Reason #568 Parenting Rocks: Projectile Vomiting

So, I went back to work yesterday after taking 2 days off due to my wife feeling nauesous and vomiting a few times. I got home last night and curled up in bed next to my beatiful bride only to hear some coughing and other odd noises coming from the direction of the middle two's bedroom. Dawn causally mentioned that she hoped it was *NOT* someone throwing up. I asked if I should go check on them (ironically, I already knew the answer to that question) and proceeded to do so finding vomit in hair, on dolls, sheets, blankets and the wall. It was a literal massacre involving vomit from a 3 year olds mouth.

Dawn and I were able to get several hours of sleep last night but our 3 year old ended up having to take 2 baths last night and I think we changed the sheets on beds 4 times. So final tally: 2 baths for a 3 year old, 4 changes of sheets, 2 vomiting kids, 6 hours of sleep and 8 loads of laundry.

I didn't mind any of it at all, the opportunity to care for them is a blessing. Last week I was taught that lesson a bit more deeply.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S.


Pray for me MGS

Movie Review: The Day After Tommorow

The Day After Tommorow, I will realize that I wasted almost 2 hours The Day Before Yesterday. Ok, so that may be a bit of an exaggeration, I did spend about half the time reading a book and the movie did have an ok human interest type story line that was predictable but slightly compelling. I did find some of the "science" a bit ridiculous along with the obligatory political commentary. The part about the pack of ravenous wolves being the only animals to escape from the zoo during the flooding and they magically surviving the initial part of the blizzard was a bit much but I guess it made raiding the super freighter more fun and exciting.

Their was some implied immoral activity that was briefly onscreen but quickly interrupted and never completed. It was completely gratuitous and had nothing to do with any of the main characters of the movie. The "kiss" between the two love interests was a bit much and probably could have been done a little bit more chastely and dramatically.

Well, it was ok movie and I am rambling, oh well.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S

First my house then off to the CIA

Really, my kids are very capable of covert operations. Sneaking out at nap time, getting up after going to bed, getting into things in the kitchen before waking anyone else up in the morning, getting someone else's toys and just about anything else you can imagine. My kids are all capable of it...the CIA should send people to my house to train.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S

Deep Thoughts by Pope Paul VI

“Technological society has succeeded in multiplying the opportunities for pleasure, but it has great difficulty in generating joy.”
~ Pope Paul VI

Fr. Stan Fortuna returning to Wichita, Ks.

That's right, I first met him in 1995 and was blown away. Now he is coming back to Wichita, Ks. to lead a parish mission in the beginning of March at St. Francis of Assisi Church. All genres from sacred, rap, latin, rock and many more.

Another day gone. . .

. . .and still I won't get to hold Marjorie. I keep thinking that maybe I will wake up and this is all a bad dream but I know it is too real. The empty feeling in the pit of my heart says it all.

I thank everyone for their continued prayers and support as my family comes to terms with this loss. That is another thing I haven't really mentioned but weighs heavily on me. Watching my children go through the process of dealing with loss. They are so beautiful and innocent and I know this hurts them as well but at times they are so joyous. Just like when we told them the name of what we decided is their baby sister in heaven, Marjorie Guadalupe.

God bless.

Under a Severe Mercy,
Matthew S

Running on Empty

Today is the fourth day. It has been four days since we found out we were having a miscarriage. I have gone through a wide variety of emotions and responses and I am going to share many of them here, right now everything is a little raw and still in need of sorting.

Basically, we have four beautiful daughters ages: 8, 5, 3 and 1. We just lost our fourth during the sixth weeks of pregnancy. We will probably not be able to see the tiny body as it passes and we won't be able to find out "why" this happened. What we do know is that we are blessed with several really good friends and we thank all of you. We are blest with a wonderful family. I will post a picture of my wife with her birthday present from us (her birthday was yesterday) as I think it is a tender mercy for her and I.

Our children have taken it well but also taken the loss of this sibling hard. I have a picture of what we have decided is their little sister and not a brother, drawn by my Eight year old. I feel as if I am being crucified, why does this have to happen to me, I am doing what I am supposed to. It is the basic question of why bad things happen to good people (though I will admit readily that I am far from perfect) and I have heard an answer. My hear has not been completely broken yet, it must be broken further and replaced with a new heart of flesh built for love.

Christ didn't say, "Ok, that's enough scourging, time to stop!" during His passion, death and ressurection. This is a passion for me and I will not yell for it to stop, but it will be a temptation. So many things to say.

Oh, we did pick a name out, Marjorie Guadalupe. Marjorie is the name of my grandmother that died from breast cancer 16, almost 17 years ago, it is her that my daughter will be hanging out for eternity while waiting for me to finish up with my just punishements. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the unborn and since our child will always be part of the unborn it fits well. Ironically, Marjorie was conceived around the past anniversary of Roe V. Wade (The NFP chart doesn't lie). May she always be our little prayer warrior in heaven and I look forward to that day that I can meet her face to face. Right now I am crying, thinking of missed opportunities and many other things I have had to cry threw. I will put some of this up here to share, it is part of who I am.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S

Loss.

I am sad today, we haven't medically confirmed it but it appears that we have lost our fifth child to a miscarriage. We will probably never know why this happened in this life but the fact is it simply has. I will blog more about this, as I am going through lots and sorting things out and dealing with emotions. I thank everyone for their prayers. I especially ask you to pray for my 4 daughters, the 4 older sisters. It is harder for them to understand, if you can understand, in some ways. Dawn and I have decided that it probably was a girl and are picking out a name.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S

Urgent Prayer Request

I just announced on this blog my wife and I's pregnancy. Now, I need all of you to pray because we just got up this morning and Dawn has some blood showing, please pray that the baby will be ok. Entrust my little one to the care of the Holy Angels and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S

Expectant Mother Prayer Intention Box

Expectant Mother Prayer Intention Box
Originally uploaded by kc0lex (Matthew)

So that my family can remember to pray for those expectant mothers we know. The most important name in the box being my wife's. Number five coming to a blog near you this October. Deo gratias.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S

Deep Thoughts by a Catholic Father

The best time to be the parent you should be is when you don't want to be the parent you should be.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S

Hours of entertainment, learning a lesson

Hours of entertainment
Originally uploaded by kc0lex (Matthew)

Saving is something very important. Being debt-free (except for a mortgage) is very important too. Dawn and I are almost done with the debt elimination baby step thanks to Dave Ramsey. Check him out of you haven't heard of him. It isn't every too late or early to learn.

Under the Mercy,

Matthew S

I am better than I deserve.

So many books, can't hold them all!

So many books, can't hold them all!
Originally uploaded by kc0lex (Matthew)

This is what happens when:
1) You are a bookworm
2) Your mother has unlimited holds at the library
3) Your mother lets you on her library card account

Happy reading, Mary! This should keep her quiet for an hour or so.

Under the Mercy,

Matthew S.

The Big Hunt

The Big Hunt
Originally uploaded by mycrosmith

One of my friends got this picture and put it up. This reminds me of something I would have done as a kid. I think it is hilarious. Big announcement coming soon.

Decisions

IMG_4985
Originally uploaded by kc0lex (Matthew)

A divergence in possibilities....I am glad I am going the way I am going. I pray every day for God's help to grow closer to Him, I just have to keep making decisions to keep me on the right tracks.

To be a boy again

IMG_4993
Originally uploaded by kc0lex (Matthew)

This reminds me of what it was like to be a boy and to crawl under something. Looking at the world in a different way and seeing something from a way that no one else does.

Under the Mercy,
Matthew S

Awesome Photo: Grandpa and Max

Grandpa and Max
Originally uploaded by Lori F

Someone I know took this picture. She has an amazing eye and talent with photographs and is a whiz at touching them up. Her photos always have great composition and are stunning. Well, at least the ones she posts to her account.

Serenity Prayer

Below is the text of the Serenity Prayer as found here with my comments in the colored text.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Dirty dishes, Repairs and Chores will always be and their is never enough time to do them all today, work, take care of yourself and spend time with your family.
courage to change the things I can;
I can change how I treat others, my family especially. The first thing I have to do is to take the time every day work on myself and my relationships. Those are the things that matter.
and wisdom to know the difference.
This is the hard part, as a father I can be stubborn. This is where I need to work harder and check my dislike of humility at the door. No, I cannot always be the superhero (accept what I cannot change).
Living one day at a time;
No guarantee that I will make it to tommorow, I need to remember to spend today as if it is my last here.
Enjoying one moment at a time;
The small things, from something small my child did to the most important thing in the world that she needs to tell me at that moment.
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Pain and suffering are a teacher. I cannot fight them or I will never find peace. Can you imagine how much our Blessed Lord found peace in the ressurection? That peace came through the pan and suffering of the cross.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
My children will grow up and make mistakes. I look at myself and I know I have made mistakes. I can only work to change myself and accept what is around me for what it is. I am not the hero saving all. I can only accept the graces given to me. That is probably the best lesson that I can teach my children and it goes back to humility.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
Again, this is humility and trust. The only way that my children can really learn this is by me living it. I remember the prayer of St. Francis, not the first part but the second part. I need to repeat the second part of that prayer every morning.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
That is the goal, to get to heaven, in working towards that goal we can find our true happiness. This is also the best training for my kids so that they can get to heaven.
Amen.
I believe, may my body and my actions follow.

My wife found this

A very cool blog that is, Confessions of a CF Husband. Very touching and moving story of a man married to a woman with Cystic Fibrosis. I cried when I saw this posted video he has put up. You can tell he was crying. This post here gives me hope for me. Basically he had to come out and say, "Hey, I ain't perfect" because he was feeling self concious due to feedback. I really admire this man, now to work on dishes and on me so that I can be a better dad and husband. I think this post might be a good place to start.

Under the Mercy,

Matthew S