Family Journal: Wednesday July 2, 2008

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Owen Rides a Bike, originally uploaded by bill kralovec.

Huge day yesterday as Owen rode a bike on his own for the first time. I really didn’t need to help him much as he was ready to go. We have rode bikes with training wheels for a couple of years now and lately he has been talking of taking them off. We borrowed a bike from my brother.

Yesterday we took the kids to Iron Mountain. Nadia did some clothes shopping at JC Penny with my sister-in-law Michelle, and Jim and I took the kids. We first stopped at the Pasty Oven for lunch. We then went over to a park in Quinnesec and that is where Owen just took off. He went around the block several times. Quite emotional for me and an important milestone for him. Owen is quite coordinated and athletic so bike riding came quite easy to him. We also went to Lake Antoine and went for a short hike.

After returning to Caspian, Nadia played in bocce (a post on this later) at the Duc of Abruzzi courts. We finished up the evening by going to Scott’s Subs for ice cream. We didn’t visit my mother in the hospital because she was sleeping. She continues to stay at the ICCH.

Colombian Military Rescues Hostages

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It was great news to hear that some high profile hostages were rescued from the FARC yesterday. Included were ex-presidential candidate Ingrid Bentancourt and three American military contractors. The photo below is from the Washington Post and shows the three guys in 2003. They have been held captive for years.

I lived in Barranquilla, Colombia from 1992-97 and have strong feelings about the situation.

The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) is a guerrilla movement against the Colombian government. There insurgency has gone on for decades and they controlled big portions of the country. The movement started because of the inequalities in Colombian society. In Colombia and other Latin American countries, the gap between rich and poor is immense. The majority of population is poor. A hard-working and talented individual has a difficult time in bettering his/her life and that of his/her children. There are many ideas on whose fault this is. There is not a strong community consciousness in Latin America. It shows in the lack of infrastructure and aid to the less fortunate of the society.

Throughout the decades of struggle, FARC has relied on kidnapping, drug trafficking, and terror to fund and promote their cause. This has caused great tragedy to thousands of lives of ordinary Colombian citizens.
In recent years the US government has greatly aided Colombian president, Alvaro Uribe in his fight against the FARC. The Plan Colombia funnels money and technical military assistance into the country and Colombia now ranks only behind Israel in US foreign aid. Uribe’s father was killed by another guerrilla group in Colombia and he has been relentless in his fight against them. The plan is working as in the past year, many top commanders have been killed and the FARC is in disarray. The latest success in rescuing their “top” hostages is another serious blow to the organization. It looks like their days are numbered.

A few months ago I listened to the interviews with released hostages. The Venezuelan government did a deal that got several hostages free. The interviews were shocking and they described life in captivity. No medical attention, chained to trees in the jungle, etc. I can only imagine the horror and sadness with them and their families. Worse yet, there are still over 700 people being held by the FARC.

I really hope that the FARC and other groups are wiped out. I also hope that Uribe and the leaders of Colombia, continue to receive US aid. Not only to wipe out the terrorist groups, but more importantly to assist in getting rid of poverty. If the US would concentrate more on this instead of anti-drug aid, Latin America and the US would both be ahead.

Family Journal: July 1, 2008

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Family With Grandma, originally uploaded by bill kralovec.

We were back at my parents’ home in Caspian. We took the morning washing clothes, making Ocean’s food, and cleaning. I assisted with the summer work projects in Anaco via email and phone. Much of the day spent with tending to children (que sorpresa). In the morning I took the kids up to the Caspian Community Center park to give Nadia time alone to work. In the afternoon I took Owen and Oliver to the Ottawa National Forest and we hiked from Orville’s bench to the beach.

Nadia is a bit stressed with all the things we have to do still before we leave for Serbia. We had three big stress ors this year in our lives with a birth, new jobs, and a move to another country. We’ll keep plugging away and taking care of these things.

We all went up and visited with my mother yesterday. She is battling diabetes and it is frustrating to watch. For someone who never smoked or drank her whole life and exercised daily, the long term effects of the disease have really did a lot of damage to her which she did not cause through an unhealthy lifestyle. She was diagnosed with diabetes when I was in high school. It runs in the Heikkila family. To top it off, she was born with only one kidney that was 1/2 the size of a normal kidney. She received a transplant from her brother Dan over 10 years ago, so with the insulin and hypertension pills, she also takes anti-rejection drugs. The hypertension and kidney failure are attributable to diabetes. It is amazing the just because a small region of the pancreas does not produce a chemical hormone (insulin) that it would cause all these side effects. She has been injecting insulin for many years and takes her sugar levels many times daily, but despite careful control of the disease, she is still suffering the long-term damage that comes with the disease. In recent years, her circulation is very poor in her legs (again, diabetes is the culprit here) which is causing painful swelling. The American Diabetes Association has a lot more information on the disease.

We bought a Florida Lotto ticket for 52 draws (good from June 11, 2008 – December 6, 2008). Our numbers are 07,15,20,25,26,30

Family Journal: Monday June 30, 2008

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Kralovec Grandchildren, originally uploaded by bill kralovec.

Pictured above are the five Kralovec grandchildren. My mother got shirts for her five grandchildren in the birth order. Owen being the oldest is number one and Ocean the youngest being number 5. Will there be more? I think only if my youngest brother comes through with more kids because both Jim and I have wives that are surgically done having children.

We got together yesterday for Tony’s fifth birthday (number 2 grand child) at my brother’s house in Iron Mountain. Earlier in the day we took the kids to see the movie Wall-E. Despite great reviews from the critics, I didn’t like the movie. We then went back to Jim’s house and had the party. In attendance were Michelle’s father LeRoy and grandmother “Peanut,” my parents, and our families. We ate a lot and had a good time, although Oliver, Beau, and Tony fought a lot.

The party wrapped up a couple of busy days for us. Saturday we went to Marquette about 90 miles north east of Iron River. Jim and I took the boys to the Upper Peninsula high school football all-star game. It was in the “Yooper Dome” a domed stadium on the campus of Northern Michigan University. Marquette is on Lake Superior and we had a nice time on the beach.

The next day we drove to Green Bay, Wisconsin to visit our friends the Bonetti’s and do some clothes shopping. I completed my new ISB professional wardrobe and we had a great time with Mark, Donell, Brandell and Lauren. They have a beautiful home in the suburb of Bellvue and they even watched the boys while we shopped.

There was a bit of sadness yesterday at Tony’s party. My mother’s health continues to deteriorate and we needed to take her to the hospital last night. She is a diabetic and has lost much weight this month

Today, July 1, we are cleaning and organizing our lives again after two days of travel and assisting my parents.

Family Journal – Friday June 27, 2008

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Pounding Nails, originally uploaded by bill kralovec.

Andy, Owen, Grandpa, and I completed repairing the roof yesterday on our garage. My Dad put an addition to the garage about 30 years ago using materials from the old hot dog stand at Hubby Holmes Baseball Field in Dober. The roof was leaking profusely this spring so we decided it was time for a new roof. Andy is quite a carpenter, so good in fact that he could go into business as a contractor quite easily. He led the project and I learned how to roof.

First one lays down a felt layer. We then measure and cut the rolls of roofing. We used sheets instead of individual shingles due to the rustic nature of the garage. The roll is then carried up to the roof and laid out in the proper place. Then sealant is squirted along the edges and then nails are pounded about 2 inches apart, all along the edge of the roll. Roofing is not that technical, but it is hard work in hauling up the materials and then a bit monotanous in pounding all those nails. Thanks Andy and Grandpa for the roofing workshop. Owen even got into the act by pounding nails. Grandpa also helped out by playing soccer with Oliver. Ollie kept climbing up the ladder and going on the roof with us!

Yesterday afternoon my aunt Ione and uncle Jim Condon came over to visit. They live in Crystal Falls and she the older sister of my mother. We had a nice dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and cole slaw. It was good for a rainy afternoon. We did get in some baseball and Owen continues to impress!

Ocean crawled across the floor to retrieve a toy. She is approaching her ninth month soon so before you know it, she will be walking. She lets us know what she wants, and loudly.

I also completed my FCPA (application for absentee ballot) for November’s presidential election. Michigan is one of the key states so I am voting. I don’t want another Republican government so will be voting for Obama. I don’t know enough about him yet to get excited about his candidacy, but I am very disappointed with the Republicans the past 8 years. I think Bush has ruined the economy through excessive spending. I also don’t think the war in Iraq is winnable and don’t think we should have gotten messed up with it in the first place. Obama is looking like he will get us out of it quicker than McCain will. I also don’t like the anti-intellectual stance Bush has taken as leader of the nation. With all of our Nobel prizes, scientists, artists, etc., you think we could find someone better to lead us. At least Obama is smart and more of the challenges facing us as a nation will be discussed in the public forum in greater depth.

Family Journal – Thursday June 26, 2008

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Owen, originally uploaded by bill kralovec.

We had a nice day yesterday. There was beautiful sunshine in the morning and warm temperatures all day -one of those classic Upper Peninsula summer days! We are all still on antibiotics and the boys are feeling better. I bought a 25inch aluminum bat and 3 rubber coated baseballs for Owen. He loves to hit! He is shown above at Joe Sabol field in Caspian. The field is named after the former mayor of Caspian. Joe used to rent the upstairs apartment of my parent’s house before they had children. Joe is a life-long resident of the city and it is nice that they named the field after him. The baseball field is the on the old Caspian School lot just half a block from our house. When the iron mines were functioning there were more people in Caspian and we had our own K-8 school. My dad was the last principal of the school. It shut down the year I was to go to kindergarten, 1972. The school has been torn down and replaced with a Michigan welfare office, but the playing field went to the city and there is a great baseball field there. The legion and high school teams, as well as little league play there.

Owen is a lefty but bats from the right side. He is a natural athlete and can hit the ball from my fast pitching. He loves to run the bases and slide. Oliver too can hit the ball. He comes up to bat and pounds the bat on the plate every time. He is a righty but prefers to bat from the left side. As everything he does, he swings as hard as he can and I throw it where his bat will go. He doesn’t understand the concept of running the bases in order, though and just takes off in any direction after connecting.

Ocean had a curly hair day yesterday and it is definitely showing an orange or red tint. She is also a smart cookie and just adorable.

We played baseball in the morning and afternoon on Owen’s insistence. Nadia went for an hour run and then allowed me to. We went to the pasty shop and got lunch for a picnic at Nelson Field in Stambaugh. We took the kids up for a walk to the Community Center playground and gave them baths in the evening to wrap up a full day of holidays.

While I ran I listened to a good pod cast of an interview with Bill Moyers and Jon Stewart. The link to the video is here. Jon has a good take on the current Bush administration and the war on Iraq.

Clash of the Titans (At the Microscopic Level)

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Prescription Madness, originally uploaded by bill kralovec.

We took the children in for their annual “wellness” check yesterday, a few days earlier than we had originally planned. Both Owen and Oliver have not been themselves lately and have had fevers.

All three children were diagnosed with the streptococcus bacteria, or what is commonly known as strep throat. Earlier both Nadia and I were tested positive in a throat culture for the bacteria. So we are the strep family, all of us taking medication to kill these blue (due to the biological stain probably) little Monerans. We went to the Bellin Health Clinic on Shawnao Avenue in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The children’s doctor is Dr. Jane Danowitt. We are very pleased with her services and trust her. Below are the results of the physicals.

Owen (5  years old): He weighed 44 pounds and 2 ounces which is in the 50th percentile for his age group. His length measured 45 inches which is in the 60th percentile. Owen’s bow legs and pigeon toes are not a medical concern. Owen had an ear infection. Dr. Danowitt said that this is one of the many different symptoms of a streptococcus bacteria.

Oliver (3 years old): His weight was 33 pounds and height was 38 & 1/4 inches which are both in the 75th percentile. His neck and stomach cysts were not of worry nor his raspy voice.  The doctor saw that both his ears were badly infected. The little bugger never even complained. He is a tough guy!

Ocean: Ocean’s nine months old and her weight was 20 pounds 11 3/4 ounces (90th percentile) her length was 28 inches (85th percentile) and her head circumference 46 centimeters (97th percentile). I think those high percentiles are thanks to Nadia’s prodigious milk production.

All three children were prescribed amoxocyllin for the strep and Dr. Danowitt suggested we put the boys on a good multivitamin with D and calcium. The three received blood tests for lead  which will come in a few days and other tests. All were normal except for Ocean’s iron was a bit low (70 with a low range of 73) so she is now taking FeSO4 supplements.

 

 

Family Journal: June 25, 2008

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Grandma & Ocean, originally uploaded by bill kralovec.

Why am I blogging at midnight? It seems like it is the only time I have free. Nadia and I have new nicknames for each other. She is Mirleis, which is the name of our maid in Venezuela and I am “Leidi” our nanny in Venezuela. Without the domestic help, it seems that is all we do. We are loving it however, not working and being able to spend so much time with the kids. But we do realize that housework chores normally covered by inexpensive domestic help in our previous life in Venezuela are now covered by us.

Above is Ocean with her grandmother and the smile on their faces really make our vacation wonderful! They are getting to know one another as well as Owen and Oliver. I am finally back to normal after several days. Thank you Alexander Fleming!!

Finally the Scots give something worthwhile to the world besides bag pipes, kilts, and cool accents. The amoxocillin treatment really does work and it killed the staph bacteria that was inflaming my tonsils and making my body feel like it was run over by a truck. With our modern celebrity worship these days, I would like to recognize a real hero and what a discovery Dr. Fleming made back in 1928. Without it, I don’t know how long I would have suffered. Nadia is feeling better too, as she also was diagnosed with strep throat and began treatment the day after me.

Sunday I took the boys to the George Young Resort swimming pool and we really had a great time. This week we have been hanging around the house. We gave them hair cuts and just goofing around in the yard and going for walks in my hometown of Caspian. We have also been taking care of things we need to do when we are in the USA. I renewed my driver’s license, applied for an international permit, applied for a replacement for Oliver’s birth abroad report, sent for an FBI clearance, etc. Tomorrow we are heading for Green Bay for the boys’ doctor appointments. They have not been feeling well either and they are going to get a general “wellness check” in pediatrics jargon.

Family Journal: Sunday June 22, 2008

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Caspian Fire Whistle, originally uploaded by bill kralovec.

I have not been posting much lately as I have been extremely ill. Yesterday morning I went into the walk-in clinic at the Iron County Community Hospital. I was diagnosed with strep throat and tonsilitis. Since Thursday evening I have had fever, headache, sore throat, and muscle aches. I think Nadia is coming down with it too. It is Sunday morning and I am finally feeling well enough to write a bit on the computer and drink a cup of coffee. I still have a sore throat and head ache.

The video above is from earlier in the week. I was raised in the town of Caspian, Michigan. It is located in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula, about 6 miles from the border of Wisconsin. There are around 900 inhabitants of the town. They have a quaint tradition to sound a “fire whistle” at 9:00 PM. This is to warn all the children to go home. In the winter it sounds at 8:00 PM. My sons really enjoy it and we have to go up to the town hall and sit directly under the horn to get the full effect.

We also rode bikes on the Apple Blossom trail. This is a trail that runs along the Iron River through town over to the nieghboring town of Iron River. It follows the old railroad tracks laid down by the iron ore mining companies at the turn of the century.

Kosovo Part I

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Kosovo has been in the Serbian news a lot lately so I wanted to get a bit of historical background on the place. In February they declared independence and that caused protests in Serbia. It is a place of conflict and violence.

Kosovo was the southern part of Serbia. It held 20% of the Serbian population and composed about 12% of its land mass. The area is small compared to the USA, with Kosovo only being ¼ the size of my home of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is actually only a bit bigger than Iron county. The majority (> 90%) of the population is Albanian but many Serbs consider it the “cultural heartland” of the nation and the scene of Serbian Orthodox monasteries, historic battlefields, and other historic sites.

It was my goal in reading Kosovo: A Short History by Noel Malcolm, to learn more about why some Serbs feel so strongly about the place, considering it is now mostly Albanian. The question of Kosovo independence is a touchy subject with Serbs and this particular book caused many ill-feelings with the Serbs. It is not my place to form an opinion this question and I will read more on Kosovo.  I can say it is sad to have had so much death and hate in the breakup of Yugoslavia. This is the last bit of it. The topic of Kosovo will come up in conversation with my future Serb friends and I do want to visit the place to see it for myself, so some background on the area will not hurt.

In general, I disagree with the former US president Woodrow Wilson regarding his view on independence movements. When the great powers were deciding the fate of nations and peoples after World War I, he had the philosophy that if an area was mostly homogeneous in regards to ethnicity, that they should have self-determination. That sounds nice, but the world is more complex than that. I see that a strength of the USA is the union of many different kinds of people to form one unified government and more importantly, one economy. Personally, I believe that standard of living takes precedence over everything and it is nicer to live in a bigger economy. There are more opportunities to earn a living and have a better home and lifestyle for individual families. I am not sure that this movement of smaller and smaller nations is beneficial in this regard.

I am mix of Slovak and Polish descent. I am a “pan-Slavist” and wish that the Slavs would have banded together from the beginning to form one country. They would have had a better standard of living and wielded more power in defending themselves against larger outside powers like the Ottomans and the Nazis. According to Wikipedia there are 320 million Slavs. Imagine if Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia along with the Slavs of  former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria formed one country. It would also be more powerful than current European heavyweights, Germany and France.

As I move through the book, I’ll blog more about what I am learning.