8 Years in the Making

Mark and I married 8 years ago this month. We met at BYU just after he returned from his mission. He was my FHE dad, and, having just been on a two year spiritual high, he wanted to make sure all of his "kids" could feel the spirit. The first FHE we had Mark read us a story for two hours! I kid you not!! I thought he was the most boring person!



Mark and his roommates were in the same district in the MTC and decided on their mission to be roomies on their return to the Y. They returned home between July and August 2000 and all were married (except for Mark) a year later!

Mark was a computer science major. He and his two buddies loved playing the nerdy part.

My roommates at the Y fall 2000.

We dressed up as Little Rascals for Halloween.

Spring 2001 Roommates.

Let It Snow

It snowed on Thursday and we actually had snow here for about two days. Most of it is melted now. Kendra absolutely loves playing in the snow. We had to shovel our driveway so the girls got bundled up, Megan watched in her stroller and Kendra threw snowballs. When I shovel our driveway I do one side and then the other. As I began the other side I looked over and saw a bunch of snow spots on the side I had just done. What?!? Then I saw Kendra happily standing in the snow and throwing snowballs on our driveway!

Megan is a little babbler now and talks all the time. It is so cute how she loves her sister. The other day while we were eating Kendra made a squishy face and blew air in and out of her nose quickly. Megan copied her. The face reminds us of when Kendra was a baby because she made the most hilarious faces.

I usually have Kendra pick up the floor before Mark comes home. On this particular day she got an idea while she cleaned. She decided to make a house around Megan and then one around herself. So this is what Mark saw when he came home.

Vaccines

I have decided that vaccines are poisonous and do more harm than good. Many people think I'm crazy, and I felt the same way when I first heard people say they wouldn't vaccinate. It took me years of research to come to this decision. The story is long and boring so here is a rough summary.

Kendra became terribly ill when she was injected with 6 different vaccines at 2 months. After that she only received two shots at a time which still made her sick.

Now, after countless books, articles, and websites (including the WHO, CDC, and AAP) I finally decided not to vaccinate. WHY? Read on:

In 1991 mercury (a preservative) was found by a researcher who worked for MERCK to cause neurological damage. It wasn't until 2002 when Congress mandated that all mercury be removed from vaccines...some still have mercury. They replaced mercury with aluminum. No testing has ever been done on injected aluminum and its safety. We know from studies that IV solutions containing aluminum cannot contain more than 15 micrograms for a preemie baby (or it causes developmental delays by 18 months) or 62.5 for an adult (it causes dementia and Alzheimer like symptoms). From these studies they found that when the body (liver and kidneys) can't flush out the excess toxin (aluminum in this case) that it sits on the brain. Babies receive anywhere from 625 - 1200 micrograms at once. If an adult can't flush out more than 62.5 micrograms how can a baby of 12 lbs flush out 12oo micrograms? Other studies were done that showed only 27% of infants at 3 months of age were able to create the antibodies necessary for the vaccine to "take."

Wow, there is so much I could write about this. If you want to vaccinate I suggest reading The Vaccine Book by Dr. Bob Sears. He has great advice in there. I would NEVER give the DTaP though - just give the Td.

Here is the first article that I read:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/7395411/deadly_immunity/

Here are some other books if you want to learn more:

The Vaccine Guide

A Shot in the Dark (my personal favorite - it's about the DTP which they don't use anymore but he has a ton of early research cited)

Raising a Vaccine Free Child (she includes a ton of research - although the spelling drove me nuts - she's from Australia)

Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parents Guide:

How to Raise a Healthy Child Inspite of Your Doctor

January Update

Megan had her 6 month check-up at the beginning of the month. She is 16 lbs. 6 oz. and 27 1/2 inches long. She's holding strong to the 50th percentile for weight and 90th for height. I learned that her pediatrician is moving to Washington. She is such a wonderful doctor and I am sad to see her go. It is difficult to find a pediatrician who is okay with my stand on vaccines. I haven't decided who our next doctor will be. I would like to continue to see a pediatrician, but may settle for a nurse practitioner who I know won't pressure me to vaccinate my children.

We began sleep training Megan as soon as we arrived home from DC. It took Kendra about a week to sleep through the night when I did this. I thought for sure Megan would be easier since her temperament is so easy. No... I was wrong...very wrong! It's been what, three weeks? And she STILL cries almost every time she has to sleep. It's getting better...or at least that is what I tell myself. On a good night I will only get up 2-3 times to feed her (this has happened twice). On a bad night I'm up 10-12 times. I don't mind getting up to feed her, I just wish she was consistently sleeping 3 hour stretches.

Kendra is now a sunbeam in primary. For the past two years it has taken her 6 months before she would go to nursery without either me or Mark. I had prepared myself for the same experience. I was floored when she took the hand of her friend and walked to her bench. I later saw her and her friend holding hands skipping and giggling in the hallway. She loves primary! It's so cute to watch her and her little buddy.

Sister Pics

Sister pictures.

I bought them almost matching outfits for Christmas...I thought it would be cute.

Kendra's shirt says, "I love being a big sister," and Megan's says, "I love being a little sister."

Megan adores her big sis. No one can make Meggers laugh like Kendra. They have such a cute relationship and bond.

DC

We spent Christmas with Mark's parents who are serving a mission in DC. One of the neat things on Christmas Day that we got to do was attend a missionary program for all the missionaries in the DC South mission (I think that's the mission!).

We spent one day in DC. We had planned on spending two, but Kendra got sick, and then Mark, and then Megan and I. We were glad we were well enough to at least see most of the sights.

The archive building where Mark's parents serve. This is also the building that houses the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. I couldn't believe the long line to get in - seriously it was freezing and people waited out in the cold for probably hours just for a few moments with the Constitution. Luckily Mark's parents were able to get us in (because they "work" there) and we didn't have to wait in line at all.

The White House and National Tree. Look just above the white suburban - that's the National Tree. It is the ugliest tree - seriously, I don't know who decorated it but in my opinion the National Tree should be the most beautiful.

Vietnam Memorial. The wall was much larger than I thought. This memorial has special meaning to me because my dad served in the Vietnam War. It is amazing that he survived. I am proud of my dad's service to his country and am grateful for all those who are willing to serve.

Vietnam Memorial.

The Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial. See the reflection pool? Yes, it's frozen. It was FREEZING!!! I'd like to be there when it's warm.

Lincoln Memorial.

Union Station - the station we stopped at from the Metro to get on our tour bus. See the tree in the background? So much prettier than the National Tree.

Hershey

I have always wanted to visit Hershey, PA. Why? In Elementary School I saw a picture of a street light in the shape of a hershey kiss. I grew up in Oregon and had never gone further east than Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, so I knew I would never ever go to Pennsylvania.

Fast forward twenty years...Mark's parents are serving a mission in DC. They live two hours south of Hershey. So when we went to visit them for the Christmas holiday I just had to travel to Hershey. AND they were kind enough to indulge me in my silly childhood fantasy.

The entrance to Hershey's Chocolate World.

There is a ride you can go on for free that explains how the chocolate is made. It's way fun and you get a treat at the end!

A gingerbread house made the hershey way. Can you spot the chocolate bars, kit kats, peanut butter cups, bliss, kisses, and hershey-etts?

Kendra became a hershey factory worker.


She took a gear and loaded it with hershey kisses.


Then the kids do a dance and put it on the belt to the packaging center. Then they come out on another belt where you can purchase them for $13.95 or dump them in a bin...Mark made us dump it in the bin. :(

It was a glorious trip well worth the two hour drive. I would like to go back when it's warm and we can go to Hershey Park (amusement park) and Echo Caverns.

Christmas Letter

A Look Back at 2009

JANUARY
Kendra began pre-school
Mark replaced our kitchen faucet
Mark went skit and trap shooting for the first time

FEBRUARY
Celebrated 7 years of marriage
Grandma and Grandpa Winkel came to visit
With the help of Ken, Mark opened up the cubby space in our garage

MARCH
In the past month Kristi gained 10 pounds in her pregnancy (a little high!)
Mark bought a shotgun

APRIL
Kendra enrolled at the Little Gym for gymnastics
Aunt Shoni came to visit
Kendra began to attend story time at the local library

MAY
Mark turned 30!!
Kendra gave up the pacifier

JUNE
Kendra turned 3
Megan was born

JULY
For the first time EVER Kendra didn’t cry at her well-child check-up
Kristi is put on dairy-free diet

AUGUST
Kristi is now on a dairy-free, gluten-free, wheat-free pretty much everything free diet

SEPTEMBER
Grandma and Grandpa Winkel and Aunt Shoni came to visit
Megan’s blessing
Megan’s first and only shots
Kristi had H1N1

OCTOBER
Disneyland trip
Kendra wore a Tinkerbell costume and Megan a bunny for Halloween
Kendra and Megan got H1N1
Kristi slowly adding things back into her diet

NOVEMBER
Kristi turned 30!
Kristi was the only healthy one for Thanksgiving
Kristi can eat again!!

DECEMBER
After 3 months we finally replaced our microwave!


Reflecting on the year, we feel very blessed for the situation in which we find ourselves. I think it’s fair to say that our family has not only grown larger this year, but we’ve grown closer together. We feel gratitude when thinking back to the joy and peace that has accompanied 2009. One source of joy came in recognizing the terrific family, extended family, and friends that we’ve been privileged to have. The courses of our lives have been greatly shaped by loving, thoughtful, and exemplar friends and family. We are truely grateful for you. Many influences have helped us both to find the source of our deepest joy, which comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the season where we relish the spirit of Christmas, we express our gratitude to our Lord, whose spirit it is that lifts our hopes, lightens our burden, softens our hearts and strengthens our loving ties. We wish you all a very merry Christmas.

Love, Mark, Kristi, Kendra, and Megan Vickers

Love My Girls

This past week the girls and I went to Wal-mart. While we were there Kendra must have felt festive and broke out in song. She sang, "Santa Claus is coming to town" in her loud voice. It made me smile and I thought, "this is why I love Kendra." She is loud, fun, boisterous, obedient, loving, silly, difficult temperament - vibrant personality Kendra.

Kendra's Gingerbread Bears even have personality!

Yesterday we went to Straight Chiropractic to see Santa. Megan sat on his lap without crying, curious as to who this new person was. I thought, "this is why I love Megan." She is easy-going, flexible, content, happy, peaceful, easy temperament - calm personality Megan.

This is why I love my girls. They are polar opposites but so cute in their own way.

I Am Glad For Many Things

Before I can talk about how we spent our Thanksgiving Day I need to first discuss the past week.

Last Thursday before Mark and I fell asleep I expressed my deep sleep deprivation status and my concern for being on the brink of a break down. Two months ago (when Megan had her shots) Meggers stopped sleeping. I am lucky if I can get a two hour stretch at night. I don't nap during the day because I have Kendra. The exhaustion is wearing me out. Little did I know it was about to get worse.

That night Megan woke up after sleeping for 30 minutes. 20 minutes later Kendra walked into our room, (she hasn't walked to our bedroom for over a year, usually she just cries for us). She wanted to sleep in our bed with us. Her whole body was on fire. I laid awake next to her expecting her to be sick. 45 minutes later when I no longer could keep my eyes open she threw up! Mark raced to the bathroom with her but wouldn't you know Kendra was too scared to puke in the toilet. So, I spent the first couple of minutes of my birthday cleaning vomit. Happy Birthday to me!!

Friday was hard as Kendra laid on the couch all day. She has NEVER done this. I had to force her to eat ice chips and sip any liquid possible. Although she did eat toast late that night her appetite hasn't been the same. Megan got sick somewhere between there and Monday but wasn't really sick until Monday night. She coughed many times so hard that she would throw up. As the cough progressed her little face turned red. Because she is so little I took her in to see her doctor. Oh, and Mark got sick on Tuesday. Don't know why I'm not sick yet. We think everyone has parinfluenza (croup) and let me tell you that it is worse than the swine flu. With the H1N1 we had two really bad days and then it tapered off. Croup seems to just linger. Kendra sounds like a little barking seal.

So that brings me to today. We were invited to spend time with friends today, but because everyone is sick (except me) I decided we needed to stay home and I'd make us a Thanksgiving meal.

Not much of a feast but all homemade!! And because I'm the only "well" one we have a ton of leftovers!! I was happy because my pumpkin pie tastes just like my mom's.

It is nice to have a day when we can remember all we are grateful for.

Laughter: The Best Medicine

Kendra can always make her sister laugh. It's the funnest thing for us to watch and we finally taped it for all to enjoy.

During our scripture reading tonight we asked Kendra, "Don't you want to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again?" To which she replied, "No, I just want to go to Disneyland." We have failed as parents!!

Earlier today Kendra went to a friend's birthday party. She got to ride a horse!

For Halloween Megan was a bunny and Kendra was Tinkerbell. I didn't post a picture of Kendra in her costume because it's the same costume she wore at Disneyland. We only went trick-or-treating to a few of our neighbors. When Kendra learned we were at our last house she said, "We need to go to some more houses." I told her that this was the last one, and she replied, "but I need some more candy."

The Ocean

I wasn't going to travel all the way to California and NOT see the beach. We took off one afternoon to spend a couple of hours in Long Beach. It was perfect timing. It was warm, sunny, and beautiful. The fog rolled in just as we left.

Mark and his girls walking the beach.



This took some coaxing. Kendra is still hesitant when it comes to new situations. The first step was to take off her shoes in the sand. Then it was to get her to walk on the wet sand. To get her in the water we began with our backs toward the ocean and dug our feet into the wet sand. The tide came up a little and got her. She realized it wasn't scary but fun, so began to play in the water.

Building a sand castle.


Kendra made "sleeping beauty's castle." Notice the beautiful trash in her castle. I am disappointed that people don't take care of the beaches. There was quite a bit of trash on the beach and in the water.


Funny picture of Meggers.