Praise for the GOP? Could it be?!

Now y'all know that I'm a fairly staunch Democrat. I've never been able to officially vote in a US election, but my heart has voted each November for the past eight years, leaning heavily towards the left.

Of course, in 2008, I will heart-vote (and perhaps influence Richie's "real vote", HA!) democrat without a doubt, but, for the first time in ages, I also feel as though some Republican candidates are pretty solid.

And it was a (for shame!) Republican candidate who made my day yesterday. A Republican candidate who caused me to stop chopping onions in order to turn my attention to the TV and raise my cutting knife, as I exclaimed, "Amen!" A Republican who got me googling to find his quote from Wednesday's debate.

This "how did you do it?" Republican is, if you can believe it, a former Southern Baptist preacher. And a Razorbacks fan. I kid you not. His name is Mike Huckabee.

"In all due respect, we're a better country than to punish children for what their parents did."

Amen!

The topic that led Mr. Hog-fan Huckabee to voice this statement was the introduction of academic scholarships for children of illegal immigrants. He supported a bill in the Arkansas legislature that would allow children of illegal immigrants to access government money for their post-secondary education ONLY IF they met the following criteria: they attended school in the state since they were five years old, they graduated high school with an A average, and they were in the process of applying for citizenship.

Huckabee was being blasted by another Republican candidate for his support of this bill. The response?

"In all due respect, we're a better country than to punish children for what their parents did."

We ARE a better country than that! I may be an optimist extraordinaire, but I truly believe that Americans (if it's okay with y'all, I'll include myself in that mix) believe in the good of people and adhere to the ideology that everyone deserves a chance to pursue their dreams. After all, unless you are of Native American ancestry, YOUR fore parents were illegal American immigrants too. The last time I checked, there were no passports and 1-600 INS documents on the Mayflower.

I also believe that we're a better country than that, because we recognize that the color of your skin, the language you speak, or the country you grew up in, have nothing to do with how much you love your children. In most cases, immigrants, legal or undocumented, come to America for a reason: because they love their children and want to give them the opportunities to succeed and be happy. I would, without a doubt, tromp through a barren desert, risking my life to sunstroke and rattle snakes, if it meant that Ellie would receive better medical care or education. I love her SO MUCH. It's difficult for me to imagine anyone loving their child as much as I love Ellie, but I realize THAT'S what being a parent is about.

There seems to be so much anger boiling in the "illegal immigration issue" pot. I can't help but wonder if we started this debate from the place of a parent (regardless of whether you have children), the anger would subside into concern. I absolutely recognize the problem, and realize that it needs to be addressed. But, the discussions would be much different if undocumented immigrants were referred to as "parents of foreign citizenship who love their children and want to make a better life for them" rather than "THOSE PEOPLE who are causing me to pay so much in taxes that I'll only be able to afford a 36 inch TV this year, instead of the 60 inch flat screen I REALLY wanted".

Our country is better than that.

Christmas Photo Shoot

Time for the annual Christmas card, so today was the official photo shoot. LOOK AT MY GROWN-UP BABY! (And, just for the record, it's a bit of an embellishment to have her pictured in her walker, because she doesn't actually use it for WALKING...yet. But, she can stand in it, and that's the first (pun intended) step!)





We also got Ellie's sled out, and she liked it so much....


...that she didn't want to get out of it after the picture-taking event was over. So, little Miss true-to-her-American-roots watched Saturday college football (Roll Tide!) in her sled, half nekkid.

Red Stroller Tag

Upon advice from a "therapy friend", the first thing we did as we entered the sparkly gates of The Magic Kingdom, was zoom over to Guest Relations and ask for a special red stroller tag. This sacred tag was our ticket into the world of special lines and accommodation....because the tag signaled "disabled child on board!" and gave our stroller wheelchair status.

Oh, it was pure bliss to see the look of disdain in the eyes of parents whose impatient and whiney children were waiting with them in the "normal line", as the Disney attendant led us to the front of "special queue". I wanted to scream, "HA! For ONCE, YOU can be jealous of ME!"

I also felt quite deserving of our special red tag. Six weeks in the NICU, a sedated MRI, a sleep deprived EEG, eye surgery, gastrointestinal ultra-sounds, twice weekly physio and occupational therapy, countless neurologist, cardiologist, gastrointerologist, ophthalmologist, orthopedist, physiatrist and pediatrician visits have allowed me to feel deserving. Somewhere in the midst of the special needs chaos, there must be a perk.

Why, then, did I loathe the sight of the special red tag on MY Ellie's stroller? Because, THIS YEAR, it was sadistically fun to overhear the whispers from other parents: "Why do *they* get to go in that line?"

Five years from now, when 8-year old Ellie is in a wheelchair, or struggling to use her spastic muscles in her walker, the whispers will sound like this: "I'm so glad we get to wait in THIS line and not have to use THAT line..."

The priceless red tag is still on our stroller. I saw it this morning as I was loading Ellie into the car, as we made our way to physical therapy, an hour away. I can't decide if I want to remove it. I like the reminder that there are actual positives to this (huge) part of my life. But, I also like to look at Ellie's Babies-R-Us, nothing-special-about-it stroller and think, "She looks like a typical two-year-old in this."

All because of a sticky red tag...

Boo Hoo

I love where I am right now. In the quiet of the humid morning, sitting outside by the pool, just a *teensy* bit chilly on my naked toes. Drinking my fresh coffee with real half-and-half cream, listening to the whoosh of the water as it filters from the hot tub, watching a gecko zip along the fence.

The only imperfect part of this morning is that 30 minutes from now, it will be over. Everyone will wake up, and the packing frenzy will begin. By 7:30, we will be out of the house and on our way to the Orlando airport. And by evening, I will be sporting a parka, and Ellie will be trying to untie her toque (winter hat).

And tomorrow I will post from work.

Sigh...

Universally Fantab

It's not very often that a thirty (something) year old will say, "I love vacationing with my parents!" Yesterday, I said it. Mom and Dad kept le bebe, allowing the four of us (sister, brother-in-law, Richard and I) to tromp around a VERY DEAD (whoo hoo!) Universal Studios all day. We literally walked onto every ride. Another rock-star day!

Is it just me

or is it a BIT early??????

The Big Blue Hat

...that was our meeting spot at MGM today.

Another spectacular (or, as my wonderful sister would say, "speculator") day at Disney. 28 degrees celsius (82 f). I got me a suntan. Ellie saw Ariel again. My brother in law ate a turkey leg. Can't get better than that.

Look at this stuff, Isn't it neat?

Just some pictures, which don't even come close to doing our first day at Disney justice. Ellie was a DREAM, and laughed and smiled so hard today that I'm surprised her mouth didn't fall off.

My heart is fabulously happy, but my feet are terribly sore. So, I will go and soak them in the hot tub OUTSIDE!!

Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet....

The World is Too Big

Now, I realize that part of my "missing loved ones" heartache is my own fault: *I* decided to fall madly in love with and marry a guy who lived 1500 miles away from my little frozen piece of tundra (also known as a Canadian town). Not only did I say "I do" to marrying Richard on that muggy August evening, but I also said "I do" to potentially being the one who lives far away from family and life-long friends.

In a twisted turn of events, I am now back on home and native soil, but that certainly doesn't mean that my heart has stopped missing. Today was a big ole missing reminder.

We spent the morning in Tennessee, with Richard's family, and had a great time hanging out. Ellie received bundles of Grandma-love, and it was good to see Richard laughing with his only brother. I was then able to connect with one of my dearest friends (you know who you are, L!). Ellie and I were only able to find a couple hours of time to spend with L, and truthfully, I could have talked for another ten. I got into the car and said to Richard, "My heart hurts. I wish L and I lived closer. We would rock it up OFTEN."

The three of us zoomed out to have dinner with two amazing friends, and had a fabulous time catching up and reminiscing. When we got into the car to leave, Richard and I both said, "My heart hurts. I wish we lived closer. We would rock it up OFTEN."

And that is when I once again decided that the world is just too big.

BUT, since we're on vacation and I'd rather not dwell on the negatives, and feel my heart sob, I will focus on the positives:

1) We are so blessed to have such kick-booty friends and family, in all sorts of different places.
2) Thank the Good Lord for internet!
3) Free accomodations in many WARM and almost tropical places.
4) I have decided to open up a Starbucks in heaven, and all my girlfriends will gather for free lattes EVERY DAY from 2:00-4:00. There are teletransporters in heaven, so distance won't matter.