Christie's Blog

Anthony Charles 2/05/2010

February 22nd, 2010 by Christie

Anthony was born Friday Feb 5th 2010 at 8:35pm.  He weighed 8lbs 5oz and 20 inches long.  We are so happy to welcome him home!

There is nothing that can describe a man and woman’s happiness at the birth of their baby. The joy is so over whelming. It is this joy that gets you  through each and every day!  I am continually amazed at the miracle of the whole process of bringing a new person into this world.  What a woman’s body does to bring forth life and the changes in a woman’s body to provide nourishment for that new person.

There is such a wonder to a new person.  Who are they, who will they be, who will be their friends, what will be their interests and talents, what will they look like when they are two, eight, or eighty, the questions are never ending…

I  hope that God will provide me with perseverance, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage, piety, wonder & awe, and the counsel that I need everyday to raise this child and all of my children to take part in the forming their character and creative gifts.

Dad & Anthony

Great Grandma Ruth & Anthony

Anthony Charles & mom


Our handsome boy!

Me & Anthony and my good friend Lisa Levy

Anthony's first day home

S.O.W.

January 31st, 2010 by Christie

The S.O.W. is back!  And in full force.  Every time I turn around there is more evidence of her striking and wreaking havoc on my walls, chairs, floor, tub, tables, etc…Yes the Scribbler of Walls is back.  This has been a long standing issue in our home since about kid #4.  That would be my now 16 year old Joe.

With Joe it was easy to spot his art work because he would very proudly sign it with his name spelled like  OLE and the E would have way too many appendages and would extend the length of the wall or garage door, as we so lovingly remember.

Unfortunately this particular art work was usually done with a black Sharpie marker.  The art work was the typical head, with really big and disproportionate eyes, and arms that came out of the ears. The arms would also extended the length of the garage door.  I loved this very much, and would giggle when ever we pulled up to the house.   The really funny part was when we would confront Joe on his masterpieces. He would quickly point a finger at his brother Levi.  We of course, thought it was very clever of Levi to vandalize our home and sign Joe’s name, to frame him.

This 2 year old, you have to understand, is very clever.  She never gets caught.  She lies in wait for any unsuspecting person to leave any sort of art medium out in the open for her to quickly snatch.  (Her recent art work included the wonderful medium of red fingernail polish, and brand new mascara.)  She then goes to work on any clean space, on a wall, table,  floor, her legs, any canvas she deems appropriate.   I am sure that she stakes these out before she goes to work.

Fortunately for our new home, I won the battle of “child-resistant walls” 4-years ago when I convinced Bobby to use Val-Spar’s semi-gloss paint.  It cleans up very well and also covers completely.   (I wonder how it does with black Sharpie markers?)  These markers have been banned from our house as long as there is a 1-4 year old living here.  It’s funny how something as wonderful and good as a marker  would be banned from being used in a home.   Only those with 2 year olds and older children can understand where I come from on this very important issue.

Maybe I should call Val-Spar and ask them to team up with a carpeting company and invent a marker-resistant carpet. I am sure that it would sell like crazy.

Of course my children have carried this artistic talent with them well into their education and careers.  Their art work is now being displayed at Bobby Schilling Campaign headquarters and we also have an art room that is covered with their work.

I have to thank their wonderful art teacher Mary Heiar.  She has found a way to channel the talent  they have and make it into beautiful works of art.  She has also shown them the proper mediums to use and the appropriate canvases.  Thank you Mrs. Heiar!

Life is Good

January 15th, 2010 by Christie

As I head into the home stretch of my pregnancy it is fun to look back and remember the past 8 months.  The positive home pregnancy test, the confirmation from my doctor, the anxious waiting to tell family and friends, hearing the heartbeat for the first time, (I wish I could listen it to all day), even the morning sickness and nausea are a reassurance that my baby is digging in and all the tiny features are forming at a fast and wonder pace, the first and second ultrasound and the relief of everything looking good, looking up the progress of our baby on wonderful websites that show each day of the explosion of life within the womb of a mother, and knowing that the universe is changed forever.   http://www.sfuhl.org/ http://www.ct4women.com/pc_development.html

Probably my favorite memory is feeling the first movement of our baby, (this time I woke up in the morning to the baby’s kick).  Then there’s anticipation of when Bobby can feel his little baby move too.  The kids love the later stage when they can actually see the baby move from across the room, then they all rush to my side and poke (gently) on my tummy to see if the baby will respond.  They all giggle with excitement when the baby kicks back.  The playing with the baby begins way before I bring them home.  Sam loves to talk to the baby and ask the baby “When are you coming out!” The kids also get a kick out of my growing belly and are not at all shy about making daily comments and assessments about my size.  My 17 year old son Levi was the first to notice that I was loosing my girlish figure and asked if I was pregnant.  At the time I was not ready to tell.  When we did tell the family he was very proud of the fact that he noticed first, with a loud cry of “I knew it!”.

Really pregnancy is a truly beautiful time in a womans life.  There are so many secret moments that I get to share with just me and the baby.  Of course I do feel selfish and I know that Bobby would protest, when I say, right now it feels like the baby is all mine and we are the best of buds, but when I bring the baby home I know that I will have to share and the baby will become “Our Baby”.  Of course everyone refers to the baby as our baby now, but secretly I want to keep my baby as my baby for just a couple weeks longer.

Baby, fetus at 35 weeks - BabyCenter

Our Veterans and the USS Constitution “Old Ironsides”

December 13th, 2009 by Christie

Last September our family took a trip to Boston for the wedding of our son Terry and his wife Katie.  One of the highlights of that trip was a visit to see the USS Constitution “Old Ironside” at the Charlestown Navy Yard, in Charlestown, MA.  It is currently under restoration.  The Constitution is under restoration?  Hmmmm….  Just think the very battle for our freedoms in which “Ironsides” earned her name happend almost 200 years ago in the war of “1812″.  I am not a believer in coincidences, but of destiny.  There is a reason this ship earned her name and it is not because cannon balls couldn’t sink her, it is because the sailors and officers of this country believed in our freedoms.

These two sailors are up close and personal with their Constitution caring for and restoring her to her original beauty

These two sailors are up close and personal with their Constitution caring for and restoring her to her original beauty

Just like there is a restoration process by the people of this country to get us back on our Constitutional track.  Our men and women in the military do not clothe themselves in uniforms, but in their love for their country and for the Constitution.  This love is “Iron”.  No enemy can defeat it.

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http://www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/history.html

“In the course of this 35-minute battle, an astonished sailor observed British 18-lb. iron cannonballs, bouncing harmlessly off USS CONSTITUTION’s 25-inch oak hull, and he cried out, “Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!” Henceforth, USS CONSTITUTION carried the nickname “Old Ironsides.””

This web site has many stories telling of the USS Constituions victorious battles.   It is absolutely amazing how many of these accounts parrell the battles that have been fought against our Constition to this very day.  It is truly remarkable but not surprising that these battles are and always will be won by the sailors, marines, soldiers, officers of all ranks, not by elite politicians.  Read the Declaration of Independence.  Many of the offenses against the people then are the same that are being perpetrated now.  (speaking of the King of England) “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.” (today’s Czars?)  The battle for freedom is always up close and personal.  It must be fought face to face with the enemy.  The enemy must be brought down completely, or we will suffer more loss of freedom than if we had done nothing.  We have in the past always earned the respect of our enemy because we fight until we have defeated them.  As you read these stories instead of seeing a ship see the Constitution of the United States.

Family Picture Day!

November 5th, 2009 by Christie
Oh Sam!

Oh Sam!

Just the girls.  Of course the boys kept us laughing!

Just the girls. Of course the boys kept us laughing!

Cool Cat Schilling guys!

Cool Cat Schilling guys!

Only 92 tries!

We only had to take 92 pictures to get this very nice family shot.

Do you know how hard it is to get 13 people to cooperate for pictures?   Sam and Sophia (4 & 2 years old)  were the most difficult, ok I take that back.  The four oldest boys were the most, oh never mind.  You’ve gotta love the enthusiasm that my family gives me when I say “FAMILY PICTURE DAY!!!”  Of course they think I don’t hear them when they groan and complain, they even mock me by repeating ‘FAMILY PICTURE DAY’ way more enthusiastic than I say it.   Their body language is the best, their shoulders droop and they move way slower than they usually do on Sunday mornings, they even roll their eyes and talk through their teeth.  I think Grandma Great was the worst.  I called her up and said “FAMILY PICTURE DAY!  We are going to Augustana after mass!”  She replied “OK I will drive separately.”  I said, “No, grandma you are coming with”.   She said “Oh no, I am not dressed for pictures.  I am wearing denim and a white shirt”.  I replied “Perfect!  So is every one else!”   “No.”  she said.  “Yes.”  I said.

So after mass we headed to Augustana College.   Before we got into the car grandma pointed out how beautiful the scenery is right there at St. Malachy’s Church.  Of course I agreed and told her to get into the car.  She (grandma) was very diligent to point out every beautiful fall colored tree on the way and insist that we not go all the way to Augie to take pictures.  “Grandma, we are going to Augustana!” I said.  “Well I don’t see why we have to, our own back yard is pretty enough!” she said.  “True, we’re still going to Augie.” I said.  ” I know!” she said.  But of course she still had to point out that it made more sense to take pictures closer to home.  So I told her “Grandma! No pictures for you!”

After setting up the camera and lining everyone up, I pushed the timer and ran to get in the picture.    My hair was in my eyes, no good.  Lucky for us a very kind college student offered to click the pic so I would not have to run.  (It’s quite awkward running in heels when you are pregnant)  Oh and that was another complaint.  “Why don’t we wait until next year?  We’re gonna have to do this again, when the new baby is here!”

Nothing in the world like a Schilling girl!

Nothing in the world like a Schilling girl!

He hates it when someone is ahead of him.

He hates it when someone is ahead of him.

I can only catch her on the run!

I can only catch her on the run!

This sequence of pictures is every one acting like Sophia.  She was not impressed.

This sequence of pictures is every one acting like Sophia. She was not impressed.

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Classic!  We'll love this one forever!

Classic! We'll love this one forever!

9/12/2009 Quincy TEA party

September 14th, 2009 by Christie

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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The Bobby Schilling for Congress campaign chartered a bus and took 35 people to experience the day. Each person received a copy of The Constitution of the United States, a Bobby Schilling for Congress T-shirt, bumper sticker and yard sign. Of course The Constitution was the hit of the party! Thank you Heritage Foundation for providing these copies at $.50 ea. (You can stop by headquarters and pick up a copy for yourself). Every one should have at least one copy and read it every day. Just five minutes a day will help all of us understand our liberties and the limitations that were placed on our government. Reading the Declaration of Independence will also help us understand these things. I know that when I read these documents my heart is filled with love and pride for our Country. The people who founded our Country were just normal people. Farmers, educators, inventors, silver smiths, (Paul Revere made spoons) etc… They were people like you and me who loved God, Country, family and neighbor. You can’t read these documents and not realize it, and not realize that they were guided by a power far greater than themselves. They literally put their necks on the line for you and I to live free and have life abundantly (back then there was public hangings and decapitation for treason). In 1775 addressing the assembly about the Stamp Tax, Patrick Henry said “If this be treason than make the most of it!”. I was once told that our founding fathers would be turning in their grave at knowing what our government has become. I think that they would be turning in their grave at seeing that we have let our government get this powerful. They gave us the power and the duty to see to it that our government did not grow to this magnitude. The Declaration of Independence lays it out very clearly and carefully. Do not take these documents lightly they were written for us and many have sacrificed even their very life to ensure that we would have these liberties secured. Remember “No greater love has he, than he who lays down his life for his friends”. Our founding fathers were not thinking of their securities and liberties they were thinking of ours!

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Augustana College Republicans, Kevin Jackson author of The Black Lie, and Bobby

Augustana College Republicans, Kevin Jackson author of The Black Lie, and Bobby

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Bobby speaking with the future POTUS Aaron Schock

Bobby Speaking with the future POTUS Aaron Schock

Schilling Family wedding

September 8th, 2009 by Christie
The Happy Couple

The Happy Couple

Gracie lou who and the not so happy Sam

Gracie lou who and the not so happy Sam

The Mc Laughlin's

The Mc Laughlin's

Terry & Isabel

Terry & Isabel

Olivia, Rachel & Isabel

Olivia, Rachel & Isabel

Harrison Wallace & Joe

Harrison Wallace & Joe

Levi

Levi

Olivia

Olivia

Mary & Dan Mc Laughlin

Mary & Dan Mc Laughlin

Bobby & Christie

Bobby & Christie

Kathleen & Terry

Kathleen & Terry

You may kiss the bride!

You may kiss the bride!

Love the Irish wink Dan!

Love the Irish wink Dan!

Cool Sam Schilling

Cool Sam Schilling

Best Man Aaron & Terry

Best Man Aaron & Terry

The Mc Laughlin family
The Mc Laughlin family
Bobby, Christie, Kathleen, Terry, Grandma Mary Ann, & Great Grandma Ruth

Bobby, Christie, Kathleen, Terry, Grandma Mary Ann, & Great Grandma Ruth

Aaron giving his best man speech

Aaron giving his best man speech

Terry & Grandma Great

Terry & Grandma Great

Grandma Great burning wood with Connor Mc Laughlin

Grandma Great burning wood with Connor Mc Laughlin

Sophia

Sophia

Sophia & Grace

Sophia & Grace

Julie Brenny & Kathleen Repass

Julie Brenny & Kathleen Repass

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Aunt Amy & Uncle J

Aunt Amy & Uncle J

The Best Man Aaron surrounded by adoring fans

The Best Man Aaron surrounded by adoring fans

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Christie & Grandma Mary Ann

Christie & Grandma Mary Ann

Grandma Mary Ann & Uncle Josh

Grandma Mary Ann & Uncle Josh

Gracie Lou!!!

Gracie Lou!!!

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Maid of Honor Amy OBrian (Mc Laughlin)

Maid of Honor Amy OBrian (Mc Laughlin)

Cool Cats Sam, Joe, Aaron, Terry, & Levi

Cool Cats Sam, Joe, Aaron, Terry, & Levi

Isabel & Sophie

Isabel & Sophie

To Life! To Life! Le Kiem!

To Life! To Life! Le Kiem!

The boys and their new sister

The boys and their new sister

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Top 10 silly questions people ask when they find out I’m pregnant with our 10th child

August 25th, 2009 by Christie

10. “Oh my god, are you joking?”
Why would I joke about this?

9. “How many? WOW! Are you sure?”
Pretty sure…At least the last time I counted them there was 9 and this one is #10, unless there is two in there. (LOL)

8. “Do you have a TV?”
I always thought that this was a strange response to finding out that we were having another baby.

7. “How can you handle all those children?”
They do eventually walk, clothe, feed, read, study, work, and take care of themselves. Besides they are so cute I don’t mind taking care of them. Not only do they take care of themselves but they take care of each other and help me with laundry, shopping, errands…etc.

6. “Do you home school?”
Sorry…not that brave!

5. “Are you Catholic or Mormon?”
Yes, I am Catholic…(?)…You know there is a conspiracy that Catholics are trying to take over the world.

4. ‘Are you going to have more? or Is this it?”
Well… I know I am going to have this one!

3. “How can you afford all those children?”
We eat a lot of Pizza! LOL! Half of them work for their shoes. We do what we can and they do the rest. See #7. Terry worked and payed his own way through college and graduated with 3.17 gpa with a bachelors in Political Science. All of us are so proud of him. I take no credit for this! All my children are incredibly independent. Sam (4) just learned to make his own peanut butter sandwich and he is so proud of himself.

2. “What are you trying to do, take over the world?”
Yes, see #5.

1. And the #1 question was actually asked by my OBGYN. “How do you do it?”
We both laughed and then she added “Well, I know how you do it.”

Actually the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with “Congratulations!” and “Way to go!” My children are always asking me “Mom when are you going to have another baby?” They were elated and now it is a battle of the sexes. Of course the girls want to even the score with another girl and the boys want to dominate with a 6-4 lead. I just tell the boys no matter what, girls rule!

How our Family handles Health Care

July 22nd, 2009 by Christie

Bobby and i have had long discussions and have spent a lot of money on our families health care and health care plan. We are currently subscribed to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Our plan is a catastrophic plan costing us a little more than $300.00 a month. We also have a HS account (Health Savings) that we are allowed to put up to $6,000.00 a year into. We can use this money for anything medical. This includes braces, dental, eye care, pre-natal & delivery, shots, band aids, etc… We do spend about on average $3000.00 a year.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33435 This Article helps explain the positive influence of HSA accounts on health care.

Because we are cash paying customers and do not go through a 3rd party bureaucracy doctors are way more willing to work with us on the price of their care. The first thing i ask a doctor is, “I am willing to pay today the complete bill, are you willing to give me a break on the price?” This includes hospital stays and OBGYN care. We have saved thousands of dollars doing this. This is an example of the free market at work. The customer sets the price, not the government who is willing to dole out tax payer money at usually double the cost to the next guy.

When my children need shots, well checks or school physicals we go to the locally funded, non profit Henry County Health Clinic in Colona and pay pennies on the dollar of what we would pay at the doctors office. For example after Sophia was born I took her to our pediatrician that we have been taking our children to for more than 23 years. We waited in the waiting room with about 8 other patients for about 20 minutes. We then were called back into the examining room and were there for about another 15 minutes waiting for the doctor. Her doctor spent about 10 minutes looking her over and asking me questions, and me asking him questions. After that we waited anther 10 for the nurse to come in and administer shots. Then I was presented with a bill of more than $500.00!!! I was more than shocked! Not only that but i realized that i was going to have to do this two more times inside Sophias first year. The total would be more than $1500.00! Huge dent in our budget! Can’t do it. So the next round of shots were done at the health clinic. We have been going to this group of pediatricians for 23 years and now I feel that we have been pushed out of receiving the excellent care that they provide because of government funding. (Medicaid patients go to our doctor and the State pays their bill, that means you and me. Also the State does not pay the full bill, nor do they pay in a timely fashion as paying customers are required to do. So paying customers get charged more to make up for the lack of funds received from Medicaid) Wow! No one in the waiting area. We walked straight to the examination room and a nurse practitioner looked Sophia over with great care and administered the shots. Our total bill came to $35.00 so as to not be a burden on the tax payers i payed it gratefully. Medicaid patients pay nothing. Now really i don’t have a problem with people needing assistance but lets give them the care that the tax payers are already funding. We are funding the clinic and paying for them to get shots, well checks, physicals, etc. at the pediatricians office. It doesn’t make sense. People who get care for free should be grateful that they receive care for free and go to the facilities provided for them.

Good Samaritan ministries a Christian based health share system, takes care of each others health care bills by sharing each others medical burdens. They do this by paying the first $300.00 of all of their own medical expenses and then send $300.00 a month to others for their medical bills. Your medical share expenses are set at $300.00 but if you feel you can do more you can send those in need more. This is how the free market works it self out. Necessity is the mother of invention. If we have a government bureaucracy in place why would people get creative and find ways to deal with the rising cost of health care on their own.

Another problem i see with the health care system we have, was created by the governments laws and regulations. The Law requires an emergency vehicle when called has to respond no matter what the call is. EMT have to provide the care that is demanded. Including rides to the hospital pharmacy to fill a prescription, a bloody nose from fist fighting. Now if my family needs an emergency ride to the hospital it costs us $800.00 or more. Medicaid patients pay nothing. So why call a cab? or even a neighbor?

We see it time and time again, get the government involved the quality goes down and the price sky rockets. i remember the tax payer getting charged $800.00 for toilet seats and $300.00 for hammers. Go to a rest stop and you will use a million dollar facility to purchase a bag of chips, a can of pop, pack of gum and use the restroom. Can you imagine the homes we could build for the homeless? What if the private sector took care of rest stops? You would have a tax revenue generating business that puts people to work, pays for itself, and makes a profit. This same principal will work for people when it comes to their health care and it’s rising cost.

We Americans are resourceful and wise when we are tested. The opposite can be said when we are not tested, we become lazy, ignorant and dependent on a cold hearted bureaucracy, who will only provide the bare minimum if that and provide it at the highest possible cost.

Happy Birthday America!

July 22nd, 2009 by Christie

dsc_0936resizeIs there a flag more beautiful than the American Flag? I never thought so. Even as a little girl I can remember looking through a book of flags of nations and i did search diligently for a flag that could even come close to the beauty of ours and couldn’t find one. i still feel this way. Nothing compares to the bold beauty of our flag and all that it represents. Especially on cloudy, rainy days the flag bursts forth with patriotic fervor!

i want to wish America a Happy Birthday!  i want to also thank all who have ever lived, worked, raised families, worshiped, and shed their blood dsc_1005resizehere from it’s very beginning!  How can any of us who live here ever express enough gratitude for the blood sweat and tears that was poured out and now we can live in prosperity and raise our families in peace and freedom.

A dedicated Crew!

A dedicated Crew!

Oh happy day!

Oh happy day!

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