I feel that he may actually fall behind his amazingly accelerated educational schedule due to this, and that bothers me. Are we bad parents because we can't give him that attention? However, at the age of two he can count to 10 (and if he is paying attention count items to the right number) and knows his letters and some things that start with them up to F (in order... like A apple, B baby, C CALEB!, D Daddy, E Elephant, F Frank (who knows why Frank!?). He also knows a few random others too.
He knows all his colors, shapes, and has very good problem solving, negotiation, and reasoning skills, but still has breakdowns even though he agreed to "5 more minutes then tubby." He's two, I guess I can't expect the world right?
So things at home are settling in to a nice routine, and we decided to go out on Saturday - we went to Joe's OIP and Lowe's. Joe's was great - the twins were sleeping. Then in Lowe's we had a big poop by Chelsea (I think) and then Dylan started crying too. So, while trying to keep those 2 satisfied and calm we turn around for a second and Caleb is climbing a mountain of rock salt boxes - at the top of a heap 4 high he is so proud of himself!
Other things... I tried to upload pictures. However we switched cameras for Halloween because the flash on our Nikon is busted. Now the Nikon doesn't recognize the card so I have to upload them from the old camera but I couldn't find the cord for that (it is somewhere, just have to locate it). So I owe you pictures I know.
At work we moved some stuff around to keep it warmer - has to stay above 55, and the warehouse will hit the 50's over night. I am having a guy come in this week to see if we have a better option for heating than space heaters (rather, more efficient.). Also, ADT is coming by to talk security system options because we have had minimal vandalism and I'd like to get something up, and we are talking about framing out and insulating another 2,000 sq feet for our shop to make things a little more habitable there for us. Right now I am about to go out and drill out some bull rings from a scrap trailer so we can use them in a good trailer to deliver about $250k of product value more securely next week.
One thing I have been really upset by recently - religious zealots. People who try to convert everyone and believe that their position is the only right one. IE: most Christians. Note - Jesus was a Jew, and (if I am correct) never in the old testament did he call himself God nor refer to himself as the Son of God. All of the references to Jesus calling himself God / the son of / Christ are from the New Testament - which most people know was written / started primarily by Paul/Saul and his followers AFTER he was kicked out of / left the Essene Church / it was decimated by the Roman's and basically FOUNDED CHRISTIANITY by changing names, dates, and doctrine! So, as fro Christianity ok - but don't get me started on how the Catholics have destroyed a once semi-beautiful religion. Ok - that was my piece for the day. Your task: go read the Coptic scrolls, the Gospel of Thomas, the Vedas, Dead Sea, Essene Gospels, and more Esoteric teachings (if you want I have over 20GB of E-books, most of which I haven't read YET - but some I have).
(...End rant)
Friday, November 5, 2010
This Week...
So this week ha been rough for me, although I have no real reason why other than I'm tired.
Dylan has been eating better and not throwing up. Chelsea is eating better, but still screams while / after she eats a lot. Plus she is having bowel issues - or lack there of. We feel like we are on the same path with her and that fairly soon there will be another trip to Danville for us.
On a plus not, my wife is super woman. While she does have help on a daily basis (God bless her mom for basically moving home to help us... that's ok - Jersey is dirty anyway) she still manages to keep it together - something I know I couldn't do. In addition to her mom helping out with the babies we are going to be able to get so many more things done.
Halloween is already away, and new decorations are making the rounds. Our neighbor said our house looked so nice with the candles in the windows because it hasn't been lit up in 20+ years! Leah was able to go through the kids close in a timely manner, and hers, and get everything packed up / put away. (This is one thing she HATES to do!) Christmas decorations at our house will be amazing because Leah has great ideas - but no time and can't ever put them into action - Sue will do it with her!
However - I have become much better at dealing with crying children and unresponsive toddlers! Not that it makes me super man or super dad, but it is a step in the right direction for me. Over the past 2 years I think I have grown a lot - as a person and a father.
I am still failing to get the Halloween pictures up, and for that I apologize. It has been a long week and I just keep plum forgetting. I also forgot to pick up my watch yesterday. It seems like the more tired I get the more I forget, and I am sure there is a medical word for that.
I have a lot of things to get done at work next week. Some drainage issues, pot hole filling, framing estimates, motion lights, and general clean up, but at least it will keep me busy. Not to mention that things at home are getting more and more busy as the twins become more and more alert. Pictures to come soon, I hope!
Dylan has been eating better and not throwing up. Chelsea is eating better, but still screams while / after she eats a lot. Plus she is having bowel issues - or lack there of. We feel like we are on the same path with her and that fairly soon there will be another trip to Danville for us.
On a plus not, my wife is super woman. While she does have help on a daily basis (God bless her mom for basically moving home to help us... that's ok - Jersey is dirty anyway) she still manages to keep it together - something I know I couldn't do. In addition to her mom helping out with the babies we are going to be able to get so many more things done.
Halloween is already away, and new decorations are making the rounds. Our neighbor said our house looked so nice with the candles in the windows because it hasn't been lit up in 20+ years! Leah was able to go through the kids close in a timely manner, and hers, and get everything packed up / put away. (This is one thing she HATES to do!) Christmas decorations at our house will be amazing because Leah has great ideas - but no time and can't ever put them into action - Sue will do it with her!
However - I have become much better at dealing with crying children and unresponsive toddlers! Not that it makes me super man or super dad, but it is a step in the right direction for me. Over the past 2 years I think I have grown a lot - as a person and a father.
I am still failing to get the Halloween pictures up, and for that I apologize. It has been a long week and I just keep plum forgetting. I also forgot to pick up my watch yesterday. It seems like the more tired I get the more I forget, and I am sure there is a medical word for that.
I have a lot of things to get done at work next week. Some drainage issues, pot hole filling, framing estimates, motion lights, and general clean up, but at least it will keep me busy. Not to mention that things at home are getting more and more busy as the twins become more and more alert. Pictures to come soon, I hope!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Surgery?
So this was a pretty whirlwind weekend. While prepping to go to the PSU vs Mich game on Saturday we decided to take Dylan to the emergency room because he was projectile vomiting for the past 24 hours and not eating well.
Turns out - he had a pyloric stenosis. The muscle between his stomach and his intestines was enlarged and was not allowing any food to get through to his intestines - leads to the puking, then to malnutrition, dehydration, and eventually if not taken care of, death (long process).
So, off to Danville goes Leah with him and I stayed home with Caleb and Chelsea. Surgery on Sunday morning and then a long day of slow feedings and recovery. Now Dylan has his own little scar above his belly button. We also have to monitor Chelsea for the same possible problem.
Lets just say I had a long weekend, and Leah had an even longer one. The stress of this situation is not near that of Caleb's, but add 2 other children into the mix and it makes for an overly tense weekend. However - things are moving back into the realm of normal and we hope to get back on track ASAP at home.
I have always respected what my wife did at home, even more so with 3 kids. She does get some help on a daily basis - but with what she has now - absolutely incredible what she does and who she is. Add on that the fact that she has saved my life by marrying me, Caleb's by figuring out something was wrong, and now Dylan's ... she actually diagnosed him before the doctors.
So now everything at home is clearing up, and at work - my right hand man and only driver - Mr. Dave Jackson, a long time friend of the family, his mother died this morning. So please pass your prayers onto him and his family. She was 96 and the process has been in motion for awhile, but that doesn't make things any easier.
So I sent Dave home. He is going to let me know, but we have 2 runs this week and we have to build a wall in the storage space. Doesn't look like that is going to happen! However - his mother is more important than anything we are doing here.
Pictures of Halloween later!
Turns out - he had a pyloric stenosis. The muscle between his stomach and his intestines was enlarged and was not allowing any food to get through to his intestines - leads to the puking, then to malnutrition, dehydration, and eventually if not taken care of, death (long process).
So, off to Danville goes Leah with him and I stayed home with Caleb and Chelsea. Surgery on Sunday morning and then a long day of slow feedings and recovery. Now Dylan has his own little scar above his belly button. We also have to monitor Chelsea for the same possible problem.
Lets just say I had a long weekend, and Leah had an even longer one. The stress of this situation is not near that of Caleb's, but add 2 other children into the mix and it makes for an overly tense weekend. However - things are moving back into the realm of normal and we hope to get back on track ASAP at home.
I have always respected what my wife did at home, even more so with 3 kids. She does get some help on a daily basis - but with what she has now - absolutely incredible what she does and who she is. Add on that the fact that she has saved my life by marrying me, Caleb's by figuring out something was wrong, and now Dylan's ... she actually diagnosed him before the doctors.
So now everything at home is clearing up, and at work - my right hand man and only driver - Mr. Dave Jackson, a long time friend of the family, his mother died this morning. So please pass your prayers onto him and his family. She was 96 and the process has been in motion for awhile, but that doesn't make things any easier.
So I sent Dave home. He is going to let me know, but we have 2 runs this week and we have to build a wall in the storage space. Doesn't look like that is going to happen! However - his mother is more important than anything we are doing here.
Pictures of Halloween later!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Constipation?
First of all - I want to thank everyone who came to our Halloween last night. All of our local family came to see the kids in their costumes making it much easier for us than trying to get in and out and dressed and undressed at 4 or 5 houses in one night! (Pictures to follow later after we have Trick Or Treat tonight)
So we went to the doctor yesterday because Dylan hasn't gone in 2 days and throws up a good bit and Chelsea has been having some gastro issues. So the doctor says oh it is ok - 3 days isn't uncommon for babies... WHAT... 3 days?! He then proceeds to suggest 1oz water to 1oz prune juice one time a day or so, and to add some rice cereal to the formula to help with the throwing up.
Around 7PM last night we gave each 2oz, 1 of water and 1 of prune juice. Before bedtime Dylan dropped a man size load, and before morning Chelsea had 5+ explosive ones. In fact, at one point Leah's face got all excited and concerned GET A TOWEL GET ME SOMETHING POOP ON ME POOP ON ME POOP ON ME! I thought it was funny, but went to get something anyway - but she was clean - just lots of poop in the diaper that was hot.
So noted - prune juice does a lot. Then later Dylan puke puked up his entire bottle (well, probably 2/3 of it) while I was feeding him. I don't think it was because he has reflux or anything, but it was a full belly, and a sideways burp that just snowballed into more. He then ate the rest of it and his second bottle without incident (so far!). Let's just hope we can keep this under control.
Side bar - one of the pediatricians we saw yesterday said he did his residency at a very large hospital that had a huge nursery. He said on an average week there were 100 or so babies there, and when one started crying usually the rest would start a chain reaction and get everyone going. Talk about nerves of steel - I think that 2 screaming kids might just be enough - 100 kids? Woweee!
So we went to the doctor yesterday because Dylan hasn't gone in 2 days and throws up a good bit and Chelsea has been having some gastro issues. So the doctor says oh it is ok - 3 days isn't uncommon for babies... WHAT... 3 days?! He then proceeds to suggest 1oz water to 1oz prune juice one time a day or so, and to add some rice cereal to the formula to help with the throwing up.
Around 7PM last night we gave each 2oz, 1 of water and 1 of prune juice. Before bedtime Dylan dropped a man size load, and before morning Chelsea had 5+ explosive ones. In fact, at one point Leah's face got all excited and concerned GET A TOWEL GET ME SOMETHING POOP ON ME POOP ON ME POOP ON ME! I thought it was funny, but went to get something anyway - but she was clean - just lots of poop in the diaper that was hot.
So noted - prune juice does a lot. Then later Dylan puke puked up his entire bottle (well, probably 2/3 of it) while I was feeding him. I don't think it was because he has reflux or anything, but it was a full belly, and a sideways burp that just snowballed into more. He then ate the rest of it and his second bottle without incident (so far!). Let's just hope we can keep this under control.
Side bar - one of the pediatricians we saw yesterday said he did his residency at a very large hospital that had a huge nursery. He said on an average week there were 100 or so babies there, and when one started crying usually the rest would start a chain reaction and get everyone going. Talk about nerves of steel - I think that 2 screaming kids might just be enough - 100 kids? Woweee!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Dylan's Ears Work!
So Dylan failed his hearing test at birth, no biggie. So we had an appointment yesterday at the audiologist and Dylan passed with ease. He can hear - woo. He is too nosy not to be able to hear.
However - Dylan is having fits of screaming due to constipation and acid reflux (the constipation we are sure of, the acid reflux we are pretty sure about.) And Chelsea is teasing us when she eats - sometimes 2oz sometimes 4oz, sometimes none - and then yells about it. But man does she hate having a wet / full diaper - to the point of "change me every time I do ANYTHING!" Hopefully after today we will get some things set!
They slept for almost 7 hours last night! Then screwed around eating in the AM @ 3:30... but I liked the long sleep... they just need to eat when they wake up again. We will figure this thing out - hopefully not too long until though, because then things up and change. (I want this, this, this, that and pay attention because it will all change tomorrow!)
We rented some space out this week - 2k - although it is month to month it will most likely be a long term client unless something else comes in to fill the whole space. We are also now in negotiations to double our recyclable stuff! Lots of confidentiality stuff but could be really good for the the county, the borough and us... win win for everyone.
However - Dylan is having fits of screaming due to constipation and acid reflux (the constipation we are sure of, the acid reflux we are pretty sure about.) And Chelsea is teasing us when she eats - sometimes 2oz sometimes 4oz, sometimes none - and then yells about it. But man does she hate having a wet / full diaper - to the point of "change me every time I do ANYTHING!" Hopefully after today we will get some things set!
They slept for almost 7 hours last night! Then screwed around eating in the AM @ 3:30... but I liked the long sleep... they just need to eat when they wake up again. We will figure this thing out - hopefully not too long until though, because then things up and change. (I want this, this, this, that and pay attention because it will all change tomorrow!)
We rented some space out this week - 2k - although it is month to month it will most likely be a long term client unless something else comes in to fill the whole space. We are also now in negotiations to double our recyclable stuff! Lots of confidentiality stuff but could be really good for the the county, the borough and us... win win for everyone.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
I'm an electrician!
So I've begun renting out our long building in sections of 1,000 sq ft. We need to change the price we are charging - but since I already committed to a person at a certain rate the next time I would have to increase the rate. Then I have to make a movable wall.
Today, I had to run lines so we didn't have the lights on all the time. Dave helped me run a new circuit (he drove the forklift for me) and we ran 2 new receptacles at the furthest end with plug in overhead lights for them.
Felt good to do something with my hands today. Later we are going to run 3 new motion sensor lights along the outside of the Juniata Street side of the building. Now i have to do the same at home sometime. Caleb's room is on a switch ... that runs all the receptacles! I want to make the entire room hardwired live, and the switch run an overhead light. Not a big deal, actually will be pretty fun.
Also - doing the basement. Moving my pottery stuff into storage basically (all in 1 corner) and then painting the other sections with lock crete or something like it. Doing the floor, the walls, and the beams with a sealant to keep water sealed out and dirt sealed onto it. Making the basement nicer for storage is my goal really - resale value will be helped too!
We have a audiologist appointment tomorrow, and Halloween @ our house in the evening, then Thursday is my normal meeting in the AM, and then it's FRIDAY for McVeytown Halloween (we get 350+!) and then it is Saturday... I'm going to the PSU vs MICH game... how badly will they get beaten!?
Today, I had to run lines so we didn't have the lights on all the time. Dave helped me run a new circuit (he drove the forklift for me) and we ran 2 new receptacles at the furthest end with plug in overhead lights for them.
Felt good to do something with my hands today. Later we are going to run 3 new motion sensor lights along the outside of the Juniata Street side of the building. Now i have to do the same at home sometime. Caleb's room is on a switch ... that runs all the receptacles! I want to make the entire room hardwired live, and the switch run an overhead light. Not a big deal, actually will be pretty fun.
Also - doing the basement. Moving my pottery stuff into storage basically (all in 1 corner) and then painting the other sections with lock crete or something like it. Doing the floor, the walls, and the beams with a sealant to keep water sealed out and dirt sealed onto it. Making the basement nicer for storage is my goal really - resale value will be helped too!
We have a audiologist appointment tomorrow, and Halloween @ our house in the evening, then Thursday is my normal meeting in the AM, and then it's FRIDAY for McVeytown Halloween (we get 350+!) and then it is Saturday... I'm going to the PSU vs MICH game... how badly will they get beaten!?
Monday, October 25, 2010
Adorableness!
So we put them in their pack and play more than a foot apart, and they just love each other so much they have to get close! Man, if the whole world were more like that things would be a lot more chill everywhere. This might be one of the more cute things that all 3 have done.However - Caleb is right up there in cuteness too. Here he is hamming it up on his bed with both of them. He is such a helpful big brother, and is really growing as a person during this whole process. He is becoming more independent to a fault sometimes, but he still needs his mama!
The Blue Man Group came to Hershey this weekend, and instead of taking him (we think it might be TOO much) I downloaded a performance of theirs from the net. I think we might have a new "TV show" to watch - he would watch it nonstop for an hour! Not that I want him to be sitting in front of the TV or computer, but sometimes, with the twins demanding a lot of attention, it is nice to have something he will focus on for a good amount of time.We got a little video of him watching last night... not enough though and too late into it. He was learning "Rock Concert Movements" and doing what they do on the show. The head bob, the fist pump, the two arm thrust, the hip gyrations... and then he plays his knees like drums. Our future bank geek!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
My Political Stance
WARNING: BIG WALL OF TEXT! If you have a question about a different topic please give me ideas!
So I have become increasingly frustrated with the actions of the government as a whole at a federal level, which makes me angry at a state level which bleeds to a local level. I would say I am a republican. I am registered as such, and vote the majority of the time as such.
I am ashamed to say I voted for change. What I didn't realize is that a mere puppet of the globalization movement was to take office. People say that Obama is a socialist because he wants to redistribute wealth, an uprising of people in middle class to take control in their hands. That is not how I feel socialism works - rather - socialism is putting the power and money in control of a very few people while maintaining that it is for the better of the nation. (More on that later in a conspiracy post some day).
So what would I do differently? For starters - tell you why you should vote for me, not tell you why you shouldn't vote for someone else (thanks Alicia).
1) Eliminate Foreign Aid. Why? The majority of our aid we send out is to people that (in general) hate the US and our ideals. In addition - it is not the responsibility of America to aid other nations (especially with wars and political conflicts). In 2008 the US gave 25 billion (yes that is a B) in aid to foreign nations... the next closest was Germany with 13 billion. This is all well and good - even though in the 70's the world's richest nations agreed to give .7%, while the US gives the most $ is is still the lowest percentage wise.
I could be convinced to change my tune IF the money was given to the people who needed it. A problem for many years is that the funds go to corrupt government officials for overpriced services and never reach the poorest people who actually need the funds. That and there are enough aid projects and events out there that actually DO work.
2) Eliminate ALL government fleets (save the military). I mean fleet vehicles. Every congressman, or senetor, or CIA agent blah blah that has the use of a government vehicle has it removed - unless it is for use DURING the work day, for WORK purposes. I don't have a value on that, but I can only image it is fairly obscene. Just a quick calculation of senators and congressman gives us over 500 vehicles (and drivers?) at an estimated cost of AT LEAST 2M for the cars - not including drivers, gas, insurance, maintenance, and taxes. You could easily estimate those 500 vehicles costing 24M a year if you include a driver!
These individuals make MORE than enough money to afford their own cars, period. It should not be a perk of the system to allow for that, and have the American people pay for it. This should go for the state level as well in my opinion. If taxes don't buy me a car, then they don't buy them one. If I ever get elected I would decline this option.
3) Bring our military home. The military budget for 2011 is over 1 TRILLION. That is a T, and it includes up to 225 BILLION of interest. 225 BILLION OF INTEREST ON DEBT. Now, if someone out there thinks there isn't a central bank conspiracy let them read that number, see who it goes to, and then come talk to me again.
Bring our overseas operations home. Focus on protecting our nation from within, and eliminate a lot of overspending. You wouldn't have to eliminate your armed servicemen either. Instead - place them posts around the country to help out police forces that are struggling to afford coverage and subsidize their salaries akin to local levels. You could do so much more locally to eliminate crime or at least provide a much better deterrent to it. Along with that...
4) Legalize marijuana and hemp. I have no personal interest in this anymore, but by allowing the sale and taxation of a product that is (arguably) better for you than alcohol or tobacco you could increase the local, state, and nation tax income by a large amount. Along with increasing revenue you would eliminate petty criminals filling the prison systems, and eliminate a lot of the drug trafficking and crime associated with it.
Not to mention the fact that hemp rope is one of the strongest materials, and hemp paper is an extremely efficient and renewable resource preferred by the book industry (specifically bibles) because it lasts longer and does not yellow. Hemp fibers last longer than cotton and can be used to make OSB and MDF, beams and compressed boards stronger and lighter than wood. Hemp oils are used in paints, varnishes and fuel, and the seeds are usable for bird containing 25% protein! Good for every industry - except loggers and plantation owners! As for other drugs...
5) If you want any kind of state or federal assistance you have to pass a piss test to get it. Unemployment, welfare, SSI, many people on these programs are users (not all - but at least in our county MANY of them are habitual users) of stronger products than pot. If you want a free ride you have to pass a piss test. Not only that - but make it harder to get and stay on these services. My wife had kids who when asked what they wanted to be when they grow up they said "I want to go to the post office 2x a month to get my check like my father and grandfather." Anyone else see something wrong with that?
6) Institute a marginal flat tax rate. There has been many papers and dissertations written over the years regarding the pros and cons of such a system, but in my opinion I believe the benefits outweigh the cons. Give a set limit - say 30,000 for a family of 2 and 5,000 per dependent. A married couple with 2 dependents could make 40,000 untaxed - and any over that would be taxed at a flat rate. However - no chance to go negative (ie: that family only made 30,000 so they would be owed 10,000... no way.)
Overall the reports that I have read with the institution of a system akin to this would actually increase the governments revenue by almost 2%, not to mention that the amount of red tape and tax professionals needed within the IRS could be drastically reduced. The same would go for corporations - taxing X% of net profits. So along with eliminating the need for a massive central IRS team you would make everyone pay the same amount of tax % wise, and the lowest group of earners nationwide would see the largest increase in spendable income, while the highest earners would still see the most amount of taxes.
7) Let all prison systems be run like the "crazy guy in Arizona" Joe Arpaio. Prison isn't supposed to be a joy ride. It's prison. Granted, all his policies wouldn't work in harsher weather areas (as far as colder) but the majority of what he does I agree with - and would love to see it implemented in other prisons across the country. He ma go a little far one the health care and food issues - but still, the majority of his actions are motivational to a community and to a prisoner.
8) Immigration. (Can of worms now open if it hasn't been already). There needs to be a serious crack down on illegal immigration on all fronts - not just the Mexican border. People can get into Canada with no problems and trot across the border with no issues along the 5500+ mile border ( 1500 of that is with Alaska) compared to the frustration in Texas. Now - along with that there needs to be inroads to the immigration and visa process.
Making it easier and more affordable to immigrate would reduce the amount of illegal immigration. However - instant naturalization won't happen, because with the new laws enacted people become citizens and immediately go on relief (welfare, unemployment, free health care...) and that leads me to my last point for the day...
9) Repeal Obamacare. It will cost too much, cover too little, and take more freedoms away from the American people.
--------------------------------
We need to move back to where our founding fathers saw us - as a free market society where the American dream could live it's fullest. Let the states handle their own people and the feds just oversee it - stop taking our liberties and let people live. Is that enough ranting for the day?
There are probably more things I have an (arguably) controversial stance on. For example, education, but I love my wife so I will keep that hush hush for now! Ask how I feel about something and I will respond directly, and most likely passionately. Also, please feel free to disagree and let me know!
So I have become increasingly frustrated with the actions of the government as a whole at a federal level, which makes me angry at a state level which bleeds to a local level. I would say I am a republican. I am registered as such, and vote the majority of the time as such.
I am ashamed to say I voted for change. What I didn't realize is that a mere puppet of the globalization movement was to take office. People say that Obama is a socialist because he wants to redistribute wealth, an uprising of people in middle class to take control in their hands. That is not how I feel socialism works - rather - socialism is putting the power and money in control of a very few people while maintaining that it is for the better of the nation. (More on that later in a conspiracy post some day).
So what would I do differently? For starters - tell you why you should vote for me, not tell you why you shouldn't vote for someone else (thanks Alicia).
1) Eliminate Foreign Aid. Why? The majority of our aid we send out is to people that (in general) hate the US and our ideals. In addition - it is not the responsibility of America to aid other nations (especially with wars and political conflicts). In 2008 the US gave 25 billion (yes that is a B) in aid to foreign nations... the next closest was Germany with 13 billion. This is all well and good - even though in the 70's the world's richest nations agreed to give .7%, while the US gives the most $ is is still the lowest percentage wise.
I could be convinced to change my tune IF the money was given to the people who needed it. A problem for many years is that the funds go to corrupt government officials for overpriced services and never reach the poorest people who actually need the funds. That and there are enough aid projects and events out there that actually DO work.
2) Eliminate ALL government fleets (save the military). I mean fleet vehicles. Every congressman, or senetor, or CIA agent blah blah that has the use of a government vehicle has it removed - unless it is for use DURING the work day, for WORK purposes. I don't have a value on that, but I can only image it is fairly obscene. Just a quick calculation of senators and congressman gives us over 500 vehicles (and drivers?) at an estimated cost of AT LEAST 2M for the cars - not including drivers, gas, insurance, maintenance, and taxes. You could easily estimate those 500 vehicles costing 24M a year if you include a driver!
These individuals make MORE than enough money to afford their own cars, period. It should not be a perk of the system to allow for that, and have the American people pay for it. This should go for the state level as well in my opinion. If taxes don't buy me a car, then they don't buy them one. If I ever get elected I would decline this option.
3) Bring our military home. The military budget for 2011 is over 1 TRILLION. That is a T, and it includes up to 225 BILLION of interest. 225 BILLION OF INTEREST ON DEBT. Now, if someone out there thinks there isn't a central bank conspiracy let them read that number, see who it goes to, and then come talk to me again.
Bring our overseas operations home. Focus on protecting our nation from within, and eliminate a lot of overspending. You wouldn't have to eliminate your armed servicemen either. Instead - place them posts around the country to help out police forces that are struggling to afford coverage and subsidize their salaries akin to local levels. You could do so much more locally to eliminate crime or at least provide a much better deterrent to it. Along with that...
4) Legalize marijuana and hemp. I have no personal interest in this anymore, but by allowing the sale and taxation of a product that is (arguably) better for you than alcohol or tobacco you could increase the local, state, and nation tax income by a large amount. Along with increasing revenue you would eliminate petty criminals filling the prison systems, and eliminate a lot of the drug trafficking and crime associated with it.
Not to mention the fact that hemp rope is one of the strongest materials, and hemp paper is an extremely efficient and renewable resource preferred by the book industry (specifically bibles) because it lasts longer and does not yellow. Hemp fibers last longer than cotton and can be used to make OSB and MDF, beams and compressed boards stronger and lighter than wood. Hemp oils are used in paints, varnishes and fuel, and the seeds are usable for bird containing 25% protein! Good for every industry - except loggers and plantation owners! As for other drugs...
5) If you want any kind of state or federal assistance you have to pass a piss test to get it. Unemployment, welfare, SSI, many people on these programs are users (not all - but at least in our county MANY of them are habitual users) of stronger products than pot. If you want a free ride you have to pass a piss test. Not only that - but make it harder to get and stay on these services. My wife had kids who when asked what they wanted to be when they grow up they said "I want to go to the post office 2x a month to get my check like my father and grandfather." Anyone else see something wrong with that?
6) Institute a marginal flat tax rate. There has been many papers and dissertations written over the years regarding the pros and cons of such a system, but in my opinion I believe the benefits outweigh the cons. Give a set limit - say 30,000 for a family of 2 and 5,000 per dependent. A married couple with 2 dependents could make 40,000 untaxed - and any over that would be taxed at a flat rate. However - no chance to go negative (ie: that family only made 30,000 so they would be owed 10,000... no way.)
Overall the reports that I have read with the institution of a system akin to this would actually increase the governments revenue by almost 2%, not to mention that the amount of red tape and tax professionals needed within the IRS could be drastically reduced. The same would go for corporations - taxing X% of net profits. So along with eliminating the need for a massive central IRS team you would make everyone pay the same amount of tax % wise, and the lowest group of earners nationwide would see the largest increase in spendable income, while the highest earners would still see the most amount of taxes.
7) Let all prison systems be run like the "crazy guy in Arizona" Joe Arpaio. Prison isn't supposed to be a joy ride. It's prison. Granted, all his policies wouldn't work in harsher weather areas (as far as colder) but the majority of what he does I agree with - and would love to see it implemented in other prisons across the country. He ma go a little far one the health care and food issues - but still, the majority of his actions are motivational to a community and to a prisoner.
8) Immigration. (Can of worms now open if it hasn't been already). There needs to be a serious crack down on illegal immigration on all fronts - not just the Mexican border. People can get into Canada with no problems and trot across the border with no issues along the 5500+ mile border ( 1500 of that is with Alaska) compared to the frustration in Texas. Now - along with that there needs to be inroads to the immigration and visa process.
Making it easier and more affordable to immigrate would reduce the amount of illegal immigration. However - instant naturalization won't happen, because with the new laws enacted people become citizens and immediately go on relief (welfare, unemployment, free health care...) and that leads me to my last point for the day...
9) Repeal Obamacare. It will cost too much, cover too little, and take more freedoms away from the American people.
--------------------------------
We need to move back to where our founding fathers saw us - as a free market society where the American dream could live it's fullest. Let the states handle their own people and the feds just oversee it - stop taking our liberties and let people live. Is that enough ranting for the day?
There are probably more things I have an (arguably) controversial stance on. For example, education, but I love my wife so I will keep that hush hush for now! Ask how I feel about something and I will respond directly, and most likely passionately. Also, please feel free to disagree and let me know!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Feeding Schedules
So, we have been desperately trying to keep the twins on the same feeding cycle. It has been going famously well actually - until yesterday.
Sometimes one will wake without the other and be hungry. It gets rough to try and keep one happy (aka not screaming) and wake the other enough to try and drink some. It has been putting our sleep timer to about 3 hours instead of 4, which is ok - but not ideal!
Last night one would be out of sorts a bit - but it wasn't too terrible to try and wake the other. I just hope we can put more in their bellies so they sleep longer... but not too much that they won't poop!
Gam Gam is here for the week - praise the lord. The help is great for Leah during the day and they (together) are able to get so much more done at home making my life a lot easier - not that it needs to be.
Work went well today. We got a lot accomplished, including fixing some leaks at Sunshine Connection, getting 1000sq ft rented and set up for any time access, a test spot of the floor cleaned and some quotes on getting the entire place polyaspartic coated. (Look it up - pretty pimp stuff!)
Now Dave and I are off to Lowes to get a light and some wire perhaps to see what we would need to set this new renter up with his own electric lights! (Basically - extension cord + plug in flood light... easy peasy!)
Sometimes one will wake without the other and be hungry. It gets rough to try and keep one happy (aka not screaming) and wake the other enough to try and drink some. It has been putting our sleep timer to about 3 hours instead of 4, which is ok - but not ideal!
Last night one would be out of sorts a bit - but it wasn't too terrible to try and wake the other. I just hope we can put more in their bellies so they sleep longer... but not too much that they won't poop!
Gam Gam is here for the week - praise the lord. The help is great for Leah during the day and they (together) are able to get so much more done at home making my life a lot easier - not that it needs to be.
Work went well today. We got a lot accomplished, including fixing some leaks at Sunshine Connection, getting 1000sq ft rented and set up for any time access, a test spot of the floor cleaned and some quotes on getting the entire place polyaspartic coated. (Look it up - pretty pimp stuff!)
Now Dave and I are off to Lowes to get a light and some wire perhaps to see what we would need to set this new renter up with his own electric lights! (Basically - extension cord + plug in flood light... easy peasy!)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Colic? Let's hope not!
So last night we had our first ... fun night. Well, not true. While Leah went to Wal-Mart on Sunday I had about an hour and a half of crying / screaming from Chelsea. Turns out she was just hungry but we were trying to keep them on a schedule and she had just eaten less than 2 hours prior! But last night was different - lots of gas pains and tough BM to get out ... also she had just prior eaten the largest amount she ever had at once!
We had 2 hours or so of a crying Chelsea that was well - fun. Then Dylan decided to join in here and there - but we fought through it and I had my first near breakdown but think that since I got through it the next time should be easier.
So the weekend! Just a picture from then for you! Personally, I think this is an adorable photo of the two.
They had a pretty good time together outside for an hour or so. Playing through the tubes and down the slides and around the butterfly bush. It was definitely fun to have everyone together for an few hours this weekend.
I am very much looking forward to the years when all the kids can play together (ours alone even, all 3). They just seem to have so much more fun with more than one child together!
So I have been having some political revelations recently, which I will expound upon later. Suffice to say I think I might be able to win an election some day, perhaps starting with Mifflin County and moving up - I don't think I'd ever like to be anything more than a local representative at the state level, but who knows. My sister is right - give me a reason to vote for YOU, not a reason to NOT vote for the other guy.
So up for this week? Eliminating some more storage trailers that are either worthless, unusable, or full of junk. Also, determining if the boundaries currently fenced are the proper lines, and meeting with a recycling contact and a realtor. Hopefully, this week proves to be a positive one!
We had 2 hours or so of a crying Chelsea that was well - fun. Then Dylan decided to join in here and there - but we fought through it and I had my first near breakdown but think that since I got through it the next time should be easier.
So the weekend! Just a picture from then for you! Personally, I think this is an adorable photo of the two. They had a pretty good time together outside for an hour or so. Playing through the tubes and down the slides and around the butterfly bush. It was definitely fun to have everyone together for an few hours this weekend.
I am very much looking forward to the years when all the kids can play together (ours alone even, all 3). They just seem to have so much more fun with more than one child together!
So I have been having some political revelations recently, which I will expound upon later. Suffice to say I think I might be able to win an election some day, perhaps starting with Mifflin County and moving up - I don't think I'd ever like to be anything more than a local representative at the state level, but who knows. My sister is right - give me a reason to vote for YOU, not a reason to NOT vote for the other guy.
So up for this week? Eliminating some more storage trailers that are either worthless, unusable, or full of junk. Also, determining if the boundaries currently fenced are the proper lines, and meeting with a recycling contact and a realtor. Hopefully, this week proves to be a positive one!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Weekend!
So we had a great weekend with my sister, Alicia, brother in law, Mike, and their son Ethan. I have photos to upload but forgot to bring the camera to work! My parents brought up lunch and we were able to all eat, feed the babies, and hang out until around 4 or so when they continued on to meet up with Meema.
It was nice to see the boys play together, even though Caleb is 10 months older than Ethan they are ALMOST the same size! Ethan is surely heavier, but Caleb is about an inch taller ... well maybe only 1/2 an inch! Pretty amazing in my opinion!
I'm very proud of my sister and her husband. They have created for themselves a very amazing and successful career and home life over the past few years. Part of me is a little jealous of Mike's success, partly because I have had offers at the management levels he has attained (all be it in a different industry), and partly because of the area they live in and the opportunities are there. However - I still wish them the best!
On Sunday we had a nice relaxing lunch with Mary Beth and Jim (Leah's aunt and uncle) and we did a little teaching for Facebook updating for MB. Going back to Christmas 2 years ago Leah's dad got us a nice Nikon camera with 2 lenses - problem is the camera doesn't accept lenses! So we tried MB's but her doesn't either! Oh well!
So today I am catching up on some things at work... not too terribly rough. Tomorrow Dave and I plan to continue our clean out process of 6-8 trailers (really only 2-3 are full of junk) and get the trash out and ready to scrap the trailers. The plan is then to keep the cash available to pick up 2 or 3 new(er) trailers as needed. Granted - these aren't new trailers, but '96s are much better than '72s!
Look for pictures in a few days, or as soon as I remember my camera!
It was nice to see the boys play together, even though Caleb is 10 months older than Ethan they are ALMOST the same size! Ethan is surely heavier, but Caleb is about an inch taller ... well maybe only 1/2 an inch! Pretty amazing in my opinion!
I'm very proud of my sister and her husband. They have created for themselves a very amazing and successful career and home life over the past few years. Part of me is a little jealous of Mike's success, partly because I have had offers at the management levels he has attained (all be it in a different industry), and partly because of the area they live in and the opportunities are there. However - I still wish them the best!
On Sunday we had a nice relaxing lunch with Mary Beth and Jim (Leah's aunt and uncle) and we did a little teaching for Facebook updating for MB. Going back to Christmas 2 years ago Leah's dad got us a nice Nikon camera with 2 lenses - problem is the camera doesn't accept lenses! So we tried MB's but her doesn't either! Oh well!
So today I am catching up on some things at work... not too terribly rough. Tomorrow Dave and I plan to continue our clean out process of 6-8 trailers (really only 2-3 are full of junk) and get the trash out and ready to scrap the trailers. The plan is then to keep the cash available to pick up 2 or 3 new(er) trailers as needed. Granted - these aren't new trailers, but '96s are much better than '72s!
Look for pictures in a few days, or as soon as I remember my camera!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Friday!
So I missed a few days in the middle of the week this time. My apologies for any faithful readers (har har). Tuesday was another day where I didn't go into work - but Leah's mom made it up for a bit and is going to be around both Wednesday and Thursday.
My only problem is, on normal working days I am in the office by 7AM. However - the feeding requirements of sometimes makes that an improbability. So Leah and I had our first argument about time and work and whatnot - but we got through it and and made a couple of deals.
I spent Wednesday catching up on the massive mountain of unopened mail on my desk, paying bills, and catching up on some local news issues I have been following. We also walked around to a bunch of trailers, cut some trees down, and did some general cleaning of Norlin and fixing of leaks at AMES.
I have been making some inroads at some local companies regarding our recycling program opportunity, and it seems to be going well. On top of that a made a huge connection with a local manufacturing firm that may be the beginning of a LOT more business. Renting 2 trailers to someone may not seem like a lot - cash flow wise - but the start of a business relationship is the main issue.
Previously I had been unable to get into the door. But this could lead to storage space (which was already brought up by them) and possibly cardboard (which would double our levels of recyclable materials).
Thursday I spent finding some documents for our solar project - which is now awaiting a presentation to the council for approval. Finding a land survey and using documents from '67 just wasn't helpful. I was able to get one of them scanned (an '88 land division plan) but now I need to find the actual recorded documents at the courthouse. No wonder deed work is so expensive, 1 copy is $1.00!!!. However the digital system goes back to 92, and the plan book keeps referring to plan book 1 - which is one of the oldest on file! Great.
The twins have been amazing. Last night they slept 4 hours at a clip... between feedings. So about 5 hour cycles which is just about perfect for Leah - since she pees that much anyway! They are growing rapidly, and pooping a lot! Caleb is having his issues, but I think it is more the fact that we can't go outside as much for as long which is giving him an overabundance of energy. He literally HOPS to bed, or skips, but his entertainment levels need to be upped because he just isn't tiring himself out anymore!
My sister comes this weekend, and of course her husband Mike and their son Ethan. I miss them dearly, as if we lived close I feel that we would be best of friends (we are even though we are 2.5 hours apart). My sister and I are close, and Mike and Leah click, and when we are together (unless we are playing board games!) we have a great time... so excited! More pictures to come at a later date!
My only problem is, on normal working days I am in the office by 7AM. However - the feeding requirements of sometimes makes that an improbability. So Leah and I had our first argument about time and work and whatnot - but we got through it and and made a couple of deals.
I spent Wednesday catching up on the massive mountain of unopened mail on my desk, paying bills, and catching up on some local news issues I have been following. We also walked around to a bunch of trailers, cut some trees down, and did some general cleaning of Norlin and fixing of leaks at AMES.
I have been making some inroads at some local companies regarding our recycling program opportunity, and it seems to be going well. On top of that a made a huge connection with a local manufacturing firm that may be the beginning of a LOT more business. Renting 2 trailers to someone may not seem like a lot - cash flow wise - but the start of a business relationship is the main issue.
Previously I had been unable to get into the door. But this could lead to storage space (which was already brought up by them) and possibly cardboard (which would double our levels of recyclable materials).
Thursday I spent finding some documents for our solar project - which is now awaiting a presentation to the council for approval. Finding a land survey and using documents from '67 just wasn't helpful. I was able to get one of them scanned (an '88 land division plan) but now I need to find the actual recorded documents at the courthouse. No wonder deed work is so expensive, 1 copy is $1.00!!!. However the digital system goes back to 92, and the plan book keeps referring to plan book 1 - which is one of the oldest on file! Great.
The twins have been amazing. Last night they slept 4 hours at a clip... between feedings. So about 5 hour cycles which is just about perfect for Leah - since she pees that much anyway! They are growing rapidly, and pooping a lot! Caleb is having his issues, but I think it is more the fact that we can't go outside as much for as long which is giving him an overabundance of energy. He literally HOPS to bed, or skips, but his entertainment levels need to be upped because he just isn't tiring himself out anymore!
My sister comes this weekend, and of course her husband Mike and their son Ethan. I miss them dearly, as if we lived close I feel that we would be best of friends (we are even though we are 2.5 hours apart). My sister and I are close, and Mike and Leah click, and when we are together (unless we are playing board games!) we have a great time... so excited! More pictures to come at a later date!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Back to Work!
Oh no! The dreaded day of going back to work has come ... all be it only for 3 hours to check the mail, respond to a few things, and make sure the place didn't burn down! I did have a gentleman from the UK contact us about doing some receiving and repackaging services - which would basically be a part time guy (4 hours a day) of revenue... not bad, but still need to find more business!
So on Saturday's post I mentioned we went to the pumpkin patch @ Bilger's up the road. This was more about Caleb - and here he and I are picking out one of our bigger pumpkins! We had a good time, and although he was anti-camera it was still fun!
They literally have thousands of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes to choose from - and lots of time work on the honor system. Isn't small town America great?!
The kids are still sleeping great. It has been pretty amazing how they have taken to our schedule and we are working around theirs. They are eating 2oz at a clip and sleeping 4 or so in between. So - feed @ 9:30, sleep til 2AM, feed then til 6 or so. Not too shabby!
Hopefully something interesting happens somewhere soon!!! Like Leah went to Wal-Mart about an hour ago, and now it is POURING outside, and I hope they are ok! Also - Caleb loves this video and Steve made a mini-pipe for him... it was all wrong according to Caleb! He said "Steve this isn't right have to go get Scott (me)." While I hate it when he calls me that, it's his 'professional' tone for me I guess. So now I have to go to Lowes and find something to make a "Drumbone!"
Oh - picture gravy!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Nap Time!
Today was a nice day so far. And the nights have been pretty decent as well. Both twins are sleeping 4 hours or so at a clip between 2oz bottles. Which means we are sleeping at 3 hour clips, after getting up, doing a diaper, feeding, burping, resting, and getting back to sleep!I skipped playing basketball today, instead I did 2 loads of laundry, made a few beds, did some dishes, and spent some time with Leah and Caleb while the twins were sleeping. Jeff, Heather, and Fletcher came by around 1 for a few hours, which was a nice relaxing visit, and my parents are coming by tonight for dinner and fun times.
HOPEFULLY this night will go as well as the past few have. Although Leah and I feel like all we do is tell Caleb no repeatedly, I think we will get the hang of it here soon enough. I wish we could spend all our time with him, and the twins... clone please!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Pumpkin Patch
So no picture today - but I will upload one at some point.
Today we decided to go to the pumpkin patch @ Bilger's about 3 miles up the road. We all loaded up and grabbed Steve & Sue Feathers (our neighbors who have been amazing these past 4 years in McVeytown) to go pick out pumpkins for everyone.
We got 2 big ones, and a bunch of "teeny tiny" ones, and Caleb got to pet some kittens. We took some pictures but he wasn't really interested in posing - probably going to be a normal occurrence over the next few years I'd guess.
Caleb and I went for a bike ride up to the library playground and spend some time away from the house so he doesn't go stir crazy. Which during, by the way, he climbed everything there with no help (safety net me, but no help). This is a playground for up to 6 years old, and some of the things are pretty complex as far as climbing is concerned. Proud pap am I!
Then later in the evening we broke out our new stroller - the Joovy Caboose... this thing is obscene. Two car seats and another seat for an older child in the back. We did about 3 blocks and Leah thinks that was too much for her missus!
Tomorrow bodes busy - Da & Eena (Jeff & Heather, Leah's dad and stepmom) are coming by in the early afternoon, then Pap Pap & Noona (Scott & Ellen, my parents) are coming by in the evening we think. It's crazy - when you have babies people actually want / make time to see you!
Today we decided to go to the pumpkin patch @ Bilger's about 3 miles up the road. We all loaded up and grabbed Steve & Sue Feathers (our neighbors who have been amazing these past 4 years in McVeytown) to go pick out pumpkins for everyone.
We got 2 big ones, and a bunch of "teeny tiny" ones, and Caleb got to pet some kittens. We took some pictures but he wasn't really interested in posing - probably going to be a normal occurrence over the next few years I'd guess.
Caleb and I went for a bike ride up to the library playground and spend some time away from the house so he doesn't go stir crazy. Which during, by the way, he climbed everything there with no help (safety net me, but no help). This is a playground for up to 6 years old, and some of the things are pretty complex as far as climbing is concerned. Proud pap am I!
Then later in the evening we broke out our new stroller - the Joovy Caboose... this thing is obscene. Two car seats and another seat for an older child in the back. We did about 3 blocks and Leah thinks that was too much for her missus!
Tomorrow bodes busy - Da & Eena (Jeff & Heather, Leah's dad and stepmom) are coming by in the early afternoon, then Pap Pap & Noona (Scott & Ellen, my parents) are coming by in the evening we think. It's crazy - when you have babies people actually want / make time to see you!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Food!
Today we went out to eat for the first time with the twins and Caleb. We asked him where he wanted to go and he says "Maybe OIP?" So we did. After the twins' positive checkup this AM at the doctors (everything is A-OK) we made a mad dash for OIP.
Caleb was getting restless, but the twins were starving. So we ordered and made some formula and well, it went swimmingly! Now back home for the afternoon, Caleb will nap soon, Leah and I will clean / nap, and the twins are snuggling together in the pack and play.
What fun will the weekend hold? I think a trip to the pumpkin patch!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Twins!!
So - they are finally here!
Our twins - born October 5th, 2010.Dylan Cole Noerr - born at 7:58 PM, weighing in at 6lbs, 9oz and 20.5 inches!
Chelsea Colleen Noerr - born at 8:14 PM, weighing in at 5lbs, 7oz and 18.5 inches!
We are all home now, and Caleb is taking to them quite nicely. We plan on taking the next few days to get things under control ourselves and then will be accepting visitors in droves!
We went in Tuesday at 7AM, and by 8:30 Leah was on Pitocin to increase the intensity and amount of contractions. By 11:00 she was 4cm, by 1:30 she was on Nubane for the pain and by 6:00 she wanted a spinal because the Nubane stopped being effective. She had to wait 30 min for the anesthesiologist to come in, and by that time the midwife and doctor told her - well, you are now (@7:15) 9.5cm and can probably just start pushing.
So she did. 20 minutes of real pushing later we had Dylan, and then about a 10 minute break and 6 more minutes of pushing and we had Chelsea! So all in all a long Tuesday, but Leah is well and the babies are beautiful and healthy (and QUIET... knock on wood.)
More to come later.
-----------------
While this is a joyous time for our family, please keep a close friend of our college group in your hearts and minds over the upcoming months. Linda has lost her mother unexpectedly and we wish her the best of support as we will be unable to visit her this weekend.
Monday, October 4, 2010
INDUCTION!
UPDATE: Inducing Tuesday AM @ 7!!!
So, it is Monday morning and our household is sick. Caleb is full of snot and now I am as well. My brain hurts my eyes.... yes I just wrote that. What excellent timing we have with the twins coming tomorrow. So, that in itself is a crappy situation - and now we have some issues at work.
7 leaks at AMES and 3-4 leaks at our warehouse make for a crappy Thursday - Friday afternoon. The fact that it is raining today and I still can't fix the leaks makes it even more frustrating. Good enough though - they are slow dripping leaks and not overflowing in buckets! Add on top of that the fact that our WBE application (Woman Owned Business Enterprise - required to get some government contract priority and nearly ANY business at Penn State for us) is most likely getting denied.
Why? Because our owner, JoAnn M. Noerr, my grandmother who has raised 2 successful boys, was the woman behind the man for a nationwide trucking company, and secured the buyout of 60% of a company with minimal help from others, has nearly no experience and is not getting a salary. However, she is being paid dividends because it is tax smart. I am apparently going to have to appeal this and have them talk to her at the appeal - which may be more damnable than not.
HOWEVER. I have 2 new opportunities on the books today. A firm potentially interested in all 50,000 sq ft of our facility, which would basically eliminate the need for the recycling process or the WBE certification and be ... beautiful. Second - a gentlemen with a firm in England does import / export (checked him out, it's legit) has simple boxes coming in and needs them repacked and prepared for shipping. Easy work and the amount, in conjunction with the cardboard opportunity, would be enough to justify my coming back full time.
So, the ups and downs of work and home life are already enough this week. Blessed be - Leah's mom comes into town tonight and will be staying for about a week to help with the delivery and run interference with Caleb's needs during this transition period. I just need something to go right for good at the business!
So, it is Monday morning and our household is sick. Caleb is full of snot and now I am as well. My brain hurts my eyes.... yes I just wrote that. What excellent timing we have with the twins coming tomorrow. So, that in itself is a crappy situation - and now we have some issues at work.
7 leaks at AMES and 3-4 leaks at our warehouse make for a crappy Thursday - Friday afternoon. The fact that it is raining today and I still can't fix the leaks makes it even more frustrating. Good enough though - they are slow dripping leaks and not overflowing in buckets! Add on top of that the fact that our WBE application (Woman Owned Business Enterprise - required to get some government contract priority and nearly ANY business at Penn State for us) is most likely getting denied.
Why? Because our owner, JoAnn M. Noerr, my grandmother who has raised 2 successful boys, was the woman behind the man for a nationwide trucking company, and secured the buyout of 60% of a company with minimal help from others, has nearly no experience and is not getting a salary. However, she is being paid dividends because it is tax smart. I am apparently going to have to appeal this and have them talk to her at the appeal - which may be more damnable than not.
HOWEVER. I have 2 new opportunities on the books today. A firm potentially interested in all 50,000 sq ft of our facility, which would basically eliminate the need for the recycling process or the WBE certification and be ... beautiful. Second - a gentlemen with a firm in England does import / export (checked him out, it's legit) has simple boxes coming in and needs them repacked and prepared for shipping. Easy work and the amount, in conjunction with the cardboard opportunity, would be enough to justify my coming back full time.
So, the ups and downs of work and home life are already enough this week. Blessed be - Leah's mom comes into town tonight and will be staying for about a week to help with the delivery and run interference with Caleb's needs during this transition period. I just need something to go right for good at the business!
Friday, October 1, 2010
It's Friday!
So 3 days in a row, a record for my blogs! But here we go - what have I been thinking these past few days?
My life is about to get all kinds of crazy. In the next 4 days I will be outnumbered by little people at home. 3 kids, 2 adults. That is some kind of crazy. In truth - if we get to Christmas alive the rest of it will come along.
Clearly, the next 20 years of our life are going to be filled with new adventures, extreme highs as well as being lower than I have been ever before (and as some of you know... that is pretty low). However - it will all be worth it - I can guarantee it.
I've been doing a lot of thinking at night, and way to little sleeping. With Leah taking up the bed and moving around constantly, not to mention getting up to pee, I've had a lot of waking moments - some of which are surprisingly lucid for 2AM.
Life seems to be all about little moments - and taking advantage of them. Jumping at opportunities is rash - but sometimes without that willingness to take a chance you risk stagnation in a rut.
To that end - with the absolute full gusto of a man on a mission, I am going after this recycling project hardcore. With the securing of a contracted price for corrugated cardboard and other materials from the borough (which is to be determined) we would break even on our venture (including "hiring" me back). Then - taking into account the verbal commitments for (A) free cardboard sources and (B) buying to bale sources we will be able to turn a pretty decent profit, and only use about 1/5 of our warehouse space.
I am - today - aggressively courting the final information on (A) delivery and sorting of materials, (B) required payment schedules, and the (C) logistics of the storage and baling of them. After securing them I am going after the big boys locally - some of which we would have to pay for, others we would get for free.
This. Is. Going. To. Be. Huge. Mark my words - but the end of 2011 Norlin will be a fully functional green business - and well on its way to a solar institution as well. Let the courting begin.
My life is about to get all kinds of crazy. In the next 4 days I will be outnumbered by little people at home. 3 kids, 2 adults. That is some kind of crazy. In truth - if we get to Christmas alive the rest of it will come along.
Clearly, the next 20 years of our life are going to be filled with new adventures, extreme highs as well as being lower than I have been ever before (and as some of you know... that is pretty low). However - it will all be worth it - I can guarantee it.
I've been doing a lot of thinking at night, and way to little sleeping. With Leah taking up the bed and moving around constantly, not to mention getting up to pee, I've had a lot of waking moments - some of which are surprisingly lucid for 2AM.
Life seems to be all about little moments - and taking advantage of them. Jumping at opportunities is rash - but sometimes without that willingness to take a chance you risk stagnation in a rut.
To that end - with the absolute full gusto of a man on a mission, I am going after this recycling project hardcore. With the securing of a contracted price for corrugated cardboard and other materials from the borough (which is to be determined) we would break even on our venture (including "hiring" me back). Then - taking into account the verbal commitments for (A) free cardboard sources and (B) buying to bale sources we will be able to turn a pretty decent profit, and only use about 1/5 of our warehouse space.
I am - today - aggressively courting the final information on (A) delivery and sorting of materials, (B) required payment schedules, and the (C) logistics of the storage and baling of them. After securing them I am going after the big boys locally - some of which we would have to pay for, others we would get for free.
This. Is. Going. To. Be. Huge. Mark my words - but the end of 2011 Norlin will be a fully functional green business - and well on its way to a solar institution as well. Let the courting begin.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Day 2 - Still Posting
IF YOU HAVE A TOPIC LET ME KNOW!
So Leah isn't sleeping. Which in turn means, I am not sleeping. I think the couch is for me tonight - even though I am not in the dog house. So today I have to walk around like a zombie through a couple of meetings - fun times.
So this weekend there is a rally in DC hosted / ran / developed by 300 democratic organizations and the current white house administration. (NOT the Stewart / Colbert rally) According to Glenn Beck it is being run by commies and Marxists. Certainly - there are a lot of organizations involved in the rally that appear to be more towards the socialist point of view - some more blatant than the others (view them here). But meh - as Leah told me, if I listened to a democratic rabble rouser I'd get just as fired up. However I find myself more and more disenfranchised by both party lines - however the tea party doesn't interest me too much either.
I feel like to get elected in today's political arena you must run hard lines for either side - which just doesn't work for me. I am just too controversial a candidate to to ever get elected, most likely. The stupid stuff I did in college (some of on tape), blah blah scandal here and there that would just end my (insert seat) race before it began. Of course, the majority of Americans have done the same thing behind closed doors - but would be totally offended if others did it... sad.
Some day - I will enter the political arena. I am guessing locally, but Leah says no for school board because she wants to keep her job. What are my policies? Oh let's just leave that for another day.
Peace be with you.
So Leah isn't sleeping. Which in turn means, I am not sleeping. I think the couch is for me tonight - even though I am not in the dog house. So today I have to walk around like a zombie through a couple of meetings - fun times.
So this weekend there is a rally in DC hosted / ran / developed by 300 democratic organizations and the current white house administration. (NOT the Stewart / Colbert rally) According to Glenn Beck it is being run by commies and Marxists. Certainly - there are a lot of organizations involved in the rally that appear to be more towards the socialist point of view - some more blatant than the others (view them here). But meh - as Leah told me, if I listened to a democratic rabble rouser I'd get just as fired up. However I find myself more and more disenfranchised by both party lines - however the tea party doesn't interest me too much either.
I feel like to get elected in today's political arena you must run hard lines for either side - which just doesn't work for me. I am just too controversial a candidate to to ever get elected, most likely. The stupid stuff I did in college (some of on tape), blah blah scandal here and there that would just end my (insert seat) race before it began. Of course, the majority of Americans have done the same thing behind closed doors - but would be totally offended if others did it... sad.
Some day - I will enter the political arena. I am guessing locally, but Leah says no for school board because she wants to keep her job. What are my policies? Oh let's just leave that for another day.
Peace be with you.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Introduction
So today I've decided to start a new blog.
I wanted a place to detail my experiences over the upcoming year, and perhaps longer. With so many changes happening in my life I wanted a place I could come back and see how I reacted to them.
Big changes? Life with a 2 year old and twins within 7 days might make for an interesting situation at home. Business with a possibility of becoming the town's recycling plant, space contracting for people doing business with P.S.U. and solar provider for a 1.5Mw facility. Politics nationally that could drastically change the landscape of business, insurance, and life as we know it over the next few years.
Life is all about growing and rolling with the cards that are dealt - all the while amassing enough (insert vice) to make you happy and well adjusted. Currently, my vices are listed as follows:
Big changes? Life with a 2 year old and twins within 7 days might make for an interesting situation at home. Business with a possibility of becoming the town's recycling plant, space contracting for people doing business with P.S.U. and solar provider for a 1.5Mw facility. Politics nationally that could drastically change the landscape of business, insurance, and life as we know it over the next few years.
Life is all about growing and rolling with the cards that are dealt - all the while amassing enough (insert vice) to make you happy and well adjusted. Currently, my vices are listed as follows:
1. Sleep for Leah and I.
2. Business for Norlin.
3. Time with family.
4. Losing weight.
5. Masons?
6. Politics?
Sadly, dead last: music and art.
2. Business for Norlin.
3. Time with family.
4. Losing weight.
5. Masons?
6. Politics?
Sadly, dead last: music and art.
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