Category: Life

Tonight Connor ate a huge bowl of spaghetti, went into our bedroom and fell asleep on “Daddies Bed”. I don’t know why it’s not Mommies and Daddies, but I’ll accept the honor of being the presumed sole proprietor.

A few minutes ago as I sat at my PC browsing the web for the perfect new watch (since I now own zero that work) I heard little footprints downstairs and someone calling my name (Daddy). I went to the bottom of the stairs and there was Connor who said “I forgot to give you night-night kisses Daddy”. So I sat on the steps for my big hug and kiss, after which Connor put his thumb in his mouth, cuddled his blanky and went down the hall back to bed.

This is what I’ve waited my whole life for. To be this important to someone, anyone, is the reason we’re all here. It’s not to become rich, famous, or recognized in elite social circles as the smartest guy in the room. Because no matter what kind of super star athlete or Pulitzer Prize winner some of us may become, I promise that you will never mean as much to anyone on Earth as you will your 3-year-old. And in turn your children will never mean as much as anyone else to you. So like I said, you want a reason for living, there it is.

There are many people with psychological conditions I don’t understand. Among these are religious fanatics, serial killers, and people who buy picture frames and hang them without removing the sample photos. But one that perplexes me a lot is people who are so into themselves, and their meager lives, that they make a conscious decision not to have kids. Not only do they not know what they’re missing, and never will, but it also seems they’ve lost touch with their natural reason for existing. I’ve done most of what I can with my life, and maybe there’s more to come, but anything that comes my way now is really my boys.

I once overheard a conversation between two associates during lunch about a father who left his four year old daughter standing on the side of a frozen pond while he dove in to try to save his other child who had fallen through the ice. Both the father and the child drown (it was national news last year). The guy without children argued he should not have done it because he should have thought about his other child. The other associate, who also has two boys, said “You’re obviously not a parent or you would know that man was going to save his child or die trying”. Which he did. – Good man.

Oh by the way, a black face Seiko Titanium Alarm Chronograph is on sale at http://wristzone.stores.yahoo.net/sna107.html.

And he’ll be here on April 3rd 2007 give or take 5 days.  We’ve got ultrasound pics I need to scan this week and put on FLICKR.  We still need to decide on a middle name for Logan Singleton.  Connor’s going to have a brother.  Something neither Amy or I had.

“We are entering a period of consequences.”

– SmurphyBrown 11.02.2006 (many diggs)

I posted some more photos on flickr of all the kids at the party. Connor got a ton of toys. If it wasn’t for the playroom I’d be boycotting Christmas.

As I was creating this post I realized it’s been almost 20 entries since I’ve included a photo. Flickr makes it a little easier so I’ll start to include more from now on.

We’re so happy he’s going to have a little brother or sister by April of next year! We won’t know if it’s a boy or a girl for another few weeks but we already know it’s Logan. Connor really likes the name and has already learned it. Since the name can go either way we’ll stick with it. We’re still working on middle names but we think Rider might be good for a boy (Amy’s mom’s last name). And maybe Marie for a girl? Or Mary after my sister. We’re open to suggestions.

It is absolutely amazing that someone has the nerve to say something like the “pool associate” at Lakewood pool in Caswell County, NC (and to children no less). I recommend we mark this membership as blood-fearing racist and make their families wear this mark of a Neo-Nazis for many generations. You are without question the lowest forms of life on the planet. And make no mistake – I publicly chastise you and those like you and will train my childen to do the same. As should others. Be shamed and be damned. Your only recourse is to revoke your membership with this Nazi organization and denounce those among you who refuse to do the same.

This should be national news and the membership list should be released immediately so that we can mark these people among us accordingly.

The best I can hope for these people is that we soon elect a black president and majority of both houses. The corporate-owned white men certainly aren’t doing us much good.

WRAL.com – News – Family Alleges Racism At Caswell County Pool

I hope everyone in our house is ready for a serious lifestyle change. I’m about to blow a hurricane through our refrigerator and pantry. I want to be clear that this is about Connor. He has a father that has trouble spending the weekend with him because of chronic digestive problems and disease. And despite this Connor had donut holes and vanilla pudding for breakfast before going to daycare.

Enough is enough. We are treating our bodies like garbage cans. Our daily meals consist of fast food, junk filled with high-fructose corn syrup, and soda by the two liter. Well guess what Amy, the laws being laid down and we’re ALL sticking to it. No more soda for Connor. He isn’t going to want it because it won’t be around that often. The garbage pre-processed foods we eat are being thrown away. This includes fast crock pot stuff from a plastic bag. Our food’s going to be prepared the slow, old fashioned way and it’s going to be free of gallons of sugar.

Obviously this is going to be huge. I’m going home tonight and throwing out all of the crap. We will probably be left with a bag of carrots when I’m done. Then we’re going to start spending two times the money on groceries as we currently do. And it’s going to be spent at the organic level (i.e. – Whole Foods). I don’t care what it costs because our current household diet is killing me, literally. In just a few years surgery will be required for my Crohn’s if I don’t do something right now. And it’s becoming a proven fact that people with the genetics to have Crohn’s ultimately develop the disease because of THREE TIMES the normal sugar intake of other people. So I’m also fighting to make sure Connor doesn’t have this problem in the future. Lollipops should be a rare treat, not a daily pacifier. They’re getting thrown away tonight.

We will adjust to this new lifestyle and we will exercise. To do otherwise is completely irresponsible. I will gain back the weight I lost during my recent remission and go for an additional 20 pounds as well. This is war and the reward for victory is health and happiness (thanks to lower medical bills).

Specific Carbohydrate Diets detail exactly what you can and can’t eat in the form of carbs. It’s not a “low-carb” or Atkins diet. It’s a diet specifically designed to remove carbs from your diet that the body does not easily deal with or absorb. The only sugar allowed is honey. Nothing else – period. Amy might keep some around for coffee but it’s not going to be in our food. Almost every starch is forbidden as well. And milk is off the radar for me. Obviously Connor can’t be on such a restricted diet but he won’t be stuffing himself with Coke and cookies anymore.

This all sounds kind of hard to achieve but it won’t be as bad as it seems because I’m essentially ripping of the band-aid. So it will only hurt for a second. And I’m also sending notice to all grandparents: extreme deviation will not be tolerated. I’m going to have to go to my mom’s house and hide everything visible in the kitchen.

SCD Allowed Foods for Crohn’s Disease

Quantities are not restricted.

Sugars

Honey is the only allowed sugar product. Not everyone can tolerate it, so use with caution.

Veggies

Most vegetables, fresh or frozen and raw or cooked, are allowed including: asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes, beets, Brussell sprouts, cabbage, carrots celery, cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, rhubarb, peppers, garlic, lettuce, spinach, mushrooms (unless you have candidiasis), onions, turnips, and watercress. Be careful of raw vegetables when diarrhea is present.

Legumes

Dried navy beans, lentils, peas, split peas, unroasted cashews, peanuts in a shell, all natural peanut butter, lima beans, and string beans.

Meats

All unprocessed meats such as: beef, pork, chicken, turkey, quail, ostrich, fish, shellfish, lamb, venison, rabbit, and eggs.
Some processed meats are allowed, but many require writing letters to manufacturers to verify the absence of restricted foods. Many processed meats contain sugar, starch, corn products, and other disallowed foods

Dairy

All natural cheeses except those listed above are allowed: cheddar, colby, swiss, havarti, dry curd cottage cheese, etc..
Homemade yogurt that has been fermented for a minimum of 24 hours is allowed and encouraged.

Fruits

Most fruits are allowed such as: avocadoes, apples, tomatoes, olives, apricots, ripened bananas, coconuts, dates, berries, cherries, citrus fruits, peaches, pears, tropical fruits, and grapes.

Nuts

Almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, chestnuts, filberts, and pecans.

Misc:

The following foods are allowed: olive oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, corn oil, weak tea, weak coffee, unflavored gelatin, mustard, vinegar, saccharin, and juices with no additives.