While wandering a small bookstore, a book caught my eye called “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder” by Richard Louv. I skimmed it enough to know that I want to buy it and jotted the information down in my notepad. Suddenly I see references to the book everywhere. The idea that not just time spent in front of electronics, but children overscheduled with teams and classes instead of unstructured creative play in nature is causing behavioral problems is very interesting. My school age children have multiple classes and activities that they attend every week. We have to practically evict them from the house to get them away from video games. My childhood wasn’t like this. I left the house after breakfast and stayed out until I was hungry, often skipping lunch because I was having too much fun. I wandered large distances from home, played in dangerous places (I loved the drainage ditches and culverts) and had a wonderful time. My own mother has confessed that growing up on a military base, the children would play on the missile silos. I feel nervous when my children leave our cove. They have helmet, sunscreen and bug spray requirements the times when they actually step away from the computers, PS2, GameBoy and television. At least Sarah and Noah will spend time at camps this summer. It isn’t unstructured, but it’s a start. Has anyone read the book?

The Rocky Top Brigade should have its' own blood drive.

Amy wanted makeup on for this week’s Half Naked Thursday picture.

Pediatrician - “Did they tell you Evan has hydroceles?”
Cathy - “What?!?”
Pediatrician - “It’s just water in the scrotum. It usually goes away.”
Cathy - “Why does he have it? What if it doesn’t go away?”
Pediatrician - “Don’t worry about it.”

But worry is my middle name.

Families of four or more children should get a house call once a year by a pediatrician and nurse for everyone’s yearly check-ups.

At his check-up today Evan weighed 9 lbs and 13 ozs. No wonder my back hurts.

Potty talk -
1. Evan should have been named Gideon since he has such a loud trumpet.
2. Lying flat on his back, Evan can pee in his own ear.

Being outside makes Evan sleepy. 

Sarah and Amy have their routine check-ups today. The drama and hysterics have begun already. “It’s not fair. I hate the doctor. I don’t want a shot.” At least only one of them is getting a shot today.

Update - Sarah and Amy are great. Sarah gets to wait one year since the shot she needed is being reformulated right now. Sarah got scolded (by the nurse and the doctor) for not wearing her glasses after she did quite poorly on her eye exam while insisting that her vision is fine without the glasses. No shots for Amy until Kindergarten.

This baby’s parent wanted her to be found and loved or they would not have made that phone call. It may not have been the best place to leave a baby, but it was not the tragedy that it could have been. If law enforcement hunts this infant’s parents down they are discouraging future parents from leaving their baby where they can be safely found. The problem with the current law is that all the places where babies can legally be abandoned are too heavily video-camera watched. The police should just thank the parent for alerting the pastor and then drop the case. The media should take the spotlight off this child and do a story explaining how infants can be safely, legally and anonymously turned over to the state.

Doug is looking forward to two weeks from today. I am looking forward to his outpatient procedure. :)