I am considering doing a home birth for my next baby. No, I'm not pregnant.
A home birth is, to me, one of the pinnacles of crunchiness (aka natural living or being a hippie). I'm not actually opposed to giving birth in the hospital again, but I would like to avoid driving in the car trying to handle contractions. If I were to go the hospital route again, I would want to use a midwife, but I don't know of any in the area that practice in a hospital. Which, once again, leans me towards doing a home birth. Finally, with my new health care, I am trying to find the least expensive health care options available. A home birth is a great deal cheaper than giving birth in a hospital. I think I was charged around $8,000 just for delivery when I had Declan, and I was only in the hospital for three hours before he was born. If I do decide on a home birth, I will definitely miss the hospital food, which sounds weird, I know, but the food was really good AND I didn't have to cook or clean any of it! Best part!
The only other hesitation I have for doing a home birth is that our house is pretty small, and if I wanted a labor pool (or whatever you call them) for a water birth option, I'm not sure where it would go. So, if I can find a midwife that I click with and feel comfortable using, I will probably be having a home birth for my next baby. Whenever that may be.
27.1.14
23.1.14
Not for me, thanks
So I will not be drinking alcohol for a while. No, I'm not pregnant.
Adam and I recently switched from insurance through my employer to Samaritan Ministries. We started looking into it last year, and made the switch this year. I'm really excited about it. It is a Christian organization that allocates money among its members as health costs arise, while encouraging prayer and making healthy lifestyle choices to decrease health costs. The application includes a statement of faith, as well as your commitment to not use tobacco and either not consume alcohol, or consume alcohol only in moderation. I don't think it's wrong to drink alcohol, but I think it's just easier to not drink it at all. I think it's very easy for people to go from "a few" to "a few too many."
Reasons I decided to stop drinking:
1. Save money. Holla.
2. I can always be the designated driver, no matter what.
3. When I do get pregnant, me not drinking won't be a dead giveaway.
4. Much like wheat, I don't miss it. I have had about four drinks/sips of alcohol in the past two years (much of that time I was pregnant or breastfeeding often), and even around Christmas when I had my last glass of wine as a "farewell" to drinking, I had maybe half a glass and thought, yep, really not gonna miss this.
So it may not be forever, but as long as we're members of Samaritan Ministries, you can call me for a ride home if you've had too much (assuming someone is home to stay with my sleeping child!) :-)
Adam and I recently switched from insurance through my employer to Samaritan Ministries. We started looking into it last year, and made the switch this year. I'm really excited about it. It is a Christian organization that allocates money among its members as health costs arise, while encouraging prayer and making healthy lifestyle choices to decrease health costs. The application includes a statement of faith, as well as your commitment to not use tobacco and either not consume alcohol, or consume alcohol only in moderation. I don't think it's wrong to drink alcohol, but I think it's just easier to not drink it at all. I think it's very easy for people to go from "a few" to "a few too many."
Reasons I decided to stop drinking:
1. Save money. Holla.
2. I can always be the designated driver, no matter what.
3. When I do get pregnant, me not drinking won't be a dead giveaway.
4. Much like wheat, I don't miss it. I have had about four drinks/sips of alcohol in the past two years (much of that time I was pregnant or breastfeeding often), and even around Christmas when I had my last glass of wine as a "farewell" to drinking, I had maybe half a glass and thought, yep, really not gonna miss this.
So it may not be forever, but as long as we're members of Samaritan Ministries, you can call me for a ride home if you've had too much (assuming someone is home to stay with my sleeping child!) :-)
20.1.14
Gluten-Free & Me: Introduction
For those of you who don't know, I have decided to go wheat/gluten free. I usually specify "wheat" because I do technically have rye or spelt gluten on occasion. So, why am I jumping on this bandwagon now? I decided to try it on a whim a few months ago and noticed a significant improvement in my acne, which I have had since I was twelve. That's reason enough for me! A few thoughts/notes:
1. I don't feel better now that I'm gluten-free. I didn't feel bad before, didn't have digestion issues, etc. so I can't say, like I'm glad some people can, that "I just feel great now!" I guess I always felt great :-)
2. I like it. I don't know if there's one big reason I haven't figured out yet, or if it's various small ones. I like having minimal (residual hormonal) acne. I like that I'm not allergic to wheat/gluten, so if I decide to "cheat" one day, or if I unknowingly consume some wheat, the worst that will happen is a pimple or two. But I haven't cheated since Christmas, and I don't really see myself cheating again in the foreseeable future.
3. It's not as hard as I thought it would be a few years ago. My family has been gluten-free since 2011, and at that time I thought it would be very difficult. I think it is easy due in large part to the wide array of gluten-free goodies/flours now available, and also because I largely do not crave wheat, knowing what it does to my skin. It's just not worth it.
4. I think the issue I (and many others) have with gluten is not an issue with gluten itself (sufferers of Celiac excluded, of course). I believe it is because the wheat people consume today has a much higher level of gluten than the traditional (original?) wheat of years ago. The sources I have found claim there is no genetically modified wheat on the market (yet). I'm not sure whether or not I believe that, but even if the wheat we eat is not genetically modified, it does, indeed, have more gluten than it did historically. My untested hypothesis is that if I (and other gluten-sensitive individuals) were to eat traditional, unmodified wheat, with a normal and natural amount of gluten, I would not have any issues. I am searching for evidence to support my belief, as well as traditional, unmodified wheat with which to test my hypothesis.
That's it for now. I'm sure there is more to come on my gluten-free journey!
1. I don't feel better now that I'm gluten-free. I didn't feel bad before, didn't have digestion issues, etc. so I can't say, like I'm glad some people can, that "I just feel great now!" I guess I always felt great :-)
2. I like it. I don't know if there's one big reason I haven't figured out yet, or if it's various small ones. I like having minimal (residual hormonal) acne. I like that I'm not allergic to wheat/gluten, so if I decide to "cheat" one day, or if I unknowingly consume some wheat, the worst that will happen is a pimple or two. But I haven't cheated since Christmas, and I don't really see myself cheating again in the foreseeable future.
3. It's not as hard as I thought it would be a few years ago. My family has been gluten-free since 2011, and at that time I thought it would be very difficult. I think it is easy due in large part to the wide array of gluten-free goodies/flours now available, and also because I largely do not crave wheat, knowing what it does to my skin. It's just not worth it.
4. I think the issue I (and many others) have with gluten is not an issue with gluten itself (sufferers of Celiac excluded, of course). I believe it is because the wheat people consume today has a much higher level of gluten than the traditional (original?) wheat of years ago. The sources I have found claim there is no genetically modified wheat on the market (yet). I'm not sure whether or not I believe that, but even if the wheat we eat is not genetically modified, it does, indeed, have more gluten than it did historically. My untested hypothesis is that if I (and other gluten-sensitive individuals) were to eat traditional, unmodified wheat, with a normal and natural amount of gluten, I would not have any issues. I am searching for evidence to support my belief, as well as traditional, unmodified wheat with which to test my hypothesis.
That's it for now. I'm sure there is more to come on my gluten-free journey!
17.1.14
Being Controversial
It can be really hard to be open about some parenting/lifestyle decisions you make. Even if there is not a clear-cut, obvious "right" thing to do, very often people feel like there is. And they don't hesitate to tell you.
Will I defend my decisions? Absolutely. For most decisions, I have done research and come to the conclusion that my decision is the best. I like to really be informed before I make a decision, especially if I will be changing something I currently do. The reasons I made my decision may be different than the reasons you used to make the same decision. You may have come up with other reasons that are more important to you, and thus made a different decision.
It shouldn't matter how I parent my child as long as he is not in danger and is healthy. We should be allowed to make informed decisions that other people might not make. I try, although I know I don't always succeed, to avoid telling people they should do something specific for their kid, especially if it is unsolicited (my primary exception being breastfeeding! All mothers should give it an educated try, because the odds are heavily in your favor that you'll succeed!)
I think the other problem with being "controversial" is that it's so easy to say things behind the anonymity/impersonality of the internet and Facebook. You can insult people much easier when you aren't doing it to their face to see their reaction.
Confession time: what non-mainstream/"controversial" thing do you do? Mine would probably take up another separate post (or two...)
Will I defend my decisions? Absolutely. For most decisions, I have done research and come to the conclusion that my decision is the best. I like to really be informed before I make a decision, especially if I will be changing something I currently do. The reasons I made my decision may be different than the reasons you used to make the same decision. You may have come up with other reasons that are more important to you, and thus made a different decision.
It shouldn't matter how I parent my child as long as he is not in danger and is healthy. We should be allowed to make informed decisions that other people might not make. I try, although I know I don't always succeed, to avoid telling people they should do something specific for their kid, especially if it is unsolicited (my primary exception being breastfeeding! All mothers should give it an educated try, because the odds are heavily in your favor that you'll succeed!)
I think the other problem with being "controversial" is that it's so easy to say things behind the anonymity/impersonality of the internet and Facebook. You can insult people much easier when you aren't doing it to their face to see their reaction.
Confession time: what non-mainstream/"controversial" thing do you do? Mine would probably take up another separate post (or two...)
16.1.14
Productivity
Sometimes it's nice when I can get some things done, cleaned, and put away. Sometimes it's nice when I can sit down and play a game for twenty minutes. I like it best when Declan naps long enough for me to do both.
I have two tricks/methods I use to be productive: the first is temptation. Ok, maybe I can come up with a better name for it, but here's the general idea - I let myself do whatever (read, play a game, check Facebook) for a couple of minutes, then I start working. I have specific tasks I need to accomplish, and the sooner I finish them, the sooner I can get back to "me-time," for which I have a whetted appetite. ("Whetted appetite?" Is that right?)
The second is timers. I set a timer for say, fifteen minutes, and clean for fifteen minutes. Then I take a break for fifteen minutes. Often, when I am cleaning, I will be right in the middle of something when the timer goes off, and since I'm not going to leave something undone (dishes excluded!), I usually get a little more than fifteen minutes' worth done.
Neither if these methods is revolutionary, I know, but I thought I'd share what works for me during nap time. (Declan's nap time, not mine. The most I usually accomplish during my nap time is sleeping.)
I have two tricks/methods I use to be productive: the first is temptation. Ok, maybe I can come up with a better name for it, but here's the general idea - I let myself do whatever (read, play a game, check Facebook) for a couple of minutes, then I start working. I have specific tasks I need to accomplish, and the sooner I finish them, the sooner I can get back to "me-time," for which I have a whetted appetite. ("Whetted appetite?" Is that right?)
The second is timers. I set a timer for say, fifteen minutes, and clean for fifteen minutes. Then I take a break for fifteen minutes. Often, when I am cleaning, I will be right in the middle of something when the timer goes off, and since I'm not going to leave something undone (dishes excluded!), I usually get a little more than fifteen minutes' worth done.
Neither if these methods is revolutionary, I know, but I thought I'd share what works for me during nap time. (Declan's nap time, not mine. The most I usually accomplish during my nap time is sleeping.)
29.6.13
Restaurant Idea
If I ever had a restaurant, or other beverage-serving establishment, I would use colored bendy straws. They can't really cost all that much more than the boring plain straws, can they? And every time you got a drink, you would smile in anticipation, wondering which color straw you would get this time! I wouldn't even charge extra for the element of surprise ;-)
Also it is my half-birthday today :-)
Also it is my half-birthday today :-)
28.6.13
Big Day and Big Yesterday
Well today is Declan's six month "birthday!" I can hardly believe that he's six months old already. He is growing and changing so much, and I love him with my whole heart. He is still exclusively breastfeeding, and will be until he is at least seven months old. I have read that doing that helps prevent iron deficiency, and since there's nothing wrong with exclusively breastfeeding longer than six months, that's what we're going to do. Our plan is to actually wait to introduce solid foods until Declan has at least one tooth (unless he gets a tooth before seven months). He is so sweet and smiley, and he has the cutest, chunkiest legs ever!
My big yesterday was Adam's and my third anniversary! The lame part is that he was working out of town, so we didn't actually get to see each other on our anniversary. The secondary lame part is that we can't really celebrate it until next weekend (unless you count the movie-date we went on last weekend as a pre-celebration) because tomorrow we are going to a friend's parents' farm to slaughter chickens. Yes, you read that right: Happy Anniversary, let's kill some chickens to celebrate our love and commitment. I, thankfully, will be taking care of Declan, so I will not be slaughtering any chickens personally. And there's a pool, so I think I may let Delcan splash a little in there, weather permitting :-)
It's amazing how time flies! I can't believe Adam and I have been married for three years, and I also find it hard to believe that I have a six-month-old! Even typing it out still feels a little unreal, but wonderful. I was talking to Adam the other day about how I really miss getting to sleep in, and he said, "Would you rather sleep in or snuggle with Declan?" And without a doubt, Declan is worth all of the sleeplessness or sacrifices we have to make. He's our blessing from God, and we're so thankful for him. And each other.
My big yesterday was Adam's and my third anniversary! The lame part is that he was working out of town, so we didn't actually get to see each other on our anniversary. The secondary lame part is that we can't really celebrate it until next weekend (unless you count the movie-date we went on last weekend as a pre-celebration) because tomorrow we are going to a friend's parents' farm to slaughter chickens. Yes, you read that right: Happy Anniversary, let's kill some chickens to celebrate our love and commitment. I, thankfully, will be taking care of Declan, so I will not be slaughtering any chickens personally. And there's a pool, so I think I may let Delcan splash a little in there, weather permitting :-)
It's amazing how time flies! I can't believe Adam and I have been married for three years, and I also find it hard to believe that I have a six-month-old! Even typing it out still feels a little unreal, but wonderful. I was talking to Adam the other day about how I really miss getting to sleep in, and he said, "Would you rather sleep in or snuggle with Declan?" And without a doubt, Declan is worth all of the sleeplessness or sacrifices we have to make. He's our blessing from God, and we're so thankful for him. And each other.
28.5.13
Brilliant Idea
Someone really needs to invent chocolate-flavored gum. Sometimes I want some chocolate, but I don't want to sit around and eat chocolate all day (well I mean, I do, but I don't), so I think chocolate-flavored gum would be perfect! And if they did it right, it would fly off the shelves because everyone would love it...
So... any gum creators out there?
So... any gum creators out there?
25.5.13
Jasp, the BDE
Oh Jasp, you are so cute
You are the B D E**
I love that you are small
and that you snuggle up to me
I can't believe it's here
but it's very plain to see
That since today's your birthday
You are finally THREE!
Happy birthday, Jasp!
(**BDE stands for Best Dog Ever. I use this abbreviation for a lot of things... BHE, Best Husband Ever, BKE, Best Kid Ever, etc)
You are the B D E**
I love that you are small
and that you snuggle up to me
I can't believe it's here
but it's very plain to see
That since today's your birthday
You are finally THREE!
Happy birthday, Jasp!
(**BDE stands for Best Dog Ever. I use this abbreviation for a lot of things... BHE, Best Husband Ever, BKE, Best Kid Ever, etc)
24.5.13
We Are Farmers
So... we are planning on getting sheep! We have land (about 4 acres), and Adam has built a fence, and everything is in process for us to get sheep this summer to raise and then sell.
But that's not really what my post is about.
Adam typically works Monday through Thursday out of town, comes home Thursday night, and has Friday through Sunday off. But their company is really busy right now, so he's been working Monday through Friday out of town. This is less than ideal for me, because it means I'm a "single mom" for an extra day every week (and that extra day does make a difference!), but it's also not cool for Adam, because he has less time at home to get everything done that he normally gets done. :-/ He started to mow last weekend, but a belt broke on the mower, so he had to stop. So now our grass is really long. Like, really long. Joe said to me yesterday, "I like that your lawn looks like a hayfield." Ha! So it's too bad we don't have sheep yet to help us with our hayfield of a lawn.
...for those of you who have never let your lawn get to that point, or who have never seen a hayfield ( = me before I moved to Wisconsin!), basically our grass is going to seed, so it has wheat-like tops on it. Crazy!
But that's not really what my post is about.
Adam typically works Monday through Thursday out of town, comes home Thursday night, and has Friday through Sunday off. But their company is really busy right now, so he's been working Monday through Friday out of town. This is less than ideal for me, because it means I'm a "single mom" for an extra day every week (and that extra day does make a difference!), but it's also not cool for Adam, because he has less time at home to get everything done that he normally gets done. :-/ He started to mow last weekend, but a belt broke on the mower, so he had to stop. So now our grass is really long. Like, really long. Joe said to me yesterday, "I like that your lawn looks like a hayfield." Ha! So it's too bad we don't have sheep yet to help us with our hayfield of a lawn.
...for those of you who have never let your lawn get to that point, or who have never seen a hayfield ( = me before I moved to Wisconsin!), basically our grass is going to seed, so it has wheat-like tops on it. Crazy!
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