3 going on 10

Has your child ever done anything that made you blink and think, "Oh my, when did she get so big?"

The Mermaid just did something that made me blink like that.


It's something so small, and yet...so big.


She simply walked into the kitchen, and without saying a word, opened the fridge, opened the fruit drawer and took out the bag of apples. She then took the last apple out of the bag, closed the drawer and the fridge, threw the empty bag away, then walked out.

Such a simple act, but it makes such a big statement as to how independent and big she is getting. She's not the little girl anymore, who would have to ask for the apple and then wait while I cut it up.

My baby girl is getting big.....

3 going on 10

On My Mind...

People have been talking a lot lately about the polygamist sect raid in Texas. More than 400 children were removed from their homes and parents and placed in foster care, after police received a call from a 16 year old girl claiming to be a victim of sexual abuse. Since they swept in and took away all the children, the Texas Supreme Court has ordered the children returned.


I, for one, am happy with the court's decision.


Now, I've based my opinion on what I know. And this is what I know:


~ they still haven't found the 16 year old girl who made the anonymous call. In fact, they are now saying that it might have been a crank call.


~ I know of situations in some families where one child is abused and the rest aren't. When this happens, usually the court only take the abused child out of the household and let the rest of the children stay: their goal is to keep the family as intact as possible. So, even if some children were being abused, why in the world would they essentially round up every child in the ranch? If one child in one family in a small town is being abused, do you round up all the children in the town? Of course not. You find out which children are being abused and deal with them.


I believe that this may have been a case of religious persecution. After all, if a couple of families on the ranch believe in marrying off their 13 year old girls, then they must all believe it, right? So round them all up! If one or two families on the ranch are abusing their children (and they should be punished for it), then they must all be abusing their children, right? Round them up! It has already been proven that the officials have not been completely honest about the situation:

Texas officials claimed at one point that there were 31 teenage girls at the ranch who were pregnant or had been pregnant, but later conceded that about half of those mothers, if not more, were adults. One was 27.

And:

The case before the court technically only applies to the 124 children of those mothers, but it significantly affects nearly all the children since they were removed under identical circumstances.

The Third Court of Appeals in Austin ruled last week that the state failed to show that any more than five of the teenage girls were being sexually abused, and had offered no evidence of sexual or physical abuse against the other children.

So, let's review. The police receive the call from the 16 year old girl, who they never found. They immediately go in and round up all the children, over 400, and rip them from their mother's arms and their homes, even though they had no evidence of sexual or physical abuse against those children. So what the the reason for their removal? Their religious beliefs? Must have been. Their beliefs are different, so it must be wrong, right?


Of course they should investigate for child abuse. Of course the parents who abuse their children should be punished. But taking them all away from their homes and family was, in my opinion, uncalled for. I'm happy to see they are able to go home, and I hope the cases of child abuse are resolved soon.

On My Mind...

Technical Help

I'm hoping someone could help me.

I've always noticed that my blog loads slowly, and sometimes makes my computer freeze up. However, I always assumed that it was just my computer, because my computer is really slow. But I've gotten word from a couple of people that the same thing happens to them.

So, does my blog load slowly for you? And does anyone know how to fix that?

Technical Help

A Love That Lasts Forever

To my dearest Knight, the love of my life, my best friend,

Three years ago I walked down the asile and committed myself and my love to you. Never once for a single moment have I come even close to regretting that decision.

You are still my best friend. The best father I know. My soul mate.

There are so many things that I love about you, the list is endless. So, I had to limit myself to 50.

50 Things I Love About the Knight

1. He's handsome
2. He makes me laugh
3. He changes diapers
4. He cooks dinner
5. He helps me clean the house
6. He does all the above without complaining
7. The way he can make the girls laugh until they're out of breath
8. The way he makes sure every night to take time out to play with the girls, no matter how tired/busy/grumpy he is.
9. The way he encourages me to get my businesses off the ground
10. The way he makes the sacrafices we need to make in order to keep me home with the girls
11. The way his calmness balances out my hyperness
12. Because when I told him that I was going to go out with my girls for my birthday and he will have to stay home with the kids, he said "Okay, have fun".
13. The fact that he takes the time every day first thing when he gets home from work to sit with the Mermaid and look at everything she learned that day.
14. He is one of the most creative writers I know.
15. Even though he is really competetive, he lets me win sometimes
16. He would rather stay home with me and the girls than go out to a strip club or bar
17. The way he gets along so well with my family...and if you knew my family, you'd know that was a big one.
18. He always, always has my back...even when he thinks I'm wrong
19. Because he said "um....okay" when I said "I want to have a homebirth. Do you think a birthing tub will fit in the living room?"
20. Because he said the above when I said "I want to use cloth diapers" and "I want to homeschool" and "I want to co-sleep".
21. The way he compliments me every day...sincerely
22. Because when he walks in the house, and the kids are a mess, the dishes are piled up and the living room is trashed, he'll thank me for getting the laundry done.
23. Because he knows exactly what my dreams are...and shares them
24. Because he has dreams and goals...and works towards them
25. Because, like me, he believes that life can be better than the 9-5 corporate grind
26. Because his jokes are so corny they make you laugh
27. Because even though he loves sports, he'll turn the game off to read a book to the girls if they ask him to.
28. He's pretty clean and neat for a guy
29. He likes to read great books and recommend them to me, and vice versa.
30. He likes to discuss what we're reading.
31. He was the first guy I dated that I was able to have an intelligent conversation with.
32. The way he will debate history and politics with me via email while he is at work.
33. He is so organized, he makes a spread sheet for everything
34. He knows what I am feeling, without me saying anything.
35. The way he knows that when I walk away upset, he should chase after me.
36. The way he reminds me to be fair by not chasing me if I walk away a second time.
37. The way he knows just what to say, or just what to do, without even knowing what's bothering me.
38. He likes to cuddle.
39. He likes my cooking...the rare times I do cook.
40. Even if he doesn't like it, he'll eat it anyway.
41. The way he makes me laugh hysterically...with a one sentence email.
42. When I call him at work to vent about the girls driving me crazy, he never tells me he's too busy. He just listens and let's me get it out.
43. He'll do the grocery shopping on his own, and even bring both girls with him when he senses I need a break.
44. He loves to take the girls to the park.
45. He loves the library just as much as I do.
46. Because his NetFlix Queue if filled with documentaries and historical movies.
47. If he's watching a movie and there is bad language, he'll turn it off until after the girls are in bed.
48. He's such a kick-ass labor support person.
49. He supports me in breastfeeding whole-heartedly.
50. And finally...because no matter where I am or what I'm doing, I know that he is there caring about me. And that makes me feel special.

Happy Anniversary, my Knight. Here's to many more.

A Love That Lasts Forever

Okay, This is Getting Ridiculous...

Thanks again to Hathor for giving us the heads up on this story.

Apparently, if you want to give birth with an OB, but you want the treatment that you would already receive from a midwife, you have to pay an extra $15,000.00

From the article:

Burnette-Dubose's experience is extreme, but many American patients feel the same way — like they're just a number in line at the butcher's shop. Some patients have had enough, and those who can afford it are choosing to pay hefty premiums out-of-pocket to get more personalized, more polite service. There are
now more than 1,000 doctors in the U.S. who have opened concierge, or boutique, practices, according to the Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design. They limit the number of patients they see so they can devote more time to each; accept insurance for routine treatment and tests; and charge patients an additional flat fee for extras like no waiting, longer office visits and round-the-clock availability via e-mail or cell phone.

You can read the full text here.

In my experience, by OBGYN for my first daughter wasn't horrible, but she wasn't exactly the most pleasant thing either. Appointments with her lasted about 5 minutes long, most of which she chastised me on "gaining too much weight". Once, I tried to ask her questions about certain procedures and she told me that I "read too much".

Fast forward to my pregnancy with my second daughter, when I had a midwife. Each appoinment was a minimum of one hour, where we talked openly with each other. She answered any questions I had about pregnancy and birth, and many times she even listened as I vented some of my frustrations in my life that were completely unrelated to my pregnancy. My OB left my delivery room soon after my birth; my midwife stayed a few hours to help me get settled in and to help clean up. And the kicker? My midwife charged less.

What has our maternity care system come to?

Okay, This is Getting Ridiculous...

American College Of Nurse-Midwives Publishes Clinical Guidelines For Oral Nutrition During Labor

Imagine: You're in the hospital, in labor. You've been in labor all day, or even for two days, or even for three. They let you eat ice chips or suck on popsicles, and that's it. You aren't allowed any food. How long do you think you could last?

Not long. As both a mother who has had a hospital birth and a doula, I detest the rule that most hospitals have in place to deny a laboring mother food and drink.

Finally, it looks like the CNM agrees.

From the article:

The newest Clinical Bulletin from the American College of Nurse-Midwives reviews evidence relevant to providing oral nutrition to women in labor and concludes that drinking and eating during labor can provide women with the energy they
need and should not be routinely restricted.

You can read the full text here.

It will be interesting to see how many hospitals will change their policy to follow the recommendations of the guidelines. As far as I know, the obstetric field is the only medical field that tends to ignore the results of their own research and studies. We shall see.

American College Of Nurse-Midwives Publishes Clinical Guidelines For Oral Nutrition During Labor

Formula for the Sweet Tooth

Thanks to Hathor for informing her readers about this story.

It turns out that the popular Similac Organic formula is made with cane sugar. According to the story:

Parents may be buying it because they believe that organic is healthier, but babies may have a reason of their own for preferring Similac Organic: it is significantly sweeter than other formulas. It is the only major brand of organic formula that is sweetened with cane sugar, or sucrose, which is much sweeter
than sugars used in other formulas.

No health problems in babies have been associated with Similac Organic. But to pediatricians, there are risks in giving babies cane sugar: Sucrose can harm tooth enamel faster than other sugars; once babies get used to its sweeter taste, they might resist less sweet formulas or solid foods; and some studies
suggest that they might overeat, leading to rapid weight gain in the first year, which is often a statistical predictor of childhood obesity.

You can read the full story here...

Formula for the Sweet Tooth