The Rosie Layne

A Confession

2009-10-02T05:07:00.001-07:00

The longer I live the more I learn about myself. I have lots of good intentions and one of them was to make this blog a place for you to win prizes, learn about random stuff (mostly related to pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, and wellness), and maybe crack a smile while doing it. BUT I have a problem. I am apparently passively competitive. And what that means to me is I want to have THE BEST blog out there, but when I see all these other mamas who do it for a living, and help with their family's financial needs I get really overwhelmed with the daily responsibility of blogging. It is not my job. And it takes away from my kids during the day. I can't keep up with the demands of competing to have a great blog because I don't have the time or the imagination to come up with great information every. single. day. Then I found out that with contests people can cheat. Yeh, that's right. CHEAT! On a contest. from a mommy blogger. Are you kidding me? Apparently these folks spend the time to set up 10 different email accounts and enter these contests over and over again and probably win. No wonder I've never won anything... I've entered close to 50. I think cheaters have no moral compass. It would be hard for me to enjoy something I didn't work hard to attain. You know?

So, I guess my thoughts are this. I'm not cut out to be a professional blogger. It stresses me out. I am teaching 3 nights a week, staying home with the girls every single day, keeping up with my store and its inventory, am available at all hours to my students for questions and encouragement, and stay up late to catch up with my husband. There simply is no time. I will share stories and information as I come across it. But I feel like I've let you down. And I'm sorry. If you don't want to follow this blog anymore, I totally understand. There are others out there that will continue to have great giveaways and lots of fun and useful information.

Some of them that I've found and really enjoy are:

Molly's over at MommaMolly
Samantha's over at MamaNotes
Kayce's at Kayce's Doula Journey
Amy at Makes Mom Happy
Julie at Inexplicable Ways
Emi at The Cloth Diaper Report
Dr.Momma at Peaceful Parenting
The Stretch Mark Mama
Elita at Blacktating
Rita at Fighting Off Frumpy

So, I hope you go and check them out- these are the types of blogs I wish I could create. But I'll be around from time to time... and probably have material in bursts... that's kind of how I roll. =)

Have a GREAT weekend!!!

The Problem with Big Business

2009-09-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

I really want this blog to be informative, but entertaining. However, I've had issues with looking at the funny side of things lately. I seem to be stuck in this very non-humorous rut and am taking everything WAY too seriously. My feathers get ruffled easily and my husband asks me every day if I think I'm pregnant... which would be a serious achievement considering all the natural steps we've been taking to prevent pregnancy at this particular moment. So, this is what is eating me alive. Big Business. Now, I know that we live in a land full of opportunity and capitalism, which I think it perfectly fine. But what I find horrendous is that in this Land of the Free, we are also able to harm others in order to make money. I have lots of cases in point:

Makes Mom Happy told us all about the evils of Medela and how they egregiously violate the WHO's breastfeeding code. They happily pay the fines because they know they can make more money by making an open breastpump that cannot be used for more than one mother.

Lansinoh is owned by Pigeon, another violator who promotes their products as being equal or better than the breast. Apparently the nursing rate in China is drastically falling due to all of the advertising efforts of Pigeon.

MamaNotes just wrote about 10 recalls for baby items. I found the whole list and was astounded that there weren't just 10, there were hundreds of recalled baby products (and I was too furious to even look at the toy list.) The purpose of the recalls was anything from "excessive lead" to fall hazards, laceration hazards, strangling and choking hazards, and other horrendous outcomes.

And most recently I found out that something as innocuous and lovely as new carpet is full of toxic VOCs which can harm your body. They can emit toxic off-gasses for an average of ten years!

Then you have the whole H1N1 vaccination debate (or vaccinations, in general). Did you read where you could take your child to have the H1N1 vaccine tested on them and receive a $40 gift card in return? Are you kidding me?? Dr Momma at Peaceful Parenting listed the article on her website. So, you have to imagine that in order to receive this gift card, you have to waive all rights to a lawsuit in the event that the thermerisol or other ingredients in this vaccine harm or kill your kid. But it's $40, right?? By the way, did you know that there are still pending cases in court from the horrible side effects (paralysis and death among other things) from the H1N1 vaccine from the 1970s? Did you know that Novartis has already got a stockpile of funds designated for lawsuits stemming from anticipated deaths and other catastrophic reactions to their H1N1 vaccine? And did you know that the manufacturers of the H1N1 vaccine aren't even going to take it??!?! Why should we?

I watched a funny video posted by one of my former students, a chiropractic intern. It was amusing, but thoughtful as well. Why are all food products required to list their ingredients, but nothing else is? Would you buy that toy if it listed one of its ingredients as lead? Would you buy that flooring if you knew it had VOCs in it? No! And perhaps that is why they don't list them.

Warning- I am stepping onto my soapbox.

How have we gotten to a place in this country where money is more valuable than life? Research and development costs are cut in order to advertise items on TV, and then the consumers become the buyers and the researchers. We have to call the manufacturers to tell them that their "safe" products (from cribs, swings, high chairs, co sleepers, carseats) are not safe, and in fact have injured, maimed, or killed our kids. We suffer the ill effects of toxins in our home's paint and carpet. Quality control is being sacrificed by sending these products to a faraway land for production and then the manufacturers don't oversee it properly. And then WE purchase those items because they are cheaper. Well, of course they are cheaper! Those folks are being paid $2 per day and have no health insurance and no 401K, so of course the products are less expensive. Not only are we sacrificing our families, we are sacrificing the lives of others whom we have never even met! We are in a terrible state when there is an inverse relationship between income and morals. It sort of makes me insane. I'm trying to do my part by carrying products that are environmentally and socially responsible in my little store. And by boycotting large stores who only carry cheap items made in countries on the other side of the world. If I can purchase an item that is $50 more expensive, but support fair trade and ethically treats its employees, I will gladly eat beans and rice for a week. It's about priorities. As a nation, we need to get ours straight.

Okay. I'm done now.

I was THAT mom today...

2009-09-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

As I get more and more comfortable being a mother of two under two, I have found myself becoming much less critical of other mothers around me. No more than a few months ago I would have shot an untoward glance at a harried mother desperately trying to get her child to do something other than what that child wanted to do, feeling sorry for her but secretly gloating that I wasn't there and never would be. I got those looks today.

A friend and I decided that a consignment sale was the place to be this afternoon. It was an overcast day, a little muggy, but the mud piles created by the last few rounds of rain made playing outside impossible. So a consignment sale it was. I love a good sale... 250 MegaBloks for 14 bucks, a piggy bank with heirloom glass tins for the first tooth and lock of hair for 10, a princess backpack for 4 dollars... what more could you want?! Petunia is strapped securely to my body with 5 feet of breathable organic cotton, wrapped expertly by yours truly and Piggy is sitting like a big girl in the stroller. We enter. All is well with the world. Until Piggy spots the thousands of stuffed animals and babies on the wall. "Baby! Baby! Baaaaay- beeeeeee! BAAAAAAAY- BEEEEEE!" I throw one to her- a lamb- to get her quiet. She says, "Oh weeee!" and snuggles it closely, while the thoughts of the unknown child's germs covering that baby disturb the peace it brought to the moment. I thought, "Okay, she'll love on her baby and if worst comes to worst, we'll have to buy it." A few minutes later, that little lamb is tossed to the floor and Piggy now wants out of the stroller. Stupidly, I had forgotten to strap her in, and she starts climbing up and out of the contraption, uninhibited by buckles or snaps. I gently tell her to sit down and she shrieks at the top of her lungs. I glance over apologetically to my friend who is chatting on the phone, seeing if this kid is as loud as I perceive her to be. She is.

We meander over to the official toy section that is laden with blocks and rings and VTech and other such goodies. Piggy is done. She has to get down to explore all of these new items. She finds a Winnie the Pooh play set and busily gets to work pushing the buttons and creating a general racket. Then she spots all the ride-on toys. A police car, a fire engine, a couple of scooters, a bicycle with training wheels, a bus, Thomas the Train, a motorcycle- it's a toddler's dream. She hops on and tries out each and every one of them, completely disregarding the masking tape covering the seats in the desperate attempt to keep children like mine OFF.

I place my massive box of MegaBloks in the stroller because it is currently empty and should be used for something. I stuff the piggy bank and backpack underneath and begin walking towards the front to check out. Thinking that my child would follow, I don't turn around. My friend, obviously more aware than I am, stops to watch as my daughter tries to get on the big girl bicycle. I leave my stroller, purse and all, and go to remove my child from the big girl bicycle. She goes limp in my arms and refuses to cooperate, screaming as loud as I thought she was able. We finally make it to the front and the lady asks if "this was all"? I say yes and ask if they take credit cards, really needing to speed up this process. Piggy then kicks and almost throws herself out of my arms, so I try to get her back into the stroller. Seeing that my attempts were futile, the lady at the register comes around and secures Piggy's feet in her hands and shoves them under the tray of the stroller. Piggy immediately becomes a limp noodle and slithers underneath and falls to the floor, shrieking and crying the entire way down. I look up and around and for a moment realize that every single person in that store was staring at us. So, I do the only thing I know how. I wave. At all of them. And I smile, while waving and announce, "Yes, we're here!! But we're leaving!" My friend and I move toward the door which is being held open by one of the workers. We arrive at the solace of the car. Whew.

Deciding that we had not had enough of this child's shenanigans, we head over to the local Chick-fil-A with the indoor play area. As we pull in, I am thinking about how to get the girls out of the car simultaneously. Since I wasn't going to bring in the stroller, I walked around and got Piggy out, and placed her in the front seat. She loves "driving" and then I quickly put Petunia back into the wrap. I opened back up the front door and said, "Come on, Piggy, let's go!" She immediately throws herself backwards into the "tantrum position," quickly and efficiently demolishing my styrofoam cup of Dr. Pepper and covering her head in it. I yank her up and out of the car to prevent further soaking of the sticky, syrupy liquid and lead her to my friend who holds her hand and says, "Piggy, what is in your hair?" "Dr. Pepper, of course!" is my reply.

We enter the Chick-Fil-A and another tantrum ensues which captures the attention of the staff and the four groups of diners. "Hello, everyone. We're here!" are the first words out of my mouth as I usher Piggy to the back left into the play room. She immediately goes to pick up a pair of shoes that have been carelessly thrown off by one of the children who is now eating her lunch in the dining area. "No no. Those aren't yours. Put them down, please." Thinking that my Dr. Pepper-soaked child has already caused all the ruckus she can, I begin to relax. My friend has ordered a milkshake and is enjoying it on the other side of the glass. A dad and a few kids enter the play area just as Piggy is squatting and grunting, making sure that everyone is around her, enjoying the stench of her newly poopy diaper. Oh yes. I was THAT mom today.

Welcome to Toddler Land

2009-08-28T04:53:00.001-07:00

There are lots of ways to know that you are officially a naturalized citizen of Toddler Land:

You can quickly and easily fall asleep in the toddler bed and wake up to find that the toddler has sneaked out and is now in your bed...

The toddler just sitting on the big girl potty is enough to elicit shrieks of excitement. And doing the actual deed is cause for some serious (and literal) song and dance...

You don't care that the toddler is eating fuzz... again. After all, it always comes out...

The poopy diapers are awfully similar to, well, you know... the real thing (with fuzz).

While the toddler is screaming "It sucks! It sucks!" you understand that something is stuck and she needs your help getting it freed, which happens much more frequently than you ever realized.

Out in public the toddler is yelling how "it sucks" (old ladies and disapproving mothers shaking their heads in disdain) and you can't help but agree as you help to dislodge the "babydog" from some inner workings of the stroller.

Forgetting when your last shower was is normal and shaving one leg dulls a razor completely. Who cares, anyway?

And finally, your college degree means nothing. Case in point- after getting dressed and heading to the local Publix, you fish what you think is a dryer sheet out of your pants leg while walking into the store, intending to stick it in your pocket. Unfortunately, a dryer sheet it is not. Instead, it is yesterday's panties. You make a quick retreat to the car.

Welcome to Toddler Land. Check your brain at the door.

A Doula Interview for Wellness Wednesday

2009-08-26T05:34:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of the best doulas around, Julie Byers, just a few weeks before she gave birth to her second baby. Her birth story is amazing and you can read it here and here. She took the time to answer all my questions and I found out a lot of stuff I didn't know! I hope you find this informative!!

Me: What is a doula?

Julie: The literal translation of the word is "female slave" in Greek. And, frankly, I find that description to fit what most doulas do. We do whatever the birthing woman needs us to do--and that looks very different to each family. The professional term has evolved to mean a woman who assists during childbirth. She provides emotional and physical support to laboring families. She also helps the couple to know what to expect from their care providers and birth environment, reminds them of questions to ask, and often communicates birth wishes to the medical team. At a time when birth has become more procedure oriented and medicalized, the doula can assist a couple in creating a unique and celebratory experience. We guard their space. Some couples want more from their birth than to simply show up and be delivered of a baby. They want to be active and informed participants.

Me: Why do I need a doula?

Julie: In my opinion, for a first time couple planning a hospital birth, a doula is an absolute essential part of the plan. Regardless of your birth choices (natural, medicated, induced, elective c-section), a doula is the only part of your birth team who is only answering to you. She isn't answering to the hospital administration or a malpractice insurance policy. She knows the routines, the pitfalls, and the perks. Sometimes, just the fact that a couple hires a doula sends a message to the medical team that they have given thought to their birth and that they take informed consent seriously. For out-of-hospital births and experienced couples, a doula is still a powerful addition to the team.

Me: What certifications, experience, expertise should I look for when interviewing a doula?

Julie: I think the most important thing to look for in a doula is how she meshes with your personality and needs. Her ability to tune into your needs will be her best skill and sometimes people just don't mesh. So, don't choose a doula with more experience or better certification that you didn't feel comfortable with. There are several certifying organizations (DONA, CAPPA, Hypnobabies, Birthing From Within, etc). Some doulas choose to certify and some don't. Some receive their training from apprenticing with other doulas/midwives and some attend workshops or complete distance learning courses. I love when couples ask me for references from OBs/midwives or couples I've worked with.

Me: How much can I expect to pay a doula?

Julie: The range I've noticed in our area is between $500-800. You can often find a student doula for less or for free. Some doulas will barter. And usually, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) will cover doula services. I tell couples: remember what you paid for your wedding! This event is important! Besides, a doula is much less than an epidural or c-section.

Me: Are there rules about paying more if a labor goes longer, or less if it is shorter? Are tips standard?

Julie: I have heard of doulas charging more if a labor goes longer but that is not typical. We usually charge a flat fee regardless of length of labor. Each doula will have a contract with specific provisions for things like precipitous births or planned cesareans. Some couples tip and some don't--I never expect it.

Me: How many times should I meet with my doula?

Julie: It varies. Most offer a free birth consultation or interview. Then, if hired, meet with the couple two times before the birth. The doula is available by phone or email from the time they are hired until the couple is settled postpartum.

Me: What red flags should I look for when interviewing a doula?

Julie: Agendas. Some doulas only want to support unmedicated births or seem to have a plan of their own about how birth should go. You want a doula who takes time to understand your needs and wishes, the culture of your family, and what is most important to you.

Me: Do I need to have my doula approved by my doctors/hospital?

Julie: No, you can bring whomever you choose to your birth. However, it is a good idea to mention to your OB/midwife that you have hired a doula. Or invite your doula to a prenatal appointment even.

Me: Should my doula attend my childbirth education classes with me?

Julie: If it is ok with your instructor and your doula is not familiar with your particular childbirth education choice, this might be beneficial. If you are a single mother, having your doula attend your class with you would be excellent!

Me: I would like to give a gift to my doula. What are some appropriate gift ideas?

Julie: Something simple would be a picture of the doula with your new baby. I love getting those! Other ideas might be birth jewelry or art. www.attachmentscatalog.com has a section of lovely doula gifts.

Me: Where should I go to find qualified doulas in my area?

Julie: Ask. I get all of my clients through word of mouth. Post to a message board like Upstate Moms, ask midwives or childbirth educators, talk to a playgroup. Or google.

Me: I'm afraid that the doula I like is too expensive. Are there grants available? Could we barter? Are there options?

Julie: Most doulas will work with you on this one. Payment plans are almost always an option. I have had couples pay me months after a birth when they received their tax refund! And I've bartered. I mentioned using a flex spending account. And check with your insurance company--you never know!

Me: How many births have you attended?

Julie: I hate this question because I haven't taken the time to add them up! I honestly don't know. I didn't mean to become a doula so many of my early births went undocumented--one day I'll gather together all the records. I will say that I attend 2-3 births per month now and I average 12 hours of continuous labor support (not including prenatal and postpartum care) with each couple.

*A big thanks to Julie for answering each question so thoughtfully and completely... She's the best!! :)

Jesus Bubble Juice

2009-08-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

I think that if I knew how difficult raising a two year old was, I might have decided that I wasn't designed to be a parent. Piggy is quite a determined little girl and sometimes I have to show her the boundaries so that she knows she isn't running this show. We had a nice tantrum out at the birth center where I have my store today, and my patience and parenting was tested to the extreme, but she finally relented and picked up her toys- the cause of the ensuing battle. It was a silly test, really. I had picked up after her like 784 times already that day and she normally listens and obeys, if not happily at least quickly. BUT not yesterday. Yesterday when I handed her the chicken to put back in the basket she threw it down and flung herself on the floor kicking and screaming for "AMY!!!!" (She is one of the midwives at the birth center, who was in the other room.) Now, you have to know this kid to understand how funny her calling for Amy was. Piggy won't go to anyone except me, her dad, and my mom. She just allowed my dad to hold her for the first time this week (first time, that is, since she's been able to choose who is allowed and who isn't). Sunday School is a horrendous time each week because there are two men in the class with their wives, but I digress. So, we had a showdown yesterday at the birth center. I stood my ground and after about 20 minutes, she finally picked up the toys.
But as horrible as that tantrum was, it was sort of all worth it because on our way home she started singing. "Yes, Jesus bubble juice! Yes, Jesus bubble juice. Yes, Jesus bubble juice. Da Biba me so..." At first I was confused about what she was singing and then I realized she was singing Jesus Loves Me. I turned around and was amazed at how her demeanor had changed. She wasn't a stinky, tantrum-y, two year old but instead had transformed to the sweet angel that I wake up to each morning... "Honey, it's 'loves you,' not 'bubble juice', and I 'bubble juice' too."

Stripping Diapers

2009-08-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

I guess that one of the unspoken aspects of cloth diapering is that as much as we all love them, there are flaws with every system. Don't believe me? Go to the cloth diaper review sites and check out what other moms have to say. There just isn't a perfect diaper out there- no matter who tells you otherwise... However, just like so many things in life, you have to weigh the pros and cons. For me, the positives far outweighed the negatives. We have been successfully cloth diapering for 2 years in October and I wouldn't go back to disposables for anything. I enjoy the little nuisances of cloth diapering and am secretly amused when folks look at me like I have 3 heads when I tell them that I am using cloth for not one, but two babies simultaneously. For me, it is just worth it. It's worth not having diaper rash. It's worth not exposing my kids to unnecessary chemicals like dioxin (which is banned in most countries). It's worth it to me to save thousands of dollars to put towards other important things like education, fresh natural foods, and quality toys made out of sustainable, non toxic materials in places other than China.

But one of my least favorite activities regarding cloth diapering is stripping them. I have stripped my diapers four times now, on average every 6 months. And there are various ways to tell if you need to strip your diapers. First, if you have used any sort of diaper cream on your baby's bottom and the diaper is no longer absorbent you should strip it. If you can smell immediately that your baby has peed in her diaper, it's time to strip. If your baby is soaking through diapers at a more rapid rate than usual or if your baby's clothes are wet every time they pee, it may be time to strip them.

You will need a few things to get started:

A workplace for your diapers in your sink or bathtub that is a convenient height (to avoid killing your back. I don't know about you, but carrying two babies and playing sports has made my lower back a lot more sensitive than it used to be). I used my dish drainer (which I realize is kind of gross) flipped upside down. Don't worry, I sanitized it afterward. You could easily have one that you use exclusively for this purpose.
Then you need a scrubber of some sort. An old toothbrush is fine. I used a large scrubby thing that my husband found for me.

Finally, you need Dawn. Not the expensive smelly makes-your-hands-feel-like-you've-just-had-a-mani-Dawn, but the Original blue Dawn that you can buy at the dollar store for fifty cents.

Take each diaper and wet it with warm water, and put a small amount of Dawn on it.

Scrub the Dawn into the diaper and make sure to move it into the fabric at several different angles to allow the detergent to remove all the deposits.

Rinse thoroughly and place the diaper in a pail. Repeat with each diaper. After you have completed this step, take your diapers to the washer and put them in for a rinse.

Then do a full cycle with a tiny amount of your regular detergent (I love Allen's Naturally) with about 1/8 cup of bleach. Hang them out to dry. Don't think about it again for 6-8 months!!

Fun Fact Friday

2009-08-21T05:41:00.000-07:00

I'm no genius, although once I scored a 165 on a computer IQ test... I'm pretty sure that it was wrong, but I secretly felt very good about it for a long time. But, there is one thing that I am sure of, and it is your fact for Fun Fact Friday:

Cheez Its prevent the insides of printers from working properly...

Happy Friday!!

Thanks to the two year old Piggy for the thoughtful experiment... fortunately, the printer survived.

Tasty Treats Thursday

2009-08-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

This week's TTT is a variation of one of my favorite Food Network personality's, Guy Fieri. I mean, how can you not love that man? I watched his Chefography show on Sunday night and began to like him even more... family man, married for a long time, two kids, great chef, fun personality... great. I was watching one of his Big Bite episodes and he was making veggie burgers for his vegetarian sister, but with his spin. I watched the show, didn't write anything down, and just recalled... so I'm sure it's not perfect, but it is delicious. Here goes:

1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed*
1 can pinto beans, rinsed (you can use any creamy bean, though, like white or great northern)
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 medium onion, diced
a handful of black olives, diced
a handful of artichoke hearts, diced
half a red pepper (either roasted or fresh is fine), diced
half a green pepper, diced
a couple cloves of garlic, peeled and diced
1/2 - 3/4 cup rolled oats
1 large egg
cumin
chili powder
salt, pepper
sage
oregano
red pepper flakes

First, add your veggies (not the beans) to a pan with vegetable or canola oil (1-2 TBSP) on medium heat. Hold the garlic until later... you'll add it to the pan, but you don't want it to burn. Let the peppers and onions get nice and soft, but not too soft. You want them to create some texture to the patties. The artichoke hearts and olives will add a nice briny-ness to the flavor. You can add some salt and pepper to the mix. During the last 2 - 3 minutes add your garlic.

In the meantime, you take the beans and put them all in a large bowl together. I use a fork to smash them all, but you want to leave some consistency, so you don't have to break them down completely.The bean mixure: not as pretty as I'd like it to be, but whatever

Then, add your egg and rolled oats. All rolled oats are are the quick oats you find in the grocery store. Not the instant... but the 5 minute oats. Add about half the oats, and then after you add the veggies, you can continue adding them until your patties are nice and firm, but still juicy.

Take your veggies off the heat and let them cool down a few minutes. You don't want scrambled egg in the mix.

After it cools a little, add the veggies to the bean mix. Begin adding your seasonings, and you can do this to your taste. If you love cumin, add a lot (a few teaspoons), add a few shakes of chili powder, salt, pepper, and lots or a little red pepper flakes. Be sparing on the sage if you aren't a fan, load it in if you are. And add a healthy dose of oregano and parsley. Dried is fine, fresh is fine. Remember that if you are using dried, you'll use about 1/3 of the amount that you would use if you had fresh on hand.

Then, get your (clean) hands down and dirty in the bowl and mix thoroughly. Form into patties. You can make large patties or small patties, depending on your appetite and the size of the buns (if you use buns at all) that you have. If you make large patties, you'll get about 6... smaller patties yield 8 or so.

Next, put your vegetable oiled pan on medium high heat. You can either cook the patties solely on the stove or put them on the grill for some additional flavor. If you cook them on the stove, about 4 minutes on each side is great. If you want to put them on the grill, cook them about 2 minutes on each side (to help them stay binded together) and then transfer to the grill for another 2-3 minutes per side.

Last, load them up like you would any burger... lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup... they are really delicious.
*My veteran vegetarian friend says that rinsing the beans will reduce the amount of gas one will experience after eating those beans... just an fyi.

Wordless Wednesday- A Very Sexy Picture :)

2009-08-19T05:40:00.001-07:00

To Catch a Baby

2009-08-17T04:43:00.000-07:00

I am a childbirth educator in The Bradley Method. I took Bradley classes, which is a 12 week series of comprehensive childbirth classes with my husband, while I was pregnant with my first child. After I had a successful non-medicated birth I went to contact my Bradley instructor, but she had moved from the area. My midwife encouraged me to see what was involved in becoming an instructor, myself, and I did. When Piggy was 4 months old, Todd and I went to Atlanta to meet the couple who developed the method, and to take the Teacher's Workshop- 40 grueling hours packed into 3.5 days. I totally fell in love with teaching and up to this day have seen over 30 couples graduate. While teaching last year, I became pregnant with my second child and had her naturally at home in a similar, though quicker, fashion as Piggy.

I teach couples everything they need to know about having a low-risk pregnancy and a normal, non-medicated childbirth experience. I teach the husbands how to be coaches: how to be in control of the situation, how to recognize different stages of labor, and how to best help their wives through the discomfort involved in labor and birth.

Well, I've been assuring these coaches for the last year that they can do this, encouraging them to be active participants in labor and birth. So, here goes the story:

One Tuesday night I welcomed a brand new class of Bradley students to the birth center. At about 8pm, someone called and left a message, of which I only caught a little bit. Seemed that one of my graduates had gone into active labor. I don't officially work for the birth center, so I felt like I had no place in answering the phone. But I was really excited! It was possible that one of my couples would show up in labor during my class! The phone rang again about 10 minutes later and it was the dad calling to see if anyone was at the birth center because they were on their way. I picked up the phone mid-message and asked if he had the midwives' phone numbers. He said he had called them and I went on with my class.

About 25 minutes later, as my students were dispersing, the laboring couple showed up. Stupidly, I asked the mom how she was doing. "I've been better," was her soft, but quick response and her husband whispered to me, "I think she may be in transition." They immediately funneled in to the birth suite on the right- the mom's parents and a friend were right behind them. The parents had a seat on the couch in the classroom/den area and the friend accompanied the couple into the other room. As I observed this movement, I realized what the coach had just said. "I think she's in transition." What that means to lay people is that once this period is over, pushing begins. I went into the birth suite and asked the coach if he knew when the midwives would be there, and he said he hadn't gotten in touch with them. What? Hadn't gotten in touch with the baby catchers?!? I immediately went to my phone and called one of them. Straight to voicemail. I apparently went into some sort of altered state... I knew I needed to remain calm. Think clearly. Appear to be in control of this situation. I did what anyone would do, and asked if anyone wanted any coffee. "Coffee?" the laboring mom's father asked. But his wife said, "You just take care of our daughter." So, I took the water I had grabbed out of the fridge to the birth suite and gave it to the coach. Mom was sitting on the toilet and saying that she needed to go to the bathroom. Oh NO. The Ferguson Reflex happens when the baby is descending down the birth canal and makes the mom feel like she needs to have a bowel movement.

The next thing I know they were asking me to get the tub filled up. Now, this is no ordinary bath tub. This is a Sani-Jet tub with all the bells and whistles. It is huge and it is a wonderful pain relief tool for laboring moms. I turned on the water and began trying to fill that giant tub. The water just rushed out as quickly as it poured in. I looked down to see that the drain wasn't closed. I attempted to close it properly by twisting a silver knob close to the jet controls. It didn't move or twist, probably because it had nothing to do with the drain. (See center silver round thing under faucet in the picture)

I then proceeded to turn on the water jets, which were incapable of propelling water because there was no water in the tub. I tried to turn that off as the sound it was making was horrendous, and end up turning it up higher. The coach gently says, "I don't think the jets will work until the water is in it." Yes. Right. But how do we get the water to fill up the tub? I left the room and called the other midwife hoping to get her on the phone and... success!! She answered, and I calmly explained the situation. She made sure she heard me right- a laboring couple was at the birth center, in transition, and they hadn't been called until now. Oh, and by the way, how do I work the tub? She said, "Just pull the stopper up and place it properly into the hole." They were on their way. As I looked at the clock and realized where they were coming from, I knew we were going to cut it close.

I went back into the birth suite and closed up the drain. The water was now unable to escape and the tub was filling up, slowly but surely. The laboring mom was crying softly and asking if the water was ready. "No, sweetie. I'm trying to get it full for you. I'm trying." Inside I was totally freaking out. There was a real possibility that I was going to be the baby catcher this night. I went over in my mind where the towels were and how we could possibly slow this train down. And then I left the room to check on the parents. They were doing fine. I checked on the coffee. It was not doing fine... it was thin and watery. I asked the dad how he liked his coffee and he said, "Do you have cream?" I searched for it and found it. I gave him a spoon and tried not to hear the laboring mom's vocalizations from the other room. All of the sudden the relaxation phrase we use in class "Each contraction brings us closer to the birth" seemed ominous. No more contractions! I could NOT catch a baby.

The more concerned I got, the slower I moved. Because obviously slow equates to calm and in control. I slowly walked to the birth suite and told the coach that he was doing a great job. I crept into the den and told the parents that the coach and laboring mom were doing a great job. Because as long as everyone was doing a great job, they were still in labor and there was no baby to catch.

And finally, the midwives arrived!! I was relieved to say the very least. As one walked in I briefed her on the progress. Then I did what I thought was normal, I offered her some coffee, too. Because, of course, she would need coffee. Or maybe not. She looked at me with a smile on her face and said, "No thank you." And went to take control of this situation. I sat on the desk in the den and asked the parents how they were doing, and they responded, "Okay." And then I heard it... grunty pushes at the peak of one of the contractions! I told them that that was a great sound, that the baby would be here shortly. Then I thought better of promising a quick birth and said, "Or maybe not." I waited another minute or so, to see if anyone else needed me, and quietly slipped out. I knew that my husband was in desperate need of me to come home and feed the screaming baby...

The next day I found out that that little baby had been born 15 minutes after I left. Both mother and baby were doing well, and coach was a super proud papa. I realized then that even though I had taught childbirth education classes, I had never seen a real live woman in labor before- other than myself. I learned a good lesson about the emotions involved in watching and caring for a person you know and love and respect in a hard situation. I have gained another element of becoming a good teacher- having actually experienced another aspect of childbirth. Now I not only know about the laboring mother, but also understand how the coach feels. And I realized that adrenaline produces some interesting curiosities in our personalities. Coffee anyone?

Does Your Child Need Music? The Answer is YES!

2009-08-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

I am fortunate to have an extremely talented family. I'm second of three sisters (my poor dad) and the talent for making beautiful music somehow skipped me. My older sister, now a dermatologist (I mean really? beautiful, talented, and a genius) played piano like Bach and was the concertmaster (lead violinist) in her orchestra during high school. My younger sister could literally pick up any instrument, look at it for a few minutes, fiddle with the buttons and knobs, cover the holes and pluck the strings and immediately play a complicated melody... give her a day or so, and she'd have something unbelievable in store for you (again, beautiful, talented, and a genius!). I don't want to leave the baby out- she is a wonderful piano player, with long, elegant fingers that can span octaves who will also be going to medical school soon (and you got it... beautiful, talented, and genius). But somehow I missed out on the particular gene. I played the piano (sloppily), the violin (screechily), the oboe (have you ever heard one played badly? it is really really awful), the saxophone (less than bluesy), and the guitar (clumsily). However, with all this instrument abuse, it was good for me.

My younger sister (you know, the beautiful, talented genius?) is now the orchestra teacher for a specialty school in Jacksonville called La Villa School for the Arts and it is a magnet school that focuses on the arts, which is an amazing opportunity for those kids who are talented in areas like music, dance, voice, theater, and visual arts. Her husband is the orchestra teacher for Douglas Anderson, which is the high school that La Villa students graduate to. They took the time to answer my questions regarding music and its importance in shaping our children's lives.

Me: What attributes does music help develop in my child?

Carol and Brian: Reading music helps develop fluency in reading language. Counting rhythms helps develop mathematical skills. Playing music with other develops a mentality of teamwork and camaraderie. Performing music helps develop self confidence and perseverance. Composing music garners creativity and intelligence. The list goes on and on. There are a number of websites that show statistical information about the importance of music education. Check out these sites: http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.c om/advocacy/factsandstatistics.html; http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Music/musicsmart.html; www.flmusiced.org.

Integrity. Music helps make people better people. The process of making music is incredibly rewarding. It's one of the only things in life where you get 100% of what you put into it, out of it. There are tremendous life lessons in music education that cannot be learned anywhere else.

Me: When should I begin thinking about enrolling my child in a music education program?

Carol and Brian: As early as possible. With string education in particular, the earlier the better. There are violins and cellos that are made for children as young as 2 and 3 years old. Other possibilities would be a kindermusic class that teachers general musical concepts such as tempo, basic rhythm, distinctions between high and low, loud and soft, etc.Kindermusik starts with newborns and goes through 7 years old. Check out their website at www.kindermusik.com. I think Kindermusik can serve as a great springboard to Suzuki string lessons, which can start as soon as a child is toilet trained.

Me: What should I look for when searching for a private music teacher?

Carol and Brian: Experience and expertise. Charisma, high expectations, organization skills, professional performance experience can all lead to a great learning experience for a child. Ask questions. Ask about their training. Ask parents of other students about the teacher. As much as possible, find a private teacher that specializes on the instrument for which you are looking for lessons. Professional Music Educators are generally well qualified to teach private lessons to beginners and intermediates on an instrument that they may not specialize in. Make sure the personalities of the teacher and your child are compatible. Ultimately, it depends on the relationship between the student and the teacher. If you find a good private teacher, I recommend sticking with them for two years or so. In my opinion, good teachers teach their students everything that they know and then send them to another teacher. Some teachers hold onto students indefinitely because they depend on these students for income. This can definitely be a negative experience for the child, as the teacher may have run out of new things to teach the child. You want a private teacher who will hold the student accountable when it comes to practice time at home. Also, check out the rates. Compare them with others around town. You should notice marked improvement when your child begins private lessons. Attend the private lessons and take notes so that you can help your child practice at home.

Me: We have a limited income. Can my child participate in music education?

Carol and Brian: Absolutely. Many towns and cities have Community Music Programs with affordable tuition. Many of these also offer scholarships and financial assistance. Make sure to ask about this when you're searching for a teacher or program. Depending on the age of the child, bartering can also be used. For instance, a particular teacher may prefer to teach an hour lesson in exchange for a night of free babysitting or lawn care. Motivated students and parents find creative ways to make it work. Sometimes teachers will give a discount for students who have exceptionally challenging circumstances and are working hard at their music.

Me: How do we decide which instrument our child should play?

Carol and Brian: If the child is young, say, between 2 and 10 years of age, the violin or cello are great instruments to start on. These instruments are made in sizes to fit small children. Stringed instruments are a very tactile way of making music, therefore, little kids like to get their hands on them (adults too!). They satisfy that same urge that they have when they get in the elevator and want to push all of the buttons. Piano is also a great instrument for younger children, but is a more solitary art. Many public school general music programs teach Orff instruments, which are played with mallets similar to percussion instruments. Wind instruments such as flute, trumpet, clarinet, etc. generally require that the child have a good lung capacity. Small children do not have this capacity. Also, most of the wind instruments are made in only one size. It is best to start children off on stringed instruments and later on, when they are in 5th or 6th grade (most school band programs begin in 6th or 7th grade) and physically capable, they can try out a wind instrument. Wind instruments depend a lot on the size of the child, the shape of their mouth, and other things. For instance, when I would young I was extremely short. I never would have been able to play the trombone. Now, at 5'3", I still have trouble reaching the slide out all the way. Find out what the child is interested in, then consult a professional. Vocal lessons and/or participation in a choir or chorus is also a great way for your child to participate in music.

Me: How important is music education in the mental, emotional, and social development of my child?

Carol and Brian: It is extremely important. The student has to learn patience, discipline and focus in order to be successful. We live in a 'get it now' society where we like instant gratification. Music education teaches children to work and persevere and to be determined to achieve a goal. The gratification comes in the form of attaining goals and performing. It is not instant. Also, the student learns social skills through group endeavors. An arts class provides students more opportunity to show their personality and to create relationships with others who share their enjoyment for their art. Playing a stringed instrument will challenge a child more than anything else they will encounter in their life. The cognitive challenges alone are greater than anything else that we attempt as human beings. When you add all of the social challenges, the teamwork concepts required, and the awesome rewards, the opportunity to play a stringed instrument is essential to a child's development and can lead to a lifetime of music making.

Me: Are there other schools out there like La Villa and Douglas Anderson? How does my child qualify to go to a school like that?

Carol and Brian: Our schools are called Arts Magnet schools. Many cities have these types of schools. Get in contact with your school's district office to find out information about any Arts Magnet programs and the process of enrollment. Here's how it works at my school. I can accept students not previously enrolled in the Magnet Program through something called Neighborhood Auditions. Students interested in attending my school come in and audition for a spot in a specific arts area. Other students who are enrolled in the Magnet Program in my district are guaranteed a seat at my school. There is also a lottery. Every community is different in this regard. Some magnets are successful, while others are not. Successful arts magnets have superior arts AND academic programs.

Me: Are there certifications that I should consider when interviewing music instructors for private lessons?

Carol and Brian: Not necessarily. Many musicians who are extremely talented and are great private teachers never had formal college training. In these instances you have to look for experience and expertise. Always ask questions of other students who take from the private teacher.

It can't hurt for a teacher to have professional affiliations with national organizations. My husband and I are members of the Florida Orchestra Association and the American String Teachers Association. This means we can sponsor students for All-State Orchestra auditions (if they are member of our school orchestra) as well as state and national competitions that they would not normally have access to.

Me: Are there scholarships available for my child and how does he/she qualify?

Carol and Brian: Many colleges offer music scholarships to students who major in music. Some colleges will even offer scholarships to musicians who don't major in music but are part of a campus ensemble. College websites are a great resource to find out more information. Depending on the availability of a community or church music program in your area, scholarship assistance may or may not be available. Ask around. Research any music schools and make phone calls.

Music, and especially strings, are valued at the college level. Colleges look for students who not only have good grades, but have engaged in rigorous challenges throughout high school. When a student has been selected to perform in an All-State Orchestra, that is evidence that they have not only achieved on their instrument, but that they must enjoy it to put in so much time to prepare for it. The ability to prepare and to complete a task are two skills that colleges and the workforce value the most. If a college accepts a student, they want him. If they offer a scholarship, they need him. It's good to play scholarship offers against each other as well.

Me: Are summer camps worth the money? What can I expect my child to learn? How old does my child have to be to participate?

Carol and Brian: Summer camps can be the most enriching musical experiences for music students. Students attending camps are immersed in their art for a specific period of time. It's a chance for your child to study with teachers they may not normally have access to. Two weeks of camp is worth about a semester in a school music program. That's because the majority of time is spent refining and honing musicality, technique, ensemble, etc. Most camps offer music theory classes, piano classes, private lessons, ensemble experiences and other incredible enriching activities.Summer camps=Pre College. This is an opportunity for kids to gain independence. It's an opportunity for parents to learn to let go and get ready for the empty nest. Summer music camps vary...some are very "campy" and have lots of social activities while others (most) have a more pre-professional feel to them. Major music festivals are opportunities for high school kids to network with college and conservatory professors by taking lessons with them. Sometimes those lessons lead to full music scholarships where those professors teach. Age limits vary. Research specific camps for more information on this.

I want to thank Carol and Brian for taking the time to answer my questions. Feel free to ask any, too! I'll send them to Carol and Brian and post them at a later date!!! Have a great weekend!!

Fun Fact Friday

2009-08-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

This week's Fun Fact Friday is just a tidbit of information that you may or may not know:

A woman who breastfeeds her baby burns approximately 500 calories per day!!

Do you know what other things you can do to burn 500 calories?

Jog at 5mph for one hour- sweating atrociously convinced death is just around the corner

Do step aerobics for one hour- feeling mildly inadequate because grandma is whipping your butt

Jump rope for 45 minutes- hahahahaahaahaaa!!!

Run at 8mph for 35 minutes- are you joking? I can't even run 6mph. And I think that is considered a sprint...

Spend 50 minutes on the elliptical trainer- as long as something good is on TV I guess it wouldn't be awful...

An hour of vigorous rowing on a machine- if you are coordinated enough to work that particular monstrosity

Spend an hour doing labor-intensive yard work- which could be enjoyable if you are able avoid the fire ant hills, West Nile Virus-carrying mosquitos, and killer ground bees

I don't know about you, but I greatly prefer to plant my rear end on the couch, stare at my sweet baby's face, and fill her belly a few times a day. Nary a sweat is broken and I am not sore in strange places the next day. In fact, these 500 calories are enough to convince me that I will suffer through all the random aches and pains of nursing a 9 month old and continue on until she's... well, at least 4. I can endure the strange looks and the snickers behind my back to avoid working out strenuously. YAY for nursing!!

And before anyone gets her panties in a wad, I do walk with my family most nights because I do understand the importance of regular physical exercise. I just think it is awesome to burn calories while loving on my Petunia... Happy Friday!!

A New Baby!!!

2009-08-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

I normally write about something tasty and delicious on Thursdays but couldn't contain my excitement over the birth of a new baby... at the farm. That's right, my obsession has officially transcended human birth and is spilling over into the animal kingdom. My aunt has a delightful 14 acre spread in North Carolina (Blueberry Hill Farm) and one of her alpacas, a maiden named Run Around Sue, just birthed her very first baby a whopping 8 days past due (in the Bradley world that is right on time!)... a female cria named Merry Cathy- in sweet homage to my mother, whose birthday she now shares.

Unfortunately, Sue wasn't the most attentive mother and was wandering away from Baby Cathy, but we had hopes that she would get the hang of being a mom (we all know there is a learning curve, right??) and that the baby would continue to learn to nurse and get big and strong.

How consumed am I with natural birth and breastfeeding?? (And if I didn't know it before, I'm aware of it now). Well, when I heard that Sue was not letting the baby nurse, I unthinkingly offered to pump for the new cria, not realizing how strange it was to even contemplate giving a baby alpaca my human milk, much less actually offer. And honestly, who goes around gifting animals their pumped milk?!? Then I thought I could come up and somehow try to teach Sue how to nurse this baby (alpacas are not known for their intellectual aptitude- maybe I could "model" nursing for her, show her how it's done), and could possibly bring along my friend and LLL leader for an alpaca breastfeeding intervention. I asked my aunt if she thought Sue may be engorged, whether her nipples (I mean teats!) may be sore (I'd be happy to loan out my Lansinoh), and asked if she thought hand-expressing some milk may be beneficial... all while giving various other human mother/baby nursing tips.. Then I realized that holy moly, I have seriously gone off the deep end and should probably keep my mouth shut, and my Lansinoh and milk to myself...

You will all be happy to know that in the days following the birth the baby is nursing more frequently and is growing stronger without my assistance- or my milk. :o)

So without further admissions of insanity, here are some sweet pictures of that new baby!!

Baby Cathy- you see the top of her head and her left pink ear (that brown spot is a lovely fawn marking) and two front legs. How grateful I am that human babies are not born arms and head first!!

This is Sue and Baby Cathy just moments after birth. Amazing that she can already stand on those spindly legs!!

Here are Sue (mom), Silver (the silver one, ahem) and Beatta checking out "their" new baby. Interestingly, they are both probably pregnant and are the only other alpacas that came to check out the new addition.

Sue and Baby Cathy hanging out in the coolness of the barn.

When I begin teaching a new series of childbirth education classes, I always tell my students about Dr. Bradley's time on his farm growing up and how that shaped his understanding of normal birth. Until my aunt began her alpaca farm, I could never visualize exactly what he was talking about. But I have always of the persuasion that if animals (alpacas or otherwise) can give birth naturally, so can I! I believe that our bodies were created to give birth by a masterful and artistic God... seems like all too often we forget how marvelously we were made, sell ourselves short, and never realize what we are capable of.

Wellness Wednesday!!

2009-08-12T05:08:00.000-07:00

This Wellness Wednesday I interviewed my friend and chiropractic intern, Adam Keeler- a proud new papa of a 1 week old baby boy. Thankfully he found time to answer my questions before baby arrived! My topic is:

The Importance of Chiropractic Care for the Expectant Mother

Me: What is the difference in "straight" chiropractic and other chiropractic care?

Adam: The term “straight” was coined by the developer of chiropractic, BJ Palmer in the early 1900’s. He used it to denote the branch of chiropractic which involves purely the detection and correction of vertebral subluxations (definition below). As chiropractic has evolved over the years, it has taken on many modalities which are used by physical therapists, orthopedists and the like – straight chiropractic (which is better known in the Spartanburg area, due to Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic) refers to excluding these modalities and working only on correcting the spine. “Other” chiropractic is actually more commonly practiced and seeks to diagnose and treat conditions and disorders of the body through spinal manipulation and various other methods such as nutrition, massage, acupuncture, etc. These chiropractors frequently view themselves as more primary physicians and work to be considered more of a specialist in the medical spectrum.

Me: How often should an expectant woman visit the chiropractor?

Adam: This is a very common question in practice; it entirely depends on your spinal health. All too many people are being told that they need to come in for care three times a week forever – this is simply not true. Your body does not work over night, and the adjustments given by the chiropractor need time to “resonate” with your body before another check is warranted. In the initial stages of care, office visits should be more frequent as the chiropractor is getting acquainted with the condition of your spine. Expectant mothers also have many ligament changes occurring with their bodies – this increases the soft tissue involvement and may increase the frequency of visits. The best advice is to have a chiropractic evaluation by a licensed chiropractor to get the answer for you.

As a rule of thumb, an established pregnant patient is usually seen monthly for the first 6 months, every two weeks for months 7 and 8, and then weekly until delivery. This corresponds to the increased stress of weight gain and postural carriage, and end stage hormonal changes causing ligamentous softening and shifting of the baby just prior to delivery. Ensuring proper balance at the time of delivery optimizes the chances of a more normal and efficient birth.

Me: What techniques should the chiropractor be able to perform to assist the expectant woman?

Adam: The concept of technique in chiropractic is a very sticky subject – nearly all chiropractors in practices have customized their methods into a unique technique. What this means to you as the patient is that there are many ways in which your spine may be corrected. You need to find someone whose technique allows them to answer these three questions: Do I have a chiropractic problem? Can you help me? Can you prove to me that you have helped me? If they can satisfy you with their answers to those, chances are that they have a technique that will stand up. One of the best techniques in the field today is the Results System, which uses some of the most sophisticated equipment available to determine when and where an adjustment is warranted.

The most common place where expect moms and chiropractors cross paths is in the field of breech babies. It is common to hear that chiropractic (specifically the Webster Technique) can turn breech babies. This is somewhat true – the Webster technique has been shown to turn breech babies, but it is not intended to turn breech babies. Just as straight chiropractic is not intended to relieve pain, but to remove nerve interference – they tend to go hand in hand. The Webster technique is an extension of bony adjusting in chiropractic to include those ligaments which surround the uterus. There is no motion done by the chiropractor during these procedures to turn the baby, but only to relax the ligaments around the uterus in order to make it more symmetrical. The more symmetrical the uterus, the more freely the baby may move about in it. The better that your body functions, the better that you will be able to perform – do you think that if your hips are aligned properly that they may give way to allow the baby to pass through faster and easier?

Me: Should the doctor be licensed to specifically to care for pregnant women?

Adam: All practicing chiropractors are licensed in their state boards, which have insured that they are able to take care of pregnant women. So asking for a specific license is not essential for care; however, you do want to make sure that your chiropractor is specific in his adjusting and only corrects where he / she has detected nerve interference. As mentioned above, the Webster technique would be a good adjunct to care, even if your baby is not breech. This technique only focuses on symmetry around the uterus which is good for any pregnant mother.

Me: Why is chiropractic care important for a pregnant woman?

Adam: Chiropractic care is more important for pregnant moms than anyone else on the planet! The purpose of chiropractic is to insure that the messages sent by your brain are not interfered with as they reach their target. Your brain coordinates all the functions of your body (including the growth of your baby).

Me: Do x-rays always have to be performed to have appropriate chiropractic care? What if I refuse them?

Adam: The use of x-rays in chiropractic is to find the misalignment component of the subluxation. If entering care while pregnant – pelvis x-rays should be avoided; however it is still safe to take cervical (neck) x-rays as long as proper shielding is done. The goal of chiropractic care for pregnant and non-pregnant women is one and the same, that is to remove subluxations. Although many women experience low back pain, which drives them to seeking chiropractic care, over 90% of subluxations are found in the cervical region – which means that many problems can be fixed with cervical x-rays alone. Some chiropractors will use other methods rather than x-ray to determine the location of subluxations – they would be happy to treat you without films. Most specific doctors of chiropractic utilize x-rays in a way that without them, care is impossible. Proper specific care of your nervous system requires the use of x-rays to be taken – you want your doctor to see what he/she is working on and not trying to guess thru tissue what it feels like… don’t you? Ideally, women should include a chiropractic evaluation as part of their health program prior to becoming pregnant to improve their chances of conceiving and developing a healthy child.

Me: What is a subluxation?

Adam: A subluxation is a condition given to a vertebra (bone in the spine) that has become either misaligned or is not functioning properly with the ones above and below it. The brain sends its messages down the spinal cord which is protected by these 24 bones. When one becomes subluxated, it then puts pressure on these delicate nerve fibers and interferes with the messages that the brain is sending to the body. Over time this decrease in brain function will lead to any number of health problems, most common are asthma, ear infections, depression and many more. The chiropractor’s job is to determine if and where these subluxations are present and correct them.

Me: Why do pregnant women experience more back pain than non-pregnant women?

Adam: Increased weight, altered center of gravity, altered body mechanics, hormonal changes/stresses, metabolic stresses, difficulty finding adequate support while sitting and lying, lack of adequate sleep

Me: What are some good ways to maintain good spinal health in between visits?

Adam: Attention to posture and body mechanics, attention to proper support while sitting, exercise(esp. walking and stretching), stress reduction techniques, diet

Thanks to Adam for lots of great information and taking the time from his busy schedule to answer my questions! If you have any other questions about Chiropractice care in the expectant mother, feel free to ask!! You can also contact Adam directly at arkeeler@shermancollege.net.

Breastfeeding TWINS!!

2009-08-10T04:36:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend has shared her breastfeeding premature twins story below. I hope you find it encouraging and amazing. It just goes to show that no matter what the circumstances, breastfeeding is always possible!

My Breastfeeding Story

I did not even know what breastfeeding was until I worked in a daycare in college. Of the 4 years that I worked there, I only remember 1 mom breastfeeding her baby. I remember how the older ladies working there would talk about how she was probably only doing it to lose her baby weight. Well, that sounded like a great deal to me. Why not?

Then, after I got married, my husband and I had friends with a new baby and the mother breastfed her. She made it seem wonderful and talked to me about the benefits to the baby. This is really what sold me on breastfeeding and I developed the attitude that if God was going to give me free food for my baby then I was going to use it!

It wasn’t until about a year later that my husband and I started trying to have a baby. When I was finally pregnant we were happy to find out that we were having twins. This news might have scared some people away from breastfeeding but it made me even more determined. I knew that we would not be able to afford formula for two and that my babies would probably be smaller and need the extra boost in their immune system.

I set out on a mission to find out all that I could about how to breastfeed twins. I knew a lady that worked in the same school district that has twin boys so I contacted her to find out if she had breastfed them. She was more than happy to provide me all the information that she could and also answer all of my questions. This was a great help to me and I decided that if she could do it, so could I.

Most of my family could not believe that I was going to try to breastfeed twins. Some wanted to know all of the details and some told me that it would never work. My mother didn’t breastfeed any of her children, but she was more than willing to learn from me and support me! I took the breastfeeding class at the hospital where I would be delivering and bought a few books to read. By the time my girls were born I was ready! This was a good thing since the lactation consultant at the hospital had retired and they hadn’t filled the position yet! My girls were born 6 ½ weeks early due to premature labor. They were whisked away to the NICU almost immediately. I had given strict notes that I was going to breastfeed them and not to give them anything. Not long after I was back in the recovery room, a nurse from the NICU came to visit me. She assured me that my babies were fine, but also told me that if I wanted them to come home anytime soon, I would need to give permission for them to have formula. At first I was a little worried about it but then I offered my permission.

When I arrived in my postpartum room, there was a breast pump waiting for me. Now, I had never used a breast pump before so I needed help. Each nurse that came in offered me different advice about when to use it and how to use it. I chose to pump every three hours because that is the feeding schedule that was being used in the NICU. The first few times that I pumped I didn’t get anything in the little vile that I was using. By the next evening though, I had about half a vile of colostrum. I got out of my bed and rushed it to the nurse’s station stating that they needed to get it down to my babies as soon as possible. The nurse that I spoke with laughed at me and told me that it was not enough to even do anything. I was extremely mad at her and told her not to worry about it but just to get it down to them. I knew that the NICU nurses would be thrilled with my little bit of liquid gold and that it was going to be great for my girls.

I continued to pump every three hours even after I left the hospital and would take my milk to the NICU. After my milk came in I was able to pump enough milk so that they were receiving only my milk and no formula by the third day that they were in there. Each time I went to visit them, the nurses would encourage me to try to nurse one of my girls. (One was on a feeding tube due to sucking problems) It was then that I learned that my nipples were inverted. This was another difficult task to overcome without a lactation consultant. Each nurse gave me different advice about what I could do but in the end I was able to use a nipple shield which worked great. We were able to bring one baby home after 5 days and the other after 8 days. The delay with one was that she was still having trouble sucking and gaining weight. We were supposed to bring her home on the 7^th day and when I called to make sure that this was still the plan, the dr. told me that she had lost an ounce overnight due to my milk not having enough calories so they had been giving her high calorie formula. This news crushed me. I had been up around the clock every three hours pumping milk for this baby and now they are saying it’s not good enough! Well, this could not be true. How could my milk not be as good as formula? I asked them again when I went in for a visit and what the dr. meant to say was that my baby was burning more calories trying to eat my milk than she was getting. We were told that we needed to give her the high calorie formula every other feeding until we saw the dr. again.

When my girls came home from the NICU, neither one of them would nurse. My husband and I would each get up for every feeding and give them a bottle of my milk (or the formula for the one) and then after we got them soundly back to sleep I would pump. This went on for two months and my husband was extremely supportive. During the day I would offer to nurse them each time just to see what would happen before the bottles. I was determined that these girls were going to nurse before my husband had to go back to work because I didn’t know how I would do two bottles at once. When the bigger baby was about six weeks old, she stopped taking a bottle. She would refuse it. My husband said, “I think she wants to nurse, she won’t take this bottle from me.” I put her to my breast and she went to town like she had been nursing all along. The smaller of the two girls started nursing about two weeks later! I had succeeded at getting them to stop taking bottles and only nurse!

I enjoyed nursing them at the same time because they would hold hands while they nursed. When they were 12 months old I decided that I needed to make them stop. I did this on a Sunday morning before church. When I dropped them off in the nursery I told their worker that I hadn’t nursed them that morning, this was the first time I had ever mentioned to her that I even breastfed them. She told me not to worry that she still nursed her 3 year old and if I needed someone to talk to she was available. This made me start thinking that maybe I wasn’t ready for them to stop nursing so I called the lactation consultant (my now best friend) and she also said that it didn’t sound like I was ready to quit and that there was no rule that said I had to. I decided to continue nursing them and they nursed until they were 15 months old. I am so glad that I nursed them and I plan to nurse their sister who will be born in November. I hope that this story can offer support to someone who also has a baby who won’t nurse right at birth. Don’t give up!

Tasty Treats

2009-08-06T11:43:00.001-07:00

Fresh From the Garden

This week my tasty treat is straight from the garden. As I told you on Saturday, we went to the Farmer's Market and loaded up on veggies for the week. We couldn't wait to get home and try a new preparation, and since I'm totally vegetarian this month I came up with a simple but delicious treat:

Broiled Vegetables
I used asparagus, eggplant, peppers, onions, zucchini, and okra (split lengthwise- it was my favorite)

Simple- chop all your veggies, spread them on a sheet pan, sprinkle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and broil them at 450 for 10-20 minutes. I also made some brown rice, black beans, and pesto.

Pesto

half a bunch of basil, 2 garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Blend everything except the oil in a food processor, and once it is blended begin adding olive oil to the desired consistency.

I thought the pesto was delicious pared with the broiled eggplant and the brown rice. Go to your local Farmer's Market this weekend- support your farmers and enjoy some nutritious fruits and vegetables!!

Breastfeeding Awareness Week- Petunia

2009-08-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

I LOVE nursing my babies. There is nothing sweeter in my whole realm of understanding than being the sole provider of nourishment for my child. As we check her weight and see how tall she grows, I am proud to be responsible for that progress. But it isn't all roses all the time. My favorite nursing age has passed and now I have a bit of a rambunctious pre-toddler on my hands. She is much too busy checking out what Piggy is doing to pay attention to nursing, and therefore I get the raw end of the deal too often.

Petunia is a severe pincher, but she operates in stealth mode- gently rubbing the backs of my arms with her sweet fingers and going in for the kill after gaining my confidence. Her little pincher fingers are so strong that they bruise the backs of my arms making me look like a victim of domestic violence, causing me to defend my husband to all those who ask in horror what happened to them. It wouldn't be so bad, but that is the skin that is so soft and tender, shielded from the sun and elements as it snuggles closely to your body all day long. eeeek.And then Petunia is a jumper. She LOVES to be in her Jumperoo and I am convinced it is one of the best baby inventions on the planet. But it has convinced her little baby brain that jumping is her passion, and she chooses to jump at some inopportune times. A few days ago, she sat up in my lap, stood to her feet, grabbed tightly onto the straps of my tanktop, and began hopping up and down- all while latched on to me!!! It was quite a sight and I was laughing too hard to scold her, but thinking at the same time what this was doing to my poor breasts... let's just say, they aren't what they used to be... I don't have a picture of that, though. I'll leave it up to your imagination. :o)All in all, I anticipate nursing Petunia for a looooong time. Maybe until she's three. Maybe until she's five. But you won't know because I won't be broadcasting that information. It's just such a sweet time of loving and bonding and nourishment. Plus, I get to burn 500 calories each day just sitting there and holding my baby... a definite perk in my book. :)

Wellness Wednesday

2009-08-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

Today is Wellness Wednesday, but this week is World Breastfeeding Week. So, what's a girl to do? I had hoped to have enough research to support a well written post about all the known wellness benefits to breastfeeding. But I ran out of time. It's on my to-do list for next year. Instead, I am going to share my home remedies for colds and coughs that you can use while nursing. You know how on all the bottles on medicine it says to consult your physician of you are pregnant or nursing? Well, that's why I don't take medicines... I've been pregnant or nursing for the last 35 months and I have gotten sick here and there. Here's my regimen (and thanks, Linda, for sharing it with me!!)

When the signs or symptoms of a cold come on, like a weird tickle in the back of my throat, or a little scratchiness this is what I do:

2000mg Garlic (over the counter is perfect) every hour for 4 hours (You and your entire house will probably smell like an Italian restaurant, but who doesn't like Italian?!?)
500-1000mg Calcium every hour for 4 hours
350mg Echinacea

After the initial bolus of Garlic and Vitamin C, I spread it out to:

2000mg Garlic every 4 hours
500-1000mg Vitamin C every 4 hours
350mg Echinacea morning and night (Echinacea is only potent for the first 5 days or so, so you can leave this off after that period of time.)

Just a note of caution. Vitamin C is water soluble (so is not toxic) but can cause diarrhea or loose stools. If you experience that, then back off.

I continue with this protocol until the symptoms subside- usually 3 to 5 days depending on the illness. (When I had my sinus infection, it lasted for 7 days... that was yuck.)

I have also come across some yummy teas that help with coughing. Recently, I ordered Blue Violet Leaves, Calendula Leaves, Cramp Bark, Slippery Elm, and Plantain Leaves. I put some of each in a tea ball and created a lovely hot tea that helped to reduce my coughing while at the same time making each cough I did have more productive. I made sure that none of them were contraindicated for nursing and have been pleased with the results!!

Breastfeeding Awareness Week- Day 2- Challenges

2009-08-04T06:04:00.000-07:00

I am a fan of breastfeeding and I am an avid supporter of women who choose to do so. While I understand that not all women will try or continue after trying, I am the go-to girl if you want that emotional support! I read somewhere that the primary reason that women stop breastfeeding is due to lack of support at home (any of you men reading, that means YOU). I have been amazingly blessed with a man who after reading and doing his own research, was going to move mountains to make sure that I nursed our children.

I had the privilege earlier this year to host a friend having nursing issues in my home, as Jennifer from the La Leche League came to figure out the problem(s). (Quick side note: Jennifer is not paid by LLL, and therefore had no obligation to sacrifice her lovely Sunday afternoon to come by. But she did. Because she LOVES to support nursing mamas. We are so thankful to this precious woman.) This sweet new mama had had a c-section after many hours of labor and reverse dilation and was simply having issues, but she was determined that she was going to nurse this baby. I had called her on the phone several times, each time ending in tears (from both of us) and went to drop off a meal to her house. After stepping into the living room and getting her usual bright and sunny "Hi, Mary!!" I felt free to ask how things were going. Her bottom lip trembled as she revealed a little baby at her breast and a feeding syringe draped over her shoulder gently placed into the baby's mouth. "She just...won't latch...on..." and a volley of tears ensued. I couldn't believe that within a week her entire tube of Lansinoh was gone- how much pain had she already experienced and worked through to nurse this baby?! I had brought her a book (The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding) but was immediately struck with my lack of working knowledge, feeling completely helpless to assist my struggling friend. She had called several resources and was always given some website or book... and I was doing the same. Sam needed someone to physically be there to see what was going on. I left extremely sad feeling useless and inadequate and as soon as I got in the car, melted down and called my husband asking for help. He recommended that we call Jennifer, and that is how both my friend and Jennifer meeting at my house (somewhere in the middle of their 45 mile separation) occurred.My friend Sam showed up and was renewed in her determination. The men left, taking Piggy, my elder daughter with them on a walk. And Sam carefully disrobed from the waist up and showed Jennifer what she was doing and how she had been doing it. The baby just didn't want to latch on to the nipple. Maybe she was too little, maybe she just didn't understand how. But Jennifer was oh so gentle in her assessment and encouragement and I just sat back and watched the interaction and exchange of ideas and information. Someone in the prior days had recommended a nipple shield for Sam and that was working better, though the baby initially refused to latch on to that either. Jennifer discussed weaning the baby off the syringe and helped to show Sam that her milk was plentiful and that the baby was getting it even if the syringe was empty, which was a huge relief. She told Sam to dribble a little milk on her nipple and asked her to encourage the baby to nurse straight from the breast each time, before she tried the syringe or shield. After several grueling weeks, the baby finally caught on. What has initially been a tremendous struggle has blossomed into a beautiful nursing relationship made even sweeter because of how hard it was worked for.

I don't get to hang out with Sam much, but I was so happy that she felt comfortable enough to come over that day. She is still nursing that sweet baby and after six months, has decided to introduce her first solids in a few days... so exciting!

I learned a lot from that day. Sam's husband was a bulwark. He knew how much she wanted to nurse this baby and he made it a point to diligently protect her from all the naysayers. I'm sure that he spent hundreds of hours praying over Sam and their baby, and never once did he even suggest that they just stop... he was present emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually... Plenty of folks would have had the chance to tell her it was okay to give up, but they never got that opportunity. And because of this man's tenacity and encouragement, Sam had all the support she needed to succeed in this endeavor. It was truly a beautiful testament to the strength and dedication of marriage.

Breastfeeding Awareness Week- Day 1

2009-08-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Week, I want to share some of experiences with nursing two little ones over the last two years.

I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my babies. I was nursed, as were all of my sisters when breastfeeding wasn't the cool thing to do. In fact, there were very few women who were there to support my mom in her decision. But, she's a tough chick and did it anyway.

With Piggy, my first, I thought that the labor and birth were going to be the hard part. Everything I had read said that nursing should be painless and easy. Boy was I misinformed- labor and delivery (we had a home birth) were a cinch compared to breastfeeding. I guess I didn't realize that since my breasts had never been used that way before, it was going to hurt for a while even if she was nursing correctly, even though the books said otherwise. It took 5 weeks before I got the hang of nursing Piggy, and she received the moniker "Piggy" during that time because of her constant eating and rapid weight gain. In fact, she never lost weight during that first 24 hour period. I made a little mistake and woke her up her first night, latched her on to my breast and she didn't let go for over 7 hours! My nipples got extremely tender and Piggy ate every hour and a half to two hours and for over 45 minutes at a time, so I got all of an hour break for those first few weeks. It was torture for me. Right before she latched on each time I'd check her mouth one more time to make certain that she didn't have teeth, because I would have bet my left leg that she did. Then, I'd hold my breath and scrunch my eyes tightly shut as she latched on. It was agony for those first few seconds... and then the pain was gone. I remember thinking how nice it would be when it didn't hurt to nurse any more, and then being convinced that it was never going to get any better. But it did and by week 6 we were getting into the groove. I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent together each day as our nursing relationship bloomed, and I completely and utterly fell in love with my child. It was a beautiful experience.

When Piggy was 8 months old, we found out we were expecting a second time. I had no idea until I began having that tender, somewhat excruciating pain while nursing again. Then I had one day that I needed to eat a container of peanut butter, and then felt nauseated afterward. Of course, I chalked it up to the container of peanut butter, but common sense would have made me question my desire to consume that much peanut butter. The next day I took a pregnancy test and confirmed my suspicion. I immediately began taking precautions to keep my supply up because I had heard that pregnancy can sometimes dry up the milk completely. I ate lots of steel cut oats, lactation tea, and various other things, but by month 4 it was totally gone.

I was disappointed and felt tremendously guilty that I could no longer exclusively breastfeed my child. I cried at the thought of giving formula to my baby and cried at the shopping center as I picked out the can of soy. My starving baby- I only realized that I had a supply issue when Piggy went a full day without a wet diaper- greedily gobbled up an entire bottle full of that milk. It was only then that I was no longer upset. In fact, I was thankful that there was an option... I didn't have any lactating friends that I would feel comfortable asking for milk, so soy was the only other option. We had made it to 11 months exclusively breastfeeding.

I plan on making it much longer with Petunia. More on that tomorrow!

Breastfeeding Challenges

2009-08-03T07:05:00.000-07:00

Worth Repeating- The Birth Survey

2009-08-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

I have another blog that is becoming defunct, but this post from a month ago is worth repeating, especially since I have a mostly new audience:

I think we all know that the intervention rate in the US for hospital births is through the roof. My OB with my first pregnancy told me why. My translation of what he said: "First we are typically recommended to administer an IV bag of fluids- it is just hospital protocol. That dilutes the oxytocin in the body, which is controlling the contractions. The contractions slow, become ineffective, or cease completely. Then you are labeled 'failure to progress.' As active managers of labor, we as OBs are required to do something to actively manage and we administer pitocin. The pitocin makes the contractions unbearable, and an epidural is called for. The epidural numbs everything and can slow, stop, or make the contractions ineffective. You are again labeled 'failure to progress' and the pitocin is upped. The baby doesn't always handle the combo of the pitocin and epidural well, and an emergent c-section is performed. It's not a domino effect, it's a bundled effect. An IV and bag of fluid greatly increases the likelihood that you will have a c-section." I asked him what we could do to change this and he said that he didn't know.

We now know how to make these changes. It's called The Birth Survey. The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services has spent years developing a way to create transparency among facilities and providers of maternity care. As of now, in the state of SC, you can call any doctors office or hospital and ask for their c-section and intervention rates and you will be told that that information is a) something that they do not retain, b) something that they do not give out, or c) is too controversial and will not be released. As a consumer of goods and services I have the right to know what those providers' and facilities' intervention rates are because research shows that 'place of birth and provider are the most important variable in predicting patient outcome and morbidity.'

Yes, morbidity. Women are still dying in childbirth in the US. Our c-section rates are over 3 times higher that the World Health Organization's recommendations of 10%, yet our mothers and babies are dying. We have the worst infant mortality rate in the developed nations. One would assume that with greater technology and higher intervention rates, the ratio of death and negative outcomes should be inversely proportionate to the interventions used. So, if the interventions go up, the negative outcomes decline. But it's not. What we are seeing is that as the interventions increase, the negative outcomes either stay the same or increase.

And let's not forget about the physical and emotional effect that cesareans are having on these new mothers (and their babies!), especially when they anticipated vaginal deliveries. Midwifery Today had a compelling article about it not too long ago.

Transparency is an issue whose time has come. 25% of all hospital discharges are maternity related, so it is obvious that this transparency must include maternity care. And just like the Hawthorne Effect shows us in industrial engineering- people who are watched while doing their work do a much better job (you can see it everywhere- at your home, at work, as a laboring woman, as a doctor)- Transparency translates to better care.

The Birth Survey is a comprehensive questionnaire about your prenatal care and birth experience. It is a chance to sing the praises of your healthcare practioners and facilities, or share unpleasant experiences. Then, women who are searching for high quality care can look up each hospital and each individual doctor and practice and make an informed decision based on other women's experiences. I would personally not choose a doctor who had a 60% c-section rate, or a hospital that required an IV 100% of the time. And this is where YOU come in.

If you have had a baby in the last 3 years in the United States and have access to an internet connection, you can help make changes in the maternity care system. All you need is about 30 minutes to fill the survey out. Go to The Birth Survey and click on "Share"... We can change the way maternity care is done in the US, but it will be done one woman, one answer, one click at a time.

A New Resolution- Vegetarian August

2009-08-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

Todd and I have dabbled in vegetarianism many times in the past. He has a mild meat allergy and during my second pregnancy, I was horrendously nauseated at the thought of eating any meat product. I have a great friend who prepares solely vegetarian meals and often passes those recipes to me. I have made a new resolution for the month of August. I will not eat any takeout or meat this month. And I will engage in some form of physical exercise each day.

What has prompted me to go to such "extremes", you ask? Well, I have had some form of fast food every week for the last few months and not only do I feel fat and sluggish, but I just don't feel great. I've been having trouble sleeping and my self esteem is in the tubes. So, today, Todd and I took Piggy and Petunia to the local farmer's market where we loaded up on all sorts of fresh fruits and veggies. We found a delightful local farmer named Daniel, who couldn't be much older than us, and he has been farming for 11 years!! We loaded up on peppers, Japanese eggplants, okra, fresh basil, and rainbow chard. Then we meandered around and picked up some potatoes and fresh peaches. We will add those to our own homegrown squash, corn, green beans, blueberries, and tomatoes plus dried beans and rice to create healthy vegetarian meals each day.

I will share great recipes with you and chart my progress. If you want to get involved in a fun weight loss challenge (it may be too late to participate officially, but you can see), you can check out Samantha's Body After Baby Challenge over at Mama Notes. I anticipate losing weight, though it is not my primary goal. I would love to feel better, sleep better, have more energy, and take care of this vessel that God has given to me!!

So, as the saying goes, Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Here goes nothing!!!

A few starting stats:

weight-142 lbs
body fat- 26.2
hips- 41 inches
waist- 31 inches
thighs- 24 inches (each!! for those of you who are mathematically challenged, that is 4 feet of thigh!)
arms- 12 inches

Each Saturday, I'll be logging the progress. If I'm not too chicken, I'll post a before and after picture. But that is a huge IF!!

Fun Fact Friday

2009-07-31T05:12:00.000-07:00

This week's Fun Fact Friday is a mind blower. With the help of my father, I am going to attempt to explain something known as Avogadro's Number or 6.022x 1023 (and that is 10 to the 23rd power). If you write it out, it is 602,200,000,000,000,000,000,000 which is a really big number! But, what is it? Avogadro's Number is the number of molecules in a mole of any particular substance.

If you want to know exactly how huge this number is, consider a few examples:

The State of Texas is approximately 250,000 sq. miles in area. This is approximately 6.47 x 1017 sq. millimeters (pretty close to our example of Avagadro's Number). If it is given that each grain of salt is an exact cube and that each side of the cube is exactly 1/3 mm in length, then 1 cubic mm would be occupied by exactly 27 grains of salt.

Therefore, to cover the State of Texas with salt to a depth of 1mm would require 6.47 x1017X27 or 1.75x1019 grains of salt. One mole of salt grains equals 6.02 x 1023 grains of salt. Therefore, one mole of salt grains would cover the State of Texas to a depth of 3.44x104 mm [6.02x1023/1.75x1019] or approximately 110 ft, which is about the height of a 12 story building.

To get an idea of just how small atoms and molecules really are, this same number of water molecules (6.02 x 1023) is contained in just 18 ml of water, which is just over a tablespoon (15 ml). So, the same number of salt grains that it takes to cover the State of Texas 110 feet deep is the same number of molecules contained in 18 ml of water, meaning that a molecule of water is millions of times smaller than a grain of salt.

Second Example:

The distance to the star nearest to our sun, Alpha Centauri C, is 4.22 light years away. The distance to Alpha Centauri C is the number of miles light would travel in 4.22 years. Since light travels at about 186,000 miles per second, this distance is approximately 2.48E13 miles [24,800,000,000,000 miles or 24.8 trillion miles]

Consider John, who graduates from college at age 22 and immediately begins working with a company that requires him to fly to Thailand every Monday and back to Charlotte every Friday, giving him two weeks off each year. John is a loyal employee and does this for the next 50 years, retiring at age 72. Since the distance to Thailand is approximately 12,000 miles one way, John has accumulated approximately 60 million frequent flyer miles (60,000,000 miles) by the time he retires. (24,000 miles per week X 50 weeks per year X 50 years).

Also consider that this same company employs a total of 413,000 people who do exactly the same thing as John. This is approximately the number of people it would take to fill Williams-Brice Stadium (USC Gamecocks) plus Death Valley (Clemson Tigers) plus Bryant Denny Stadium (Alabama Crimson Tide) plus Sanford Stadium (Georgia Bulldogs) plus Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers).

If all of these people add their total miles together after 50 years of flying to and from Thailand each week for 50 weeks each year, that total will be enough miles to get one person to Alpha Centauri C. [Each of them would have to do it for another 50 years to get the person back!]

And that is approximately the same number of miles that is in Avogadro's number. WHEW!!! Is that enough to blow your mind this Friday? No? Well, then you may continue reading:

The most distant object so far identified in the universe is calculated to be 13 billion light years away or over 3 billion times as far away as Alpha Centauri.

What does all this really mean? In my opinion, it means that the same God who can create something as tiny as a molecule or atom is the same God who can create something as vast as the whole entire universe- and yet, He chooses to love me!!! Unbelieveable!

Happy Friday!!!

Tasty Treats Thursday

2009-07-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

This week's Tasty Treats Thursday is an easy recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Now, I had an option to go for more of a traditional chocolate chip cookie, but I opted for the cake-like cookies. And let me tell you, they turned out spectacular!! Since Betty Crocker generally has a coupon during the month for a box of her cake mix, and one of the grocery stores usually have a sale on Betty's mix, I pair the two together and stock up. We've got birthdays, anniversaries, and parties through the year so those boxes of cake mix will NOT go to waste. I found out that cake mix could be used for cookies a year or so ago, found this particular recipe and LOVE it. It meets my criteria (easy and delicious) and I hope you enjoy as well! I guess the only thing that makes it "Mexican" is that there is cinnamon in the recipe. Leave it out if you like, or add a little bit more for some real spice. And remember that you can use ANY type of cake mix- so if you have white or yellow, game on!! German Chocolate? No problem (you'd simply have to rename it... ;) All's fair!

Mexican Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 package cake mix (chocolate for this specific recipe, but any will do)
2 large eggs (I only had small/medium from my aunt's farm, so I used 3)
3/4 cup butter, softened (margarine is fine)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I like the minis)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (totally optional... my husband hates nuts in sweets- weird, I know)

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. You can use ungreased cookie sheets or parchment paper.
In a large bowl beat half of the dry cake mix, butter, vanilla, and eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed until well-blended and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.

3. Stir in the remaining dry cake mix, chocolate chips, and nuts (if using) with a spoon, just until combined.
4. Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls approximately 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets.5. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes (mine took 12), or just until the edges are set but the centers are still soft.

6. Remove from the oven and cool the cookies on the cookie sheet for about 1 minute and then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

This is a fun and easy recipe with very little cleanup... and what needed to be cleaned, the girls were happy to help with!!

**Before you get too upset, the eggs were gathered this week by yours truly, so there is just virtually no chance that she could get sick from them. :) Oh, and the baby doesn't eat solids yet, so I just gave her the cleaned one. :)

Wellness Wednesday!

2009-07-29T05:14:00.000-07:00

I've decided to devote Wednesdays to some sort of focus on health and well being, hence the title Wellness Wednesday. This week, my focus is on my medicine cabinet. Just a few years ago, my cabinet would have been jam-packed full of various aspirins, ibuprofens, antibiotics (my dad is a doctor), nasal sprays (Afrin was my favorite), and a variety of random other things. Well, last night I was searching through my cabinet and here's what I pulled out:
Turns out they are hard to read!! So, I'll start from the back row, left to right:

Catnip for Kids: This is an alcohol-free supplement that helps to promote calmness and rest in kids. In adults, it helps us to turn off our brains- like flipping a switch, but tastes a lot like booze to me. I was happy to find the alcohol-free for my 2 year old.

SambuGuard: An immunity booster with elderberry to help kids fight off whatever they have. It's nice and sweet so most children don't mind taking it. My child knew it was going to help her, so she refused it! :)

Just Once Prenatal: This is for me! I love Rainbow Light products. I would generally be of the assumption that prenatals are not necessary as long as one's diet is excellent. And while I have a decent diet, I do not have the budget to purchase chemical free, high quality local fresh food all the time. So, I supplement with the prenatals.

Fish Oil: After my first pregnancy, around 8 months I developed a mild case of postpartum depression. I didn't want to go anywhere, I was constantly terrified that something was going to happen to me or my baby, and I was having trouble communicating with my husband. After a few weeks, I realized that all this wasn't normal and started looking online for some helpful resources to combat the ppd. I found that the omega-3s in fish oil help postively effect seratonin levels. Two weeks after my new routine of fish oil and I was feeling like my old self again... and not my self before kids. My old, old self- before the seeds of self consciousness and self doubt and crept in. I've since stayed the course with fish oil. I stopped taking it about 4 weeks before my second daughter was born (some say the oil makes the blood slippery, perhaps increasing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage) and began immediately afterward. I can honestly say this is the clearest and most focused I have been in my adult life.

Garlic: I love garlic!! I take 500-1000 mg every day when I'm well, and many many more when I am sick. Garlic has antibiotic and antibacterial effects and is a natural healer. Even mainstream medicine is starting to see the medicinal benefits of garlic.

Vitamin C: I take Vitamin C when I am starting to get sick, too along with the garlic. I read somewhere that if the medical establishment confessed to how potent and beneficial vitamin C was, many would lose their jobs!! So, I am always stocking up on the C. It is a natural antioxidant and also helps to boost the immune system.

Vitamin D3: I take 2000IU (the "upper limit") of this vitamin every day. Recent studies have shown that we need approximately 10,000IU of this vitamin weekly. And it has been shown to have impressive benefits against diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and others. I will continue to take this vitamin!!!

Calcium/Magnesium/Potassium: I originally started taking a cal/mag supplement when I was pregnant and having some annoying Braxton Hicks contractions- very regularly and keeping me up all night. More recently, I began having some PVCs (premature ventricular complexes) - basically my heart would skip a beat and then have to overwork to get it back on track. I talked to my dad and he recommended a cal/mag supplement. After 3 weeks, I had no more PVCs and have found that not only did it make the PVCs go away, it let me sleep better (I take only 1 supplement each day at nighttime), and it improved my mood, too!!

Echinacea: I take this if I start to feel a cold coming on. I read that overuse of echinacea actually reduces its potency, so I usually use it only for 5 days.

Front Row:

Garlic Ear Drops: Because little kids normally don't swallow pills, this garlic ear drop does the same as the supplement that I take... but it is for the little ones!

Pulsatilla: I love this homeopathic. It helps to dry up runny noses and according to homeopathy resources will help weepy, clingy children. I haven't tried it for that purpose, but know it dries up a runny nose quickly! Don't take it if you are nursing, though!! It can dry up your milk, too...

Similason Earache Relief: We are big on not taking antibiotics, so when my 2 year old started complaining of an earache, we started with this. I don't know if I noticed any immediate relief, but after 2 days, the earache was resolved... but the cold continued for another 5 days.

Valerian: This is a supplement I give to my toddler when she is having trouble resting. It, like catnip, helps to promote calmness and helps her to fall asleep. We don't use it often, but I think it works really well when we do use it.

Silver: This is a great immunity booster, as well. I've used it and have also given it to my toddler during this last illness. It doesn't taste like anything, but I felt like we would greatly benefit from anything that would boost our immune systems!!

So, what do you have in YOUR medicine cabinet?? What can you not live without??

**A quick disclaimer. I am not a doctor or a naturopath or anything. I am just a mom. I have gotten many of these supplements after speaking with my father, researching on the internet, speaking with my friend and midwife, and reading in books. Before you ingest ANYTHING (or treat your children) you should do adequate research to know the benefits as well as the risks. Use common sense!!

A Cloth Diaper Carnival!!

2009-07-28T06:10:00.000-07:00

I joined in on a Cloth Diaper Carnival at Dirty Diaper Laundry and the rest of you are all invited along, too!

What I Wish I Knew Then That I Know Now

I began cloth diapering shortly after I returned from my Bradley Teacher's Training in Atlanta in October of 2006. Piggy was 4 months old and one of the girls at the training told me about Bum Genius. I couldn't believe that what she had showed me (a regular looking diaper that happened to be cloth) was actually available. On our way home from Georgia, my husband and I talked about it and he had some reservations. It went down like this:

Todd: Honey, you don't really do much laundry now. And I don't want to be the one who has to wash all these diapers.

Me: TODD!!! Pleeeeeaaaaase! Pretty pleeeeease?? With sugar on top?? Think of how much money we can save!

Todd: Baby, this is how you made me get you the dog that you don't like anymore, who is now my sole responsibility.

Me: But TODD!! Diapers are for my baby! And we got the dog before the baby and my priorities have changed!!

Todd: Can laundry be part of your changed priorities??

So, we ordered 24 of the Bum Genius and I was totally lost. I'm thankful that I went ahead with a fairly low maintenance (in my opinion) diaper, even though they were a little more expensive they were easy to use and have lasted a really long time. But I had to do diaper laundry every other day, and I was not that great at keeping up. It was a little overwhelming and I always made sure to have disposables on hand in case I fell too far behind. Then I stupidly used diaper cream on my teething baby's bottom (just like the directions tell you not to do) and effectively made every single one of the diapers waterproof from the inside out! Armed with an old toothbrush and the original Dawn, I spent the next 4 hours stripping those diapers and making them usable again.

After adding several different types of diapers (BGs, Rocky Mountains, and Smartipants- over 40 in all), another baby, and a clothesline to the mix, I've finally got down my diapering routine and it has worked tremendously well for us. I only wish I had figured it out two years ago! Here it is:

Separate the inserts from the covers and place in separate containers.

When both containers are almost full, begin washing the covers.

Rinse and spin covers in cold water. Then do a full cycle on warm with a little detergent and add and extra rinse to the cycle. Hang covers out to dry.

Then start on the inserts. Rinse and spin on cold. Then add a little detergent and a splash of bleach (I know, I know, bleach is so bad!! But we only use a splash...) and run a full cycle with an extra rinse. Place in the dryer.

We have separated everything because we have a high efficiency washer and have found that washing both together takes a whole lot longer to get everything clean. I'm hoping to eliminate a few steps, but right now, it's working for us!! Clean diapers every day and no back up disposables...

Making Kid-Friendly Playdough

2009-07-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

One of my earliest taste memories is the salty goodness of homemade playdough. When I was in 5 year old kindergarten Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Turner would sometimes surprise us with this treat. After making their rounds, giving each child a generous portion of the mold-able gooey-ness, they would stop by my station and act surprised. "Mary! Is that all the playdough you got!?!? Where did you put the rest of it?" I would ashamedly shrug my shoulders and relish the delightful saltiness in my mouth. I know I'm not supposed to be encouraging you or your little ones to eat playdough, but wow, I've always thought it was so tasty. So, when my friend, Jaclyn, had me and the girls over last week and she busted out the homemade playdough, I simply had to get my hands into it, and sneak a taste... and she shared her recipe, which is the best I've found. It's not too clay-like and not sticky at all. It's just perfect. (And it tastes just like I remember... ;)

If your child is a little on the wild side (Jaclyn called it "spirited")
then she may be a ki nesthetic or tactile learner (as opposed to an auditory or visual learner). Playing with things that keep their hands busy can be helpful, especially if you need to get them occupied for more than 5 minutes. Piggy has really enjoyed playing with this playdough.

Homemade Playdough

1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon oil (I used vegetable oil)
1/4 cup salt
food coloring

Pour water, flour, salt, cream of tartar, and oil into a pot. Mix until smooth. Add your food coloring. (Remember that the standard red, yellow, blue, and green can be mixed to create orange, purple, and brown, too.)

Put the pot on medium heat (I went a shade under medium) and stir until it all sticks together.

Dump it all out on wax paper and let it cool slightly. It may be a little sticky until it begins to cool.

Knead it together until it is smooth.

Place it in separate airtight containers or baggies.

Enjoy!!

*It took Piggy all of 30 seconds to sample the playdough. She thought it was rather delicious as well. :)

A Dermatologist's Perspective

2009-07-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

As promised, I have been interviewing professionals and asking the questions that I think others want to know the answers to. I have had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Holly Sanders (my sister!) who is a dermatologist, or specialist in skin, hair, and nail disorders. I hope you find the questions compelling and the answers I found interesting and helpful. Here's to a healthier YOU!!

Me: How often should I visit my dermatologist?

Dr. Sanders: If you have a 1^st degree relative with melanoma (your sister, mother, father, brother) and/or have many moles ( more than 50) and/or atypical moles (more than 5 mm in size with some color variation), a baseline examination would be warranted. If you have a personal history of skin cancer, then in most cases you should see your dermatologist at least annually. Otherwise, you should seek the help of a dermatologist with any lesion concerning for skin cancer or for help with disorders affecting the skin, hair, or nails.

Me: What is the normal life cycle of a mole?

Dr. Sanders: In general, people develop new moles (nevi) into their early to mid 30’s. Moles can be flat, dome shaped, or a combination. Most people make a “signature nevus”, meaning that the moles on their skin tend to resemble one another. Sometimes moles that begin as flat and brown earlier in life will gradually become dome shaped and lose their color. Once a mole appears, it should be mostly stable with the exception that a gradual symmetric change over years is probably ok, especially if it is proportional to a change in body size. Any rapid and/or asymmetric change in a mole should prompt you to seek immediate attention.

Me: What are skin cancer warning signs?

Dr. Sanders: Most skin cancers arise on sun exposed skin. Any new lesion that is growing and develops symptoms such as persistent itching or easy bleeding should be evaluated as these are signs/symptoms of skin cancer. The “ABCDEs” are the warning signs of melanoma. Asymmetry (most normal moles are symmetric), Border irregularity (normal moles generally have well defined, smooth borders), Color variegation (melanomas may display multiple colors including brown, black, red, white, and blue), Diameter larger than 6 mm, and Evolution (possibly the most important sign is change over time).

Me: What qualifications should I search for in a dermatologist?

Dr. Sanders: For any physician, it is wise to make sure that they are board certified to practice their specialty. A dermatologist is a physician that has completed at least 3 years of residency in dermatology (the study of diseases affecting the skin, hair and nails) and then ideally is accredited by the American Board of Dermatology. Professional and personal referrals can be helpful when looking for a physician.

Me: What is the best sunscreen available and what SPF should I wear?

Dr. Sanders: You should use a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB. Sunscreens in the past primarily worked by blocking UVB and “SPF” refers to the UVB blocking ability of a sunscreen. Many newer products are 'broad spectrum'. Ingredients to look for to ensure that your sunscreen blocks UVA are avobenzone (parsol 1789) and/or titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. For most people that are capable of getting sunburned, I recommend at least an SPF of 30. It is best to apply 20-30 minutes before going out and then reapply often. It is also important to apply liberally- most people underdose their sunscreen. The recommended amount for an average adult is 1 ounce (30 mL or 1 shot glass).

Me: I have moderate adult acne. Are over the counter and mail order products okay? Which are the best?

Dr. Sanders: Over-the-counter products are often adequate for mild forms of acne. The mail order products available without a prescription are composed of widely available over-the-counter ingredients (i.e. benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid) and tend to be expensive. Again, they are helpful for mild acne. Acne that is moderate to severe, especially if causing scarring, likely requires prescription treatment.

Me: I have heard of Mohs surgery. What is it and when should I request a dermatologist who is also a Mohs surgeon?

Dr. Sanders: Mohs surgery is a specialized type of skin cancer surgery named for its developer, Dr. Fred Mohs. Usually, a Mohs surgeon has completed an additional year of training. Mohs surgery is unique in that the physician is both the surgeon and the pathologist- they remove the skin cancer, process the specimen while you wait, and examine 100% of the margins. They can then precisely map any remaining cancer. In this way, they are able to provide the highest cure rate while sparing the most normal skin. This surgery has many indications, including large skin cancers located in functionally and/or aesthetically sensitive areas (i.e. the nose, the fingertip), and more aggressive subtypes of skin cancers. In general, your dermatologist will refer you to a Mohs surgeon when appropriate.

**I want to thank Holly for taking the time to answer all of these questions and hope that you have learned something today!!

Fun Facts

2009-07-24T15:04:00.001-07:00

I'm a bit of a word geek (a wordsmith to be precise), though I am horrendous at grammar. Who knows where to put all those commas?? And I am an acknowledged abuser of the exclamation point, making Seinfeld's episode even funnier to me. But this week I'm going to speak of a rather touchy subject. The mispronunciation of the word "mischievous". (do those quotation marks go before or after the period?!?)

I know everyone loves the word "mischievous"... I hear it all the time. "My little funny baby is SOOOO..." and then they say the word... "mis-CHEE-VEE-uhs". And I want to pull out some eyelashes. See, if you break down the word and say it phonetically, it is "MIS-chee-vuhs." There are only three syllables, not four. There is no "i" or "e" after the "v"... it is not spelled "mischievIous" or "mischievEous". It is simply "mischievous".

Due to the rampant mispronunciation of this word, the dictionary is calling the incorrect pronunciation nonstandard, making it appear that though it is not the norm it is acceptable. But it isn't nonstandard and it isn't an acceptable variation ... it's just plain wrong (note that the "it's" has an apostrophe because it is a contraction. If you can't say "it is" don't put an apostrophe... I guess that will be another post.) So, the next time you are tempted to add an extra syllable, think of me... and please don't force me to pull out much needed, extremely beneficial body hair. :)

Have a great Fun Fact Friday!

Tasty Treats Thursday

2009-07-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

Each Thursday I'll be sharing a little something for you to whip up in your kitchen. There are only a couple of rules. First, it has to be easy. Second, it has to be delicious!!! So, straight from my aunt's blueberry farm to your table:

The Blueberry Sonker

* 2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed
* 1 cup all-purpose flour * 1 cup sugar * 1 egg
* 1 stick butter (use real butter for best results)

(frozen blueberries are okay, but your local farmers markets should be teeming with fresh ones this time of year!!)

In an 8x8 baking dish spread the rinsed blueberries. Add a little water, maybe 1/8 cup, and sprinkle a little sugar over the berries. If you don't have a square baking dish, go for a 9x13.

Mix together the flour and sugar. Add the egg and blend with the flour mix.

It'll take on the consistency of cornmeal and be lumpy and all the flour and sugar won't mix completely, but it's OK. Spread the flour mix over the blueberries.

Melt the stick of butter. Drizzle the melted butter over the flour mixture. Don't worry about covering every last inch of the flour/sugar mixture. It will be fine.

Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees until it's golden brown for about 45 minutes. You'll know it's almost done when it begins permeating the whole house with the sweet smell of warm blueberries!

If you want to really treat yourself, grab some yummy fresh churned vanilla ice cream to top it with while it is still warm from the oven. I don't have any today, but what a delicious dessert!!!

This recipe can also be used with any other fresh fruit- peaches, blackberries, cherries, raspberries... all would make delightful sonkers!

Teething Bling Giveaway

2009-07-21T04:12:00.001-07:00

Okay folks, the time is getting near. As soon as The Rosie Layne has 50 followers, I will be able to give away my first gift. It is Teething Bling by Smart Mom Jewelry. There will be two contests. The first and most important is to get the word out about The Rosie Layne and help me get my readership up to 50 followers. You may enter this one in several ways:

1. Refer people to my blog. When you do this, you should put in the comment section that you have referred "this person" to the blog and when "this person" comments, they should write that you have sent them here. Both need to be present in order for either to be valid.

2. Become a follower of The Rosie Layne blog. If you already are, just comment that.

3. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter, and then send me the link to your tweet. You may enter this once each day.

4. Go to my store and tell me what you would want to win from there.

5. Follow @rosielayne on Twitter and let me know you are following!

Once The Rosie Layne has 50 followers, I will do a random drawing from this post and select a winner for a $20 gift certificate to anything in my store and I mean ANYTHING! Rocky Mountain Diapers, BumGenius, MotherEase, ErbaOrganics baby products, prenatals, etc. If I have it, you are welcome to it!! Afterwards, there will be another post to enter to win Teething Bling.

Let's get this party started!!!

FuzziBunz Giveaway

2009-07-21T03:57:00.000-07:00

So, one of my friends in the blogosphere, MommaMolly, is giving away an awesome cloth diaper- called Fuzzibunz. They are snaps, so the babies can't pull them off. They are cloth, so you can save money. Head on over to MommaMolly to enter to win!!!!

Potty Training Continues

2009-07-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

I happened to have a free few minutes one morning last week and found that Dr. Phil was having a look back over the years of his episodes. One was about day-long potty training, which we have been having issues with. So, I planted it on the couch, set the DVR to record, and watched in disbelief as the child on TV complied with Dr. Phil and in one afternoon began peeing on the potty. One of the tips he gave was to let your child teach something that was "lower on the food chain"- ie. a doll- how to go on the potty. A light went off in my head and I immediately thought about Monkey and how Piggy loves to sleep with Monkey, eat with Monkey, and play outside with Monkey. So, it was only logical that she should use the potty with Monkey. But first I would need figure out a way for Monkey to go pee pee. See, on Dr. Phil, he had a baby doll that would go when you squeezed at little bladder on its back. We have no such babies in our house, in fact the majority of the babies are stuffed animals- so I had to improvise.

I grabbed a peri-bottle (you know the wash bottles for postpartum) and I snuck it behind Monkey and called to Piggy to come and see Monkey pee pee on the potty. Well, Piggy was quite impressed with Monkey and demanded that Monkey do it over and over and over again. Finally, both Monkey and I were worn out and I had to explain that Monkey was "all done" and now Piggy needed to try to pee pee on the potty. You would have thought I had just told her I saw elephants flying (or monkeys peeing on toilets)... she has no interest in doing anything other than sitting on the potty and begging for M&Ms. I guess it will just take more time... Thanks anyway, Dr. Phil.

Until we get there, we will continue using our various assortment of wonderful cloth diapers...

Yardsaling 101

2009-07-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

I wish I had pictures from today. Alas, I do not. However, I have gained a very complete understanding of how the yardsaling community works. In this down economy, I wasn't expecting to see people come out in droves to drop their quarters and dollars in my hand for my junk. Well, junk is a relative term as the majority of what I was selling was nice and usable and could have probably been sold for twice as much on Craigslist.

A month or so ago, I did a yardsale with my friend Sarah. After two trips to her house to drop things off, leaving my home on a Saturday morning a little before 6am with both babies in tow and my husband at the wheel, I was extremely disappointed to only sell $9.50 worth of stuff. We were definitely in the hole when you factored in gas and time. So, I consulted with my local yardsaling professional, Rachael. And I learned a few things:

1st- Many men will come out looking for work clothes. If they are priced right, they will sell. And the old adage "don't judge a book" applies too. One of our "big ticket" items priced in the double digits was the first things sold to a man who had difficulty speaking and a rather rotund belly... he turned out to be so kind and really hilarious!

2nd- Clothes should be neatly displayed on tables or on a tablecloth on the ground. If people rifle through them it is worth your time to go behind them to fold them back neatly and reorganize.

3rd- You do not have to come down on a price if you don't think it is fair. Lots of people will ask just to see and are expecting you to lower it just because they ask. If you stick to your price for the bigger ticket items, you will usually get what you are asking for. I got $10 for my counter top grill, $5 for my crockpot, and $3 for my chopper.

4th- Furniture is a hot item. Today, a glider was the biggest reason that people dropped by. It had sold first thing, but the buyer left it until she could get a vehicle to pick it up in. I learned that we could have asked for three times as much and people would have been happy to pay.

5th- A happy, positive attitude is more likely to get your stuff sold than just sitting there watching your customers shop. All morning, I greeted the folks that were stopping by, asked them how their morning searches had gone, found out what they had paid for certain items, and told them that I would be glad to help them locate specific items they were looking for.

6th- Just because you say your yardsale begins at 8am with "no early birds" does not mean you will not be bombarded with those early bird. Instead, make it a point to be ready to go by 7am and you will be surprised at how quickly your stuff sells.

7th- Resonably pricing items is the quickest way for things to sell. According to my friend, T-shirts will sell at 25cents, name brand jeans at $2, while blouses, shorts, sweaters and others will sell around $1. If you are like me, I remember approximately what I paid for those things and it is hard to let them go for that price. But remember that selling something for less than what you had anticipated is better than selling nothing at all!!

8th- If you are ready to get rid of everything, go ahead and mark everything down half price by 11am. According to Rachael, it makes things really go! I'm too cheap and would rather try again at a different time in a different location. But I bet I could have made a few more bucks today if I had...

9th- A community yardsale brings in many more prospective buyers than a single yardsale. So, talk to your neighbors and plan ahead!!

10th- You will be surprised at how many folks you run into that you know! So smile and have a great time! I found a long lost coworker, an old neighbor, and a former saleswoman that I used to do business with. It's a super small world...

After following these tips, I made a grand total of $62.50 today... a vast improvement over last time!!

Do you have any yardsaling tips?? I would love to hear them!!!

So Exciting!!

2009-07-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

This blog is a completely new experiment. It is a combination of all aspects of my life and all the different things that are important to me and my family. I've typically been a very compartmentalized person, which is why I had a "work" blog all devoted to natural childbirth and such and a "personal" blog all about the family. But I found that there was nowhere to put other things that I found interesting or beneficial. So, that is why I began this one. I want to share what I find out about so many different facets of life here, with you.

Twittering

2009-07-17T15:48:00.001-07:00

You can now follow me on Twitter @rosielayne

I'm new to this whole thing, so just be patient!!!

Welcome to my NEW BLOG

2009-07-16T12:22:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone! This is my new blog. It is going to be an amalgamation of stories, tips, information about various things, recipes, fun things to do, interviews, and various other things. I will discuss parenting tips, have product reviews and giveaways, feature other bloggers and their stories, share research that I've found, etc. It should be a fun time!! So, sign up to follow and there will be one to two new posts each week. If you like what you are seeing, refer some friends my way... really the more the merrier.

Let me know if you have any ideas of things you'd like me to research and blog about. I have a lot of prospective posts coming up, but would love your feedback!!!

Some of the upcoming posts:

Potty Training
Sibling Rivalry
Herbal Remedies
Product Reviews
Money Saving Ideas and Tips
Gardening
Recipes

See you back here soon!