an update.

I thought I would give everyone an update on how I was doing with my Resolutions:

Bible study:
I was so bummed when husband said that we didn't have the funds to do it, we got hit with some unexpected bills this month so we were tight. But, My dear friend Erin said she didn't want me to miss out on it and would spot me. So, starting next week on Thursday I will be participating in a Women's Bible Study Series
Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still. I am so excited!

Healthy eating:
We have been eating in more and I try to be as health conscience as I can with meals we like and try to make healthy meals when I can. If I want a doughnut, I will have one but then try to make healthier options through out the day. So it is coming along... still a ways to go though.

The getting in tune with my body has been fun. I have been temping and charting with fertilityfriend.com and it is so interesting, I kind of stalk my chart and send it to my friend Crystal in amazement, I am sure she is thrilled to know about my inner workings (Sorry Cryssi..) I don't know why it is so interesting to me, probably because it's my body and I think I know it, but really I had no clue. I also have been working out, I haven't fallen in to a set schedule yet, but using JUST DANCE 2 for wii has been a blast! I put it on the just Sweat setting and dance my little heart out. I am getting excited for spring because I really want to do the couch to 5k program, COME ON WARM WEATHER!!!!

Drink more water: I am actually pretty proud of this one because I started with drinking water after I had a soda but then after about a week I started to choose the water over soda. Granted its not straight water it is water with a raspberry lemonade crystal light packet in it but come on, that is still good right?

Save money: Blah, in time it will come. Husband is now scared to try the envelope method so I am going to do some more research to try and convince him to do it.

My crafty side is dormantt: I think it is the weather. It has been so gloomy here that I don't care. I hate this time of year, and hope when spring gets here that it breathes some life in to my house.

So this wasn't on the list but I have been reading up a storm, probably why I haven't been updating as often. This year I have finnished:
Traitor's Wife- Susan Higginbotham
Awakened- P.C. Cast and Kirstin Cast
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- Stieg Larsson
The Help- Kathryn Stockett

On deck are:
The Hangman's daughter- Oliver Potzch
The girl who played with fire - Stieg Larsson
Night & Dawn- Eile Weisle
Switched- Amanda Hocking


so there you have it, an update on my goings ons.

How are you keeping up with your resolutions?

Menu Planning

It is hard to plan meals in the G household.

Husband and I eat very differently and it can cause some problems. I am fine with just a pasta dish or casserole, but husband looooooooooooooooves his protein, I am not a fan. I mean don't get me wrong, I can throw down a stake like nobodies business but I have to be in the mood for it.

Last night I made a traditional pesto penne and topped it with an Italian cheese blend, I dished it out and gave husband his share and he said.... Needs some chicken. IT ALWAYS NEEDS CHICKEN!!!!!

He wants me to add chicken to everything, lemon pasta; needs chicken, my Alfredo penne needs chicken, my spaghetti needs beef, my baked fettacheesey needs chicken.... UGH!

 He thought he was helping when he said I should make one dish two ways one with chicken and one without. At this point I am sure I looked crazy, eye twitching and all and I said "This is not a restaurant"

I also told him that if he wanted chicken then he should bake some chicken. I mean do you know how much our grocery bill would be if I added protein to every.single. meal?

I am making or meal list for the next week and I asked him for suggestions....

ten bucks he says CHICKEN!

-1

Ok, so it is 8:32 in the morning and the above number is the temperature outside. I have class today....

Can I say that I was a little relieved when husbands car didn't start and he needed to use mine so he could go to work?

I would have be bundled up like this crossing the frozen tundra that is campus:

A scene from my marriage: the TMI edition.

This is WAY tmi but for those of you brave enough to read it ;

As I showered before bed, I thought I felt an oddity..... on my butt.

It was forgien and needed to be investigated and the only full length mirror is in our bedroom, where my husband currently was... crap.

I finish showering and got ready for bed, as I walked in to our bed room I asked as politely as I could "can you please step out of the bed room for 2.5 seconds?"

Husband gave me a strange look and did as I asked, as stood in front of the mirror, pants around my ankles I couldn't see what I felt, my body can't bend that way. So I decided to let it be and I pulled my pants on and called Husband back in to the room and he entered with a puzzled look on his as he looked around to see if anything had been moved, or to just get a clue as to what I had done.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing."

"Then why did I have to leave?"

" I just needed a minute."

"to do what?"

"Nothing. Don't worry about it."

This line of questioning lasted about 2 minutes and in the heat of my defence, I blurted it out..

"I HAD TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T HAVE ASS CANCER ALRIGHT! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!?!!?!?"

He was.

Then some how this encounter took a turn and I some how ended up sans pants and dignity, butt towards him and asking if he saw anything.

AND SCENE.


Good news is I don't have butt cancer.

Bad news is I don't think I can look my husband in the eye.

Clear.

Looking back at my post yesterday and the comments that came from it, I can see where it came off as I saw a documentary and was all like "That looks like fun, I will do that."

I did my own personal research and yes the documentary did effect me, as it is meant  to do. Was I hardcore hospital birth before hand and now I am not? Absolutely not.
I had already decided I wanted a home birth from doing some research on CHOICE midwives here in Ohio and also speaking with one of the midwives who works at the facility. She told me how they encourage a woman and her family to choose a humane child birthing experience.

My personal reasons for choosing home birth for when its my time:

- I am going to be on some sort of medication the rest of my life and this is one aspect that I can choose not to be.
- I want to be where I am most comfortable and where I am calm ,I want to be in my home, in familiar surroundings. And I want my child to be born in clam surroundings, not to mention his/her new home.
-I want to be the soul focus of my care giver.
- I don't know pain like child birth. I know that doing it naturally and with out medical intervention is what I want  for my myself and my future child. But, in the heat of a contraction, in whatever hour of labor, if someone where to offer me an epidural, I don't know if I could say no. So, unless necessary I don't want  any offer of intervention to be made.
- I am scared of hospitals, I honestly don't see them as healing places.

I will admit it wasn't until after I saw TBOBB in 2009 that I started to look more in depth at the hospitals around my area. I found that as of 2008, The Ohio Department of health released hospital-by-hospital data for low risk, first time births and 27% of them were c-section. Out of the 8 hospitals in my county all but one were above 20%. I was crushed, I thought because I was overweight that I wouldn't be able to choose, that I would automatically be labeled high risk.

I talked to a midwife about my findings and about my last physical and blood work and that the only thing working against me is my weight. I have no obese health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, she said with that information and my family information that I would make a good a candidate for home birth.

I wanted to put out there my personal reasons, and not what I got from a website, and I just want to put out there too that I am not against hospital births or women that have/are choosing to give birth there. I was born in a hospital and my mom's labor with me went beautifully and she was able to have a VBAC as well. It is all in what you and your family choose is best for you and baby.

Ok, that is all.

Later Bloggies!!!!

What does it mean?

This dream last night was strange, in a sense I can't put an actual story line together. It was so random.

I know there was taco bell chalupas

I know there was a 50 count variety pack of Chipotle soft tacos

Me, reverting back to my 5 year old self but staying in my 24 year old body and my mom encouraging it.

Thinking that I lost my wedding band but in actuality it was the ring I wear on my right hand
My brother being mad at me

2 cats, one orange one black and white

Washing my hair

and it being my birthday

To dream of Tacos: signifies warmth and comfort. Consider the taco shells, as this analogous to your demeanor and attitude in your waking life.It is is a soft shell taco, it signifies your adaptability and yielding persona.

To dream that you loose a ring shows insecurity.

To dream of a cat symbolizes independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity and power.

To dream about your Birthday denotes acceptance of yourself.

To dream of your childhood indicates your wish to return to a life where you had little responsibility and worries. It also represents innocence.

To dream of hair signifies sexual virility, seduction and health.

Looks like I need to get my subconscience out of the gutter...

Oh, Baby.

*** This is a lengthy blog post... just letting you know. ****

The topic of babies came up yesterday, as they do every day because I know a bazillion people that have recently had or are having babies.

Husband and I have made some off hand comments about when babies will come and I can honestly tell you we still have no idea. It will happen when it is meant to happen.

The point of this post, is about the reaction I get when I tell people how I want to give birth....

I want a home birth.

Yep, I just said it, now I will give you a moment to digest it.

Are you back? Ok.

Mostly I get the same look as I get when I tell people I want to be a SAHM. Like I have a third eye or snake coming out of my ears...gross.

There were a sequence of events that brought me to this decision.

 I can remember when I caught the baby bug and watching a baby story, or maternity ward and I know that these shows usually portray extreme birth situations mixed in with your text book births. But what I saw, was a woman being poked and prodded by someone she doesn't know, having limited mobility due to being covered in monitors, and how quick the health providers were to offer intervention. Also, it always puzzled me how you would very rarely see the doctor.

Even though I didn't like it, I thought that is how you were supposed to birth, on your back, drugged up. It wasn't until I met one of my Besties mom, who is a midwife, that my outlook on child birth changed.

Granted E and I have been friends for over 13 years now so when I first met E's mom I was 11 and it wasn't even a blip on the radar. But, when I got older and got to know Kelley (E's mom) more and listen to stories of her clients birth and I was captivated by these empowered women, foregoing what I saw as "traditional" child birth to be vikings and do it differently. Little did I know how backwards I was on this thought process.

After I had gotten married, one night I caught the tail end of a documentary called "The Business of being born." Immediately I found it, recorded it and watched it in its entirety, the documentary was amazing, although at times a little heavy on the corruption of child birth in modern medicine but I kept in mind that you can always find a study or report to support your point of view, so take it with a grain of salt.

Major points I took from TBOBB:
1. OB/GYN's are necessary in high risk pregnancies, and when medical intervention is needed. If it is not  needed, they are going to do what they are trained for and find some sort of medical intervention to give you.
2.In some cases the medical interventions that they give you work against your body and each other and potentially put you and the baby in danger which will lead to a c-section
3.The US has the second worst newborn mortality rate in the developed world
4.Maternal mortality rate here is 15.1/100,000–worse than several northern European countries, Australia and Japan–many of those communities in which midwife-attended births are more common than here.

* this is not my own smear campaign against OB/GYNs and modern medicine. *

To say that the documentary concreted the fact that I wanted a home birth is an understatement. One night I just kind of announced it to my husband that I was going to birth at home, at he was blind sided and thought I was telling him I was pregnant. After I calmed him down and told him that I was in fact NOT pregnant, but was planning for when I would be, that I wanted a home birth, he fought me tooth and nail.

To make husband feel better I decided to compare the two to what I knew I wanted for my birth. I really tired, I looked in to the top rated hospitals in my area to see what the birthing experience would be like and I was so let down. I couldn't have more than 2 people in my room at a time, I couldn't video tape my birth, I wouldn't have the same carers from beginning to end, and c-sections cases were high at every hospital. I know I am no where near close to having to worry about this but I didn't want to go in to labor with so much staked against me.

Here are some of the advantages of home birth (http://www.houstonnaturalbirth.com/adv_homebirth.shtml)

• Statistics show that home birth is as safe or safer than hospital birth for low-risk women with adequate prenatal care and a qualified attendant.
• At home a woman can labor and birth in the privacy and comfort of the familiar surroundings of her own home, surrounded by loved-ones. in whatever positions and attire she finds most comfortable.
• The laboring woman maintains control over everything impacting her labor and birth. Meeting her needs is the only focus of all those present. Nothing is done to her without her consent.
• Labor is allowed to progress normally, without interference and unnecessary interventions.
• Studies show that the risk of infection is reduced for both the mother and the baby.
• During labor the woman is encouraged to eat, drink, walk, change positions, make noise, shower, bathe, etc.
• Care-givers are invited guests in the birthing woman's home. She can have anyone she desires present: family, friends, children, etc. Her medical team (midwife and birth assistant) do not go home because their shift has ended or because it was supposed to be their day off or because it is a holiday or because they planned something else.
• She doesn't have to worry about when to go to the hospital since her care-providers come to her.
• Continuous one-on-one care is given by the midwife, providing ongoing assessment of the baby's and mother's condition throughout the birth process and postpartum period. Her care provider knows her well and she knows her care provider. They have established a trust relationship.
• Women are supported through the hard work of labor, and encouraged to realize the insights, and experience the personal growth as a human being to be derived from such a powerful, life-changing event.
• Bonding is enhanced and includes everyone who has contact with the baby including neighbors and relatives. Breast feeding is facilitated by the baby remaining with the mother.
• Cesarean Section and forceps deliveries are unavailable - transportation to the hospital is necessary if these interventions are required. However, rates of both, as well as episiotomy, are very low.
• The cost of a home birth may be less than a hospital birth.
• Pregnancy and birth are viewed as normal, natural body functions and not as an illness or disease.

All of the advantages in home birth are very important to me, but I am not dismissing the fact that the number one reason to give birth at a hospital is because one feels safe knowing that medical intervention is there immediately if needed. I will trust my midwife to make that call, and I trust myself to let me know if something isn't right.

I made my mom watch TBOBB with me last night so she could understand why I was harping on this now. Even after watching it she still didn't see it, which is ok. I told her  for once I trust my body to do this, and when you get down to brass tax, what God made me for. I used her as an example, when she gave birth to my brother 32 years ago, after getting potocin she pushed, on her back for 2 hours, before the doctor said that my brother's head was stuck and that she would have to have a c-section. At that time she was physically exhausted and the c-section was preformed and she got an infection that was treatable but because she had a fever couldn't see my brother for 3 days. They told her that her pelvis was narrow, making it her bodies fault for having a c-section. In TBOBB a M.D. talks about how laying down is the WORST position to give birth in seeing as it makes the pelvis smaller and therefore harder for the baby to turn. I am not saying that my mom wouldn't have had to have a c-section, BUT given the chance to move around and labor in a more open position like squatting (which also uses gravity to your advantage)that would have promoted a more open pelvis and maybe a chance for my brother's head to not get stuck.

I think the main reason I am dead set on home birth (permitting I am deemed low risk) is because this is the only time you will hear me say that I trust my body, my mind and spirit to get me through child birth.

What are your thoughts on home birth v.s. hospital birth? Natural v.s. medicated?


Ok, that is novel post for the day.

Planning for success

I am more of a planner than a do-er. This year I REALLLLY want to be successful with my New Year's Resolutions because they are so obtainable.

All of my resolutions are going to be year long works in process so right now I am making my plans on how to keep it going for 365.

Resolution #1: I am going to be joining Mrs. Dishes and Wishes for a bible study and I going to start attending different churches in the area to find a home church. I say "I" and not we because Mr. G works most Sundays so when he doesn't he is going to church with me but 9 times out of 10 I will be going stag. Also, this quarter in school I am going to be taking comparative religion. I am really excited about it. Religion has always been really interesting to me and I can't wait to strengthen my relationship with God spiritually and academically.

Resolution # 2: This year has been out of control for me. I have been stressed to the max this year and took it out on my body. This year I also got slapped in the face with a comment from my doctor that I am a "healthy fat person". He said it more eloquently, and doctor sounding but still. What he was saying was, yes I am morbidly obese for my height, but my inner workings don't show that. I don't have high blood pressure, my cholesterol is good, I am not pre- diabetes. All of this information comes down to, if I am going to change I have to do it on my own. I don't qualify for any type of medical intervention.

With all that being said  I have started researching healthy life styles, foods, and cook books, trying to see what areas I need improving on. Obviously, its almost every area, but that is ok,  I am going to take baby steps and I am not going to give myself a dead line or promise you dear reader or  myself anything. If I give myself a deadline and I am not progressing towards said deadline in as timely a fashion as I would like that is when I fall in to my own little pit of despair and quit.  I really want to make and keep this life style change and I know this is going to be a continual learning process. I need to find harmony with my body, I need to get it moving and get it healthy.  I need to take care of this vessel because I am going to be with it for awhile.

Now, for the goal of being more in tune with my body I had something very specific in mind. I am going to delve more in to my cycle. I got turned on to this through my friend Crystal, who started throwing words at me like temping, luteal phase, basal body temperature. I just went blank and shook my head but  it intrigued me.With the start of the new year I am going to delve in to the unknown.Thus far, I am enjoying figuring out my cycle because it is like playing detective. Who would have thought that this body that I have had for 24 years could be this mysterious?

Resolution # 3: This has been a need more than a want for a loooooong time. In an effort to find this harmony, I need to stop pumping my body full of caffeine. I, in all honesty can tell you the last time I had a glass of water was last Friday at dinner. That is sad. So, I am not saying I am giving up soda, but I want to try to do for every soda I drink, I drink a glass of water.

Resolution # 4: Husband and I have been talking about ways to save more money and we have come up with 2 things. 1. Pay ourselves first and 2. start usuing the envelope method.

What is the envelope method? I am so glad you asked. After we pay our bills all of the other expenses we have like food, entertainment and so on will be budgeted for and then withdrawn from our checking account and put in to a envelope. The remainder of our money will be put in to our savings and once the money in the envelope is gone, its gone. It is so easy when you have a check card to say "well the money is in there." So we want to take that out of the equation. This is something Hubs and I have been talking about for a while and are gearing up for the challenge next pay period! Woot for Challenges!

Resolution # 5: I have made a list of what I want to do in the house and I even gone as far as to price everything out ( there I go making lists again). This calendar year I would like to complete my living, dining room, bedroom and guest room. The major project is the Dining room but the funny thing is, it is the least expensive... gotta love DIY.

Most of this resloution won't start until warmer months because I really don't want to be priming wood in 20 degree weather. Actually, I don't think I could, I don't think the paint would stick.

Resolutions

Last year  I didn't make any, or I did and just didn't share. So this year I am going to share.

1. Strengthen my relationship with God.
2. Start eating healthier and get more in tune with my body
3.Drink more water
4.Save money
5.Let my home decoration and crafty side take over.

Boom! there you have it. I think theses are all achievable goals don't you?

What about you? What you are striving to do this new year?

Christmas.

Because I took a little blogging break I thought this was better late than never.




We left for B'ham on Wednesday and things didn't start off so well. There was a miscommunication with husband and I on what time we would be leaving so to make a long story short I didn't get to see my mom before we left. This utterly crushed me. I was on the phone with her and she was catching the bus while we were stuck a red light. We actually passed each other and that didn't make the situation any better. We dropped off Hubs truck at my mom's and she had left a magazine for me and while I was holding back tears, trying to keep my mind off of everything, I started mindlessly flipping through the magazine to find she had written little messages for me throughout the pages. I. lost. it. I was a mess the first hour of the trip. To say that I wasn't a little pleased with my self for making husband feel guilty about not getting up at 6 like I wanted to, wouldn't be in the Christmas spirit but I totally was. I did what I do best on road trips.... fall asleep. I slept for most of the trip but luckily for hubs he had some company.

That's right... I was sent to the back seat so the furbaby could be comfortable, and see out the window. It was a long 10 hours.

I will say. My MIL had it right. She said that I would think that they do everything wrong at Christmas and I did.
* funny story* The first time MIL went to Savannah to spend Christmas with her new family, Grandmother had a birthday cake for Jesus and everyone had to sing happy birthday. She said that she understood why, but to this day that is still the strangest thing she has done at Christmas.

 On Christmas eve, we did a little candy making, and watched White Christmas and then got ready for dinner and service. We ate and then worshiped. I was really excited about going to service with his family, and seeing his church again. I think I was so excited, that I was kind of let down by the pastors sermon. I mean it's horrible to say that but he had a point and he got it but I just didn't like the road he took to get there. Make sense?

Anyway, after service we went home and..... everyone went to bed. I was left wanting. There was no game playing, no Christmas movie watching, no nothing. My FIL watched the history channel and everyone else hit the hay. It was at this moment that I really got home sick. So, I retreated to my room and watched a Muppet's Christmas Carol on my lap top. The next morning we woke up to presents under the tree and mimosas bubbling. We waited for FIL to get off work, he had been on call on Christmas day and eased or worries that he wouldn't be long. Well, 11'oclock rolled around and no FIL yet. We ate and then he finally arrived and we started opening our presents. Husband had an Auburn Christmas, he is a huge Auburn fan and because they are going to the National Championship there is memorabilia galore. I think I may be the only person that didn't get him something Auburn this year...

Santa gave me:
An Auburn Hoodie
A Vera Bradley Purse and matching cosmetic case
3 Pandora charms
sock slippers (so warm and comfy)
A door knocker that has our last name engraved on it
a lennox crystal holiday dip dish
and the cherry on top
A KINDLE!!!!

I am in reading heaven! My wish list is over flowing!!

On Christmas day, Birmingham had the first recorded snow fall in History, we had a white Christmas which was cool for everyone to enjoy. I will say it was funny when the fam was nervous about going out when there was only a dusting of snow.

The rest of the trip was spent lounging, reading, and taking naps for me. All in all my first Alabama Christmas was a good one.

But this picture just goes to show why I love Ohio....

Happy 2011!!!

Hello Bloggies!

It was great to take a much needed blogging break but I am back!

I hope you had an amazing Christmas and brought this New Year in with a bang!

I had a great trip to Alabama and loved celebrating Christmas with The G's. I will say it was still hard being away from my family, but not as hard as expected.

 I brought in the new year celebrating my SIL's birthday playing games and eating  a cookie cake. All and all it was great.

Well, kids I need to get back to my laundry .

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!