The Face of CHD's...

Hi everyone...

I am doing a post dedicated to CHD Awareness today, in honor of CHD Awareness Week. I know, much less riveting than a normal post, but it is necessary, I think. I did a post about HLHS (Chris' defect) shortly after he was born, but I think there is a bigger picture that I need to share. So without further ado, here is some things you didn't know about CHD's:

• Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 birth defect. Source: March of Dimes
• Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths. Source: March of Dimes
• About 1 out of every 100 babies are born each year with some type of Congenital Heart Defect. (approx. 40,000/year) Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
• Nearly twice as many children die from Congenital Heart Defects in the United States each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHD. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
• 4-8% born with CHD have Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• 4-10% born with CHD have Atrioventricular Septal Defects
• 8-11% born with CHD have Coarctation of the Aorta
• 9-14% born with CHD have Tetralogy of Fallot
• 10-11% born with CHD have Transposition of the Great Arteries
• 14-16% born with CHD have Ventricular Septal Defects
• This year approximately 4,000 babies will not live to see their first birthday because of Congenital Heart Defects. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
• The cost for inpatient surgery to repair Congenital Heart Defects exceeds $2.2 billion a year. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
• Of every dollar the government spends on medical funding only a fraction of a penny is directed toward Congenital Heart Defect research. Source: Children’s Heart Foundatio

"In the United States, a child is born with a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) every 15 minutes. Children undergo surgeries and sadly, some die every day from CHDs.

We need to understand what causes CHDs and to prevent them. We need to detect and diagnose CHDs as early as possible. While much progress has been made, we need to develop new treatments for CHDs so that children undergo fewer invasive surgeries and improve the long-term prognosis for children with CHDs.

We need your support to fund the most promising research to advance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of CHDs in children." ~Chilren's Heart Foundation

I know many of my friends have been asking what to do with this info once they have it. I say tell everyone you know! If you know someone who is expecting, make sure they know about screening newborns for CHD's. It is not a routine screening. Most CHD's are deadly, it's worth telling them about it!!!!! Also, if you are really ambitious, write your congressman to ensure funding for CHD research! We can only help these kids so much, until we know the cause!

If you can forward a chain letter about how many friends really love you then you can talk about CHD awareness!

Links for additional info:

http://www.marchofdimes.com/birthdefects_congenitalheart.html

http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about-chf/fact-sheets

http://www.itsmyheart.org/chd-information/chd-facts/

Hugs and kisses..

I've been working on this post for a while now. It sometimes takes me a couple of days to get all my videos and photos in order. I have had so many cute videos of the boys I've taken over the last month. I want to share them all, so that you all can see the most handsome, charming, bashful (Chris), sometimes incorrigible (Tyler) boys ever. You would have to sit at your monitor for a couple of days if I posted them all. I love all my boys so much and whenever I feel down they always make me feel better. Even now, while they are sleeping, I can watch one of the 5,721 videos I have of them and they just make my heart so happy. So here are a few of the latest videos of the two most adorable little guys ever!!! (big bro is usually at school during filming, but if by chance he's not, he always opts-out of video time.)

This is the corresponding video to the post from the other day. I just love these guys and love bath time! Seeing how happy splashing makes them, I can't help but smile. I will mop up a million more soaked bathroom floors, if it means hearing these guys giggling and splashing.

Not sure why this is such bad video, but I hope you can get the cuteness out of it anyway. Chris was so grumpy a few minutes before I took this video, but one look at his daddy and he was all grins. Love that boy and his energy.

Tyler LOVES to read. And this is one of his favorites. He was so excited about recording us reading a book that he was always one page ahead of me! But he's so cute when he reads, he mimics the exact way I've read the book to him before. It's so awesome to have kids that love books. I will read the same book 5 times a day everyday, if it means getting to hold my buddies and read a book with them.

This is a start to my videos of some of the most good-looking, charming, and bright boys you'll ever know. I will be posting more, especially since Chris is learning so much so fast. He learns so many new things everyday, I try to capture a few on camera every now and then, but mostly I just try to enjoy my boys every day. They are such a blessing and a joy in my life.

I love being a mother. I love my children so very much. I'm not gunna lie, it isn't for the faint of heart. It is the most rewarding thing I could ever have been called to do. I know I make mistakes and I know I'm not a perfect parent. But I don't think my boys doubt the fact that I love them tons. I hope that they can feel a small percentage of how much I really love them. I am so grateful for the blessing that they are, and will try to cherish every day with them. I will work relentlessly for their good because they are mine, and I am theirs. I just love my days with my boys and at night tucking them in their beds and kissing them goodnight, I love it so much, I would never have thought a heart could feel so much love for these precious little gifts. Sometimes I feel like my heart will just burst if I have one more ounce of love squeezed in there. But I will keep cramming it in there because I LOVE THEM for eternity.

Big hugs from Mama Wirt.

Another exciting and overdue update!

I'm sure you're all holding your breath and on the edge of your seats wondering what I'm going to say next. This post will be used for a standard family update only....you can exhale now. So nothing too terribly new or exciting here.

Robert is doing work crew at his current job, which he is enjoying much more than being at the TC all day. He is still a reserve officer for WPD, and has been attending the Reserve academy twice a week as well. He was also recently honored to drive in the procession for a fallen officer from Rainier.

Anthony is doing good in school and is learning real life experience via his paper route.

Tyler is starting to act out much more, hopefully it is a phase. He is a very good boy most of the time, but does like to go head to head and see just how far I'll let him go.

Christopher is all over the place! He is a very busy baby! He pulls himself up on anything he can grab a hold of. He is also learning about gravity and balance and it shows. He has bruises all over his little head. He is an easy going lad, but definitely lets you know if he doesn't like something. He likes to laugh and gets a big kick out of everyone clapping and cheering when he does something cute or brave, and claps along with us.

Mom is doing motherly things, trying to divide up her attention a million ways. Trying not be too hard or too soft, balancing play and discipline, loving her boys and her life. Also, truly appreciating all that her mother has done for her. Currently she is designing a logo for a Portland radio show all about CHD's. She will share it with you when it is done!

And now for some long overdue pictures. Sorry they are all of Ty and Chris. Everyone else is always coming or going. We'll pin everyone down soon promise. Enjoy! I didn't take any pictures of Chris in the bath until I was really confident in how well he sits up.

Boys playing after bath.

I swear I didn't even tell him to do that! I just stood there and pushed the button.

Splashing in Ty's eyes.

Still splashing. Tyler is playing with a funnel and a shovel, not any of the real toys he has.

More splashing.

Laughing at himself.

Cutest face ever....melts my heart!

Silly boys.

Dropped the washcloth.

This could turn into a very wet game, very quickly!

Oops! "I didn't mean to throw the washcloth on the rug mom!"

Before the splashing starts.

Two of my favorite boys! They both love to snuggle!

So you have to start at the bottom of the pictures and work your way up for them to be in sequence, and yes sadly this is all tonight. I won't take pictures for a long time, then I'll be thinking "I better take some pictures." And I take like 500 in a day. We didn't have an exciting day, so this is just the nighttime routine. Hope everyone is having a great 2011! Huge hugs!

Faith without works is dead...James 2: 14-26

It's sad to say, but I always hesitate when I'm about to write a post like this one. My only wish is that those of you reading this whom have the privilege of knowing me, will read my posts with the intentions that they were meant. It's also sad that, even though most people who read this are friends and family, I continually have to write a disclaimer somewhere in a controversial post. My baby brother and I both know that if you feel deep down like you should do something, then you probably should do it. And so I write.



I know that some people in my family will not like this post. I know that some people will be called out, and I'm not really sorry about that. I also know that many people live their day to day lives in denial in some form, me in included. With that being said, if you still want to read the post, be my guest. As previously mentioned, I often use this blog as an outlet as well as a journal. I know that many will wish that I would put some cute pictures of the kids up, and leave topics like this alone. Oh well, too bad.



There I was, in a dark and gloomy snide field. Not really, I was just in my living room. I was sitting here thinking about things that I think about sometimes. I know it's shocking. I have been having a hard time lately with this particular topic. I think this is due in part to the Holidays, when we are all supposed to be giving and helping and loving each other. I'm not sure why people don't do this all year round, or maybe they do and it's just more during the holidays.

Either way, I am aware that some people do it more than others. And I'll be grateful for those who normally wouldn't be giving, turning the table's, even if it's only once a year. Back to the point. I'm not even really sure what the point is as of this moment. I guess I just get tired of people stereotyping and labeling others. I think it all boils down to pride, ignorance, and just plain stubbornness. Don't get me wrong, there are good forms of pride and stubbornness, and maybe even ignorance, if you really wanna play devil's advocate here. But overall, I think these things are harmful to ourselves and others.



I'll quit beating around the bush. If any of you asked my mother if I've always been a big fan of Mother Teresa, she'd say a resounding YES. Even from a young age, I remember the kid's Time magazine publishing a huge story the year she died (1997). I always idolized her and wanted to do humanitarian work like her and was heart-broken, as a 12 year old to hear, of her passing. Spirits like hers are immortal to kids, you see. I never cared what religion she was, her nationality, her height, weight or her complexion. I could care less. Those are not the measure of a person anyway. Not to get all MLKjr-ish here, but it's the person's character that matters right????



It baffles me to think that certain people feel that only certain religious denominations, cultures, races, ethnicities, are capable of charity. Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun, she was also an Albanian, and a citizen of India. Now that I'm old enough to understand all that that entails, does that make me like her less?? Does that make her work less valuable?? NO. (The reason I'm using her as an example is because I don't think most people's view of her is bad. I don't often hear her name used in a sentence to describe a less than desirable person. She is a Peace Prize recipient after all.)



I'm not sure how I'm going to tie this all in at the moment, but I'll sure try. A huge world wide contribution like hers is not what is required of us. As the man in the accompanying video shows, we may have been raised a certain way, but we are all human beings. We may not have horrible conditions as the people in the video do but there are people who are hurting and suffering. I do not look at this video and see an Indian, or a Hindu, I see a very selfless human being who is more giving and charitable than I can hope to be. Please take 3 minutes and watch this video. It will say some of what I'm trying to say with much more impact. PS sorry it's half cut off, I didn't have time to adjust the html code and youtube disabled the original video due to negative comments.








I'm sincerely not trying to preach here, but I am trying to show that no matter who you are, you may be in the position to help someone someday. I hope that you will. I hope that we can stop labeling those cultures and religions we do not understand and treat everyone as we would want to be treated. Once again, it's a simple concept, but how difficult it seems sometimes.



I think at heart we are all like little children, we just want love and respect.


Ps To my mother, who has been telling me about CNN Heroes for months, I was originally going to post a short video with all of the top 10 Hero's, but youtube disabled the video due to negative comments. Isn't that sad??! I don't have cable so I couldn't watch the broadcast, but I had seen a few of the top 10 Heroes of 2010 on youtube months ago, not knowing they were the CNN Heroes!


I would love to hear some thoughts on the video or the post. Do you think I'm way off base?




With huge hugs and love as always!

Sasparilla on the Rocks! And videos of awesomeness!

This is a totally random post, but I had to capture this funny anecdote while it's still going on. And now to set the stage. Awhile back Robert took the boys and I to a little diner for lunch. It is a funny little spot, and was quite busy on this day. The old waiter was instantly smitten with our boys and took to Tyler especially. And Tyler took to him! When the elderly gent asked what we would like to drink, Tyler asked for a Root Beer. The waiter proceeded to tell Tyler about Root Beer being called "Sarsaparilla" back in the old west. He told the very wide-eyed Tyler that whenever a cowboy walked into an old saloon he would say, "Sarsaparilla on the rocks!" He then told Tyler that if he wanted a root beer that Tyler should do the same. Tyler proceeded to say "Sarsaparilla on the rocks, please!" The old waiter was very pleased and brought it out lickity split.



Now, as near as I can tell, Root Beer and Sarsaparilla are two completely different drinks, the only similarity being that they were derived in the late 1800's and both from plant roots. It seems that this nice man's history lesson could be 100% based on the cartoon character of Yosemite Sam. He used to walk into a saloon and say, "Sasparilly and make it snappy!" But it is kind of fun to stump the wait staff wherever we go and have Tyler enthusiastically say "Sarsaparilla on the rocks, please!" We always follow up with "He means a root beer."



On occasion Robert has been known to go on a Root Beer run, and bring Tyler back a surprise Sarsaparilla. One such day, Tyler didn't finish it all in one sitting and put it in the 'icebox' for cold safekeeping. He went to get a drink a little later and gave a startled cry at what graced his palette. The poor lad had mistaken his sarsaparilla for this!

If you can't read the label, it's Worcestershire sauce. The labels do have similar coloring. I still haven't decided if he was being theatrical, seeing as the lids are completely different, or if he was actually caught completely off guard. It's still amusing either way! Anyway, just thought I would share that story.

I thought you might enjoy the lights since I did. The sound is a bit behind the lights on the camera, but it wasn't actually that far off on the radio. I wish I would have gotten the song before this one, it had a lot more lights to it! Also, here are a couple of fairly recent videos of Chris and his mobility. Just so no one wonders, I was right here when he was doing this, and I normally have this area blocked in some way, so this is not a usual allowance. Enjoy! Hope you are all having a Smiling Holiday Season!

The wise old Sage...

I wasn't going to actually post my thoughts today. Sometimes just writing them down takes a load of my mind. I first wanted to share with you how my day started off. Nothing super exciting, but just go with it. I awoke to kisses from my hubby as he left for work, which was promptly followed by snuggles from my Tyler in my big bed. Shortly after the snuggling began, I heard my Christopher talking in his crib. "I guess it's really time to get up now," I thought to myself, a little sad that I couldn't stay in bed and snuggle all day. Anthony had already left for school (once again, like a diligent lad should).


I proceeded to do my normal routine of a bottle for Chris, breakfast for Ty and I, and reading the news on MSN. I was feeling a little down, I guess, mainly because of the fact that the news is almost always bad. The Provo Tabernacle burned down, and so did a historical building and a restaurant here, in downtown Astoria. This politician did that, and that official did this. A tornado destroyed a little town in Oregon. A friend of mine was robbed recently, while her children slept. And you know the crime rate in general goes up around the Holidays. One of the windows in our house started leaking like a sieve. It just goes on and on. I guess, I was having a little pity party for one, that coincided with my Facebook post from yesterday, which was, "Rachel wishes she lived in Norman Rockwell's world." (For those of you not privileged to know this illustrating master, he is probably most well known from his Saturday Evening Post covers depicting everyday American life.) By this, I meant a world filled with ice cream shops, and boy scouts. A world where families eat dinner together, and there are puppies aplenty. A world where there are never too many fishing poles, or snow covered houses.


It was all starting to get to me, when Tyler said, "Mom, can I have some milk...in a dirty glass?" Now, before all of you conclusion jumpers decide that this is a regular option at our house, please recall a movie called "Cop and 1/2" (Burt Reynolds ring any bells?). We recently watched it, and although it isn't very plausible, there is a scene when the little boy is in a biker bar and asks the bartender for a milk. He then looks around at all the bikers, and enthusiastically adds "in a dirty glass." I couldn't help but smile and say, "You may have some milk in a clean glass." He seemed okay with that response and went about his business.


A little later, I was doing a load of Tyler's laundry, and proceeded to dump his laundry basket out into the washer. What an amateur move. I threw a hard hat, flashlight, EMT action figure, hot wheels car, and a hot dog whistle into the depths below. With lightning speed, I scooped them out. It wasn't until load switching that I had learned that one toy hadn't been so lucky. I ended up washing a toy hack saw (how did i miss that?), which came out squeaky clean.



This little laundry episode made me laugh to myself and think, "your world isn't that far off from Norman Rockwell's world." Now, that's not to say that doing laundry or drinking milk daily has anything to do with an ideal world. But I am saying that Norman Rockwell painted the REAL world, as he saw it. Everything that I love about Norman Rockwell paintings is everything I love about my life and visa versa. I have come to the eye-opening realization that the reality is one in the same with the fantasy. We may have high-tech gadgetry and speedy transportation, but what really matters is still just the same. Women may where pants today, but we are still mothers and wives. Many of our most cherished pasttimes have also remained timeless traditions. So much has changed since these illustrations were painstakingly painted, yet nothing has changed. I guess I was really just wanting to say how silly I felt after all these down thoughts about the world and the Season. I think I all too often forget how lucky I really am. We all can take a little advice from President Uchtdorf, (only some of you will know who that is, but trust me and take his advice), and slow down this season. Read with your rowdy kids, have some chaotic meals with your family, even if it's just your spouse. We only have today, and I, for one, need to refocus and make it count!!!! Enjoy these paintings from one of my top 3 illustrators! Big Christmas Love from us!






PS These paintings are all Norman Rockwell's work, I take no credit for these works. I can only dream to be as talented as this great American illustrator.



I am very familiar with this man's expression!

I really do love living by the seaside.


We don't have a fireplace, but if we did, I know that's right
where Ty would be on Christmas Eve.

Our family doesn't do this as often as we should,

but I do love my children circled around me.

My boys love fishing with their Grampy and Daddy!

Not enough snow to do this here, but this reminds

me of Southeastern Oregon winters growing up.

I really forget how beatiful the ocean is when it's a monsoon outside.

I think I've seen more baby scales than a Ped's Unit nurse!



This reminds me of the friendly mail carriers of my youth, namely my parents! :)

This is a familiar site on the docks at our favorite fishing spot, Coughinbury Lake.

I wish I had a cozy fire to snuggle up to when I read my boys books!

Every night at my house, only the Teddy is replaced with a big orange dog named Doogan!

Photo Factory...

I am sitting here typing this, listening to the sound of rain on my window. Another typical winter storm in Warrenton. Rain....hail....rain....wind....rain......hail.....rain. I know you are all dieing to here about the weather in my neck of the woods. And, since I don't have a whole lot to write about and since it's super impressive, I'll tell you all about it! (groans from audience.) The wind is averaging 20 mph with the maximum gust since 10 pm (I am writing at 11) clocked 45 mph. It has rained almost a quarter of an inch since 10 pm and 1 inch since midnight yesterday. In December so far it has rained 6 inches, and 75 inches this year. Yesterday it rained 1.14 inches. So, without further ado, here's a metric butt-load of pictures. Oh, and these are rrreeeaaaallllyyy out of order, but I don't have time to make it all pretty. And some of them might be repeats.

Making cookies with mom!

Finished product, the sprinkles wouldn't stick

Tyler being adorable.



And again only this was in October.

Cool fishing boat I saw coming into the marina, in October.

Tyler looking at the cool fishing boat with mom's binoculars!

We love to boat watch by the way.

Tyler looking unamused by Santa, Chris thinking about pooping,

and Santa wondering why he doesn't get paid for this.




Cool clouds out my window, I thought looked like fire.

Christopher being adorable.

My little Thanksgiving display on my entry table, (with Chris' footprints).

Chris looking cuter than ever! (This is about 2 months ago!)

Chris as a baby monkey for Halloween, and yes, I made that costume!

There he is, being cute again!

Tyler as a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, and yes I made that costume,

and mask! But not the gun Chris is trying to grab, that was a dollar store find!!!

Boys loving each other and wondering when mom is going to stop already!

Tyler being a cutie in dad's cowboy hat!

Funny old picture of me, that was on Paul's Facebook page.

Captain Tyler

Early Fall at the Jetty. Took the dog for a run,

and Tyler's running around with the binoculars.

Copper, Megler Bridge in the background,

and Tyler looking at the sunset with pelicans flying all around!

It was a beautiful sunset to our west and a big full moon to our east. Sorry no pictures

of the sunset. Someone forgot to charge the camera and it died right after this pic!


That's all I've got for now, hope you enjoy them. Just thought I'd post some of these before my grandkids are born! Big holiday hugs!