The Gebhardt Family: November 2007

I've been pretty busy lately. I've been using my Dad's digital video camera to record the boys' soccer games. Then I take them and edit them with my computer. Finally, they get encoded and burned onto a DVD for play on any regular DVD player. At first, it took me several hours to do the editing. Now I've got the basics down. I try to add something new for every game, so that I make the movies look more professional and less amateur-hour-with-Dad. It also helps that the refs at the games are getting better at keeping the game moving and therefore, I have (much) less video to edit. My Dad's camera works like a champ, I just wish that the LCD screen was backlit. It can be hard to see the screen with the (ultrabright Arizona) sun at your back with sunglasses on. Another parent has been taping the games lately, too, and his screen is bright as can be, even from several feet away. In any case, my Dad's camera has given me a great idea of what I want in a camera (when I can afford one, that is).

The kids are doing great. The boys have a love/hate relationship with soccer. They love getting out and running around. They hate not being the center of attention and therefore tend to act out. I think football may be a better fit for these two, considering how often they tackle each other during practice. Allegra like to go with us to the games and practices, but it is hard on me. The way I see it, I am at the games and practices for the boys. I try to do what I can to spend time with her while we are at the games, but she usually ends up screaming and crying before too long. Sydney is getting bigger every day. She started smiling a few days ago and today she really was all smiles. Allegra loves to be near her.

Erika is doing a great job maintaining the fort. Her Mom left last week and I'm back to work, so she's on her own with the 4 kids. So far, things have looked even better than "normal". I'm sure she will have her good and bad days, but on average, she's kicking serious butt right now. I'm especially grateful that she's pretty much taking care of Sydney all night long. With Allegra and the boys, it was 50/50 with her and I. I was a wreck, trying to go to work during the days as well. Now, Erika is doing all of the heavy lifting. On occasion I will help put Sydney to sleep during difficult nights, but more often than not it is Er who is up and down every few hours. What a champ!

Auntie Carol, Grams, and Pa came over for the day last Saturday. They managed to get to the boys' soccer game before halftime and watched the Chivas get blown out (something like 9-0). It's a good thing they don't track winning and losing in the Under-6 league. Carol brought out some carne and pollo which I grilled up. OOOOOOOhhhhhhh boy. Yummie yummie yummie. I'm drooling just thinking about it. Then again, I tend to drool anyway. It was fun having visitors and the kids loved it. Pa gave Sydney a bottle of breastmilk and still managed to eat a couple of burritos single-handedly.

Erika purchased out holiday cards yesterday. We are not the typical everybody-wearing-holiday-colors-or-clothes family. Your more likely to get a card from us with naked kids running around the house or something similar. You've been warned.

On Erika's urging, I went to see our family doc a few days ago. He gave me some nasal steroids for my allergies and some pills for my acid reflux. Unfortunately, as long as we live in Yuma, I will be taking the steroids. And as long as I have a stomach, I'll be taking the pills. I asked the doc if I would be able to play professional sports while I'm on the 'roids, and he looked at me funny. I just hope my nads don't shrivel up. But I was able to mow the lawn for the first time in a month without sneezing and wheezing afterward. I'm not too sure if I will go back to this doc, however. He's too mainstream for me. I asked him about testosterone testing and some other stuff and he blew me off. I also asked about other nutritional supplements and he more or less said that they don't work.

I've been on a weird diet lately. I've been crazing veges like crazy. Last night I ate 1lb of steamed asparagus. That was it. Nothing else. I buy a bag of greens or salad stuff and eat that with some blue cheese or Caesar dressing. I can eat a whole head of broccoli or cauliflower in one sitting. I went to LA a week ago for a seminar with some of my fellow A Brite-ites and we ate at steak joints every night. Outback, Claim Jumper (twice), etc. But each time, I ordered a salad appetizer and steamed/grilled veges to go with my giant hunk-o'-Barney.

I guess it's just another day at the Team Gebhardt household, eh?