Confession : Facebook status updates have a tendency to postpone my nagging desire to write a blog entry. Sorry. But if you're on fb too, you already know that's where I'm spending so much of my rare online time.
My other online time is spent working with:
TourGuide Mike to plan the upcoming Disney World trip. I can't believe how quickly it's sneaking up on us! (Pray-ers .. please lift another prayer for us to sell our house. Sure would be awesome to have it sold before the trip!) This might seem like a waste of time to SOME people but to me and my family (there are 15 of us going on the trip) this is a HUGE deal.
Emails that build-up in MASSIVE heaps since I'm not checking it every 5 minutes.
A renewed (and if I can be honest, surprising with the economy and all) interest by others, in Mannatech. YES! Thrills me!
Struggling through my role of "Community Organizer" with ABC. I love it but I have little faith in my abilities to do it as well as it deserves...but I'm gonna do my best!
Oh, and I think trying to be on the computer with a little one is at one of the hardest phases. When Captain was a little smaller, he'd be content to just cuddle while I sat at the desk. Now, he's only interested in pushing buttons himself or in yelling at me to show him a youtube video of "Choo choo!!" (model trains)
Eventually, though, I WILL be back. In the meantime, find me on fb. That's where I status, flair, and share pics.
Showing posts with label Natural Alternatives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Natural Alternatives. Show all posts
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
More From "The Big Push"
Critical Women's Health Issues Neglected as Physician Group Yet Again Sets its Sites on Midwives
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 1, 2008)—In the newest phase of its ongoing effort to deny women the right to choose their maternity care providers and birth settings, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has announced that eliminating access to midwives who specialize in out-of-hospital birth is now the second most important issue on its state legislative agenda. This move puts restricting access to trained midwives ahead of such critical issues as contraceptive equity, ensuring access to emergency contraception, and the prevention and treatment of perinatal HIV/AIDS.
"ACOG claims to be an advocate of women's health and choice, but when it comes to the right to choose to deliver your baby in the privacy of your own home with a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) who is specifically trained to provide the safest care possible, ACOG's paternalistic colors bleed through," said Susan M. Jenkins, Legal Counsel for the Big Push for Midwives Campaign. "It is astonishing that an organization that purports to be a champion of women's healthcare would put a petty turf battle that affects less than one percent of the nation's childbearing women ahead of pressing issues that have an impact on nearly every woman in this country. If this is not dereliction of duty, I can't imagine what is."
In recent years, ACOG has led a well-financed campaign to fight legislative reforms that would license and regulate CPMs and has now teamed up with the American Medical Association (AMA) to promote legislation that would prevent families from choosing to give birth at home. Despite these joint efforts, the groups have not been successful in defeating the groundswell of grassroots activism in support of full access to a comprehensive range of maternity care options that meet the needs of all families.
"Wisconsin is a good example of what ACOG and the AMA are up against," said Jane Crawford Peterson, CPM, Advocacy Trainer for The Big Push. "Our bipartisan grassroots coalition of everyday people from across the state managed to defeat the most powerful and well-financed special interest groups in Wisconsin, all on an expenses-only budget of $3000 during a legislative session in which $47 million was spent on lobbying. When you try to deny women the fundamental and very personal right to choose where and how to give birth, they will get organized and they will let their elected officials know that restrictions on those rights cannot stand."
Noting these successes, ACOG has recently launched its own grassroots organizing effort, calling on member physicians to recruit their patients to participate in its "Who Will Deliver My Baby?" medical liability reform campaign.
"ACOG itself admits that we're facing a critical shortage of maternity care providers," said Steff Hedenkamp, Communications Coordinator for the Big Push. "They certainly realize that medical liability reform is nothing more than a band aid and that increasing access to midwives and birth settings is critical to fixing our maternity care system and ensuring that rural, low-income and uninsured women don't fall through the cracks. Midwives represent an essential growth segment of the U.S. pool of maternity care providers, but instead of putting the healthcare needs of women first, ACOG would rather devote its considerable lobbying budget to a last-ditch attempt to protect its own bottom line. This is not a happy Labor Day for our nation's mothers and babies."
The Big Push for Midwives (http://www.TheBigPushforMidwives.org) is a nationally coordinated campaign organized to advocate for regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and to push back against the attempts of the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to deny American families access to safe and legal midwifery care. The campaign plays a critical role in building a new model of U.S. maternity care delivery at the local and regional levels, at the heart of which is the Midwives Model of Care, based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. Media inquiries: Steff Hedenkamp (816) 506-4630, steff@thebigpushformidwives.org.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 1, 2008)—In the newest phase of its ongoing effort to deny women the right to choose their maternity care providers and birth settings, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has announced that eliminating access to midwives who specialize in out-of-hospital birth is now the second most important issue on its state legislative agenda. This move puts restricting access to trained midwives ahead of such critical issues as contraceptive equity, ensuring access to emergency contraception, and the prevention and treatment of perinatal HIV/AIDS.
"ACOG claims to be an advocate of women's health and choice, but when it comes to the right to choose to deliver your baby in the privacy of your own home with a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) who is specifically trained to provide the safest care possible, ACOG's paternalistic colors bleed through," said Susan M. Jenkins, Legal Counsel for the Big Push for Midwives Campaign. "It is astonishing that an organization that purports to be a champion of women's healthcare would put a petty turf battle that affects less than one percent of the nation's childbearing women ahead of pressing issues that have an impact on nearly every woman in this country. If this is not dereliction of duty, I can't imagine what is."
In recent years, ACOG has led a well-financed campaign to fight legislative reforms that would license and regulate CPMs and has now teamed up with the American Medical Association (AMA) to promote legislation that would prevent families from choosing to give birth at home. Despite these joint efforts, the groups have not been successful in defeating the groundswell of grassroots activism in support of full access to a comprehensive range of maternity care options that meet the needs of all families.
"Wisconsin is a good example of what ACOG and the AMA are up against," said Jane Crawford Peterson, CPM, Advocacy Trainer for The Big Push. "Our bipartisan grassroots coalition of everyday people from across the state managed to defeat the most powerful and well-financed special interest groups in Wisconsin, all on an expenses-only budget of $3000 during a legislative session in which $47 million was spent on lobbying. When you try to deny women the fundamental and very personal right to choose where and how to give birth, they will get organized and they will let their elected officials know that restrictions on those rights cannot stand."
Noting these successes, ACOG has recently launched its own grassroots organizing effort, calling on member physicians to recruit their patients to participate in its "Who Will Deliver My Baby?" medical liability reform campaign.
"ACOG itself admits that we're facing a critical shortage of maternity care providers," said Steff Hedenkamp, Communications Coordinator for the Big Push. "They certainly realize that medical liability reform is nothing more than a band aid and that increasing access to midwives and birth settings is critical to fixing our maternity care system and ensuring that rural, low-income and uninsured women don't fall through the cracks. Midwives represent an essential growth segment of the U.S. pool of maternity care providers, but instead of putting the healthcare needs of women first, ACOG would rather devote its considerable lobbying budget to a last-ditch attempt to protect its own bottom line. This is not a happy Labor Day for our nation's mothers and babies."
The Big Push for Midwives (http://www.TheBigPushforMidwives.org) is a nationally coordinated campaign organized to advocate for regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and to push back against the attempts of the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to deny American families access to safe and legal midwifery care. The campaign plays a critical role in building a new model of U.S. maternity care delivery at the local and regional levels, at the heart of which is the Midwives Model of Care, based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. Media inquiries: Steff Hedenkamp (816) 506-4630, steff@thebigpushformidwives.org.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Milk - Not A Breastfeeding Post :)
I have been meaning to post a somewhat in-depth post about Rocky and our recognition of some food allergy stuff going on with him, and am just now getting to it. Close friends and family know that it was with him at 9 months old that I finally had to seek out SOMETHING to help with crankiness and colic and my post-partum depression. Long-story-WAY short, we realized there were MAJOR yeast issues mixed with some food allergies (in my breastmilk - mostly peanuts but possibly dairy, too) which ultimately put us on our path to supplements and careful food choices. When he and I both made MASSIVE improvements over the following months, I pretty much declared us "cured" as long as we stuck with the supplements and watchful diet.
When we moved in with the Gardeners, Rocky & He-Man both had these weird little bouts of puking. It wasn't a real serious thing because it happened in the mornings and then they got better. It lasted for a couple of mornings and then went away and then came back a little later for another few days and then that was it. I was able to logically conclude that it was their immune systems responding to a new environment and possibly new germs...whatever. They never were laid-out sick and always improved as the day went on. It was a "morning sickness" of sorts. Rocky was always sicker than He-man.
Soon afterwards, Rocky started with VERY annoying tics. It was almost like a pee-pee dance. We would say, "do you need to go to the bathroom?" He swore he didn't and it became evident he was telling the truth. He then started with a weird chapped mouth. A-ha! We thought we had figured it out again! HONEY MUSTARD! He's been known to get honey mustard "rashes" around his mouth in the past and we thought, Hmmm....maybe he's eating too much honey mustard and it's got sugar and it's making him wiggly?
No more honey mustard.
Still, wiggling.
(I really meant to make this a quick story...)
Fast-foward. Still we can't figure out the wiggling. It becomes amplified. He obviously can't control it. Last Sunday, we were informed by his Sunday School teachers that his behavior was getting out of control. We were even asked, "What's changed?"
So the REAL investigation started. If it's not honey mustard or condiments (because we cut them ALL out) what could it be?
I believe God divinely light-bulbed me.
What change occurred when we moved here that could possibly answer not only the wiggling, but the chapped lips, and the pukes? SOY MILK!
When we got here, the kids were introduced to dry cereal. Yes, they had spent the night here & other places before and have had dry cereal for breakfast but never at home and therefore, never in large quantities. Since we've always been very, VERY limited on cow's milk (because of Indie's sensitivity to it and for general health reasons) we decided to try the kids on the alternative soy milk.
Rocky LOVED IT! He ate double helpings almost every morning for breakfast. And guess what! THAT is the time the puking started (and took a break when we ran out!) And since he ate MORE than He-Man, it makes sense that he was sicker! And since he got better as he puked it out of his system, he felt better as the day wore on. And like many addictions that accompany food allergies, the 'effects' wear off after a little while. When his body quit trying to throw it up, he started getting the rash on his face. When the soy milk kept going into the body, I believe the toxicity level raised to a point where his immune system almost quit working on it. And the toxic reaction of his body caused the twitches.
After hearing the complaints from the Sunday School teacher, I started googling soy milk and ADD/ADHD. SURE ENOUGH (and I knew this and wanted to say 'DUH') the soy was very likely a HUGE factor. It also dawned on me that this could also be a reason for my struggles with him in the mornings during school.
So now we are back to NO milk, soy or cow, and very limited dairy altogether. Until his system detoxes a little bit, we're trying to stay very low on all condiments that might have soybean oils and products as well.
And I'm thrilled to say that THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER! I do believe we have finally come to some real conclusion on this. Hopefully, now that we're really paying attention, we can get him back to 100% normalcy (whatever that is.) His wiggling is WAY better and his SS teachers told us "perfect behavior" yesterday when we picked him up!
What a reminder to us that food allergies can appear/re-appear so easily! Now, it really doesn't surprise me, considering our dietary/behavioral history during pregnancy and post-partum but I just didn't put the pieces together as soon as I wish I had.
Thank God for helping us!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Death Discussion
Most of you know we don't do Halloween but I figured y'all might not appreciate this topic on many other days. Am I right, or am I right?
AND, I don't have to write everything I want to say because Barbara already quotes, notes, links, and says most of the things I'd like to tell you. So, just click over to Barb's post and then come back here!
Go ahead...click over...I'll wait...
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.
.
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Read it? OK, you can continue here now.
Many of these thoughts began cropping up in my head after the beautiful experience I had with my Granny when she was called from earth to be with the LORD. I have never fully worked through all of my thoughts but I've had many of these ideas for a while now. I guess I'll have to truly discuss all of this with family some day but if the day for needing these decisions made comes sooner than later, all you blog-readers can attest to my wishes!
In a nutshell, I'd like:
-death at home without over-medication. Keep me aware of my situation!
-family at my side
-pine box, wicker or similar wooden/naturally decomposing coffin
-natural oils & spices in place of chemical embalming
-funeral time spent in praise and pointing people to Jesus with a time of invitation
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died[f] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.[g] 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died[h] will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
(p.s. - I still nauseatingly cringe about all the plastic used to bury our dog, Lucy...I honestly can't stand to think about it....purposely thinking of something else now....la la la la...)
Friday, October 19, 2007
Remember Angie?
Yeah, 20/20 said it wasn't working, remember?
Her blog says otherwise. Read older entries, too.
Yay God!!
Her blog says otherwise. Read older entries, too.
Yay God!!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
What Is Your Granola Factor?
Charlotte asked the question, "What is a non-crunchy Mom?" I realized that others of you might be wondering the same thing. Maybe this "Granola Factor" quiz will help you understand and decide if you are "crunchy" or "non-crunchy."
I scored 124 :)
I scored 124 :)
Saturday, June 02, 2007
So Much Media...
I'm exhausted with all that's in the media these days. My head spins with things I'd like to write about but I can't get it all together right now. Therefore, I'm going to just stick with providing you with some easy links to interesting interviews about a documentary I am dilligently working to have brought to Butterville before AL's next legislative session. Lotsa folks around here need to see this film!Good interview here and a funny-ish one here
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Motivated
Honestly, I was motivated to write this post because of watching American Idol tonight. It was a GREAT show!! I REALLY hope the final two end up being Jordin and the obvious winner, Melinda, but after Phil and Blake's excellent performances tonight, I would hate to see them say goodbye. I really hope it's Chris' week but this is the week that two will go so I think the other will be Phil. He did a really nice job tonight but I believe his song choice was probably a little too foreshadowing. I'm afraid he'll go down in a blaze of glory...
Melinda -- oh my goodness, she's just awesome! She can sing A N Y T H I N G ! I had this laptop in my lap, doing some work, when she started singing and I had to set it aside so I could lean forward on my knees, pat my hands on my thighs, tap my toes and generally do a tired little rock-out. Incredibly enjoyable. She HAS to win this thing. SHe's the only one we're voting for so that we can do our part to prevent one of those tragic, freaky, and wrong dismissals.
And while I'm motivated to talk about reality contests, let me say I'm happy John Ratzenberger had such a good run on Dancing With The Stars. This has been teh first season I've seen where the dancers have been eliminated in a judicious order. If things continue in this manner, Billy Ray will be the next to go (he's been fun to watch, too) and then Ian. The last 3 will be Laila, Apolo, and Joey. I've yet to decide which of the guys I want to end up on top.
Motivated -- that's me! You know what I'm motivated about OTHER than blogging because of the boob tube??? I'm motivated to LOOK GOOD :) OK, to look as good as I can! I just got my first tube (cleanser) of M's preservative-free, Hunza-water skincare line and it is AWWW-some (hear me singing that!) I will be ordering the Serum and Moisturizer at the end of this week and then I will really be getting some good-looking skin on my face. And for a recovering sufferrer of acne for many years, this is uplifting in lots of ways. Even with as much as I've believed in and loved M's nutritional products, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised at how well the skin stuff works, too!
I'm also motivated to lose weight. Even after just a couple of days of A3, I feel my body trying to kick into its fat-burning mode. My energy is increasing and I feel non-bloaty, for lack of a better term. I'm taking it slow and easy because of breastfeeding but I know I can do this safely and effectively. It's exciting!
Lastly, because of the following adorable pictures, I've been motivated to spend too much time uploading these so that I could share them with you. I hope you like them!
Ain't he darling? 11 weeks old today!
Posing like his Daddy in the middle of his haircut.
Rocky really looks like Henry, doesn't he?
Indie is a NUT! This was taken while we were waiting for Ray's Bible Drill to get started.
And here's Ray during her Bible Drill (The bible verse memory equivelant of a spelling bee.) She did a fantastic job all the way through the District level! We were extremely proud!
I hope you'll leave comments to keep me feeling motivated but I know that the feel-goodness of this week isn't from anything people have been saying TO me but because of what people have been praying FOR me. I've had a couple of specific prayer requests mentioned to a small handful of people this week and I just have to PRAISE GOD for these prayer warriors and for His answers.
Melinda -- oh my goodness, she's just awesome! She can sing A N Y T H I N G ! I had this laptop in my lap, doing some work, when she started singing and I had to set it aside so I could lean forward on my knees, pat my hands on my thighs, tap my toes and generally do a tired little rock-out. Incredibly enjoyable. She HAS to win this thing. SHe's the only one we're voting for so that we can do our part to prevent one of those tragic, freaky, and wrong dismissals.
And while I'm motivated to talk about reality contests, let me say I'm happy John Ratzenberger had such a good run on Dancing With The Stars. This has been teh first season I've seen where the dancers have been eliminated in a judicious order. If things continue in this manner, Billy Ray will be the next to go (he's been fun to watch, too) and then Ian. The last 3 will be Laila, Apolo, and Joey. I've yet to decide which of the guys I want to end up on top.
Motivated -- that's me! You know what I'm motivated about OTHER than blogging because of the boob tube??? I'm motivated to LOOK GOOD :) OK, to look as good as I can! I just got my first tube (cleanser) of M's preservative-free, Hunza-water skincare line and it is AWWW-some (hear me singing that!) I will be ordering the Serum and Moisturizer at the end of this week and then I will really be getting some good-looking skin on my face. And for a recovering sufferrer of acne for many years, this is uplifting in lots of ways. Even with as much as I've believed in and loved M's nutritional products, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised at how well the skin stuff works, too!
I'm also motivated to lose weight. Even after just a couple of days of A3, I feel my body trying to kick into its fat-burning mode. My energy is increasing and I feel non-bloaty, for lack of a better term. I'm taking it slow and easy because of breastfeeding but I know I can do this safely and effectively. It's exciting!
Lastly, because of the following adorable pictures, I've been motivated to spend too much time uploading these so that I could share them with you. I hope you like them!
I hope you'll leave comments to keep me feeling motivated but I know that the feel-goodness of this week isn't from anything people have been saying TO me but because of what people have been praying FOR me. I've had a couple of specific prayer requests mentioned to a small handful of people this week and I just have to PRAISE GOD for these prayer warriors and for His answers.
11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. 2 Corinthians 1:11
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Yeah, I'm Signed Up With Google Alerts
So you might be getting links to more things in the future. I'm only being alerted for "Mannatech" "midwife" and "breastfeeding" right now but I'm finding this feature so neat that I might add more things soon!
Here's today's link to a Mannatech news blurb.
Mannatech's awesome :)
Here's today's link to a Mannatech news blurb.
Mannatech's awesome :)
Monday, February 05, 2007
If You Are Pregnant And Don't Have A Chiro...
Shame on you!
Today's chiro visit focused on getting baby in good position, instead of focusing on my own spine, although the two go hand-in-hand. After a few little adjustments I feel amazingly better! My right cheek (sciatic nerve) is no longer a pain issue and my belly button is poking out again! I think little Captain is in a much better position now than even after my earlier morning exercises. I feel goooooood!
We'll continue working on positioning until birth but I have to tell you pregos... Get yourself a chiro to take care of you! You'll thank me later!
Today's chiro visit focused on getting baby in good position, instead of focusing on my own spine, although the two go hand-in-hand. After a few little adjustments I feel amazingly better! My right cheek (sciatic nerve) is no longer a pain issue and my belly button is poking out again! I think little Captain is in a much better position now than even after my earlier morning exercises. I feel goooooood!
We'll continue working on positioning until birth but I have to tell you pregos... Get yourself a chiro to take care of you! You'll thank me later!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Couldn't Find The Right Onomatopoeia
(It was very difficult for me to find the correct spelling for this word because if you google misspelled versions, other people out there in the world wide web have misspelled it the same way. Thankfully I remembered correctly enough to finally find the right way.)
I was trying to title this entry with a great little word to describe the way I have been feeling the last couple of days. "Ugh" and "oy" came to mind but they just didn't quite encompass the emotion of my poor bod.
It seems to have happened overnight. I believe I have gained 100 pounds, all in my belly, and have swallowed some sort of giant stone that thrusts my belly button out into a whacky misshapen hump that pulls so tightly at my sides that I feel as if I might burst. God's plan to prepare a woman for labor works quite well when He allows a completely lovely pregnancy to be attacked in such a way in the end. Last week I would have said, "Hmm, I'm in no hurry to have this baby. I feel good and still have some things to get done around the house before he gets here so there's definitely no need to rush." NOW I am fiercely trying to obey my nesting instinct and get this home ready for a new baby because I am READY for labor to commence. And JUST LIKE THAT ("snap") God's plan falls into place. How else could we be willing to deal with the work that labor entails if we weren't driven to a point of "ugh" and "oy" during the preceding weeks?
This is all familiar, though. I just can't believe it's here already.
I missed church last night because of this lump & pain. Captain is getting a little peeved at the tight quarters or something and is choosing to stretch out his complaints in a very attention-grabbing way. His largeness is causing moments of pain along the lower back pelvis region. If I was a first time Mom, I might fear these to be contractions but I am quite certain they are not. They don't feel like contractions and don't last for sufficient periods of time. They are just doses of reality that the time is nearing.
In addition to the low back stuff, I also get this really uncomfortable sensation on the front side where fists and elbows make their mark. It's no fun. And the every-30-minute-middle-of-the-night-bathroom-calls? DOUBLE-UGH!
Thankfully, the pains subside when I lie down to rest. And they don't last forever when I'm upright...just in phases. It's very positional and when Boy Baby is in the right position, I am fine. He even gets in a few naps and allows me a normal day. But when he gets restless in the afternoon and evenings..."ugh" and "oy..."
A trip to the chiropractor this afternoon held off the discomfort until a little later in the day.
And because I need to get to bed, I won't be making many efforts to smooth out the transitions in subject-changes.
The reason we ended up going to the chiro today instead of my regular Wednesday is because He-Man put his fingers in the automatic sliding door of the van. Three fingers were smashed. He seemed fine after the initial yowl but I wanted an x-ray anyway. THANK YOU LORD for an x-ray machine at the chiro. MUCH faster service and with less germs than your conventional pediatrician or doc-in-a-box office.
No breaks! YAY! I was pretty confident that would be the result but I feel better knowing for sure.
Warning - another change of subject, but at least I'm following somewhat of a segue...
Fingers :)
The girls have started back to piano lessons. OK, Indie has started BACK (took lessons last year) and Ray has just STARTED (took guitar lessons last year instead of piano.) We have found an AWESOME teacher in our neck of the woods and they have been going to her house the past few weeks. I'm VERY proud of their progression. Talented little boogers, I tell ya!
Eyes burning, back aching. Must sleep.
More later!
I was trying to title this entry with a great little word to describe the way I have been feeling the last couple of days. "Ugh" and "oy" came to mind but they just didn't quite encompass the emotion of my poor bod.
It seems to have happened overnight. I believe I have gained 100 pounds, all in my belly, and have swallowed some sort of giant stone that thrusts my belly button out into a whacky misshapen hump that pulls so tightly at my sides that I feel as if I might burst. God's plan to prepare a woman for labor works quite well when He allows a completely lovely pregnancy to be attacked in such a way in the end. Last week I would have said, "Hmm, I'm in no hurry to have this baby. I feel good and still have some things to get done around the house before he gets here so there's definitely no need to rush." NOW I am fiercely trying to obey my nesting instinct and get this home ready for a new baby because I am READY for labor to commence. And JUST LIKE THAT ("snap") God's plan falls into place. How else could we be willing to deal with the work that labor entails if we weren't driven to a point of "ugh" and "oy" during the preceding weeks?
This is all familiar, though. I just can't believe it's here already.
I missed church last night because of this lump & pain. Captain is getting a little peeved at the tight quarters or something and is choosing to stretch out his complaints in a very attention-grabbing way. His largeness is causing moments of pain along the lower back pelvis region. If I was a first time Mom, I might fear these to be contractions but I am quite certain they are not. They don't feel like contractions and don't last for sufficient periods of time. They are just doses of reality that the time is nearing.
In addition to the low back stuff, I also get this really uncomfortable sensation on the front side where fists and elbows make their mark. It's no fun. And the every-30-minute-middle-of-the-night-bathroom-calls? DOUBLE-UGH!
Thankfully, the pains subside when I lie down to rest. And they don't last forever when I'm upright...just in phases. It's very positional and when Boy Baby is in the right position, I am fine. He even gets in a few naps and allows me a normal day. But when he gets restless in the afternoon and evenings..."ugh" and "oy..."
A trip to the chiropractor this afternoon held off the discomfort until a little later in the day.
And because I need to get to bed, I won't be making many efforts to smooth out the transitions in subject-changes.
The reason we ended up going to the chiro today instead of my regular Wednesday is because He-Man put his fingers in the automatic sliding door of the van. Three fingers were smashed. He seemed fine after the initial yowl but I wanted an x-ray anyway. THANK YOU LORD for an x-ray machine at the chiro. MUCH faster service and with less germs than your conventional pediatrician or doc-in-a-box office.
No breaks! YAY! I was pretty confident that would be the result but I feel better knowing for sure.
Warning - another change of subject, but at least I'm following somewhat of a segue...
Fingers :)
The girls have started back to piano lessons. OK, Indie has started BACK (took lessons last year) and Ray has just STARTED (took guitar lessons last year instead of piano.) We have found an AWESOME teacher in our neck of the woods and they have been going to her house the past few weeks. I'm VERY proud of their progression. Talented little boogers, I tell ya!
Eyes burning, back aching. Must sleep.
More later!
Thursday, December 07, 2006
"Glyconutrients" Will Be Household Word Before Long
Here's another exciting article recently published about glyconutrients. This time it's in the Explore: Journal of Science and Healing. It is an introductory type article but that's the phase glycos are still in on a global scale. One day, everyone will know EXACTLY what it means when they see that my email address and car say "GlycoFamily" but until then, I'll keep doing what I can to spread the hope we have in this scientific advancement.
See (and hopefully read) article here.
***note: I have the hard-copy version of this journal at home if anyone would like to see it.***
See (and hopefully read) article here.
Friday, November 17, 2006
New Report Sheds Sobering Light on Hospital Infections
Attention America - PLEASE put more focus on boosting your immune system than on treating every symptom with doctors' visits and medications! Running to the medical model every time you have a problem is only contributing to the problem. FIND THE ALTERNATIVES! They are out there but you will NOT find them at your doctor's office (99.9% of the time anyway.) People were healthier in the generations that did NOT have a drug for every symptom. RESERVE THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND TRUE HEALTH CRISES and implement what your Great-Great-Grandmother did for most everything else. Take advantage of what science and integrative medicine is teaching and use nutritional technology to fill in the areas where our diets fail us.
Infections Acquired During Hospital Stays Kill More People Than Breast Cancer, Auto Accidents and Aids Combined
By DAN CHILDS
ABC News Medical Unit Nov. 14, 2006— A hospital visit may be more dangerous to your health than you realize. Just ask Ingrid Kwiatek, who came home from the hospital with a serious staph infection.
Kwiatek's husband said what started as a routine hospital visit turned into an 110-day nightmare of pain and suffering in three different Pennsylvania hospitals.
"I would never wish this experience on anyone," he said. "Especially distressing was the closed-ranks attitude at all three hospitals in discussing the infection."
Following the incident, Kwiatek's family doctor had this to say: "Hospitals are dirty places."
The High Cost of Infections A new report released by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council pointed to the high cost of these infections in both dollars and lives.
The report — the first of its kind in the nation — identified the actual number of infections reported by Pennsylvania's 168 hospitals, as well as other related quality-of-care measures, in 2005.
The hospitals studied reported 19,154 cases in which patients contracted hospital-acquired infections. The hospitalizations resulting from these infections amounted to 394,129 hospital days and $3.5 billion in hospital charges.
The average hospital charge for patients with a hospital-acquired infection was $185,260, while the average charge for patients without hospital-acquired infections was $31,389. The average length of stay for patients with hospital-acquired infections was also longer at 20.6 days, compared with 4.5 days, for those who didn't contract hospital infections.
Most telling, though, were the figures on patient deaths. The report said that while 2.3 percent of patients who didn't acquire infections died, the mortality rate for those who did contract infections was 12.9 percent — more than 5½ times as high.
"This report is a first. We are no longer looking at statistics based on estimates or extrapolated data," said Lisa McGiffert, director of Consumers Union's Stop Hospital Infections campaign. "These are real people who suffered from real infections. The personal and financial costs of hospital infections are staggering."
The Pennsylvania study did offer a few solutions. It said that doctors and other hospital workers should wash their hands more regularly, use gloves and properly sterilized equipment, and routinely follow established "best practices." The report also suggested that patients should follow the same guidelines and insist that not only health care providers but visitors wash their hands too.
Shedding Light on Hospital Safety What adds to the problem, though, according to health officials, is that most states are not required to report infections or provide such information to the public.
"It's time to shine the light on this important and costly issue," said Marc Volavka, executive director of Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. "This will save thousands of Americans from the devastating effects of hospital-acquired infections."
Volavka said the report is a first step toward greater transparency.
"It's time that hospitals, patients and those who pay the bill know how many patients develop hospital-acquired infections, the type of infections they develop and the quality and cost implications," Volavka said. "The more information that becomes available, the better the focus will be on preventing these infections."
"Until now, consumers have been completely in the dark about their hospital's record on infecting patients," said Beth McConnell, director of the Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. "This report sheds light on a very serious problem and will help the public hold hospitals accountable for patient safety."
Infections Acquired During Hospital Stays Kill More People Than Breast Cancer, Auto Accidents and Aids Combined
By DAN CHILDS
ABC News Medical Unit Nov. 14, 2006— A hospital visit may be more dangerous to your health than you realize. Just ask Ingrid Kwiatek, who came home from the hospital with a serious staph infection.
Kwiatek's husband said what started as a routine hospital visit turned into an 110-day nightmare of pain and suffering in three different Pennsylvania hospitals.
"I would never wish this experience on anyone," he said. "Especially distressing was the closed-ranks attitude at all three hospitals in discussing the infection."
Following the incident, Kwiatek's family doctor had this to say: "Hospitals are dirty places."
The High Cost of Infections A new report released by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council pointed to the high cost of these infections in both dollars and lives.
The report — the first of its kind in the nation — identified the actual number of infections reported by Pennsylvania's 168 hospitals, as well as other related quality-of-care measures, in 2005.
The hospitals studied reported 19,154 cases in which patients contracted hospital-acquired infections. The hospitalizations resulting from these infections amounted to 394,129 hospital days and $3.5 billion in hospital charges.
The average hospital charge for patients with a hospital-acquired infection was $185,260, while the average charge for patients without hospital-acquired infections was $31,389. The average length of stay for patients with hospital-acquired infections was also longer at 20.6 days, compared with 4.5 days, for those who didn't contract hospital infections.
Most telling, though, were the figures on patient deaths. The report said that while 2.3 percent of patients who didn't acquire infections died, the mortality rate for those who did contract infections was 12.9 percent — more than 5½ times as high.
"This report is a first. We are no longer looking at statistics based on estimates or extrapolated data," said Lisa McGiffert, director of Consumers Union's Stop Hospital Infections campaign. "These are real people who suffered from real infections. The personal and financial costs of hospital infections are staggering."
The Pennsylvania study did offer a few solutions. It said that doctors and other hospital workers should wash their hands more regularly, use gloves and properly sterilized equipment, and routinely follow established "best practices." The report also suggested that patients should follow the same guidelines and insist that not only health care providers but visitors wash their hands too.
Shedding Light on Hospital Safety What adds to the problem, though, according to health officials, is that most states are not required to report infections or provide such information to the public.
"It's time to shine the light on this important and costly issue," said Marc Volavka, executive director of Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. "This will save thousands of Americans from the devastating effects of hospital-acquired infections."
Volavka said the report is a first step toward greater transparency.
"It's time that hospitals, patients and those who pay the bill know how many patients develop hospital-acquired infections, the type of infections they develop and the quality and cost implications," Volavka said. "The more information that becomes available, the better the focus will be on preventing these infections."
"Until now, consumers have been completely in the dark about their hospital's record on infecting patients," said Beth McConnell, director of the Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. "This report sheds light on a very serious problem and will help the public hold hospitals accountable for patient safety."
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Ahhh
Yesterday I finally received the completed version of my Christmas gift from Henry. A massage.
As nice as the gift certificate was to look at, it sure FELT better to take it to my guy and redeem it.
Again I must say, "Ahhh."
I had not intentionally waited this long to redeem my certificate but it seems there just hasn't been a good opportunity to take the time for this. Now that I'm getting rounder in the front, I figured I better hurry if I wanted to do this thing. I don't know if I could have laid on my belly if I had waited even another week!
THANK YOU AGAIN, Henry for this awesome gift! You are so sweet to take care of me like this!
If anyone needs a good massage guy, let me know and I'll pass you his name and number!
Friday, August 20, 2004
Exercise - Day 1
I did it. I joined the YMCA. Now I have no excuses. A few variations of the same excuses for not exercising:
-walking is boring without someone talkative to do it with me
-the only time I can exercise is at night when Henry an watch the kids and then it's dangerous to go outside.
-taking the kids for a walk with me is just not exercise - it's more a test of patience
Now I have childcare. I have beaucoups of classes and interesting options. I know people who can exercise with me. Classes are offered at several different times during the day and many days a week.
I did the aquatics class today. It was really great. I enjoyed the class because it wasn't butt-kicking, however I really felt that I did some major exercising. My arms will most likely be sore tomorrow (need to restock my personal supply of SPORT.)
Things I need to do:
Pray for He-Man to get used to the childcare area. He screamed the whole time (so much for the good time he had in there on my trial visit.)
Get a combination lock for locker
Get water shoes (my right big toe is blistered from running in place on the cement-bottom pool!)
Any Y members out there that would like to exercise together? I did the Y membership that allows me to go to any Y in the area!
-walking is boring without someone talkative to do it with me
-the only time I can exercise is at night when Henry an watch the kids and then it's dangerous to go outside.
-taking the kids for a walk with me is just not exercise - it's more a test of patience
Now I have childcare. I have beaucoups of classes and interesting options. I know people who can exercise with me. Classes are offered at several different times during the day and many days a week.
I did the aquatics class today. It was really great. I enjoyed the class because it wasn't butt-kicking, however I really felt that I did some major exercising. My arms will most likely be sore tomorrow (need to restock my personal supply of SPORT.)
Things I need to do:
Pray for He-Man to get used to the childcare area. He screamed the whole time (so much for the good time he had in there on my trial visit.)
Get a combination lock for locker
Get water shoes (my right big toe is blistered from running in place on the cement-bottom pool!)
Any Y members out there that would like to exercise together? I did the Y membership that allows me to go to any Y in the area!
Thursday, June 10, 2004
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