Friday, December 28, 2007

Morning Sickness Relief

First off, I am NOT pregnant!

I can hear the sigh of relief from all my "friends" who think my husband and I are single-handedly overpopulating the earth. But, much to these people's dissatisfaction, I hope/expect to get pregnant again in the near future. This is just based on the past natural spacing of our children.

My question to anyone out there reading this is: Have you found or do you know of a cure for SEVERE morning sickness?

I get the worst imaginable morning sickness. It lasts all day, every day for about four to five months, during which time I am incapable of even performing the most simple tasks. Given my husband's schedule and the fact that we have 4 kids age 6 and under already, this is not a very fun situation. I have read about and tried with little success: eating before rising, eating small amounts all day long, sea bands, vitamin B injections, ginger tea (too spicy to drink), ginger capsules (make me gag), and other common remedies. Nothing has ever helped, and I end up throwing up about a dozen times per day. Basically, any stimulation of any of my senses makes me sick - smells, tastes, noise, busy patterns, being touched, etc. I get a little relief from lying in a dark, quiet room, but obviously I can't do that for months on end. This is also the only time I have time to build jigsaw puzzles as they "relax" and detract my brain. Being dehydrated makes the problem a lot worse, but I find myself in a vicious cycle of trying to drink water, which makes me throw up, which makes me even more dehydrated etc. I'm sure if I was seeing a doctor they would send me to the hospital with "hyperemesis gravidarum", but being a home birth advocate I see a midwife instead and suffer through the nausea.

I did find one product once that seemed to work, it was called "Morning Sickness Magic". A bottle for $12 lasted 2 days, which works out to be about $200/month. I did not continue buying it, but my husband said that he will buy it for the next pregnancy if it helps. It basically consists of a liquid mixture of ginger extract, B vitamins, and folic acid. Maybe I could make my own mixture from the same ingredients, since the amounts are listed on the back.

Anyway, I would really, really appreciate any advice that anyone has to offer. Maybe you have found a natural product that worked for you. Please leave a comment below, and remember, comments can be left anonymously.

Thank you in advance!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Natural Child Spacing Through Lactational Amenorrhea

Below is an article I have written on the subject of naturally spacing pregnancies through lactational amenorrhea. You will not enjoy this article if you find the thought of a nursing child inappropriate in spite of the Bible's many mentions of this subject.

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Natural Child Spacing Through Lactational Amenorrhea

Written by Zsuzsanna Anderson

December 2007

Breastfeeding provides a natural delay in women's return to fertility. It can also lower cancer rates and space babies more optimally. Mothers who breastfeed usually skip their menstrual period for some time after birth. Skipping periods during breastfeeding is called “lactational amenorrhea.”

By feeding a new baby only with breast milk, a new mother can prevent pregnancy if her period has not returned.

Baby's sucking controls the mother's ovulation. The more the baby has a need to suck, the less ready he is to be displaced by another. The less baby has a need to suck, the more ready and able he is to cope with a new brother or sister.

Research shows that even in the United States, breastfeeding delays the return of most women's periods.

Fully breastfeeding means the baby relies completely on mother for nourishment and for all of his sucking needs. Your baby's frequent nursing inhibits the release of hormones that cause your body to begin the monthly preparation for a new pregnancy. Ovulation does not take place and you do not have menstrual periods.

The exact duration of amenorrhea depends on each woman's nursing pattern and on her own physiology.

As explained by Sheila Kippley in Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing, the seven conditions to delay the return of menstruation are:

  1. Exclusive breastfeeding (no other liquid or solid from any other source enters the infant's mouth) for the first six months of life.
  2. Comfort your baby at the breast.
  3. Don't use bottles and pacifiers AT ALL.
  4. Sleep with your baby for night feedings.
  5. Sleep with your baby for daily nap feedings.
  6. Nurse frequently day and night and avoid schedules. (For young babies, this means at least every 2 hours during the day, and at least every 4 hours at night. For older babies, this means at least every 3 hours during the day, and every 6 hours at night.)
  7. Avoid any practice that restricts nursing or separates you from your baby (i.e. leaving the baby in the care of someone else with a bottle – even if it is pumped milk – while you get some “time off” from the baby).

Mothers who follow ALL SEVEN of these tenets will experience an average of 14 months without menstruating. Mothers who breastfeed but don't do so exclusively (or don't follow all the recommendations exactly) may have delay in the return of their cycles, but usually not for as long of a period of time as mothers who do.

Mothers who follow the above guidelines still have about a 1%-2% chance of becoming pregnant in the first 6 months after birth. Between 6 months to 1 year after giving birth, mothers have a 3%-6% chance of pregnancy. Night time feedings are especially important in preventing the return of fertility.

In Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession, Dr. Ruth Lawrence explains that it is important that mothers don't expect casual breastfeeding to limit their fertility. She writes:

“A significant distinction should be made between token breastfeeding with early solids and more rigid feeding schedules and the ad lib breastfeeding around the clock with no solids until the infant is six months old. The amount and frequency of sucking are closely related to the continued amenorrhea in most women. When a totally breastfed infant sleeps through the night at an early age, requiring no suckling for six hours or more at night, the suppressive effect on menses diminishes. It has also been shown that if the infant uses a pacifier rather than receiving nonnutritive sucking at the breast, the suppression of ovulation is diminished.”

Menstruation generally occurs after the baby starts to suck less frequently. Babies need to suck at least 65 minutes a day to prevent pregnancy in their mothers. (McNeilly) Once menstruation occurs, increasing the number of daytime breastfeedings does not usually affect continuing menstruation. (Diaz) In mothers who wean before menstruation returns, most find that it returns by 2-8 weeks after weaning.

Breastfeeding can and should continue when menstruation resumes. Mothers sometimes notice that their babies become fussy at the start of menstruation, perhaps because many mothers have a slight, temporary drop in milk supply at the start of their period. After a few days of increased nursing, the supply will return. Some women experience moodiness and irritability. It is common for cycles to be irregular for the first few months. Even after the return of menstruation, the cycles may be anovulatory for several more months, meaning that the release of eggs from the ovaries is still suppressed and that pregnancy cannot occur.

Breastfeeding has a powerful effect on the body. Lactational amenorrhea is a normal, healthy part of the reproductive cycle that provides mothers with a natural break from fertility. Many scientists believe that extended periods of lactational amenorrhea may help to explain the lower rates of ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancer found in women who breastfeed.

Common objections to the effectiveness of lactational amenorrhea debunked

I have tried this before, and it didn’t work.

As stated above, the guidelines for holding off the return of menstruation must be followed 100% by some women in order to be effective. Other mothers are naturally less fertile and may not experience any menstruation as long as they are breastfeeding at all. Until you learn about your own personal fertility over time, you will need follow the guidelines exactly to make sure they work.

Many women who “try” this will find that they are following the guidelines only casually.

How can a baby go without bottles and pacifiers?

Simply don’t buy any. While there are mothers who cannot produce an adequate amount of breastmilk, this condition is extremely rare. Some people do not produce enough insulin and they suffer from type I diabetes, but this is likewise very rare. That is not to say that some women will not have to work harder than others to have an adequate milk supply, although personally I believe that this has more to do with the mother’s general life style, particularly how much rest she gets. A daily nap is vital to a new mother, as is healthy, balanced nutrition and loving support from her family.

If you are having a baby shower, request that you do not receive any bottles, pacifiers, formula, breast pump, etc. Do not buy any formula “just in case”. If you receive formula samples, give or throw them away. When your newborn baby is hungry and crying because your milk supply is not catching up with his growing demand fast enough, the best thing to do is to take it easy for a couple of days and lounge around feeding the baby around the clock. There are excellent herbal teas that you can drink during this time (or every day), as well as certain foods that increase milk production. If you have formula and bottles in the house, however, you will be tempted to feed your crying baby “just one bottle” until your supply increases. Although this may seem harmless, this usually leads to a downward spiral of more bottles and less nursing.

Anyone tempted to feed their baby formula should take a sip of it themselves. It must be the most disgusting tasting thing ever invented.

As far as pacifiers go, again – just don’t use one. Most babies have to be taught to take a pacifier and at first reject it vehemently. The babies suckling is not just to get milk. It stimulates the production of hormones in the mother’s body that hold off ovulation, even if the baby is not actually drinking. This is why extended nighttime feedings and a daily nap are so vital. While Mom and baby are snuggled up side by side sleeping, the baby will suckle without actually getting much milk, causing the mother’s hormone levels to be boosted.

How will we ever get a break from the baby if we can’t leave him at a sitter with a bottle?

Once breastfeeding is well established and you know your child’s personal feeding patterns, you will be able to take breaks by leaving right after a feeding and returning before the next. This window of 2-3 hours is enough to go shopping, go out to eat, or do whatever else it is you want to do.

That being said, I do not want to encourage mothers to view their children as a nuisance and a burden, but rather as an extension of their mother that automatically goes with them wherever they go. Nor do I ever leave our children in anyone’s care except their Dad’s. If we both want to go out on a date, we bring along all our children. Sad to say, children today watch dating couples on TV all day long and all too often see glimpses into their bedroom scenes, but rarely see their parents interact normally as a married couple. If you don not find going out with your children enjoyable, you may need to reevaluate their discipline (or lack thereof).

I have several kids – how can I take a nap?

Older kids can be taught to play silently if you give them puzzles, books, school work, etc. Younger kids (mostly the 4 and under crowd) who will not play quietly can be made to lie down with you. If you really can’t take a nap one day because of certain circumstances, you can retreat to a quiet spot with the baby and nurse him/her while relaxing yourself. If you cannot take a nap regularly because of your schedule, you should reevaluate your schedule. Your own baby should have priority over just about any other obligations. Many mothers are so busy “serving others” that they neglect their own child. I believe that the root cause of this is the fact that when you serve others, you receive praise and appreciation, something a baby cannot express very much. Mothers should remember that their own child also falls into the “others” category, and should be at the top of that list along with your husband and other children. Besides, taking a nap and being well rested will give you the energy to get more done in less time after your nap.

If you do not like naps because they make you groggy, plan for an extra 15 minutes after your wake up to get a small snack, a drink, and splash some fresh water on your face. You will be glad you napped later.

Not following a nursing schedule will mess up my day and take up all my time.

Babies will fall into their own predictable pattern themselves. By about 3 months of age, even if the mother has been feeding on demand exclusively, she will know her baby’s own unique pattern and be able to plan around that. Most babies born into the same family will follow the exact same pattern, making it even easier for the Mom to predict.

Personally, I think that a rigid feeding/sleeping/playing schedule designed by a “Nursery Nazi” does more to mess up a mother’s day than feeding on demand. Babies that are overscheduled tend to be thrown off by any slight change in schedule brought on by a vacation, an emergency, sickness, etc. These schedules were designed for bottle-fed babies and later somewhat “adjusted” to fit breastfed infants.

Where most people miss the boat is when the child becomes older (around 6-8 months or so) and is purposefully manipulating the parents to get his way, rather than just following the natural instinct to eat frequently. This can be corrected through discipline. Give the child what he wants, or give him what he needs – but leaving him to “cry it out” is a lazy approach.

I can’t imagine having our baby sleep in bed with us!

The practice of babies sleeping with their mothers still is practiced almost everywhere in the world, and has been throughout history. It is every mother’s natural desire to want to have her child close by and to make sure that s/he is safe. Not only is it vital to the success of breastfeeding and natural child spacing, but having your baby sleep by your side provides many health benefits to the baby, such as reduced rate of SIDS, better weight gain and growth, less colic, etc. It will also help the baby feel close to Dad, who may be gone at work much of the baby’s awake time. Mothers lose virtually no sleep at night once they learn how to nurse while lying down because the baby can eat while both s/he and Mom are sleeping side by side. These mothers will also rarely ever, or only very briefly, experience postpartum depression. This condition is brought on by poor hormonal balance after childbirth and will continue and worsen if the mother is disjointed from her child, while sleeping with the baby on the other hand will help the mother’s hormone levels to adjust.

Obviously, precautions must be taken in order to ensure the safety of the baby in the parents’ bed. Although even parents who move around much in their sleep will naturally be aware of the baby and stay away from him/her, this is not true if you are under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. A crib is the safest place for children of such parents. Once the child is old enough to roll, a bedrail will keep him from rolling out of bed if s/he is not sleeping between both parents. Or you could simply push the bed against the wall, as long as there are no gaps at all.

If your husband has objections, try to explain to him how lactational amenorrhea works. For personal time without the baby, you could either lay the sleeping child in a bassinette/crib temporarily, or simply retreat to another part of the house yourself. Once you realize that most of your time in bed is spent sleeping soundly, you will not view the baby as an intruder.

Our church has mandatory nursery, and does not accommodate nursing mothers.

First, check if use of the nursery is really mandatory, or just preferred. If the latter is the case, just get used to the dirty looks you will get from others who bowed down to the “Nursery Nazis” while you keep your baby with you in the service. Even babies can be taught to sit somewhat quietly through church. The most difficult time of this training process is probably between 6-18 months of age, and you may have to step out if the child is disruptive. An excellent way to train your child, or even baby, is to read the Bible to him at home as a family and to encourage him to sit quietly during that time. You could also encourage your young child to adjust his sleeping pattern to sleep during church, since most babies will be sleepy from the car ride anyway. Or you could (GASP!) discreetly feed your baby in a sling during the service without anyone knowing about it, which will keep a young baby asleep and an older baby quiet. This is a great tool to bridge the gap between 6 and 18 months because babies can go from sleeping through the service to sitting through the service smoothly. When using a sling, other people may not notice the baby at all, or will think you are simply holding your sleeping child, as long as you use the right kind of sling that pretty much covers your entire front and back. Just don’t tell anyone what you are doing, or they may fall over dead.

Going to a church like that is a difficult situation, and you may need to be creative until you can find a good church that is also family-friendly and accommodating to mothers of large families.

Conclusion:

If mothers follow their natural, God-given mothering instincts to feed and care for their babies rather than adopting man-made, modern methods and equipment, they will be able to have healthy, safe pregnancies at naturally spaced intervals. These mothers will also be more in tune with their children through naturally nurturing them, and will have children so pleasant and loving that they would love to have as many children as God will bless them with.

References:

Bumgarner, N.J. Mothering Your Nursing Toddler. Schaumburg, IL: LLLI, 2000.

Diaz S, Miranda P, Brandeis A, Cardenas H, Croxatto HB. A study on the feasibility of suppressing ovarian activity following the end of postpartum amenorrhoea by increasing the frequency of suckling. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1988 May;28(5):525-35.

Gray RH, Campbell OM, Apelo R, Eslami SS, Zacur H, Ramos RM, Gehret JC, Labbok MH. Risk of ovulation during lactation. Lancet. 1990 Jan 6;335(8680):25-9.

Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA, Peerson JM, Dewey KG. Factors related to duration of postpartum amenorrhoea among USA women with prolonged lactation. J Biosoc Sci. 1994 Oct;26(4):517-27.

Jones RE. Breast-feeding and post-partum amenorrhoea in Indonesia. J Biosoc Sci. 1989 Jan;21(1):83-100.

Jones RE. The effect of initiation of child supplementation on resumption of post-partum menstruation. J Biosoc Sci. 1990 Apr;22(2):173-89.

Kippley, S.M. Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing. Cincinnati, OH: CCL, 1999.

La Leche League International: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Schaumburg, IL: LLLI, 2003

Lawrence, R. and Lawrence, R. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession. New Jersey: Elsevier, 2005.

McNeilly AS, Glasier AF, Howie PW, Houston MJ, Cook A, Boyle H. Fertility after childbirth: pregnancy associated with breast feeding. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1983 Aug;19(2):167-73.

Mohrbacher, N. and Stock, J. The Breastfeeding Answer Book. Schaumburg, IL: LLLI, 2002.

Perez A, Labbok M, Barker D, Gray R. Use-effectiveness of the ovulation method initiated during postpartum breastfeeding. Contraception. 1988 Nov;38(5):499-508.

Weinstein, M. Your Fertility Signals. St. Louis, MO: Smoothstone Press, 1989.

WHO The World Health Organization multinational study of breast-feeding and lactational amenorrhea. IV. Postpartum bleeding and lochia in breast-feeding women. World Health Organization Task Force on Methods for the Natural Regulation of Fertility. Fertil Steril. 1999 Sep;72(3):441-7.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

The Great American Holocaust

The Consequences of Roe v. Wade

48,589,993


Total Abortions in the U.S. since 1973
(according to National Right to Life)



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Some more statistics for the U.S. (obtained from here):

Number of abortions per year: 1.37 Million (1996)
Number of abortions per day:
Approximately 3,700

Who's having abortions (age)?
52% of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for 1.2%.

Who's having abortions (race)?
While white women obtain 60% of all abortions, their abortion rate is well below that of minority women. Black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are roughly 2 times as likely.

Who's having abortions (marital status)?
64.4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18.4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9.4%.

Who's having abortions (religion)?
Women identifying themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the U.S.; Catholic women account for 31.3%, Jewish women account for 1.3%, and women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions. 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as "Born-again/Evangelical".

Who's having abortions (income)?
Women with family incomes less than $15,000 obtain 28.7% of all abortions; Women with family incomes between $15,000 and $29,999 obtain 19.5%; Women with family incomes between $30,000 and $59,999 obtain 38.0%; Women with family incomes over $60,000 obtain 13.8%.

Why women have abortions
1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest; 6% of abortions occur because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or child, and 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient).

At what gestational ages are abortions performed:
52% of all abortions occur before the 9th week of pregnancy, 25% happen between the 9th & 10th week, 12% happen between the 11th and 12th week, 6% happen between the 13th & 15th week, 4% happen between the 16th & 20th week, and 1% of all abortions (16,450/yr.) happen after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Likelihood of abortion:
An estimated 43% of all women will have at least 1 abortion by the time they are 45 years old. 47% of all abortions are performed on women who have had at least one previous abortion.

Abortion coverage:
48% of all abortion facilities provide services after the 12th week of pregnancy. 9 in 10 managed care plans routinely cover abortion or provide limited coverage. About 14% of all abortions in the United States are paid for with public funds, virtually all of which are state funds. 16 states (CA, CT, HI, ED, IL, MA , MD, MD, MN, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OR, VT, WA and WV) pay for abortions for some poor women.

© Copyright 1998, The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (www.agi-usa.org)
© Copyright 1997, The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (www.agi-usa.org)
© Copyright 1995, Family Planning Perspectives
© Copyright 1988, Family Planning Perspectives

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The greatest advocate for legal abortions in the United States has been the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. It is interesting to note that this organization was started in the early 20th century by a radical feminist called Margaret Sanger with the intent to legalize birth control (which was then still against federal law) and abortion, eradicate "inferior" races (which to her primarily meant African Americans), and to promote mass-sterilization and immorality in general. No doubt, birth control has led to the need for legal abortions because it has allowed fornication and adultery to flourish, thus leading to many more unwanted pregnancies that had to be ended in order for nobody to find out.

Please click here to see an interesting publication put out by some members of Planned Parenthood. WARNING: The content is graphic and should not be viewed in front of children or within their hearing.

Please click here for a copy of Sanger's famous pamphlet, Family Limitations, in which she basically explains what a burden children are and how to induce an early abortion (immediately after conception, before "being late") through widely available substances such as quinine and bleach.

Some of her most bizarre quotes are:

But it is far more sordid to find yourself several years later burdened down with half a dozen unwanted children, helpless, starved, shoddily clothed, dragging at your skirt, yourself a dragged out shadow of the woman you once were.

A free race cannot be born to slave mothers. A woman cannot choose but give a measure of that bondage to her sons and daughters.



No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.


She goes through the vale of death alone, each time a babe is born. As it is the right neither of man nor the state to coerce her into this ordeal, so it is her right to decide whether she will endure it.


The most merciful thing that a family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.


Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression.


Women of the working class, especially wage workers, should not have more than two children at most. The average working man can support no more and and the average working woman can take care of no more in decent fashion.

The only good thing I can think of about this evil woman is that she died all alone and abandoned in a nursing home in Tuscan, Arizona in 1966.
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What boggles my mind the most is how many Christians believe and practice what this woman was arrested for less than 100 years ago. As she suggested, they have no more than 2 children, and they wait for at least 2 years after getting married before having them. Worse yet, modern day Christians rely on the chemicals contained in hormonal birth control devices (pill, injection, ring, etc.) to induce their early abortions. This may seem more sophisticated than using bleach, but it is just as wicked and despicable. Just as women back then were made infertile through the use of these substances, women today find themselves not being able to conceive when suddenly they wish to do so once it fits their timetable. Today, we have fertility methods to help us along with that, many of which (most notably in-vitro fertilization, i.e. "test tube babies") contribute to the death of many times more children. Isn't it ironic that the number of women having an abortion this year is approximately the same as that of women seeking fertility treatment? We have gone from God saying, "I kill, and I make alive" to putting ourselves in the place of God, where we now say, "I kill, and I make alive".

So if you thought that the number at the very top was appallingly high, multiply it several times to account for all the early, non-surgical abortions brought on by hormonal birth control and in-vitro fertilization. And if you are using either one of those, you are part of the problem, and have no right to stand in judgment of anyone having a surgical abortion.

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But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

Psalm 106:35-40


Saturday, December 1, 2007

The 25 Days of Christmas

At last, here are pictures of everyone's advent calendars:

My husband's:


Solomon's:


Isaac's:


John's:


My Mom's:



Solomon's calendar is not completely done yet because it was just getting too late tonight, especially since I was working with Miriam sleeping in my arms. The poor baby is doing very bad, and can only breathe through her mouth because her nose is all stuffed up. She keeps waking up crying and I am terrified to go to sleep because I want to make sure she is safe.

If you are wondering how I had the time to make all these - I don't know, I am still wondering about that myself! Maybe it's because we have no TV.

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Another tradition we will continue this year is taking some time every night for Christmas-related activities. Some of the things we are going to do are:

- make cookies
- string a popcorn garland for the tree
- sing Christmas songs
- write Christmas cards
- take a walk around the neighborhood at night and see the lights
- fold stars out of paper
... and many more things

Here are a few pictures of some of the things we have already done:

Making igloos from mini bundt cakes and mini marshmallows


Building and decorating a gingerbread house




Going to "ZooLights", the lights display at the zoo



Baking cupcakes


Tree lighting in Glendale


Wrapping Christmas presents




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Because I don't have enough to do already, I am looking into cloth diapering. Yes, that's right. I did try it once before with Solomon (6 years ago), but let's just say that one (very) dirty diaper later I was back to disposables. I have never really been to keen on them, but it's the lesser of two evils as far as I'm concerned. Then a read an online review of a certain kind of cloth diaper, Sugar Britches, and I was so impressed I just had to try them. Well, they feel sooooo nice and soft, I now feel guilty putting anything else on Miriam's little bottom. So for now I will use the cloth diapers I bought as well as disposables when the cloth are in the laundry (I only bought four) and see how it goes before I order a bunch more. I think another downside of cloth diapering would be that I can't see my husband catching on to that, and I would hate to have to change all the diapers myself. But if you are already using cloth diapers, you would definitely LOVE these diapers. They are made extremely well - I was trying to find a flaw and couldn't find one. The lady who makes them was wonderful, very friendly and helpful.




And here are some not-so-flattering pictures of Miriam:



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Our '99 Ford Escort finally broke down last week. It had a little over 140 k miles, and maybe it could have been fixed up again, but my husband decided that it wasn't worth it because he needed a reliable car for all the driving he does.

When him and Isaac broke down last week, it was late Friday night in a town on the border between AZ and CA, a good 2 hours away. AAA towed him into town, but I had to pick him up from there with the other 3 kids in tow. We got back home around 3 AM and it was not a very fun trip.

Losing this car is very sad for me because we have had it ever since Solomon was a baby, and I used it to go everywhere with the kids until we finally outgrew it with 4 children. We also moved across the country twice in this car. I have lots of memories of fun family outings.

Here is Isaac looking sad, and me sad behind the wheel one last time:



This week, we replaced the Escort with a brand-new 2008 Hundai Sonata. We bought it new because we got 0% financing. When we bought the van used we also got 0%, but nobody was offering that deal on used cars right now. I took this picture because I thought it was funny that the odometer reads 18 miles (we bought it with 9). Within two days, my husband had put 500 miles on it. "Every car on the road is a used car" is indeed true.


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Last, but not least, are some of Solomon's portraits from his 6th birthday. He asked that Miriam be in them, too - how sweet is that! The photos are small because Penney's doesn't give them to you any bigger. : (








Thursday, November 8, 2007

Watch your kids - especially at church

This is just a little rant, I hope nobody takes it personally.

Although we certainly do not have a problem with this at all at our church - thanks to Pastor Anderson's preaching style - freaks and weirdos are attracted to churches like moths are to the light. After all, you should be nice to people at church, which to a lot of people is synonymous to trusting them, i.e. entrusting them with your children. People who would take advantage of children know that all too well, and come in as wolves in sheep's clothing. This is why our church does not have any ministries or programs where children are separated from their parents. That means no Sunday school, no nurseries, no children's church, Christian school, etc. Children are expected to sit in church quietly with their family, listening to the preaching, and learning. This used to be the norm until the 20th century. We do provide a room for Moms to step out with their infants if they need to, where they can still see and hear without being heard. But the goal is to train kids at a young age to be in church. All three of our older children have made this transition fully by their 1st birthday, and even before that I have rarely had to step out with them.

Why am I saying all of this? Because some unknown freak has been harassing us since the church first started less than 2 years ago. He calls one of our private numbers which is neither published anywhere nor ever given out, and he always asks the same question: "Hello, what time are your Sunday services?" The first time he called I gave him the info, and then answered some more of his questions, and when I got off the phone I thought "I hope this guy never shows up!" His voice sounded like that of a serial killer in a movie I saw long before I got saved - real quiet and creepy. He never did show up, but would call every few weeks, each time with the same question and each time telling me they had just moved into the area a couple of weeks ago. He would ask about children in our church, and other detailed questions about their lives, their names and ages, and how their parents raised them. He would always end the call by assuring me "I'll see you on Sunday!" Of course, I never did give this guy any of the information he was trying to get about the children in our church. The third or fourth time he called I started to just dish the guy off with a quick answer about the service time, and then asking: "Haven't you called before?", in response to which he would quickly hang up. Needless to say, his calls were private calls and his number withheld. After a few of those calls I finally told him he had the wrong number and hung up on him, since he is actually calling my husband's business number, not the church. Well, he called again today and asked his same question about the Sunday services in the same creepy way, to which I replied "Don't you ever dare call again, you freaking pervert!" and hung up.

There, you have it. I am not loving, and I am judgmental. Worse yet, if the guy ever does show up I will have a couple of our men remove him from the premises immediately. And if he shows up at YOUR church, you should do the same.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

This is funny

I found this list of funny British laws in a news article.

1. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.

2. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside-down.

3. In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless except as a clerk in a tropical fish store.

4. Mince pies cannot be eaten on Christmas Day.

5. In Scotland, if someone knocks on your door and requires the use of your toilet, you must let them enter.

6. A pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman's helmet.

7. The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the king, and the tail of the queen.

8. It is illegal to avoid telling the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing.

9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armour.

10. In the city of York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

How to get a break

Here are tricks for Moms who desperately need a break. All tried and true!

1. Grab something to read, and lock yourself into the bathroom.

Turn on the fan so you don't hear any fighting, tattling, phone, etc. Obviously, if you have a baby, make sure s/he is in a safe place first. Even just 15 minutes of quiet time can do a lot for your morale. I enjoy reading baby magazines that are always being sent to me for free for a good laugh. The parenting advice in them is just so hilarious, plus all of a sudden my kids look like angels. ("What to do if your 6 year old likes to bite", "How to potty-train your 1st grader", etc.) The magazines always go in the trash the same day I get them, but I do enjoy reading them for comic relief in the meantime.

2. Send all the kids to go clean their room(s)

Even if they never pick up a single thing, they will suddenly play very contently with their toys because it beats having to clean up, and the last thing they want to do is draw attention by being loud and obnoxious. Of course, when you have had your break, you still need to follow through and make them clean up, or else they will never do it when you tell them to.

3. Take a nap

Little ones can be made to lie down with you (that way you can make sure they are lying down still and not getting into stuff), older kids can be told that if they don't play very quietly (i.e. puzzles) they will have to lie down, too.

4. Make them take a nap

In our house, everyone 4 and under must take a nap every day. No discussions about it. Older kids are supposed to do their schoolwork and Bible memorization quietly in the toyroom or schoolroom.

Disclaimer: None of our babies is ever put down for a nap and left to "cry it out". If I take a nap, it's at the same time as the baby is sleeping. Once kids get to be around 1 year old and understand that they are supposed to lie down quietly and sleep, they are punished if they get up or cry. Never really had much of an issue with that, though, because they lie down together and don't get to feeling lonely.

5. Get up early or stay up late for some alone time

I guess that's why I am writing this at 12:21 AM...

6. Dump the kids on your husband for a little while

My husband is VERY absentminded, so this works great. I can actually pass the baby off to him and he won't even notice most of the time. Then a couple minutes later I casually ask him to check the baby's diaper, and alas, it's dirty - what a surprise! While he is absentmindedly changing the diaper, I notice that I need to run to the store for x and I dash out the door, not to return for about an hour or more. Of course the house will be tore apart by the time I get back, because the kids also know that Daddy is in a world of his own and doesn't notice them pulling out every off-limits item in the house. But they are always all still alive, and I have had an hour of free time.

7. Send everyone to their room(s)

Tell them they may not come out until you call them. Don't use this too often or too long.

8. Take the kids to the playground

If the weather is not nice, you could go to a mall with a play land, or a library that has a play area. Keep an eye on the kids while you sit back and relax with something to read, enjoy a special treat, or talk on the phone with a friend.

9. Get used to the chaos, and learn to tune it out

The house can only get so messy. Rather than focusing on the temporal (housework), focus on things with eternal values, like winning the heart of your children by building strong relationships with them.

And what not to do...

- Plop the kids in front of the TV.
- Eat yourself sick from stress.
- Get a baby-sitter.
- Send them to school.
- Scream at them to be quiet.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

A little history quiz

Below are six quotations to test the political and historical knowledge. If you don't know the answer, make your best guess.

Be sure to answer all the questions before looking at the answers below.

Who said it?

1) "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."
A. Karl Marx
B. Adolf Hitler
C. Joseph Stalin
D. None of the above

2) "It's time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few, by
the few, and for the few...... And to replace it with shared responsibility for
shared prosperity."
A. Lenin
B. Mussolini
C. Idi Amin
D. None of the Above

3) "(We) ...can't just let business as usual go on, and that means
something has to be taken away from some people."
A. Nikita Khrushchev
B. Josef Goebbels
C. Boris Yeltsin
D. None of the above

4) "We have to build a political consensus and that requires people to give
up a little bit of their own ... in order to create this common ground."
A. Mao Tse Tung
B. Hugo Chavez
C. Kim Jong Il
D. None of the above

5) "I certainly think the free-market has failed."
A. Karl Marx
B. Lenin
C. Molotov
D. None of the above

6) "I think it's time to send a clear message to what has become the most
profitable sector in (the) entire economy that they are being watched."
A. Pinochet
B. Milosevic
C. Saddam Hussein
D. None of the above


Scroll down for answers






Answers

(1) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/29/2004 at a Fundraiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer in San Francisco. Washington Post.

(2) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 5/29/2007 in a speech in Manchester, New Hampshire. Boston.com.

(3) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007 on The Sojourners Political Forum on CNN's The Situation Room. CNN.

(4) D. None of the abo ve. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007 on The Sojourners Political Forum on CNN's The Situation Room. CNN.

(5) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007 on The Sojourners Political Forum on CNN's The Situation Room. CNN.

(6) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 9/2/2005 in a speech in Syracuse, NY. Washington Post.


"As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." - Isaiah 3:12

Saturday, October 6, 2007

How to have a clean house...

... in spite of your family.

- Put trash cans in every single room of the house.

- Put a hamper for dirty laundry in every bedroom and bathroom.

- Have a place for EVERYTHING, and put it there.

- Be merciless when it comes to de-cluttering. If you haven't used it in more than a few weeks, or if it's been broken and sitting around waiting to be fixed - toss it (or donate if someone else may want to use it). Obviously, there are a few exceptions to this since some items are only used around certain holidays, e.g. cookie cutters etc.

- Before buying anything, ask yourself: "Where will I keep this at home?" If you can't think of a place for it, don't get it.

- Use a little time here and there throughout the week to work on a drawer, shelf, or other small area that is getting out of control, rather than waiting to have an entire day to "clean the shed/garage/bedroom". Chances are the time will never come, and if it does, you will be too overwhelmed and discouraged to actually do it.

- Don't give in to the urge to leave the house just to escape the mess at home. You won't like it any more when you get back. Instead, clean one area and feel good about it.

- Have a strict policy when it comes to your children's toys, and enforce it. In our house, the rule is that outside toys must stay outside, inside toys must stay inside, and that no toys are allowed in the kitchen, living room, and dining room.

- Teach your children from an early age to clean up their own room. If they are old enough to take the toy out, they are old enough to be taught to put it back in its place. Provide lots of storage bins, and preferably label them. Many small bins for sorting are much better than one or two large toy boxes, since every child always wants the toy in the very bottom and will dump the whole thing out. For little ones that are too young to read, you can print clip-art images of various toys on index cards and glue them to the respective bins. Be patient, and praise them if they clean up without being told to do so.

- Avoid letting small, cheap toys into the house in the first place. The type that comes in a happy meal, or that you buy at the dollar store. They only ever seem to end up broken on the floor.

- Enlist the help of your children from early on. Teaching them takes time and effort, but it is an investment that will pay off.

- Try to keep the area that visitors see clean and tidy throughout the day. It will make them feel comfortable and welcome. Nobody said you have to show them your bedroom closet.

- Once the kids are down for the night, spend a half hour or so cleaning and tidying without any interruptions. Everyone loves waking up to a nice house.

- Give up trying to reform your husband. If his Mom didn't manage to teach him, you won't either. But think about it: Would you rather live with someone who always drops his laundry right in front of the hamper, or with a clean freak who is obsessed with making sure there is not a speck of dust anywhere?

Of course, these are just a few suggestions. You can find helpful books on how to de-clutter and organize your home at the library. The more members your family has, the more organized you will need to be, but you will also have more helpers. Making your house a relaxing, comfortable home is a great opportunity to show your family how much you love them.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Photography 101

Although I am by no means an expert photographer, I have listed below some very basic and simple things that I have learned over the years. Small changes can mean the difference between a good picture and a great one.

* Backdrop: Make sure that you have a nice backdrop. For example, if you are taking pictures at home, make sure that there are not piles of laundry, dishes, or the like in the background.

* Edges: Do not cut the top of people's heads off, but also do not leave too big of a gap between the top of their head and the top of the photo.

* Portraits & Close-ups: It usually works best if the person's body is turned slightly sideways, but their head is turned to the camera. Bear in mind that most people look much better from one side than from the other. It's often best not to have the person in the dead center of the picture, but rather off to one side a little.

* Zoom: If you are using a digital camera, try not to use the zoom function even if your camera has a great resolution. You will always lose quality when using the zoom. Instead, if it is possible, step closer to the object you are photographing.

* Scenery: Make it a rule NEVER to photograph scenery without a person in the picture. Years from now you will not care about a picture of monkeys at the zoo or a deer in the woods when there's not also a person in the photo. If you love the scenery, buy a postcard instead - it was taken using top-of-the-line equipment and in perfect weather and lighting conditions, something that would be very hard for you to recreate. On the other hand, try to keep strangers out of the picture as much as possible, something that is not always easy at crowded tourist stops.

* Lighting: Personally, I think that this aspect is mostly overrated. Ideally you would have soft, indirect light from the side or from behind the photographer, with no shadows on any of the people's faces. Unless you are photographing directly into the sun, you will rarely have problems with this. If you are trying to get a great portrait and there are shadows on the person's face, you can reflect additional indirect light onto their face by holding a white piece of paper close to their face (but obviously out of the picture!). Avoid using the flash, which means that you will have to create/utilize as many other sources of light as possible.

* Shoot, shoot, shoot: Don't be afraid to take lots and lots of pictures. If you take 20 and only 2 of them are worth keeping, at least you will get a shot you like. This is especially true for digital cameras, which allow you to quickly delete pictures you don't like without spending money on getting them developed. Also, you should try to bring your camera with you everywhere you go, since you never know when you might need it for a great shot.

* Sit still: Teach children from an early age to follow your instructions when posing them for pictures. Older kids should not be allowed to be goofy, play around, or distract the younger children. Try to get your husband to understand that this is not the best time for him to be wild (good luck with that one!). The larger your family, the harder it will be to get EVERYONE to look good in the same photo, so start early. You will be glad you did when you go to have professional portraits done and your children know what to do and how to act.

* Equipment: The best cameras on the market (digital or not) are made by Nikon. Unfortunately, this puts them out of most people's price range. My favorite digital cameras in the lower to middle price range are made by Kodak. They are very user friendly, sturdy, and take great pictures even in less than ideal conditions, i.e. if there is a lot of movement in the picture or the lighting is poor.


This is by no means a conclusive list. Experiment on your own, and have fun!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The ten most common questions and comments I get in public

#1 - You guessed it: "Are they all yours?!??"

I used to get asked that every time I went anywhere, but hear it less these days. Either the resemblance between me and the kids is too obvious, or people don't even want to go into that with me.

#2 - "You have your hands full!"

This seems to be the current favorite. I guess it would seem like I have my hands full when I have one child strapped to my front in a sling, one in the shopping cart in front of me, and two holding on to either side of the cart. Add to that a purse the size of a suitcase on one shoulder, pushing the cart with one hand while holding the cell phone, keys, shopping list, etc. in the other hand. And then the phone rings... my husband calling from the road to chat. Must be nice, driving down the road in peace and quiet! :)

#3 - "So, are you done yet?"

Although this may seem like a question, it is always spoken as a command - firm voice, concerned look with pity mixed in, and definitely not expecting "No!" for an answer. I wonder: Done with what? I thought I'm the one that lets the natural events just take their course while they are "doing" their part to stop that.

#4 - "So, are you going to have more?"

Very similar to #3 above, but usually meant as an honest question.

#5 - "You guys need to get a TV!"

Always said as a joke, but I love to see the shock on people's faces when I tell them that we REALLY don't have one.

#6 - "Are they twins/triplets?"

Referring to the three boys. Each of them is separated by about 2 years in age and several inches in height, but that may not be obvious to the casual observer.

#7 - "How many do you plan on having?"

The subject - kids - is implied. The reactions when I tell them "As many as I can!" range from pity to anger, with sympathy somewhere in between. The fact that they even ask this question shows that they do not agree with me in this area.

#8 - "Are you not in school today?"

Usually addressing Solomon, who is almost 6. He tells them he is home schooled, which sends people running the other way. Hey, they should have guessed that when they saw me wearing a long skirt and Birkenstock sandals, with long hair tied back and no make-up!

#9 - "They are so well behaved!"

Now this may not be true as much at home, but in public I am very adamant about the kids acting their best. No meltdowns, whining, begging, running around, etc. allowed.

#10 - "They are so happy!"

Of course, this is the favorite comment I love to get. And that in spite of #9 above!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Our new family blog

Okay, so I am a little late to start a family blog, but I figured better late than never. I hope you all enjoy keeping up with what our family is doing, and seeing pictures of all of us. Well, the kids, that's all anyone really cares about.

This blog is still just in the "newborn" stage and needs some TLC, so please be patient with me as I try to get it up and running as soon as possible.

Enjoy!