Superbugs and Trash
We live in a disposable society. Everything is thrown away, only to end up rotting ever so slowly in a landfill somewhere. I've often wondered where those landfills are and how close people are allowed to live. Surely the smell is overwhelming. I've never seen a landfill in person. I have no idea where my trash goes once it's picked up by the trash truck. Given the amount of trash generated by Americans, one would think the landfills would be reaching our own backyards at this point.
I have seen several products lately that make me wonder "Why?" because they are just adding to the problem. One of them is a plastic crock pot liner. You cook your food in a plastic bag lining the crock pot, and when you're done, you throw the liner away. What a waste! It's not that hard to wash the crock pot when you're done. Plus, just think of all the plastic chemicals that could be seeping into your food while it simmers all day long. Bon Appetit!
Another wasteful product is the toilet wand that has a throw away scrubber. After you scrub the toilet, you release the scrubber and flush it down the toilet. Yet another piece of unnecessary garbage. The basis for this wonder product is germs. The advertisers try to scare us into buying products like this with the threat of germs, but little do people realize that there are probably fewer germs on the toilet brush than on their tooth brush. This brings me to my next topic.
Not only are we creating mountains of trash every day, we are also creating superbugs. Every cleaning product is anti-bacterial now. You can't even find liquid hand soap that is NOT anti-bacterial. We are killing the good bacteria while trying so hard to get rid of the bad bacteria. The result is that the bacteria are evolving into superbugs: bugs that have developed a resistance to antibiotics. This problem, like the disposable products, can be traced back to companies trying to make a profit. "You must get rid of those bacteria, now here is the product to do so!" There is one commercial in particular where a woman is washing down her kitchen with a raw chicken breast. "If you're not using x product, you might as well be doing this", the commercial says. I never had salmonella growing up, and my mom didn't have these products. Good old soap and water works just fine. I try not to be sucked in to these gimmicks, but some of them do make life easier. Now excuse me while I go Swiffer the floor.
Monday, October 03, 2005
You Say It's Your Birthday
I'm 32 today. I'd like to stay at this age and not grow any older. It's been an exciting year with the new addition to our family, Tess Elizabeth. She is 8 months old, and we can't imagine life without her now. Where does the time go?
The arrival of my birthday also means we're in my favorite season. It's getting darker earlier, and the air is taking on that cool, crisp quality that can only mean one thing... it's autumn! Time for pumpkin carving, hot apple cider, and Halloween. I'm going to be a witch this year, and so is Tess. We found the cutest little costume for her. I was excited to find a "scary" costume for a baby. Most of them are cutesy animals. Who wants to be a cow or a lion for Halloween? Not my baby!
Happy October!
I'm 32 today. I'd like to stay at this age and not grow any older. It's been an exciting year with the new addition to our family, Tess Elizabeth. She is 8 months old, and we can't imagine life without her now. Where does the time go?
The arrival of my birthday also means we're in my favorite season. It's getting darker earlier, and the air is taking on that cool, crisp quality that can only mean one thing... it's autumn! Time for pumpkin carving, hot apple cider, and Halloween. I'm going to be a witch this year, and so is Tess. We found the cutest little costume for her. I was excited to find a "scary" costume for a baby. Most of them are cutesy animals. Who wants to be a cow or a lion for Halloween? Not my baby!
Happy October!
Thursday, September 01, 2005
When the Levee Breaks
Like everyone else following the news about the devastating after-effects of Hurricane Katrina, I am very depressed about the situation. I have tried to imagine just how bad it is for the people living through it, especially in New Orleans; their houses full of toxic water, no drinking water or food, no power, and no sewage system. Not to mention the dead bodies that have yet to be collected.
This was the hurricane that New Orleans had been dreading. The local and national government officials knew that the levees could not handle that much water. Now, instead of spending the 60 million required to improve the levee system in New Orleans (which is a drop in the bucket compared to what they have spent on the war in Iraq), we have a multi-billion dollar disaster on our hands that is effecting everyone in the country. Thank you, government, for screwing up AGAIN.
I have visited New Orleans 5 times, and I have a site devoted to it. It was such a cool city. It will never be the same again and neither will the people who lived there.
Like everyone else following the news about the devastating after-effects of Hurricane Katrina, I am very depressed about the situation. I have tried to imagine just how bad it is for the people living through it, especially in New Orleans; their houses full of toxic water, no drinking water or food, no power, and no sewage system. Not to mention the dead bodies that have yet to be collected.
This was the hurricane that New Orleans had been dreading. The local and national government officials knew that the levees could not handle that much water. Now, instead of spending the 60 million required to improve the levee system in New Orleans (which is a drop in the bucket compared to what they have spent on the war in Iraq), we have a multi-billion dollar disaster on our hands that is effecting everyone in the country. Thank you, government, for screwing up AGAIN.
I have visited New Orleans 5 times, and I have a site devoted to it. It was such a cool city. It will never be the same again and neither will the people who lived there.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
The Hummingbirds and The Bees
I don't know how "the birds and the bees" became the synonym for the sex talk that most parents have with their kids at some point. Given the subject it's referring to, you'd think that birds and bees would actually get along, but they don't.
My mom gave me a hummingbird feeder, and I followed her instructions of mixing 1 part sugar with 4 parts water in a pan and bringing it to a boil on the stove. Well, not only am I feeding hummingbirds, but there seems to be a large bee population gathered at the feeder. When a hummingbird flies up to get a drink of sugar water, the bees actually chase it away! I've witnessed hummingbirds and bees fighting at the feeder. So much for birds and bees living in harmony.
I don't know how "the birds and the bees" became the synonym for the sex talk that most parents have with their kids at some point. Given the subject it's referring to, you'd think that birds and bees would actually get along, but they don't.
My mom gave me a hummingbird feeder, and I followed her instructions of mixing 1 part sugar with 4 parts water in a pan and bringing it to a boil on the stove. Well, not only am I feeding hummingbirds, but there seems to be a large bee population gathered at the feeder. When a hummingbird flies up to get a drink of sugar water, the bees actually chase it away! I've witnessed hummingbirds and bees fighting at the feeder. So much for birds and bees living in harmony.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Give me a Big Mac or give me death
I am tired of fast food restaurants making lame efforts to appeal to so-called “health-minded” individuals. When I walk into a McDonald’s, I expect to eat fried, fatty food. That’s why I go there! If I wanted something healthy, I would go somewhere else or I’d just stay home and cook.
The lawsuit I heard about several months ago really baffled me. Someone was suing McDonald’s for making them obese. Everyone knows that fast food is bad for you (see the documentary “Super Size Me” if you are unsure), so you can’t blame McDonald’s for making you fat. There is always a choice. No one is forcing you to stuff that Triple Quarter Pounder with cheese and Super Sized fries down your throat. Thankfully, that lawsuit was thrown out. If the obese person had won, it would have caused a barrage of frivolous lawsuits. I can just see it now…
Joe Blow vs. Dairy Queen: Seeking $500,000 in damages caused by repeated ice cream headaches.
Jane Smith vs. Krispy Kreme: Claims the three doughnuts she was allowed to purchase thwarted her Weight Watchers plan.
I’m sure you get the idea. It’s kind of like a person with lung cancer suing a tobacco company. The bottom line is, this is America. We have lots of choices. It is up to you to make the right ones. Otherwise, shut up and suffer the consequences.
I am tired of fast food restaurants making lame efforts to appeal to so-called “health-minded” individuals. When I walk into a McDonald’s, I expect to eat fried, fatty food. That’s why I go there! If I wanted something healthy, I would go somewhere else or I’d just stay home and cook.
The lawsuit I heard about several months ago really baffled me. Someone was suing McDonald’s for making them obese. Everyone knows that fast food is bad for you (see the documentary “Super Size Me” if you are unsure), so you can’t blame McDonald’s for making you fat. There is always a choice. No one is forcing you to stuff that Triple Quarter Pounder with cheese and Super Sized fries down your throat. Thankfully, that lawsuit was thrown out. If the obese person had won, it would have caused a barrage of frivolous lawsuits. I can just see it now…
Joe Blow vs. Dairy Queen: Seeking $500,000 in damages caused by repeated ice cream headaches.
Jane Smith vs. Krispy Kreme: Claims the three doughnuts she was allowed to purchase thwarted her Weight Watchers plan.
I’m sure you get the idea. It’s kind of like a person with lung cancer suing a tobacco company. The bottom line is, this is America. We have lots of choices. It is up to you to make the right ones. Otherwise, shut up and suffer the consequences.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Music Milling
I attended another concert last night: Glen Phillips. He is/was the singer for Toad the Wet Sprocket. It was an excellent show in a small venue called the Music Mill. Just Glen and his guitar, and he was great.
I like the Music Mill because it is non-smoking. I feel so old because things like that matter to me. I hate to come home stinking like an ashtray.
I waited around afterwards, but Glen did not come out to sign autographs. My friend Brandi and I saw Toad years ago, and we didn't wait to meet them. I've always wished we had stayed. We saw them at Bogarts in Cincinnati, and it was pretty easy to meet bands there. We met Live, Teenage Fanclub, Cheap Trick, and a few no-name acts at Bogarts. Maybe I will meet Glen next time, if he ever comes back around.
I attended another concert last night: Glen Phillips. He is/was the singer for Toad the Wet Sprocket. It was an excellent show in a small venue called the Music Mill. Just Glen and his guitar, and he was great.
I like the Music Mill because it is non-smoking. I feel so old because things like that matter to me. I hate to come home stinking like an ashtray.
I waited around afterwards, but Glen did not come out to sign autographs. My friend Brandi and I saw Toad years ago, and we didn't wait to meet them. I've always wished we had stayed. We saw them at Bogarts in Cincinnati, and it was pretty easy to meet bands there. We met Live, Teenage Fanclub, Cheap Trick, and a few no-name acts at Bogarts. Maybe I will meet Glen next time, if he ever comes back around.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Cellular Glow
Last night I went to see Duran Duran in concert. At most of the concerts I've attended (which is something like 80 or 90 concerts that I have ticket stubs for), people hold up lighters to create a sea of miniature, flickering flames stretching out in front of the band. Last night I noticed that instead of lighters, people were holding up their cell phones in hopes of catching a decent photo of the band (or rather, of Simon LeBon or John Taylor). It was a sea of cell phone screens from my balcony view. It just reminded me of how gadget crazy we have become.
On another note, the concert was good. They did every Duran Duran classic I can think of, except "Union of the Snake", which happens to be one of their greatest songs. Oh well. I was excited to hear "Ordinary World" and another song that I had completely forgotten about, "Come Undone". Simon was very energetic. He and John had the girls screaming throughout the show. During the show, I found myself wondering which of them was wearing a toupee or had used a hair regrowth product. I mean, what are the chances that out of five men, none of them are going bald?
Last night I went to see Duran Duran in concert. At most of the concerts I've attended (which is something like 80 or 90 concerts that I have ticket stubs for), people hold up lighters to create a sea of miniature, flickering flames stretching out in front of the band. Last night I noticed that instead of lighters, people were holding up their cell phones in hopes of catching a decent photo of the band (or rather, of Simon LeBon or John Taylor). It was a sea of cell phone screens from my balcony view. It just reminded me of how gadget crazy we have become.
On another note, the concert was good. They did every Duran Duran classic I can think of, except "Union of the Snake", which happens to be one of their greatest songs. Oh well. I was excited to hear "Ordinary World" and another song that I had completely forgotten about, "Come Undone". Simon was very energetic. He and John had the girls screaming throughout the show. During the show, I found myself wondering which of them was wearing a toupee or had used a hair regrowth product. I mean, what are the chances that out of five men, none of them are going bald?
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Baby News
Last night Tess slept through the night, but I did not give her any rice cereal. I guess the rice cereal really wasn't helping her sleep through the night after all. I think I will wait until she is six months old before starting back up on the cereal. I gave her a tiny taste of smashed banana last night and she seemed to like it. Her first reaction to anything going in her mouth is to stick her tongue out (the tongue-thrust reflex), so I don't think she's ready for solids just yet.
Last night Tess slept through the night, but I did not give her any rice cereal. I guess the rice cereal really wasn't helping her sleep through the night after all. I think I will wait until she is six months old before starting back up on the cereal. I gave her a tiny taste of smashed banana last night and she seemed to like it. Her first reaction to anything going in her mouth is to stick her tongue out (the tongue-thrust reflex), so I don't think she's ready for solids just yet.
Friday, July 08, 2005
My Love/Hate Relationship With eBay
I have a somewhat expensive hobby of collecting Barbies. I believe I have somewhere between 75 and 100 Barbies still in their boxes. They take up space that we really don't have (our 80's house has very small closets and no basement, so they sit in boxes and tubs in our spare bedroom), but that doesn't stop me from buying them.
When Mattel discontinued the old line of "Dolls of the World" and replaced it with the "Princess Dolls of the World" line, I didn't think I would buy them. I knew there would be an endless stream of these dolls, given the number of countries in the world. Well, by the time the third doll came out, Princess of the Incas -- did the Incas really have royalty? Anyway... I bought it. Since then, I have purchased every single princess Barbie. I missed the first two though, and I've been patiently waiting for the prices to come down on eBay. Each princess doll is $20 in the store, but the first two are currently selling from $50 and up on eBay. That's a little better than the original eBay going price, which was over $100.
I love eBay because I can find Barbies that I probably wouldn't normally be able to get, such as Peaches 'N Cream Barbie. She is from the early 80's. Mine was stolen by my babysitter the day after Christmas, and I never got it back, so I bought one on eBay. It helped to relieve the bitterness I had about that situation...
The thing I hate about eBay is that it floods the market with items that are supposed to be rare. Great for the buyer, bad for the seller. I have tried to sell a few Barbies on eBay, but all of my auctions failed. I refuse to sell an item for less than what I paid. I was shocked that the first two princess Barbies were going for so much. They will come down eventually. Then it will be another 20 years or more until they will be worth anything. Thanks to eBay, Barbies must obtain vintage status before you can get anything for them. That is, unless you can find that one rare opportunity where everyone missed out on the first item in a series and sell it.
I have a somewhat expensive hobby of collecting Barbies. I believe I have somewhere between 75 and 100 Barbies still in their boxes. They take up space that we really don't have (our 80's house has very small closets and no basement, so they sit in boxes and tubs in our spare bedroom), but that doesn't stop me from buying them.
When Mattel discontinued the old line of "Dolls of the World" and replaced it with the "Princess Dolls of the World" line, I didn't think I would buy them. I knew there would be an endless stream of these dolls, given the number of countries in the world. Well, by the time the third doll came out, Princess of the Incas -- did the Incas really have royalty? Anyway... I bought it. Since then, I have purchased every single princess Barbie. I missed the first two though, and I've been patiently waiting for the prices to come down on eBay. Each princess doll is $20 in the store, but the first two are currently selling from $50 and up on eBay. That's a little better than the original eBay going price, which was over $100.
I love eBay because I can find Barbies that I probably wouldn't normally be able to get, such as Peaches 'N Cream Barbie. She is from the early 80's. Mine was stolen by my babysitter the day after Christmas, and I never got it back, so I bought one on eBay. It helped to relieve the bitterness I had about that situation...
The thing I hate about eBay is that it floods the market with items that are supposed to be rare. Great for the buyer, bad for the seller. I have tried to sell a few Barbies on eBay, but all of my auctions failed. I refuse to sell an item for less than what I paid. I was shocked that the first two princess Barbies were going for so much. They will come down eventually. Then it will be another 20 years or more until they will be worth anything. Thanks to eBay, Barbies must obtain vintage status before you can get anything for them. That is, unless you can find that one rare opportunity where everyone missed out on the first item in a series and sell it.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Five Months Have Flown By
Tess is now five months old. I can't believe how fast the time goes. She has changed so much since being a sleepy newborn. She is extremely alert, focusing on objects and studying them... she's a miniature scientist. She recently discovered her feet, and she thinks it is great fun to hold onto them. She grabs a foot in each hand and giggles. Another of her favorite pastimes is blowing raspberries. I didn't know babies made so many cute noises until Tess came along. She still doesn't exhibit much interest in rolling over, but she does roll onto her side to look in her baby mirror or to grab a toy.
About two weeks ago, Tess started sleeping through the night (of course, mommy still woke up for the first few nights). We started her on a little rice cereal before bed. She still wakes up occasionally, so daddy will get her out of the crib and bring her to me. When that happens, she usually ends up staying with us until morning, but she spends most nights in her crib. Hurrah for rice cereal!
Tess is now five months old. I can't believe how fast the time goes. She has changed so much since being a sleepy newborn. She is extremely alert, focusing on objects and studying them... she's a miniature scientist. She recently discovered her feet, and she thinks it is great fun to hold onto them. She grabs a foot in each hand and giggles. Another of her favorite pastimes is blowing raspberries. I didn't know babies made so many cute noises until Tess came along. She still doesn't exhibit much interest in rolling over, but she does roll onto her side to look in her baby mirror or to grab a toy.
About two weeks ago, Tess started sleeping through the night (of course, mommy still woke up for the first few nights). We started her on a little rice cereal before bed. She still wakes up occasionally, so daddy will get her out of the crib and bring her to me. When that happens, she usually ends up staying with us until morning, but she spends most nights in her crib. Hurrah for rice cereal!
Monday, May 16, 2005
Feeling Porky
One interesting attribute left over from my pregnancy is that I cannot eat enough pork products. Before I was pregnant, I rarely ate pork. I had the occasional sausage or ham at holidays, and that was about it. During the first and second trimesters of the pregnancy, I found all kinds of meat repulsive. I ate a lot of beans during that time... then the third trimester hit. I had to have sausage, pork BBQ, ham, or anything else made from the heavenly hog. Tess is almost 4 months old, and it has not stopped! I used to eat a lot of chicken, but that doesn't sound good to me very often anymore. I'll take a pork BBQ sandwich and a sausage link on the side, please! We have fired up the grill a few times already this year, and we made butterflied pork chops in a Hawaiian marinade. Yum!
Hopefully this new pork addiction will not cause me to "pork out" anymore than the pregnancy already has...
One interesting attribute left over from my pregnancy is that I cannot eat enough pork products. Before I was pregnant, I rarely ate pork. I had the occasional sausage or ham at holidays, and that was about it. During the first and second trimesters of the pregnancy, I found all kinds of meat repulsive. I ate a lot of beans during that time... then the third trimester hit. I had to have sausage, pork BBQ, ham, or anything else made from the heavenly hog. Tess is almost 4 months old, and it has not stopped! I used to eat a lot of chicken, but that doesn't sound good to me very often anymore. I'll take a pork BBQ sandwich and a sausage link on the side, please! We have fired up the grill a few times already this year, and we made butterflied pork chops in a Hawaiian marinade. Yum!
Hopefully this new pork addiction will not cause me to "pork out" anymore than the pregnancy already has...
Monday, April 18, 2005
Monday, April 11, 2005
Sikh & Find
Friday we arrived in Kansas City for a Sikh wedding. Tess was really good on the plane. There was a ceremony Friday night where the bride and groom's family exchanged garlands. Lots of drums and dancing. It was pretty cool to see a bunch of men in turbans dancing. The food was good too. It was Indian cuisine. I loved the appetizers... little potato cakes, spicy chicken, and lamb "sausages". I don't know what any of it was called.
We went to the Sikh wedding Saturday... I was incorrect when I said it was Hindu before. We had to wear scarves on our heads and take our shoes off when we went into the temple, which was just a big room with a few decorations. Everyone sat on the floor. The ceremony was very long... it seemed really long to me because I was wearing a dress that is too small (none of my old dress clothes fit since Tess was born), and I could only sit in two positions without revealing too much. Tess slept through the whole thing. The music was pretty cool... there were guys playing drums and some kind of eastern-sounding keyboard. At the temple they gave us lunch. Everyone sat on the floor again, and the servers walked around dishing food out of buckets. I thought the highlight of this meal was the carrot pudding that we had for dessert. It was delicious.
Saturday night they had a reception at a really nice place in downtown KC. This was pretty similar to an American wedding reception, but they were playing Indian pop music, and it was so incredibly loud that we had to leave right after we ate. The music was scaring Tess. I couldn't believe how loud it was, and even the older Indian men didn't seem to mind. Maybe it was because their turbans covered their ears. The food was so good at all the meals... James and I loaded up and talked about where we could get more food like it in Indianapolis. We have a favorite Indian restaurant, Taj of India, but I am not sure if we know what to ask for.
On the plane back to Indianapolis, Tess cried at first, but once we took off, she fell asleep. When we got off the plane, someone came up to me and complimented the baby on being so good. During the whole weekend, Tess was the center of attention everywhere we went. Strangers were commenting on how pretty she is. I didn't realize how much people love babies!
Friday we arrived in Kansas City for a Sikh wedding. Tess was really good on the plane. There was a ceremony Friday night where the bride and groom's family exchanged garlands. Lots of drums and dancing. It was pretty cool to see a bunch of men in turbans dancing. The food was good too. It was Indian cuisine. I loved the appetizers... little potato cakes, spicy chicken, and lamb "sausages". I don't know what any of it was called.
We went to the Sikh wedding Saturday... I was incorrect when I said it was Hindu before. We had to wear scarves on our heads and take our shoes off when we went into the temple, which was just a big room with a few decorations. Everyone sat on the floor. The ceremony was very long... it seemed really long to me because I was wearing a dress that is too small (none of my old dress clothes fit since Tess was born), and I could only sit in two positions without revealing too much. Tess slept through the whole thing. The music was pretty cool... there were guys playing drums and some kind of eastern-sounding keyboard. At the temple they gave us lunch. Everyone sat on the floor again, and the servers walked around dishing food out of buckets. I thought the highlight of this meal was the carrot pudding that we had for dessert. It was delicious.
Saturday night they had a reception at a really nice place in downtown KC. This was pretty similar to an American wedding reception, but they were playing Indian pop music, and it was so incredibly loud that we had to leave right after we ate. The music was scaring Tess. I couldn't believe how loud it was, and even the older Indian men didn't seem to mind. Maybe it was because their turbans covered their ears. The food was so good at all the meals... James and I loaded up and talked about where we could get more food like it in Indianapolis. We have a favorite Indian restaurant, Taj of India, but I am not sure if we know what to ask for.
On the plane back to Indianapolis, Tess cried at first, but once we took off, she fell asleep. When we got off the plane, someone came up to me and complimented the baby on being so good. During the whole weekend, Tess was the center of attention everywhere we went. Strangers were commenting on how pretty she is. I didn't realize how much people love babies!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
| A Rishi Retrospective | |
 | This time last year I was treating my cat, Rishi, for cancer. He was still active and seemed mostly normal for the first part of April. He was bird watching and chasing leaves in the yard. He could still eat soft food at that point. |
| I try to remember him as happy, healthy, and playful. I think about him every day. | |
Life Is Good
The grass is finally green, the daffodils and hyacinth are blooming, the temperatures are warm, and my daughter is healthy. I weighed her yesterday, and she is 14 lbs 11 oz. She is only 9 weeks old! I was worried that she might be getting TOO big. The Lactation Consultant told me to feed her whenever she wants, and it will all even out in the end. Apparently it's impossible to feed the baby too much breastmilk.
Tess is a very happy baby. She smiles a lot, and her dad and I can make her smile at the drop of a hat. I'm so glad she is a good baby. I don't know how I would get anything done during the day if she were fussy all the time. It's hard enough now because I don't want to miss a single smile or giggle.
The grass is finally green, the daffodils and hyacinth are blooming, the temperatures are warm, and my daughter is healthy. I weighed her yesterday, and she is 14 lbs 11 oz. She is only 9 weeks old! I was worried that she might be getting TOO big. The Lactation Consultant told me to feed her whenever she wants, and it will all even out in the end. Apparently it's impossible to feed the baby too much breastmilk.
Tess is a very happy baby. She smiles a lot, and her dad and I can make her smile at the drop of a hat. I'm so glad she is a good baby. I don't know how I would get anything done during the day if she were fussy all the time. It's hard enough now because I don't want to miss a single smile or giggle.
Daddy and Tess
As I mentioned before, we are taking Tess on a plane to Kansas City, MO this Friday. Hard to believe I am now one of those people with a baby that used to annoy me. At least my baby is well behaved and her diapers don't stink (yet).
Friday, April 01, 2005
Kosher Kitties
I always give my cat some soft food around holidays as a special treat. At Thanksgiving and Christmas I give her turkey Fancy Feast because we're having turkey. During the recent Easter holiday, we were having ham, and I realized that there are no pork flavored soft cat foods. They have every fish, chicken, and beef flavor under the sun, but no pork. I wonder why? Merlin is eager to eat ham when we have it, so I think that she would like it.
I always give my cat some soft food around holidays as a special treat. At Thanksgiving and Christmas I give her turkey Fancy Feast because we're having turkey. During the recent Easter holiday, we were having ham, and I realized that there are no pork flavored soft cat foods. They have every fish, chicken, and beef flavor under the sun, but no pork. I wonder why? Merlin is eager to eat ham when we have it, so I think that she would like it.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
March Madness
For me, March Madness has not been about basketball but my hectic schedule. We have had lots of visitors, and we have travelled to visit them too. I started working again. I'm working from home, which is interesting. I love being home with the baby, but it can be difficult to accomplish anything when she's awake. I have to put her in her swing a lot.
Tess is growing like crazy. She is changing a little every day. She recently started vocalizing more... not crying, but cooing, sighing, and even the occasional scream. She smiles all the time. It's adorable! I'm so glad we have a happy, laid-back baby. If only she would sleep in her bassinet, she would be the perfect angel. We have to put her in her swing to get her to sleep or she has to sleep right next to me in our bed. That's a habit I don't want to start. I'm going to try putting her on a sleep wedge in her crib. Perhaps she wants to be elevated a little.
Breastfeeding is still quite painful. I am not sure what the problem is. The lactation consultant said the "latch" looks fine. Tess and I have both been treated for yeast in case that was causing the pain, and I've tried Lansinoh and various other ointments. It's not so unbearable that I can't continue, but it would be nice if I could experience the pain-free nursing that other people talk about.
Easter is coming up, and we're hosting 20 or so people at our house for dinner. I decided to give Heavenly Ham a try instead of trying to cook my own. Are we crazy for hosting such a huge party with a newborn? Probably... but most of my mom's family has not met Tess yet, so this will give them the chance to see her.
We are flying to Kansas City for a Hindu wedding on April 8. We are probably crazy for taking a two month old baby on a plane too, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend this event. I think it will be fun, and the Indian food is sure to be wonderful!
Busy, busy. Tess is going to grow up so fast. I can't believe that in about 8 or 9 months she'll be walking. Time does fly when you're having fun.
For me, March Madness has not been about basketball but my hectic schedule. We have had lots of visitors, and we have travelled to visit them too. I started working again. I'm working from home, which is interesting. I love being home with the baby, but it can be difficult to accomplish anything when she's awake. I have to put her in her swing a lot.
Tess is growing like crazy. She is changing a little every day. She recently started vocalizing more... not crying, but cooing, sighing, and even the occasional scream. She smiles all the time. It's adorable! I'm so glad we have a happy, laid-back baby. If only she would sleep in her bassinet, she would be the perfect angel. We have to put her in her swing to get her to sleep or she has to sleep right next to me in our bed. That's a habit I don't want to start. I'm going to try putting her on a sleep wedge in her crib. Perhaps she wants to be elevated a little.
Breastfeeding is still quite painful. I am not sure what the problem is. The lactation consultant said the "latch" looks fine. Tess and I have both been treated for yeast in case that was causing the pain, and I've tried Lansinoh and various other ointments. It's not so unbearable that I can't continue, but it would be nice if I could experience the pain-free nursing that other people talk about.
Easter is coming up, and we're hosting 20 or so people at our house for dinner. I decided to give Heavenly Ham a try instead of trying to cook my own. Are we crazy for hosting such a huge party with a newborn? Probably... but most of my mom's family has not met Tess yet, so this will give them the chance to see her.
We are flying to Kansas City for a Hindu wedding on April 8. We are probably crazy for taking a two month old baby on a plane too, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend this event. I think it will be fun, and the Indian food is sure to be wonderful!
Busy, busy. Tess is going to grow up so fast. I can't believe that in about 8 or 9 months she'll be walking. Time does fly when you're having fun.
Friday, February 18, 2005
February - A Month of Pain and Joy
I've been busy... taking care of a newborn while recovering from surgery is tiring!
Tess made her grand entrance into the world on February 1, 2005. I was induced because my doctor thought she might be getting too big to deliver naturally. We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 AM. I was hooked up to Pitocin by 7:30. For the first few hours, I tolerated the contractions fine, but when they became 1 minute apart and extremely painful (Pitocin is known for that), I knew I would not have energy to push when the time came, and I asked for an epidural. The epidural took away the pain, but my blood pressure got very low, so they had to give me epinephrine and lower my pain medicine dose. By 4:00 PM, I was fully dilated, and the epidural had worn off. My doctor told me it was time to push.
I pushed for two hours, and it was the most painful experience of my life. The baby's head was very high up, and it was sideways, so the doctor tried to turn her head while I pushed. Excrutiating! They had me try the squatting position, but the baby's head refused to come down. They told me I was a good pusher, but I felt like a bit of a failure for not being able to push the baby out. She was just too big. At 6:00 PM, my doctor recommended a c-section. Tess was out at 6:35. By then I was so relieved that she was out that I didn't care about the c-section.
I was quite alert for the whole thing (and shivering from the epidural), and the nurses couldn't believe I could move my legs right after the surgery. It seemed like hours before James and I could finally hold our daughter. It seemed even longer before I could have something to drink. I've never been so thirsty in my whole life! I had a Gatorade at 6:30 AM, and I didn't have another drink until around 8:30 PM. I chugged everything James put in my hands. They told me to take it easy, but I never felt nauseated. Of course, it was all worth it to have Tess. We were overjoyed that she was finally out! What an adorable baby...
I recovered very quickly, but it was painful. In fact, almost 3 weeks later, I'm still in pain. Breastfeeding is painful until I get used to it. I've had a bout with the flu. It could be a secondary infection from the c-section, but it seemed like the flu to me. My whole body ached, and I had a fever of 102 for two days. It was extremely difficult to care for Tess when I could barely get myself off of the couch. My doctor put me on antibiotics just in case.
In between the pain, I also have incredibly happy times when the baby smiles or just sleeps peacefully. She is so cute! James and I couldn't be happier with her. She is not on a schedule, and we are tired, but we love her and we love being parents.
Tess Elizabeth
Born February 1, 2005 at 6:35 PM
Weight: 8 lbs 12 oz
Length: 21 inches
I've been busy... taking care of a newborn while recovering from surgery is tiring!
Tess made her grand entrance into the world on February 1, 2005. I was induced because my doctor thought she might be getting too big to deliver naturally. We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 AM. I was hooked up to Pitocin by 7:30. For the first few hours, I tolerated the contractions fine, but when they became 1 minute apart and extremely painful (Pitocin is known for that), I knew I would not have energy to push when the time came, and I asked for an epidural. The epidural took away the pain, but my blood pressure got very low, so they had to give me epinephrine and lower my pain medicine dose. By 4:00 PM, I was fully dilated, and the epidural had worn off. My doctor told me it was time to push.
I pushed for two hours, and it was the most painful experience of my life. The baby's head was very high up, and it was sideways, so the doctor tried to turn her head while I pushed. Excrutiating! They had me try the squatting position, but the baby's head refused to come down. They told me I was a good pusher, but I felt like a bit of a failure for not being able to push the baby out. She was just too big. At 6:00 PM, my doctor recommended a c-section. Tess was out at 6:35. By then I was so relieved that she was out that I didn't care about the c-section.
I was quite alert for the whole thing (and shivering from the epidural), and the nurses couldn't believe I could move my legs right after the surgery. It seemed like hours before James and I could finally hold our daughter. It seemed even longer before I could have something to drink. I've never been so thirsty in my whole life! I had a Gatorade at 6:30 AM, and I didn't have another drink until around 8:30 PM. I chugged everything James put in my hands. They told me to take it easy, but I never felt nauseated. Of course, it was all worth it to have Tess. We were overjoyed that she was finally out! What an adorable baby...
I recovered very quickly, but it was painful. In fact, almost 3 weeks later, I'm still in pain. Breastfeeding is painful until I get used to it. I've had a bout with the flu. It could be a secondary infection from the c-section, but it seemed like the flu to me. My whole body ached, and I had a fever of 102 for two days. It was extremely difficult to care for Tess when I could barely get myself off of the couch. My doctor put me on antibiotics just in case.
In between the pain, I also have incredibly happy times when the baby smiles or just sleeps peacefully. She is so cute! James and I couldn't be happier with her. She is not on a schedule, and we are tired, but we love her and we love being parents.
Tess Elizabeth
Born February 1, 2005 at 6:35 PM
Weight: 8 lbs 12 oz
Length: 21 inches
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
The Final Countdown...
Well, the full moon came and went, and I am still pregnant. I'm excited though, because the end is in sight. If the baby doesn't come out on her own before February 1, they are going to induce me. The doctor is afraid that the baby will be too big to pass through the birth canal if I go past my due date. Six days or less to be pregnant! Woo hoo! I've got to say, though, that this pregnancy has been pretty easy. I did not become terribly uncomfortable until these last couple of weeks. I cannot wait to meet my daughter!
Well, the full moon came and went, and I am still pregnant. I'm excited though, because the end is in sight. If the baby doesn't come out on her own before February 1, they are going to induce me. The doctor is afraid that the baby will be too big to pass through the birth canal if I go past my due date. Six days or less to be pregnant! Woo hoo! I've got to say, though, that this pregnancy has been pretty easy. I did not become terribly uncomfortable until these last couple of weeks. I cannot wait to meet my daughter!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
