The week

It's Saturday, it's Saturday. Time to get ready for Sunday. First, to breakfast, the breakfast of champions! It begins, as always, with apricot juice, my personal favorite, or patiently peeled orange, carefully sorted into each bowl, so that no one person gets two halves from the same. This allows the worst and best to be shared by all. Then comes a bowl of oatmeal with walnuts with a generous amount of honey. Bread comes last to finish the meal. Then it's off to scrub the potatoes, or make the jello, but only if it's red jello with canned fruit and that's only for company. And after a long day of work, it's time to unwind with the Lawrence Welk show and the Champagne Lady.

And now to Sunday, a new week begun. The Spoken Word rings through the house. The cheese toast is crackling. And mostly, the organ is singing its familiar tunes with its robust and favorite singer, until its time for to play Upwords alongside the worn and well-loved dictionary. There shall be music wherever he goes.

The work week begins again on Monday. It's off to battle, to battle with the noxious weeds, the dandelions and morning glory, with a trusty brown knee pad as shield and a sturdy dandelion digger as sword - the same used by various young invincibles to threaten loss of toe or worse in a treacherous tossing game.

And a birthday on Tuesday, which must have cake! Out from the freezer it comes bedecked with the candle, the special 8 candle, and only after and song can the rowdy group dig in. "Get out and walk."

It's Wednesday, which means it's Ice Cream Night. The night would go as it always does; "What do you want, bug?" "What is there?" "What do you want, Boss?" "Whatever's good." Within a few short minutes, a small bowl would arrive, brimming with melting ice cream, with indentations where a stray finger eased the scoop into the bowl.

It's Thursday now and maybe raining outside. The saw in the shop is whirring, or maybe the lathe. Sawdust flies to unswept recesses of the room. And maybe later, it's the sewing machine binding ever lengthening strips together as the next braided rug forms in tight, flat rows.

It's Friday and shopping is the order of the day. Reams has all the delights for the week. In comes plastic bags of bananas, cereal, milk, and generous packages of meat, ready for the roaster on Sunday.

Hardly a day goes by without some work on a puzzle, study of the daily paper, and a slice of homemade bread, slathered in margarine and homemade jam. In the fall, it's canning and passball. In summer, it's weeding and the print shop. In spring, it's waking the yard. In winter, it's pruning and shoveling.

On every bridge, there is a road to travel. On every road is a sign to read, and very few make it through life unread by one well-seasoned Traveler.

Adios. Au revior. Aufvedersehen.

http://www.holbrookmortuary.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2512237&fh_id=13204

Foodie blogers

Hello world. Just for your own personal information, if I ever begin a food blog, I will not post 75 shots of every angle, plus a shot with a spoon or a half eaten dish. Can you imagine how difficult it is to cook with a camera in your hand? And how much extra time it would all take. No, no. I'm about the recipe, the description, and maybe a photo if it looks really cool. Plus, I refuse to write about my morning run, late night out, or my child's latest moment of pure genius. I realize these are personal journals for some people, and if you have a fan club, maybe they want to hear how you polished the silver for the special company, but just give me the recipe. The good stuff. End soapbox.

Going up.

I get discouraged. Often. Especially lately, with limited sleep and the added stress of parenting. But, this is what I believe. Time to apply it more fully.

I hope you enjoy it.

Listening

Baby sleeping.
Husband reading.
Toddler questioning.
Child crying.
Parents instructing.
Infant fussing.
Piano unceasing.
Dinner cooking.
Dishes washing.
Grandpa snoring.
Grandma admiring.
Cousins squealing.
Uncles tickling.
Aunts laughing.
Sisters whispering.
Brothers teasing.
Nephews wrestling.
Nieces pointing.

Welcome home.

Mastitis, blocked ducts and a little TMI.

Since becoming a mommy, I have enjoyed a lot of cuddle time with the Princess while she eats. But, I have also enjoyed much of the pain and struggle that comes with nursing. It is a learned art. Since then, I've met other moms going through similar things who had no idea what to do. This is, by no means, a treatment plan or a diagnostic tool. It is not comprehensive nor even accurate, for all I know, it's just what I've read and what has worked somewhat for me. And yes, a lot of TMI.

Mastitis occurs because of a blocked duct or bacteria getting into broken skin on the nipple. It often causes hot, red patches of skin and can feel hard and lumpy. You probably know that if you have a serious fever to call your doctor. I think they recommend calling if it exceeds 102 degrees.

Ways to ease the symptoms
It takes a few days for it to clear, even when it goes away without meds, but it's possible to ease the symptoms through rest, hydration, warm compresses, or a warm shower, and massage. Going long stretches without nursing will prolong the pain, as hard as it is to nurse. If the skin is cracked, there is a product called Lanolin that can help keep the nipple soft and prevent it from drying out. It's safe for the baby to ingest without needing to wash it off. (They derive it from lamb skin or wool, I think, which is a little weird.) I used Lansinoh, which doesn't have any added stuff in it.

If it is a blocked duct, it's important to work the blockage out. If it is, it feels like a hard lump with acute pain right around the block. Starting on the blocked side means baby has a stronger suck, since she's more interested and hasn't fallen asleep. If you can position her lower jaw in the direction of the block, it is supposed to come easier, since the lower jaw is strongest. That makes it difficult if the block is up toward the shoulder! We fed facing opposite ways on the bed, which means getting kicked in the face, but it worked. If you can massage from behind the block toward the nipple while she eats, that can contribute to removing it as well, but it has to be a lot of pressure to do much good. And it really hurts.

As the block comes out, you may see teeny white specks like mini blisters, on the nipple. Some people recommend lancing these with a sterilized needle, but I never had much success with that. Just be careful not to break the skin, which can lead to more problems.

Some prevention ideas
To prevent it from happening again, try to always empty the breast, at least one, at every feeding, then start on the other side next time. Pumping can help, especially if you have an over supply. A hand pump is sufficient for me, but it doesn't get everything out as well as an electric or as baby.

Wash your shirts and tops in hot water, in order to kill the germs. If the skin is still cracked, anything can get it, making it even more important to keep things clean. Also keeping the nipple dry will prevent cracking, as well as avoiding using soap. And using Lanolin, as above.

One big thing is to make sure nothing is constricting any of the milk ducts. A bra with underwire can do it, or even a tight sports bra. Also, not wearing a bra, and not having support, can put pressure on the ducts under the arm. Sleeping on the stomach lead to blocked ducts, too. If it's not one thing, it's another...

Some people say that drinking pineapple juice helps prevent blocks, but it has to be fresh to do any good. There is another things called Lecithin, which is supposed to prevent blocking. No idea what it is.

Here's more authoritative info: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mastitis/DS00678/DSECTION=symptoms

Do you have any helps?

The end.

Somewhere I read that once you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. I kind of feel like I need to get that knot in pretty quickly. It may be sheer fatigue from baby or from getting a shot yesterday. Maybe it's because it rained all morning. It may be the subconscious worry of leaving the decade for the next tomorrow. Given the option, which I don't actually have, of trading my life for another, I would definitely pass. Never would I exchange these cute baby smiles for something else...

...well, maybe one or two for a few more minutes of sleep. But that is all!

Wife-hood

Life has changed drastically in our home since Miss Thing 3 arrived. Everything has changed, even down to brushing teeth has changed. While carrying her in our handy baby pack, her head sits right in the standard 'rinse' area, so I had to figure out the right twist and bend in order to avoid having a sudsy, and likely grumpy, baby, while keeping her upright enough to not make her just a grumpy baby. It reminded me of the time when my brother and I saw a sit-com commercial about two roommates, I think, that involved one drying his neck while the other apologized profusely through his lather. We pretending to recreate the scene for several weeks after that, though thankfully we never needed to dry anyone. Back to the topic at hand.

Yes, everything has changed, save one thing. My husband is still excellent and supportive as ever, even though he is more tired and busy than ever. The Miss and I attended a Mom and Baby group this week and were inundated with a chorus of complaints from moms struggling more to take care of their husband than taking care of the infant. One dad claimed that the baby was going to be too needy if he used the wrap, which she loves, so he let her scream in her seat instead, or the engineer dad who needs a structured schedule and told mom she was too lenient in enforcing naps, meals, play, etc. The Daddy in this house knows better, for which I am grateful. So here's to all great husbands who choose to become excellent dads. Thanks from me.

Belief

A good friend of mine asked me who Jesus Christ is to me as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is of another Christian faith and has viewed my religion with great skepticism. Many people do. But I have studied the scriptures and prayed and this is my answer. It's long, but if you have a few minutes, feel free to read. This is my own writing, not any official church document. Merry Christmas!

"Hi Marie!
Your question got me thinking, which is why it has taken me a while to respond, not because I question my belief, but more how to articulate it. But, be warned: the answer is very long, and at the end, the question is coming back to you, because I want to know what you believe.

Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the prophesied Messiah (Isaiah 53:3-5), who came into the world, under the direction of God, the Father, in order to provide a path to salvation for those that believe (John 3:16-17). In his life he taught the gospel, healed the sick, provided an example of how to live, then suffered and died for every transgression, every folly, and every hurt known to man (Matthew 8:17). After three days, he was resurrected (Luke 24:39) so we can also live again. He created the world, through the power of God, our Heavenly Father (Hebrews 1:2) and he is the Mediator, who will judge us based on our actions and desires (John 5:22). He is divine himself, as God’s Only Begotten Son on earth (John 1:14).

What does he do for us? I know that he is continually aware of our challenges and trials (Isaiah 49:16) and that he cares very deeply about our troubles and our fears. I know this because he has lifted me in my own struggles, big or small. He can cleanse us from our sins if we choose to repent and follow him (1 John 1:7-9). He can save us from death and Hell through his grace, if we exercise faith in him (Ephesians 2:8). We must do things in order to demonstrate that our faith is real (James 2:17-18) How do we show that we have faith? By repenting of our sins, being baptized (Acts, 2:38; Mark 16:16), and obeying his commandments, or living according to his will (John 14:15). Christ is the Great Physician sent to heal and bless us and to provide a way, the only way, back to the Father (John 14:6). All we must do is follow him and do as he did. When we make mistakes, we ask forgiveness (Proverbs 28:13). When we have questions, we ask for guidance (James 1:5-6).

You said that Mormons differ from Christianity. Yes, in some ways we do differ, but I believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer of the world. You may know that ’Mormon’ is not the official name of the church, but rather The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it is the Christ’s church, restored in these, the latter days in history, as opposed the early days of the ancient church. We believe that Christ’s church was on the earth for centuries, as seen in the Bible, though belief and truth waxed and waned through the ages, and many churches sprang up from only believing bits and pieces of the true gospel, though the full gospel disappeared with the death of the apostles.

As God loves all His children, and wants all to come to Him, He chose to restore the full knowledge of His gospel in our time, through another prophet. His love extended beyond the people living around Jerusalem to people living in the Americas, like the ancestors to the native people in North and South American. Their record of God’s dealings is found in the Book of Mormon. God has not limited his word to one place and time, but desires all people to know Him. John 20:31 testifies that “…these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;....” The Book of Mormon shares the same purpose in Mormon 5:14 “…that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God,….” In addition, there are several invitations to the reader to seek truth, one of which is found in 1 Nephi 33:10-11, which invites all to “…hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words, believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe on these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. And if they are not the words or Christ, judge ye - for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words….”

Yes, we differ some, but I believe that our love for Jesus Christ is the same. We both believe that he is the way, the truth, and the life. We both believe in prayer and that God answers those prayers. If you are concerned about anything in this message, honest prayer is the key. God will show the way to any earnest seeker of truth, who is willing to act in the manner that God directs. I invite you to pray about it; to pray to know if these things are right. I know the Bible and the Book of Mormon both testify of the reality of our Savoir and that they teach us the way to live in order to return to God with our families. I have prayed about these things, to know if Christ is our Savior and if the Bible and Book of Mormon are God’s word. And It’s true. I know these things are true.

This answer has been long and wide ranging, but thank you for asking, and even more for reading. Who, then, is Jesus Christ to you? What does he mean in your life?"

Dear World,

Merry Christmas! That is all.

Between an easy and a hard place

Today a close friend of mine asked me if the new little one was an easy baby. The question struck me, because I hadn't ever thought about it. I let the question knock around my head a bit before realizing that she probably was an easy baby. It's being a mommy that is hard.

The Greatest Exeriment

Three weeks ago, life took a dramatic change. While we anticipated this change in our household, one never quite knows what to expect. We decided to embark on the greatest experiment in life. My mister and I were blessed to bring home a very little person of our very own making. It seems that when one does such a thing, the adult parties - of which, I am one, supposedly - are responsible for the care and management of said little person. It's simple, right? Feed the baby, burp the baby, change the baby, rock to sleep the baby, and repeat. Simple until you realize that feeding can be painful, that burping doesn't relieve gas in the nether regions, that you are nearly out of diapers, and that your baby won't sleep for more than 3.7 minutes in her bed during the day. Somewhere in that 3.7 minutes, you try to make dinner, do the dishes, and clean the bathroom. We won't mention the pile of laundry, now stained with various bodily fluids. Thankfully, vacuuming can be done one handed, sort of, as long as she's not afraid of the noise.

Why, then, do apparently rational adults put themselves through such a routine? Well, one woman commented that her reason was because she kept falling asleep (Thank you, Bill Cosby). For me, I like my little person. And she has cute toes. And she's learning to smile back at me.

Now if she'll just stay happy long enough so we can get more diapers...

Daddy Lesson, The First

Daddy Lesson, #1:
Don't break the baby.

Why Daddy?
Do you really need to ask?

Mommy Lesson, The First

Mommy Lesson #1:
Do not poke your eye.

Why Mommy?
Because it is not comfortable. 

Acceptance

Did you learn something today? I did: I am not in control. I am not powerful or able of doing really much of anything when it comes to some aspects of life. I really can do very little. 'Now, that's really not fair,' you think, 'to give your abilities so little credit that you consider yourself so incapable.' By saying this, I, in no way, mean to lessen my potential or underestimate my circle of influence, but let me share why today is an excellent example of my lacking abilities.

The day began by getting ready for an appointment that I hoped not to need. My mister and I met with the midwife for the day-before-the-dreaded-41-weeks-of-pregnancy appointment, as 41 weeks have gone by and the baby remains comfortably in utero. We had to decide on the next step, since the doctors recommend induction about now, for fear of the baby's demise. Is induction desirable? Not really. Have we done anything to prevent having said appointment, and a potential induction, by getting the baby out sooner? I've drunk chamomile tea, I've practiced yoga, I've rocked my hips for hours to the beat of whatever music I happen to have on, I've tried massage and meditation, I've done squats until the burn was too much, I've rubbed all those pressure points they recommend, I've enjoyed spicy food, I've walked laps until my calves ache, and I've sent up some pretty earnest prayers to the Almighty Creator. Still no baby. Enough. She cannot be forced. The baby will come when she is good and ready...though I really hope it's stat!

So, moving on, since nothing we've tried has gotten much traction with our Little Miss, I decided to move on the the more mundane things of life. Cleaning the bathroom sounded as good as mundane could get, so I went to get the cleaning supplies from under the sink. As I did, I noticed a hissing noise coming from the cold water pipe that leads to the faucet. That's not normal, right? The pipe, naturally, has a knob. Here is a picture of the knob after it yielded to gentle pressure by breaking off. Unfortunately, by breaking the knob, in stead of hissing, the pipe began to spray water all over the cabinet. So I threw a towel over it and hoped the pressure would die down. It didn't. That's when I noticed the soaked roll of paper towels...and then the dripping package of toilet paper. Having never been trained in the art of finding a water shut off in a rented space, I had no idea what to do, so I asked my mom, my husband, and my brother, all over the phone or internet, their recommendations - plus I called the property manager (and as if on cue, a mosquito buzzed in my ear as I made my calls). Each had a few suggestions, so, after finding a trash can to collect water, turning off the valve on the water heater, and pulling out the washer in order to look for the main shut off, I hunted around outside, to find another valve, and closed it, in hopes that something might happen. It did, mostly. The water pressure decreased in all but the hissing valve. In a moment of brilliance, I turned the sink on, which cut off the hissing water, but it never actually stopped like I expected.

After much waiting, the repair men arrived and took care of the rest, complimenting me on my thoroughness in doing everything right (when really it was that I tried everything and hoped something might stop the water flow) - to the point of suggesting I should become a repair man.

So, with my calling in life newly discovered and a few lessons learned (like where the water shut off is and not to leave paper products where leaks can find them, not to mention that babies have a timetable of their own) I will go forth to eat more spicy food as I contemplate what other parts of life I really can't change.

Now if I could only get rid of that nasty mosquito...

People who need people meet Murphy

You may blame it on the weather, or on the impending arrival of our first child, or on constant ebb and flow of hormonally-based emotions I am currently experiencing, it might be all three, but today I want people around me. No need for entertainment or excellent conversation, just another soul nearby to pass time and make small talk. Yes, this is coming from a psuedo-hermit. Some days are like that. So why are we meeting Murphy? Well, today of all days, my excellent husband has grad school orientation and won't be home until much later tonight. Murphy Law always picks the most convenient moments to arrive. At least I still get the occasional swift kick in the ribs to know that another little person wants some people, too. Just a few more weeks. Maybe Murphy can come for that, too.

A very merry unbirthday...

...to me! It is, however, my half birthday today. Six months until I enter my 30th year. What am I going to do for the last 6 months of my 20s? Cut my hair? Plastic surgery? Sky diving? Hmm...

Failure

Lately I have been thinking (yes, it is difficult) about failure, mistakes, and regrets. Then I wonder how to acknowledge the fault, then learn something from the experience and (very importantly) move on.

Working in the health and fitness industry, a large part of my job is to assist clients in setting goals and then reevaluating when it doesn't work (i.e. when someone fails to complete a goal.) I want to learn how to move past mistakes and problems without letting it become an insurmountable obstacle. On top of that, it's a new year and the time where everyone seems to dread making resolutions, because they expect to eventually give up.

The question for you: is it possible to bring home an 'F' (or and 'E' (Thank you, BYU.)) and be happy about it?

Thoughts?

Best day

On my grandfather's 90th birthday (Happy Birthday, Grandpa!), I asked him what one day he would like to relive. He could have said the day he graduated college, or the day he met Grandma, or the day he became a father. He could have said the day he had $X0,000 in his bank account or the day he got a big promotion. After a minute of thought, he told me it was a day he was home on leave from the Navy during World War II when he learned that he didn't have to go back. A few minutes into dinner, he changed his mind and said maybe VJ day was a better option, in learning that the war was over. He continued changing every few minutes, and finally ended with the day my older brother was born. (Why that was anyone's favorite day, oh...) One day he never mentioned, even with Grandma's repeated encouragement, was his wedding day.

With the marriage of one of my best friends next week and my own anniversary (Happy Anniversary, Exceptional Husband!), plus after attending two weddings a few weeks ago, that big day has been on my mind. So many people look forward to that one day as the best day ever, the one magical day where all things wonderful happen. Every good fairy tale ends with a wedding. Ever happily ever after begins with one. Every celebrity wedding is covered in extreme detail. But is our wedding day focused society part of the reason for 50+% divorce rate and millions of unhappy couples? What would change if we looked into making a marriage work rather than planning the perfect one day wedding? Now, all that said, I don't downplay the actual wedding as anything less than the most significant promise we can make, but for me, if I could replay one day in the past year, I would pick a quiet Sunday afternoon where we read books together, or an afternoon playing racquetball (though not the one that my shot landed on his face), or maybe the day we fed very active ostriches on our honeymoon. None of those days have any pomp or circumstance, but they didn't have any stress or anxiety (or lack of sleep) either. My view might be skewed because I did feel a little stressed on the day of the wedding (no cold feet, no backing out, just a lot of people and so many things to do!), but I want more best days to come, rather than pining for one and only day that already happened.

What day would you relive?

On Freedom

God bless America, the land of the free. Our job? To be brave in order keep it that way. Happy Independence Day!

Of things that matter most

Remember the time when company came over and all you spent the whole time checking the punch bowl level or filling the dessert tray. Or maybe that time you gave that big presentation and that really great opening clip didn't work, so the entire production failed. Or you forgot to bring the refreshments to a recent gathering and couldn't relax and enjoy. Or maybe your shoes didn't quite match those pants like you wanted them to. Welcome to mortality, the place to learn what really matters.

Anyone well acquainted with my parents know how nice the yard looks and how orderly and clean the house is. So, when my parents and various siblings came to visit a few weeks ago, I was annoyed with myself that I had a stack of dishes within 10 minutes of their arrival and seemingly no time to do them. As I fretted and apologized for the third time about not being more clean, my mom said she hoped that I wanted to spend time with the family rather than do dishes. Oh. Okay. Lesson learned.

So, this morning as my husband I decided that rather than attack the dishes, organize the desk, plan tasks for the day, respond to emails, or check on the plants, I would pay attention to him,especially since his time at work has extended longer with each passing day this week, by following him around. Lest you think it's creepy, it was kind of fun to just be with him. It boosts his ego, I think. Maybe that time is one of the things that matter most. Thank you President Uchtdorf.

What matters most to you?