Americans need to stop the disposable paper and plastic mentality! In my
conscious effort to slow down global warming by reducing the CO2
emissions, my "carbon footprint", I decided to ban paper and plastic
disposables as an experiment today. At Starbucks, during an unexpected
stop when I had to wait for a certain store nearby to open in half an
hour and baby Blake was awake and demanding breastmilk, I decided to sit down and have a drink to pass my time. Instead of getting disposable
cups (which greatly harm the environment with the production of paper
and plastics that emit a lot of CO2, and most of which aren't recycled
by consumers), I wanted to buy a permanent starbucks mug which I'd leave
in the car for every SB visit. Upon ordering my tea, I asked through
speech to have it poured into my new mug. Instead, the employee used a
paper cup and a plastic lid, thinking I only wanted to buy but not use
the mug (huh??). I then wrote down to clarify, and this was worse... she transferred the contents into my mug and then THREW away the paper cup,
hence nullifying my fight against global warming if that paper cup was
already "disposed of" on MY account. Not only this happened, but I had
also wanted to buy a large glass jar for loose leaf tea infusion. Without asking me, this same lady immediately wrapped the jar in lots of tissue paper. She had only just begun with a slight wrap without yet crinkling or folding the paper when I halted her and asked not to. BUT
then she CRUMBLED and and THREW the entire pack of tissue paper (in almost perfect condition) that she had barely used! AND then, she
quickly took out a gift bag for the jar, but I stopped her right away, insisting that I'll just wrap it myself with the receiving blankets I already had in my tote bag, and to simply put it in the bag (Duh!). I failed my effort to zero out my "footprint" today. Looking back, I should have accepted the paper cup, declined to purchase the new mug (since I'd already have the disposable when it was too late), and with restraint, accept the tissue paper (so I could re-use it myself later, a lesser evil than seeing it go to waste). The message of conservation needs to get across to all Americans, so those of us who do care, don't need to struggle to NOT do harm.
Weeks later, at a GAP, where I was exchanging Niel's gift shirt for a different size, I had brought in the shirt already folded in a little "Baby Gap" box. I clearly asked the sales lady to use the same box for packaging that I had brought, and she agreed to do that. When I glanced away (of course to my sweet baby near me) and then back to the lady, I caught her trying to slip a darn store plastic bag over the box, struggling to get the bag over without ripping it. I couldn't help but yell, "No! I don't need that, thank you!" I obviously didn't have a problem arriving without a bag, so why should I need help leaving the store with a bag? I had my stroller with me, where I could conveniently place the box without the bag after the exchange.
Today, I am proud to have walked into Ralphs and out with a lot of groceries without consuming any bags - paper or plastic. I simply asked the bag boy to put all my groceries in the cart without any bags, and then at the car, I transferred everything into my tote bag that I had forgotten to take out in the first place. It was easy! What about those fruits and veggies in the produce section? Don't I need those little plastics for covering 'em? Nope. No bags at all . . . I wash my produce before eating or cooking them, so why the bags? I'm wasting a LOT LESS plastic or paper bags now than I ever did before, and feel exhilarately great about it!
See the enclosed link to a power point slide about the harm plastic bags are doing to our environment. I happened to get it recently from a friend and from my mother through email, and thought it was appropriate to share in this post. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016
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Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Caleb says Grace
At dinner a few days ago, as we got ready to say grace, Caleb was ready with his hands
pressed together in prayer before we were, as he usually does. What was
new tonight was that when Niel began saying grace, Caleb interrupted,
saying "Caleb's turn" so Niel stopped and asked Caleb to begin. Caleb
signed "Thank you for family- Mommy, Daddy, and Blake. Amen." My eyes
watered with warm joy and surprise!
Ever since, Caleb has been interrupting or insisting on saying grace himself. He'd list the things he's grateful for, or at least observes in his day. He'd go like this in ASL: "JESUS, FAMILY, MOMMY, DADDY, BLAKE, NANA HERE, TIME-OUT, SLEEP, MOUNTAINS, BIRDS, TREES, FOOD, AMEN." Starting our dinner has never been this endearing.
pressed together in prayer before we were, as he usually does. What was
new tonight was that when Niel began saying grace, Caleb interrupted,
saying "Caleb's turn" so Niel stopped and asked Caleb to begin. Caleb
signed "Thank you for family- Mommy, Daddy, and Blake. Amen." My eyes
watered with warm joy and surprise!
Ever since, Caleb has been interrupting or insisting on saying grace himself. He'd list the things he's grateful for, or at least observes in his day. He'd go like this in ASL: "JESUS, FAMILY, MOMMY, DADDY, BLAKE, NANA HERE, TIME-OUT, SLEEP, MOUNTAINS, BIRDS, TREES, FOOD, AMEN." Starting our dinner has never been this endearing.
Monday, June 09, 2008
You are my sunshine!
Here Caleb is singing his version of "You Are My Sunshine" on his new banjo that his grandpa gave him.
Caleb fingerspells his name!
What you are seeing is Caleb fingerspelling his name for the first time, well, not the first first time but you know what I mean? :) He has done the ABCs quite well (and for some time now) and knows how to sign all the letters, very clearly and fluently, but has not been able to fingerspell any words, with the exception of signing bus, car, ok, etc. So, this is really his first fingerspelled word, CALEB! Wow, pretty exciting. Enjoy the video! Love, Niel
Monday, April 07, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
More Love - Holding Blake
Before Blake was born, Niel and I had wondered if we could love this new
baby as much as we love Caleb, and how it'd be difficult to "split-up"
this love between two sons. Now after meeting Blake, we realize we were
wrong. Love doesn't split up; instead, love multiplies. I find myself
increased in love and happiness. Seems the more children and loved ones
we have, the more we love. Niel put this into an analogy with God, that
He has more and more children multiplying all over the earth, and thus
His love increases- He doesn't love one more than another, but all
equally. Having children helps us understand God more, doesn't it? :)
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Blake Evan Thompson
.
Blake Evan Thompson
Born April 2, 2008 at 5:55 a.m.
7.9 Lbs. and 20 1/2 Inches
Erika had an all natural birth, no medications! Erika and Blake are
doing well!
Story of my labor with Blake
On the morning of April 1st, "April Fool's", my ob/gyn found my cervix still completely closed, and didn't think the baby would come soon. Induction was scheduled the following Monday April 7th. I was disappointed, hoping to have natural labor, and not deal with pitocin, known to cause more painful contractions.
When I had begun contractions, Niel, Caleb, and I were celebrating the due date at "Best Thai Restaurant" on Chicago and Spruce. A teacher told Niel that if I needed to try induce labor, I should try Thai. The food was delicious, top-rated best in Riverside! During dinner at around 6:30, I started having what I thought was Braxton-Hicks, that I've been having so frequently for the last month and half. This time, it was mildy painful, but no different from what I felt for the last couple of days (and had reported to my doctor who dismissed it as just Braxton-Hicks merely because of its time irregularity). This continued throughout the evening, without stopping, but still was irregular, jumping from minutes of ten, six, twenty, thirty, eight, etc. with some regularity only a few times in a row.
We both didn't take these contractions seriously and went about our evening. I gave Caleb a bath, waiting in between pains to do the motions. While watching "Dance with the Stars", I started wondering if I was in early labor, or if I'd start in the middle of the night. At bedtime, I wasn't able to lie still in bed, tossing and turning at every contraction (on average ten minutes apart). Bothered by my motions, Niel moved to the guest bed to make sure he's well rested and able to help me later if needed. Unable to sleep, I took a warm bath with no improvement results. I started to realize that I might be in actual labor, but still kept the possibility that it was a false alarm. I lit a "Stress-Free" candle for my bedside, and struggled to sleep. I'd sleep for only ten minutes, only to be interrupted with painful contractions, which still were irregular, according to my faithful timing of each, using my pager. Around 2 a.m., I paged a list of girlfriend moms asking for their opinion, although I knew most of them would be asleep. This continued for one or two hours, until I realized I was in much more pain, and that sleep was impossible. Yes, this is labor!
During every contraction, I tried to ease the pain by kneeling, walking on fours, lying back, to no avail. I later felt mildly nauseated, hot, a bit dizzy, finding comfort lying on the very cool bathroom floor with toilet nearby. It helped most to kneel, resting my chest on the toilet seat (lid closed) for some reason. During all this time, Niel was still asleep in the other room, unawares. At 3 a.m., I decided I was too much of a wimp to bear through what I thought was the first or earlier stages of labor. (I've heard girlfriends' stories of going to the hospital only to find out that they weren't far along in labor, at only 1 or 3 centimeters apart, and being told to return home, hence I decided to wait it out a little longer at home - which I later learned was a risky mistake!) I paged a friend and my mom about coming over ASAP to rescue us, so we'd be able to leave for the hospital, leaving Caleb asleep in his crib with an adult in the house. I woke Niel half an hour after calling mom for rescue, telling him I'm in labor and we're hospital bound. I had already packed my bag, ready to go, during the earlier hours of labor. In the hours while I waited for rescue, the contractions went down to only one minute apart, with excruciating pain I became MAD that I wasn't already at the hospital drugged with painkillers. The massages and thoughtful gestures Niel tried doing for me no longer worked, and only made it worse. I didn't want to be touched, for every pressure on my flesh intensified the pain.
We finally were able to leave the house at 5 a.m., enduring the most painful drive at bumps and curves. I begged Niel to drive FAST during the one minute intervals I didn't have contractions, and then to drive SLOW when the pain came. We entered Riverside Community Hospital at around 5:15 a.m. By then, I was crouching, and desperate to crawl on the floor in pain. I was quickly wheeled to the maternity ward, but was hassled for insurance papers, registration, etc. We also tried asking for an interpreter. All seemed hopeless. Thankfully, the staff finally led me to a room where I could lie down. At around 5:30, a nurse inspected my cervix, and it was already 8 centimeters wide, leading to 10! Being naive, I asked for painkillers, and was shocked to be informed "NO", it was too late . . . the baby was expected to come within the hour (when he actually came 14 minutes later after that point!). I'd have to brave it all on my own, and I've always known to have very low pain tolerance, so, I thought, oh boy . . . can I do this? By then, the contractions were killing me, I had just got to get this maddening pain over with by going along with the motions and push if I felt like it. Nurses were present, but my regular doctor would miss it, and another doctor was on his way, to be with me in five minutes, I was told. No, I knew I couldn't wait even five minutes. Baby felt like he was coming out NOW! During the subsequent contractions, I could FEEL some widening, opening of my pelvis and whatever else it was, and an urge to push during each motion. The nurse said if I had to push, to go ahead. Yeeeeahhhhh! I'll push, that's for sure! One more, and I could feel the baby coming, and feel my vagina widening even more along with the anus in the "pooping" pressure. The doctor then walked in, just in time. The second push, and finally the head came out, and that was the most relieving reduction of pain I've ever felt. The third and easy push, and out came the entire baby!
When I had begun contractions, Niel, Caleb, and I were celebrating the due date at "Best Thai Restaurant" on Chicago and Spruce. A teacher told Niel that if I needed to try induce labor, I should try Thai. The food was delicious, top-rated best in Riverside! During dinner at around 6:30, I started having what I thought was Braxton-Hicks, that I've been having so frequently for the last month and half. This time, it was mildy painful, but no different from what I felt for the last couple of days (and had reported to my doctor who dismissed it as just Braxton-Hicks merely because of its time irregularity). This continued throughout the evening, without stopping, but still was irregular, jumping from minutes of ten, six, twenty, thirty, eight, etc. with some regularity only a few times in a row.
We both didn't take these contractions seriously and went about our evening. I gave Caleb a bath, waiting in between pains to do the motions. While watching "Dance with the Stars", I started wondering if I was in early labor, or if I'd start in the middle of the night. At bedtime, I wasn't able to lie still in bed, tossing and turning at every contraction (on average ten minutes apart). Bothered by my motions, Niel moved to the guest bed to make sure he's well rested and able to help me later if needed. Unable to sleep, I took a warm bath with no improvement results. I started to realize that I might be in actual labor, but still kept the possibility that it was a false alarm. I lit a "Stress-Free" candle for my bedside, and struggled to sleep. I'd sleep for only ten minutes, only to be interrupted with painful contractions, which still were irregular, according to my faithful timing of each, using my pager. Around 2 a.m., I paged a list of girlfriend moms asking for their opinion, although I knew most of them would be asleep. This continued for one or two hours, until I realized I was in much more pain, and that sleep was impossible. Yes, this is labor!
During every contraction, I tried to ease the pain by kneeling, walking on fours, lying back, to no avail. I later felt mildly nauseated, hot, a bit dizzy, finding comfort lying on the very cool bathroom floor with toilet nearby. It helped most to kneel, resting my chest on the toilet seat (lid closed) for some reason. During all this time, Niel was still asleep in the other room, unawares. At 3 a.m., I decided I was too much of a wimp to bear through what I thought was the first or earlier stages of labor. (I've heard girlfriends' stories of going to the hospital only to find out that they weren't far along in labor, at only 1 or 3 centimeters apart, and being told to return home, hence I decided to wait it out a little longer at home - which I later learned was a risky mistake!) I paged a friend and my mom about coming over ASAP to rescue us, so we'd be able to leave for the hospital, leaving Caleb asleep in his crib with an adult in the house. I woke Niel half an hour after calling mom for rescue, telling him I'm in labor and we're hospital bound. I had already packed my bag, ready to go, during the earlier hours of labor. In the hours while I waited for rescue, the contractions went down to only one minute apart, with excruciating pain I became MAD that I wasn't already at the hospital drugged with painkillers. The massages and thoughtful gestures Niel tried doing for me no longer worked, and only made it worse. I didn't want to be touched, for every pressure on my flesh intensified the pain.
We finally were able to leave the house at 5 a.m., enduring the most painful drive at bumps and curves. I begged Niel to drive FAST during the one minute intervals I didn't have contractions, and then to drive SLOW when the pain came. We entered Riverside Community Hospital at around 5:15 a.m. By then, I was crouching, and desperate to crawl on the floor in pain. I was quickly wheeled to the maternity ward, but was hassled for insurance papers, registration, etc. We also tried asking for an interpreter. All seemed hopeless. Thankfully, the staff finally led me to a room where I could lie down. At around 5:30, a nurse inspected my cervix, and it was already 8 centimeters wide, leading to 10! Being naive, I asked for painkillers, and was shocked to be informed "NO", it was too late . . . the baby was expected to come within the hour (when he actually came 14 minutes later after that point!). I'd have to brave it all on my own, and I've always known to have very low pain tolerance, so, I thought, oh boy . . . can I do this? By then, the contractions were killing me, I had just got to get this maddening pain over with by going along with the motions and push if I felt like it. Nurses were present, but my regular doctor would miss it, and another doctor was on his way, to be with me in five minutes, I was told. No, I knew I couldn't wait even five minutes. Baby felt like he was coming out NOW! During the subsequent contractions, I could FEEL some widening, opening of my pelvis and whatever else it was, and an urge to push during each motion. The nurse said if I had to push, to go ahead. Yeeeeahhhhh! I'll push, that's for sure! One more, and I could feel the baby coming, and feel my vagina widening even more along with the anus in the "pooping" pressure. The doctor then walked in, just in time. The second push, and finally the head came out, and that was the most relieving reduction of pain I've ever felt. The third and easy push, and out came the entire baby!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Hiking with Rachel the Day Before Labor
On March 31, the day before the baby's due date (and when I began labor), I went hiking at Sycamore Canyon. I've been wanting to check out this place for a long time and grabbed
this opportunity while the weather was sunny and breezy, cool enough for
hiking in the open. Luckily, it was Cesar Chavez holiday so all friends
were off from work at CSDR, so Rachel Smith was available and willing to
join me for company and precaution in case I fall helpless or start
labor in the middle of the trail.
We found the trails a lot more challenging than anticipated, especially
for me when fully 9-months pregnant! We climbed up a few steep trails,
shuffled down others trying not to fall, and tightroped down a very
narrow trail on a slope only to reach a dead end at a dried out creek
covered deep with dead branches and twigs, and having to return back
where we came. Thank God we found another short-cut trail that led us
back to our cars!It took a full hour for us to hike
around and back.
I felt exhilarated being out in the open, exercising and taking in the refreshing air and expansive view of the Riverside trees, golf courses, hills and vales, especially after many months of preferring to sit indoors, tired from the symptoms of pregnancy. A nice change! Now that I look back, that was clearly a part of my "nesting" urges with such outbursts of energy and desire. Next mission: Mount Rubidoux with the family!
this opportunity while the weather was sunny and breezy, cool enough for
hiking in the open. Luckily, it was Cesar Chavez holiday so all friends
were off from work at CSDR, so Rachel Smith was available and willing to
join me for company and precaution in case I fall helpless or start
labor in the middle of the trail.
We found the trails a lot more challenging than anticipated, especially
for me when fully 9-months pregnant! We climbed up a few steep trails,
shuffled down others trying not to fall, and tightroped down a very
narrow trail on a slope only to reach a dead end at a dried out creek
covered deep with dead branches and twigs, and having to return back
where we came. Thank God we found another short-cut trail that led us
back to our cars!It took a full hour for us to hike
around and back.
I felt exhilarated being out in the open, exercising and taking in the refreshing air and expansive view of the Riverside trees, golf courses, hills and vales, especially after many months of preferring to sit indoors, tired from the symptoms of pregnancy. A nice change! Now that I look back, that was clearly a part of my "nesting" urges with such outbursts of energy and desire. Next mission: Mount Rubidoux with the family!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
No Baby Yet, Still Waiting
No baby yet... due date is still april 1st, but I had thought he'd come earlier, if it's my 2nd pregnancy. I'm at full term now, 40 weeks. I've just begun my maternity leave, wanting to rest and prepare before 'delivery so I'd have energy and be less overwhelmed as possible once baby comes. The baby's name will be Blake Evan. We can't wait to meet him! Niel's 'relatives (dad, granddad, brother) on the Thompson side will be spending the weekend at our house April 19th/20th to meet Blake. On April 26th, Erika's mom and sister-in-law Lisa are hosting a "Meet Blake" party at Mom's house, with family on my side. Friends are welcome to visit anytime. Caleb will be at daycare only on Tues and Thurs starting this week, to keep up with his social skills and educational structure, while I get to enjoy him on Mon, Wed, and Fri all day. I'll miss that once I return to work in August. Niel will be "Mr. Mom" next year. When I deliver, I will be paging 10 people only who will forward the message to everybody else. My pager has a limit of sending the same email to 10 people, otherwise email gets bounced back. If nothing happens this week, delivery will be induced on Tuesday April 7th, 1 week past the due date (hope not the case- more painful and not natural. We're registered at Babies r Us if anybody would like to know what Blake needs that we don't already have. Thanks!
Cold Case - TV Episode
Caught the last twenty minutes of "Cold Case" TV episode last night. Deaf kills Deaf because of the cochlear implant? What a unfair plot! I must say, though, that the Deaf actors did well on the show- Handplause to you all- Bob, Michael, Sho, Evelina, Sheena, Lisa, and especially lead actor/Cold Case victim Ryan Lane, a former student of Niel's who graduated from CSDR in 2007! Anybody who taped the show who could loan us the tape??
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Caleb's First Haircut
giving him a haircut until the 3rd year or so. However, he was born with
longer hair in the front, so the length bothers his eyes and vision, and perhaps because his hair is so thin it was not as manageable.
I didn't want him to look too old... he had curls at the bottom, I hoped he'd somehow keep a little of that. Some of Caleb's hair was saved for taping on a "First Haircut" certificate presented to us by the hairdresser.
Immediately after his haircut, Caleb ran outside of the salon toward the landscaped-streams just to gaze at the water, the rocks, the lily pads. He also likes pulling out leaves to toss into the water - a hard habit to get him to break! Caleb's spoiled from his abundant pebble-tossing experience at the Greek beaches on Santorini island.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Pregnant mom whirling 2-year old Caleb
With this 2nd pregnancy, I don't have the luxury of relaxing and taking it easy physically. Firstborn son Caleb is such a bundle of energy, he wants to be lifted, carried, or whirled around, it makes him the happiest kid in the world with his contagious grin. Here I am, pregnant mom whirling around a 29 pound boy - the first stage of the two brothers playing together for the rest of their lives.
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