An Experiment In Life

Baby! :)

2011-01-30T18:10:00.003-06:00

Well, after long months of waiting, my daughter is finally here! She made her arrival on the 28 of January, 2 days before her due date.

This is what happened:

I was having contractions sporadically all day on the 27th, and really, really wanted this baby OUT (i was 39 weeks 4 days) so i walked, masturbated, did nipple stimulation, and then had sex with my husband. :) it worked (lol) and I started having intense contractions after the sex that were 2 minutes apart so we went to the hospital. :)

Since I had Group B Strep, they tried to get me hooked up to an IV for antibiotics. However, I have really small veins and they had to stick a needle in 4 different places before they were finally able to get an IV going. During this time I started active labor, so I was VERY uncomfortable to say the least! I was in heaven when they finally let me get out of the bed and walk around.

I wanted to have a natural birth, and the nurse was a wonderful labor coach. The contractions I felt were unlike those with my first child (which were extremely painful and unproductive), I was actually doing really well... but i was SO TIRED and felt sick. The nurses gave me a peppermint strip to put on my clothes and that helped a lot with the nausea, although I was still shaking and barely holding up. AND cervix checks hurt more than anything... I actually took a swing at my doctor (oops) when she was checking me (snicker)... then the contractions got nasty and unproductive :( I was stuck at 7 cm, so I got an epidural and GETTING it was hell... BUT when it took, it was heaven and I could finally sleep, although I was still shaking.

I woke up and they told me I was complete but they let me labor down for a long time because I didn't want to have a 3rd degree tear like with my first, and I wanted my epidural to wear off enough that I could feel when to push. It went so well... I pushed my lovely little girl out in 15 minutes (but still ended up with a 2nd degree tear, grrr). I could feel pressure but not pain :) They got a mirror and let me see my baby crowning... it was such a positive experience. And the moment I pushed her out they gave me my little baby girl and she was just so precious, I held her for a long time and even breastfed her before they finally took her away to get her APGAR scores. she weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long. She has a full head of dark hair :) and she is so cuddly!

She is so tiny and beautiful and soft... I love her sooo much :) and the recovery isn't horrible. I don't feel like I've been hit by a mack truck like with my son, although I'm so so sore.

I'll post pictures soon :)

Baby Fuzzy Brain

2010-12-07T09:42:00.003-06:00

I apologize to my few regular readers. Lately, I just can't seem to form a coherent thought. I spend more and more time staring off into space while my toddler destroys something fundamentally important. I spend 20 minutes looking for my purse before remembering that it's in my hand. I walk into a room and don't remember why, but while I'm at it, that reminds me to hang up those shelves I bought 2 months ago and never took care of. Then I walk out the door without doing that, either.

I have a severe case of "impending baby brain." Right now, I can't seem to focus on much of anything. So I apologize, because while I would love to be able to read your blogs and comment, my brain has turned into a mushed banana and focusing on reading something other than light comedic dialog has proven futile again and again. I just keep staring at the same paragraph and wondering why my feet are cold? Oh yes, because I never put my slippers on this morning. Silly me. :)

On the plus side, the husband, the toddler, the baby-to-be, and I are doing just fine. The toddler is over the 95th percentile for height, which means he's really freakin' tall. He can reach just about anything including the ceramic plate I just ate from that I really don't want to break, the computer keyboard, the library books that I stupidly left on the table, etc... The husband is cussing out his workplace again, which is completely normal... the baby-to-be has found my cervix and seems to know that there's a door there somewhere so she's trying to beat it down (ow)... and I am staring at a cartoon person on the front of a book and thinking "if only I could remember what I was going to do 5 minutes ago."

Oh yeah. I was going to make a list. Sometime in the next 2 months I might actually get it done. :)

What You Think When You're Pregnant

2010-11-07T17:39:00.003-06:00

This is what's going through a pregnant woman's mind, in case you wanted to know...

Week 4: My period is a day late, am I pregnant?

Week 5: Oh my God I'm pregnant!!!

Week 8: Oh my God I'm sick to my stomach... what the hell is this baby doing to me?

Week 10: AAAAH I have baby poisoning. Yep, "baby poisoning" is the right word to use.

Week 11: Oh this nice cold toilet bowl feels good against my face...

Week 12: Why is my husband/family/boyfriend such an IDIOT? He left the toilet seat up again and now I want to punch his face in!

Week 13: I never want to eat another saltine cracker EVER again.

Week 15: The morning sickness is gone... oh no! Am I miscarrying?

Week 17: Wait, what happened to the ice cream? Did I really eat it ALL yesterday?

Week 18: Oh no, I can't feel any kicks yet! Is my baby alive? What is wrong with me?

Week 20 (or whenever you got your ultrasound): Oh my God! There s/he is! My baby is so cute!

Week 21: I'm only halfway done???

Week 22: Oh this picture of a kitty is so cute. *Starts bawling*

Week 23: It's seriously only been another week? When am I going to be DONE?

Week 24: OK my baby might survive if it's born now, I really am going to be a mom!

Week 25: What if I'm not a good mom? What if my baby grows up to hate me? What if I can't handle having a child?

Week 26: Seriously, the morning sickness is back??? WTF?

Week 27: Oh wow I'm SO tired.

Week 28: Where did I leave my car keys? Oh well it's too much work to find them, I'm going back to bed.

Week 29: AM I DONE YET???

Week 30: Only 10 more weeks. Am I a bad mom for thinking that I just want him/her to be born now?

Week 31: OMG the baby is almost here and his/her room isn't finished yet! What am I going to do, I only have 30 onesies and my hospital bag isn't even packed yet!

Week 32: OK baby, STOP kicking my ribs now, I'm going to have broken ribs because of you...

Week 33: Is this a contraction?

Week 34: What will labor be like? Can I handle it? I can't even put on my own socks!

Week 35: OK this baby can really come out anytime now...

Week 37: Yay full term! Time to birth this baby...

Week 38: It's only been a week? Come on out baby!

Week 39: I wonder if it's too soon to drink castor oil? Eat spicy foods? Have lots of sex?

Week 40: OK baby GET OUT! Yes, please strip my membranes!

2 hours later: Can I make another appointment today? I want my membranes stripped again, it didn't work the first time. I have to wait a whole week to do it again???

Week 41: Please? Mommy will buy you an XBox if you just get out now! I wonder if it's a crime to break your own water...

Week 42: What do you want from me?? A pony? I'll buy you a pony, a rocketship, anything you want just get OUT!

Early labor: Is this it? OMG I need to get to the hospital pronto!

Active labor: Come on baby just get out...

Transition: I can't do this!!!

Seeing baby: WOW, s/he's so tiny, didn't I just give birth to a train?

2 weeks later: OK baby, you can get back in the womb now, you were quieter in there...

Sock Diaper Wipes?

2010-11-07T14:40:00.003-06:00

A couple of days ago I went through all our socks (yes the WHOLE tote of them!) and got out the holey ones to throw away.

Only, instead of throwing them away, I cut them up into diaper wipes for the new baby.

Sounds like a BORING afternoon, but it gave me a feeling of accomplishment.

1. No longer would I have to wear holey socks! Yay!

2. No longer would 20+ holey socks clog up our already jumbled sock tote. (It's a sock tote, not a sock drawer, because we have too many socks to fit in a drawer.)

3. 20+ holey socks would NOT be clogging up space in the landfill. :) Your welcome, Mother Earth.

4. How many diaper wipes does a new baby go through in a week? Well... a lot! A. Your welcome again, Mother Earth, and B. Hooray for having diaper wipes that do not have a ton of chemicals, are free, and are re-usable.

Now to do the same thing with Husband's holey underwear.

Stay at Home Mom

2010-10-26T14:41:00.000-05:00

I really dislike being dependent.

At age 12, I started really resenting the fact that I was so dependent on my parents. I wanted to be as independent as possible, but became surly over the fact that I couldn't drive, couldn't live on my own, couldn't be hired to work, etc... As a homeschooler, I was already pretty much in charge of my own education, or at least I wasn't being micromanaged when it came to school. That responsibility made me happy. I just wished I could be entrusted with more decisions in my own life. This attitude lasted all through high school up until I moved out of my parent's house.

Now, I'm facing the same sort of resentment, and I'm really trying not to let it get to me. I'm a stay-at-home mom, which means I'm depending on my husband to provide financially for me while he is depending on me to watch our son, farm, and house.

I love being a stay-at-home mom! I love the independence that comes from setting my own hours, work schedule, and pace. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I get a big project done despite a toddler running around and trying to ruin my efforts, and I love the flexibility of being able to take a trip to the grocery store or library on MY schedule. When I worked outside the home, I was miserable. I was micromanaged and I didn't get along well with my managers. I thought I did a good job and I certainly wasn't slacking, but I felt constantly watched, criticized, and judged. Often, I felt like expectations weren't clear and I therefore couldn't live up to them. Being a stay-at-home mom is a lot like homeschooling, I can get what I need to get done and not worry about the things that inevitably don't get done.

However, I really dislike the fact that I don't get paid for it! It rubs me the wrong way to have to ask my husband to pay for something. I hate asking for "his money" and I hate just taking "his money." And he hates it too! I know he feels like he has to constantly evaluate my purchases because he doesn't trust me to spend his money wisely. It's a big fat thorn in my dream job. And I'm not sure how to fix it, either. Hopefully, the farm will become prosperous enough to provide me with a little money of my own. Or, after the kids have grown a little, I could get a part time job or a home-based business. Or, my husband could just learn to TRUST me with OUR money... but I'm not sure if that will ever happen.

Baby Brain

2010-10-01T20:33:00.001-05:00

...I forgot what I was going to post.

.... This seems to be a perpetual state lately.

Ultrasound! :D

2010-09-21T20:59:00.002-05:00

Today I had my ultrasound! I got to see this little baby that's growing inside my uterus. She... yes, SHE, was being camera shy so I didn't get any really cute pictures like I did with my son.

However, I am so stoked that I'm having a daughter! I can't believe it! :) To me, a son and a daughter are just so perfect, I'm wondering what I ever did to deserve this happy life. She looks happy and healthy and everything is measuring normal.

Parenting Naturally on a Budget Part 3: Laundry

2010-09-17T20:24:00.002-05:00

These are just a couple tips to be more cost-efficient when doing your laundry, and better for the environment at the same time.

1. Wash most or all of your laundry in cold water.

Most laundry gets just as clean in cold water. It's a simple step to take. Exceptions are washing cloth diapers, clothes or sheets with bodily fluids on them, or anything that has sopped up massive quantities of milk (such as my milk-straining or cheese-making cloths. Or spit up rags.) Washing underwear and socks in hot water is the norm, but honestly I haven't found a difference in cleanliness if I only wash them in hot every other time.

2. Use less soap.

Most people use too much soap. The recommended amount of soap on the jug of detergent is usually too much. You can be just as effective by using 1/2 the recommended amount, or 2/3 if you want to be safe.

3. Make your own laundry detergent!

If you are concerned about the chemicals in commercial laundry soap, or have sensitive skin, then make your own! There are many recipes on the internet, and I will post one here. The powdered form usually does the best, but some washers will only take liquid detergent.

2 Cups Soap, finely grated (Fels Naptha is the most commonly used kind, but I make my own organic soap!)

1 Cup Washing Soda (Not Baking Soda- washing soda. I found it in my grocery store but you might have to go to a department store or Fleet Farm.)

1 Cup Borax (I found this at Fleet Farm. Sometimes grocery/department stores also carry it.)

Mix well and store in an airtight container. Use 2 TBSP per load.

Easy, huh? :) All ingredients are pretty darn cheap, and making laundry soap isn't hard at all. What soap you use determines how "natural" the detergent is. Borax is pretty strong stuff, so don't let any little kids near it. But it's also a great cleaning agent for heavy duty jobs as well. Sometimes when I have a really messy clean-up (like cat pee on the carpet) I'll mix some borax and baking soda with water and wash with a rag. It does the job quite nicely!

4. Line-dry if you can.

If you live in a neighborhood that will allow you to line-dry your clothes, do it! It'll save you money and be better for the environment. Some people experience scratchy clothes when they line-dry, and if this happens, just add some vinegar to the rinse cycle before you hang them out to dry.

Also, they make "laundry trees" for winter use. You put the trees indoors and hang laundry on those. I love using these because in addition to drying the laundry, they also humidify your house! :) You can also use these in the warmer seasons if you put them in front of open windows and it's not too humid out.

Potty Training Journal

2010-09-15T21:05:00.002-05:00

Day 3:

1. He now poops on the floor right next to his potty, but won't go inside it. Augh!

2. I... think he ate some of his own poop. :( Not dwelling on that too much...

3. He will sit on the grown-up potty as long as I let him read his dinosaur book while he's up there. :) Still never used it for its intended purpose, but at least he'll sit and try.

Potty Training Journal

2010-09-13T17:21:00.002-05:00

Day 1: AUUUUGGGGHHHH!

Here's how my day went.

1. Kept him in a disposable while we ate breakfast and I cleaned up the house, getting everything off the floor, rolling rugs up and storing them because I KNEW what I was getting into!

2. Set him on the potty while I went too. He peed! YAY! Annnnnd then subsequently tried to play with the pee...

3. On second thought, I don't think he has the concept quite down. Put the potty in easy reach of him and he decided to put all his toys in it.

4. He now stands in the potty with both feet, puts toys in the potty, and tries to play with the poop that's on the floor. I am frantically trying to wipe up his accident with one hand while holding him at bay with the other.

5. He is now bored with the potty and won't sit on it for more than 2 seconds. I read to him: didn't work. Brought out a new toy: didn't work. Sang "itsy bitsy spider" with hand motions: didn't work. Guess he just doesn't want to sit still now.

6: Just woke up from his nap. He sat on the potty for a while: nothing happened. Then I put him in a cloth diaper and 2 seconds later: poop. Changed his diaper, sat him back on the potty: nothing. Of course.

7. Then again, he has been laughing and happy the entire day. Guess I am doing something right...

Pregnancy Commandments Part 5

2010-09-09T17:21:00.002-05:00

9. Thou shalt not covet thy pregnant woman's baby name

If you're a friend or relative, and you like a name we picked out, don't say "oh that's a wonderful name, I think I'll name my puppy that." It's not a puppy name, it's a BABY name, more specifically, it's OUR baby's name and OUR intellectual property. OK, so most baby names are not our intellectual property, it just FEELS like it sometimes. Either way, name your puppy something else.

Penalty: We might yell out "COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT! I'M GONNA SUE YOU!" in a loud, angry voice. It might startle you enough to reconsider. Or, the conversation might go something like this, "Well, I'm glad that you like the name. However, it'd be too confusing to have 2 Jades in the family. I guess I'll have to give your daughter a nickname, like 'Wubby-wubby'."

10. Thou shalt not dictate to thy pregnant woman how to raise her child.

Maybe you've had 13 kids, maybe you just like to discuss childrearing despite having no real experience. But there's a difference between sharing tricks of the trade and dictating how someone else parents their child.

For example... Helpful: Using crisco or petroleum jelly on baby's bottom helps with diaper rashes. Unhelpful: If you let your baby sleep with you, he'll never learn to sleep in his own bed and become a dependent 30 year old still living in his parents' basement. Helpful: Sometimes leaving a fan on will help soothe babies to sleep. Unhelpful: Letting your baby cry for 5 minutes is cruel and wrong, if you do that you deserve to have your baby taken away!

Trust us, we have researched parenting methods and probably have figured out if we're going to spank or not spank, use cloth diapers or disposables, let our child run on the freeways or be strapped down in a padded room for their own safety. And if we don't know yet, we'll figure it out. Giving us tools to work with and use/discard as necessary is a lot different then judging a parenting method because you would never use it. If you have a solution to a common problem, by all means, we're all ears. If you want to put other parents down because obviously your way is better, shut it. We have better things to do than listen to such things. Like, painting the nursery for example.

Penalty: Bitch slap, with a "come to your senses!" in an imperious tone.

Pregnancy Commandments Part 4

2010-09-09T15:53:00.003-05:00

8. Thou shalt not make dumb comments or ask dumb questions.

It's pop quiz time. Which is the correct response? Situation: A heavily pregnant woman waddles into work. You thought her due date was a week ago. You say... A. "Wow, haven't you had that baby yet?" B. "Look out, here comes the bowling ball!" or C. nothing, but get out of her way. I'll give you a hint, it's not A or B. A nice "good morning" would be fine, but no need to mention the baby at all. If she's still waddling around, she obviously hasn't had it yet, so no need to ask her if she has. And likening pregnant women to round objects, or waddling animals, is just downright rude.

Unless you're going to be in the delivery room with us, it's also rude to inquire of the status of our cervix, or sex life, or tell us how much your labor hurt or how much went wrong. First of all, we don't especially want to discuss our cervix, mucus plug, hemorrhoids, or vaginal discharge with casual acquaintances, co-workers, or extended family. Occasionally, pregnant women like to pretend that our bodies are private and maintain the delusion that the various fluids and developments within are NOT topics of casual discussion. To a close friend, it might not be embarrassing to discuss, but better err on the side of caution.

Secondly, complete strangers need not ask personal questions such as "were you trying, or was it an accident?" (Nope this baby is completely unasked for, just like your comments) or "you do know they make a pill to prevent that, right?" (Why no sir, in fact, where do babies come from?) or, if we're having twins, "are they natural?" (Nope they're... alien babies?)

Thirdly, pregnant women worry enough. We don't need to hear how you were in agony for 36 hours before they rushed you in for a c-section and didn't let you hold your baby afterward. All these imagined fears are already floating around in our heads. We go through life wondering if our baby is going to come out with Down Syndrome, or need to be in the NICU for months, or have a fatal condition. We already think about labor like a soldier thinks about being sent into a war zone... will we survive? Unless you would willingly tell a new recruit about how your uncle was blown to bits in Iraq, don't tell a pregnant woman the grisly details of your friend's childbirth.

Penalty: Usually a nice, snarky comment is warranted. A glare and snarl also does the trick.

Pregnancy Commandments Part 3

2010-09-09T15:28:00.003-05:00

6. Thou shalt not commit to plans without consulting thy pregnant woman.

Travel is uncomfortable. Especially in the third trimester, when pretty much anything is uncomfortable. (But even more uncomfortable when you don't have a body pillow, ice, and a cupboard full of chocolate handy.) If you are living with a pregnant woman, don't make travel plans for the 2 months before delivery and 2 months after delivery. Yes, we know you are getting antsy, we are all getting antsy, and yes we know you need a break from all the baby stuff (umm where's OUR break?) but the fact is that at 8 months pregnant, we are pretty much an immobile, bitchy blob of baby belly.

Plus, what happens if we go into labor? The nearest hospital will not do... we must deliver at OUR hospital, with nurses and doctors who know us.

This includes visiting relatives over an hour away. Trust me, after stopping every 15 minutes at the nearest gas station so we can pee and stretch, you'll know why. Relatives 2 hours away can perhaps be visited up until the 8th month, but there will be mutterings under the breath.

Penalty: If you go, you'll have to go by yourself. And if you go by yourself, expect to find your belongings dumped out the window or given to the poor when you return, if you have the gall to return at all.

7. Thou shalt not steal thy pregnant woman's food.

Should be self-explanatory. Let me put it this way. Pregnant women are like mother bears. Crabby, crabby mother bears. Protecting hoarded food comes only second to protecting our young. Especially if that food includes snacks on days where food is scarce. If there are 3 bags of doritos in the cupboard, you might get by with sneaking a handful every now and then as long as you don't dent the supply too much. However, if your pregnant woman has a bag of gummy worms in the car on the way to the beach, leave it the hell alone. Her mind has made mental inventory of every single worm in that bag. Don't be fooled. Even though she is comfortable lying under an umbrella on a chair right now, in 20 minutes she will be hungry, and the only thing that will keep her from going into a hungry, homicidal rage is that lonely bag of gummy worms she brought along precisely for that purpose. So don't you dare swipe even one.

Penalty: A hefty fine, at the very least. (Fines are to be paid in chocolate bars, preferably.) If you are foolish enough to try to swipe a snack that a pregnant woman is currently eating, prepare to lose a limb in the process. Fines double if the snack includes ice cream or chocolate. Fines triple if the pregnant woman makes "mmmm mmm" noises when eating it, as it is obviously a treasured possession at that point.

Pregnancy Commandments Part 2

2010-09-08T12:55:00.002-05:00

3. Honor thy pregnant woman's cravings and treat them as holy.

So your pregnant girlfriend wakes you up at 2 in the morning, wanting you to go to the store because you're out of frozen pizza, and she NEEDS some frozen pizza to go with the jar of peanut butter. You have only 2 options, and neither of them include sleeping. Option 1: you mumble under your breath, go out to the store, buy her some pizza, (and while you're at it, everything else in the store, just in case) and go back to sleep. Option 2: tell her no, and listen to her clatter around downstairs trying to find something resembling frozen pizza, give up, and sob the rest of the night because she's hungry and the only thing she can stomach is pizza.

Just a heads up, sometimes cravings are not just cravings. Sometimes cravings are the only thing we can eat without throwing up. And, OUR options are, 1. throw up from hunger, 2. throw up from eating a nauseating food, or 3. eat what we are craving.

So please, just suck it up and tell yourself that this is just preparation for meeting a baby's incessant nighttime demands. You're about to become a parent- you knew that sleep was one of the sacrifices you would have to make, anyway.

4. Honor Father and Mother's Day, even if it is a bit premature.

It's Father's Day and you're not a father yet? Too bad, expect a date night anyway. It's Mother's Day and your bun is still in the oven? Too bad, buy her an ice cream cake anyway. For women, we become mothers long before our babies are born. We read books on mothering long before we deliver, we follow our fetus' development week by week, and we can feel the little bastard kick bruises into our ribs. Motherhood, by definition, (well, it SHOULD be the definition) is "voluntary torture", which begins long before the little devil makes his appearance.

Penalty: Buy us an ice cream cake. Seriously, that's all we want. Just buy us the damn cake and give us a hug. It's not hard.

5. Thou shalt not murder thy pregnant woman, despite the temptation.

It's the hormones. Really, it is. Hormones can turn a perfectly rational person into a raging psychotic drama queen. It's been all day and she hasn't quit sobbing? Just hug her and hold her until the clouds clear. She throws a toaster at you for saying it's too early to pick out names? At least listen to her suggestions. After all, she's already made a list of her top 50 girl names and top 50 boy names, the least you could do is take a look at it. She asks you to move the couch to a different corner AGAIN? Well, at least you're getting a workout.

Penalty: Well, killing a pregnant woman is 2 counts of murder. That said, we do have some sympathy for you for having to put up with us. Just be patient and humor us if you can. After all, pregnant women are at least semi-rational beings. Babies are completely irrational. So count your blessings while you can.

10 Pregnancy Commandments part 1

2010-09-07T17:11:00.004-05:00

This post is for husbands, boyfriends, lovers, family, friends, and innocent bystanders inflicted with a pregnant woman. Remember, although you are inflicted with a pregnant woman, we are, in fact, inflicted with a baby, hormones, and a body that feels like a pop can getting smooshed. So, here are the "10 Commandments" of pregnancy...

1. Thou shalt have no other women before me.

For partners: Self explanatory, you would think. Yet, as our bodies become less and less sexy, it's tempting to want to look elsewhere for eye candy (or worse). Even though we, as pregnant ladies, do not find our bodies especially sexy right now, do your best to find us attractive anyway. We'll think you're crazy, yes, but also take comfort in the fact that you at least want to keep us around long enough for us to pop out the damn thing.

Anyone else: Tell us that we're glowing, or cute. (Even if we look like miserable balloons at the moment.) It's your only option. Do not say things like, "you look like you used to be pretty" (yes, a real example of a comment by a stranger) or, "better put down those donuts, you'll never fit back into your jeans at this rate."

Penalty: A sock to the jaw, at best. If you imply that we're fat while we're actually growing a live human being inside our innards, you deserve worse.

2. Do not take the pain of thy wife (or girlfriend, sister, etc...) for granted.

"Your hips are moving out of their sockets and you have a horrible case of sciatica? Eh, women have been doing this for thousands of years, it's nothing your body can't handle I'm sure." Um, yeah, women have been birthing babies for thousands of years. Men have also been working 12 hour days doing hard labor by hand in the fields for thousands of years, so they have no right to complain about how their work day went, either. It's nothing they can't handle, right?

Penalty: Take a 10 lb rock and strap it to your waist. Wrap your chest and lower abdomen so tightly that you can neither breathe nor go 5 minutes without peeing. Inject yourself with massive doses of estrogen and wear nipple clamps constantly. Take tons of iron pills until you're constipated, then take a bunch of laxatives. When sleeping, replace the rock with a live animal such as a small dog, then try to sleep through its furious kicking. Do this for 9 months. For the first 3 months, maintain a constant state of food poisoning (but don't add the rock yet). For the next 3 months, add the rock/small animal, and for the last 3 months stuff a basketball between your legs while walking and tighten the chest/bladder binds in addition to the rest. Then go 2 more weeks. (9 months? Ha!) Periodically stuff a full hand and arm up your rectum to simulate cervical exams. Then, at the end of the last horrific 2 weeks, pull the pin out of a hand grenade and swallow. (To simulate childbirth.) When you do all this, you have the right to judge how much pain we are in and how much we can/cannot handle. If you decide to abandon the experiment, apologize profusely, buy us a hot fudge sundae, make us dinner, and give us a back massage.

Parenting Natually on a Budget Part 2: Food

2010-09-01T15:23:00.003-05:00

I don't know how any family can afford to buy all their food organic! If you can, kudos to you. If not, you're in the same boat I am, and the best thing you can do is prioritize.

You've probably heard that pesticides can have a devastating impact on our bodies. So, if possible, buy organic fruits and vegetables that have the highest amount of pesticides when raised conventionally. These include peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, potatoes, carrots, green beans, hot peppers, cucumbers, raspberries, plums, domestic grapes, and oranges. However, I don't worry about buying organic bananas, unless I plan on eating the peel!

If you can, buy directly from the farmer. Free-range eggs have much more nutritional value than the traditional cooped-up chickens can produce, but "free range eggs" at the grocery store might not really be any more nutritious than their competitors (and they will be higher priced!) This is because there are such lax laws about what constitutes "free range." So, if you can see chickens wandering around eating grass and bugs, and buy from that farmer, you're sure to get your money's worth and your body will get its nutrients. Also, buying directly from the farmer can save you a bunch of money, especially with bulk items, because prices are marked up in stores, and their products are fresher, and local!

Another option is to learn how to preserve produce yourself... freezing, drying, and canning... and then buy food in season and preserve it! I buy a half bushel of organic peaches in August when they are in season (through a co-op, which cuts me a deal) and then cut them up and freeze them in apple juice. I have frozen peaches to last me the winter.

There is no substitute for simply learning good nutrition and how to cook things from scratch. Unfortunately, you can buy all the organic cookies you want and still be unhealthy. The internet is a wealth of information on health and nutrition, although you can get bogged down in the "trends." My advice is to stick to advice at least 5 years old that the current experts agree on... and cook from scratch whenever possible. If you avoid the "trends," your pocketbook will thank you. And if you cook from scratch, you can often buy in bulk, make a large batch at one time, and then freeze/refrigerate meals to thaw out later. Consuming less meat is a good idea... most of us eat plenty of meat as it is, and it's expensive! If you can buy meat directly from the farmer, try to get the heart and liver as well. (They are chock full of nutrients!)

Parenting Naturally on a Budget Part 1: Toys

2010-08-04T17:54:00.002-05:00

This series was birthed by a need I've seen in the community for parents who want to become "green" but just can't afford to. And it's no wonder... with all the articles I've seen on how to parent "naturally," I figured I'd better give the low-budget parents some hope. After all, most "green" lifestyles (as portrayed in the media) are way over my budget, but it is possible to parent naturally and frugally at the same time. And since that very idea has been my goal from the start, I thought I'd share some tips with the rest of the world, starting with baby toys.

Firstly, what are baby "toys"? "Toys" are merely tools of play that babies find fascinating and parents find safe. And babies rarely find "baby toys" fascinating, and many are not actually safe! The best "toys" I've found are not really toys at all. For example, just taking my son out into the yard gives him lots of fascinating "toys" in the form of grass, dandilions, rocks, bugs, and sticks. It doesn't get any more natural than that (assuming that you don't spray your yard, and why would you if you're trying to parent naturally?). If you want to encourage a more natural lifestyle, the best place to start is in the outdoors! Children love creating rock gardens, babies love looking at (and eating) flowers, and it's quite therapeutic for mom to walk barefoot in the grass as well.

No need to buy expensive organic wooden teething rings, just strip bark off a short, stout branch and let the kid chew! (Make sure you know what kind of tree it is and that it's edible and not sprayed) Or, I've found, rhubarb stalks work wonders for this purpose. So do frozen bananas (or other fruit. Experiment!) and cold, wet washcloths. Cloth toys are easy to make if you know how to sew basic stitches, just buy a yard of organic cloth and sew it (or tie, tightly, making sure there is no extra string) closed around a ball, rice, beans, newspaper, cardboard cut outs, or whatever else you can find that's interesting and edible. Take a page out of your great-grandparent's history and make corncob dolls or gourd dolls. Let your older baby rip apart old newspapers. Build cardboard-box and bedsheet tunnels and "forts." Be creative!

Bath toys are easy to find around the house. Anything that holds water will do, especially measuring cups. Pots and pans and simple stacking blocks are great for figuring out how to make noise, stacking, and bringing things in and out of containers. These things are not expensive!

Books are especially useful to have. I think 70% of my sons' belongings consist of books. (And most are hand-me-downs.) When he was tiny, I could show him the pictures. As he started exploring, he could put the board and cloth books in his mouth. Now, he loves flipping through the pages and looking at the pictures. In the future, he can learn to read them. At the moment, I like reading them and pointing to the pictures. They are a good investment to say the least! Who knew books would be so versatile?

By all means, buy a few organic toys to put in the car and the crib. But save yourself and your wallet some stress and find or make your own "natural" baby toys.

Renfest!

2010-06-02T09:22:00.002-05:00

The Renaissance Faire was spectacular! We performed 4 times per day in 20 minute segments. Each time we performed, we were able to draw a good-sized crowd. The pavillion was even packed full a couple times! We had a good response, and the people in charge actually want to PAY us to come back next year. :) Everyone in our group performed to their best ability, and I am really proud of all of them.

The Renfest itself was also very nice. The people were friendly, there were interesting and funny shows going on, the vendors sold unique and beautiful pieces, and we all had a good time. I'm glad to have been a part of it!

Having said that, I did miss my husband and son a lot, and I'm glad to be home. :) I don't think I want to leave Taevyn for 4 days again anytime soon, but I'm happy I got to take a little vacation and do so well in the show.

Performing at the Renfest!

2010-05-27T18:23:00.003-05:00

Sorry I have been away from this blog. As my little guy gets more mobile I'm finding it harder to find a spare 20 minutes to sit here and write. Also, I've been practicing for the SHARDS performance at the Iowa Renaissance Festival over Memorial Day. :) (SHARDS is the name of our theater troupe). So we will be performing this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday!!! I'm nervous but excited. I leave tomorrow, which means I'll be away from my little boy for 4 whole days. :( I'm a little sad about it, but I know I'll also relish the vacation and I'll probably be too occupied to worry.

Since I've been dragging him to Rochester, MN for practices nearly every weekend, his daddy hasn't seen much of him the past couple of weeks, but now they will get a chance to bond. :) I'm so lucky that Chris is a wonderful father, and that my son is such a pleasant baby (most of the time!)

At any rate, wish me luck!

Strep!

2010-05-01T19:22:00.003-05:00

So it turns out my son has strep! Apparently it's very hard for babies to get but he somehow got it, and now we are very contagious! So, I'm a little stressed considering we have less than 4 weeks before we're going to perform our play and I still don't have my lines memorized! Anyway, I'm off to pay attention to the sick little one.

Spring Fever

2010-04-27T09:05:00.002-05:00

My little son is sick. :( I guess it was inevitable that he would get sick at least once before his first birthday, but I'm still sad about it. He has a fever of 102.1 and congestion and crabbiness. He had a fever yesterday too that was more intense in the morning and then went away as the day wore on, and now it's back to full intensity this morning. I'll take him to the doctor if he has the same fever tomorrow.

Until then, I'm just giving him cold wash clothes to suck on, dosing him with baby motrin when he's too miserable to sleep, and putting him in the swing to soothe him.

I'm not feeling quite up to par either. I was pretty sick on Sunday but better now, although I still have a runny nose and the occasional sinus problem. So please don't hate me if i get nothing done this week!

Easter Kids :)

2010-04-08T11:25:00.003-05:00

On Easter, I got a wonderful surprise gift... new baby goats! Not only that, but our mama goat, Frigga, (who we suspected was pregnant but didn't know for sure!) had triplets! :) She gave birth to a white male, a cream-colored male, and a black female. They all have cute little wattles and are part angora so they have curly hair.

I named them Spring (the cream colored one), Bata (a spin-off of the name Obatala, the white one), and Ostara (the black one.) Right now they are frolicking around, playing with each other and the other much older kids.

Frigga is a good mom, although she overdoes it. She keeps chasing Dawn around all over the barn. I don't know why she has it in for Dawn. She also has it in for the cats, who better not get within 10 feet of her babies! Frigga is quite an assertive soul, even for a goat! I have a lot of admiration for her because she even beats up on the huge bucks! But she is definitely a handful. She jumps over fences and nearly climbs the pines to reach their branches. If you try to get her to go somewhere, she'll try to go anywhere else. If you hear colorful language coming from the barn, it's usually directed at her.

Easter/Ostara

2010-04-04T16:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Easter/Ostara! :)

For the past 2 days my husband, son, and I stayed at a motel in order to attend a family reunion. I got to meet my 5 month old cousin for the first time and watch him and my son interact with each other. Babies are fun to watch when they are interacting with other babies! This was also the first time I saw my great-grandmother in a while, and so she got to see my son as well.

I also got to introduce my husband to the family, and he seemed to tolerate them pretty well. My family is pretty eccentric, so it's kind of interesting watching non-family interact with a whole gaggle of them! It cost quite a bit of money to travel there but I'm glad I went. Family is becoming an important concept to me and I am enjoying fostering the connections I have between extended family members. I also am in the initial stages of trying to piece together family history. It will be a long process trying to find out who my ancestors were and what kind of life they led, but I feel excited and grounded and refreshed after the "vacation."

Travel is a liberating experience, and visiting family is a grounding experience.

Is Everything Supposed to be Equal in a Marriage?

2010-03-19T11:27:00.002-05:00

So lately my husband and I have been having some spats, mostly about chores. Since I am a stay-at-home mom, he thinks I should be doing absolutely everything around the house, even though I also have to take care of the baby, do farm chores, strain milk and make cheese, etc... It's not like housework is any walk in the park, since we need to wash dishes by hand and hang clothes up on the line, vacuum these friggin' ladybugs from 10 large windowsills every other day, etc...

The point being, I have my hands full. And I would just appreciate it if my husband helped out every once in a while. He, however, doesn't see what I really do with my time and just thinks I slack off.

So we are doing an experiment where I work his hours and we split the stuff that doesn't get done 50/50 on the weekends. Fine, right? Since I have to get up earlier, I'm getting more things done, but otherwise it is the same old routine. I'm only on the computer while I nurse my son, for lunch break, and after work.

The experiment is going well so far, but instead of making me happy this arrangement is just making me more depressed. Why? I'm not sure but my theory is that I don't think marriage should adopt the attitude of strict equality. I just end up sad when I have to keep track of how long it takes me to do laundry, so that my husband can spend equal time doing dishes. I realize that this is necessary in our experiment but when this experiment is over, I really don't want to do things like that anymore. I really don't care if I end up doing more work than my husband. All I want, really, is for him to decide to help me once in a while.

In my vision, husbands and wives have their own things that they are supposed to accomplish on a regular basis. I'm supposed to take care of dishes, laundry, farm chores, etc... while he is supposed to take the trash out and empty the humidity bucket and go to work. But instead of strict roles, I need more flexibility. For example, every once in a while I'll take out the trash and empty the humidity bucket, every once in a while my husband helps with laundry or dishes or chores. I guess this is what I mean by "help each other." When there is a big project, I volunteer my help without my husband asking. But he never does the same with me. This is the real problem that I have, not that I'm doing more work overall.

So what do you think? Should everything be equal in a marriage?

Cheese!

2010-03-10T03:20:00.002-06:00

This past week I've been very busy making goat milk cheese! Little by little, I'm learning how to cook and bake and mix things together. Slowly, but surely, I'm getting to know my way around the kitchen. We have an abundance of goat milk at the moment, so learning how to make cheese was a natural step.

I made a simple ricotta cheese using lemon juice to curdle the milk. It tastes delicious! I absolutely love the slight lemon flavor to the cheese, and we put in fresh organic herbs that really enhance the natural flavors. Even the baby likes it! We've been eating it on garlic crackers but I'll often eat it plain too... something I never like to do with ordinary cheese.

I feel very old fashioned, heating milk in a stainless steel pot on the stove, checking the temperature with a candy thermometer, straining out the curds with cheesecloth-lined colanders, chopping up fresh herbs to put into the cheese.

And, of course, hauling the whey off to the barn for the dog to eagerly snarf down. :) Whey is actually very nutritious, so I might try using it in bread making and other things. The cats aren't too keen on it (probably because of the lemon taste) but Halo (our Great Pyranese/German Shepherd mix) loves it.

Crawling

2010-02-17T12:07:00.002-06:00

My son is crawling, and therefore getting into everything and anything he can reach and even some things that I never knew he could get to! He is getting to be very fast at it, too. I set him down and in 2 minutes he's in another room trying to chew on computer cords. Augh, computer cords are the worst, because you can't really do much to prevent a baby from getting at them, except just watch the baby very carefully.

I'm also starting to sleep train him. That is a difficult beyond hard task, and it's not always going so well. Last night, for example, I got around 4 hours of sleep total, and that's a pretty average night's sleep.

Tonight I'm going to the Twin Cities to their Fringe Lottery to see if my sister and my company (SHARDS) will get to perform our play at the Minnesota Fringe this summer. I'm crossing my fingers! It will also be a good place to get to know people, make connections, etc... something that really, really needs to be done as I don't even live in the Cities and my sister is new to the area.

Overall, I've been busy but when am I not?

More Baby Pictures :)

2010-02-04T19:19:00.002-06:00

Cavities!

2010-02-03T19:15:00.002-06:00

I just went to the dentist yesterday, and I was expecting some more cavities, because I've been having a toothache and during my pregnancy my gums swelled up pretty badly and I have had not-so-great dental hygiene ever since. (Floss every day? I don't even shower every day!) But I wasn't expecting 10 cavities! Oy. Well there goes $350. :/ I guess i'm not too surprised though. I knew I already had 2 on my lower wisdom teeth, because I didn't get those filled before getting pregnant because I had the intention of taking them out... but since I got pregnant that idea flew out the window for a while. Now I will either have to get them filled or get them out next year... after they fill all the rest of the cavity-filled teeth this year. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it... besides go in to the dentist in a week to get 2 of them filled.

They also prescribed me a high-fluoride toothpaste since I drink well water, but I can't use that until I'm done breastfeeding (which makes me wonder how much fluoride is IN that stuff?)

Baby Kid Pictures

2010-01-27T15:40:00.003-06:00

So I finally found my camera cord... it was behind the baby's dresser... weird. :P Anyway, as promised... pictures of our baby goats.

New Babies :)

2010-01-19T09:06:00.002-06:00

This past week we got 3 new baby goats (well, 4 but one didn't make it)... the moms are being good moms, and the babies are eating well and cuddling up together under the heat lamp. :)

We are watching the other goats closely because we don't know when one will deliver. I think one is pretty close, but you never know when the babies will decide to arrive.

Also the young doe who lost her kid is back in heat, so she will probably kid in July.

The weather is warmer, the snow more like slush, the animal's eyes look brighter, and even though the sky is gray and the pine needles are frosty, there is evidence of the earth renewing herself. I can really relate to the pregnant does, who are slow and waiting, like the earth herself, urging time to pass just a little quicker.

Barn Fire!

2010-01-13T18:54:00.003-06:00

Apologies for not posting in a while. Our computer has been down so it's hard for me to get onto the internet whenever I want to.
I've been having to do chores 3 times a day for a while, to check on our goats who are due to kid at any time. With the weather this cold, it's very important that the babies don't sit in a cold spot or they will die. We already found one dead from a first time mom who kidded much earlier than she was supposed to, and she never cleaned the baby off when she gave birth so it froze to death. :( So we put a heat lamp in our barn to warm up a spot for the mom goats to give birth.

Well...

While I was doing chores Monday morning, I smelled smoke. I looked around to see if the neighbors were burning anything but they weren't. I got a feeling of dread and opened the barn door, to get hit by a rolling cloud of smoke! The first thing I did was go in there and get the goats out! It wasn't a huge fire, in fact I couldn't see more than a flicker of flame here and there, but most of the floor was blackened and smoking and a support beam was pretty much gone from the fire, and the whole barn was under a dense cloud of smoke. I figured it must have been the heat lamp that started it, so I unplugged the cord from the heat lamp and ran up the hill to the wellhouse to get some water to dump on the fire. Several buckets of water later and there wasn't much improvement, so I went inside the house and got my fire extinguisher. Even that didn't improve things much, so I had to dial 911 and have the firefighters come put it out. I rushed around trying to get the cars and horse trailer out of the driveway so the fire trucks could drive in, and pulled down the fencing so that the firemen could get into the yard. In my rush, I drove my car into a snowbank! And after the firemen got here I realized that my hands were shaking. All I could feel was relief that none of the animals were hurt (well, a cat got its fur scorched, but he's doing fine) and that most of the barn is salvageable. Our milk stand got burned up and 2 hen nesting boxes, plus a barrel and of course the heat lamp plus the bedding, part of the floor, the support beam, and a couple of other wood pieces. Thankfully, we have stone walls on the interior of the barn! Oh, and the nice firemen even helped get my car unstuck!

Afterward, the firemen came to talk to me and told me it was a very good thing that I caught the fire in time, because the fire was creeping up to the hay loft and in a couple hours the whole barn would have been up in raging flames. He also seemed pretty amazed that I could think to do all that stuff and move the vehicles etc... because most people panic when they see fire. Hmmm... I guess I'm pretty cool when it comes to crisises.

Also, this is not the first fire that has started from a heat lamp, so I am definitely NOT a fan of those things anymore!!! We really don't need the financial trouble that comes with this fire, but hopefully the insurance will at least cover the cost of the 911 call. I'm pretty sure that barns are insured separately from homeowner's insurance so I doubt if they'll pay for the damages, so it's a good thing they are very minimal.

RIP Eclipse

2009-12-29T12:05:00.001-06:00

This fall my yearling buck Eclipse became paralyzed. We were really worried about him and thought he was going to die, but he pulled through. Since then we have been trying to do therapy with him- we made him a sling out of old shirts and some twine string, and we've been stretching him and working with him. This past 2 weeks he really improved and we had high hopes of him being able to stand on his own and walk again. Then, these last 2 or 3 days, he took a step backward and was acting very tired, but still eating and drinking. This morning I found him dead as I was doing morning chores. I have no idea why he died, as he was out of his sling for the night and didn't get caught in anything. He didn't otherwise act sick, and he was for the most part out of the cold. However, it's possible he just got too cold because the weather has been particularly cold (in the single digits) the past couple of days.

I really wish it wasn't him that died. I raised him from a bottle baby... he would follow me around everywhere and he acted more like a person than a goat. I taught him how to eat grass and not to be scared of the dog (a lesson he never really learned too well). Before I had my human baby he was "my baby." When he was a couple months old I brought him to a preschool and let the kids bottle feed him. He just loved people. Even when he went into rut, I could still trust him, as he had the most gentle disposition of any buck I've ever met, especially when it came to humans. He never tried to be rough with me, the only time I had to worry was when I had treats in my hands because of course he would maul me for the treats! He was just as sweet as any doe (and often sweeter!). I'm so sad he had to go through this and that he had to die, but I guess I can't be too sad because at least I got to see him grow up and we'll probably keep both of his buckling kids from this past year. He probably also bred some does before he got paralyzed so hopefully he'll pass on his sweet disposition to more of our goats.

Rest in peace, Eclipse.

Happy Holidays! :)

2009-12-24T17:11:00.002-06:00

Our family doesn't celebrate Christmas much- usually we just go visit our parents, exchange a gift or two (not even wrapped... I dislike shiny wrapping paper because it just creates more trash). This year, we are snowed in, so we can't visit relatives. My parents are in Iowa because my dad works there and he got snowed in. My husband's parents are still 2 hours away, so it's unlikely that we'll be able to visit them. So Christmas will be a day much like any other day, for us. Chores still need to be done, the baby still needs his attention. Maybe next year I'll find the energy to decorate the house but my guess is not. :)
Do I care? Not really. I am a bit disappointed we won't get to see relatives- Christmas is generally the only time we get to see some of them- but this year, most came out for our wedding. So I'm thankful for that. Yes, I'll miss the Christmas dinner with my parents and siblings, and yes I dislike the fact that I'll have to go out and do chores in the cold on Christmas day! But overall, I'm content to just live my life the way I've been living it, to hold my son and my husband and cuddle on the couch with a movie and some popcorn.
Here's a poem that I can definitely relate to:

'Twas the day before Christmas, and all 'round my farm

all the chillun are stirring, just trying to get warm

It's time get firewood, and haul water in

there's chores to be done, 'fore breakfast begins

eggs need to be gathered, and hogs to be slopped

the toilet needs emptied, the chores never stop

then baked bread and fresh milk, we have for the day

the kids bundle up, the horses need hay

when chores they are done, we're all pretty beat

Dad pulls out the guitar, kids sit at his feet

Ma starts up good song, we sing and we dance

small presents are given, all made by our hands

then out to the barn, where we stable our sheep

a miracle happens, a new lamb is asleep

We stand in the darkness, surrounded by love

not much do we have, but a star shines above

We hold hands and we pray, thanks for our country life

Merry Christmas to all, and a homesteader good night!

- LaMar

New Pictures :)

2009-12-18T14:57:00.005-06:00

Some new pictures of T!

If You're a Fan of Punk Bands...

2009-12-17T18:26:00.003-06:00

You should check out Dead Milkmen. They are a satirical punk band, and have really funny music (although if you're not used to listening to punk you should bring up a window and type in the lyrics so you can actually understand what they're saying.) Also, the rant "intros" to songs are also pretty funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmDBmqcAE40
"Cousin Earl" about his redneck cousin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJYjr-vUKZM
"Punk Rock Girl"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXainwqFvW4&feature=channel
"The Methodist Coloring Book" comparing Christianity to a coloring book

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U30K-Dw18Jw
The intro to "Bitchin Camero" which is pretty funny

Rammed by a goat

2009-12-09T18:44:00.002-06:00

Well today I had to go do chores in a blizzard. :P Blowing wind, single-digit weather, and snow drifts that were waist high in places. I have to haul buckets of water for the animals down from a steep hill (conveniently, our wellhouse is on TOP of the hill).
Now our dominant buck always keeps one eye on me, waiting for the opportunity to catch me off guard and ram me into the dirt. Today he found his opportunity, and rammed his big ol' horns into the back of my thigh while I was trying to knock the ice out of their water bucket in the barn. Let's just say, that if he would have hit my knee, I would be in the ER with broken bones. Luckily, I was dressed so heavily in winter gear, and he hit me high enough, that I walked away with my leg very bruised but intact.
If you're wondering what happened to this buck, I hit him upside the head with a hammer when he tried to do it again. Unfortunately, it didn't knock any sense into him and I'll probably have to do it again tomorrow. :( NOT looking forward to it!!!
Stupid goats.

An Update

2009-11-24T12:46:00.002-06:00

My pelvic floor muscles constricted after giving birth, which is putting pressure on my bladder leading to a bunch of symptoms. I have to go to physical therapy, but it could be worse!

Taevyn is slightly farsighted and has a slight stigmatism in his right eye, which is not significant enough to treat right now, but we'll go back in a year to see if it has gotten worse.

I'm still not really getting any sleep and Taevyn is still throwing up most of what he eats. I have to make an appointment to get that looked into. But one thing at a time, please!

:)

Short Update

2009-11-17T17:58:00.002-06:00

I scheduled a Urology appointment for Dec 7th, the soonest date possible. :/
My son's Ophthalmologist appointment is next Monday in a town I've never driven to.
My car won't start, some electrical problem, I suspect the starter is dead. Hopefully if I get it fixed on Friday it'll be good by Monday???
My son is teething and has been fussing constantly.
We got another bill in the mail for $800, which we can't pay for.
I'm just sick of having no money. As soon as my car is fixed I'll probably look for a job, night shift so I won't have to pay for child care.
...
Oh, and I'm on the rag. >:( grrrrrrr

Sorry

2009-11-13T20:16:00.001-06:00

Sorry- I am having problems concentrating.
Due to bladder pain I'm not able to get much sleep even when Taevyn lets me get some. I just went to the doctor but was referred to a urologist. Don't know when that appointment will be. Until then I'm really too tired to do anything or concentrate or think. Sorry! No offense intended, I just can't focus right now. I'll be back later once I can get some sleep.

Tired Tired Tired

2009-11-07T19:58:00.002-06:00

Up late at night with a sick, teething baby. Up in the morning when he gets up. Up in the afternoon doing chores while he naps. Up at night with a bladder infection. (Niiiice) :( Cutting out dairy to see if Taevyn is reacting to it. Yes, I had a meltdown. Now, I'm just kind of in the zone though. I'm a little more irritable than normal and I have a killer migraine but I'm not really upset about it. One of our goats died. :( Not sure why, but we dewormed the rest of the goats earlier today to make sure if they are overloaded with worms, that it gets taken care of. There is something going through the herd, making a few does skinny and paralyzed Eclipse (our dairy buck.) So it's been kind of rough lately. Yet, I find myself able to cope with the stress a little better. It honestly helps to know that Chris is there for me and helping me. He really has been picking up the slack lately and it makes me feel loved and optimistic that we can handle everything.

Despite all this, though, I've been working on new challenges. I've been more proactive with cooking meals, especially since I've had to cut out dairy. (One of my goals is to eat healthier) I got a new chore schedule up (the Dreaded Schedule dun dun duuuun!) which I really didn't want to do (because I thrive on chaos most of the time) but it's actually taking a load off my back because I don't have to think "OK what do I need to get done today?" I just look and see. :) Which comes in handy when my brain don't work so good due to sleep deprivation and being scattered and overloaded. Plus it gives me a feeling of accomplishment when I get my stuff done.

Also, I'm seriously considering adopting an older girl (around 10-13) from the foster system. (Say what?) :) We're not the kind of people who need to have given birth to a child in order to love them, and if there were a girl out there whose dream is to live on a farm with a stable family and younger siblings, then, well, we would be happy to make that dream a reality and gain another family member in the process. :) I guess I've been considering this for a while but never really had a clear picture in my head of what our family will look like, (How many kids should we have? At what ages? Biologically or adopted?) but it's slowly coming together.

The question is, can I handle it, with all the other things going on in my life? Who knows. I think it's something I want to do eventually, but I'm not sure what the timeline will be for this, if it happens. Adoption is a lengthy process in and of itself, so even if we started getting ready now, it'd still take a considerable time. I guess I just feel like we have a lot to offer a child, and of course my instinct never wants to wait. I have a feeling like I'm being "called" to this, though, and if I am, I'll know when it's time. I think I'll want to get the ball rolling and if it takes its time getting down the hill, I'll be OK with that.

A Challenge

2009-10-30T14:43:00.003-05:00

I've decided to challenge myself, and work on getting the house organized (yet again!) for several reasons, the most prominent being if my house is organized, my natural tendency to clutter becomes less of an unholy disaster and more of a moderately disheveled but otherwise functioning atmosphere. The challenge lies not in the actual organization of the house, because I've already organized the house on 2 occasions- the first was when I was "nesting" and the second for my wedding. However the challenge lies in organizing the house such that I can be relaxed and myself (i.e. chaotic) within the system. Usually when I organize the house, the organization falls apart within a week or two because I'm just not capable of maintaining any sort of order and routine in my daily life (on a grand scale. I do just fine with specific things, for example diapers, that need to be in a certain place otherwise I can't find them.) So, that is my challenge. I'll succeed in my challenge when it's been 2 weeks post-organization and things are still where they "should" be.
But since this is a relatively boring post, I'm also throwing in some cute baby pictures. :) enjoy!

Teething Already!

2009-10-22T19:33:00.002-05:00

Well apparently Taevyn is not only teething, but he's cutting teeth in both sides of his mouth on the top and the bottom. It feels like either his canines or molars. This is quite an amazing feat for an almost 3 month old! I didn't believe it at first, but apparently when I was a baby I got my first tooth at 3 months as well. Huh.

So he is going through the typical teething symptoms... extreme fussiness, drooling, sticking his tongue out at odd angles, (sooo cute!) :) thumb sucking as if his life depended on it, crying for no reason, a low grade temperature, unable to get to sleep, etc... and I'm trying to stay sane amidst it all.

As if that wasn't enough, the goats got out into the neighbor's yard today (8 times!) so I had to chase them back in their pasture all day.

PLUS I needed to finish my catwoman costume... and did it despite all the chaos! I truly feel like superwoman.

Poll: Which Would You Rather See?

2009-10-19T13:25:00.000-05:00

Which play would you rather see and why?

Option 1: The Journey of Happy Child
A doll named Happy Child travels through the lives of several delusional characters. Found by an old woman, she becomes the child the woman never had. Discovered by struggling anthropology students, she gives them absurd clues to the origins of man. Given at last to a child, she becomes the nebulous of the child's paranoid delusions. An insane world, amusing dialog, and the occasional dark twist reveal the adventures and fate of a strange doll and her quirky compatriots.

Option 2: The Revenge of Rumplepunchkin
A foolish mistake leaves the once beauteous Rumplepunchkin hideous, deformed, and burning for revenge. To bring about his sinister plan he needs the unwitting help of a greedy king, his romantic son, and the oblivious daughter of an ambitious miller. Performed in the Commedia Dell'Arte style and filled to the brim with clever wit, silly antics, and amusingly sinful characters, this story is one hilarious and engaging comedy.

The One Regret

2009-10-18T16:05:00.002-05:00

I am loving my new life direction! I absolutely live for the everyday gladness of being with my husband and son, taking care of our animals and land, and I look forward to the exciting new theater prospects that might turn up in the near future.

My one regret, however, is that there seems to be no room in my life for martial arts anymore. I never feel more at peace with myself than when I am doing martial arts. It speaks to my soul as nothing else does. I am very saddened that this part of my life has to step aside to make way for the new developments, as worthwhile as the new developments are. Perhaps in the future I can start up again, but for now I occasionally mourn for a large piece of my life which has gone into hiding.

At the same time I know that my new blessings are what I should really be focusing on right now. My life, like so many things, goes in cycles, and right now my focus is on my family and my home. Perhaps the wheel will turn again someday and I will be able to again practice the martial arts... but not until I have drunk deeply in the revelation of being a mother. :)

There is no gift without sacrifice.

Bath Time and Bundled Up

2009-10-12T13:51:00.002-05:00

My baby likes to splash in the water.

First Snow

2009-10-10T09:01:00.002-05:00

Well it snowed for the first time this year this morning. :/ I dislike winter, especially having to do farm chores in winter, so this is not a welcome snow for me. However, there is still a bunch of fall stuff I have to do, like harvest the pumpkins and squash and shear the goats and try to section off a portion of the barn for January kidding. Our goats were bred early this year so kidding will be in January or February, not good for us Northern folks! I hope our kids will be all right being born into the cold weather! But I have plans to hopefully make the barn warmer, as much as we can with a leaky, drafty, old, falling-down barn like we have.
Yesterday I went out to fix the electric fence, and it took me 3 hours yesterday and 3 the day before to get it all done, and I was just doing patching work, not making any huge changes. We really need better fencing. But at least I was able to get it done enough to let the horses out of their yard into the pasture. I could definitely feel the "thank you!" vibes from them. :)

Sick!

2009-09-30T11:44:00.002-05:00

So Chris' kids (my stepkids) decided to bring a cold with them when they came up for the weekend. So now Chris, Taevyn, and myself are sick. :( There's not much else to say really, because I'll spare you my complaints, but this does illustrate the main reason why I will not be getting a flu shot this year.

Technically, it's supposed to help prevent my son from getting sick, by preventing me from getting sick and passing it on to him. However, I breastfeed him, so it's beneficial to him if we both get sick at the same time. If I get the flu, antibodies produced in my body will be passed through the breastmilk to him, helping him combat the flu. If I get a flu shot, the antibodies from the shot don't pass through the breastmilk in strong enough quantities to help my baby with immunity, so it helps me but not him. And since both my husband and my stepkids can and do bring home a bunch of viruses during the winter, my baby would be exposed to those viruses (whether or not I am exposed to them) and he would have to combat them on his own, something that is much more dangerous to him than if I were sick as well and breastfeeding.

Yes, the flu is a danger to my child. However, getting the flu shot would actually increase his risk of having a severe infection, rather than decrease it. When both the mom and child get sick, the breastfeeding child often gets a milder version of the disease, because the mom's body is giving some protection to her child through breastmilk. By getting a flu shot, I am essentially preventing my child from getting the best medicine possible to combat sickness.

More Pictures

2009-09-26T13:30:00.002-05:00

And now that I know how to post pictures here, I will do so more often!

Wedding!

2009-09-26T13:15:00.003-05:00

So Chris and I got married yesterday. :) The day definitely did not go as planned but it was fun and special nevertheless. Chris even got choked up reading our vows which is very rare for him. I wrote the vows myself. Mine was,
“I, Crysta, take you Chris, to be my husband, to love you faithfully, honorably, and passionately, and to give you my trust and respect. I promise to be honest and forthright, to stay beside you when life is joyful and when it is difficult, to listen as well as speak, to give as well as receive, and to be your friend, lover, and partner throughout the rest of our lives.”
(Chris' was the same, only with the obvious name and role changes)
The ceremony/feast took place in our house, because it was raining too hard to be done outside, but that was fine because we just had close friends and family over. Overall it was a cozy, comfortable, relaxed feeling. This photo is of me and my husband toasting each other's health with Chris' parents and one of his kids in the background. (the weird white thing is a grape vine decoration in the foreground.)
My sister wrote a really nice blessing for us, which was read at the ceremony. It went...

to me:

may the ship that leaves the harbor find glorious treasure.

may the wind that whispers guide her to quiet waters of love.

may the waves that give life bring her treasures from the deep.

may the wood of her keel keep her sailing strong.

and may her destination be sure, true, and blessed.

to Chris:

may the warrior always find his sword and shield ready,

yet not be hasty to wield them.

may his footfalls be light throughout his journeys

and never take him too far from his doorstep.

may his name be placed in many tales

and his image in the stars.

and may the fire in his hearth always welcome him home.

to the couple:

may the river of love never stop flowing between the two lands.

may the fields always grow beautiful and full.

may the ships that sail from your harbors always return with glory.

and may, in all your days, you find freedom and faith within each other.

your days

your ways

your wealth

and your health

now depend on each other.

many blessings upon you and yours!

Getting Shit Done

2009-09-14T15:10:00.003-05:00

OK so in order not to panic about my wedding, I've decided to get as much shit done today as I possibly can. :) I sorted, organized, cleaned the downstairs bathroom (including the tile on the walls!) and am in the middle of my 3rd load of laundry today. :) Taevyn is sleeping in his swing, and he's been a sleepy boy all afternoon... which is what allowed me to get all this shit done. That, and the fact that he let me get some sleep last night so I actually have some energy... now, I do not have even half the shit done that I need to get done, but it's a start. And this keeps me from stressing over the wedding while actually giving me less things to stress over. A good thing all around. I still haven't gotten the swords in the mail yet, and I'm pretty sure the rings won't come in time, plus I need to give my sister money for costumes and other misc stuff, PLUS I still can't find a 2 handed mead cup! AAAAAAH!!!! OK back to more work. Gotta... keep... myself... busy...

Wild Animals

2009-09-11T11:10:00.004-05:00

So our goat bucks are in rut and the whole farm stinks. LOL. Bucks are always slightly unpredictable so I need to keep half an eye on them when they're around, but when they are in rut they get a little more dangerous, albeit more predictable. A buck is only thinking about two things when he's in rut: sex, and competition. My husband found that out firsthand when he tried to separate out a few does for breeding. Well the buck didn't like Chris messing with his girls, so he charged him. Thankfully, Chris knows how to deal with bucks and used his horns to wrestle him to the ground (a dominance feat, to "show him who's boss.") I've had to do that with a different buck last year (before that buck died) but as you can imagine he outweighed me and I had a harder time doing it. Now half the time I have a baby with me, so I wouldn't really be able to handle a charging buck and keep the baby safe, so I steer clear of the bucks this time of year.
Last year, Chris unexpectedly came across a deer buck out in our pasture right behind the barn. That buck nearly charged him too, (being all wound up) but thankfully he didn't. Chris backed off and that was that.

Which brings me to my public service announcement: don't be stupid around animals. There are a lot of deer around and, despite their image of being gentle, frightened creatures, adult bucks are dangerous this time of year. Most likely they won't charge you, but you never really know. So if a male deer is standing his ground when you walk near him, don't try to go up and see how close you can get. :P It's not a good idea.

Speaking of wild creatures, I've become sort of panicked now that the date for our wedding celebration and dedication ceremony is drawing near. I still don't have tables and chairs, food, a guest list (aaah RSVP people!!), an organized idea of how it's going to go, and I haven't cleaned the house yet. Great. Not to mention they didn't have our rings in stock so we don't even know if we'll have rings by our wedding day! AAAAHHH! And I can't get much done with a 6 week old fussy baby...
Cross your fingers. September seems to be a wild ride so far.

Lately...

2009-09-06T21:34:00.001-05:00

I've been writing more on my other blog, http://eveandiktomi.blogspot.com/ , which contains more musings and less updates on my life. So if you've wondered where I went off to, now you know. ;)

Smile :)

2009-08-27T11:05:00.001-05:00

T is now smiling occasionally. :) I don't know if it's accidental or not, but every once in a while he'll just look at me and smile for no reason. :D I'm in heaven! This is not a sleepy smile, and not a gassy smile... I'm not sure if it's voluntary or not but right now I don't care because my baby boy can smile at me...

My Computer Died

2009-08-24T10:22:00.003-05:00

Rest in Peace, old computer. :( You served me well for the past 4 years, which, I know, is a long full life for a laptop. You had your struggles, as did I. Through viruses, crashes, dying batteries, and being accidentally dropped on your head, you survived. You were there for me when I needed to send angsty emails as a teenager. You were there when I couldn't talk to my boyfriend except through yahoo messenger. You were there for me when I felt like browsing stupid videos on youtube. You did not complain when i put thousands of cds on your hard drive, then only played the same 3 songs over and over again. You put up with my dragging you along on long car drives and odd vacations, and was forever patient when it became obvious I don't know a thing about maintaining and fixing computers. We've had our differences, and I apologize for the incessant stream of profanity projected at your person, the occasional violent outburst that left you a little worse for wear, and my frustrated demands that you run at peak performance even though I forgot to clean you up. I also apologize for the kids, who kept spilling their Fing drinks all over you, typing with sticky fingers, and pounding on the keyboard hard enough to break some of your keys.
Sadly, I watched you deteriorate from a perfectly functional machine to a frustrating mass of metal that I couldn't fix, and I knew the end was near. Thanks for the warning, otherwise I would have never gotten everything backed up and I would have lost everything when your hard drive failed. I would have been so pissed at you. As it is, I will remember you fondly, and forever treasure (about half of) the memories we both shared. (The other half I'll probably laugh at, however frustrating they might have been at the time.)
So thank you for serving me well, old computer. Rest in peace.

My little boy...

2009-08-12T10:56:00.002-05:00

...is a week and a half old now. :) He's already partially lifting his head, focusing on objects, sucking on his fingers, thumb, and fists, and flailing about trying to understand his arms and legs. He loves it when I take a bath with him and let him kick around in the water, but hates it when he has to get out of the tub! He doesn't like being naked as much as I thought he would, so I keep him in clothes. :P We have a ton of clothes anyway, and he looks so cute in them, but I love the feel of skin on skin contact. I love the way he makes funny faces at me, the way he smells, the way he clutches at my clothes, and especially the way he likes to cuddle. :)

Happy Birthday To Me

2009-08-07T18:52:00.002-05:00

Today is my 22nd birthday. It doesn't feel like a birthday, though, just another day. I'm not complaining though, because lately my normal days have been pretty damn good. :) I'm a new mom, spending days just feeding, cuddling, and enjoying my new little guy. Nights are mostly spent half-asleep as I try to feed Taevyn and get some rest at the same time. Mornings are usually spent sleeping as dad takes over child-care duties. Afternoons are usually spent cuddling both my guys in front of a movie, relaxing in front of the computer, or rocking the baby on the porch outside. I was going to go on a walk today, but the weather decided that it was going to rain all day, so I didn't. Chris completely forgot it was my birthday, and, while this would have annoyed me last year, this year I really didn't care. Besides, we both forgot his birthday last year. :P
I spent most of last year pregnant- it was one of the most challenging and worthwhile years of my life, but I'm glad it's over. I've decided being a mom of a newborn is a thousand times better than being pregnant, and this first year of my son's life beckons to me, promising to be even more challenging and even more rewarding than last year.

A Mouse

2009-08-05T22:42:00.001-05:00

I just saw a mouse in our house.

!!!!! >X( !!!!!

Taevyn's Birth Story :)

2009-08-02T11:53:00.005-05:00

After a really long labor, I finally have my baby boy!
On Friday I got my membranes stripped and had contractions on and off the whole day. They ebbed and flowed until midnight, when my husband, Chris, and I decided to "help things along" in an intimate way, and after that the contractions got really, really strong. So I headed out to the hospital and got there around 2 AM, but the contractions stayed about the same in intensity throughout the night and into the morning... so basically I got no sleep that night, but nothing really progressed. So at around 6 AM we decided to break my water, because they were intense enough that I couldn't get rest, but not getting any stronger.

After they broke my water, I started progressing... fast! That was probably the worst pain I've ever been in in my entire life. I was having horrible back labor, and the contractions came on top of each other with no break in between (or if there were breaks in the contractions, I couldn't tell because my lower back hurt so much). Everyone thought I was transitioning already, and Chris spent a good deal of time getting bitten by me or his fingers nearly wrenched off... I spent most of the time draped on the birthing ball on my stomach and rocking back and forth on that, and I tried a warm bath but it didn't help at all. After 4 hours of this I could not go on, I was completely exhausted by the contractions being on top of each other and in so much pain that I didn't know how much more I could take. I told them to check me, because if I was already transitioning then I could hold out, but it turns out I hadn't progressed at all! My cervix was still at 3 cm, which was where it was when I got my membranes stripped Friday morning. So I told them I needed pain relief...

They first gave me nubain which felt really good because at least I could rest in between contractions. It took a while for the anesthesiologist to get in, and I was still having horrific contractions (but they were more bearable because I could rest in between) but I couldn't hold still through them, so the poor anesthesiologist had to wait while I flailed and rocked back and forth during a contraction, then had to hurry up and stick me with the needle before another contraction came agian...

The epidural started working fairly soon, and at that point all I wanted to do was rest. It felt so goooooood. I slept through a lot of contractions, and when they checked me later on I was actually progressed to 5 cm. the bad news was, of course, that I had to be on continuous fetal monitoring, given an IV, and my legs were all numb so I couldn't move them without help. The baby was also sleepy from the nubain, but he woke up after they checked me and his heart rate went up.

After noon, my doula came and we got me into a couple different positions to try to stimulate both the contractions and the heart rate, since laying on my back and sides were slowing things down. The contractions were pretty steady througout the afternoon, and they checked me a couple of times... I got up to 8 cm dilated by around 5 o clock. I woke up from a short nap feeling very sick. I gestured to my sister to bring me a trash bag but she didn't get it in time and I threw up all over her! I felt so weak and bad, and the doula said I was transitioning. Then the epidural started wearing off so they gave me a greater dose. Unfortunately that also slowed down my contractions, and they didn't pick back up again until 7, when things started to progress very fast! I was at 9 cm at that point and almost ready to start pushing, so they called my Dr and everyone stood around me, coaching me on pushing once I got to 10 cm. I started pushing around 7:45, and wow, that was hard work! Then my doula got a mirror and let me see my little baby's head crowning. :) I pushed him out while watching through the mirror- it was a hell of an inspiration to keep pushing! And then in one final push Taevyn Ziel was born at around 9 o clock. :) I couldn't believe that this little guy actually came out of me! It was miraculous to say the least...

He was put on my chest to see, Chris cut the cord, and my Dr delivered the placenta. I had a 3rd degree tear which hurt like hell when she stitched it up, and I was also hemoraging so they gave me pitocin and massaged my uterus. My little boy was rather pale so they took him to the warmer, but he cried and squirmed and otherwise was very vigorous. His cord seriously looked like a sausage, it was so big! It seemed like forever before they gave him back to me, but it was only a few minutes. I tried breastfeeding and he latched on like it was the easiest thing in the world and nursed for a long, long time. :) He has a full head of dark hair, big hands, and big beautiful eyes. :) He was active and alert for a long time, just calmly taking in his surroundings. Throughout the labor he was a real trooper.

Later I passed out from blood loss so I had to stay in the delivery room for a while, and at that time Taevyn was weighed and measured. He weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and was 21 inches long. I never got his APGAR scores.

So from the time I got to the hospital to the time I delivered was 17 hours, that's not counting the time I labored at home. I didn't get a drug-free birth like I planned, but it ended up being what I needed at the time, and there was no way I was going to make it 13 hours with constant back labor. So I feel good about my decision even though it wasn't the ideal.

Taevyn is amazing. There's nothing else that even comes close to the feeling of holding a little life that I co- created, and nurtured for 9 months... and all of a sudden everything is all worth it and I'm so wrapped up in everything he does. It's nuts. :)

Induction Set

2009-07-30T15:06:00.002-05:00

The induction is set for Sunday night at 8, and I am having my membranes stripped (again) tomorrow. I really really hope this little guy comes on his own!! I'd rather not be strapped to Pitocin for hours while i have intense contractions... plus induction has its risks. I wouldn't be doing it at all if I didn't have low fluid.

Either way, in less than a week I will be a mom! (Presumably... there are a few cases of induction not working...) Exciting to think about...

Yet More Contractions

2009-07-28T10:12:00.002-05:00

All day yesterday I had contractions that would intensify and then fizzle out. Finally they fizzled out "for good" in the evening and I ate the aforementioned ice cream to placate myself. However they came back for a vengence in the night, and I ended up staying up until 4 in the morning before they, too, fizzled out. Now it's 10:16 AM and I am contracting AGAIN, although the contractions are not very strong.

I am not a fan of false labor. I'd rather have real labor and not have to constantly wonder about it. However, I've been told that this is a good sign, and I should expect stuff to progress in the next day or 2 or 3. Until then, I hope I don't get as much sleep as I got last night because by the time real labor comes around, I will be burnt out!

Eating Ice Cream Makes It All Better

2009-07-27T18:28:00.003-05:00

So I had a bunch of contractions today. And then they all of a sudden stopped. So now I'm really disappointed that I won't be having my baby today, especially since I went to the Dr. and I have borderline low amniotic fluid, so they will need to induce me on Monday if he does not come on his own by then. :(

I really want to go into labor naturally... even more so, I want to have my baby! I can't believe I'm so eager to experience the pains of childbirth, but I really am. I really want to give birth, soon. I can't help but be impatient, eager, and nervous. Finding my center is becoming ever harder to accomplish, and remaining tranquil and accepting is no easy task.

BTW, I am 40 weeks and 2 days.

So I just ate some ice cream with banana and chocolate... it's slightly soothing.

My Other Blog

2009-07-24T19:23:00.001-05:00

This blog is more of a general update/humor/everyday life blog.

My other blog is more in-depth and includes more musings and philosophy, etc...
http://eveandiktomi.blogspot.com/

If you want to check it out...

Humorous Nesting Pregnant Ladies

2009-07-23T08:50:00.000-05:00

Some humor, for you...

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/01/27/havrilesky/

Have A Nice Baby

2009-07-22T10:56:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I went on a walk to try and move things along, as it were. I passed a house where 2 neighbor girls, age about 5 or 6, were playing outside. One knew who I was, the other didn't, and the one who knew called out "Hi!" as I passed. I called out "Hi" back, and the other girl asked the first one who I was. She said "that's Crysta, and she's pregnant." The other little girl said "oh," and then called out after me, "have a nice baby!" :)

Kids are so unpredictable.

Cervical Dilation part 2

2009-07-15T15:33:00.002-05:00

So I had my check up today. The results were not so dramatic. I'm a "finger's worth" dilated (as opposed to a "finger tip"), although my cervix is "favorable" which means that if they induced me, I would likely have no problems going into labor. Yay me? So I guess I'll keep having sex and taking my Evening Primrose Oil and see if it helps... any... or not. The baby is also still not engaged, although he's in a good position for delivery.

Basically, what it sounded like, is that my body and the baby are ready for delivery, but there are no signs that labor is iminent. (wahhhhh) My Dr. suggested writing baby an eviction notice. I think I will.

Dear Baby,
You are of course loved and cherished... However, you're really fucking big. I think it's safe to say you're speedily outgrowing your current lodgings. I know you're uncomfortable as well because you keep ramming your head into my cervix and trying to kick my bladder out of my body. It's not going to get any less crowded in there, so I suggest you come out. Trust me, there's much more room out here, plus it's more interesting. I'd like to look in the eye the person responsible for my many months of panic, discomfort, eager anticipation, and increasing impatience. My Dr. will want to induce me a week after my due date, and I'd rather avoid that if at all possible. Basically, you have until your due date to GET OUT OF ME, otherwise I will have to take measures into my own hands. Thank you for your cooperation.
-Mom

Cervical Dilation

2009-07-12T18:09:00.002-05:00

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and I'm SO ready to see my little boy. At my 37 week checkup he wasn't even engaged in my pelvis yet though. :(
I've been doing certain things to sort of "move things along" as you will. My opinion of natural induction techniques is that they won't work unless your body is ready to have the baby anyway, so there's no real harm in trying. (Just don't expect a ton of results.)
That said, there's no real way to single-handedly prove my theory, I've just come to that conclusion based on a bazillion testimonies from other women (mostly via internet forums but some I've actually known in real life.) :P I didn't have a cervical check at 37 weeks, but at 36 weeks I was slightly effaced (thinned out) and a fingertip dilated. (For you non-preggo speak people, that means my cervix, which is normally thick and closed, is thinning and opening ever so slightly.)
Since week 36 I have taken Evening Primrose Oil (which is supposed to help dilate the cervix) once per day. At 37 weeks I took it one to two times per day, and now at 38 weeks I'm taking it 4 times per day. I've also been extremely horny and having sex regularly since the middle of last week. (Sex is also supposed to dilate the cervix.) Since my last check up, I've also been doing squats and other "position" techniques to try and move the baby lower in my pelvis.
My next appointment is on Wednesday, so we'll see what, if any, progress has been made.

My Dirty Diaper Bag

2009-07-10T15:39:00.003-05:00

Well today is a really, really hot day so I am spending it inside. Or, at least, what I can of it inside. I made a bag today from an old sheet. I didn't know what I was doing at all, but it honestly wasn't that hard. All I did was cut an old sheet in half, cut off a corner, fold it in half, sew up the side, sew a seam along the top, and put a string through the seam to make a drawstring. voila! I will hopefully take pictures next time and post them on here, although I'm using a borrowed computer so unfortunately there can be no pictures at the moment. :( *sniff*

This bag will be used by me to keep dirty cloth diapers in. I bought a trash can with a flip-up lid to store my dirty cloth diapers, and I just made this bag to line the trash can. I'll make another one, so that I can wash one with the diapers and in the meantime use the other. I have no idea what other people are doing to store their used cloth diapers in, because I have yet to see a "diaper pail" that is actually made for cloth diapers. At any rate, the trash can only cost like $8 and I got the old sheet from my parents. (Which makes 2 free dirty diaper bags! YAY!) The end result looks very rough, but who really cares, since it's only going to line my diaper can anyway??

As a kid I remember having similar bags to store laundry in. The bags would line the "hamper." (Ha, silly word, hamper) Maybe, as the (soon to be) kid grows, I will also make some laundry bags using this method. For right now, it's just me and Chris, so a regular ol' laundry basket is all we need.

The First Experiment- This Blog

2009-07-09T14:56:00.000-05:00

This blog is going to be about experiments- mainly, experiments that I undergo because I am just a curious sort of person. :) If you ever wondered what it would be like to go without shampoo for a month, or eat a diet consisting of nothing but ice cream, or let your dog loose in a bouncy-house full of kittens (hehe, hilarious), then you've come to the right place.

Most people experiment in their daily lives without giving it a second thought. Well, not only am I going to think about my own experiments, but I'm going to write about them, most likely in journal form, and record my results for posterity. (More specifically, for the amusement of said posterity.) Depending on the nature of my experiments, they will either be conducted in a semi-scientific way, or just cobbled together to see if anything interesting happens. Obviously I'll take some more seriously than others.

As of now, no one is reading this blog, and that's OK because I haven't actually written anything of interest yet. However, when/if people DO start reading it, I'm inviting you to propose experiments to me- stuff you've always wondered about, but not enough to try yourself. Of course, I reserve the right to refuse any proposed experiment. (Especially the illegal ones or the ones with an over $100 budget.) I'll only screw with my life to a certain extent. :P

Oh, and that's another thing. Despite the scientific (har har har) nature of this blog, I'll probably throw in a couple cuss words here and there, and the subject matter might be entirely TMI. You read at your own risk.

For the Future: I'll probably start with the shampoo experiment, because I've always wondered. :) And no, before you ask, I'm not going to let my dog loose in a bouncy house full of kittens, as fun as that may be to watch.