I am so thankful for today. I am thankful for these 5 minutes when I can sit and write while the girls are napping. I am thankful for my husband who is working right now to support us. I am thankful that it is spring time. But the thing that really sticks in my head (right now) is that I am thankful that I don't feel like I might puke any second- like I did last night.
I hate to throw-up. Some people are throw-up champs, they can puke and then go right back to it. Not me. It is a feeling that I would rather not ever have again. When I start having that hot/cold yucky stomach feeling I feel like I might have a panic attack on top of it. I think I would rather experience a 17 hour natural labor again than have the pukies. Seriously.
I had a normal day yesterday and felt fine. I went to a volunteer appreciation dinner last night and the food was great- nothing questionable. I got home and was getting the kids around like usual when I got a hot flash and totally felt like I needed to b-line it to the bathroom. I took a shower to see if I could stabilize. It worked for about 10 minutes and then I was back to it. I just felt too hot or too cold and I was shaking. So weird.
Here's where the saving comes in. I immediately started praying. It started out something like "the Lord is my Shepherd... I shall not fear.:" I know that is not exactly the 23rd Psalm but I was doing what I could. I just prayed some more "God, I know that what I have going on is nothing compared to what other people might have going on but I believe you are a healer. I believe you can heal me. I believe you for it." Sometimes it is hard for me to pray for myself. I have learned though, over the years, that all of God's children are special to Him and He cares about our little junk AND He is big enough to handle my little junk and other people's big junk.
I continued feeling yucky and two of the three kids made it to bed before I told my husband it was time to get the puke bowl down. Leila had a hard time settling and after sleeping, waking, crying, sleeping, crying again I went and laid down with Leila to get her to sleep. I felt peaceful, like my system had oddly stabilized. I fell asleep and I feel fine today, knock on wood.
I have never been in the midst of chills where it did not end with me hacking (sorry for the graphic language). But now it has happened! I think it was a healing miracle. It just doesn't make sense. I thank God for hearing my prayers and coming to my aid.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
I have a pound of ground beef.... now what?
Last night for dinner (after the worst day ever... not really, but at the time it seemed that way) I was trying to come up with something to eat with... a pound of ground beef. Burgers? ... no buns. Meatloaf? ... my husband might divorce me. Spaghetti with meat sauce? ... had spaghetti the other day. I was stuck so I went to Google. I love google.
I found a recipe for (ground) beef vegetable and barley soup. It was yum-o! I thought it might be someone else's yum-o tonight so here's the recipe from http://www.groundbeefrecipes.net/:
Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup
I found a recipe for (ground) beef vegetable and barley soup. It was yum-o! I thought it might be someone else's yum-o tonight so here's the recipe from http://www.groundbeefrecipes.net/:
Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup
| Ingredients - |
| 1/2 pound Lean Ground Beef 1/2 cup chopped Onion 2 Garlic cloves, minced 7 cups Water 16 ounces No-Salt Tomatoes, undrained and chopped 1/2 cup Medium Barley 1/2 cup sliced Celery 1/2 cup sliced Carrots 2 Beef Bouillon Cubes 1 teaspoon Basil 1 Bay Leaf 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper 9 ounces Frozen Mixed Vegetables |
| Preparation: |
| 1. Brown lean ground beef in large saucepan or Dutch oven. Brown beef until no longer pink. 2. Add onions and garlic. Cook until onions are tender. Drain off excess fat. 3. Add water, no-salt tomatoes, barley, celery, carrots, beef bouillon, basil, bay leaf, and black pepper. 4. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low and cover. 5. Simmer 40 minutes. Stir occasionally. 6. Add mixed vegetables; cook 10 to 15 minutes until vegetables are tender. 7. Add additional water if soup becomes too thick. Happy eating! |
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Meal idea for the picky eater
My darling daughter Sofia is a very picky eater. The other day I got the idea that if I gave her "cute" food, she might eat it. Funny joke, mom. I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then cut it into the shape of an elephant with a cookie cutter (that hasn't gotten much use for cookies might I add). She did think it was cute and she had fun de-trunking it and biting its legs off and taking a bite out of its butt... but... maybe she just doesn't like pb & j? I think it helped a little with her. It could be the answer for you! Worth a try!
DIY bibs for baby!
If you have never thought about this before, bandannas make for some rockin' baby (even toddler) bibs. You can take a traditional bandanna, fold it diagonally and tie it with breathing room around baby's neck. It sounds dangerous but as long as you do not put your child down to bed with it on or leave your baby unattended for a while, it should be fine. The bandanna style works great because when you fold it in half there are two layers plus it bunches around the neck and catches all the baby goobers. I don't know if I would try this for a super small baby but a teething baby and older- definitely!
The birth experience
Oh, birth, where do I start?
Birth is not a blip in your history. It is not one exact moment but a combination of moments that have lasting affects. Back in the day (way back), everyone's birth was probably pretty similar in terms of choices. There was just one way to do it- vaginally and with little to no medicine. Surgery was a rarity. If you know anyone who has been pregnant or is pregnant, you know the options are quite different. This is good and bad. For a lot of women and their doctors, birth is just business- if you are pregnant, the baby is going to come out one way or another! Little consideration seems to be given to the experience of birth. Having a good birth can make all the difference in the post partum time and as you continue to bond with your baby as s/he grows.
When I was planning for my birth with Leila, I had to make some big changes. I did not want the same experience I had with my first birth. First, I had to break-up with my doctor. It was a bummer because I really liked him and he had delivered my other daughter. It also sucked because I thought he might be mad at me or something. Once I made the switch to my midwife I didn't look back. It was the best decision I could have made. It is so important to have a doctor that cares about what you care about. YOU PAY THEM. YOU ARE THE CLIENT! Be encouraged if you feel like you need to make a change. Secondly, I hired a doula. A doula is someone who does not replace your partner or mother but is in addition to and takes care of everyone. She makes sure that mom and dad rest if possible, that everyone is eating and breathing and drinking water. She is there from start to finish. She is constant. Thank you, Jordan, for being that for me! Third, I wrote out an easy to read, bulleted birth plan stating what I did and did not want while at the hospital. It was very clear. I am flexible but I did not want to be pushed over in a very vulnerable state (ahem, labor). Lastly, I got my labor mix set on my ipod and jammed-out until things got serious.
The things that kept popping into my head when I was thinking about what I wanted for my birth experience:
It is literally all the time that I hear someone say "I had to have a c-section." I actually hear of more people having c-sections than I hear of people having vaginal birth (hello, the way we were designed to birth children). I am thankful that we have the technology to perform c-sections. I think there are certainly times when c-sections are necessary. I however strongly believe that the power to perform c-sections is being greatly misused in our current health system. I do not believe that a doctor going on vacation or just because the mother wants one or being scared of having a baby are valid reasons to have a c-section. I do not buy it that 30% of American women can't birth babies vaginally. I just don't buy it. Like I was saying before, if your doc says c-section and your red flags go up, start asking questions or even get a second opinion.
Woman, you are powerful! You can take back your birth experience!
Birth is not a blip in your history. It is not one exact moment but a combination of moments that have lasting affects. Back in the day (way back), everyone's birth was probably pretty similar in terms of choices. There was just one way to do it- vaginally and with little to no medicine. Surgery was a rarity. If you know anyone who has been pregnant or is pregnant, you know the options are quite different. This is good and bad. For a lot of women and their doctors, birth is just business- if you are pregnant, the baby is going to come out one way or another! Little consideration seems to be given to the experience of birth. Having a good birth can make all the difference in the post partum time and as you continue to bond with your baby as s/he grows.
 |
| me and sofia |
I had two very different births. My daughter Sofia was 10 days late and I ended up being induced. My induction led to camelbacked contractions and an epidural. Sofia, thankfully, was very healthy despite the wack-o contractions, the vacuum extraction and being forced to "move out" before she was ready. She was 7 lbs and 8 oz. My second daughter Leila was born 5 days early (thank you to my wonderful midwife Julie for getting things moving!). I opted to be present for this birth and have her completely naturally. I switched from a obstetrician to a CNM/midwife and hired a doula (a birth assistant for mother and family). It was awesome. It hurt like hell, but it was awesome and amazing and super-empowering. She, thankfully, was also healthy and weighed in at 8 lbs 4 oz.
 |
| me and leila |
The things that kept popping into my head when I was thinking about what I wanted for my birth experience:
- The nationwide rate of c-section according to the Centers for Disease Control is around 30% and higher in some places around the U.S.
- Inductions can lead to fetal distress or breaking of water which can lead to c-sections
- Having a c-section, although common, is major surgery
- Recovery time for vaginal birth is shorter than for c-section
- Ask yourself it your doctor cares about what you care about. If not, dump him/her and interview new ones
- Visit hospitals and birthing centers to see where you will be most comfortable and even look into homebirthing options
- Consider hiring a doula (Doulas of North America www.dona.org/mothers/index.php) who will be your advocate during
- Read- the more familiar you are about birth and what is normal, the less freaked out you will be when it comes on
- If your doctor even mentions c-section, start asking questions and a lot of them!
It is literally all the time that I hear someone say "I had to have a c-section." I actually hear of more people having c-sections than I hear of people having vaginal birth (hello, the way we were designed to birth children). I am thankful that we have the technology to perform c-sections. I think there are certainly times when c-sections are necessary. I however strongly believe that the power to perform c-sections is being greatly misused in our current health system. I do not believe that a doctor going on vacation or just because the mother wants one or being scared of having a baby are valid reasons to have a c-section. I do not buy it that 30% of American women can't birth babies vaginally. I just don't buy it. Like I was saying before, if your doc says c-section and your red flags go up, start asking questions or even get a second opinion.
Woman, you are powerful! You can take back your birth experience!
 |
| leila and sofia, loves of my labors |
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Yes you can!... cloth diaper your kids
So, I clothed with Sofia for about 5 months, between 10 and 15 months, until she grew out of the g diapers set I had. When I became pregnant with Leila, I was determined to start early and save money. With a sewing background I took on the job of sewing a set of cloth diapers in two sizes. It was a labor of love for my little darling. I looked at many different styles to determine the one I wanted to model after. A popular brand is fuzzi bunz (http://fuzzibunz.com/). They are pocket diapers, in that each diaper has a pocket and a soaker insert and one whole diaper is dirtied every time baby goes. They go for between $18 and $20 per diaper. Another system that I looked at was from green line diapers (http://www.greenlinediaper.com/#). At the time it was a cotton cover, waterproof liner and a soaker. Now, it is just one waterproof cover and a soaker (a much better design by the way). They go for $17 per cover or $23 for a cover and soaker. The prints are over the top darling. I decided to go with a cover/liner/soaker system so that I could sew less and wash less too, because you can re-use covers if they are not wet or soiled.
I have only skimmed the surface about cloth diapering. If you are considering it, know that you can do it and that there are options for you! I knew that I wanted to cloth so that I could be "greener" but it had to fit the budget. I couldn't afford $250 for a beginning set of diapers so I made my own. If your budget is a problem and you don't want to or can't really make your own, I suggest going with a simple prefold/waterproof cover system. A lot of times you can get cloth prefolds from garage sales. You can also check out www.myuseddiapers.com/ or http://www.diaperswappers.com/ to get diapers for a lot cheaper that still have life left in them.
Be strong! You can go cloth too!
 |
| my diaper covers |
I was first introduced to cloth diapering when I had my daughter Sofia. I began hanging with a holistic living group of moms and many of them cloth diapered their children. The more I looked into it the more I realized that cloth diapering today is not your momma's cloth diapering. Prefolds and pins (and maybe elastic waterproof pants) used to be the thing. You can certainly still use these things but they are not as easy as other options. The new styles of diapers are fitted and stylish and nearly as easy to use as disposables. There are a ton of brands and systems from which to choose.
With Sofia I began a process called "elimination communication" at about 10 months. Elimination communication is a whole other post on it's own, but basically it is infant toilet training. During this time I used traditional prefolds and pins. Eventually I compromised and purchased a beginner set of g diapers. (http://www.gdiapers.com/) At the time g diapers were all about a cover with a snap-in liner and a biodegradable disposable/compostable insert. I used them with cloth inserts (to save money) and they worked great. I still love them and, if I could readily afford them, would re-stock right now.
So, I clothed with Sofia for about 5 months, between 10 and 15 months, until she grew out of the g diapers set I had. When I became pregnant with Leila, I was determined to start early and save money. With a sewing background I took on the job of sewing a set of cloth diapers in two sizes. It was a labor of love for my little darling. I looked at many different styles to determine the one I wanted to model after. A popular brand is fuzzi bunz (http://fuzzibunz.com/). They are pocket diapers, in that each diaper has a pocket and a soaker insert and one whole diaper is dirtied every time baby goes. They go for between $18 and $20 per diaper. Another system that I looked at was from green line diapers (http://www.greenlinediaper.com/#). At the time it was a cotton cover, waterproof liner and a soaker. Now, it is just one waterproof cover and a soaker (a much better design by the way). They go for $17 per cover or $23 for a cover and soaker. The prints are over the top darling. I decided to go with a cover/liner/soaker system so that I could sew less and wash less too, because you can re-use covers if they are not wet or soiled. 
I have had Leila in cloth full time for about 3 months and I love it, they are working great. At first I didn't know what I thought about it but now I am used to it. I have 8 size small/medium covers and 8 size medium/large and a ton of prefolds. I wash every 4 or 5 days. Yay!
Here is some cloth diaper vocabulary if you are just starting out and confusion is setting in:
- Soaker: part of a cloth diaper that is used to soak up messes when baby eliminates
- Prefold: an insert for a cloth diaper that you fold (if not already) and use as a soaker
- Diaper cover: can be waterproof or not, used to hold soaker
- Wicking layer: layer of diaper that soaks up moisture but keeps it off of baby's skin to keep baby dry. It can be part of the diaper or it can be a liner that goes on top of the soaker
- One-size: diapers that adjust to fit babies of different sizes and ages
- Wet bag: a waterproof bag that you keep in the diaper bag to carry soiled cloth diapers home
- Diaper pail: a bin where you put wet and soiled diapers until laundry day (can be wet or dry)
 |
| diaper pail |
Be strong! You can go cloth too!
Monday, March 21, 2011
The thanks I get
Motherhood is thankless a lot of times, or at least it seems that way.
Today I was on the couch holding Leila and Sofia, age 2, comes up to me and says, "mommy, I cut you neck off" and then she smiles real big and makes a cut motion at my neck. What? I almost had to laugh. This was at about 8 pm and I was just thinking, I have bent over backwards all day for you and this is how you repay me? by telling me you are going to cut my neck off? It was indeed laughable. I guess I should thank her 10 year old brother for vocabulary like that.
Before I laid Leila down for the night, I nursed her a bit. She suckled a little bit and then pulled off and then flailed her arms and smacked me in the face and pulled my glasses off. Now, I know she didn't mean to. But I almost laughed at that too. If you are a nursing mom or have ever nursed a child, you know it is a labor of love sometimes. If Leila is not smacking me in the face, she is pinching my side or scratching me with her baby razor nails.
Somehow I go on loving my children still and coming back for more when the sun rises again. I guess it is good I can laugh at these things.
Today I was on the couch holding Leila and Sofia, age 2, comes up to me and says, "mommy, I cut you neck off" and then she smiles real big and makes a cut motion at my neck. What? I almost had to laugh. This was at about 8 pm and I was just thinking, I have bent over backwards all day for you and this is how you repay me? by telling me you are going to cut my neck off? It was indeed laughable. I guess I should thank her 10 year old brother for vocabulary like that.
Before I laid Leila down for the night, I nursed her a bit. She suckled a little bit and then pulled off and then flailed her arms and smacked me in the face and pulled my glasses off. Now, I know she didn't mean to. But I almost laughed at that too. If you are a nursing mom or have ever nursed a child, you know it is a labor of love sometimes. If Leila is not smacking me in the face, she is pinching my side or scratching me with her baby razor nails.
Somehow I go on loving my children still and coming back for more when the sun rises again. I guess it is good I can laugh at these things.
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