Farmer Kenny.

A few months back we started getting raw milk from a local farm. It is pretty much straight from the cow, not homogenized or pasteurized. In Colorado, it is illegal to purchase raw milk so you have to buy a portion of a cow and then you have rights to the milk it produces.

So, the kiddos and I set out to Johnson Farms and met Farmer Kenny and the crew. We toured the farm, rode tractors, milked the cows and met the baby calves. Now we get 1/2 a gallon of milk each week and have since eliminated the tummy aches and diarhea Eli often experienced with regular milk. The boys fondly refer to the milk as Farmer Kenny's milk or Racoon's milk. A mini step we have taken in adding nutritional value to our diet.

So, that is why they call it labor!

Leading up to the arrival of Baby James, we were told stories again and again at the birthing center about fast labors, mommas delivering at home, in the car, etc. So, Matt and I knew we needed to have a plan in place and act quickly to have the calm, peaceful birth we hoped for. However, we were also warned that Baby #3 was usually a Wild Card, meaning they tended to not follow the pattern of previous births.

Little James proved to be our Wild Card in so many ways!

Saturday:

6pm- We are outside and the boys riding bikes, I am planting my first terrarium and it all starts. A back ache, subtle but enough to make me notice.

7pm- The backache continues and I decide to start timing- 8-15 minutes apart. Now I get flashbacks from when Eli is born. I went from this point to delivering him in 2 hours. I decide it is time to call my doula. She recommends I take bath and give her a call back to see if anything has changed. It has not.

8pm- I call the midwife. Sarah is on call and we discuss my past labors and desire for a calm and peaceful birth this go around. The contractions are not getting any stronger nor closer together so we decide to meet at the birthing center at 9:30pm.

9pm- Mrs. Mary arrives to watch the boys. I am in very good spirits and tell her we will see her in a few hours with a little boy.

9:30pm- Matt and I are thrillled, we arrive at the birthing center. Jacie, our doula, meets us there as does the midwife. We have a chance to get settled in and I am checked to see where we are. 3cm dialated, perfect. Right on track, I guess the baby will arrive at 1am.

10pm- We lay down and the contractions continue. Not too strong but enough to wake me out of sleep and send me to the bathroom. Sitting on a toilet is extremely comfortable at this point.

11pm-7am- nothing. Yep, nothing changed. No baby and only 1cm more dialated. We are all surprised, little Wild Card.

Sunday:

7am- The new midwife arrives- Laura- and at this point we can either go home and see what the day brings or stay. I send Matt home for a shower (we did not really pack anything thinking we would only be there a short while) and I take a walk around the neighbor.

12pm- Laura checks me- 4 cm and fully effaced, progress but so very slowly. I am tired from a night without sleep and psychologically drained. I run through my positive affirmations and visualize the birth.

3pm- 5 cm now. Laura tells me we can either head home or can try to get things moving. I am torn- Luke and Eli are at home and I miss them so. What if we head home only for active labor to start? Plus, I am already so tired.

3:15pm- I lose my mucus plug and take my first of 4 cotton root bark tinctures.

4pm- Contractions begin a consistent pattern. We call Jacie to come in. I get the birthing ball and begin to utilize deep breathing techniques through the contractions.

5pm- Jacie arrives. Matt and I enter the birthing tub. It is warm and comforting, helping to take the pressure off my body. At this point I can tell Laura is making preparations for a delivery. My deep breathes get even deeper, closer to a groan. I try to keep my toes from curling, Matt is holding my arms tightly as I am on my hand's and knees. He is breathing with me. Jacie is reminding me to relax and breathe the baby down. Pure exhaustion kicks in, can I do this?

5:15pm- I feel the urge to push. It is a bit confusing for me as with Luke and Eli I am sitting upright in a bed. Now I am on my hands and knees so it felt as though I was pushing backwards. I deliver my water bag thinking it is the baby, oh how much longer? Then I feel pressure, pressure through the pushes. Sweet baby had come down so quickly Laura kept him at the crowning position so I would not tear.

5:36pm- And then he arrives, just about 24 hours after feeling my first contraction....little Wild Card.

I am overcome with joy, relief and exhaustion. Oh yes, that was labor. We make our way to the bed to recover. I am administerd an IV of fluids and arnica as I did not feel well. Over the next four hours, we nurse and surprisingly James latches on and eats right away. I am given an herbal bath and we marvel at this sweet boy.

Dad getting lots of cuddle time before we head home that night.

My biggest baby- little Wild Card- at a week early he is 7 lbs and 5 ounces. Both Eli and Luke were under 7 pounds.

What a blessing- a third little boy to love!

Final countdown.

So, 10 days and counting until my due date! Everything is in line, finally. The house is in order, baby stuff is washed and out, doula is ready to go, Mrs. Mary is on call to watch the boys, Matt is in town and I am feeling great!

I am not sure what has been so different about this pregnancy but wow, it has been different. Is it the altitude of living in Colorado, me being just a bit older, having two other children to care for........I am not sure but it has been more challenging. I have been more tired and feel everything! With Luke and Eli I never really got contractions prior to going into labor and now I am feeling them all the time. I have also not had the energy I am used to, for a girl that likes to get things done this is not a good thing. One minor break down to Matt though and he put it all into perspective- you are doing just fine! I am. With about a week left (and I predict this fellow will make his entrance on May 6th) I am preparing to have the most amazing and wonderful birth experience yet! Oh and we still have no idea on a name- James and Jacob are still holding the top spots but no decision has been made.

I just can't wait to meet you Little Guy!

Natural child birth- Part 2.

Amazing describes this so accurately because I could have never imagined Matt and I going down this path. First of all, I have a very low pain tolerance. I actually passed out when I got my ear pierced when I was young. I cried if I stubbed my toe. And secondly, I never understood why anyone would chance not having their baby at a hospital? Our journey truly began three years earlier when I was about 20 weeks pregnant and expecting Luke. Matt and I were thrilled and sat in our hospital mandated New Parent's Education Class. We had found an OB/GYN in the area and she was nice enough. Not exactly warm or friendly but very experienced. We had started our rotations at her practice and found some of the drs were wonderful and others left so much to be desired. We were new to this whole thing, why would we question it. But that Saturday class our views began to shift. Our instructor began to go through the section regarding what to expect in labor and delivery. As an employee of the hospital I was amazed that she was so open and keen on the idea of really deciding what you want out of your delivery. What matters most to you as a family, mother and to your newborn. She recited the C section statistics of the various hospitals, why drs encourage scheduled inductions, etc. I was shocked, upset and scared. I left that day feeling utterly sick and disgusted. I did not even know what I wanted, how could I have overlooked so much. Then the research began. I developed a birthing plan and discussed it with OB/GYN at our next visit. She listened to me, made a note in my chart and that was that. Easy enough I thought. Hmm. Okay. I decided shortly after that, I wanted a natural child birth. Matt and I took a crash course in HypnoBirthing and I read as much as I could and did all of the exercises. I was ready and very excited! Three weeks later, 2am my water breaks. I called my OB/GYN and let her know what had happened. Granted it was early in the morning but her response was, "Great I will get the pitocin started." Why, my water had broken? Remember I want to do a natural birth. Her reply was, "We will see once you are at the hospital." Strike 1. I get to the hospital, I had baked cookies for the staff, they were very welcoming and encouraging. It was a fairly slow night and I was able to get the big suite with the tub. Labor started progressing and three years later it is funny what you remember. The nurse had trouble getting the IV in my arm. I easily dehydrate and my veins were already so small, for weeks my arms were lined with bruises at those futile attempts. Two nurses later I was finally getting fluids. My sister showed up and so sweetly brought breakfast. I was not allowed to have food, uggh and Matt was starving.....he had an everything bagel with cream cheese and coffee. Oh that smell will haunt me forever. The pain had gotten so strong and my senses must have been at their peek because I could smell that wretched scent across the room and almost threw up. I would walk back and forth between the bed, bathroom and tub, attached to an IV. It was 10:30am, the nurse checked me. 4 centimeters dilated. I could barely breathe through the contractions, I was sweating and then getting cold. 15 minutes passed and I looked at Matt. We had truly wanted a natural birth and I was prepared for it but I could not make it. I could not handle it. I looked at him and said, "I think I need the epidural." With no hesitation, he took my hand and called the nurse in to tell her. I felt so defeated. What came next, changed the course of my experience. The nurse looked at me and said so matter of factly, "You are doing so well. I need to check you again." I am so grateful I had a nurse that knew her job and what to look for. Looked at each patient and their wants rather than what was easiest for her. She checked me, I was 9cm. I remember her smile and she said, "No wonder, you are ready to have this baby. I can get the epidural but I know you want a natural birth and I think you can do this." I asked her how much longer it would be and she, obviously, did not know. She called my dr and a few minutes later I had the urge to push. Where was the dr.? 15, 20, 30 minutes past....no sign of the dr and the office was just next door. Strike 2. The heart rate dropped I was on all fours and so scared and tired. Stop pushing they shouted. Stop pushing, really? I could not. My sister held my hand, Matt ran out into the hall and grabbed a nurse and in a few choice words asked, "Where is the dr?" I know now at about this time Grams and Pax had arrived and were hoping to see us but were told the baby was almost here. I remember the OB/GYN arriving, arrogant but ready to deliver. Luke was coming now, sunny side up. No wonder the pain was so excruciating. The cord was caught around his neck but his heart rate stayed strong. At 12:30pm on April 17, 2007 Luke Stephen arrived at 6 pounds 11 ounces. Jamie was such a trooper, she had not expected to be there for the delivery and left a few minutes after. She told me it was an experience and had to go lay down. I recovered in the hospital for the next several days, proud of what I had accomplished, excited about our new family.

Fast forward, 15 months and we find out we are pregnant! We went back to the same OB practice we had gone to before but saw a different dr. Dr. Bray was wonderful- friendly, caring, relatable. Funny how you tend to forget the negative things that happen to you but as I started rotating through the practice it all came back. Coincidentally, I got a prenatal massage from a good friend of mine, Rochelle. She was pregnant and had just decided to have a natural birth at a birthing center. We discussed the idea and I was intrigued. A place that is supportive of natural child birth, midwives that are extensively trained and knowledgeable and partner with the mother through the process. I was not sure how I felt about this idea. I watched a documentary called, "The Business of Being Born," and began reading books, "Birthing from Within" by Ina May Gaskin.......Matt and I started having conversations and decided to visit the center. This is where I wanted to have my baby. It was a family environment- Luke was encouraged to come and help listen to the baby's heart beat. They wanted to know about me, about our family, about what I had envisioned for my birth. My appointments were never rushed or hurried. They encouraged me to call with any questions. I did and actually spoke with a midwife at any hour of the day. I began my training for the natural birth as well. I call it training because it was to me. I have found the power of the mind to do miraculous things. I began to visualize how I wanted my birth to be, what it would feel like, how labor would progress. There is no doubt that this preparation allowed for such an 'easy' delivery.

Natural child birth has been one of the most miraculous experiences of my life. There are so many things we work and labor for in life but the joy of giving life to a child can not be compared. Natural child birth is not for everyone. Doctors are highly specialized and trained in high risk or emergency situations. Their training is crucial and know how is extremely important during these deliveries but for me, a low risk patient I have found these two experiences empowered me to be a better mother. I, intuitively, understand myself and my capabilities better.

So with all of this, we are getting ready for another little guy to join our family. We have found an amazing doula, Jacie, and will be delivering at Mountain Midwifery Birthing Center. I am excited to prepare for this next wonderful experience.

3 in 4.

21 pounds, 2 ounces, Eli's new weight. He is not on the charts just yet but is close. He gained 3 pounds in 4 weeks, great news! We got the results back from the pediatric endocrinologist and it turns out his acid levels are still low but she said that IF he can continue to gain weight she is not as concerned. In two tests, she was able to detect human growth hormone, she found normal fat levels in his fecal specimens and his Vitamin D levels are right where they should be although most of it coming from the sun not his diet. She said she is very pleased with they way everything looks and confirmed with a pediatric nephrologist that the acid levels are not worrisome with the weight gain. Thank you Lord for keeping watch over my beloved son.

So, what did we do? Pretty much stopped feeding him fruits and vegetables. If you give Eli a plate of french fries, chicken nuggets and peas he will eat the peas and beg for more leaving all else for the birds. While I am not completely comfortable and am sure this will not be our lifestyle I am confident it will not hurt him for a few months. Matt asked me a few weeks back to change his diet, cut out the green smoothies, be a bit more lenient with refined sugars and add some meat to his diet. For me it is going to be about finding balance in the coming months with what I feel is a healthy diet for him and what will keep his weight up.

Cloth Diapering....the verdict.

So, I posted about cloth diapering about a year ago. My final verdict......

I like it.

Much easier than I thought overall. Although I will say that I have learned a few things~

* Using an HE washer is a bit cumbersome, you just might have to double/triple/quadruple wash to get them really clean. It can be done but just takes a bit more effort.

* Once a child has used disposables they may not transition to the cloth. I tried and tried with Luke. Since he was old enough to take them off that is just what would happen. You would think he would use the potty at that point but no such luck.

* No need to even attempt cloth diapers while traveling, moving or using a babysitter. Not worth the headache or grossness.

* They need to be changed one to two times more each day or else a nasty rash can ensue.

So, here is what you need.

1. About 15-20 cloth diapers. I use both the All in One diapers and the One Size diapers by Bum Genius. The All in Ones take a bit longer to dry but the One Size need an insert put into them, pick your battle.

2. About 100 cloth wipes.

3. Some homemade wipe solution. I fill a spray bottle with water and add a drop or two of lavendar oil and/or tree tea oil.

4. A cloth diaper friendly detergent for washing. I have tried several and Charlie's Soap (available online) seems to work the best. Although there is no stain removing agent in it so if I left my diapers an extra day or two too long I do add a squeeze of Bac Out while they soak to help.

5. A wet bag- I have two for the bathroom (one will be in use while the other is getting washed) and a travel wetbag for when we are out and about.

6. A fairly good gag reflux. I am not gonna lie, it can get gross.

As far as washing goes, every 2-3 days I soak the soiled diapers overnight in the washer. I set the water to cold and add some Bac Out. In the morning I wash them on hot, for a large load with one scoop Charlie's Soap and a double rinse with a few drops of lavendar oil. If they are still stinky you can wash them again with a 1/2 baking soda, then another wash with a 1/2 cup vinegar and then a last wash with no soap or anything added. Pop them in the dryer or on the line after. Wa La!

Oh and shockingly enough the cloth diapers have leaked less than disposables even for overnight.

Just look how happy he is! (Eli is a major cuddler........oh how he loves a snuggle!)

Matt's drinking problem.

Yes, Matt does partake in an occasional glass of wine or beer but that is not the source of my issue. I am confident in saying that when we met 6 years ago, he probably consumed 60% of his calories from drinks. I am talking Gatorade, soda pop, tea (notice no mention of the word water here). He slowly sucked me into the trap, how addicting it is. Well, a few years back I weaned myself and got back into the habit of mainly drinking water and fresh juice but with his exercise regimen he still wanted the electrolyte beverage. (I do love Matt for this. He is very dedicated to his work outs. He weighs less than he did in high school and is starting to train for a tri-athalon!) But the high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar made me cringe so he eventually agreed to Recharge (an "all natural" energy replenisher) but it was loaded with sugar. I still was not satisfied. The great news is I received two recommendations from friends to try coconut juice. Wahoo, let me tell you, it is wonderful! Refreshing, light, and truly an all natural isotonic beverage. There is potassium and magnesium. Yummy. This has been a great find, now I may be the one with the drinking habit!

Juice It Up!

We just love juicing, it is a nice change from eating our fruits and veggies. We will juice anything we can get our hands on.....apples, oranges, carrots, ginger, beets, green peppers, spinach. You name it and we have probably thrown it into a juice before! After some research we purchased the Breville BJE510XL IKON 500 Watt Juice Extractor and have been extremely pleased, you get a lot of juice, a very dry pulp and somewhat easy clean up. Luke loves to hand me the fruit and then push down on the feed tube and watch the juice come pouring out. Before downing a glass he always insists on the mandatory, "Cheers."

Anyway, here are some of our favorite recipes.

1. Luke Delight- 3 apples, 3 carrots and a slice of ginger.

2. Jess' Masterpiece- 3 apples, 1 cucumber and 4 sprigs of mint.

3. Beet Surprise- 1/2 beet, 3 apples, 3 carrots. (It is best not to drink beet juice alone, it is an extremely powerful cleanser/detoxifier.)

4. Green Goo- handful of spinach, 4 carrots, 1 lemon and 2 apples.

5. Vitamin C Powerhouse- 3 oranges, 1 grapefruit, 1 banana (You never get a ton of juice out of a banana but if I have an old one around I throw it in for flavor.)

Hg........

Matt and I get a kick out of quizzing each other on the periodic table of elements... Au, Fe, Mg, Na, K, Hg. (Can you remember them? See answers below.) I loved science as a kid and he is just one of those ridiculously intelligent people that remembers everything, I am jealous.

Well, here is the scoop, Hg is mercury, a toxic liquid metal found in barometers, batteries, fluorescent lamps and a majority of the food products sitting in kitchen pantries. Yep, it has been found, at detectable levels, in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Seeing that the average American eat about 12 tsp of HFCS a day, yes, that is right, 12 tsp each day, I think it is worth looking in to.

In two separate studies, one by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and another published by the scientific journal, Environmental Health, they found that 30-50% of products containing HFCS tested positive for mercury. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that mercury is an "ubiquitous environmental toxin that causes a wide range of adverse health effects in humans." Those most greatly affected are the unborn fetus and young child. Oh FDA, where are you? Seeing that this information came out several years ago why have you not informed consumers or changed industry mandates? Why do a majority of food products sitting on my grocer's shelf, that I fed to my child STILL contain HFCS as the first or second ingredient......be your own advocate. Take a peek, what is in your ketchup, bread, jelly, Gatorade, soda pop, breakfast cereal, relish, salsa, cookies, graham crackers?

For me the safest exposure to HG, is none at all. I make homemade graham crackers now, buy the ketchup that is 50 cents more in the organic section that is both HFCS free and refined sugar free. Changing how you live will change the way you live forever.

(Answers: Gold, Iron, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium and Mercury.)

Internet Debut.

How exciting! Luke, Eli and myself have made our debut on the Baby Girl Cleaning Products website. Wahoo.......we are almost famous. www.babygirlproducts.com.

Well, my life changed after meeting Sarapage, founder of Baby Girl Products. I saw a presentation she gave on the dangers of chemicals in our homes. I had always thought that using 7th Generation or Method Products would help keep my family safe and was worth the extra money. Unfortunately, it is just the companies clever marketing and the governments lack of mandates that coerce everyone into thinking these "green" products are both safe and effective.

Once again, I was at it, researching everything I could find from the EPA to the American Cancer Society to the Centers for Disease Control. Sure enough Sarapage was right, check out her site and you will be flabbergasted.

Here is a sneak peek:

* Toxic chemicals in househould cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.

* There has been a 26% increase in cancer over the last two decades.

* Cancer is the number one cause of death in children.

* One in every 400 Americans can expect to get cancer before the age of 1.

* Scientists believe that 80-90% of cancer is due to environmental causes.

From that point on I started using lots of vinegar, essential oils and only toxin free products to clean my home with. It really is so easy to get started.

Give it a try~ here are a few of my favorites "recipes".

1. Oven cleaners are one of the most toxic products you can buy, containing lye and ammonia. The fumes affect your respiratory system and the air within your home. However, a simple solution of 2 T baking soda dissolved in 16 ounces water will do the trick. Spray the inside of a cool oven and it will clean itself the next time you turn it on.

2. Floor cleaners often contain ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). Ammonium chloride is also found in contact explosives...nice. This compound can irritate skin, eyes and breathing passages and cause skin cancer. The EPA lists ammonia as a toxic chemical so I have no idea why they allow it on our household cleaning products. So, instead just fill a squirt bottle with vinegar and add 5 -7 drops of lavender or tea tree oil (thanks for the tip Kristie). It works like a charm and is inexpensive!

3. Just thinking about bleach makes my eyes water. But did you know that you can simply spray an area with vinegar and then spray it with hydrogen peroxide to disinfect? (Don't mix the ingredients in one bottle, keep them separate and spray away.) In fact, studies done at Virginia Polytechnic Institute found that the pairing of the two mists killed virtually all Salmonella, Shigella or E. coli bacteria. This spray combination is more effective at killing this bacteria than chlorine bleach or commercially available kitchen cleaner. Use it on countertops, meat, toys, just about anything. Clean away.

The best part about all of this is Luke can be my cleaning partner in crime with no worries!

Try, try, try again.

Alright, here it goes, my first post!

One thing I am not afraid to do is try something new. I encourage Luke to try new things each day and keep a whole list of things I am going to attempt in hopes of empowering myself, enriching my mind or helping my family live a better life.  So, today I ventured into the world of cloth diapering. (Gasp, right?) Who would cloth diaper in this day and age? Isn't it soo stinky and, well, disgusting? Today was my first day so I can not give you a definitive answer just yet but I have to say that little Eli did look oh so adorable in his bumGenius pocket diaper. I will be sure to update later on how this adventure turns out. 

BTW- I do hope that cloth diapering saves a land fill or two from being stuffed to the brim with my disposables but, in all honesty, I am doing this because I want to keep all of those nasty chemicals (think dioxin, tribuytyl-tin, and sodium polyacrylate) off of my love bug's hiney. All smiles so far!