2025 by Month
1 year ago
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
I Am So Blessed...
for many reasons but today I was reminded of one of them (well two in disguise!). I had a doctor's appointment today at 9am - Jackson's nap time! So I put him down a little early, about 8:20am or so, and let him sleep for maybe 10-15 minutes. Then I went in and woke him up only to throw him in his seat, then into the car and then in a doctor's office. He was so easy there, he laughed and talked to the people in the waiting room, he was an angel. (This is where the disguised blessing came into play... I was considering changing our healthcare to Kaiser so I could go to the chiro, but with the advice of many, we stuck with what we had. SO SMART!!! If we did switch, we would probably still be in the waiting room and then, JAckson may have not been so patient!) Then as the doctor was wrapping things up, Jackson did a little tired grunt to tell me, ok I am done, but that was it. He didn't make a scene. When we got home, he arched his back and did his tired cry to "say", "Mommy, put me to bed". I put him in bed and he was out. So blessed!!!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
The Time Change Blues
Jena and I were conversing over text and we have come to the conclusion the time change sucks when you have kids. They don't know you can sleep in an hour later, they don't know that you need to adjust to the new day... This year's time change DID NOT involve gaining an hour here at the Anderson home! :(
Friday, October 27, 2006
New Sitters
Yesterday my dad and Bri came over to watch Jackson!! It seemed that they had a great day and included many candid moments. Bri sent me one while I was at school - I LOVE getting those while I am at work. 
Bri worked so hard all day - she seemed to work up such an appetite! Yum Yum - And yes Bonny, I had TWO Spicy Tuna handrolls!!!
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Birthday Blog
As Dayna pointed out to me, Andrew did not do a blog on my day, but Jena did and it's so cute!! Check it out: click here!
Sunday, October 22, 2006
How Cool It Is To Scream!
Even in church! It is grandpa's fault because last night, we were at Jackson's Bis Abuelos house and Jackson and my dad were hanging out on the bed. Jackson built up all this air inside, and then let it go! He screamed as loud as he could and saw that grandpa was pleased. He continued doing this, each time looking to grandpa for approval - AND HE GOT IT! Jackson also decided to try flirting at church. Andrew said that he was sharing his book with a little girl and was very intent on making her happy! Our little ladies man.
The pictures below are a compilation of the last week. A few firsts and a few of our blessed Abuelita!
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Abuelita was feeling much better yesterday!.jpg)
Jackson was SO excited to go to Agoura's Homecoming game!! This is the beanie Uncle Wes made for Zoe while he was in France - I believe around 2002!?!?.jpg)
Yeah - The Keller's had their second, so cute!.jpg)
He's a big boy now - no more car seat in the shopping cart..jpg)
Big boys have to drink from big boy glasses! Look how strong he is :)Friday, October 20, 2006
For All The Mommies!
TV Really Might Cause AutismA Slate exclusive: findings from a new Cornell study.By Gregg EasterbrookPosted Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, at 6:52 AM ET
Last month, I speculated in Slate that the mounting incidence of childhood autism may be related to increased television viewing among the very young. The a utism rise began around 1980, about the same time cable television and VCRs became common, allowing children to watch television aimed at them any time. Since the brain is organizing during the first years of life and since human beings evolved responding to three-dimensional stimuli, I wondered if exposing toddlers to lots of colorful two-dimensional stimulation could be harmful to brain development. This was sheer speculation, since I knew of no researchers pursuing the question.
Today, Cornell University researchers are reporting what appears to be a statistically significant relationship between autism rates and television watching by children under the age of 3. The researchers studied autism incidence in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington state. They found that as cable television became common in California and Pennsylvania beginning around 1980, chi ldhood autism rose more in the counties that had cable than in the counties that did not. They further found that in all the Western states, the more time toddlers spent in front of the television, the more likely they were to exhibit symptoms of autism disorders.
The Cornell study represents a potential bombshell in the autism debate. "We are not saying we have found the cause of autism, we're saying we have found a critical piece of evidence," Cornell researcher Michael Waldman told me. Because autism rates are increasing broadly across the country and across income and ethnic groups, it seems logical that the trigger is something to which children are broadly exposed. Vaccines were a leading suspect, but numerous studies have failed to show any definitive link between autism and vaccines, while the autism rise has continued since worrisome compounds in vaccines were banned. What if the malefa ctor is not a chemical? Studies suggest that American children now watch about four hours of television daily. Before 1980—the first kids-oriented channel, Nickelodeon, dates to 1979—the figure is believed to have been much lower.
The Cornell study is by Waldman, a professor in the school's Johnson Graduate School of Management, Sean Nicholson, an associate professor in the school's department of policy analysis, and research assistant Nodir Adilov. "Several years ago I began wondering if it was a coincidence that the rise in autism rates and the explosion of television viewing began about the same time," Waldman said. "I asked around and found that medical researchers were not working on this, so accepted that I should research it myself." The Cornell study looks at county-by-county growth in cable television access and autism rates in California and Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1989. The researchers find an overall rise in both cable-TV access and autism, but autis m diagnoses rose more rapidly in counties where a high percentage of households received cable than in counties with a low percentage of cable-TV homes. Waldman and Nicholson employ statistical controls to factor out the possibility that the two patterns were simply unrelated events happening simultaneously. (For instance, petroleum use also rose during the period but is unrelated to autism.) Waldman and Nicholson conclude that "roughly 17 percent of the growth in autism in California and Pennsylvania during the 1970s and 1980s was due to the growth in cable television."
But the fact that rising household access to cable television seems to associate with rising autism does not reveal anything about how viewing hours might link to the disorder. The Cornell team searched for some independent measure of increased television viewing. In recent years, leading behavioral economists such as Caroline Hoxby and Steven Levitt* have used weather or geography to test assumptions about behavior. Bureau of Labor Statistics studies have found that when it rains or snows, television viewing by young children rises. So Waldman studied precipitation records for California, Oregon, and Washington state, which, because of climate and geography, experience big swings in precipitation levels both year-by-year and county-by-county. He found what appears to be a dramatic relationship between television viewing and autism onset. In counties or years when rain and snow were unusually high, and hence it is assumed children spent a lot of time watching television, autism rates shot up; in places or years of low precipitation, autism rates were low. Waldman and Nicholson conclude that "just under 40 percent of autism diagnoses in the three states studied is the result of television watching." Thus the study has two separate findings: that having cable television in the home increased autism rates in Cali fornia and Pennsylvania somewhat, and that more hours of actually watching television increased autism in California, Oregon, and Washington by a lot.
Research has shown that autistic children exhibit abnormal activity in the visual-processing areas of their brains, and these areas are actively developing in the first three years of life. Whether excessive viewing of brightly colored two-dimensional screen images can cause visual-processing abnormalities is unknown. The Cornell study makes no attempt to propose how television might trigger autism; it only seeks to demonstrate a relationship. But Waldman notes that large amounts of money are being spent to search for a cause of autism that is genetic or toxin-based and believes researchers should now turn to scrutinizing a television link.
There are many possible objections to the Cornell study. One is that time indoors, not television, may be the autism trigger. Generally, indoor air quality is much lower than outdoor air quality: Recently the Environmental Protection Agency warned, "Risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors." Perhaps if rain and snow cause young children to spend more time indoors, added exposure to indoor air pollution harms them. It may be that families with children at risk for autism disorders are for some reason more likely to move to areas that get lots of rain and snow or to move to areas with high cable-television usage. Some other factor may explain what only appears to be a television-autism relationship.
Everyone complains about television in a general way. But if it turns out television has specific harmful medical effects—in addition to these new findings about autism, some studies have linked television viewing by children younger than 3 to the onset of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder—parents may urgently need to know to keep toddlers away from the TV. Television networks and manufacturers of televisions may need to reassess how their products are marketed to the young. Legal liability may come into play. And we live in a society in which bright images on screens are becoming ever more ubiquitous: television, video games, DVD video players, computers, cell phones. If screen images cause harm to brain development in the young, the proliferation of these TV-like devices may bode ill for the future. The aggressive marketing of Teletubbies, Baby Einstein videos, and similar products intended to encourage television watching by toddlers may turn out to have been a nightmarish mistake.
If television viewing by toddlers is a facto r in autism, the parents of afflicted children should not reproach themselves, as there was no warning of this risk. Now there is: The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends against any TV for children under the age of 2. Waldman thinks that until more is known about what triggers autism, families with children under the age of 3 should get them away from the television and keep them away.
Researchers might also turn new attention to study of the Amish. Autism is rare in Amish society, and the standing assumption has been that this is because most Amish refuse to vaccinate children. The Amish also do not watch television.
Correction, Oct. 17: Steven Levitt's name was misspelled in the original version of this article. (Return to the corrected sentence.)
Gregg Easterbrook is the author, most recently, of The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse. Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2151538/
Copyright 2006 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC
Last month, I speculated in Slate that the mounting incidence of childhood autism may be related to increased television viewing among the very young. The a utism rise began around 1980, about the same time cable television and VCRs became common, allowing children to watch television aimed at them any time. Since the brain is organizing during the first years of life and since human beings evolved responding to three-dimensional stimuli, I wondered if exposing toddlers to lots of colorful two-dimensional stimulation could be harmful to brain development. This was sheer speculation, since I knew of no researchers pursuing the question.
Today, Cornell University researchers are reporting what appears to be a statistically significant relationship between autism rates and television watching by children under the age of 3. The researchers studied autism incidence in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington state. They found that as cable television became common in California and Pennsylvania beginning around 1980, chi ldhood autism rose more in the counties that had cable than in the counties that did not. They further found that in all the Western states, the more time toddlers spent in front of the television, the more likely they were to exhibit symptoms of autism disorders.
The Cornell study represents a potential bombshell in the autism debate. "We are not saying we have found the cause of autism, we're saying we have found a critical piece of evidence," Cornell researcher Michael Waldman told me. Because autism rates are increasing broadly across the country and across income and ethnic groups, it seems logical that the trigger is something to which children are broadly exposed. Vaccines were a leading suspect, but numerous studies have failed to show any definitive link between autism and vaccines, while the autism rise has continued since worrisome compounds in vaccines were banned. What if the malefa ctor is not a chemical? Studies suggest that American children now watch about four hours of television daily. Before 1980—the first kids-oriented channel, Nickelodeon, dates to 1979—the figure is believed to have been much lower.
The Cornell study is by Waldman, a professor in the school's Johnson Graduate School of Management, Sean Nicholson, an associate professor in the school's department of policy analysis, and research assistant Nodir Adilov. "Several years ago I began wondering if it was a coincidence that the rise in autism rates and the explosion of television viewing began about the same time," Waldman said. "I asked around and found that medical researchers were not working on this, so accepted that I should research it myself." The Cornell study looks at county-by-county growth in cable television access and autism rates in California and Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1989. The researchers find an overall rise in both cable-TV access and autism, but autis m diagnoses rose more rapidly in counties where a high percentage of households received cable than in counties with a low percentage of cable-TV homes. Waldman and Nicholson employ statistical controls to factor out the possibility that the two patterns were simply unrelated events happening simultaneously. (For instance, petroleum use also rose during the period but is unrelated to autism.) Waldman and Nicholson conclude that "roughly 17 percent of the growth in autism in California and Pennsylvania during the 1970s and 1980s was due to the growth in cable television."
But the fact that rising household access to cable television seems to associate with rising autism does not reveal anything about how viewing hours might link to the disorder. The Cornell team searched for some independent measure of increased television viewing. In recent years, leading behavioral economists such as Caroline Hoxby and Steven Levitt* have used weather or geography to test assumptions about behavior. Bureau of Labor Statistics studies have found that when it rains or snows, television viewing by young children rises. So Waldman studied precipitation records for California, Oregon, and Washington state, which, because of climate and geography, experience big swings in precipitation levels both year-by-year and county-by-county. He found what appears to be a dramatic relationship between television viewing and autism onset. In counties or years when rain and snow were unusually high, and hence it is assumed children spent a lot of time watching television, autism rates shot up; in places or years of low precipitation, autism rates were low. Waldman and Nicholson conclude that "just under 40 percent of autism diagnoses in the three states studied is the result of television watching." Thus the study has two separate findings: that having cable television in the home increased autism rates in Cali fornia and Pennsylvania somewhat, and that more hours of actually watching television increased autism in California, Oregon, and Washington by a lot.
Research has shown that autistic children exhibit abnormal activity in the visual-processing areas of their brains, and these areas are actively developing in the first three years of life. Whether excessive viewing of brightly colored two-dimensional screen images can cause visual-processing abnormalities is unknown. The Cornell study makes no attempt to propose how television might trigger autism; it only seeks to demonstrate a relationship. But Waldman notes that large amounts of money are being spent to search for a cause of autism that is genetic or toxin-based and believes researchers should now turn to scrutinizing a television link.
There are many possible objections to the Cornell study. One is that time indoors, not television, may be the autism trigger. Generally, indoor air quality is much lower than outdoor air quality: Recently the Environmental Protection Agency warned, "Risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors." Perhaps if rain and snow cause young children to spend more time indoors, added exposure to indoor air pollution harms them. It may be that families with children at risk for autism disorders are for some reason more likely to move to areas that get lots of rain and snow or to move to areas with high cable-television usage. Some other factor may explain what only appears to be a television-autism relationship.
Everyone complains about television in a general way. But if it turns out television has specific harmful medical effects—in addition to these new findings about autism, some studies have linked television viewing by children younger than 3 to the onset of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder—parents may urgently need to know to keep toddlers away from the TV. Television networks and manufacturers of televisions may need to reassess how their products are marketed to the young. Legal liability may come into play. And we live in a society in which bright images on screens are becoming ever more ubiquitous: television, video games, DVD video players, computers, cell phones. If screen images cause harm to brain development in the young, the proliferation of these TV-like devices may bode ill for the future. The aggressive marketing of Teletubbies, Baby Einstein videos, and similar products intended to encourage television watching by toddlers may turn out to have been a nightmarish mistake.
If television viewing by toddlers is a facto r in autism, the parents of afflicted children should not reproach themselves, as there was no warning of this risk. Now there is: The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends against any TV for children under the age of 2. Waldman thinks that until more is known about what triggers autism, families with children under the age of 3 should get them away from the television and keep them away.
Researchers might also turn new attention to study of the Amish. Autism is rare in Amish society, and the standing assumption has been that this is because most Amish refuse to vaccinate children. The Amish also do not watch television.
Correction, Oct. 17: Steven Levitt's name was misspelled in the original version of this article. (Return to the corrected sentence.)
Gregg Easterbrook is the author, most recently, of The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse. Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2151538/
Copyright 2006 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Home Sweet Home
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As you all know, Abuelita went in for a triple-bypass last week and I am happy to report, SHE WENT HOME TODAY! It has been a whirwind of a week, more so for those that were there EVERYDAY, but even so, we have been doing a lot of traveling. We made the trek to Riverside friday, sunday, tuesday and last night and then we will be going back up (or down actually) on saturday.
I will say this though, it has been wonderful spending so much time with our family. We have loved every minute of that! All our thoughts about moving out of state, they are muted due to the recent events. But then again, when rent is due next month, I am sure things may look differently. We will see.
We are just so happy that Abuelita is strong and happy - well she's happy now that she doesn't have to try and decode her neighbors odd Spanish. I also have to say, we have an amazing family, one that is so strong and happy - we are blessed!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Bitter-Sweet
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Yesterday was a beautiful day. Jackson and I had the chance to meet up with my grandparents (his bis abuelos) for lunch in Pasadena. That was our half way point and it worked out perfectly. We met up at Maria's Italian Restaurant and it was superb!! The best part about it was the time they were able to have with a very happy Jackson sporting his Cabo San Lucas outfit. When they got this for him, they had no idea it would be word so soon!!!!
The only downfall with meeting at a restaurant was now that Jackson eats food, he admires our food. He very carefully watches you scoop up your food and bring it towards your mouth. He is in awe and can sometimes become a little jealous. So this is making meal time and little more interesting! .jpg)
After we enjoyed our delicious meal, we headed down the street to spend some time at a park. It was GORGEOUS! The weather was perfect and the park was clean and fairly empty! This time abuelito had the chance to swing with Jackson.
It was a day I know I will NEVER forget. It means so much to me that they love and adore my son so much. I am so grateful for the time and energy they put into building a relationship with him.
Tonight abuelita is in the hospital. Tomorrow morning she is going in for open-heart surgery. I haven't thought about it much today because I don't really want to. She has a 95% chance of being ok, and I know she will be, it's just hard to face the reality of it all. I had a meeting today after school so I wasn't able to head out there in time to make it for visiting hours and Jackson was tired and ready for bed. Tomorrow morning Jackson and I will be heading out to Riverside to see her when she gets out. So please keep her in your prayers.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' - Keep that Jackson Rollin'...
It all started this morning - early this morning. Andrew heard Jackson crying around 5am and upon enter his room, Andrew spotted Jackson on his belly!!! He has been trying for a few weeks now, and he did it!
Then this morning Jackson was playing on his mat while he was waiting for me to bring him in the shower. Andrew was getting ready for work, walked out of the room and then came back in. At that time I heard, "Chilly, he did it again, he rolled over and I missed it!"
Our little man is moblie - life will only get more complicated and enjoyable!
Then this morning Jackson was playing on his mat while he was waiting for me to bring him in the shower. Andrew was getting ready for work, walked out of the room and then came back in. At that time I heard, "Chilly, he did it again, he rolled over and I missed it!"
Our little man is moblie - life will only get more complicated and enjoyable!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Swinging in the Park
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The reason for the park is two fold:
1) Since Jackson started solids, he has been a little cranky. I am not sure if it was because he didn't "go to the bathroom" for a couple days, or if that time has come. What time you ask... there was once a time Jena brought to my attention that Jackson was still in the "Wow the world is amazing and I could stare at it all day" stage. She told me of the future, the future where he may get bored. It seems this may be part of the problem. His attention span has seemed to become a little shorter!
2) I can't go on walks for a couple weeks because I did something to my knee. If I squated to pick something up, or if I went to bend my leg to sit on it or something like that, my knee would hurt. Even getting out of the car could be painful. This started a couple months ago but I attributed it to being overweight. Anyway, it was only getting worse so I went to the doc's. I have to take it easy and take anti-inflamatories for two to three weeks to see if this solves my mysterious problem.
The Result:
Yesterday, when Andrew got home from work, we drove over to the par
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k and I went on the swings with Jackson. He was pretty somber, but I think he enjoyed being outside. I think Jena's pictures were an inspiration!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Singing A New Tune
I think the carrots are starting to grow on him!! And then he wanted the carrots to grow in me, my mouth to be exact, nothing like carrot kisses!! 
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Rice Cereal Out - Carrots In
After being repulsed by rice cereal for the fourth time, Jackson had the treat of experiencing carrots. I have to say, he seemed to enjoy them!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Vegas & More
Like any wise husband, Andrew began my birthday celebration 23 days early! He planned a trip to Vegas for some R & R! Initially the plan was to leave Jackson behind, but being the new mother that I am, I couldn't bear to do it. Honestly, I don't think Andrew would have liked it either. So we were blessed to have a couple of great babysitters!! We took the chance to see our long lost brother and new to be sister, and invited them to hang out with us in Vegas.
As you can see, they treated Jackson very well!!!
We made three desserts to enjoy over the THREE days we were there - can you tell :)
Wes and Paige LOVE Jackson so much so it was great to see them with him. They of course can't wait to have their own now!
I have to say, it was such a nice vacation - so low key and just plain monkeying around!!! We also enjoyed the jacuzzi on the balcony of our penthouse! But you can see those picutres featured in next year's scrapbook!
As for the actual babysitting job, that took place Monday night when Andrew and I ventured down the strip to an Italian Restaurant called Maggiano's. It was SO yummy!
These are the "& More"! The first being Jackson standing because he LOVES to stand and he looked so cute doing it in his green shirt. And the second is Mrs. Annette Chin - it was so eventful at the Andersons Saturday night!!
Life is great these days - I guess they always are though after a splendid vacation!
As you can see, they treated Jackson very well!!!.0.jpg)
We made three desserts to enjoy over the THREE days we were there - can you tell :).jpg)
Wes and Paige LOVE Jackson so much so it was great to see them with him. They of course can't wait to have their own now!.0.jpg)
I have to say, it was such a nice vacation - so low key and just plain monkeying around!!! We also enjoyed the jacuzzi on the balcony of our penthouse! But you can see those picutres featured in next year's scrapbook! As for the actual babysitting job, that took place Monday night when Andrew and I ventured down the strip to an Italian Restaurant called Maggiano's. It was SO yummy!
These are the "& More"! The first being Jackson standing because he LOVES to stand and he looked so cute doing it in his green shirt. And the second is Mrs. Annette Chin - it was so eventful at the Andersons Saturday night!!
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Life is great these days - I guess they always are though after a splendid vacation!
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