Growing families and infertility

While I am finished having babies, my sisters-in-law and brothers have helped fill the "baby void" in my life. I am happy with two children--never wanted any more or any less--but I love babies. Now I get to live vicariously through other family members who are just starting their families (or who started within the past few years).

The latest addition is my niece, who was born just over three weeks ago. She is the second child for my sister-in-law and her husband whose son is now 2-1/2 years old. Both of their children were adopted through domestic, open adoption. Their baby girl came from a young, unwed college student and her boyfriend. They were not ready for children because both are committed to getting their education. They made the ultimate sacrifice by giving the gift of their daughter to a family who could not have their own biological children. Their son's birth mother was on her own and made a choice to give up her son to a family who could take better care of him than she could. She, too, made the ultimate sacrifice and gave the gift of her son.

On my side of the family, I have two nieces. One is the result of IVF, the other an open, domestic adoption. My nieces are six months apart so are very much like sisters rather than cousins. My adopted niece has two older half-siblings who still live with their mother. My niece is the result of a one-night-stand, and came at a time when her birth mother could barely take care of the two children she had, let alone a newborn. She gave her third child up for adoption so her daughter could have a better life with a family who desperately wanted a child.

I am an avid supporter of reproductive rights. I am pro-choice, pro-birth control, and pro-family. That being said, I am grateful to the three women who chose to carry their pregnancies to term then give the babies up for adoption. Those three babies are now part of my extended family.

What I have to emphasize here is that each of these women had a choice. There are also women who make other choices when faced with unplanned pregnancies. Many choose to terminate their pregnancies while many others choose to raise the child themselves. Each of these women can make choices for herself. It should not be up to lawmakers to decide for these women what is best for the women. It also should not be up to any of us to judge women for the choices they make for themselves.

That is all...just wanted to get that off my chest.

IASIP (Charlie Day is my fave)

For those who are not aware of that acronym, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. If you haven't watched it, you should. Right now it's in reruns every Monday night for two hours (9 to 11 EDT, or 8 to 10 CDT) on Comedy Central. It's an FX original and it's funny as shit.

Frank, Dennis, Sweet Dee, Mac & Charlie

Check it out here: 

It's as wrong as wrong can be for a basic cable show. The word shit is used often, as is asshole and goddammit. Oh yeah, son of a bitch and dick are also tossed about, along with various tenses of the verb bang, so it's not for prudes. If you have a good, sick sense of humor and you have not seen it, please do yourself a favor and watch it.

It's about two siblings--twins actually--Dennis and Dee and their "dad" Frank, along with Charlie and Mac. Together they own Paddy's Pub. They are shallow, manipulative, narcissistic, and drunk. Tune in if you know what's good for you. Season 7 starts filming in about a month, so come September you will find brand new episodes. Until then, watch Monday nights or buy the DVDs.

Dennis, Mac, Charlie & Dee at Paddy's Pub

Getting it together

I recently resigned from a part-time job with a local non-profit organization. After I graduated with my B.A. last spring, I searched for the "perfect" job within the non-profit sector. I took the job because it was a part-time, grant-funded, one-year gig. It sounded like a great opportunity for me to learn, gain a great deal of experience, start from the ground up, prove my abilities, network, and move on to the next gig. Well, it didn't turn out to be quite what I was hoping it would be.

It was with a well-established and highly respected organization. I worked for a fantastic supervisor and many wonderful co-workers. But my heart was just not in it. I figured it out about three months into the job but thought I would just work through the difficulties and come out stronger for it. I lasted another three months and I resigned. I just didn't have the freedom I thought I would have with the project I was hired to work on, thereby eliminating any sort of first hand experience I was hoping to gain.

While this may sound petty, I don't believe it was. I was hired to do a job and I felt I was prevented from doing the job for which I was hired. I was trusted to take the lead on a special project but I seemed to be second-guessed on many of the decisions I made. At this point in my life, it just was not worth it. I am fortunate enough to have the option to work or stay home, so I chose the latter. Until I find something that I am passionate about, I am opting to organize my home and my life.

Even working part-time made things difficult to keep things in order at home. I am a good worker, writer, employee, subordinate, organizer...however you want to label it. I'm good at what I do and I strive for perfection. If I don't have the ability to show that with my work, then why would I want to stick around?

The most divisive issue in America

Wow. It has been over 18 months since I last posted. I have been a busy, busy lady but I am ready to spend more time posting about things that matter to me.

First up: abortion. Yeah, I am going there. I just saw a video on YouTube featuring an Indiana Republican suggesting that women would "fake" incest or rape in order to obtain an abortion. Yes, you read that correctly.

No offense, but a woman who would lie about either incest or rape has much bigger issues than simply obtaining an abortion. A procedure which, by the way, is legal in this country as decided by the Supreme Court over 40 years ago.

I can't even come up with the words to express my outrage. How this man could suggest such a thing is not only shameful, but immoral in my opinion. Some people seem to think a woman just decides one day to go get an abortion, much like she decides to go shopping or get a pedicure or color her hair or call her mother. An abortion cannot be an easy choice to make, but it is a choice. A choice for a woman, her partner, and her doctor. It is nobody else's business, so butt out unless you are one of the three aforementioned.


Watch the video here:

Instead of bitching, give us your solution!

I keep hearing from my conservative friends, whom I respect very much, about how government-run health care is not an option. They keep making ridiculous claims of "socialism," or they shout, "Give us our country back!" Yet, none of them seems to have an answer about how to address this very real problem. They don't seem to want to give President Obama a chance, and would rather moan and groan about his "socialist policies" than actually provide a legitimate solution to the problem.

I am not suggesting I have a solution, because I do not. Nor am I suggesting we hard-working Americans pay to insure every low-life, lazy ass person who expects the government to take care of them. They are the exception to the rule. There are far more hard working Americans with good paying jobs who simply cannot afford to pay for private or employer-sponsored health care than there are leeches who suck the system dry.

Premiums and co-pays continue to rise, yet we see our doctors for shorter and shorter periods of time. I literally wait in the waiting room for an hour and actually see my doctor for less than five minutes. Is that supposed to be quality health care? I think not.

Additionally, we currently do not have a choice in the insurance my husband's employer provides for our health care benefits. We either go with the program the employer chooses, or we're on our own. That is not a good option.

So why is everyone so up in arms about a public option? It would give all Americans an equal opportunity to get insurance to cover medical expenses. Why should a middle or upper class citizen have more access than one living below the poverty line? Is there no compassion left in this country? I just don't get it. If you have a better idea, either put up or shut up.

Rush wants to save penises from Obama

Wow, just when I thought I heard Rush Limbaugh say every crazy thing imaginable, he goes and says this to rapper Jay-Z, who mentions the conservative radio talk show host in a new song:

If we need to save our penises from anybody, it's Obama.

Limbaugh is referring to his assertion that President Obama wants to mandate circumcision. Listen here.

Gimme a break--I sure deserve it!

Good grief, I need a break. My husband is on another continent right now and won't return for another three days. Keeping the kids entertained, fed, clothed, and happy has been a challenge for the last week since he left. It came to a head earlier tonight:

"Mom, can I have some candy?"
"No, not right now."
"You said I could have some candy! Don't you want me to be happy? Do you want me to cry?!"

Then I got smacked on the ass by the child in question. WTF?! Have they forgotten who's in charge here? You'd think they were deprived. All I know is, as soon as Daddy is back in town, Mommy is going out with her girlfriends for a mani/pedi and some drinks!