tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74339098371912657112024-03-19T05:33:59.819-07:00Crunch-tasticOne mom's journey to live more naturallyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-36576978661213982342012-08-17T11:51:00.000-07:002012-08-17T11:55:45.096-07:00Tough timeSo I have been trucking along these past few months. Business has been growing,my husband joined the company, and Ella is doing great. We have been getting to know foster teens and I have been using my wheel chair so I can go out and do fun things like the county faire. Today, I am really struggling though. Here is my boo-hoo post.<br>
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1. I hurt ALL.THE.TIME. The pain makes it hard to sleep, drive, and walk. I am also exhausted constantly and frequently need 4 hour long naps mid-day. <br>
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2. My medications make me nauseous all day long. I got some sea sickness bracelets and some Reglan so that might help.<br>
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3. I let one staff person go and another just stopped coming to work. So now I am down 2 staff and hiring 2 more. I also planned to grow and add another staff person. So, I have to start 3 new people. Two of the positions are covered but I am really struggling to find a 3rd.
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4. Work life balance is totally broken.<br>
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5. Newest lab tests say my kidneys are starting to shut down and I will probably need to start the IV antibiotics in 6 weeks.
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6. We still keep holding out hope that our teen will change her mind. She won't. We care so deeply for her and it makes us sad.<br>
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7. I am ignoring Baby E. I spend all day on this damn computer and I feel terrible. We are considering sending her to school in the Fall and that breaks my heart. We planned to be homeschoolers and I LOVE hanging out with my baby. It is so stressful trying to decide if we should accept a great preschool option now or potentially get stuck in a terrible school (which is a huge worry where we live). I hate that I have to worry about this!<br>
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7. The Olympics ended! I know this is silly but this was really hard for me. The Olympics were a special short-term thing and I spent many evenings doing work right through them. So now that it is over it seems to signify my failure to manage home and work life. Silly I know but I cried like a baby when DH told Baby E "You will be 7 next time the Summer Olympics are one!"
Okay well that is enough feeling sorry for myself for today. Tomorrow will be better. That has to be true eventually.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-20245613486266122172012-08-17T11:43:00.001-07:002012-08-17T11:43:43.774-07:00Tough timeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-72178657143813102792012-05-29T13:21:00.000-07:002012-05-29T13:28:00.705-07:00More LymeI was feeling so good! Now I am a puddle again. I was declining since Thursday but really over-did it while camping. I spent much of yesterday in bed or sitting. I am back in all of my braces which is no fun in this heat. Today I had a Lyme Doctors appointment and was so exhausted it was hard to get out of the house! The doctor reviewed some recent tests and I came back positive for 3 viruses in addition to my 4 bacteria friends. Apparently they aren't active infections but can get pretty nasty if I become more immuno-compromised. I also have a weird bacteria on my tongue that is turning it yellow! Apparently, there is no treatment and it might turn black before it gets better. Yuck!<br>
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The head doctor came to meet with me and said my case was very complicated and suggested IV antibotics.I panicked and he said we can wait 6 weeks and see what happens. Since I had my "holiday" of symptoms he says that it is less urgent.
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Basically, they are keeping me on the same medications but are going to try to boost my immune system. They are giving me some herbal stuff, some homeopathic treatments, and a bunch of probiotics. They are also putting me on a detox. I am a bit overwhelmed by it all but also hopeful it might work! They told me that they don't want me to herx (have my symptoms worsen) because I don't have any reserve strength. They want me to just fight it slowly and pull back on meds if I feel too sick.
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I am not feeling scared and am really comforted by the notion that I am not dying and this is not permanent (yet). For now, I get to push through this new regiment. I may be in and our of commission for a few weeks but then, hopefully, I will make steady progress. If not, I have to go to IV antibotics and that terrified me!
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In other news, Ella does have Lyme but she she has no symptoms they don't want to treat her. They want us to closely monitor her for any signs that it is active though.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-57161641682023768752012-05-24T13:10:00.002-07:002012-05-29T13:28:47.721-07:00Feeling a little betterI have been having some great days! I wish I had written this 2 days ago because I hadn’t had any bad days. I haven’t worn my knee brace in 3 days, I hadn’t worn my wrist braces in about 5 days, and had been pain free! I was still a little slow and energy only at medium. But, I went grocery shopping twice, packed for a camping trip, and worked several full days. I even jogged across a street once to get past a car that was waiting for me to cross! <BR>
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Today has been tougher. I am wearing one wrist brace and my hips hurt a lot. I am resting all afternoon and I hope that helps. I think I over-did it. But, I am camping this weekend and plan to relax. I am leaving the cell phone and computer at home! So, hopefully I will continue to feel better.
I am still taking 3 antibiotics and chloroquin. The latter gives me nightmares which really sucks but at least I have energy during the day.<BR>
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I am also drinking more water and mix of apple cidar vinegar, water, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon. I am really trying to eat whole natural foods as well.
So, fingers crossed I am improving!<BR>
<BR>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-17220924211894175312012-05-07T09:41:00.002-07:002012-05-29T13:28:09.843-07:00More LymeLyme Disease sucks. I am getting worse and feeling like I will never get better. I need to change my attitude and remember that next week could be better. Right now the arthritis in my knees is so bad that I can barely walk. I am unable to sleep due to the pain at night. In theory, this increase in symptoms is the result of treatment killing of Lyme bacteria but it doesn’t make me feel any better physically. My doctor just gave approval for a handicapped parking pass and I am laying down all the time.<BR>
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To make things even more exciting, on Saturday I started having shaking in my hand that lasted about 15 minutes. It looked like a Parkinson’s episode and was horrible. Since then my hand feels weak and a little numb.<BR>
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I see my DO today to see if she has any tips for my knees. In the meantime, I am suffering. I find I actually feel the best when I am distracted. So, I am trying to keep busy and continue to live life while watching my physical exertion.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-90372590362025743572012-04-29T17:55:00.001-07:002012-04-29T18:02:58.425-07:00Everyone is related to someone and then they dieE has been interested in relationships for a long time. She loves to repeat that "Yaya is Daddy's mommy" and that "Gramps is Mommy's daddy". In conjunction with the death talk, she has realized that Yaya and Papous had mommies and daddies who are now dead. She talks about this a lot and is very interested in how it all works. She asks if they miss them. Tonight she asked if they died when they became a mommy and daddy. They explained that it was a long time after they had kids.
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Then she said something she has been saying these past three days, "Mommy isn't my mommy. I have a mommy named Fredrick. Fredrick lives in California." I suggested that she was pretending and told her I would pretend as well. She shook her head and said "I am not pretending! Fredrick is my real mom." I wasn't sure what to say since she usually agrees that things are pretend and we play from there. She asked me a few times to ask her who her mom was so she could report "Fredrick". She said her dad is named "blah dooo goo dahh loo". I am not sure how to respond. I tried giving her a big hug and saying that I loved her so much and would always be her mom no matter what but she just told me I wasn't her mom. I am pretty sure it is related to the death issue and possibly the fact that we foster.
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Any advice? Do I play along? Do I continue to reassure that I am her mom? We aren't worried about her knowing about death. I am concerned about her worrying about it too much though. Thanks for your insight!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-73014250002035633022012-04-25T20:15:00.000-07:002012-04-29T18:05:23.251-07:00DeathBaby E found a dead bird a few weeks ago. She was very interested in it and we used it to talk about death. There were bugs on it so we talked about the circle of life and how the bird will help other creatures live and become part of the earth. She mentions this and when she tried to dart into the road one day she said "I don't want to be hit by the car and be dead like the bird."
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A few days ago she asked me if I would die. I told her I probably wouldn't die until I am very old. She asked what old meant. I told her I wouldn't be old until after she had a baby and her baby was big. I thought it wasn't the best explanation but couldn't figure out how to tell her what old meant.
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Tonight we were cuddled in bed and she said, "Mommy, I want to grow up and be just like you." I smiled and asked her what that meant. She said "I will be a nice mommy. When I am a mommy will you be old and get dead?" I tried to explain to her that I won't die when she has a baby. I said most people die after they are 80 and then counted from 29 to 80 to show her how far away that number was.
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She doesn't seemed worried- just curious. But I'd love advice on how you all explain this concept!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-76122113224131872382012-04-21T19:30:00.004-07:002012-04-29T18:05:45.059-07:00UpcyclingI have been obsessed with <a href="http://http://www.funkyjunkithaca.com/Funky_Junk_Ithaca/Home.html">Funky Junk's</a> before and after photos. We had been planning to get new bedroom furniture but I decided to try re-doing what we have. I did 2 pieces today as a test drive.
Here is are my materials:
1. Lacquer
2. Yellow paint
3. White primer
4. 2 paint brushes
5. 2 rollers
6. Self stick drawer liners
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDouZUD2O69epoe6AYmt8AcyigZtI1IzJl0aj9AmylK3V8h8-3NHvbKum-vxZdt448TwxzVMzSYpSWTDFeQRj6QYFbacuY5I1Yk9MAOPtNGQKkQGEk17bz2hlTcFOgvW2ylS8mTXld8pY/s1600/IMG_3600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDouZUD2O69epoe6AYmt8AcyigZtI1IzJl0aj9AmylK3V8h8-3NHvbKum-vxZdt448TwxzVMzSYpSWTDFeQRj6QYFbacuY5I1Yk9MAOPtNGQKkQGEk17bz2hlTcFOgvW2ylS8mTXld8pY/s320/IMG_3600.JPG" /></a></div>
Here are the before and afters. I'll show a step by step below.
Dresser Before:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3SlbBMYZh9cSBeUzHucLhWN0szu9arsP7-0jwYztwJqX6L1HBQItvbqrh0q7G62HDTwVvu-SfmTTVSP8KBDwo-1ATE1ykPwV-UUASVZfgRqS0L4ZuvhnVTgLAViUH8mu5lHU-YtwbAs/s1600/dresser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3SlbBMYZh9cSBeUzHucLhWN0szu9arsP7-0jwYztwJqX6L1HBQItvbqrh0q7G62HDTwVvu-SfmTTVSP8KBDwo-1ATE1ykPwV-UUASVZfgRqS0L4ZuvhnVTgLAViUH8mu5lHU-YtwbAs/s320/dresser.jpg" /></a></div>
Dresser After:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-gdNsgOw7Mlh9XoEeE9ux8Ntk3GOGhe8QZA4LK8u6h0Vj7Tmp1aVExt0OYbp5Zf3Y-mD6LsZJ3hTI791E7FvwN04t9eIQa6nKTr0RaGkuaYDI8ru7ag93RA6mjw4MirMhpkcMCoKmfo/s1600/IMG_3618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="258" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-gdNsgOw7Mlh9XoEeE9ux8Ntk3GOGhe8QZA4LK8u6h0Vj7Tmp1aVExt0OYbp5Zf3Y-mD6LsZJ3hTI791E7FvwN04t9eIQa6nKTr0RaGkuaYDI8ru7ag93RA6mjw4MirMhpkcMCoKmfo/s320/IMG_3618.JPG" /></a></div>
Headboard Before:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v6fJBnIbK0dHLiz-0OL-PYz8YYni1vN-vkmoFpk3_fcXvgT1Kad-TBfIpyHU3Z_beRXaoX8ypPpcB-R4lZbZP1Bl7WUaDXDKXT4iJZj-C8NBYsQvNkLBZhCf4tApaajNG7pzCHrp7aQ/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v6fJBnIbK0dHLiz-0OL-PYz8YYni1vN-vkmoFpk3_fcXvgT1Kad-TBfIpyHU3Z_beRXaoX8ypPpcB-R4lZbZP1Bl7WUaDXDKXT4iJZj-C8NBYsQvNkLBZhCf4tApaajNG7pzCHrp7aQ/s320/IMG_3599.JPG" /></a></div>
Headboard After:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhYWRXAcMV8ByngYtN61KXxowp_53MohuSFc4bwJk1Xhh-kIwPm4f8-2U9a4Z8Uf8geEx0E9V5azsfv7xf4DKVdQ8mHv1yKIUc99fdbYTbZCF1N_vAC6gIJ2Uv5tvM9XHN-mlGjywkBE/s1600/IMG_3619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhYWRXAcMV8ByngYtN61KXxowp_53MohuSFc4bwJk1Xhh-kIwPm4f8-2U9a4Z8Uf8geEx0E9V5azsfv7xf4DKVdQ8mHv1yKIUc99fdbYTbZCF1N_vAC6gIJ2Uv5tvM9XHN-mlGjywkBE/s320/IMG_3619.JPG" /></a></div>
I started with 2 coats of primer.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdaBKPnU1-PgAGJe1yGxjvuUccyZMLaf5DTWwmaWPTfi9tRo9o-kc64hBmchdJKH4qdpwUB7bE5WHAzyyqpEh_BtNbITXsJqVPEX-33Zc2pu-4ewt_k65S258Rluindq93M9qSr6xnJ0/s1600/IMG_3602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdaBKPnU1-PgAGJe1yGxjvuUccyZMLaf5DTWwmaWPTfi9tRo9o-kc64hBmchdJKH4qdpwUB7bE5WHAzyyqpEh_BtNbITXsJqVPEX-33Zc2pu-4ewt_k65S258Rluindq93M9qSr6xnJ0/s320/IMG_3602.JPG" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1t5c85nl63hfsKhvTPHbdqg2WWnkJwqGh_HyOIipZX-3drpPVwLHdxbtMbtK5VfkJxQcLaJMeEx3OFIqZ5cCtxXAtHMrpGdJmrZb-ZhuUe2EaC7lMiW4Ta42Mehiy3a-YPa_A_kwznpA/s1600/IMG_3605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1t5c85nl63hfsKhvTPHbdqg2WWnkJwqGh_HyOIipZX-3drpPVwLHdxbtMbtK5VfkJxQcLaJMeEx3OFIqZ5cCtxXAtHMrpGdJmrZb-ZhuUe2EaC7lMiW4Ta42Mehiy3a-YPa_A_kwznpA/s320/IMG_3605.JPG" /></a></div>
Then I used 3 coats of yellow paint. This is when I realized that working outside was not the best idea. Gnats kept landing in the paint and grass started sticking to it.
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Finally, I added the contact paper. I made a few mistakes that I patched.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJsDGyx-4uLwJQRM2Pbz-JObyItP_lb7nHmrSC866_I92dZvA0U0WJ4AAvtaaTC7dx5a8JGfLddZzJP3nYdLm2iQkymCeamQnduy5Wi1i1PSshKhQdsN-b_mNmfOc5jb81Ia4WNtaa7A/s1600/IMG_3608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJsDGyx-4uLwJQRM2Pbz-JObyItP_lb7nHmrSC866_I92dZvA0U0WJ4AAvtaaTC7dx5a8JGfLddZzJP3nYdLm2iQkymCeamQnduy5Wi1i1PSshKhQdsN-b_mNmfOc5jb81Ia4WNtaa7A/s320/IMG_3608.JPG" /></a></div>
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I tried to put the lacquer on it but it made the paper ripple. Not sure why!
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Overall, I think I did pretty great for my first time! I will do my other dresser and book cases next.
Ella wanted to help and we had a great time together. I put her in charge painting the back of the furniture with a tiny paint brush. It was great!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ixb6lamHqPn9JK19wQibN5ljZr9o3eezUMBPANbntMZN6qecQAscmmW8RvIsyv2OTm5gB1JoTj9XgyQVc0DITYObL9NKJYhyphenhyphenmSJpSdaLC1l6QmqyJ8lPr8z6LPAogAfaShCQE8Us9qs/s1600/IMG_3603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ixb6lamHqPn9JK19wQibN5ljZr9o3eezUMBPANbntMZN6qecQAscmmW8RvIsyv2OTm5gB1JoTj9XgyQVc0DITYObL9NKJYhyphenhyphenmSJpSdaLC1l6QmqyJ8lPr8z6LPAogAfaShCQE8Us9qs/s320/IMG_3603.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-91614535768191350382012-04-15T11:55:00.001-07:002012-04-29T18:06:13.740-07:00Lyme DiseaseLyme disease sucks. I am feeling so terrible these last few weeks. I have been in treatment for 4 months and I am feeling worse than ever. My arthritis is horrible in my wrists. It used to only hurt in knees, ankles, and hips when I ran. Now I am experiencing pain after a short walk across a parking lot. Some days there is no pain and other days I can barely walk. <br /><br />My brain fuzziness (executive dysfunction) is more frequent. I am having trouble making eye contact with people on my worst days. I am having a lot of trouble doing grocery shopping because I can’t find items on the shelf. This comes in episodes so some days are fine but others are terrible.<br /><br />I am exhausted. I have spent several days in bed these past 3 weeks. All I want to do is sleep. Then, I will get a crazy burst of energy at which point I over-do it and then get sicker.<br /><br />My asthma is out of control. I am wheezing all day. I have a weak flow meter and in the last month have never been in my healthy range. They are trying different meds but it only takes the edge off. <br /><br />I am still breaking out in hives which is so annoying because then I can’t sleep. The allergy meds were helping but not anymore.<br /><br />I am taking tons of antibiotics, herbal supplements, and have changed my diet (no dairy or wheat) but still feel like I am falling apart!<br /><br />I am starting to feel like maybe I won’t ever get better. It is so frustrating feeling like this. I have a doc appt on Thursday but I think they will tell me to keep doing what I am doing. I just want to feel normal again!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-55318446615758867072011-12-06T18:54:00.001-08:002011-12-06T18:54:37.511-08:00TwilightI have recently started my books on tape/movie project with Twilight. I do not find the writing to be as compelling as Harry Potter and didn’t love the first book. However, I am enjoying the storyline and intrigued by the world. I also enjoyed the movies and think the baseball scene is one of my favorite scenes I have seen in a movie in awhile. <br />I notice that it has many of the same themes as Harry Potter: love, self-sacrifice, and bravery. However, I do not feel compelled by them. I don’t cheer on the characters as they put themselves in danger as I did with the Potter series. Here are the reasons I am not as enthralled with Twilight<br />1. I am increasingly annoyed by the notion that men must protect and control women. While Bella is certainly a strong woman, she is constantly physically and mentally dominated by the men in the book. The notion that she must be “protected” by forcing her to do things either by not telling her something, physically restraining her or rejecting her is not a value that I want my daughter to internalize. For awhile it seemed that Jacob was not going to fall into the role but then he did it too! <br />2. I just don’t buy that the love is anything but lust (at least for the first book). Bella is drawn to Edward because of his vampire powers (his magnetism) and he is drawn to her because he lusts after her blood. They claim it is other things and as they spend time together one could argue they are learning about each other, but their desires to be with each other are based on the foundation of lust. <br /><br />These two things really bother me. As I continue to explore the second part of the saga and the future books, perhaps these issues will be resolved. Until then I will continue to enjoy the works but won’t put them on the list of books I want to enjoy with Ella.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-49895670273283414212011-12-06T18:53:00.001-08:002011-12-06T18:53:50.950-08:00Harry PotterI am a distracted driver. I text while I drive. In an attempt to stop this behavior, I have started listening to books on tape. After I finish the book, I get the movie from the library and then watch it with my husband. It is great and I am currently recovering from my texting issue. My first book was a silly mystery followed by a period piece about a strong, disabled woman and her frontier life. It was a lot of fun to listen to until her baby was eaten by a dog and another main character had a late-term miscarriage. I arrived at work in tears and realized I needed books that would be “safe”. I am a book snob and had rejected Harry Potter simply because it was popular. I decided to give it a try and fell in love! If there were more Harry Potter books, I might very well line up at midnight to wait for them! <br />Reasons I loved Harry Potter:<br />1. The writing was vivid, entertaining, and uplifting.<br />2. The themes of love, bravery, self-sacrifice, and justice are values that I believe in. <br />3. The characters were lovable and layered.<br />4. The experiences of youth were universal. I loved reading about their romances and disagreements.<br />I enjoyed the movies as well but was annoyed that the duel at the end of the last movie was so different than it was in the book. <br />I am so excited to read these books with Ella in a few years.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-25561660488847865672011-10-22T08:35:00.000-07:002011-10-23T06:50:59.963-07:00Protesting in Freedom PlazaIt was Thursday night, October 20th. The High was 63 degrees and the low was 47 degrees. We had guests in town from Ithaca, NY who are very socially conscious. I had the idea that we could camp out in Freedom Plaza or McPherson Square to show our support for the Occupy Movement. I struggled to decide which location to visit but eventually decided on Freedom Plaza. Since we had the toddlers with us, I felt that going with the group that had a permit was a better option. We planned to go on Weds but there were major storms, so we went on Thursday instead.<br /><br />We arrived at around 5pm and set up camp. Everyone was very helpful and helped up set up our giant tent. It was me, another couple, my 2.5 year old daughter, their 3 year old daughter, and their 5 year old son. We all shared a tent and people thought we were Polygamists! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nRMW19uMC_tjzCuaP2CnOo_PQvKoxYdIpe8UyBwsRa_UVJE9Ikw9TRQdSPJ3XO9XoPw7wUjx7aSs7tnYZcoS_1Er2Q7mPS4-PEqh3Su1zmGZp-FaDwZlNbGlZ4pSqZs3qtfV_u_zrko/s1600/IMG_2951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nRMW19uMC_tjzCuaP2CnOo_PQvKoxYdIpe8UyBwsRa_UVJE9Ikw9TRQdSPJ3XO9XoPw7wUjx7aSs7tnYZcoS_1Er2Q7mPS4-PEqh3Su1zmGZp-FaDwZlNbGlZ4pSqZs3qtfV_u_zrko/s320/IMG_2951.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666674717469657890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAa0C6C69_unJFT_aPpWBAcMxdP9nvzgj1fHVGenGH3bSPimgTv4AeQ7QPcnQzfvSyNyFYBdEi2I7J6KqiO4m6MyFwKRAHDm-M9iq_CcnGEDFTPaWgAR9k91opSvaUab4_Q_QbNX-adI/s1600/IMG_2904.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAa0C6C69_unJFT_aPpWBAcMxdP9nvzgj1fHVGenGH3bSPimgTv4AeQ7QPcnQzfvSyNyFYBdEi2I7J6KqiO4m6MyFwKRAHDm-M9iq_CcnGEDFTPaWgAR9k91opSvaUab4_Q_QbNX-adI/s320/IMG_2904.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666673773140087250" /></a><br /><br />After we made camp, we attended the General Assembly Meeting. We learned the hand gestures to show our approval, disapproval, to ask a question, etc. It went too long for the kids but someone snuck them some food. A mentally ill, extremely intoxicated man began to rant and was gently escorted away from the crowd. This was unnerving but handled beautifully. The man hung out by the bathrooms after that and the “Peace Keepers” ran escorts to the bathrooms for the rest of the evening, which was nice. I was struck by how “ordinary” the topics of discussion were. They talked about cooking (they were just told that they are no longer allowed to cook on site), they discussed new committees, and they described an action that day where they shut down a bank. I guess I had imagined screaming and chanting. I feel silly, now, that I envisioned a rally.<br /><br />It was also a very different crowd than I had envisioned. I imagined young activists. Instead, there were a handful of 20-somethings, a handful of veteran protesters, and mostly homeless people. It was really shocking at first, but they let us camp in the “Women’s Only” Section which was nice. <br /><br />After the meeting, we turned in for the night. The kids loved tent camping. My friend’s son, Lucas, talked about how we were protesting which meant we should yell “Yes!” The kids made up stories from pictures and told them to each other. It was a nice evening, but also a terrible one. At one point we just laughed because everything was a mess: the tent looked like it would collapse, our children looked like they would never fall asleep, it was so unbelievably cold, and we all seemed to have developed a terrible cough. Still, we were enjoying each other.<br /><br />As we settled into bed, Lucas turned to his Dad and said “We need to go to that meeting tomorrow. I have something to say. You should write it down because I already forgot it.” He paused then added. “But I have another idea.”<br /><br />Some of us fell asleep, but I could not. I was very cold and my cough was getting worse. Ella basically nursed non-stop and I was so glad she could to keep her warm. I must have dozed off because I woke-up assuming it was 3am or 4am. I looked at the clock at it was 12:45am. I heard shouting and realized there was an altercation happening outside. I gleamed that a homeless man was drinking alcohol, which was against the rules, and they told him to get ride of it. He was clearly intoxicated and shouted threats for several minutes. Again, it was handled beautifully and he eventually left. <br /><br />This altercation woke up Kristina and we decided we both needed to go to the bathroom. We also lamented that it was only 1am! It was this point that I made a change in my attitude. Instead of this being fun, I accepted it would be miserable. Instead of trying to make myself comfortable, I decided to truly experience the discomfort. I thought about what the other protestors were experiencing every day, what the homeless men in the encampment will experience in a few months, and really thought about why these Occupy Movements are happening. It was a beautiful moment and made the rest of the night much more powerful. <br /><br />The next morning we woke up at 8am, had breakfast, and attended another General Assembly. I helped Little Lucas get in a “stack” so he could share his thoughts with the group. When they called his number, he marched up to the megaphone and said “I have a great idea! Let’s ask for peace.” Then he smiled and walked back to his seat as the crowd went wild.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvDlFmN95YIB87OE2TJS1AVwZN4etvJkOWRvqWy1KlHB4N9yWGpURtZ31zANBm0nHqZXP59X3RcjwjT-JLTOn4UQJJ_7Kl3CLFLbsxdfqztN0Za8bs9piwiMYQznVHlrhiMAUD1Va_0U/s1600/IMG_2945.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvDlFmN95YIB87OE2TJS1AVwZN4etvJkOWRvqWy1KlHB4N9yWGpURtZ31zANBm0nHqZXP59X3RcjwjT-JLTOn4UQJJ_7Kl3CLFLbsxdfqztN0Za8bs9piwiMYQznVHlrhiMAUD1Va_0U/s320/IMG_2945.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666673965348302738" /></a><br /><br />I was so excited about the adventure and the camaraderie that I didn’t really take into account the extreme discomfort the adults and the kids would experience. Would I do it again? Not with the kids. If I could go back and do it all over would I? I think so! Am I glad we did it? Absolutely. <br /><br />If you would like help the movement, the people at Freedom Plaza need socks, hats, coats, blankets, and prepared meals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Wkvc7SlX04qawfq2wrWE26rDyJxTfFiNzdAUPkAFxq9u02QRTqsQTgL3yfd7VduH5cEXAniKDax72PqpG4_0X1cnZrfV4g6qQNZZPrr0qPQfMvaB3r1MHpCm1BUQeRSWYT679WRYLGc/s1600/IMG_2905.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Wkvc7SlX04qawfq2wrWE26rDyJxTfFiNzdAUPkAFxq9u02QRTqsQTgL3yfd7VduH5cEXAniKDax72PqpG4_0X1cnZrfV4g6qQNZZPrr0qPQfMvaB3r1MHpCm1BUQeRSWYT679WRYLGc/s320/IMG_2905.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666673272517032946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9CeTBaqujQZobNe0Sd2Vu-ElJkf_KGgQnp1H8JgUGi1oMWLQUsGwUWgIsvxaLt2JVKbH15ujZQ3WF-QiwwJkSTGmpPwpAWv3ZGNy5WkLuZtJA75PJsDnBY_1Kc1vG4HmBE1wqO5Q9II/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9CeTBaqujQZobNe0Sd2Vu-ElJkf_KGgQnp1H8JgUGi1oMWLQUsGwUWgIsvxaLt2JVKbH15ujZQ3WF-QiwwJkSTGmpPwpAWv3ZGNy5WkLuZtJA75PJsDnBY_1Kc1vG4HmBE1wqO5Q9II/s320/IMG_2898.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666673003844920642" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-91063571590356653742011-07-18T18:51:00.000-07:002012-04-29T18:06:29.036-07:00Mama ClothSo, with my recent "return to fertility" a few months ago, I have been experimenting with Mama Cloth (translation- reusable menstrual products). I LOVE it! I was shocked at how many chemicals are in feminine hygiene products. I feel freshers and more comfortable.<br /><br />So far I have tried several brands of cloth pads but my favorite is the "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/FuzziBunz-Mother-Menstrual-Comfort-Liners/dp/B002I5JE3O">fuzzi bunz</a>" brand. <br /><br />I have also tried <a href="http://www.amazon.com/H2O-Plus-Natural-Sea-Sponge/dp/B0002BKSUE/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1311040578&sr=1-1">sea sponges</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diva-Cup-Post-Childbirth/dp/B001GQ7AAU/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1311040624&sr=1-2">The Diva Cup</a>. I like both but find that I have to change them frequently the first few days. <br /><br />I haven't tried conventional "lady products" since I was pregnant and don't plan to go back. I hope that I can teach Ella about them one day and she can have a healthier body as well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-20889060815943455232011-07-18T18:48:00.000-07:002011-07-18T18:50:09.906-07:00Night WeaningSo, Ella sleeps through the night about half the time and falls asleep without nursing about half the time too. Really it is a great situation and usually works great. We have a new foster son and I am exhausted so I decided in a rush to full night weaning the rest of the time. <br /><br />I didn't give her enough notice and she was having a weird night where she wasn't tired. We said "no more nursing until the sun comes" Well, it was too much to ask her to do in one night because she really wanted to nurse to fall asleep. About an hour later she begged to nurse. I reminded her about what we talked about.<br /><br />She cried and cried. Finally, she calmed down and looked at me and said "Eleanor sad" (she always says she is happy). I asked why and she said "No want nurse when sun comes up. Nurse mommy. Cuddle bed. Please." It was so sweet and heartbreaking that I nursed her to sleep and will try again in a few weeks. <br /><br />She is such an amazing creature.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-6155828390662808442011-05-04T06:44:00.000-07:002011-05-04T17:57:09.617-07:00Nursing in PublicA friend of mine just posted on her blog about nursing her toddler in public:<br />http://alyblog.purpletiger.name/2011/04/why-do-i-feel-ashamed-nursing-my-child.html<br /><br />It is well written and interesting recap of her nursing journey. I smiled brightly as she described the joy of gazing into a toddler's eyes as they nurse. Sadly, the night before I read this post, I had been harassed for nursing in public. <br /><br />I was at a restaurant last night and Ella was being particularly cute choosing her nursing position. She had fallen right before we left and had pretty scratched up knees. She wanted to nurse in a position so she could look at the scraps. She finally laid in my lap like a newborn and latched. We were completely covered by my shirt (not that it mattered!). This table of 3 started to loudly give a play by play. "Oh my god! That is disgusting having that baby hang off her titty" The place was loud so I could barely hear them. I looked away and started talking to my husband but they continued with their conversation. Then, every time Ella did something they would say "Can you believe it? That baby can walk and she is still doing that!" "That baby can eat a chip!" "That baby can drink from a straw" It was so annoying! I had planned all of these different scenarios out if they spoke to me. But, I ignored it and they left. I still plan to nurse in public but am hurt that Ella has to be exposed to that. <br /><br />Like Ally, I had not planned to nurse Ella for 2 years (see one of my first blog posts here). In fact, at my first La Leche League meeting someone mentioned that they were nursing their older child. I turned to the leader next to me and said "I will NEVER do that!" She smiled and said "It is okay. Most women do not." Ella will be 2 next month and we are still going strong!<br /><br />I am very confident in my nursing relationship, my right to nurse, and the value it has for Ella. We usually nurse in the Ergo and when people ask what she is doing i casually say she is nursing. Ella calls it "Nurse please" so there is no secret when he asks for it. I am proud to be a breastfeeding mother. But, I usually use the WHO recommendations that recommend a baby nurse for "two years and beyond". That usually clams people down but now we are going to be hitting that two years and I wonder if people will hear the "and beyond" anymore. <br /><br />It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months. Nursing is too valuable a tool for me to stop nursing in public. It calms her after a fall, it distracts her from running around a restaurant, and it still allows me to connect with her if my attention has to be averted. It also creates some of the best moments of my day.<br /><br />I LOVE breastfeeding but I do not always love having to constantly defend it.<br /><br />Here are my nursing photos:<br /><br /><a href="http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/?action=view&current=_MG_3723.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/_MG_3723.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br />Photo Taken by Amanda Giley<br /><br /><a href="http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/?action=view&current=ella-102bw.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/ella-102bw.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Photo Taken by Amanda Giley<br /><br /><a href="http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/?action=view&current=ella-49.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/ella-49.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br />Photo Taken by Amanda Giley<br /><br /><a href="http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/?action=view&current=P2140012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/P2140012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/?action=view&current=OctBWNurse12-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/OctBWNurse12-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/?action=view&current=Jan2011018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu334/Saundrabishop/Jan2011018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-86115722297242777402011-04-16T18:37:00.000-07:002011-05-04T06:44:03.426-07:00Attachment ParentingI was talking to a friend of mine (who I like very much!) who does not have children yet. During a discussion on child-rearing, the person made several negative comments about “Attachment Parenting’”. I had felt this way before Ella was born but I wondered what the internet buzz was about my style of parenting. I found that many people believed that AP parenting was all about giving into spoiled children and completely missed the science that supports many of our strategies. Not only were there AP bashing blog posts but also AP bloggers writing about Attachment Parenting as if it was an uneducated, lazy option. Then, of course, there was the Wall Street Journal article that said AP was oppressive to women. I was shocked by how much misinformation was out there as well. Many websites proclaimed that helicopter-parenting is the same as attachment parenting, if you don’t bed share then you don’t practice attachment parenting, attachment parenting means grandparents and daycare providers aren’t allowed to bond baby, etc. So, I decided to write a post about what Attachment Parenting is to me. It is not a value judgment on what style of parenting is best but a description of my parenting philosophy.<br /><br />Attachment Parenting is a philosophy on parenting that involves parenting in the most natural way possible. It includes all people in the child’s life. It involves looking at the biological norms and typically using those methods to care for a child. However, that does not mean it is a checklist of parenting strategies. Beyond the natural living, is the idea that we as parents should trust our instincts. If something feels wrong, then Attachment Parenting says not to do it (even if most APers do it). I often ask myself, "If I was on a desert island, would I do X" If the answer is no, I think about whether or not there is a good reason to do X. For example, on a dessert island I would never have my baby sleep far away from me. So, in my home, the natural thing is for her to be in my bed. However, many other families have perfectly valid reasons not to co-sleep and for them the decision process was different and they had different options to weight. Many people who practice AP do babywear, cloth diaper, co-sleep, breastfeed, and are against cry-it-out strategies to get an infant to sleep. However, this is not universal. AP recognizes that we are trying to do something very natural in unnatural environments. As a result, we all do things a little differently. Some people live in small apartments with nowhere to wash cloth diapers, some people have bad backs and can’t babywear, others have had breast-reduction surgery and can’t breastfeed. Sometimes, parents just choose not to do some of these things.<br /><br />It isn’t the things themselves that matter, it is more the decision making process. When deciding whether or not to put a child on a schedule or engage in adult-lead weaning, AP parents think about the needs of the child and the biological norm rather than listening to the societal norm or the latest buzz book. Attachment Parenting Parents also typically accept the belief that being with a parent is a need rather than a want and therefore take that need very seriously when making parenting decisions. In theory, we put more weight to the child’s need than our own if there is a conflict. However, there is no rule that the child must win. A parent can still be AP if they decide to choose themselves, when the decision is made with all parties being considered. What makes the family AP is that they seriously weighted the options and knowingly chose their own comfort over their child’s need and had a reason for it. It is about making an educated decision. AP parent can feel proud (rather than guilty) when they occassionally choose their needs because they are choosing the child’s needs in so many other areas. What really matters is the processes and basic values that lead the decision. The decision is not really the indicator of true Attachment Parenting. <br /><br />I have found AP parenting to be very easy because it feels right not because the strategies are necessarily easier. I have certainly made sacrifices in order to parent this way, but I feel good about every single one of them. I rarely find myself too conflicted in my parenting decisions because I have learned to trust my instinct. If my instinct feels something is right, it almost always is. <br />So, when I think about Attachment Parenting, I think about making educated decisions that swing in favor of baby. I think of biological norms. I think about gentle approaches when we do choose ourselves over our babies. I also think about families that focus being together as much as possible. I love Attachment Parenting because it freed me from thinking I had to do everything the way it was written in a book. I still consult the books, but I understand that my gut and my baby are the best resources.<br /><br />What does Attachment Parenting mean to you?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-85755044114768549502011-01-04T18:43:00.000-08:002011-01-04T19:31:29.381-08:00Wi-FiThis post has been on my To Do list for 2 months. I attended a lecture where a woman from Moms for Safer Wireless came and spoke in November and she was somewhat compelling. I am not prepared to throw my laptop and cell phone in the trash, but I will make some changes.<br /><br />Here are the highlights from the powerpoint:<br /><br />This is the list of short term effects (according to Moms for Safer Wireless) I had trouble finding out where they found these causes and research supporting all of them. <br />-Sleep disruption<br />-Hormone disruption<br />-Impairment of cognitive function<br />-Concentration problems<br />-Attention problems<br />-Behavior problems<br /><br />Here is a list of possible long term effects. I had trouble finding out where they found these causes and research supporting all of them. <br />-DNA damage<br />-Physiological stress<br />-Altered immune function<br />-Electrosensivity<br />-Miscarriage risks<br />-Effects on sperm quality leading to infertility<br />-Cancer<br />-Neurological diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer’s<br /><br />Interesting points:<br /><br />1. 56% of cell phone research indicates that there is an increased health risk when using cell phones. When this is broken down, 68% of studies preformed by the cell phone companies showed no correlation between cell phones and health issues. However, there were mostly studies that lasted for less than 10 years. This fact is important because in all but 1 study that was longer than 10 years, there was an increased risk of tumors in the head. <br /><br /><br />2. Here is info on the studies which show health risks (pasted directly from powerpoint)<br /><br />A: Fertil Steril. 2008 Jan;89(1):124-8. Epub 2007 May 4<br />Study in a fertility clinic found that the duration of time on a cell phone directly impacted the quality of sperm.<br />“Three hundred sixty-one men undergoing infertility evaluation were divided into four groups according to their active cell phone use. CONCLUSION(S): Use of cell phones decrease the semen quality in men by decreasing the sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology. The decrease in sperm parameters was dependent on the duration of daily exposure to cell phones and independent of the initial semen quality.”<br /><br />B: Sperm quality & quantity<br />The study found men who used a cell phones for more than four hours a day had a 25 per cent lower sperm count than men who never used a mobile. They had a 50 per cent drop in the number of properly formed sperm, “The men with highest usage also had greater problems with sperm quality, with the swimming ability of sperm - a crucial factor in conception - down by a third.” “Men who use mobile phones face increased risk of infertility”, Daily Mail, UK 10/2006 by Jenny Hope; Researchers from Professor Ashok Agarwal, director of the Reproductive Research Centre at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA & research from India [93]<br /><br />3. Children's exposure to cell phones is much more damaging than adults because their skulls are not as thick. Here is a photo of an image and an article with more info:<br /><br />http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/08/12/cancer-institute-warns-of-cell-phone-risks.aspx<br /><br />4. Other countries have made moves to limit cell phone use (especially in children). This is also directly from the powerpoint:<br /> <br />Russia<br />Russia recommends that mobile phones are not used by children under the age of 18. Russia also recommends that pregnant women do not use mobile phones.<br /><br />France<br />The French Government has warned that children should limit their use of wireless phones (2002) and is introducing legislation to ban advertising of mobile phones to children (2009)<br /><br />Finland<br />The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) in Finland has recommended restricting the use of mobile phones by children (2009<br /><br />Israel<br />The Israeli Ministry of Health has called for children's use of mobile phones to be limited (2008).<br /><br />India<br />The Indian Ministry of Telecommunication has recommended that children under the age of 16 should be discouraged from using cell phones (2008)<br /><br />5. No studies were done on the safety of wireless technology before it was released. Now there is a powerful communications lobby. <br /><br /><br /><br />This is an interesting article discussing a possible relationship between wireless and Autism<br /><br />http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/11/27/how-cell-phones-may-cause-autism.aspx?aid=CD945<br /><br /><br />Most of this research is correlational but is interesting nonetheless. It is hard to know how much is conspiracy theory and how much is feasible. I think we will make the following basic changes:<br /><br />-Turn off Wi-Fi router at bedtime<br />-Put aluminum foil on Wi-Fi antennas (I will only do this is it doesn't affect my signal)<br />-Take all wireless equipment out of bedrooms at bedtime<br />-Only use speakerphone or BlueTUBE A "bluetube" is supposed to be best. Here is an example http://products.mercola.com/blue-tube-headset/ But, this guy also sells these so there is a conflict of interest.<br />-Don't let Ella use the phone unless on speaker<br />-Don't use computer on my lap or chestUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-79243565340819079972010-10-06T12:08:00.001-07:002010-10-06T12:18:24.450-07:00Natural Living UpdateThings are going well with our natural products. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Shampoo Free</span><br />I love my hair regime. I still have bad hair days but that was true with regular shampoo. DH has even switched over to the baking soda and vinegar shampoo. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Coconut Oil Deoderant</span><br /><br />This is going really well as well. I stopped adding the baking soda because I found it dried on and left a scratchy residue. I think my body just needed to adapt. If I slather it on really well, I don't even smell after a work out!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Oil Cleansing Method</span><br /><br />This is going fine. I just switched to a mineral based make-up which is nice. It doesn't need any scrubbing so if I forget to use the oil it isn't a big deal. My skin is still blemish-y which I do not like. I think it must be a hormonal issue. It isn't great but also isn't the end of the world. Other tips are welcome.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-78535556887886517842010-08-30T06:29:00.000-07:002010-08-30T06:37:05.658-07:00Baking Soda is my Friend and Other Updates<span style="font-style:italic;">Coconut Oil </span><br /><br />I am no longer stinky! I added baking soda to my coconut oil and it is great! I didn't measure it (shame on me!)but I added enough to make it just a tiny bit more liquid-y than a paste. It has been hot and I have been moving furniture and so far so good. I find that I do not feel "fresh" by the end of the day but had Tom do the smell test and he says I just smell like coconut.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">No Shampoo</span><br /><br />This is driving me a little crazy. Some days I have the most incredible hair! A few days ago it was wavy and shiny and lovely. Other days it is a frizzy, ugly mess. I suppose I had days like that when I was still using product though. I have started adding a dab of coconut oil to my hair when I wear it down and that seems to help a lot.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">oil Cleansing for my Face</span><br /><br />This is going fine. My skin is just the same as always. I am going to continue this method because it works really well at getting make-up off and I like that it is chemical free. It hasn't changed my skin at all though.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-54707182276069885602010-08-17T08:16:00.001-07:002010-08-17T08:24:08.670-07:00I smell and my hair is frizzyHaha! Well, the title is not completely true. I thought it was time for an update on my new natural cleansing techniques.<br /><br /><em>Oil Face Cleaning Method</em><br /><br />This is going well. My skin does look better. I have not had any major breakouts. However, this method draws the blackheads out more and I notice them. When I notice them, I pick at them. When I pick at them, they get all gross! So, I need to leave my face alone. I think if I can do that, my skin will look great!<br /><br /><em>"Poo-free"</em><br /><br />Eh. This is going okay. I haven't given this a completely fair shake because we spent a week in the pool and now the top of my head id braided so my hair is doing different things. My hair is cute with the front braided and curls nicely. It feels a but dry and oily. However, it looks like I have put mousse in it. This one needs some more time before I can decide one way or the other. <br /><br /><em>Coconut Oil Deodorant</em><br /><br />This worke beautifully for 2 weeks! I smelled perfectly lovely. However, over the last few days I am stinky! I decided to mix some baking soda in with the coconut oil and so far so good. I will keep you posted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-15541984611795432892010-08-13T23:26:00.000-07:002010-08-14T00:32:55.516-07:00Traveling with a ToddlerWe just returned from a vacation in the Dominican Republic. It was amazing. Those who know us, know that we are pretty well traveled. We have volunteered throughout the developing world (Egypt, Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mexico, India, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Vietnam). We love the bustle of big cities, the calmness of the county side, and all of the craziness in between. We have experienced floods, animal bites, tropical storms, malaria, dengue fever, earthquakes, and many other adventures. We have also met the most incredible people, seen the most beautiful sites, and experienced some of our best moments in life while traveling. I even wrote a book about it <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/765152">"DON'T SLEEP NEAR THE MANZANILLO TREE: HOW TO VOLUNTEER ABROAD INDEPENDENTLY AND SURVIVE"</a> <br /><br />When I got pregnant we decided to get away “one last time” but decided to try out a resort in the Cayman Islands. It was very different from our usual travel but it was a very wonderful time. We still prefer our old ways but this was fun too. Regardless, we thought we would not travel for years!<br /><br />Having Baby E in our lives has transformed many things (our eating, our philosophies on parenting, our quest to be more natural, etc) but it did not change our ability to socialize dramatically. We have still been able to go to parties, to have lovely dinners out, and vacation. E is adaptable and loves an adventure. Being a “natural” family made it all pretty easy!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Breastfeeding</span><br /><br />Being able to breastfeed E had many advantages.<br /> <br />1. We didn’t have to worry about washing bottles/cups, buying/storing/preparing formula, and/or buying/storing milk.<br /><br />2. I found it made the adjustment easy. E nursed A LOT this trip. She nursed when she was excited, tired, over stimulated, and maybe even of she got homesick. It helped so much to have something so comforting and familiar for her.<br /><br />3. It was really nice because I didn’t feel like I needed to worry about being modest. I did not see any nursing but saw plenty of bare breasts on the beach (so many implants)! Occasionally, someone would notice and gasp “oye!” and then smile and continue on. I am not sure if they were surprised to see nursing, to see nursing in the Ergo, to see a white woman nursing, or to see a big baby nursing . . . they were surprised but no one was ever offended<br /><br />4. It gave me a chance to bond with a few local people. I was reading the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (part of my LLL leader training) on the beach and a random jewelry seller began going on and on and about how wonderful breastfeeding was “it is the love and the food that only mothers can give”<br /><br />5. It made the take off and landing on the airplane tears free<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Cosleeping</span><br /><br />Cosleeping worked great because E was totally comfortable in the bed at the hotel. We had a king sized bed (we are used to a queen) so the first night E must have turned side-ways, tried to find me, and rolled clean off the bed! That was kind of sad but she was 100% fine and we all snuggled closer together from then on. Ella slept beautifully from 9pm-9am each day (with nursing in between of course).<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Cloth Diapering</span><br /><br />This certainly saved us money (we paid about $10 to have the diapers washed by the cleaning service) but I think it was probably just as easy as disposables would have been. They were super easy. We used them, stuck them in a wet bag, and had them washed once. However, we felt good knowing that we weren’t putting garbage in the landfills of such a beautiful location. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Baby Wearing</span><br /><br />The Ergo was a life saver. We forgot the Ergo when we went camping last week and it was a disaster (I used a pair of Tom’s PJ pants as a makeshift sling!) I loved being able to wear Ella. I watched people struggle with strollers at the airport, at meals, and even on the beach. We just strapped Ella on and were able to take walks, contain her when she wanted to “watch” the birds with her hands, and when she was feeling sleepy while we were out. <br /><br />On our 3rd day, we got brave and decided to hop on a local bus and ride an hour to the nearest town. It was great to have the Ergo for the bus and the stroll we took through the town. The town reminded me of Accra (the capital of Ghana) with it’s color buildings, open gutters, and beautiful gritti-ness. It was a bit stressful because we worried about the baby (the pollution, the traffic, the germs). But, I am so glad we experienced it and so glad we had an easy way to carry her around.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Natural Cleansing Methods</span><br /><br />This one was probably a little harder. I had to bring our baking soda shampoo, vinegar rinse, oil face wash, and coconut oil deodorant. Also, I keep all of these in random containers so there were a few tiny leaks (good thing I wrapped everything in some recycled plastic bags). It would have been easier to just use the free shampoo at the hotel. However, I am glad we stuck with our natural methods because it allowed us to reduce our chemical exposure and reduced the chemicals that were released into the water shed. I also found that they worked great. We smelled fresh the whole time. Though, this was not more trouble than bringing my own expensive fancy hygiene tools like some people do. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Electronics Free</span><br /><br />We made this an electronics free vacation (partially by choice and partially because we forgot our outlet converters!). We used no TV, IPOD, computers, or phones on the trip. It was great to read, chat, and just hang out as a family. When we got home we went back to our electronics right away but hopefully we will spend less time on them in the coming weeks.<br /><br /><br />We did a lot of things in the natural way. But, this post is not to brag, it is to show that it can be done pretty easily. But, for full disclosure, we also did some not-so natural things:<br /><br />1. Baby E spent every day in the pool and often lapped up the chlorine. E LOVED the pool. She loved to walk down the slop until it reached her chin, she loved to jump off the edge while holding our hands, she loved to have us hold her tummy while she “swam”, and she loved climbing in and out of the pool. In an attempt to minimize chlorine exposure, we showered about twice a day. <br /><br />2. Baby E sampled her first juice. Not only did we give her juice but we let her take sips from my Pina Coladas (sin Rum of course). E really loved this treat and spent one layover walking to any person will a straw in a cup begging for their drink. Ha!<br /><br /><br />3. Baby E also watched her first TV on the long plane ride home. She was ALL over the place so we tried some "Finding Nemo". She watched it for about 20 minutes. I hope not to turn to this as a strategy anywhere other than plane rides. We’ll see though!<br /><br />4.I ate dairy. A.lot.of.dairy. At first it was by accident. I was half way through my fish before I realized it was covered in butter. The resort was all-inclusive and had amazing food. All of the food had some sort of butter or cheese on it though. I decided it wasn’t worth the stress and went a little cheese happy. Now Ella has eczema on her face and legs! I am strictly dairy free again so hopefully it will go away soon. It doesn’t seem to bother her though.<br /><br />5. Ella left DR with a pretty dark tan. We applied a lot of sunscreen and the last two days put her in long sleeved pants and shirts (poor thing!) She never burned but I do feel like it is not great that she got so tan. She looks adorable though!<br /><br /><br />Overall, this was a fantastic vacation. We played in the ocean (one day she asked to nursed while I was waist deep in the waves. We rocked back and forth while I fed her in the bright, clear water), we did aerobics on the beach, we read, we played, we let E roam and followed our little explorer. Tom went deep sea fishing and caught a fish. I had 2 massages and a facial. We also met some great people (Chef Ramon was our favorite). We also got to practice our Spanish and were surprised by how much we remembered!<br /><br />I am so excited that it is still possible to travel with the baby. We certainly aren’t ready to grab our backpacks and travel by tro-tro but we can relax in a beautiful place. As soon as E is old enough, I can’t wait to take her to volunteer somewhere. In the meantime, I think we will enjoy this new type of travel.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-55034868047165689382010-08-06T17:41:00.000-07:002010-08-06T18:05:27.573-07:00Coconut DeodorantWow! I bought some Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and am putting a few dabs in my armpits instead of deodorant and it is wonderful! I started this new method on the first day of a camping trip. I went 24 hours outdoors and smelled fine! By 36 hours I could smell a slight odor but Tom says he could only smell the coconut oil. Tom has switched to it as well. I did a similar smell test with him and found the same results.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Why Stop Using Deodorant?</span><br /><br />1. It is cheaper<br />2. It smells nicer (coconut oil smells divine)<br />3. Antiperspirant are actually a cause of armpit stains on clothing. Sweat reacts with sweat to create yellow stains (I had no idea!)<br />4. Most deodorant contains aluminum. This has been linked to some health issues. There is no conclusive evidence but this is a possibility and avoiding it makes me feel good.<br /><br />Here are some other blog posts on coconut oil deodorant (some have mixtures but I have just been using the oil straight):<br /><br />http://www.survivingthestores.com/homemade-coconut-oil-deodorant.html<br />http://curezone.com/forums/am.asp?i=758680<br /><br />Here is bonus info on the many uses of coconut oil:<br />http://www.coconutdiet.com/skin_health.htmUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-81375675457617999792010-08-05T19:26:00.000-07:002010-08-05T22:13:00.439-07:00Elevated Lead LevelsBaby E just got her lead levels back and she rated a 7. The "action" level is 10. It is good that she is below the action level, but the CDC says there is no safe level of lead. Apparently there are several studies that show lead levels below 10 cause impairment. I am having trouble finding the text of the studies but the CDC mentions the results as do several newspaper articles and blogs. I have heard that there is a 1-2 drop in IQ correlated to each increase in lead (I do not know if this is accurate or not). The CDC says "There is no evidence of a threshold below which adverse effects are not experienced. Thus, any decision to establish a new level of concern would be arbitrary and provide uncertain benefits." If any of you have links to these articles feel free to send them along.<br /><br />My Pediatrician does not seem to be very concerned but wants her retested in a few months. He was telling me how high levels were before lead was removed from gasoline. However, after doing my research, I got a second opinion. This second doctor told me she does not accept anything above a 3 for her patients. My current doctor is not alarmist (which I love) and it occurs to me that I misread his calmness for lack of concern. Regardless, I have decided that I need to take action on this.<br /><br />I am having a very hard time with this. I am trying not to worry but my stomach ties in knots when I think about this. Ella had a seizure earlier this year (common with high fevers but also a sign of lead poisoning) and she couldn't sit through song time at Baby Gym today (which doesn't mean A THING . . . I know that). I just have to keep reminding myself that everything else is normal. She is advanced in most areas and behind in none. This is so frustrating though. I feel helpless. I don't know what is causing it. I feel like I can't fix it. We spend a lot of energy preventing exposure to toxins. We buy local and organic, we make our own cleaning supplies, etc. We have also decided not to worry about every tiny thing and let her experience her environment. But now, I realize something I didn't worry about is making her lead levels high and potentially causing permanent damage. Is it because I let her put things in her mouth? Is it because we spend too much time playing in the dirt? Is it because I give her water instead of just handing her a damn juice box? I hate this.<br /><br />I also struggle because I worry that I am over-reacting since she isn't at an "actionable" level. But, even the CDC says 10 an arbitrary number. I just want the lead to go away. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What Are the Options in DC?</span><br />I called the water company and found out that all homes can have lead tests done on the water once a year for free! This is very exciting and I encourage everyone to take advantage of this. We have our kits set up to test our water tomorrow. However, I am horrified by this article http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/19/AR2010051902599.html which states that DC and the CDC covered up data which showed that DC water levels were dangerously high. "The nation's premier public health agency knowingly used flawed data to claim that high lead levels in the District's drinking water did not pose a health risk to the public, a congressional investigation has found." This does not effect us but increases our distrust of the system.<br /><br />I also found out that the Department of Health inspects your home for free with levels over 10. They will do it for levels under 10, but I was told that if they found an issue they would cite me. I would then need to fix the issue in a set amount of time or I would be fined! Instead, they offered me a program that will send someone to my home, test for lead dust in 3 locations, then teach me how to clean lead dust. They are scheduled to come tomorrow.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />How Does A Child Get Elevated Lead Levels?</span><br /><br />I thought that peeling paint, unfiltered water, and toys from China were the only ways a child could be exposed to lead. We do not give Ella toys that could contain lead, we filter our water, and we thought we had taken care of any peeling paint. Instead, it appears that even freshly painted homes can create lead dust. This dust is apparently sticky and difficult to clean. Little one's like Baby E get it on their hands and toys. When these go in their mouth, they are exposed to lead. <br /><br />Here is a great summary: http://www.des.umd.edu/os/rest/lead.html<br /><br />These are the sources of elevated levels that the above site lists:<br /><br />"House Paints: Prior to 1950, lead-based paint was used on the inside and outside of most homes. It was used to make several colors, including white, and was known to dry to a hard durable surface. Though the use of lead in paint was reduced during the 1960's, it wasn't until 1977 that federal regulations virtually eliminated lead from paint for general use. Homes built prior to 1977 are likely to contain lead-based paint.<br /><br />Soil: Soil near heavily-used streets and roads may contain lead as a result of past use of lead in gasoline. Lead may also be found in the soil next to houses where the exterior was painted with lead-based paint. Lead buildup in the soil can contribute to high levels of lead in household dust.<br /><br />Drinking Water: Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of corrosion or the wearing away of materials that are in the water supply system and household plumbing. These materials can include lead-based solder, brass and chrome plated faucets and in some cases, lead pipes that connect to the service line.<br /><br />Additional Lead Sources: Old toys, some imported toys, lead-glazed and/or lead-painted pottery, leaded crystal, inks, plaster, hobby and sport activities where molten lead is handled (lead sinkers, ammunition, stain glass work, etc.), and clothing contaminated with lead from the workplace are all possible sources of lead."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Ways to Decrease Lead</span><br /><br />This is a work in progress for me because I am still learning what to do. Here are the best tips I have received:<br /><br />1. Filter DC tap water<br />2. Repair any peeling paint<br />3. Wash hands before all meals<br />4. Ensure toys are not lead based<br />5. Run water for 1-2 minutes before using it<br />6. Do not use water from the hot water side for cooking<br /><br />DC city pipes are made of lead in many places. The CDC has found that partially replacing lead pipes actually increases lead levels. Interesting I thought. http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/waterlines.htm<br /><br />I hope that the people who come tomorrow will be able to give me more tips.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-13467462949336997842010-08-01T22:46:00.000-07:002010-08-01T22:54:42.751-07:00Ants: I failedI failed. The ants were really bad. They crawled on my dishes. They crawled on my walls. They crawled on me. I have spent few weeks waking up, smashing ants, and trying natural methods. All of it has failed miserably. I took out the RAID and sprayed those feisty ants. I had to spray the RAID 2 days in a row but the ants are gone. I feel bad about this holistic failure but this is a journey and today I had to make a tiny detour to MainstreamLand. If they come back, I will try some new holistic methods. I ran out of peppermint so maybe that would have been successful if I had persisted. I will try that first next time. Oh well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433909837191265711.post-83716406899200863812010-08-01T22:38:00.000-07:002010-08-01T22:46:17.091-07:00Skin updateThe Oil Cleansing Method is going well. It takes 2 minutes to wash my face. I had no idea how long that feels! It is nice because I make sure I get those 2 minutes to just relax while I massage my face and put the hot towel on it. It sounds so silly to type that a 2 minute break feels good! <br /><br />Things I like so far:<br /><br />1. Skin feels soft<br />2. Relaxing<br />3. Feels nice<br />4. Cheap<br />5. Toxic free<br />6. It gets my make-up off better than soap did<br /><br />Things I dislike:<br /><br />1. I have to use soap to get the oil off of my hands<br />2. I still haven't figured out how to breath with the cloth on my face<br />3. I get all wet and the floor gets wet from the wash cloth (probably user error!)<br /><br />Things that are neutral:<br />1. So far I haven't noticed any changes in mt acne<br /><br />I have done this a few times in the shower and a few times at the sink. I much prefer the shower. One of the main reasons I prefer the shower is that when I look in the mirror, I end up picking at my face. It seems to work better for me not to stare at my face while I clean it.<br /><br />I am excited to see what happens over the next few weeks. My skin looks the same so no photo.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1