The Bare Naked Book

I recently saw a list of children's books that included ALL types of bodies. I immediately requested every single one of them from my local library!

Tonight's bedtime story list included The Bare Naked Book (specifically the newer edition) by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Melissa Cho. (The other way to make sure you have the right edition, look for Melissa Cho.)

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This book is FANTASTIC! Let this be your warning: my son felt the need to SHOW me each body part as we read the book... including genitals and bum (which are also represented in the book). So... know your kid and audience.

That said, this book talks about all the parts of the body and how they can be different from person to person. The people in this book... so beautiful! It includes people of all sizes, people whose gender is not apparent, people with hearing aids, people missing body parts or using prosthetics, a person with vitiligo! It shows a nursing mother. And it celebrates bodies.

I love this book so much I think I am going to have to add it to our personal library! Look at it at your local library or order it for yourself!

Want to get Your Tubes Tied?

Want to get your tubes tied, regardless of age, marital status, or how many kids? Sourced from here, she has a page of 150 gynecologists willing to tie your tubes.

@pagingdrfran taking back what little power is left. let us help you while we still are allowed to #roevwade #tuballigation #childfreebychoice #gyn #obgyn ♬ Knowledge - Vin Music

Parenting Hit to Parenting Win

My daughter has been doing Kuk Sool Won™ for 8 months. In that time, she has tested twice. Both times she jumped up a full belt level. From white to yellow and then to blue. She has also competed in the World Championship and brought home two medals. Better yet, she has the skills to defend herself and it has really driven up her confidence and helped us focus on her health!

Kuk Sool Won™ Training

She has excitedly received a Student Textbook (quite the investment!) and we really enjoyed our travels together to the tournament. She is looking forward to her next tournament in a few months. So imagine my surprise when she told me she felt like she got herself into something and didn't know how to get out, that she wanted to "take a break" from Kuk Sool. I should have seen it coming, she's been getting belly or head aches right before class for weeks.

But I wasn't ready to just fold.

What's the Opposite of Germophobe?

The most convenient sickness to hit our entire family was right after we moved into a government subsidized, 3 bedroom, 2½ bath house. Literally within a week, we all had the flu. With 5 of us, I was very thankful for those 3 toilets! Prior to that move, we lived in a travel trailer and tried to only use the on site facilities for such "movements," rather than our own toilet (which required dumping about once per month).

Gee, I have no idea how Ronni got sick!

I've tried to keep my kids apart when they're sick, but... it just seems impossible. Who is going to turn away a pitiful sick child asking to be held and snuggled? Not that big brother!

Lots of random naps throughout the house as we all had the plague.

We all managed to rest a lot, lounging and napping all over the downstairs of the house, mostly. This certainly made it easier to keep an eye on everyone and provide sustenance. We had almost zero furniture at the time, so we just napped where we landed.

Tonsils, Adenoids & Turbinates, Oh my!

Sleep studies are a common screening done for kids with Down syndrome, especially if they snore. They can often have tiny mouths (and not so tiny tonsils). Spencer had his first Sleep Study when he was 3yo.

In May 2018, Spencer was snoring badly, so he went for a new Sleep Study. Through that he was diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It was so bad that the Pulmonologist called me on Mother's Day! He was very concerned that I follow up ASAP. Our ENT (Ear Nose & Throat doctor) said that a Tonsillectomy (the usual treatment for this) was contraindicated because Spencer has a Bifid Uvula. That means his uvula was splitting into two. Think of a Y hanging upside down in the back of the throat. So... we went with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy). That involved going for another sleep study.

First comes the Sleep Study. Then a month later...	another sleep study to determine the appropriate CPAP pressure.

I'm not an "Anti-Vaxxer"

I have written here in the past about my choice not to vaccinate my children. I wrote about my mother supporting me through that decision and in that decision. So I really struggled with deciding on the Covid-19 Vaccine. First, how could *I* be vaccinated when I've been against vaccinating my children? How could I trust this vaccine? But some friends helped talk me through the decision and be alright with it, honestly. So... while not the first in line, I did get vaccinated against Covid-19. In fact, I just received my booster this week. My side effects were severe (by MY standards), but I will do another booster as soon as they tell me I am supposed to.

Bank of America - Clarification?

I just sent this email to Bank of America's President, CEO, and Chairman Brian Moynihan:

Please clarify whether funds Bank of America is providing are being used, in any amount, to pay for the heavily militarized response to the Standing Rock Sioux, including the attack dogs, sound-cannon trucks, heavily armed officers.

Why is Bank of America sinking so much money into maximizing the amounts of oil and gas that can be brought to the surface and burned at a time when climate science is clear we have to maximize what we keep in the ground instead?

As a customer of your financial institution, I reject the notion of my money helping to support your investment in the Dakota Access pipeline, an inherently dangerous and unjust oil pipeline that threatens air and water quality in many states, and violates sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. I urge you to give up your financial stake in the Dakota Access pipeline immediately.

Until then, I am currently looking into moving my family's several bank accounts to a credit union.

If you would like to see if your bank is supporting the Dakota Access Pipeline, check this list.