tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648441006174225392023-11-16T03:42:21.506-08:00The Yippie MamaJenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-76611894947098113012011-04-04T13:51:00.000-07:002011-04-04T15:24:09.553-07:0010 Things about He and ILife has thrown us a curve-ball and left me unable to concentrate well over the past two weeks. So, instead of writing my analytical essay on Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been (a very good short story by the way) like I should be doing I am instead going to write a long overdue post. I have been reading a few of these "10 things about he and I" posts and I find them fun and interesting so I though I would give it a go.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">10 Things About He and I </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWhUoUp9v-79XIdYtIAIGhWvRrvvXeC-e4KKcFSK2o214cXXByQvRPB7OgW9ueF7V8S-wyXaIj9GIbrtORbwBvnVlEnhfCFeevs4zQ_Ea5Osr4E6_2olFOg7bDpXSebmPorgUcgn5eoqW/s1600/_C301371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWhUoUp9v-79XIdYtIAIGhWvRrvvXeC-e4KKcFSK2o214cXXByQvRPB7OgW9ueF7V8S-wyXaIj9GIbrtORbwBvnVlEnhfCFeevs4zQ_Ea5Osr4E6_2olFOg7bDpXSebmPorgUcgn5eoqW/s320/_C301371.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and I at the wedding of two good friends</td></tr>
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1) We met at a Halloween party in 2004. I was a fairy. Mark was dressed as the 'ghost of Halloween past.' He had on a white tee shirt and safety pined to it were dozens of pictures of him dressed up in Halloween costumes throughout the years. I still have the picture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREpv3O_JIhvDz1RX1RBCki8bdvB6Cigo-ikYpipyD5-vb3JA4iz2pU8g4F7AI13GcvJBbYsLWg_9PTVDETbahwYMj49LtRYTmbAx6kUtNVad2HAB9pAbkrZvL-YKX6A_-0z_Dj9cFBYwd/s1600/IMG_2586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREpv3O_JIhvDz1RX1RBCki8bdvB6Cigo-ikYpipyD5-vb3JA4iz2pU8g4F7AI13GcvJBbYsLWg_9PTVDETbahwYMj49LtRYTmbAx6kUtNVad2HAB9pAbkrZvL-YKX6A_-0z_Dj9cFBYwd/s320/IMG_2586.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately I do not have a picture of Mark from the night we met. This is me (on the right) with a friend</td></tr>
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2) After only two and a half months of dating we took our first trip to Durango to celebrate Valentines day. (We had to go in mid January because he was leaving in February for a multi-week business trip to Uganda.) We stayed at a wonderful place called Blue Lake Ranch. I loved it so much that I told him, on that trip, that it was going to be the place where we would get married. (see #7)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJrmf5HFb-TE3wRqYVElY2ivv32IKJ6Bqm2cExGMrN7QNAqtjJnUKX1XKgXGAPUDJVjcigjORRQt1s5Kf8fNkrZCHBcRzVZDugMy_XbbbHekPKywWcy8l4xatC0dXX9A4WQ8DFMlQE7Wo/s1600/IMG_2968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJrmf5HFb-TE3wRqYVElY2ivv32IKJ6Bqm2cExGMrN7QNAqtjJnUKX1XKgXGAPUDJVjcigjORRQt1s5Kf8fNkrZCHBcRzVZDugMy_XbbbHekPKywWcy8l4xatC0dXX9A4WQ8DFMlQE7Wo/s320/IMG_2968.jpg" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Mesa Verde</td></tr>
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3) Mark took me on my first backpacking trip to Goose Creek Wilderness. The trip was a planned four and a half mile hike in and a four and a half mile hike out. Mark refused to take a map. We got lost. The three day trip turned out to be a 24 mile hike round trip. The good side? We ended up finding the most beautiful remote canyon and the perfect campsite.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGRDcaYtGBmPtKtyI-0KTc8LSnKtGY_T5hRTY_TzdfWSmKuf6SDWNkQcRkm11RI4cK-ohkinlC4J0IwyLI2a8otF0TnJsVAxZ2WT5nIFKbyB_ttzDA-8YH316vkrrbnYPEvAQsoMkZFen/s1600/IMG_3538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGRDcaYtGBmPtKtyI-0KTc8LSnKtGY_T5hRTY_TzdfWSmKuf6SDWNkQcRkm11RI4cK-ohkinlC4J0IwyLI2a8otF0TnJsVAxZ2WT5nIFKbyB_ttzDA-8YH316vkrrbnYPEvAQsoMkZFen/s320/IMG_3538.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picture does not do it justice</td></tr>
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4)We moved to Seattle together after dating for less than nine months. I have never had more fun than the two years we lived there with my now brother-in-law. I miss Seattle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4SnKRjiT1DMD2kYPvhYBak4ZdYBjz21mKu1yqLig1QqUsacVyRMl_pecibzvLBmmkqskWJpYGuMT4PV262RP2OyFZlUGzaFQBJOK8qFEMLykzhlyTL4l2iAXulJugBXd3zqQ3XQSeUpa/s1600/DSC01071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4SnKRjiT1DMD2kYPvhYBak4ZdYBjz21mKu1yqLig1QqUsacVyRMl_pecibzvLBmmkqskWJpYGuMT4PV262RP2OyFZlUGzaFQBJOK8qFEMLykzhlyTL4l2iAXulJugBXd3zqQ3XQSeUpa/s320/DSC01071.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wonderful Seattle house. Anyone want to buy it...</td></tr>
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5)We are spontaneous. After a night of libations and talk of boats we bought a boat together with two friends and named her the 'Happy Ending." Turns out the ending was not so happy and we ended up just giving her to the mechanic who could not seem to get her working for more than one day at a time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChc_Vt354NqH8DQyi9tMeF4jLdvCZM1QzDfVXKqbMrdNIjk6_Ceo55SHdWHoNMpIB32YEKzvT86AmvDiYa4atq14kn4DpaiSiX21VvRnkvwkSyQyyNvsHblKsa33_eLgJ3XbW-59kDBK5/s1600/DSC00180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChc_Vt354NqH8DQyi9tMeF4jLdvCZM1QzDfVXKqbMrdNIjk6_Ceo55SHdWHoNMpIB32YEKzvT86AmvDiYa4atq14kn4DpaiSiX21VvRnkvwkSyQyyNvsHblKsa33_eLgJ3XbW-59kDBK5/s320/DSC00180.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Happy Ending' herself</td></tr>
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6) Mark proposed twice. Yes twice. The fist time was a cruel joke played on me while on my weekend birthday trip to Whitby Island. I cried. Mark felt so bad that the next time he asked he meant it. Following in his fathers footsteps he proposed on Christmas day 2007.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QdkBw-RytCah-tMp6z6Npdd1unjAnHmJKYL8ZoheQfvhze6qmFS0gtglq7IWD6XdhPJ8GCKKoQa-HnomSo99gepryygcu3WrsqfW0aybONYb_4280uj4j1bZlSlJ5_8RiiaWoLDFfOym/s1600/IMG_0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QdkBw-RytCah-tMp6z6Npdd1unjAnHmJKYL8ZoheQfvhze6qmFS0gtglq7IWD6XdhPJ8GCKKoQa-HnomSo99gepryygcu3WrsqfW0aybONYb_4280uj4j1bZlSlJ5_8RiiaWoLDFfOym/s320/IMG_0060.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second proposal</td></tr>
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7) We got married on October 13 2008, at Blue Lake Ranch. We rented out the entire ranch for a weekend invited all of our friends and family down and celebrated for three full days. To this day I can not imaging a better wedding.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_wo3xw-OmGTpBlDyCz2tvo2kCQ3n1Ggrxvflo0TYF6cGlVaHy8IjA89iRH7nFG0ecimDkvgI5uscoVinWAEX34TxJvodPtUtNuMVzr6Tzx-b5LJI78iWRYaMkqRZujPsGCm64V2rm92i/s1600/HPIM1433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_wo3xw-OmGTpBlDyCz2tvo2kCQ3n1Ggrxvflo0TYF6cGlVaHy8IjA89iRH7nFG0ecimDkvgI5uscoVinWAEX34TxJvodPtUtNuMVzr6Tzx-b5LJI78iWRYaMkqRZujPsGCm64V2rm92i/s320/HPIM1433.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wedding site</td></tr>
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8) Once we were married and settled we tossed around the idea of becoming foster parents. After a month of debating it we went through the massive amount of training and started taking foster placements in the fall of 2009. We had no idea that this decision would make us a family. On December 27 2009, a little boy names Miles came to live with us. On April 12 of 2010, we adopted this wonderful little boy and became (officially) a family of four.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTd9Ef7VgQFnviYYf-bsJC2F9beNFA73VLDnxCaGYbr4Opyaeb9yyu_85XjXbUG9EUxFN07iyMkGQaqWj9OPZRb23atZ8-VOnnxhZOvOh97l3WbG8K5yonl_7rUP4Bt5jl1-_uLvphPeVG/s1600/DSC03054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTd9Ef7VgQFnviYYf-bsJC2F9beNFA73VLDnxCaGYbr4Opyaeb9yyu_85XjXbUG9EUxFN07iyMkGQaqWj9OPZRb23atZ8-VOnnxhZOvOh97l3WbG8K5yonl_7rUP4Bt5jl1-_uLvphPeVG/s320/DSC03054.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles the day he came to us as a foster child</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDJRnZ9sJAV1xYtzQzK6HvO2_Nhrh1o4P3brT_h8gFdG1UFtqT4EEFxMWLC2V4ttImpifffp9UVkQJzquhyphenhyphenL_qaQp8pjpRBkS-BKkjRRFdUkwuK6Y4sLPSqYisKLsUJaXbFTJRNzU7WST/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDJRnZ9sJAV1xYtzQzK6HvO2_Nhrh1o4P3brT_h8gFdG1UFtqT4EEFxMWLC2V4ttImpifffp9UVkQJzquhyphenhyphenL_qaQp8pjpRBkS-BKkjRRFdUkwuK6Y4sLPSqYisKLsUJaXbFTJRNzU7WST/s320/IMG_3841.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles today</td></tr>
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9) We make a great team. On October 9 2010, after a week of active labor we welcomed our daughter Cora Beth into the world. There is no doubt that I would not have been able to labor that long if Mark was not there to support and love me.`<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFHWg7uy6YkYvlO7D5fOOMZ54JP9xQ3ZR9lvXDNvuoVDxOdJq04PntJg4pgOGO5zeyaf___evBgumvn59eE1trcIR6ffcOaE1LbBbczNXjfsIZWOkDaYkUeAeAQn9R7MbBf2Tki0FK_qN/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFHWg7uy6YkYvlO7D5fOOMZ54JP9xQ3ZR9lvXDNvuoVDxOdJq04PntJg4pgOGO5zeyaf___evBgumvn59eE1trcIR6ffcOaE1LbBbczNXjfsIZWOkDaYkUeAeAQn9R7MbBf2Tki0FK_qN/s320/IMG_0402.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our darling girl</td></tr>
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10) We continually support and encourage each other to follow our dreams. Whether it is growing a business or making connections in the community and going back to school. We have and will always do what we have to to make each others dreams come true.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4kso1UbmfN7Rvpq99yRXOJR_QL4B8LkTvDnrtsQi8UASqI4UjREuQvbsShX_6tRZ643mtl5nUnSNPk9MfBrXfU7cA0oKG6KbQGgDzghyphenhyphenNk3u3YwDVXm5-Si0OLjfMl2u_oTwEL1X9wV5/s1600/IMG_3514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4kso1UbmfN7Rvpq99yRXOJR_QL4B8LkTvDnrtsQi8UASqI4UjREuQvbsShX_6tRZ643mtl5nUnSNPk9MfBrXfU7cA0oKG6KbQGgDzghyphenhyphenNk3u3YwDVXm5-Si0OLjfMl2u_oTwEL1X9wV5/s320/IMG_3514.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last family photo. Christmas 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-3350644536859488852011-03-07T21:49:00.000-08:002011-03-07T21:57:54.280-08:00On Moving, Ranting, and a Random videoWe have made the decision, set a date and have a little over two months to pack up our house and move. This move is not just another move rather it is a an experiment in reducing and downsizing. We are moving from a suburban house with five bedroom and 3,000+ square feet to a three bedroom 1,400 square foot bungalow closer to the city. Intimidating but exciting. I <b>love</b> the challenge of organizing such a house and I love that the house is ours. I have been living in rented homes for the past four years and the idea of living again in a place where I can paint or remodel a bathroom without having to ask permission sounds glorious.<br />
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Although I have the moving process down to a T, as we have done it six times in seven years, I have come to hate the preparation phase. The phase where you begin to de-clutter and wash walls: I loath it. Don't get me wrong I pride myself in keeping a neat home, but when one gets down on their hands and knees you can easily see the massive amount of finger pints on the walls, doors, fridge, well... lets face it; fingerprints are everywhere. The hours it takes to go through every room with a magic eraser is not a task I look forward too (hence why I am complaining about it instead of doing it). Plus the only free time I have is during Cora's nap time and then I really should be tagging items for the <a href="http://www.jbfsale.com/">Just Between Friends</a> consignment sale, studying for school or working on the <a href="http://yippiemama.blogspot.com/2011/01/preschool-art-show.html">Art Show and Silent Auction</a>. I need more hours in the day.<br />
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Sigh.<br />
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Sometimes I feel like no matter how hard I try I never get everything done that I need to. I have to constantly remind myself that the important things do get done and those that don't weren't that important to begin with. I am exhausted, but show me a mom who isn't. I listen to all the 18 year olds in my class talk about being exhausted from staying up late, partying and only getting three hours of sleep. I remember those days yet I still shake my head. I want to go up to them, grab them by their shoulders and say 'Just wait. You think you are tired now, wait until sleep depravation is forced on you for 17 months.' I mean at least they get a night of fun out of being tired. And to be honest, I don't wish a difficult baby on these kids. I was once like them too. I partied. I stayed out all night. But now I am a mother. A mother who frantically worries about minuet details such as getting finger prints off walls, whether our plastic is BPA free or if I give my kids to much mac and cheese (at least its Annies!).<br />
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So yes, this post has no point and no cohesive element what-so-ever, but I now feel a little better about life and can get back to scrubbing walls, rummaging through our plastic-ware and buying more mac and cheese.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwCs3BPORO_2_o1wTE2MDl9Bo7Z9MQZ8Uod_IecHVRddU5lInkGtAHbXu9HU-sztMxeEVWcUt-KLRJUKLd8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> The cherry on top? A video of my daughter jumping face first onto the floor. Enjoy.Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-91224293747647497222011-01-22T13:36:00.000-08:002011-01-22T13:36:50.165-08:00Cora's Big Week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, really more like 10 days, but who is counting...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifISgCy5_prAn3SoXWMXL6LTCtL-b00ArD2ClgZZBqJRFM72XzlcUCaeQ2mMq6N8URPOfW0bEgu-hmz529D2eehiS4-pgADfO501eOHmtSQttz68e68citePXAmw7Oi5EATRYXCAz0oxze/s1600/IMG_3586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifISgCy5_prAn3SoXWMXL6LTCtL-b00ArD2ClgZZBqJRFM72XzlcUCaeQ2mMq6N8URPOfW0bEgu-hmz529D2eehiS4-pgADfO501eOHmtSQttz68e68citePXAmw7Oi5EATRYXCAz0oxze/s320/IMG_3586.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off her first hair cut</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cora got her first hair cut. It was nothing more than just a trim of the bangs (I decided she will be a little girl with bangs) but I have to say that it is my best work yet. At least she did not end up with a shaved head like Miles did a few years ago.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxt__8aCV_xPcevHoxpG-8Ng-Ni7mJ7k2QVyIyv1jqmYVcJXBN29gnezzGE2xg0PfSBiTGPGjEHRZesVQsW00f0rK-X6tal4o4hQCPRmQC0iDJNnT_4gtpukJhboAyfkgPYjT89QdrBtV/s1600/IMG_3596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxt__8aCV_xPcevHoxpG-8Ng-Ni7mJ7k2QVyIyv1jqmYVcJXBN29gnezzGE2xg0PfSBiTGPGjEHRZesVQsW00f0rK-X6tal4o4hQCPRmQC0iDJNnT_4gtpukJhboAyfkgPYjT89QdrBtV/s320/IMG_3596.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Success at long last</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another first: Cora was babysat for the first time! This is a huge step and it taking place was vital for me to begin school again. We left her and Miles with my parents-in-law for a few short hours while Mark and I went to ACC to attend to financial aid issues. It was a complete success. Bill was able to calm a crying Cora and even sang her to sleep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am very happy that we waited until Cora was ready and did not rush the process of having another person care for her. I left the house confident and comfortable that she was able to handle the stress of separation as we have been working with Bill and Dotti for months getting her used to multiple caregivers. Yeah to everyone involved!!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA68t42VBZhZBqw5eIgx3gVKDO6PeXr2YMr0z-mjsxmjRoWtBlDNK1SwYRzu5FUGcUk-talK3BqtNCmxjmzl2NWoNM8owBqdNdcbQflGtNAelrZGlgwqdRRGkSRYVF5WGmzp77YfpNhbml/s1600/IMG_3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA68t42VBZhZBqw5eIgx3gVKDO6PeXr2YMr0z-mjsxmjRoWtBlDNK1SwYRzu5FUGcUk-talK3BqtNCmxjmzl2NWoNM8owBqdNdcbQflGtNAelrZGlgwqdRRGkSRYVF5WGmzp77YfpNhbml/s320/IMG_3671.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A proud girl posing by her potty</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have also began the long process of potty training with a very successful first three days. She has gone #1 and #2 at least once every day and is now in pull-ups part time. I am very proud of my big girl and amazed at how fast she is growing. I have a difficult time believing that so many firsts have occurred this year and January has not even ended.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttyJ-Jc9HjVJd5ezHa_BWPpNyLP6FBeL-t2mn6U-dQz8dTypPiVh4-xIlA_516VFVsDEI7ZDePSu30ttqWq3mtyym4pQWuPpcSTyYOF-Uo9aBewh5fd7FpI-Zyr-bStkliwURyP2am1YO/s1600/IMG_3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttyJ-Jc9HjVJd5ezHa_BWPpNyLP6FBeL-t2mn6U-dQz8dTypPiVh4-xIlA_516VFVsDEI7ZDePSu30ttqWq3mtyym4pQWuPpcSTyYOF-Uo9aBewh5fd7FpI-Zyr-bStkliwURyP2am1YO/s320/IMG_3667.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cora in her new undies eating her pee-pee cookie treat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttyJ-Jc9HjVJd5ezHa_BWPpNyLP6FBeL-t2mn6U-dQz8dTypPiVh4-xIlA_516VFVsDEI7ZDePSu30ttqWq3mtyym4pQWuPpcSTyYOF-Uo9aBewh5fd7FpI-Zyr-bStkliwURyP2am1YO/s1600/IMG_3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>It half makes me sad. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span id="goog_1611558285"></span><span id="goog_1611558286"></span></div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-53395387590411022422011-01-22T12:55:00.000-08:002011-01-22T13:42:53.948-08:00Back With A Purpose<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Well, the day has come, after three years of diligently preparing I have taken the next step and began the formal education that will eventually lead me to a masters in midwifery. It is such a relief to have the financial and class planning aspects out of the way, I now have room to breath and focus completely on my studies. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I finally feel the relief.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I</span> have to admit that it feels as bit awkward to be the non-traditional student in the classroom. I feel overly mature and responsible which, I must admit, are traits I am not exactly accustomed to. I am happy however that I did choose to take one of my three classes (my just-for-fun creative writing class) in the classic classroom format. It is nice to be out of the house alone and with purpose. It also gives me the opportunity to meet face to face with the variety of people involved in the nursing program. Building relationships can never hurt when the nursing program is selective entry.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That brings me to one of my biggest concerns: the selective entry process. This last week I attended an open house for the nursing program lead by the program director who went over the entire entry process including the program qualifications. It sounds as if the school's decision to change the nursing program from wait-list to competitive entry (a fairly recent change) has had a huge affect and increased the amount of applicants therefor increasing competition. I get the feeling that you must have a near 4.0 average and very high test scores to even have a chance. This information is sure to make this year a very stressful year indeed.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Anyway, I am very excited to be this much closer to my end goal. After years of talk, research, and decisions I am moving forward with the support of a wonderful family and friends with whom I could not make my goals a reality. A <b>huge </b>thank you to everyone who has given me support, direction, advise, offered childcare or help with studies. I am truly a very blessed person to be surrounded by such inspiring and helpful people.</div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-15065771246663660562011-01-13T13:26:00.000-08:002011-01-13T13:26:05.117-08:00Three Minute FictionI have decided to enter <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/01/08/132744031/three-minute-fiction-round-6-laughing-and-crying?sc=fb&cc=fp">NPR's short story contest.</a> I have no idea when I will find the time or what I will write about but this is something I have thought about doing over the past few years and I finally find the story constraints agreeable. So, here goes nothing. I am taking the plunge and putting my writing out for others to judge, and by others I mean NYU creative writing graduate students.<br />
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Yikes! <br />
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Anyone have any topic ideas?? I sure could use them.Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-53428923562793796522011-01-07T13:01:00.000-08:002011-01-07T13:01:01.566-08:00Preschool Art ShowA few of the wonderful moms at Stony Creek Preschool, program director Carol Pehrson and I are organizing an All-Student Art Show and Silent Auction as a fundraiser to benefit this non-profit preschool. I truly appreciate everything that this school has done for my child and believe wholeheartedly in their mission to provide children with hand-on real life experiences as a basic part of their education. I also strongly believe that the arts play a vital roll in the early development of children and am honored to have my child in a program that agrees and encourages each child's artistic development.<br />
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That said, Stony Creek Preschool is in need of donations. The school has recently found a permanent home in a group of temporary classrooms on the Stony Creek Elementary School campus right smack in the middle of an asphalt slab. In the summer months it get extremely hot and the children have no shade to play or rest in. <br />
<br />
Not exactly ideal.<br />
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We are asking for the help of local businesses and people who would like to donate an item to be auctioned off at the silent auction or provide a cash gift. The money raised from the event would go towards purchasing a shade structure for the pre school playground as well as into a fund used for field trips and family days. Every dollar benefits the students directly and all donations are tax deductible.<br />
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Helping local children and a tax break! Does it get any better?<br />
<br />
Why yes it does...<br />
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This event is a gala event with hundreds of people attending. If you do donate and would like some free local advertising we would be more than happy to provide handouts, business cards or hang signs. Anything to promote local commerce in our community.<br />
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If you are interested in helping out this wonderful school but dont know where to begin, here is a list of items that have been donated in the past or are current items that will be donated:<br />
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Indoor skydiving packages<br />
Bronco memorabilia<br />
Spa packages<br />
Grocery store gift certificates<br />
Loose leaf teas<br />
Ski and lodging packages<br />
Train rides<br />
Restaurant gift certificates<br />
Rockies tickets<br />
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These are just ideas as we are always looking for new businesses and items.<br />
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If you would like to get involved please post a comment or e-mail me directly at Jenn@5280doula.com I can pick up any donated items or money and provide you with the non-profit tax I.D. number.<br />
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Thank you for reading and please feel free to pass this post on to anyone who may want to help.Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-33103641952198796802011-01-03T17:57:00.000-08:002011-01-03T21:51:55.889-08:00New Years and our household flu epidemic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBfAFM0z2F38MjxhRJ5uf3bT5_VyHRaNUBg55xaQ2g0ppU63PVV6M_ESiPlRBhOqRm2kHcZbWoZfBLzDR_gJVhlRqzq1SE6O8nV56NsAddHMYp3o9JaScbTYu7DuF6vxbGHgJs5CMzyun/s1600/IMG_3542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBfAFM0z2F38MjxhRJ5uf3bT5_VyHRaNUBg55xaQ2g0ppU63PVV6M_ESiPlRBhOqRm2kHcZbWoZfBLzDR_gJVhlRqzq1SE6O8nV56NsAddHMYp3o9JaScbTYu7DuF6vxbGHgJs5CMzyun/s320/IMG_3542.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sick boy wishing he could go out and play in the newly fallen snow.</td></tr>
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Here I am sitting on a birth / yoga ball slowly bouncing a sick sleeping baby in her carrier while attempting to attend to this sty of a house. It is a cruel reminder of the early months (or first 9 months) of mommy-hood and the self sacrifice it takes. I have spent the last five days doing nothing but caring for two sick kids and one sick husband, all of whom came down with the flu. I remain healthy due to my steel-strength immune system that I credit to teaching preschool.<br />
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Our first flu victim was Miles, who last week began acting lethargic. I didn't think much of it until the following two days when he began running a fever around 103 degrees and slept all day. Now, I am aware that fevers are not a big deal and that the body does in fact benefit from them, so that being said, we decided to take him to the pediatrician because he stopped drinking and keeping fluids down.<br />
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Anyway, after a quick trip to the doc Miles was prescribed Tamiflu for treatment (which knocked out the H1N1 that he got last year in less then 24 hours) and so thus began our most current issue with his Medicaid.<br />
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...Digressive background: Miles came to us from foster care and we finalized our adoption in April of 2010 and as part of the adoption agreement Miles is provided with federally-funded, state-administered healthcare (thank you Mark, for the exact terminology). A well received blessing as those of you self-employed families know how expensive health insurance is!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtd391KcmQGL_wcRDDYXiQsiE3IzcEloauiRm4qgoBfB0MkqV6lQHYfwoe81RRrby9f-WRTDerSKwHsrOW20pPhYiQsvLJRyJT7kl84v3So4sBJ1jcyEl-d7ce8CkzTLQe5j-sUSWz2Qs/s1600/IMG_6110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtd391KcmQGL_wcRDDYXiQsiE3IzcEloauiRm4qgoBfB0MkqV6lQHYfwoe81RRrby9f-WRTDerSKwHsrOW20pPhYiQsvLJRyJT7kl84v3So4sBJ1jcyEl-d7ce8CkzTLQe5j-sUSWz2Qs/s320/IMG_6110.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Years 2009. Just three short days after Miles came to us as our foster son.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>...and now back on topic. Once we received the prescription we called around and found a Rite Aid that had the liquid Tamiflu in store (a lot easier said then done) then my wonderful husband took even more time off work to go get the prescription filled.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>An hour and a half later I got a call from him. </div><div><br />
</div><div>He informed me that Miles' insurance was denying prescription coverage. Argh! Miles' case does not go under review for another sixteen months so there is no way the change could be legitimate and since we have not yet gotten in contact with Medicaid (holiday weekend) we are hoping to get this straightened out very soon. But my sweet talking husband did well and the wonderful lady at the Rite Aid pharmacy took pity on us and gave us the hundred dollar medicine for free. What a kind lady she is.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So this brings us to the night of New Years Eve: Miles is sick, Cora's temp is rising and Mark is starting to cough. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Wonderful. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu568x8lidRalQXeImrhI8igKrxBbksW62JOxJvyXp4ylbbqKk0whCApfy-MBkUqQR4mOEZ5BGbmKBP267dtVWJqRRPkYnSmqnB318uEitQxlv5TiDIjLDvXjDMGbucSKn54hkW4UB91Gs/s1600/IMG_3546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu568x8lidRalQXeImrhI8igKrxBbksW62JOxJvyXp4ylbbqKk0whCApfy-MBkUqQR4mOEZ5BGbmKBP267dtVWJqRRPkYnSmqnB318uEitQxlv5TiDIjLDvXjDMGbucSKn54hkW4UB91Gs/s320/IMG_3546.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles passed out on the 'Papa chair'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div><br />
</div><div>Despite the massive amount of germs being either coughed or sneezed out the celebration commenced. Mark and I were determined to make it up till midnight, unlike last year. I had braved the icy (or not-so-icy) roads to procure a tasty bottle of Prosecco and had pictured us staying up till midnight, waking Miles at his request, then toasting the new year as we while watching the ball fall. In reality it all came true - except that we watched the 'live from NY' version at 10.00. Miles, although excited to have actually been awoken for the ball drop, was in a very poor state and could barely keep his eyes open, Cora's fever jumped to 103.4' and Mark chased his Prosecco with Nyquil. We were all in bed by 11.00pm. So much for still being young and hip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvx80KTa9yFwa3xpJu0ql2sHRiYPvtuTB0mftDcnX_hVGO8exGBa9E-sv4S640aPOEUp4RDzJ6ZyOuAXcilwPUSigBKqKAqdcBM_ta5D_K0x8JSBMRH1Vj9RFK39FUUJS3KGE-0-ajqcNH/s1600/IMG_3550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvx80KTa9yFwa3xpJu0ql2sHRiYPvtuTB0mftDcnX_hVGO8exGBa9E-sv4S640aPOEUp4RDzJ6ZyOuAXcilwPUSigBKqKAqdcBM_ta5D_K0x8JSBMRH1Vj9RFK39FUUJS3KGE-0-ajqcNH/s320/IMG_3550.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Cora with her first box juice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Nar celebrating another year survived</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Cora</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQxfgSaADGZcddKU2vTU5y0Y6RyiTbmtAfP1an4g0MQapS7K3jqIsFPf03OLOsN9AgyjFt1KR17bEM3sGgmLbfAi0myiw0CRT8OSNN2K2J0ez38NVBzwogARwjE-ghmJz_3ROKMiDMPVP/s1600/IMG_3549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQxfgSaADGZcddKU2vTU5y0Y6RyiTbmtAfP1an4g0MQapS7K3jqIsFPf03OLOsN9AgyjFt1KR17bEM3sGgmLbfAi0myiw0CRT8OSNN2K2J0ez38NVBzwogARwjE-ghmJz_3ROKMiDMPVP/s320/IMG_3549.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Miles. Yes he is awake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddN-cwENUiTbpZbCTxf226JeRls7qjkxZquoR72fBgKxABrK3HimflKsWYTOznB805JRyp_5SJR6DLOCFfFCZX3UjY4hOL69nL7xU4pJ13Q85ZcqUk4gM9A0R6up9qm2Q5sS3WhUc_XXw/s1600/IMG_3555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddN-cwENUiTbpZbCTxf226JeRls7qjkxZquoR72fBgKxABrK3HimflKsWYTOznB805JRyp_5SJR6DLOCFfFCZX3UjY4hOL69nL7xU4pJ13Q85ZcqUk4gM9A0R6up9qm2Q5sS3WhUc_XXw/s320/IMG_3555.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles trying to be excited with his apple juice</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Despite it all it was a great night. We survived and are now fairing far better. I just hope that this night is not a foretelling of the upcoming year.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Happy New Years Everyone!<br />
<div><br />
<br />
<div><br />
</div></div></div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-30481551952539606612010-12-30T21:14:00.000-08:002010-12-31T08:38:37.764-08:00Giving Before Receiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6AtSo5lzwnPKT66YwKa8RuboezKqdtXFBregL1yuJL8chdIA_ERerf4BicKIt7rcHwpiaxDxjlzsxox2e9ijTineMoDQaPRHuwFKudL_pxfpw-kZRlQcdFSNQ2cxRvQrEHRUUzdG5scq/s1600/IMG_3520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6AtSo5lzwnPKT66YwKa8RuboezKqdtXFBregL1yuJL8chdIA_ERerf4BicKIt7rcHwpiaxDxjlzsxox2e9ijTineMoDQaPRHuwFKudL_pxfpw-kZRlQcdFSNQ2cxRvQrEHRUUzdG5scq/s320/IMG_3520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas day at the Grandparent's house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
This year we changed the way that Christmas was prepared for and celebrated in our house. After two years of being overwhelmed by the massive amounts of consumption that occurs at children's birthday parties and holidays we are now choosing to instill a bit of selfless giving into our children.<br />
<br />
Our new policy: we give before we receive.<br />
<br />
To prepare for the holiday we first went through all our the kids current toys and divided them into three piles. Pile #1 was compiled of toys to keep. But there were limits; toys in this pile had to find a permeant home off the ground and had to be played with within the month or else they went into pile #2. Pile #2 was toys to donate and pile #3 were toys to sell. Both kids get to keep the money from their toys that we sell at our local consignment sale but half the money goes straight into their savings accounts. The other half can go into piggy banks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlB5zviY3_y4GgT3TTNYer01L-1tCpg4mulGFhuew0HjyFfjAYXpviTMlI04EAEd2wChSfNYZM_o42S0gevCamyV9xQpzOHKeN6MumnNEtbutLmvSjckNsVYBHlmreCtpN1DJOyNwOt8M/s1600/IMG_3538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlB5zviY3_y4GgT3TTNYer01L-1tCpg4mulGFhuew0HjyFfjAYXpviTMlI04EAEd2wChSfNYZM_o42S0gevCamyV9xQpzOHKeN6MumnNEtbutLmvSjckNsVYBHlmreCtpN1DJOyNwOt8M/s320/IMG_3538.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are all the toys living on the main floor now. I know this does not seem impressive, but if you have kids you know that this is a <b>huge</b> accomplishment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
I know it all sounds very confusing but I was surprised at how well it went. Miles was a great helper and choose to donate most of his toys.<br />
<br />
As for celebrating, from now on the kids will only get five gifts each. I have to admit that I stole this idea from a wonderful blog about living simply but I can seem to find the link anywhere. If I find it I will pass it on.<br />
<br />
Here are examples of the five gifts:<br />
<br />
1) Something they need<br />
2) Something they want<br />
3) Something to read<br />
4) Something to do<br />
5) Something to watch<br />
<br />
I love the simplicity of this idea.<br />
<br />
I love that it puts limits on our consumption but most of all...<br />
<br />
I love that it means that I wont have to do so much shopping.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_7CFpC6-KR5MN8HHG7jC2F5aaeM682QkFKYTn1ocTOAan_0SOcz92LTWNXioly_94_0lJS-K0CyXnv2j4yQOt2o4McVwiMaAe4SlrkEXaan5TX3zb-yc0zwPQ1D4hmD7wF_nMopmRjG6/s1600/IMG_3458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_7CFpC6-KR5MN8HHG7jC2F5aaeM682QkFKYTn1ocTOAan_0SOcz92LTWNXioly_94_0lJS-K0CyXnv2j4yQOt2o4McVwiMaAe4SlrkEXaan5TX3zb-yc0zwPQ1D4hmD7wF_nMopmRjG6/s320/IMG_3458.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of many examples of the over-consumption we are attempting to change.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Finally, our last new tradition we are borrowing from good friends. We are really attempting to focus more on the giving aspect of Christmas (if you haven't noticed by now) and thought it would be a wonderful idea to start volunteering to help out an organization of our choosing each year.<br />
<br />
How will this work?<br />
<br />
Well, at the beginning of the year we will find a specific charity that we would like to become more involved in. We will spend the first part of the year learning about their mission and will find a way to donate money to them. Then as the the year comes to an end we will, as a family, volunteer in any way needed. This way our children are exposed to all the various aspects of life and the hardships that people face.<br />
<br />
In 2011 we will be focusing on adoption. Since adoption plays such a special and vital roll in our family we thought it the best way to begin our giving.<br />
<br />
I know that these are some significant changes but we really could not be more excited for them. The idea of simplicity and living simply has really been pulling me in the past few months ( an entirely different post as I could go on and on...) and these are just a few of the major lifestyle changes we will be making in the coming year. <br />
<br />
Stay tuned for some exciting announcements.<br />
<br />
...and no I am not pregnant.Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-64311406150001585002010-12-08T13:46:00.000-08:002010-12-08T13:46:08.509-08:00What We Eat: Week 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjug78IfNfWyZ62IJOsAsVBeyG68lXheix9dJlM0StHcfGvqS9XJOy71VSU-af-FzjweKOr2RyN8_HQLuSJSEezlQBhxzDboVwyzptwKi6k3-HChbccq3nlvN-Plac3mBQrKZdIzKhktEYp/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjug78IfNfWyZ62IJOsAsVBeyG68lXheix9dJlM0StHcfGvqS9XJOy71VSU-af-FzjweKOr2RyN8_HQLuSJSEezlQBhxzDboVwyzptwKi6k3-HChbccq3nlvN-Plac3mBQrKZdIzKhktEYp/s320/IMG_3286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yes, I know I am a week behind on this post and to be honest I am surprised I am finding the time to do it now. The food for the Christmas party is consuming me and, although I am looking forward to the event, I will be happy when Friday night has come and gone. Maybe then I will get some things done!<br />
<br />
As you read this please note that I am a food junky. I <b>love</b> food. I love buying food, I love preparing food and I love eating food. Food is definitely the yuppie in my yippie.<br />
<br />
So there is that.<br />
<br />
I am also a stickler for organic dairy and poultry products. Okay, maybe I am a bit obsessive over organic dairy and poultry products, but it is all in attempt to keep my little girl looking like a little girl and not sprouting breasts at the tender age of eight. I am truly terrified of this and it has kept me up a number of nights. I know. I am crazy, but I would rather be crazy then ignorant like I have been in the past.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So here we go:<br />
<br />
Monday<br />
<br />
Breakfast<br />
Miles: Enviro kidz cereal in organic skim milk<br />
Cora: Natures Path oatmeal<br />
Me: free-trade coffee (kept in stock by my wonderful in-laws) with organic 1/2 & 1/2<br />
<br />
Lunch<br />
Miles: leftover pizza from Anthony's<br />
Cora: steamed organic mixed veggies<br />
Me: leftover pizza and hot tea<br />
<br />
Dinner:<br />
Everyone: Wild salmon with french lentils and butternut squash, water, wine for the adults<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxBGB1Wfy6ksEDJ-psovVpxLTWKugTGPlsijigslFknmt4p775RQ9-4qJdOLi3BF_8A59xORIdTxTUvEcYxtHASyxUieHucK0HpFO1M4ksd_kC1JvhbTLNHaGkj_EUsYM3-bVJpeVFkes/s1600/IMG_3284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxBGB1Wfy6ksEDJ-psovVpxLTWKugTGPlsijigslFknmt4p775RQ9-4qJdOLi3BF_8A59xORIdTxTUvEcYxtHASyxUieHucK0HpFO1M4ksd_kC1JvhbTLNHaGkj_EUsYM3-bVJpeVFkes/s320/IMG_3284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Tuesday<br />
<br />
Breakfast<br />
Miles: Enviro kidz cereal in organic skim milk<br />
Cora: organic egg and banana<br />
Me: free-trade coffee with organic 1/2 & 1/2, banana<br />
<br />
Lunch<br />
Miles: almond butter (because I accidently bought this instead of peanut butter) and jam sandwich on whole wheat bread<br />
Cora: turkey and pear<br />
Me: pre packaged asian salad<br />
<br />
Dinner:<br />
Everyone: CPK frozen pizza<br />
<br />
Wednesday<br />
<br />
Breakfast<br />
Miles: Enviro kidz cereal in organic skim milk, banana<br />
Cora: Natures Path oatmeal, banana<br />
Me: free-trade coffee with organic 1/2 & 1/2<br />
<br />
Lunch<br />
Miles: Nutella on whole wheat bread, Annies mac and cheese<br />
Cora: Annies mac and cheese, Organic green puffs<br />
Me: Corn chipotle bisque<br />
<br />
Dinner<br />
Everyone: Leftover beer braised pork, lentils and smashed potatoes, water and beer for the adults<br />
<br />
Thursday:<br />
<br />
Breakfast<br />
Miles and Cora: Organic eggs and toast<br />
Me: free-trade coffee with organic 1/2 & 1/2<br />
<br />
Lunch<br />
Miles and Cora: turkey, cheese and crackers<br />
Me: Corn chipotle bisque<br />
<br />
Dinner:<br />
Everyone: Gallo pinto with sourdough bread and feta cheese (Mark and Miles eat it with fried eggs as well)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36UFNjc4Wshs730tec_Hod11CmJ6dHXf3ILu6Fobn3jI_uZFAmgThoL5KrMw9JSDy-6ttaD6nZTtjuO3vAdid6EAvaUIa9i4q6x29B07p_MaUQr7omnsOjbqG-5rtlKSyzh1dRwmLR_Q3/s1600/IMG_3376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36UFNjc4Wshs730tec_Hod11CmJ6dHXf3ILu6Fobn3jI_uZFAmgThoL5KrMw9JSDy-6ttaD6nZTtjuO3vAdid6EAvaUIa9i4q6x29B07p_MaUQr7omnsOjbqG-5rtlKSyzh1dRwmLR_Q3/s320/IMG_3376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Friday<br />
<br />
Breakfast:<br />
Miles and Cora: Natures Path oatmeal, banana<br />
Me: free-trade coffee with organic 1/2 & 1/2<br />
<br />
Lunch:<br />
Everyone: Annies mac and cheese<br />
<br />
Dinner:<br />
Everyone: leftover gallo pinto with sourdough bread and feta cheese (Mark and Miles eat it with fried eggs as well)<br />
<br />
Well, that was week one. I am not going to record the food on the weekends because we are so busy that I honestly would never remember to keep track. So other then that I think our menue gives a pretty accurate dipiction of food in our house.<br />
<br />
Improvements? I am noticing a lack of vegetables. In fact I only notice three vegi serving all week. This need to change so next week I will (attempt) to improve our vegetable consumption. <br />
<br />
Omissions? We drink more beer and wine then I have listed but I am purposely keeping the amounts under wraps. All I will say is that when you consistently have 20+ gallons of small batch, award winning, artisan brewed beer in your garage you may indulge every now and then.<br />
<br />
So long for now!Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-88315994089931709002010-12-01T21:44:00.000-08:002010-12-01T22:04:15.996-08:00Cranberry Velvet Tart<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictUqp6KXmuNLAa2Lr1gwu8WHRG-VUfE7ys5NVBAPggUK-oHfbM6ITTN6YpupzrLYum8csufTsRpH-_QXx08gNu3xsfsbmggcX9-gfeaBPrJk0F6fl5pyT7sW1NOpVPK4UK-pSIKyeBcXp/s1600/IMG_3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictUqp6KXmuNLAa2Lr1gwu8WHRG-VUfE7ys5NVBAPggUK-oHfbM6ITTN6YpupzrLYum8csufTsRpH-_QXx08gNu3xsfsbmggcX9-gfeaBPrJk0F6fl5pyT7sW1NOpVPK4UK-pSIKyeBcXp/s400/IMG_3302.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cranberry Velvet Tart</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">This Thanksgiving I attempted a recipe that turned out as delicious as it is untraditional. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of tarts as I find them to be a bit eggy but the tartness of the cranberries in this recipe seemed to create the perfect balance. Especially when served with freshly whipped cinnamon cream!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">The only down side to this delicious dessert is the amount of time it requires. I followed all the minimum requirements and by the time the tart was cooled it took nearly five hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <i><u>Ingredients for the crust</u></i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1 1/2 cups flour <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1 tablespoon fresh-grated orange rind <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">2 tablespoons sugar <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1/8 teaspoon salt <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/4-inch slices <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1 large egg <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19pt; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><u>Ingredients for the filling</u></i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">4 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and/picked over <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1/2 cup orange juice <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">2 tablespoons lemon juice <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1 1/4 cups sugar <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pinch of salt <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">6 large egg yolks <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, sliced into 8 pieces <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">1 tablespoon fresh-grated orange rind <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><u>Directions:<o:p></o:p></u></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Process flour and orange rind in a food processor until the rind has been thoroughly ground into the flour, about 30 seconds. Add sugar and salt and pulse on and off for a few seconds. Scatter butter slices over the flour mixture and pulse until the mixture resembles cornmeal, about 10 times. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and pulse on and off until the dough holds together. Gather up the dough, knead it manually if necessary to smooth it out, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill it for at least an hour or up to 2 days.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Divide dough into 8 to 10 pieces. Scatter the pieces evenly in a well-greased 11-inch tart pan or a 9 1/2-inch pie plate. Gently pat the dough into place to make a 1/4-inch-thick crust, coming as far up the edges of the pan as you can. Chill pan for 20 minutes while you heat the oven to 375.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Grease a 14-inch square piece of heavy aluminum foil. Gently fit the foil, greased side down, over the crust. Cover foil with pie weights, uncooked rice, or uncooked beans. Place crust on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Carefully lift out the foil and pie weights and set aside. Return crust to the oven and bake until golden and baked through, about 15 to 20 minutes longer. Take the crust out of the oven and reset the oven to 275.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Put cranberries, juices, sugar, and salt into a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Lower heat to a simmer, partially cover, and cook, stirring frequently, until berries are soft, about 25 to 30 minutes. Force cooked berries and any cooking liquid through a fine sieve or food mill to remove all the skins and seeds. (This is a boring job if you use a sieve, so have a book or willing assistant handy.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Put the cranberry purée into a clean saucepan. Over low heat, stirring constantly, whisk in egg yolks. Continuing to stir constantly over low heat, cook the mixture until it is very thick, about 15 minutes. Then take it off the heat and whisk in the butter slices one at a time. Whisk in orange rind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pour the cranberry mixture into prepared crust. Bake until set, about 20 to 30 minutes. Cool completely; then chill for at least 6 hours or up to one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span><br />
<ol style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></ol>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-33306855825616197282010-11-30T20:23:00.000-08:002010-11-30T20:23:43.373-08:00A letter to my High-need Daughter: reposted from Journey into Midwifery<div class="post-body entry-content" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 488px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I had only ever met one high-need baby in my ten years of working with kids - a three month old who I nannied for in Seattle. This little baby, who was huge for his age, was a very precious only child to a couple who practiced ecological breastfeeding, baby-wearing and, if my experience serves me correct, co-sleeping. I did not understand at the time why the mother was so particular about knowing the baby's schedule. Nor did I understand her constant concerned voice over the phone when she would call 3-5 times throughout the day finding out how the child was doing. I now fully understand. I had thought that parents who complained about their 'difficult' babies were exaggerating when they said that they did not know if they could ever be emotionally ready for a second child. Again, I now understand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">A letter to my wonderfully needy high-need daughter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">My Dear Cora Beth, in so little time we have been through so much. You have taught me more about myself and my relationships with others in your first year of life then anyone previous. The first time I held you against my skin I felt a rush of love ill compared. I was going to do everything in my power to help you along in this world. I only hope that I serve you well in your eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">From hour one you nursed like a champ (we should have know then that you would have a love for food), slept wonderfully and let anyone hold you. This wonderful temperament that typical newborns have was short-lived. You soon began to use me as a pacifier, screamed when you were not held, slept only in arms, and refused bottles. Then at three months you began screaming if anyone but me even looked at you, or God forbid tried to hold you! It was the first time that papa had to hold a screaming you outside the shower with the door cracked so you could see me while I washed that we finally gave in and labeled you as a high-need baby. Thank you Dr. Sears for the kind term! I could go on for pages about the sleepless nights or missed outings over the past year but instead I would like to focus on the positive aspects of having a high-need daughter. Because like I said before you, my precious daughter, you have taught me more then I could imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Patience - Before you I will admit that I had lived a bit of a spoiled life. The extent of my patience was waiting 30 minutes for the delivery man to bring my food. Now I have the ability to see the long-term benefits of my efforts. Whether it is waking up every hour to calmly nurse you back to sleep or holding you for your two hour naps because I know that you have a better chance of sleeping well at night if you are rested in the day. I know that if I attend to your need it makes the need disappear and helps to aid you in creating a secure self-image. Everything I do is to help you become a happy, healthy and secure person even if it means quitting my job because you refuse to let anyone else care for you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Self confidence- You would not imagine the grief someone gets for being an attachment parent! When people learn that you do not bottle feed they ask why I don't think that others should have the bonding experience of feeding my baby. Like you gave me a choice! When people learn that we co-sleep comments are sometimes made about how parents 'need their own space' or that we are 'coddling the child'. People comment on how much you are held or how I breastfeed you on cue. But my favorite is when people learn that I have not left you for more then three hours at a time in your entire life. It makes me laugh when people offer to 'break you'. Funny, I did not know you were a horse. Through all of the questioning looks I hold true to my commitment to you. I look at how far you have come over the past year and you give me all the proof and confidence I need when my parenting practices are questioned. We have an amazingly close relationship that I would never trade for a night out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Empathy- The mother-child relationship is the most influential on this trait. If a mother responds promptly and with empathy to a babies needs the child will grow up with empathy instilled. If a parent responds with aggression and impatiens the child will learn the traits respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">There are times when the last thing I want to do is put aside my needs / wants and attend to you. I will admit that I have a selfish side (surprising, I know). But when I looked at the situation from your point of view I realized that crying is your only way of verbalizing a need or fear. This realization completely changed my approach to not only our relationship but all relationships. I now always try to not only see but to understand every angle of a situation before I decide how to respond. Being the main caregiver of an infant is a life changing experience. To be solely in charge of another persons life makes you realize that haircuts, new clothing and a clean house are nowhere near as important as a content baby sleeping on your lap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Yes, this first year has been sleep-less, challenging and draining but it has also been full of empathy, patience, lessons and love. You, and your big brother, have taught me what is to be a mother and I will forever be thankful for that. For you are my life and I will gladly live it parallel to yours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Lots of loves-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Mama</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1PmRwz_JT9D_f091MibDnLhJ_gwmeoCwD6I1IIVtQ7Oz3GP2DPnmTR1jHMIJg9_JpG_xYu_z0NxU8nztXFwTkar7cPlANOMw1uipom5ffOvgmZF4QFD0h25po8untQ5DFQcrBqdHt-Lk/s1600/IMG_0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1PmRwz_JT9D_f091MibDnLhJ_gwmeoCwD6I1IIVtQ7Oz3GP2DPnmTR1jHMIJg9_JpG_xYu_z0NxU8nztXFwTkar7cPlANOMw1uipom5ffOvgmZF4QFD0h25po8untQ5DFQcrBqdHt-Lk/s400/IMG_0866.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">-What is a high-need baby? Check out Dr. Sears article 12 Features of a High-Need Baby:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: TrebuchetMS; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/t050400.asp</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="border-top-color: rgb(138, 138, 138); border-top-style: dashed; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"></div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-19635073444416690092010-11-30T20:21:00.000-08:002010-11-30T20:21:37.857-08:005 Things You Could Avoid Saying To A Woman Who Has Had An Unwanted Cesarean*: reposted from Journey into Midwifery<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Preface:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I have been holding off on this post for weeks for fear that it may offend those that visited us after the birth of our daughter, not wanting them to believe that they said, or did not say, something offensive. Then, after talking with a new friend, I came to the conclusion that it is okay for people to disagree. Everyone views birth differently, but the only way to help each other heal is share our stories. So here goes some open communication.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Last week I attended my first Birth Circle through the midwifery center that received care from. A birth circle is a get together of women who share their birth stories with each other in an effort to heal and understand what happened during their labors or postpartum period. Some of the issues we talked about were difficult labors, hospital transfers, breastfeeding issues and NICU experiences. Every story was different and the entire experience was very inspiring. After five hours of listen to everyone’s stories we started talking about how good it was to talk with other like-minded women. I found out that, like me, every other mother found it difficult to talk about their birth experience with women who choose to birth at hospitals. Of course not all women who choose hospital births feel this way, but I have felt a sort of ‘I told you so’ attitude when people find out that my labor ended with an emergency cesarean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Since the birth circle I have thought a lot about this issue and I came up with a list of five things that people could avoid saying to a woman who has had an unwanted cesarean. Again, some women may be content with their surgical birth experience, but others are not. We need to support every mother no matter her opinion, not judge her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>5 Things You Could Avoid Saying To A Woman Who Has Had An Unwanted Cesarean:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">1-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">What is said: “It’s a good thing you were in a hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><i>What is heard: “Told you so.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">If a woman chooses not to birth in a hospital there is a reason. Maybe she has a fear of hospitals, maybe she is attempting to avoid unnecessary intervention, maybe she believes that birth is a life event and not a medical event. No matter the reason, if a woman is transferred to a hospital it is most likely the absolutely last place she wants to be. Be sensitive! Hospitals are great when there is a need but that does not mean that the mother wants to be there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">2-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">What is said: “ At least you are both healthy and okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><i>What is heard: “Your process does not matter.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">Yes the baby arrived, hopefully unharmed, and the mother survived but that does not mean they are okay. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">During a vaginal birth the baby experiences the thoracic squeeze and clears all the fluid out of her lungs. She is also exposed to vital bacteria in the birth canal that protect her from the outside world. A baby born via cesarean does not experience these benefits and is more likely to have lower apgar scores, experience difficulties breastfeeding and is, in most cases, denied skin to skin contact with her mother directly following the birth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">If you have had a cesarean you know that surviving does not equal okay. Not only are you denied the emotional bond of immediate skin to skin contact with your child, but you may soon find out that you hurt to much to pick your child up when she cries (what a crushing feeling!!). You feel absolutely helpless while still medicated to the point that you shake uncontrollably and struggle to stay awake to meet your child. When you expect a natural unmediated birth weather it be in your home, a birth center, or a hospital, surgery is the last thing you expect and the shock can be quite traumatic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">3-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">What is said: “The only thing that matters is that the baby is healthy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><i>What is heard: “ You are being selfish and putting your desires above your child’s needs.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">No one will argue that a healthy baby and mother are the most important when talking about birth outcomes, but that does not mean they are the<b>only</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"> important factors. People often focus only on the child and forget that a mother is also made during birth. The way that the mother perceives and experiences her child’s birth affects not only her relationship with her child, significant other and care provider, but it can also affect subsequent births. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">A mother who already feels cheated out of her birth does not need to also feel guilty. Even though you may not mean to evoke feelings of guilt by dismissing her feelings you inevitably do.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">4-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">What is said: “You can always try for a natural birth with your next child.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><i>What is heard:</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"> <i>“ Try, try again”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">First of all, who is to say that post-operative mom <b>will</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"> have another child. Maybe the surgery will leave her unable to conceive or carry another baby to term (two possible complications from cesarean), maybe birth ptsd will leave her mentally unsure she could handle another birth experience (yes, this is a real condition), or maybe she just flat out does not want another child. Weather she does or does not plan to have another child the possibility of a fulfilling birth experience does not heal the brokenness of a bad birth experience. She must first heal before she can move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">5-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">What is said: nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><i>What is heard: “I don’t really care what happened. I am just here to see the baby.”</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">This can be the most hurtful of the ‘5 Don’ts’. What the mother needs more than anything is support not denial or ignorance. When someone says something, anything, uninformed support is far above a complete lack of any. Now, you may just not know what to say or you may not know that she wants to talk about it, but open the door to her, support her and just listen. Talking through her story will help her heal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">The conclusion of this talks me back to something I constantly repeat. Women <b>must</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"> come together and support each other. Our culture lacks this sisterhood bond that prevailed us and it is detrimental to, not only the birth process, but to friendships as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">*Should has been replaced with could</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">**This is not meant to offend but rather to inform people of how their comments <b>might</b> be interpreted by someone who went through an unexpected surgery or for any difficult unexpected life event.</span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-1351049809532470152010-11-30T20:15:00.000-08:002010-11-30T20:15:07.078-08:00MOMS for the 21st Century:reposted from Journey into Midwifery<div class="post-body entry-content" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 488px;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>MOMS for the 21<sup>st</sup> Century Act<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Please think about taking action and help to demand that care providers use evidence based practices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><span> </span>Groups that support this legislation include </span><span style="color: #1e1d1d; font-family: Arial;">Amnesty International, Childbirth Connection, The Big Push for Midwives Campaign, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, the American Association of Birth Centers, and the Midwives Alliance of North America.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;">This important legislation, whose full title is Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services<span> </span>21st Century Act, <span> </span>Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Office on Women's Health, to:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>(1)-</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"> establish the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Promotion of Optimal Maternity Outcomes; and<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>(</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;">2)-develop and implement a consumer education campaign to promote understanding and acceptance of evidence-based maternity practices and models of care for optimal maternity outcomes among women of childbearing ages and families of such women. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to make publicly available and update an online bibliographic database identifying systematic reviews for care of childbearing women and newborns. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 3pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>a</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;">- designate maternity care health professional shortage areas under the National Health Service Corps program;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>b</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;">-establish a loan repayment program to alleviate critical shortages of maternal care professionals; and<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>(3)-</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"> award planning and implementation grants to address workforce disparities for such professionals. Directs the Secretary to support the establishment of two additional Centers for Excellence on Optimal Maternity Outcomes to conduct research to improve maternity outcomes. Requires the Secretary to convene a Maternity Curriculum Commission to discuss and make recommendations for:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>a-</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"> a shared core maternity care curriculum;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>b-</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"> strategies to integrate and coordinate education across maternity care disciplines; and<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><b>c-</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"> pilot demonstrations of interdisciplinary educational models. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover services provided by a supervised student midwife or an intern or resident-in-training under a teaching program under certain circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;">(</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;"><a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5807/show" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5807/show</a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;">What can you do? Contact your representative and tell them to support this important groundbreaking act.<span> </span>Find your representative at:</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><u>http://www.house.gov/</u></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT;">Follow the bill as it goes through congress!<a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5807/show" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5807/show</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="border-top-color: rgb(138, 138, 138); border-top-style: dashed; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"></div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-34434999225180678802010-11-30T20:10:00.000-08:002010-12-01T09:26:05.216-08:0010 Things to do before I dieThis is my compilation of the most important milestones I want to accomplish in my life. The list was written maybe five years ago and, every so often, I still look at it as a way to remind myself what all my hard work and determination (what others might call obsession) are accomplishing.<br />
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Numbers one and three are checked off and I am currently en route to accomplish numbers two and eight. For being only twenty-six I feel pretty good about my list.<br />
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1) Become a mother<br />
2) Complete my Masters<br />
3) Witness a baby being born (not my own)<br />
4) Write a book<br />
5) Learn to sail<br />
6) Spend an entire summer sailing <br />
7) Visit every continent<br />
8) Volunteer in a third world country<br />
9) Live abroad with my family so my children can experience another culture<br />
10) Design and build a houseJenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-83576529669318370992010-11-30T13:01:00.000-08:002010-11-30T15:22:08.430-08:00Writers block and family updateThis past week I have had some serious writers block. Maybe due to the massive amount of delicious food that I have very willingly eaten or to the amount of <s>stress,</s> I mean shopping, cooking, play dates, making and labeling of Christmas cards and menu planning for the upcoming Christmas party. I have not had time to sleep let alone write. So here is a quick update of life in our house and hopefully, later this week, I will get to the five other posts that I have ambitiously begun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBqiEqqI6DhX8b4fTYf0UuT1Uz1Mg7t6lyUytXwRMTPML8QDzbQVvqS_oRrD6g5Vte6zJbpWViGCDCmI0FSwikLYwk63dphEnrQfsy6tO0SfMnbV6GyNIO3z3RSNANZ5K_UJFyIk8Wh3K/s1600/IMG_3297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBqiEqqI6DhX8b4fTYf0UuT1Uz1Mg7t6lyUytXwRMTPML8QDzbQVvqS_oRrD6g5Vte6zJbpWViGCDCmI0FSwikLYwk63dphEnrQfsy6tO0SfMnbV6GyNIO3z3RSNANZ5K_UJFyIk8Wh3K/s320/IMG_3297.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Cora started walking two weeks ago and is now running around everywhere! Her orneriness reminds me so much of my younger brother. I think we need to have another kid just to humble her a bit.<br />
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But don't hold me to that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaZ4McV1GDJGn-6DsH1z2J6P7I-Ci9WD3v1G7fFbg8BvG4O7qmcD6rNmftEg_ts34YlqPwKtmS8ZGHjGobBFncl_lSBuvxkqLZDFFTgIBYU8Wrif_L-llr0YHaQ_wV9K705CM5Fa68knT/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaZ4McV1GDJGn-6DsH1z2J6P7I-Ci9WD3v1G7fFbg8BvG4O7qmcD6rNmftEg_ts34YlqPwKtmS8ZGHjGobBFncl_lSBuvxkqLZDFFTgIBYU8Wrif_L-llr0YHaQ_wV9K705CM5Fa68knT/s320/IMG_3207.JPG" width="299" /></a></div><br />
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Miles is really blossoming! He loves playing Rocket bird and has us convinced that he needs his own Ipad.<br />
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Don't worry he is not getting one.<br />
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He is also really interested in words and I am sure will be reading in no time. He is such an amazing kid! The other day he told us that he records movies in his head and plays them whenever he wants just like the DVR. Now that is one smart kid.<br />
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Mark is working away as usual and I am very thankful that this month he only travels once. There were a few weeks in a row recently where he was out of town two to four days out of the week every week. I miss him (and showers) when he is gone. He is such a dedicated husband and father and I love him very much.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZFDb-zjJsxmiEFNGAgUSdmzuefeuGN1wzVJwzYjArPGNx8iAxGIrK9m3wUsdxYPbU-h9JJuGBM_Yqx2wb2jhwJ-YaHVNmKFnJ7FJdNWT7YjFzIwsHIKQvMucGiVn-BDXlg1MHNnp9xha/s1600/IMG_3326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZFDb-zjJsxmiEFNGAgUSdmzuefeuGN1wzVJwzYjArPGNx8iAxGIrK9m3wUsdxYPbU-h9JJuGBM_Yqx2wb2jhwJ-YaHVNmKFnJ7FJdNWT7YjFzIwsHIKQvMucGiVn-BDXlg1MHNnp9xha/s320/IMG_3326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>As for me I am working through my writers block and living off of rescue remedy.Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-8595770046227862892010-11-24T11:38:00.000-08:002010-11-24T11:38:20.817-08:00What our food says about us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguebgmZ0dZzEIp1AIkfdCrPq6ycx8NoCbgmP6Xzr41yp9oUqk2PTIU0UCICGKAumMUL5oqbzomqoFkb7mvTGjH7ZhOsxnSGmGhgzncAmGrvIdOHJJlv-876uZsYy5UvBTETf3K2TyCVu8a/s1600/IMG_1463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguebgmZ0dZzEIp1AIkfdCrPq6ycx8NoCbgmP6Xzr41yp9oUqk2PTIU0UCICGKAumMUL5oqbzomqoFkb7mvTGjH7ZhOsxnSGmGhgzncAmGrvIdOHJJlv-876uZsYy5UvBTETf3K2TyCVu8a/s320/IMG_1463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cora eating a midnight snack</div><br />
Monday I read <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/22/what-food-says-about-class-in-america.html"> What Food says about Class in America</a>, an article on Newsweek.com that I found very interesting. I have always <s>liked</s> <b>loved </b>food but ever since having a family it has been a constant struggle to eat good quality food and keep our bill under budget. I will be honest that over the past twelve months this is the first month that I have actually kept our bills within our monthly budget (a victory that I credit to me taking over finances this month). So I thought it would be a fun experiment to track what the kids and I eat for a month, explain how I budget and see just where we fit into the "Class in America" article. I will do weekly updates on Sundays with a list of our daily menus and my favorite recipe of the week. If I get really creative I might even take pictures of the food!<br />
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This is going to be fun!<br />
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See you on Sunday!Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-75555053377987156692010-11-22T12:50:00.000-08:002010-12-02T18:18:05.539-08:00Why Midwifery Part 1: Why are people choose OB /GYNs over Midwifes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I can name thirteen friends, myself included, who have been pregnant over the past two years. Out of them I can count on a single hand those who have gone to a midwife for care. Actually I can count then with two fingers. One, myself, went to an out-of-hospital birth center and number two went to an in-hospital midwife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Seven of the thirteen friends were induced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Six were first time moms whose labors ended with cesareans. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Two labored without drugs. (This includes myself but I will disclose that my daughter was born surgically requiring me to get an epidural for the procedure)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">A single mother completed the entire birth process without drugs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">What these numbers are telling me are that more then half of these women can not labor and birth without medical intervention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Does that seem correct?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">The World Health Organization </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/(http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/10/06-039289/en/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">(WHO)</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> tells us that once the cesarean limit exceeds 10-15% the risks of the procedure outweighing its benefits </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">. Our national average is at 31.8%. Colorado’s cesarean rate is 25.9% </span><a href="http://www.theunnecesarean.com/blog/2010/11/10/cesarean-rates-by-state-2008.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">(click here for a list of ceserean rates by state)</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">So why is our rate so high? According to </span><a href="http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10456"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Childbirth Connection</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> there are 7 reasons:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">-Low priority of enhancing women's own abilities to give birth</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">-Side effects of common labor interventions<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">-Refusal to offer the informed choice of vaginal birth</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">-Casual attitudes about surgery and cesarean sections in particular<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">-Limited awareness of harms that are more likely with cesarean section<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">-Providers' fears of malpractice claims and lawsuits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">-Incentives to practice in a manner that is efficient for </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">providers</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">. (emphasis mine)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span> </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">All of these reasons coincide with OB /GYN care and are contrary to the midwife model of care. But I will get to this later..</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Now I am digressing…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">The point is not that the cesarean rate is rising to epidemic proportion; rather I am posing a question: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Why are women in our country choosing to use OBs over midwives?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I understand that it is engrained in our culture that you go to a hospital for birth and to OB /GYN for pre-natal care but I want to change that. My hope is that as midwifery becomes more mainstream people will conduct their own research and make an informed decision. I know too many people who go to a provider just because it is easy to go to someone who is in-network or close. Are these good reasons to choose the person overseeing one of the most emotional and important events in your life? Is the fact that something is easy a good reason to choose anything in life? Now, I am not saying that people who go to OB /GYNs are uneducated or making the wrong choice, but I do believe that sometimes people go to an OB /GYN because they are under-informed or misinformed. I often think that people forget that care providers are providing a service and that you can shop around until you find the one that best suites you. Sometime this will be a midwife other times it will be an OB. You wouldn’t just buy the first pair of jeans you tried on in a store would you? So why choose the first care provider you run into?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Fear also dictates choice. Couples choose OB /GYNs for the ‘just in case’ or ‘what if’ factor believing that a hospital is the safest place to birth. My response to this is look at the research. Women who planned homebirths overseen by midwifes experienced “significantly lower risk of obstetric interventions and adverse outcomes, including augmentation of labour, electronic fetal monitoring, epidural analgesia, assisted vaginal delivery, cesarean section, hemorrhage, and infection” when compared to a group of women who had in-hospital physician attended births according to a study in the </span><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162421.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Canadian Medical Association Journal</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 10.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Additionally women who birthed in out-of-hospital birth centers were half as likely to have a cesarean section and had a similar rate of death among babies after 20 weeks of pregnancy or in the first four weeks after birth. This information is from the website Childbirth Connection. Here is a link to a </span><a href="http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10142"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">great article</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> that compare physician attended births, in-hospital birth center births, out-of-hospital birth center births , and homebirths against each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 10.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: 19px;">In reality though the majority of the people I spoke with did not even consider a midwife because they didn’t know they had an option. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 10.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">We </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">do</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> have options and our choices </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">do</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> influence. This is the great aspect of such a varied maternity care system- there truly is a care provider for every type of woman. For those who have a fear of hospitals and prefer a home like setting you can hire a certified home-birth midwife. For the person who wants the safety of a hospital relationship but wants to avoid the inter</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: 19px;">ventions that are common placed in hospitals there are free standing birth centers run by nurse midwives. For in hospital birth women have the options of hospital based nurse midwives who work under the OB /GYNs, Family Practitioners as well as an OB /GYN.</span><br />
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</span></span></div></span>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-62248695958298930032010-11-18T12:21:00.000-08:002010-11-18T15:34:22.690-08:00Feminism and Motherhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1R-U8Vi4uFLtN4S_LAmCgz4QYr8bsj3shGPZ9Wb6kHk11EXXOGOM4YjdGvvXSh5z3PaljqK_W1L0V1KKHYlYFJTbq9IP_0IpgGFdeJ3Z1_4JXwJlBhBNMJsqwjRTu6TegGFZWZWs_L-E/s1600/IMG_1316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1R-U8Vi4uFLtN4S_LAmCgz4QYr8bsj3shGPZ9Wb6kHk11EXXOGOM4YjdGvvXSh5z3PaljqK_W1L0V1KKHYlYFJTbq9IP_0IpgGFdeJ3Z1_4JXwJlBhBNMJsqwjRTu6TegGFZWZWs_L-E/s320/IMG_1316.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me and my two adorable children!</div><br />
Earlier in the week I ran into a <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1021293/How-mothers-fanatical-feminist-views-tore-apart-daughter-The-Color-Purple-author.html">very sad and interesting article</a> written by Rebecca Walker, daughter of Alice Walker, famed author and feminist, that discussed Rebecca's decision to mother and the affect it had on her relationship with her own mother. According to the article Alice felt that motherhood was a "calamity" that held her back. She left her daughter in the care of others or alone for long periods of time, approved of her being sexually active at 13, and disowned Rebecca by taking her out of her will when she made the decision to become a mother herself.<br />
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This got me thinking. <br />
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Lately I have come across a few different situations that have made me wonder when the feminist movement became as oppressive as the 1950's culture that said women belonged at home. Being a feminist should not be about rejecting all things feminine, family oriented or relationships. Isn't the point of feminism choice? Personally I would consider myself a feminist, not a radical one, but a feminist none the less; I believe that all people should be able to choose their path in life without judgement and with accurate information. I do not believe that men and women are equally built for the same purpose in life but do believe that they should be given equal opportunity to pursue whatever life they choose. Feminism is not about being stress free or burden free. Every life has burdens. What it is about is the ability to choose them.<br />
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In our culture the word burden has earned a bad reputation (as well as the word feminist!), but by definition a burden is something that carries a heavy weight, or by my account, responsibility. This would include a demanding job, relationships and children. Yes children. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my children and spouse and find more joy in them then in anything else life has to offer, but they are a heavy weight and require daily upkeep and therefore responsibility. I pride myself, as a woman, on my ability to work with my husband, raise our children and, in due time, pursue my calling as a midwife. I believe that the work of feminists before us gave us a great gift: the gift of choice. Weather or not they intended for us to get married or have families is irrelevant. The gift is still the same. Their struggle enables all of us modern day women to *choose* our path, and that is a great gift.Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-62551782952126691222010-11-15T09:22:00.000-08:002010-11-15T09:22:24.855-08:00A Change of Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Again, as things often do in our house, plans have changed in regards to my schooling. The previous plan was for me to begin classes for direct-entry midwifery at <a href="http://www.aviva.com/">Aviva</a> in January. I love the school and the plan but after months of going back and forth over what I want my end goal to be I have, yet again, and for the last time changed my mind.<br />
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I have debated for and against the benefits of becoming a direct-entry midwife and over the possibility of becoming a nurse midwife. Lists have been made, research has been conducted and I have discussed endlessly with family and friends the reasons that I prefer the direct-entry approach:<br />
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-community based learning<br />
-hands-on approach<br />
-more financially feasible<br />
-all education being midwifery specific<br />
-working in a home-birth setting<br />
-online program<br />
-not to mention that my views of birth are more aligned with the direct-entry approach<br />
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as well as the reasons that I have reservations over this approach:<br />
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-the possibility of relocating to Portland in order to obtain my births in the allotted time (making it no so community based)<br />
-I would be unable to work or apprentice at the wonderful <a href="http://mountainmidwifery.com/">Mountain Midwifery</a>, our local birth center<br />
-I would only be certified to attend births at home<br />
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I have also been considering the nurse-midwife approach. Of course, in my mind I always think of the cons first because this really is the option I least prefer of the two. Realistically though, the reality of our situation keeps leading me back to this path. So this is what appeals to me about this option:<br />
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-financial security for our self-employed family<br />
-ability to work in a home setting, birth center setting or hospital setting<br />
-insurance<br />
-job stability (as much as one can expect this)<br />
-mainly online / no need to relocate<br />
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Then there are always the reservations:<br />
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-three years of non-specific education<br />
-large time commitment (5 years instead of 3)<br />
-lack of agreement in the routine interventions and the medicalization of normal birth that is taught to L and D nurses<br />
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After considering all the possibilities I am confident to say that even though it may not have been my original plan I am very happy and excited with the decision to first attend nursing school then continue on to earn my masters in nurse-midwifery.<br />
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The best way to affect change is from the inside right? And boy is our maternity system due for some<br />
change.<br />
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Get it? Due. <br />
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So here is my new plan of action. Attend <a href="http://www.arapahoe.edu/">Arapahoe Community</a> for my pre-requisites and Associates in Nursing then transfer to <a href="http://www.frontierschool.edu/">Frontier School of Midwifery and Nursing</a> for the bridge to masters program and finally the masters in nurse-midwifery. After 5 (8 if you count the out-of-school studying) long years I will finally be a midwife.<br />
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I am very excited to take the next step of my life in January!Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-76695465769404723972010-11-11T09:59:00.000-08:002010-11-11T09:59:45.302-08:00All Growed UpMy little boy is getting so big! Just last month we decided that Miles was getting big enough to start taking on more responsibilities around the house. So, after talking this over, we assigned a list of five weekly chores that when finished he would earn himself a paycheck. It was a difficult decision to decide how much he should earn. The discussion went somewhat like this:<br />
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Mark: "I only got a quarter for my allowance."<br />
me: "Mark, stop exaggerating. Besides what could he possibly get for a quarter?"<br />
Mark:"He could buy some candy."<br />
me:" When was the last time you went shopping? You can't even buy a candy bar with a quarter."<br />
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You would think that he grew up destitute with the way Mark talks (destitute meaning private Christian education and a house on Harvard Park). Anyway, after much deliberation we settled on an allowance of four dollars a week and a chore list consisting of:<br />
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-Feeding Nar in the morning and evening<br />
-Caring for Cora (or as he says: making sure nothing bad ever happens to my baby sister)<br />
-Putting his laundry away<br />
-Dusting the living room<br />
-Cleaning bedroom and picking up toys before dinner<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17Riaj6_7iFV8LaTmA3iktIkEc2Xm_BKXqWnFsA0syPHXoDPOLrJ-tezqGZyWd1g_IpSyf4dFwQNdD_uPjfA8H1qFLj7LBKvo1LzQEwSIX1q9fcp5x4d-h3QAAd0F2uRXwMHdO9PL-Xmt/s1600/IMG_1450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17Riaj6_7iFV8LaTmA3iktIkEc2Xm_BKXqWnFsA0syPHXoDPOLrJ-tezqGZyWd1g_IpSyf4dFwQNdD_uPjfA8H1qFLj7LBKvo1LzQEwSIX1q9fcp5x4d-h3QAAd0F2uRXwMHdO9PL-Xmt/s320/IMG_1450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Over the past two weeks he has done a wonderful job of completing his chores</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zL6Twz_hkswvpv0ORyvS2zRcTuZP71Cbse0iec4fmHIZmV6YhojEmfvRID4j8r92a8fldlPi3O2G3LnXL6nE0a1SLlaUnsxglIlE9Ao7nPNOHZ4GH8NwW1-T6Itw7qw3G9Ks2Hw1dH4v/s1600/IMG_1453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zL6Twz_hkswvpv0ORyvS2zRcTuZP71Cbse0iec4fmHIZmV6YhojEmfvRID4j8r92a8fldlPi3O2G3LnXL6nE0a1SLlaUnsxglIlE9Ao7nPNOHZ4GH8NwW1-T6Itw7qw3G9Ks2Hw1dH4v/s320/IMG_1453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and earning all four dollars each week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_669388187"></span><span id="goog_669388188"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdq4bA2VpQBTataajZUePhencCRgYTq9_3RcrlBI3KOjH0RMS-FOySaWOlsCoz0iMWZ6S4BXVw_07pCLmgPIxWxtzg2gVxZl3pwtU_sB_XHn9QKsSfGSpOf2nJg50SajYyoWYji-3XSUK/s1600/IMG_3213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdq4bA2VpQBTataajZUePhencCRgYTq9_3RcrlBI3KOjH0RMS-FOySaWOlsCoz0iMWZ6S4BXVw_07pCLmgPIxWxtzg2gVxZl3pwtU_sB_XHn9QKsSfGSpOf2nJg50SajYyoWYji-3XSUK/s320/IMG_3213.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This week we even got him a wallet to carry around his money and his rec center id. Too cute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB94wp3ZxvCNdMRyXb_t2_Il_4qWSd9KQzV3SJYo9Df_qFmy75qUJ6kCs6NVyeU2wYpnlMTA2YZ7sjwbexTyTH8xeuDwtDLTiJxcBN2jjIan07q4WuFWHd9CgGzBv4jJXZRfLpp1wDWOJ/s1600/IMG_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB94wp3ZxvCNdMRyXb_t2_Il_4qWSd9KQzV3SJYo9Df_qFmy75qUJ6kCs6NVyeU2wYpnlMTA2YZ7sjwbexTyTH8xeuDwtDLTiJxcBN2jjIan07q4WuFWHd9CgGzBv4jJXZRfLpp1wDWOJ/s320/IMG_1454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One very proud boy and two very proud parents!</div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-71574156378289105982010-11-08T17:34:00.001-08:002010-11-09T08:08:34.594-08:00Why I miss the gym<div class="MsoNormal">Dear Gym,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I miss you. There was a time, about two years ago, when we often met and, although I was most likely tired from the day and wanted nothing more than to return to my pajamas and sit comatose on my couch watching Mad Men, we would still meet. I would overcome my overwhelming laziness, dress into my running pants and sports bra then enter your doors.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Why? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Was it because I wanted to spend 90 minutes running and climbing stairs till I felt like Gumby? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Was it because I missed watching the ladies in full hair and makeup walk through the weight room in an attempt to attract attention?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Was it because I missed the awkwardness of dressing in a public locker room?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Was it because I miss the way I felt after a good workout? Come on…really?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">No. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What do I miss? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I miss the bad pop culture magazines!! The gossipy ones that I will not bring myself to purchase. You know the ones - US Weekly, Cosmo, Glamour. The ones that while waiting in the check out isle at the grocery store you glace over at and really start to wonder: Is Brad really leaving Jennifer? Or is it Angelina? I never know. Is the Teen Mom star going to get her child taken by social services? (I sure think they should at least investigate!) I look at these magazines and I want so badly to pick them up and guiltily read all the most recent gossip. But spend money on them? Never. I try to avoid embarrassment and judgment when in the checkout lane as is. My kids have that area covered fairly well. The gym is the one place where I have the ability to read this ‘newsworthy gossip’ without the monetary investment. Beside, if I notice the person on the elliptical next to me judging my reading material all I have to do it turn to them and say disgustedly “Can you believe that someone was reading this?” Then drop the magazine on the ground and pick up my strategically placed Newsweek. Problem solved.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes. Gym, I miss you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Your long lost friend,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jenn</div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664844100617422539.post-76624059494242413072010-11-04T19:44:00.000-07:002010-11-05T08:23:53.883-07:00Suburbia?!<div class="MsoNormal">Honestly we moved here to be part of a certain school district (yes, we are those people). Our plan was straightforward: we were to rent a house in the school district where we wanted Miles to attend school in then, once he was accepted into the kindergarten our lease would conclude and we would move back to our beloved city. Simple right? Well it turns out that where we live we are <b>unincorporated</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and part of </span><b>different</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> district. The same district that I went to school in! (Now, I feel like a townie and am looking for a way to avoid mentioning that my daughter was born on the same maternity floor I was.) Huh…our move to the southwest suburbs turned out to be in vein. Miles is still eligible to attend this school, he just goes to the very end of the waiting list, the same place he would have been if we would have only moved to that beautiful 100 year old Victorian just north of Wash Park. Anyway, we are here, for now it is suburbia. </span></div>Jenn http://www.blogger.com/profile/06044667161960674001noreply@blogger.com0