So tomorrow is the Intro to Childbearing course, then Sat/Sun is the Doula Training workshop. I am really excited! I really, really need the time away. But I'm also worried about Dave and the kids. It's not good timing for them. Dave is still in pain and can't lift the big 2 kids. He also has never changed Ruthie's cloth diapers or fed her (or any baby) a bottle. I will be gone for 9.5+ hours each day, and the course is downtown so I wouldn't have time to come home to nurse at lunch. And we only have 1 vehicle, though Dave wouldn't be able to bring all the kids anyway, since he can't lift them (and he can't leave them at home, obviously).
So, I know we will survive, but it might be rough. For them anyway. Anyone want to drop by and help Dave out?
This is the only time I can take the course before my friend's birth in Oct. So I need to do it now. Hopefully everything will just go well. I am looking forward to being 1 step closer to being a doula!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Salmon Mango Wraps
I got this recipe from a Today's Parent magazine, and it has become one of my favourites! I've tweaked it a little though.
You need:
~6 large flour tortillas (or more/less as needed, just adjust the recipe accordingly)
~750 g (1 1/2 lb) skinless, boneless, salmon fillet (I just buy about an $8 fresh fillet, I don't usually look at the weight, it seems to be enough for us. Basically, buy how much salmon you would normally eat in a meal as a family)
~Canola or olive oil (I use olive)
~Salt and pepper to taste
~1 fresh, ripe mango, pitted and diced
~1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
~1/2 red onion, chopped (I've used regular onions when I didn't have a red one)
~Juice of one large lime
~1/4 tsp salt
~Hoisin sauce or barbecue sauce (I use Diana's Honey Garlic BBQ sauce)
~2 cups (approx) shredded Romaine lettuce.
~Red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
~1 cup (approx) shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
Preheat oven to 450 F.
Cut salmon into 6 equal pieces (or however many pieces you think you will need, 1 per wrap). Brush with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until just cooked through.
In a medium bowl, combine mango, cilantro, onion, lime juice, and salt.
Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil. Put tortilla package in oven for a few minutes at the end of baking time to heat through.
Baste cooked salmon with hoisin/BBQ sauce (I also spread some on the tortilla). Place 1 piece of fish on a warm tortilla, sprinkle with cheese and red pepper flakes (optional), top with about 1/3 cup mango mixture, and lettuce.
Wrap. Eat. Repeat.
It's an interesting combo of flavours, but so delicious!
You need:
~6 large flour tortillas (or more/less as needed, just adjust the recipe accordingly)
~750 g (1 1/2 lb) skinless, boneless, salmon fillet (I just buy about an $8 fresh fillet, I don't usually look at the weight, it seems to be enough for us. Basically, buy how much salmon you would normally eat in a meal as a family)
~Canola or olive oil (I use olive)
~Salt and pepper to taste
~1 fresh, ripe mango, pitted and diced
~1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
~1/2 red onion, chopped (I've used regular onions when I didn't have a red one)
~Juice of one large lime
~1/4 tsp salt
~Hoisin sauce or barbecue sauce (I use Diana's Honey Garlic BBQ sauce)
~2 cups (approx) shredded Romaine lettuce.
~Red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
~1 cup (approx) shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
Preheat oven to 450 F.
Cut salmon into 6 equal pieces (or however many pieces you think you will need, 1 per wrap). Brush with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until just cooked through.
In a medium bowl, combine mango, cilantro, onion, lime juice, and salt.
Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil. Put tortilla package in oven for a few minutes at the end of baking time to heat through.
Baste cooked salmon with hoisin/BBQ sauce (I also spread some on the tortilla). Place 1 piece of fish on a warm tortilla, sprinkle with cheese and red pepper flakes (optional), top with about 1/3 cup mango mixture, and lettuce.
Wrap. Eat. Repeat.
It's an interesting combo of flavours, but so delicious!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Blurrrrr
Sorry that I haven't been around much since we got back from our trip. Things have been... busy. I didn't realize how hard this was going to be. Not only do I have all 3 kids to take care of 100% by myself 24/7, but I also have to take care of Dave, making him food, keeping the kids from jumping on him, putting on his socks... Sometimes I forget about him as I'm preoccupied with everything else, then I feel bad. They had to open him right up for the surgery, and staple him back together. It's like he's healing from a c-section! I guess this is good doula practice. Although he actually gets to sleep and doesn't have to breastfeed.
Our trip went fairly well. I had a lot of fun at the ranch and it was great to see my friend Jen (and have her to help with the kids, I don't think I would have survived the first 24 hours post-surgery without her)! Judith suffered a minor (but seemed like major at the time) injury, stretching me to my limits, but we survived. She managed to scrape all of the skin off the top of her toe under a door, it was nasty. But it was nice to be out in the country, and see TREES! The kids loved the horses, and the other kids who lived at the ranch. The drive down, and half of the drive back, was great, I love driving out of the city, I find it therapeutic. The kids slept most of the drive too. On the way home it got stressful though, we drove into very strong winds and rain, making it hard to see and control the van. The temperature also dropped 20 degrees (Celsius) in a really short time. But we made it. My poor nerves, hands and shoulders were the only casualties.
Friday I attempted to go out with the 3 kids, but it was a big fail. I cried a lot. Sunday I tried again and succeeded though! But it was exhausting. Everything has been kind of a blur since we got back, honestly.
The house has been a disaster since we got home, I haven't been getting much sleep, and haven't been eating much/well. I've been really frustrated and short-tempered. Judith's behaviour has actually been ok since we got back, thankfully, she has been really hard to deal with since she turned 4 but during and since the trip she has been better. Well, until today.
Today everything just really got to me. The kids were incessant and would not leave me alone, I could barely think or function. Let's just say, I had a very bad Mommy day. I feel terrible. It takes a lot to get me to openly freak out, but my kids have skillz. I finally kicked the kids outside against their will (I would have rather just physically kicked them, but this seemed like a healthier alternative), then organized and took out the garbage and recycling. I started to cool down, feeling better having finally gotten something done, then I heard a scream, and opened the door to see this...
Seriously, if anyone here needs a facial, it's ME! I was ready to wave the white flag, but instead I tried to laugh and I took a pic. Then ran the bath. Then Gideon and I had cookies (Judith lost cookie priviliges because of the mud thing). Then Judith offered to help me clean up the kitchen and living room (they were disasterous, a major contributor to my stress), so that's what we did. Now the place looks normal again, Judith is making popsicle-stick puppets, Gideon is playing with his puzzles, Ruthie is nursing, and I am finally getting a chance to go online. So I am trying to breathe, while I can.
Our trip went fairly well. I had a lot of fun at the ranch and it was great to see my friend Jen (and have her to help with the kids, I don't think I would have survived the first 24 hours post-surgery without her)! Judith suffered a minor (but seemed like major at the time) injury, stretching me to my limits, but we survived. She managed to scrape all of the skin off the top of her toe under a door, it was nasty. But it was nice to be out in the country, and see TREES! The kids loved the horses, and the other kids who lived at the ranch. The drive down, and half of the drive back, was great, I love driving out of the city, I find it therapeutic. The kids slept most of the drive too. On the way home it got stressful though, we drove into very strong winds and rain, making it hard to see and control the van. The temperature also dropped 20 degrees (Celsius) in a really short time. But we made it. My poor nerves, hands and shoulders were the only casualties.
Friday I attempted to go out with the 3 kids, but it was a big fail. I cried a lot. Sunday I tried again and succeeded though! But it was exhausting. Everything has been kind of a blur since we got back, honestly.
The house has been a disaster since we got home, I haven't been getting much sleep, and haven't been eating much/well. I've been really frustrated and short-tempered. Judith's behaviour has actually been ok since we got back, thankfully, she has been really hard to deal with since she turned 4 but during and since the trip she has been better. Well, until today.
Today everything just really got to me. The kids were incessant and would not leave me alone, I could barely think or function. Let's just say, I had a very bad Mommy day. I feel terrible. It takes a lot to get me to openly freak out, but my kids have skillz. I finally kicked the kids outside against their will (I would have rather just physically kicked them, but this seemed like a healthier alternative), then organized and took out the garbage and recycling. I started to cool down, feeling better having finally gotten something done, then I heard a scream, and opened the door to see this...
Seriously, if anyone here needs a facial, it's ME! I was ready to wave the white flag, but instead I tried to laugh and I took a pic. Then ran the bath. Then Gideon and I had cookies (Judith lost cookie priviliges because of the mud thing). Then Judith offered to help me clean up the kitchen and living room (they were disasterous, a major contributor to my stress), so that's what we did. Now the place looks normal again, Judith is making popsicle-stick puppets, Gideon is playing with his puzzles, Ruthie is nursing, and I am finally getting a chance to go online. So I am trying to breathe, while I can.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
I Need To See This!!!!!!!
I just came across this via facebook. I come across A LOT of birth stuff, because I have awesome friends who also like to share things they find (I share quite a bit myself). So I clicked on this, thinking I would be inspired as usual, but I didn't anticipate it being so "close to home".
The film was made in Byron Bay, Australia. Where I used to live. When I was pregnant with Judith. Where my motherhood journey began. Where I was impacted by my birth experience forever. Where I was empowered to make my own decisions, birth my baby, and was given incredible support to persevere with breastfeeding.
I met Sue, the midwife in this film, and went to her prenatal classes (shown in the film). I also went to the birth centre (although we transferred to the hospital, but then back to this birth centre after, where the midwives could give me more attention and help with my breastfeeding issues). Seeing all of the familiar images of Byron Bay, Sue (and the other flaky midwife in the prenatal class scene, she was there for my classes too!), and the birth centre, totally ripped my heart out. I was not expecting that AT ALL! But I am so happy to have come across this! I may have to fork out $50 + shipping for this movie. Seriously, it would be worth it. I would just watch it over and over and bawl my eyes out. That is the most beautiful place in the world, and so much of my personal calling came to fruition there.
Maybe I could buy the movie, and then have a showing and charge $2 or something, to cover the costs, haha!
So here is the trailer. Please note: there are images of naked breasts and full birth footage, so only watch it if you can handle that! Enjoy.
The film was made in Byron Bay, Australia. Where I used to live. When I was pregnant with Judith. Where my motherhood journey began. Where I was impacted by my birth experience forever. Where I was empowered to make my own decisions, birth my baby, and was given incredible support to persevere with breastfeeding.
I met Sue, the midwife in this film, and went to her prenatal classes (shown in the film). I also went to the birth centre (although we transferred to the hospital, but then back to this birth centre after, where the midwives could give me more attention and help with my breastfeeding issues). Seeing all of the familiar images of Byron Bay, Sue (and the other flaky midwife in the prenatal class scene, she was there for my classes too!), and the birth centre, totally ripped my heart out. I was not expecting that AT ALL! But I am so happy to have come across this! I may have to fork out $50 + shipping for this movie. Seriously, it would be worth it. I would just watch it over and over and bawl my eyes out. That is the most beautiful place in the world, and so much of my personal calling came to fruition there.
Maybe I could buy the movie, and then have a showing and charge $2 or something, to cover the costs, haha!
So here is the trailer. Please note: there are images of naked breasts and full birth footage, so only watch it if you can handle that! Enjoy.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Impromptu Family Vacation!
Tomorrow is Dave's surgery. I think he is quite anxious about it. We have to get up in the morning, drive 3 hours to another city, have his surgery, find something for supper, then drive another 45 minutes to a ranch (YWAM base) we are staying at, where my friend works. Then we will stay overnight, and head back home the next day. Dave is really nervous about the surgery, and I am stressed about the trip (the van, the kids, driving, logistics, etc). I still have to pack. But I am excited to see my friend, and I bet the kids would love the ranch! I think the ranch is a better idea than a hotel, because Dave can rest in our room, while the kids and I play outside, with lots of friendly people around to help me. At a hotel we would probably just be stuck inside and the kids would be all over him. I really hope he isn't in too bad of shape when he comes out of surgery (it's just a day surgery for a hernia). This trip has the potential to be extremely overwhelming for me.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Insight into the Unschooled Adult Life
I'm really enjoying this video right now. It's long, but so interesting.
I got it from this blog, which I also highly recommend.
I got it from this blog, which I also highly recommend.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Dentist
I think Judith may be finally over her fear of the dentist. At her initial appointment back in March, she kicked and screamed and ran away and hid, it was awful. I felt like I was betraying her. Then her first round of work a couple weeks later (extraction, root canal, and 2 teeth filled & capped) on her right side was really rough on me. Thankfully my friend came to help (Thanks Ashley, couldn't have done it without you!!!). Judith screamed and thrashed around, but the sedation helped. She freaked out really bad at one point, but then we realized that she was just mad about a finger-print spot on the sunglasses she was wearing. Once that was cleaned off she was fine. She watched Thomas while the work was being done, and overall it wasn't too bad. The paediatric dentist was good, he was really kind and quick and tried really hard to keep Judith calm and informed. Afterwards she picked out a toy especially for Gideon (seriously, she is so sweet), then my friend kept her happy on the drive home, and she went to sleep on the couch right after.
When she woke up she was happy, the drugs had worn off, and she said "Mommy, my tooth doesn't hurt anymore!" I almost cried (I had already cried quite a bit while she was asleep), I guess her rotten tooth had been causing her a lot of pain, and it felt better even though they yanked it out of her and it was bleeding all over! She recovered quickly, doing her salt rinses without a fuss, and she was very proud of her new "silver" (stainless steel capped) teeth, and loved to show off her "rotten" tooth to any and all visitors. She's a tough cookie.
The second dentist appointment to complete her extensive work was as good as expected. Judith was awesome. She was very brave and did everything the dentist asked, even under the sedation. He was very impressed. The only thing was afterwards, she wouldn't stop biting her tongue! I guess it felt weird since it was frozen, so she kept chewing it. So then it got bloody, and that really freaked her out. She wouldn't stop touching it and checking for blood, I guess the drugs made her all OCD. It took quite a while to get her to go to sleep once we got home, she was really whiny. But she finally slept for a few hours.
She loves her new teeth! She shows them off all the time. She got another root canal and 2 teeth filled & capped on her left side. She has 4 stainless steel ones in all now. My poor little 4 year-old has had 1 extraction, 2 root canals, and 4 teeth filled & capped. Sugar and juice will no longer be regulars in this house! And the kids are no longer allowed to graze all day. Hopefully that was the last time we ever go through this! It's so hard to see a child stoned out of their mind, but we definitely would not have been able to do it without the sedation.
My poor kids! I have never given them any kind of drug or antibiotic or anything, and now just in the last while we've had so much! Gideon had his hernia surgery Feb 24, which went really well (Dave has hernia surgery next week too!). He was put out for it, but when he came to he completely freaked out, I guess the pain medication they gave him didn't work, so they ended up giving him morphine. I hated seeing my baby boy all drugged up, it broke my heart! He was on Tylenol for a few days after, but honestly he bounced back well, and quickly. He's almost all healed up now.
Judith was given a drink that essentially made her "drunk". She was awake, but totally stoned out of her mind. It was a little bit funny, but mostly heartbreaking. It made her easier to handle during the procedure (although it did nothing for pain, she still had to get the regular freezing from the huge needle), and it also clouds her memory of it. We gave her one dose of Tylenol each time after we got home, but then she was fine so she didn't need any more.
Judith actually came up to me after her nap once the drugs wore off and said "I was so brave this time, because now I like the dentist. I'm not afraid anymore!" So, I guess facing her fears was a good thing after all (I finally figured out that she got her crazy fear of the dentist from Finding Nemo!). She experienced the worst that dental work has to offer a child, and lived to tell.
Both of the kids recovered remarkably well from their "traumatic" events. So, hopefully we can put all of this behind us. Now if only I could go and sleep for a week... then maybe I could recover!
When she woke up she was happy, the drugs had worn off, and she said "Mommy, my tooth doesn't hurt anymore!" I almost cried (I had already cried quite a bit while she was asleep), I guess her rotten tooth had been causing her a lot of pain, and it felt better even though they yanked it out of her and it was bleeding all over! She recovered quickly, doing her salt rinses without a fuss, and she was very proud of her new "silver" (stainless steel capped) teeth, and loved to show off her "rotten" tooth to any and all visitors. She's a tough cookie.
The second dentist appointment to complete her extensive work was as good as expected. Judith was awesome. She was very brave and did everything the dentist asked, even under the sedation. He was very impressed. The only thing was afterwards, she wouldn't stop biting her tongue! I guess it felt weird since it was frozen, so she kept chewing it. So then it got bloody, and that really freaked her out. She wouldn't stop touching it and checking for blood, I guess the drugs made her all OCD. It took quite a while to get her to go to sleep once we got home, she was really whiny. But she finally slept for a few hours.
She loves her new teeth! She shows them off all the time. She got another root canal and 2 teeth filled & capped on her left side. She has 4 stainless steel ones in all now. My poor little 4 year-old has had 1 extraction, 2 root canals, and 4 teeth filled & capped. Sugar and juice will no longer be regulars in this house! And the kids are no longer allowed to graze all day. Hopefully that was the last time we ever go through this! It's so hard to see a child stoned out of their mind, but we definitely would not have been able to do it without the sedation.
My poor kids! I have never given them any kind of drug or antibiotic or anything, and now just in the last while we've had so much! Gideon had his hernia surgery Feb 24, which went really well (Dave has hernia surgery next week too!). He was put out for it, but when he came to he completely freaked out, I guess the pain medication they gave him didn't work, so they ended up giving him morphine. I hated seeing my baby boy all drugged up, it broke my heart! He was on Tylenol for a few days after, but honestly he bounced back well, and quickly. He's almost all healed up now.
Judith was given a drink that essentially made her "drunk". She was awake, but totally stoned out of her mind. It was a little bit funny, but mostly heartbreaking. It made her easier to handle during the procedure (although it did nothing for pain, she still had to get the regular freezing from the huge needle), and it also clouds her memory of it. We gave her one dose of Tylenol each time after we got home, but then she was fine so she didn't need any more.
Judith actually came up to me after her nap once the drugs wore off and said "I was so brave this time, because now I like the dentist. I'm not afraid anymore!" So, I guess facing her fears was a good thing after all (I finally figured out that she got her crazy fear of the dentist from Finding Nemo!). She experienced the worst that dental work has to offer a child, and lived to tell.
Both of the kids recovered remarkably well from their "traumatic" events. So, hopefully we can put all of this behind us. Now if only I could go and sleep for a week... then maybe I could recover!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Lent
Ok, so I really really need to catch up on everything that happened over lent before it is gone from my brain forever. Ideas and memories don't always have that long of a lifespan in my head these days...
Now, bullets:
* The first week was really frustrating. I literally spent all day, from when I got up until when I went to bed, doing housework. And the house was only marginally cleaner. It really didn't seem worth all of the extra effort. This was compounded by the fact that Dave was on the computer all day, every day, while I worked my butt off.
* I surprisingly didn't miss the internet OR junk food though. My brain still thought in "status" and "blog" mode for the first week or so, but that eventually went away, as I learned to live in real life again. But I discovered that my "need" for sugar and junk food was related to my time spent online. As much as I love being online, and I need my friends there, it also stresses me out. I get stressed because the kids won't leave me alone while I'm trying to focus on writing something, and also because when I spend too much time away from the computer, I get "behind". But I found I wasn't as stressed when I wasn't online, so I didn't really need my other drug (sugar) to cope.
* I really missed juice though. I'm totally a juice junkie and don't like water. But I managed to survive by drinking ice water (for some reason it goes down better than room temp, even though my teeth are sensitive), and eating fresh fruit.
* After the first week, I decided to change my attitude about the computer, and I felt a lot better. I realized that I can only control myself, and what I do. I can't control what Dave decides to do, and there's no point in getting all bent out of shape about it. It was liberating for me.
* I experienced my first ever postpartum hair-fallout. After the first 2 kids were born, I had dreads, so I didn't have to deal with all of the hair. All I can say is: yuck.
* I also quit shampooing my hair. Now I just wash my scalp with baking soda, and rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar. I still use a little leave-in conditioner on the ends, but I use less and less each time. My hair is surprisingly fabulous! I can leave it down without needing mousse for the first time ever!
* Gideon's surgery, Dave's Dr appointments and Judith's dentist appointments took a lot out of me, but overall everything went well. I've hung in there.
* Dave and I have been watching movies/tv shows at night after the kids go to bed (like all of seasons 5 & 6 of The Office, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and other movies that I can't think of right now...). It has been nice. I'm not looking forward to when he has to go back to work (early June), I've enjoyed actually being able to spend time with him.
* My mom came for a week-long visit. It went by really quickly as usual, but we did lots of fun stuff. Dave and I even got to go on a date! The kids got a little bit of a break with the sugar fast, having chocolate milk a couple times, and ice cream once. We got to see how even that little bit of sugar affected their behaviour, which was good reinforcement for us to keep it up with them.
* Judith is starting to "accidentally" show off what she has learned in her dance class. It's an unparented class, so I never get to see what she has learned. But I can see it in the way she carries herself, and the little things she does sometimes. They learn a lot of actual dance stuff in the class, I can't wait to see the recital in June!
* Ruthie hit her 3-month growth spurt. Eating all the time and fussing more than usual. I'm glad that's over.
* Gideon has become SO talkative! He says new words everyday, and can repeat anything anyone says. He talks in sentences, and they are becoming more and more understandable. He is seriously so adorable, I can't get over it.
* Computer died March 10 and went in for repairs. Mac customer service = awesome. Definitely buy the Apple Care if you buy a Mac!
* DVD player also died, we got a new media player that connects the tv to our computer, so we can watch tv on the tv that is coming from the computer. No need for cable, and no commercials! And we can rip our dvd's to the external hard drive, and then watch them on tv. It's great, we don't have to mess with actual DVD's anymore!
* The engine light came on in the van. Thankfully, one of Dave's friends is a mechanic, and he took a look at it for free. We just had to replace the air filter and clean out the air intake. Hopefully that was it! The light is off now, but still turns on during long drives (Dave has had to drive 3 hours each way to his Dr's appts, really annoying but that's WCB!). I'm glad we didn't have to take it in, it would have cost so much when it wasn't necessary.
* Did some serious introspection and thinking about where we are at as a family and what we want to do. God really confirmed my doula journey (more on that later), and Dave wants to get his A+ certification for computers, since he can't be a roofer forever. So I signed up for the DONA certification/course, and Dave has been studying up so he can challenge the exam soon. We would both like to have our own businesses some day, and then maybe we can travel again while being able to support ourselves. There is a lot of other spiritual stuff we have discussed too, but that might be for another blog...
* By week 3, I was starting to really miss my friends online. And I was craving sugar (mostly juice and good quality dark chocolate) again. Although I could easily never eat candy or pop again. It sounds so disgusting now. Even bread was starting to taste overwhelmingly sweet.
* I started going to the gym again, and surprisingly had no problem doing 20 mins on the eliptical, and started right where I left off with weights. I guess having 3 kids will do that. I was surprised that I was actually in shape, I guess it's just hiding under all the baby fat.
* I didn't lose any weight over the break, despite going to the gym, not eating junk, and breastfeeding. Well, I lost 4 pounds during Ruthie's growth spurt, but then gained it all back right away. I guess I just can't set any weight loss goals until I'm done breastfeeding, it's always like that for me. Although I do need to go and get some clothes that actually fit... instead of letting my butt hang out of everything while convincing myself I will lose the fat soon.
* I had to move Judith up to size 5 clothes, Ruthie wasn't the only one with a growth spurt over the break! Judith is quite tall for her age, I think. She definitely doesn't get that from me!
* Gideon changed a lot too, although mostly in looks. He's now definitely a toddler, my little boy, with very few traces of baby left in his face.
* I really enjoyed doing a lot of reading. It was great because it was therapeutic for me, and I could still be present with the kids, unlike the computer. It's a hobby that I am definitely going to keep up! I have to figure out what to cut from my computer time in order t o make room for more reading...
* Even without the computer though, I found my mind wandering all the time. It was honestly hard to focus 100% on the kids and just play. I had to fight really hard for it. That saddens me a lot, but is something I want to work on.
* Judith got to perform infront of people for the first time! They are practicing their routine for the recital already, and they came out after class one day and performed it for the teenagers' class. I guess they will be doing that a lot, to get used to it. Judith was SO cute! The other 2 girls in the class (there are just 4 kids), were way too shy and just stood there. The little boy liked the spotlight, but often forgot to actually dance. But Judith, she danced her heart out and soaked up the attention! Half the time she did her own thing instead of what the teacher was doing, but it was SO cute! She does not lack confidence!
* I have been doing Pilates with Ruthie (the PeeWee Pilates book is good!), and Judith likes to do it alongside me, with Lambie. It's so adorable, I keep forgetting to get a photo.
* Ruthie learned to suck her fingers to self-soothe (just like Judith did as a baby), and that has made my life SO much easier! She's a lot quieter, and nurses a bit less (I still have a ton of milk though). She seems to need something in her other hand though, in order to put her fingers in her mouth, and seems drawn to blankies more than stuffies, so I got her a blanket. I hope she gets attached to it, Judith having her Lambie and Gideon having his Blankie has been a huge help in comforting them.
* The last 2 weeks were HARD. I really missed everyone! But I'm glad I stuck it out.
* My friend Jen came to visit! She is one of my best friends, and it was so good and refreshing to connect with her!
* I got to hang out with some of my local friends during lent too, which was really nice. I probably talked too much because I was lacking the interaction, I hope they didn't mind. =) I'm so thankful that I do have friends here now, they are seriously awesome.
* Ruthie laughed for the first time March 28! She laughed for Dave in the morning, and for me in the evening, it was so cute!
* Had to upsize Ruthie to her intermediate sized diapers, and thus also move her into her size 6 months clothing. She's growing up too quickly! She was 16 pounds 4 oz at her 4 month appointment.
* We took the kids to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Gideon's birthday, and he loved it! Judith loved it more though, haha.
Overall, it was a really good experience. But I'm not going to do it again any time soon, haha! I just need to figure out how to spend less time online, while still being able to connect with my friends and get my thoughts out through writing. I didn't get to rest at all, as I had hoped, I think rest and relaxation are just things that's aren't going to happen while the kids are young. But that's ok, they're worth it. I'm glad that I have this time with the kids while they are little! The less I sleep, the more time I get to spend with my little loves (as long as I get enough sleep to actually function, but now that I have coffee, that amount is less, haha). I was actually way busier than usual, always on my feet, it seemed. I was either doing housework, tending to the kids, running errands, or reading. It was nice to only have to worry about my own little existence for a while, and not about what's going on with everyone else, or the world. I realized that I do totally run on empty all the time, but there isn't much I can do about it. So I carry on. I have learned the meaning of "God's mercies are new every morning." He truly does get me through every day. I'm so thankful that I'm not depressed this time around. I can actually keep up with life, and do simple things like get out of bed, and face the day with a smile. =)
Now, bullets:
* The first week was really frustrating. I literally spent all day, from when I got up until when I went to bed, doing housework. And the house was only marginally cleaner. It really didn't seem worth all of the extra effort. This was compounded by the fact that Dave was on the computer all day, every day, while I worked my butt off.
* I surprisingly didn't miss the internet OR junk food though. My brain still thought in "status" and "blog" mode for the first week or so, but that eventually went away, as I learned to live in real life again. But I discovered that my "need" for sugar and junk food was related to my time spent online. As much as I love being online, and I need my friends there, it also stresses me out. I get stressed because the kids won't leave me alone while I'm trying to focus on writing something, and also because when I spend too much time away from the computer, I get "behind". But I found I wasn't as stressed when I wasn't online, so I didn't really need my other drug (sugar) to cope.
* I really missed juice though. I'm totally a juice junkie and don't like water. But I managed to survive by drinking ice water (for some reason it goes down better than room temp, even though my teeth are sensitive), and eating fresh fruit.
* After the first week, I decided to change my attitude about the computer, and I felt a lot better. I realized that I can only control myself, and what I do. I can't control what Dave decides to do, and there's no point in getting all bent out of shape about it. It was liberating for me.
* I experienced my first ever postpartum hair-fallout. After the first 2 kids were born, I had dreads, so I didn't have to deal with all of the hair. All I can say is: yuck.
* I also quit shampooing my hair. Now I just wash my scalp with baking soda, and rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar. I still use a little leave-in conditioner on the ends, but I use less and less each time. My hair is surprisingly fabulous! I can leave it down without needing mousse for the first time ever!
* Gideon's surgery, Dave's Dr appointments and Judith's dentist appointments took a lot out of me, but overall everything went well. I've hung in there.
* Dave and I have been watching movies/tv shows at night after the kids go to bed (like all of seasons 5 & 6 of The Office, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and other movies that I can't think of right now...). It has been nice. I'm not looking forward to when he has to go back to work (early June), I've enjoyed actually being able to spend time with him.
* My mom came for a week-long visit. It went by really quickly as usual, but we did lots of fun stuff. Dave and I even got to go on a date! The kids got a little bit of a break with the sugar fast, having chocolate milk a couple times, and ice cream once. We got to see how even that little bit of sugar affected their behaviour, which was good reinforcement for us to keep it up with them.
* Judith is starting to "accidentally" show off what she has learned in her dance class. It's an unparented class, so I never get to see what she has learned. But I can see it in the way she carries herself, and the little things she does sometimes. They learn a lot of actual dance stuff in the class, I can't wait to see the recital in June!
* Ruthie hit her 3-month growth spurt. Eating all the time and fussing more than usual. I'm glad that's over.
* Gideon has become SO talkative! He says new words everyday, and can repeat anything anyone says. He talks in sentences, and they are becoming more and more understandable. He is seriously so adorable, I can't get over it.
* Computer died March 10 and went in for repairs. Mac customer service = awesome. Definitely buy the Apple Care if you buy a Mac!
* DVD player also died, we got a new media player that connects the tv to our computer, so we can watch tv on the tv that is coming from the computer. No need for cable, and no commercials! And we can rip our dvd's to the external hard drive, and then watch them on tv. It's great, we don't have to mess with actual DVD's anymore!
* The engine light came on in the van. Thankfully, one of Dave's friends is a mechanic, and he took a look at it for free. We just had to replace the air filter and clean out the air intake. Hopefully that was it! The light is off now, but still turns on during long drives (Dave has had to drive 3 hours each way to his Dr's appts, really annoying but that's WCB!). I'm glad we didn't have to take it in, it would have cost so much when it wasn't necessary.
* Did some serious introspection and thinking about where we are at as a family and what we want to do. God really confirmed my doula journey (more on that later), and Dave wants to get his A+ certification for computers, since he can't be a roofer forever. So I signed up for the DONA certification/course, and Dave has been studying up so he can challenge the exam soon. We would both like to have our own businesses some day, and then maybe we can travel again while being able to support ourselves. There is a lot of other spiritual stuff we have discussed too, but that might be for another blog...
* By week 3, I was starting to really miss my friends online. And I was craving sugar (mostly juice and good quality dark chocolate) again. Although I could easily never eat candy or pop again. It sounds so disgusting now. Even bread was starting to taste overwhelmingly sweet.
* I started going to the gym again, and surprisingly had no problem doing 20 mins on the eliptical, and started right where I left off with weights. I guess having 3 kids will do that. I was surprised that I was actually in shape, I guess it's just hiding under all the baby fat.
* I didn't lose any weight over the break, despite going to the gym, not eating junk, and breastfeeding. Well, I lost 4 pounds during Ruthie's growth spurt, but then gained it all back right away. I guess I just can't set any weight loss goals until I'm done breastfeeding, it's always like that for me. Although I do need to go and get some clothes that actually fit... instead of letting my butt hang out of everything while convincing myself I will lose the fat soon.
* I had to move Judith up to size 5 clothes, Ruthie wasn't the only one with a growth spurt over the break! Judith is quite tall for her age, I think. She definitely doesn't get that from me!
* Gideon changed a lot too, although mostly in looks. He's now definitely a toddler, my little boy, with very few traces of baby left in his face.
* I really enjoyed doing a lot of reading. It was great because it was therapeutic for me, and I could still be present with the kids, unlike the computer. It's a hobby that I am definitely going to keep up! I have to figure out what to cut from my computer time in order t o make room for more reading...
* Even without the computer though, I found my mind wandering all the time. It was honestly hard to focus 100% on the kids and just play. I had to fight really hard for it. That saddens me a lot, but is something I want to work on.
* Judith got to perform infront of people for the first time! They are practicing their routine for the recital already, and they came out after class one day and performed it for the teenagers' class. I guess they will be doing that a lot, to get used to it. Judith was SO cute! The other 2 girls in the class (there are just 4 kids), were way too shy and just stood there. The little boy liked the spotlight, but often forgot to actually dance. But Judith, she danced her heart out and soaked up the attention! Half the time she did her own thing instead of what the teacher was doing, but it was SO cute! She does not lack confidence!
* I have been doing Pilates with Ruthie (the PeeWee Pilates book is good!), and Judith likes to do it alongside me, with Lambie. It's so adorable, I keep forgetting to get a photo.
* Ruthie learned to suck her fingers to self-soothe (just like Judith did as a baby), and that has made my life SO much easier! She's a lot quieter, and nurses a bit less (I still have a ton of milk though). She seems to need something in her other hand though, in order to put her fingers in her mouth, and seems drawn to blankies more than stuffies, so I got her a blanket. I hope she gets attached to it, Judith having her Lambie and Gideon having his Blankie has been a huge help in comforting them.
* The last 2 weeks were HARD. I really missed everyone! But I'm glad I stuck it out.
* My friend Jen came to visit! She is one of my best friends, and it was so good and refreshing to connect with her!
* I got to hang out with some of my local friends during lent too, which was really nice. I probably talked too much because I was lacking the interaction, I hope they didn't mind. =) I'm so thankful that I do have friends here now, they are seriously awesome.
* Ruthie laughed for the first time March 28! She laughed for Dave in the morning, and for me in the evening, it was so cute!
* Had to upsize Ruthie to her intermediate sized diapers, and thus also move her into her size 6 months clothing. She's growing up too quickly! She was 16 pounds 4 oz at her 4 month appointment.
* We took the kids to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Gideon's birthday, and he loved it! Judith loved it more though, haha.
Overall, it was a really good experience. But I'm not going to do it again any time soon, haha! I just need to figure out how to spend less time online, while still being able to connect with my friends and get my thoughts out through writing. I didn't get to rest at all, as I had hoped, I think rest and relaxation are just things that's aren't going to happen while the kids are young. But that's ok, they're worth it. I'm glad that I have this time with the kids while they are little! The less I sleep, the more time I get to spend with my little loves (as long as I get enough sleep to actually function, but now that I have coffee, that amount is less, haha). I was actually way busier than usual, always on my feet, it seemed. I was either doing housework, tending to the kids, running errands, or reading. It was nice to only have to worry about my own little existence for a while, and not about what's going on with everyone else, or the world. I realized that I do totally run on empty all the time, but there isn't much I can do about it. So I carry on. I have learned the meaning of "God's mercies are new every morning." He truly does get me through every day. I'm so thankful that I'm not depressed this time around. I can actually keep up with life, and do simple things like get out of bed, and face the day with a smile. =)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Simple Woman's Day Book - Week 8
I'm just going to pick up where I left off...
Outside my window... It's starting to recover from our recent snow. It was really nice out for most of lent though!
I am thinking... That a latte would be awesome right now. Yeah, I started drinking coffee over lent.
I am thankful for... Coffee, haha. I haven't been getting much sleep lately. It has taken me 3 kids to get to this point, I've always hated coffee.
I am wearing... Pj pants and black t-shirt.
I am remembering... How much fun Gideon had on his birthday!
I am going... To take Judith out to pick out a "treat" for being so brave at the dentist. She can have anything she wants, from the Mac store, that I can afford, haha.
I am currently reading... Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein.
I am hoping... That I can get the house back in order soon, it's driving me crazy, but I have been too busy and tired lately to keep it in good order. It's not nearly as bad as our place always was in the old apartment.
On my mind... My future doula business.
Noticing that... My weight isn't budging, despite breastfeeding, giving up sugar/junk food, and going to the gym.
Pondering these words... ... ... apparently nothing.
From the kitchen... Dave is now making me a latte, yay!
Around the house... There is a lot of laundry that needs to be washed, or put away. I never get behind on laundry, this is crazy!
One of my favorite things... Lattes, haha.
From my picture journal... The kids at Easter.
Outside my window... It's starting to recover from our recent snow. It was really nice out for most of lent though!
I am thinking... That a latte would be awesome right now. Yeah, I started drinking coffee over lent.
I am thankful for... Coffee, haha. I haven't been getting much sleep lately. It has taken me 3 kids to get to this point, I've always hated coffee.
I am wearing... Pj pants and black t-shirt.
I am remembering... How much fun Gideon had on his birthday!
I am going... To take Judith out to pick out a "treat" for being so brave at the dentist. She can have anything she wants, from the Mac store, that I can afford, haha.
I am currently reading... Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein.
I am hoping... That I can get the house back in order soon, it's driving me crazy, but I have been too busy and tired lately to keep it in good order. It's not nearly as bad as our place always was in the old apartment.
On my mind... My future doula business.
Noticing that... My weight isn't budging, despite breastfeeding, giving up sugar/junk food, and going to the gym.
Pondering these words... ... ... apparently nothing.
From the kitchen... Dave is now making me a latte, yay!
Around the house... There is a lot of laundry that needs to be washed, or put away. I never get behind on laundry, this is crazy!
One of my favorite things... Lattes, haha.
From my picture journal... The kids at Easter.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Oh Yeah
Well, they weren't able to fix our iMac, so they gave us a brand new one! It's a bit bigger, and much nicer than our old one, no extra cost. So right now I am basking in the glow and new smell of awesomeness. Go Apple Care!
Anyway, now I can finally post pics! Here are a few from today of the kids.
So, what do you think? I think Gideon has grown for sure since Lent started! He went from "baby" to "little boy" I'm sure Ruthie has gotten bigger too.
And for fun, here is what I look like after a night of only getting 3.5 hours of sleep (and only 5 hours the night before that...), and 2/3 of the kids have colds. We're a happy bunch.
But all is well, because we have a computer again!
Anyway, now I can finally post pics! Here are a few from today of the kids.
So, what do you think? I think Gideon has grown for sure since Lent started! He went from "baby" to "little boy" I'm sure Ruthie has gotten bigger too.
And for fun, here is what I look like after a night of only getting 3.5 hours of sleep (and only 5 hours the night before that...), and 2/3 of the kids have colds. We're a happy bunch.
But all is well, because we have a computer again!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Soccer Mom
Yep, that's me!
Haaaaaa! I never ever saw that coming. Seriously. Soccer was never my thing. I only really played it in gym class and at camp, where I earned the nickname 'the pylon'. I even have a pylon tattoo, no joke.
BUT, Judith wants to play soccer, and since she doesn't have dance over the summer, I thought it was a good idea. So I looked it up online (back in March), and noticed that the games are 1 block from my house, and the registration deadline was that day. So it was meant to be.
She is just playing in a house league with 4 & 5 year-olds. Hopefully it will be fun, and not too scary for me.
Did I mention that I am the team's assistant coach? Yes, I am crazy, thanks for pointing that out. Hopefully my fondness for kids will overshadow my fear of the ball. It worked when I was a camp counsellor for 5 summers... I didn't want to coach, especially since it's my first year, but it was one of those situations where someone had to step up or the team couldn't play. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing...
I really, really hope no parents are competitive. I won't stand a chance.
Anyway, so as usual I am embarking on a new adventure. Go Titans!
Haaaaaa! I never ever saw that coming. Seriously. Soccer was never my thing. I only really played it in gym class and at camp, where I earned the nickname 'the pylon'. I even have a pylon tattoo, no joke.
BUT, Judith wants to play soccer, and since she doesn't have dance over the summer, I thought it was a good idea. So I looked it up online (back in March), and noticed that the games are 1 block from my house, and the registration deadline was that day. So it was meant to be.
She is just playing in a house league with 4 & 5 year-olds. Hopefully it will be fun, and not too scary for me.
Did I mention that I am the team's assistant coach? Yes, I am crazy, thanks for pointing that out. Hopefully my fondness for kids will overshadow my fear of the ball. It worked when I was a camp counsellor for 5 summers... I didn't want to coach, especially since it's my first year, but it was one of those situations where someone had to step up or the team couldn't play. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing...
I really, really hope no parents are competitive. I won't stand a chance.
Anyway, so as usual I am embarking on a new adventure. Go Titans!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Books
I'm sorry that I haven't posted anything since lent ended on Sunday! Our Mac computer is in the shop, so I am unable to post any pictures, and seriously, what fun is a blog post without pictures?
But I guess I do have something I could share with you: my current reads.
I really enjoyed doing lots of reading over lent! I used to read a lot, but lately haven't seemed to have the time. But that is going to change, because I have rekindled that love. Plus, I find that when I am online I get really grouchy with the kids, but if I'm reading, I can still be pleasant. It's easier to set a book down than walk away from the computer, for some reason, when the kids need me.
If I had more time I would link all of these, but I don't. Sorry. If you are interested in these books, you will just have to search for them on Amazon or something. Or look for them at your local library (where I got most of these). It will be worth the effort.
So, here are the books I have read:
Discipline Without Distress by Judy Arnall (very good!)
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin (large book, but excellent and I would recommend this for all first-time expectant parents)
Instinctive Birth by Val Clark (very good)
PeeWee Pilates by Holly Jean Cosner (really really good, Pilates exercises for mom & baby)
Endometriosis for Dummies by Joseph W. Krotec (informative, interesting as far as a book about endo can be...)
Sex + Money: A Global Search for Human Worth by A Voice for the Voiceless, PhotogenX - Kona (YWAM) (very well done, my only issue is how they blame free enterprise for the proliferation of sex trafficking, while I personally believe it has a lot more to do with government corruption and prohibition, but that's a whole other blog post. Overall it's an excellent expository book)
In the Womb by Peter Tallack (very awesome visual and descriptive journey through pregnancy)
Labor of Love: A Midwife's Memoir by Cara Muhlhahn (EXCELLENT! My favourite book of them all. It's 256 pages, and I finished it in less than 48 hours, I couldn't put it down!!!)
I am currently reading: Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein (good so far!)
I also read 2 Today's Parent magazines, 2 Birthing magazines, 1 Mothering magazine, and my Bible (although not all of it, unfortunately).
There is a pile on my book shelf I have yet to read, including:
The Doula Book by Marshall Klaus
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding by Jack Newman
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
It Sucked and then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita by Heather B. Armstrong
So, that's what I have been up to! I wonder if I will ever get sick of reading about birth?
But I guess I do have something I could share with you: my current reads.
I really enjoyed doing lots of reading over lent! I used to read a lot, but lately haven't seemed to have the time. But that is going to change, because I have rekindled that love. Plus, I find that when I am online I get really grouchy with the kids, but if I'm reading, I can still be pleasant. It's easier to set a book down than walk away from the computer, for some reason, when the kids need me.
If I had more time I would link all of these, but I don't. Sorry. If you are interested in these books, you will just have to search for them on Amazon or something. Or look for them at your local library (where I got most of these). It will be worth the effort.
So, here are the books I have read:
Discipline Without Distress by Judy Arnall (very good!)
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin (large book, but excellent and I would recommend this for all first-time expectant parents)
Instinctive Birth by Val Clark (very good)
PeeWee Pilates by Holly Jean Cosner (really really good, Pilates exercises for mom & baby)
Endometriosis for Dummies by Joseph W. Krotec (informative, interesting as far as a book about endo can be...)
Sex + Money: A Global Search for Human Worth by A Voice for the Voiceless, PhotogenX - Kona (YWAM) (very well done, my only issue is how they blame free enterprise for the proliferation of sex trafficking, while I personally believe it has a lot more to do with government corruption and prohibition, but that's a whole other blog post. Overall it's an excellent expository book)
In the Womb by Peter Tallack (very awesome visual and descriptive journey through pregnancy)
Labor of Love: A Midwife's Memoir by Cara Muhlhahn (EXCELLENT! My favourite book of them all. It's 256 pages, and I finished it in less than 48 hours, I couldn't put it down!!!)
I am currently reading: Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein (good so far!)
I also read 2 Today's Parent magazines, 2 Birthing magazines, 1 Mothering magazine, and my Bible (although not all of it, unfortunately).
There is a pile on my book shelf I have yet to read, including:
The Doula Book by Marshall Klaus
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding by Jack Newman
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
It Sucked and then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita by Heather B. Armstrong
So, that's what I have been up to! I wonder if I will ever get sick of reading about birth?
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