We had a baking party, and it went really well...going to post about it this week!
As for our menu plan for last week, it was kind of scattered. We were expecting to have a little more income than we actually did so I had to improvise a lot and create many meals that weren't on the plan! You will see a lot of repeats this week to use up the produce.
One of my favorites that I did on the fly is these Chicken Wings....I had a ton of them in the freezer from Costco. My husband said they were the best Sweet Wings he's had! I did switch up the recipe amounts a little because I had run out of BBQ sauce, we use Bragg's Amino Acids instead of Soy Sauce which tastes saltier so I use less, and I didn't really measure the honey....BUT... all that said, this recipe is a great starting point!
Now for this weeks Menu Plan:
Here is what we have left from our produce share this week:
CHIOGGA BEETS
GREEN CABBAGE- 1/2 head
CARROTS
ESCAROLE
ROMAINE LETTUCE
FENNEL
AVOCADOS
GRAPE TOMATOES
SHALLOTS GREEN KIWIS
I'd like to introduce everyone to our newest addition...Ezekiel! He was born on Easter Sunday, and we couldn't be more happy. My whole experience with Zeke (what we like to call him) since my pregnancy started has been so different from the girls.
Firstly, I got pregnant with Zeke only about a week or two after having a miscarriage, which was not my intention, but I did have a feeling that God had other plans for me at that time. My first and second trimester nausea wasn't nearly as severe as with the girls, and the birth was almost night and day in comparison.
My husband and I decided to have a home birth this time around based around a few different reasons, but mostly because we felt it was a good fit for us and our family. We quickly found a midwife that we felt would work well with us, and the journey into home birth started.
I am not going to deny that I had my own reservation and fears about home birth, mainly because I felt like I was venturing into the unknown, and the 'situation' would be a little out of my control- which btw, is what I like to be in all-the-time....control. But then I had to remind myself that for the most part, we are never in control....God is.
My midwife recommended that I try to work through my fears BEFORE I actually go into labor (what a novel idea:). This, however, was easier said then done! I found myself having difficulty letting go of the strenuous, almost traumatic labor I had with my second child, who was Posterior and 9lbs....the labor was 12 hours, and I tore terribly. I was so afraid that I would have this same experience again, that it almost paralyzed me from being able to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy with my third.
My midwife also recommended I try Spinning Babies.. an incredible website dedicated to making sure your baby's position is optimal for childbirth. I cannot recommend this site more if you feel your baby is posterior or you are concerned about this. There is a lot of info, but if you just take it one page at a time, it really is very helpful!
The day in-between my 2 due dates, one from ultra-sound and the other from the beginning of pregnancy, I went into labor. It was around 1 am on Easter Sunday, the day when my girls would be singing in front of church for the first time! My first thought was, I hope someone will video tape it for me :(
Around 4am, we called my Mother in Law who was going to be in charge of the girls while I was in labor. Bless her soul, she came over in the middle of the night and slept on the girls' bedroom floor! When the girls awoke around 7am, I was laboring on the couch and they came out and had a 2 minute Easter Egg Hunt, and then Nana scooted them out the door.
I continued to labor for a while, but was noticing longer time periods between contractions. We called our doula, and she came over. Once she got to our house, my labor had almost completely stalled out. We went for a walk, and I was about to think that I had went through 8 hours of labor only to go into labor a different day! We sent the doula home, and my husband suggested we put on a movie...
I was so upset, because I knew I was still dealing with fear/insecurity issues about the homebirth. Our midwife was 45 minutes away, and I had this fear of progressing too fast that she would miss the birth... my husband suggested I call my doula from when we were in California. She is a prayer warrior, and just knows how to speak to my heart and fears...
I called her and started sobbing, begging her to fly across the country to come and help me finish the labor. She prayed for me, told me I had the strength to do it, and by the end of the conversation, I felt a new sense of empowerment, and that God really was in control as He has been all along:)
My labor started up again, this time more consistent and progressively got stronger. My husband put on a movie with Jennifer Lopez who was artificially inseminated, and ended up meeting the man of her dreams right after... I can't think of the movie, but it was pretty darn funny to be watching while I was in labor! That kept us occupied for a while, and we decided to call my mom who was in California waiting with my sister to have her baby(she was 9 days overdue!)
When Brian called her, she laughed and said, "You're kidding, Meghan just came into my room and told me she is in labor!" Hence, the dual labor on opposite sides of the country began. Brian hung up, and I started balling/moaning because I wished I could be there for her. She was there for me for both of my previous births, and I so badly wished that I could be there to support her.
We put another movie on, this time with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie (again, the name of the movie escapes me), and I labored on the birthing ball for a while. My contractions were between 4-7 minutes apart pretty regularly, but definitely getting stronger. I shared with my husband that I wanted him to be in charge of 'knowing' when to contact the doula and the midwife. I didn't want to get out of the groove again worrying if it was the right time to call them. Once the movie ended, we put on Colbie Caillat and we danced together in the living room....this will forever be one of the most romantic and amazing experiences I have ever had with my husband. I truly encourage you to experience childbirth and labor with your husband. We will never forget that time alone together. FYI, I gave birth to Zeke while THIS song played..I cry every time I hear it...
Around 3:00, my contractions were pretty strong, and I got in the shower....BEST thing I ever did. I could have stood in there forever! It was about 40 min later that my doula showed up...perfect timing because I knew I was having trouble controlling my breathing in between contractions. She was amazing in talking me through my breathing, and meeting my every need.
It was sometime between 3:00 and 3:30 that I felt the urge to start grunting and what I call 'low moaning', which meant that I was pushing. Brian quickly called the midwife who was a little surprised that we waited this long to call her, but I think Brian was waiting for my contractions to get closer together, which they never did. They stayed approx 4 minutes apart the entire time, sometimes even longer!
When the midwife arrived, the tub was ready and she suggested I get into it. Now, you may think I'm crazy, but I kept asking her if I was REALLY in labor...you would think a woman haivng her 3rd child would know this, but a non-posterior labor is WAY different than a posterior labor which I had with my first 2. The contractions actually had a start and stop, and I could feel the baby moving! My midwife told me that by the sound of my laboring, I was definitely ready to get in the tub and I wouldn't be getting out unless I wanted to.
This was me asking if I REALLY was in labor..ha ha ha
The tub was amazing. Right before, I must have gone into transition because I ended up throwing up everything in my stomach, fairly violently. This is my first indication that I am going through transition. I got in the tub and sat there WITHOUT contractions for about 20 minutes!! I couldn't believe it...I actually thought, " Oh great, here we go again, all this work just to stall out..plus, I have my midwife and doula here for nothing!" It was at that point, they all laughed at me and said, "You are doing fine, and just listen to your body."
I got in the tub around 4:00, and around 4:45, Ezekiel Robert was born! The pushing was so different than my first two. I could actually feel his head moving into position to be born. This stage of labor was actually more difficult because I was trying not to tear and really had to concentrate on pushing 'gently'. I guided his head out myself, which was incredible, and the midwife helped him onto my stomach.
Proud Papa weighing his son...8lbs, 10 oz!
The birth was amazing, and I only have to have 3 stitches which is incredible considering my last two births! Everyone involved in this birth, from my husband, to my bi-coastal doula- Kristen:), to my Florida doula--(Luisa, you were amazing!) and to my more than wonderful and incredible midwife, Connie and her assistant, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birth! I would completely recommend a home birth if you are thinking about it, and I can honestly say that I have seen both sides, a hospital birth and home birth, and my choice the next time would be home birth again! Note: Everyone must come to their own decision, but know that it should be a 'conscious, informed' decision, not just going along with what the rest of society does because thats what you 'think' its the right thing to do. Mind you, once your baby is born, you don't care where you are...but when I recall my 'experiences', but home birth was way more 'memorable'. Do your research and ultimately you will make the right decision for you, your baby and your family!
Thanks for letting me blab on and on and on and on:)
Here is a great post from a blogger I love who also writes about her homebirthing experience.
I wanted to sort out all the thoughts I have in my head as to what I want to accomplish this year in making my home more enjoyable and less.....chaotic/disorganized.
So here they are, in no particular order, my thoughts/goals.
1. Create a Family Binder/ Home Management Binder
Here are some links that might help me..or you out if you perhaps have this same goal!
ErinCondren.com is where you can order one if you don't feel like making one!
3. Tear down the nasty wallpaper in our guest/girls bathroom and paint the walls
How to Remove Wallpaper- My husband thinks I'm crazy for wanting to do this..he's a contractor, and hates wallpaper....especially removing it! Perhaps I'll have him do it..ha ha ha
Well, how about we just stick with those three and see how I do? Hopefully successfully completed posts to come!
I just recently found out about the Mom's Toolbox blog. She is encouraging moms to join her in a 90 day endeavor to read the Bible. I have always wanted to read the bible straight through, but am really daunted by the fact of doing it in.... 90 days.
Her blog promises to be encouraging and she will actually have 90 day Bible Reader Graduates contact you to help you along....
I am nervous about the undertaking, but in this situation, I think it can only be positive. If anyone would care to join, or is interested in taking part in reading the
It starts on July 5th, so its best to get subscribed and signed up now. I am going to try to do it with my own bible. She suggests a 90 day bible, but I want to see if I can do it without purchasing that particular bible.
Well, I'm officially coming out of recovery... After being admitted to the hospital two weeks ago, I finally feel like I am myself again. For those of you who didn't know, I had Shingles, and then I gave myself Viral Meningitis...yup, you give it to yourself from stress and having Chicken Pox as a child...go figure.
I took a break from all blogging, and am now seriously evaluating any and all activities I do besides taking care of my family.
That being said, I am no longer stressing about having a meal plan every week...although, it does help me with the flow and organization of things, I am no longer "requiring" my brain to accomplish it.
For a while now, I have been experiencing what I call "Adrenal Insanity." If one of my children falls( more like trips over shoe), my adrenaline starts rushing through my body. If I am trying to take a nap, and briefly fall asleep, my adrenaline wakes me up and starts to flow like crazy through my body. If I am in the passenger seat with my husband while he is driving, the adrenaline is flowing from the moment we leave the driveway until our destination (although, this may actually be a true need for adrenaline:) . So what does this mean? I am seriously stressed...to the max!
Before I got sick, we had many obligations at church, many groups we were a part of, stresses with finances, not to mention two children 3 and under. I am coming to realize that my body is wired very differently from my husbands. I react...he does not.
I am going to be making many changes with the groups I am involved in, after all, a good leader is excellent at delegating, right?
Ok, now that you are caught up with my life, and I was given the chance to vent for a little while, here is my menu plan for the week...
I was just listening to theDiane Rehm show on NPR today and she had on Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, authors of " Slow Death By Rubber Duck". I have to say, I can't believe how deceived we are as a nation of consumers.
The book is about the infiltration of BPA (Bisphenol-A) in almost everything we use as everyday products in our household. They did an experiment on themselves, mostly using children's plastic containers to eat and drink out of, and found their levels to be 7 times higher!
I started my quest to eat healthier about a year ago, and I felt like I was doing well by my "Made By Me" rule. The problem was that I was still buying canned beans, tomatoes, tomato paste etc...even though they are organic, the manufacturers are STILL USING BPA in the CANS!!!
I can't believe I was naive enough to believe they were out for my best interest. I just assumed the organic companies were not using BPA in their canning and packaging.
The only company found to package without BPA is Eden Organics. They started making BPA free cans and bottling in 1999! 1999! That is more than a decade ago, and the rest of the cooporations can't catch on... Eden claims the cost increase is only 2.2 cents per can, which is a small amount compared to the health risks BPA can cause.
I am ABSOLUTELY only buying Eden Canned Goods from now on.
This brings me to another point, I am going to step up my game, and buy all dry beans from the bulk section. This has been an area where I was slacking because I hate soaking beans overnight, well, I don't hate it, but I hate that I have to remember in order to have food on the table the next day!
This BPA debacle has definitely pushed me to take my healthy eating practices even further... will you join me? If we do this together, maybe it won't be as bad...
Articles on BPA Health Risks
Mercola- Why Canned Soups can be Bad for Your Health
