Don't have a name for the monkey yet! Any suggestions?

Some of these are long overdue from Christmas!

Just thought we should post something to keep the blog going. We are half way through the semester after this next week and we are very stressed. Treven has 3 exams this week before we go to Vancouver on Friday. One for chemistry and two for anatomy. I have 2 exams for anatomy. One of them being the bone test which we are studying like crazy for! We walk into the lab room and they have all the bones in the body (some broken into segments) around the room. We have to go in there and what it is pointing to on the bone, we name it. Then our other exam is on our lecture which is going to be easy. We are stressed and tired, but we know we can do it.
Melia is growing fast and is cooing and giggling. She is starting to grab for things. The only thing that is confusing is she won't pass a bowel movement for 7 days then she will have a huge blow out. It started happening when I tried to get her to eat formula. She did NOT like it so we stopped it. She drank like one bottle of the formula so now just breast milk Anyways! I don't know what to do. The doctor's office said it was something I was eating but I didn't change ANYTHING in my diet from when she was born and it all started because of the formula. I don't know what to do. If you have any suggestions please help.
We bought a second car that is in Vancouver. We got a 2000 Toyota Camry and it is silver. Mom and Dad went and looked at it for us and picked it up when we bought it. It will definitely help us having a 2nd car. It has been really hard with both Treven and I working and going to school cause they overlap some days. We are number 5 on the subsidized housing list so he said he can guarantee us moving in by April but there is a possibility for March. So we will see!
Anne and I are going to Rascal Flatts concert on March 8 for our birthdays from Mom and Dad in Boise. We are definitely excited for it and it will be tons of fun to go with her. Peter, Treven will be coming on Friday after his classes. He wants to come, but can't leave till Friday night.
Well have to go study! I will post some pictures once Melia wakes up. We got her a pink sock monkey from old navy. I couldn't resist buying it.
Love you all see some of you soon!
Kim

Hey Everyone,

So we had to do this eventually so it is ok that Dave switched to the new blogger. I was anticipating this transfer so I made a gmail account for the blog. Since David switched the blog though he is now the official administer of the blog so he changes all settings, etc.

But as for the rest of us - we can sign into the new blogger with our new blog gmail account - stinchfamily@gmail.com. The password is the same as our old blogger account. This will also be good for any sensitive information like addresses or phone numbers to be sent to a family email that we all can check. I will try to keep that email organized so that it is easy to find different email for different people (that will make more sense if you sign into the account at gmail.com).

So from now on sign in to new blogger and all should work smoothly. Let me know if you guys are confused about anything...thanks!


--
marnie

Hey Family,

Sorry but Buffy and I do not have an announcement. Soon though soon. Brooke I would be happy to take the second if you want. HEHE, congrats. So 4 weeks until the house is to be completed and they are working away at it. The cabinets went in this week and the house is coming together. I have much less hair though since going through the mortgage process. It Sucks!!!! Gap is doing well and I am going to have a fun year of travel coming up. In March I am going to Seattle for 3 days, then in June to Scottsdale, Arizona for 3 more days and San Francisco for 3 more. Then in September I go to Orlando for 4 more days. I'm a traveling man. Buffy is doing well at Proactive PT, they move into a new clinic on Monday so she is excited. And just an FYI for all you Moms out there. Gap Outlet is having the Kids and Baby sale starting the 20th. All Boys, Girls and Baby product will be 30% off. Sorry Brooke, Anne, and Kim, no Gaps where you are. Have Mom pick you up something at my store though (Shameless sales pitch). Anyhow I figured I would write on this since my name is now on the list of contributors, I should actually contribute. Love you all

Well I tried to do it the old way but it wouldn't let me so I am posting via the gmail account for stinchfamily. Anyways, all is well here in Boise. We went skiing/snowboarding yesterday and had a blast. Our friends Justin and Laura came with us and since Laura is preggo, she watched Andrew so both Peter and I could go up.

Andrew is doing well, he still has room to grow being that he is 25th percentile for weight and 70th for height. But I think he will have a late growth spurt....it may just be going on right now...the kid is killing me. We went to Red Robin tonite and he was so close to the table in his highchair and he wanted to chew on something so he just started biting down on the table...I will try to post pics( i took them on my phone). Anyways, we love the kid and couldn't imagine not having him here....we love being parents.

We love you all and are so excited for all the new little babies that will be arriving later this year.

-Anne

try to post something the old way.

Dave

For those SNL fans, you'll understand that. For all others, I think I screwed up the blogger account. I tried to sign in as stinchfamily and it asked me if I wanted to update the blog. Well, it didn't look like there was any other option, so I agreed. Well, I think it now says I have to sign in with my gmail account...and it thinks I am 'stinchfamily'. So, somebody needs to tell me how to rectify this. What I am thinking is to re-invite everyone to the blog so that everyone can post. It'll probably require you to sign in with your own new sign-in. Well, the benefit of that would be that all would now have the correct name after their post instead of the generic 'stinchfamily'. All who disagree, post something...he,he. I am going to try to invite everyone. So, I need all current email addresses. Send it to taysaac@gmail.com.

Well, I got on after a hiatus of what has got to be over 2 mos. I have been readin', but not bloggin'. Reasons? Bought the practice (majority of time), computer pooped out for 2 weeks, scouts, etc.. The list goes on. Enjoying the new experience of being a business owner, even with all its headaches. I think I was made for this? Almost enjoy it more than the dentistry, but I still love the dentistry, very exciting (you probably wouldn't understand if you weren't here with me).

I went to a course in Vancouver, B.C. for ortho, the second series of training I have had. Very good course, learning a lot. Will be going back for the next three months. Also going to Vegas in March for training on the business side of things. Should be a good segway into the crazy summer of 2 weddings on the Archuleta side and a likely disneyland trip and a week of scout camp. All fun!

We miss you all, even you Ma and Pa. I think today was the first time I have seen them since Christmas (well, not really, but that is what it feels like). Me and Dad went to the Children's Dental Health Day at the Clark College Hygiene school today for the morning to donate some treatment to the kids. It was a good time, despite the whaling and gnashing of teeth!

Well, I better get going, it is wonderful to be able to taste a piece of each of your lives through the blog! Congrats Mike and Brooke!

Dave

So let me tell you this funny little story- this fall- October- life seemed to be going pretty smoothly. I could keep the car cleaned out, the house was staying reasonably sanitary and straightened to boot and Mike and I sort of started talking about the fact that maybe we could handle one more. It might be good for Ellyn because it would keep us catering to young kids. It would be good for Sadie because she would have someone that would accept all of her love and attention. Jane would love it, Mike has always wanted another baby and I knew I couldn't help but love another child (you might note my enthusiasm was not as high as it could be). By November we decided we would at least not do anything to prevent another baby until Mike deployed. We would put it in the Lord's hands and then if we still didn't have a fourth child we could feel comfortable with making that final definite decision.

Since that time we have had all the major sleep issues, Ellyn's therapists not as hopeful as they were earlier, our callings requiring more and more of our time, and a few nights ago as I watched that autism documentary and sat bawling my eyes out Mike and I had a heart to heart and decided that we were done and that it was okay. We (I) had reached our max capacity. The next morning I started thinking about the date, studied my calendar, and decided that we may have come to our conclusion a bit too late. The Lord obviously had other plans for our family. That afternoon my suspicions were confirmed. My husband was estatic and I was in shock. Considering our track record I didn't really believe it was going to happen before he left and really I was just wanting that extra reassurance. But I have to say that I'm very happy. Scared to death, grumpy because I'm a bit stressed about the whole thing, and because I know in two weeks I will be wishing I were dead as I build a closer relationship with my toilet bowl. But as I said, I know the Lord wants this child in our home. Two months just doesn't happen for us. I knew that if I were to have a baby the ideal timing would be October and October 16th it is. So please keep this baby in your prayers (and T&T's too).

Keep Ellyn in your prayers as well. Her sleeping continues to be an issue, the sleep medication either does too little and she is still awake (1/2) or it's too much (whole) and she still has a restless night and is groggy all day. She needs sleep for her little brain and for her parents' sanity. We are giving it a few more days and then we are back to no meds, a happier kiddo, and still no sleep.

That's my story and Barb, if there's two you get one! Have a fabulous day. Love,me

Congrats Mike and Brooke and family! We are so excited for you guys!

Love, Anne Peter and Andrew

Well, I could write a novel about how cold it is, how much we have cabin fever and are going crazy, how wound up and cranky the kids are and how I can't wait for the spring but it wouldn't be very fun to read. So instead, I'll just share our great news.

First off: Big Congrats to Tom on passing the National Dental Boards!!! Woohoo!!! He got his scores yesterday and we are so thrilled!! He will take the final part at the end of March and be officially done! Yeah!!!!!! Great job Tom!!!!!!

Second: I have hit the twelve week mark with this pregnancy and everything looks great!!!! For those reading who hadn't heard, yes, I'm pregnant! We found out just before Christmas and we were surprised to be blessed so quickly but very happy and excited! I'm due August 18th so I'm 12 1/2 weeks and finally crawling out of the first trimester. I told the Stinchfield clan when we were there for Christmas but just haven't blogged about it because we have so many people reading this blogg!! However, I had my check up this week and the doctor did another ultrasound and things looked great! The baby is growing really well and everything is on track. I have been really sick, much sicker than with the first two kids, but we've managed and I even got some amazing meds from my doctor that helped me through the worst of it after I had the stomach flu. I still feel nausea every day and get headaches a lot but it's getting better and I am optimistic that it will all subside within the next few weeks! There were several days I was certain that this will be our last child but luckily I am sure I will forget about those terrible days! For now we are just excited and looking forward to all the really fun things we have coming our way with graduation, moving, new job, new baby, which means new car, etc. So much to think about!!! In terms of whether we want a boy or girl the family is split, the boys want a boy and the girls want a girl... so either way we'll win! Just six weeks until we'll find out!

That's all for now! I have to go take advantage of the last few minutes of nap time! Have a great weekend and enjoy some above freezing temps for us!

Tracey

Fam-

I have been away a while, then again, so have many of you on the male side. So here is what's been going on:

It has been very busy at work since getting back after Christmas. We go to a field exercise soon and a lot of effort has been made since then to prepare for it...on top of my usual HR/Personnel business. I really dislike my job, but I do think I will be happy in company commmand after a few months...mid-May I think.
High Council work has also been overwhelming, with many, many meetings and other events, we have spent a lot of time traveling. That job at least is more rewarding than work.
With all that, my time with boardgames has declined quite a bit. We have still played a few, but no new recommendations this time around.
Supreme Commander comes out this month, the Total Annhilation sequel I have been talking about for a year or so. Dave, hopefully you have a new system that will play the sucker. The demo is out around the internet, and you could probably see if it has legs for it. I hear the Wiis will be back in stock this week...at Target at least. Don't anyone shy away from buying one for our family, Henry and/or Cate will really enjoy the system in a few years. By the way Kim, the XBOX+ games are on the way. Sorry for the delay. Please refer back to the top of this blog for excuses.
I miss you all. I wish you were around to hang out with and play games and travel and..... We are very excited for Mom and Dad to come out in April...especially since that will correspond with warmer weather. love you guys.

Mike

Autism rate about 1 in 150, higher than previous estimates

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- About one in 150 American children has autism, an urgent public health concern, said U.S. health officials Thursday who reported on the largest study done so far on the troubling disorder.

The new numbers, based on 2002 data from 14 states, are higher than previously reported.

Advocates said the study provides a sad new understanding of how common autism is, and should fuel efforts to get the government to spend hundreds of millions of additional dollars for autism research and services.

"This data today shows we're going to need more early intervention services and more therapists, and we're going to need federal and state legislators to stand up for these families," said Alison Singer, spokeswoman for Autism Speaks, the nation's largest organization advocating more services for autistic children.

The study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculated an average autism rate 6.6 per 1,000. That compares with last year's estimated rate of 5.5 in 1,000.

The research involved an intense review of medical and school records for children in all or part of 14 states and gives the clearest picture yet of how common autism is in some parts of the country, CDC officials said.

However, those states are not demographically representative of the nation as a whole, so officials cautioned against using the results as a national average. The study doesn't include some of the most populous states including California, Texas and Florida.
No conclusions on a trend

Also, the study does not answer whether autism is increasing -- a controversial topic, driven in part by the contention by some parents and advocates that autism is linked to a vaccine preservative. The best scientific studies have not borne out that claim.

"We can't make conclusions about trends yet," because the study's database is too new, said Catherine Rice, a CDC behavioral scientist who was the study's lead author.

Autism is a complex disorder usually not diagnosed in children until after age 3. It is characterized by a range of behaviors, including difficulty in expressing needs and inability to socialize. The cause is not known.

Scientists have been revising how common they think the disorder is. Past estimates from smaller studies have ranged from 1 out of every 10,000 children to nearly 1 in 100.

Last year's estimate of 5.5 out of every 1,000 U.S. children was based on national surveys of tens of thousands of families with school-age kids. That fit into a prevalence range found in other recent studies.

The CDC also has been developing an alternate way of measuring autism prevalence, building a network of university and state health departments for ongoing surveillance of autism and developmental disabilities. The study released Thursday is one of the first scientific papers to come out of that effort.

"This is a more accurate rate because of the methods they used," said Dr. Eric Hollander, an autism expert at New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

The study involved 2002 data from parts or all of 14 states -- Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Researchers looked specifically at children who were 8 years old that year. They said most children with autism are identified for medical or educational services by that age.

The researchers checked health records in each area and school records when they were made available, looking for children who met diagnostic criteria for autism. They used those numbers to calculate a prevalence rate for each study area.

The rates varied from 3.3 per 1,000 in the study site in Alabama, which was made up of the state's 32 northernmost counties, to 10.6 in the site in New Jersey, which involved four counties, including metropolitan Newark.

Researchers say they don't know why the rate was so high in New Jersey. They think the Alabama rate was low at least partly because researchers had limited access to special education records there.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source

Late report in on the trip to Elko...worth the trip at least once in your life. Our thanks to Dick and Martha for inviting us to go and enjoy a wonderful time. Great poetry, music, humor, food and friends. This will be on our docket annually. It was a VERY enjoyable trip. Thanks, Kenn/Dad