Going for a walk at 5 months.

Pregnancy ain’t easy. It’s downright work, putting your body into overtime producing blood, nutrients, and of course, space for that bun in the oven. There are a few things that I learned during my pregnancy that I think can help other ladies enjoy a healthier, and more comfortable if not happy pregnancy.

Don’t eat for two.

While many of us grew up with images of moms-to-be sitting around the house eating bon-bons and chowing down on anything and everything in site, it turns out that that’s not the healthiest way to eat while pregnant. While it’s true that you do need more calories to ensure you and baby are healthy, you don’t need to literally eat for two people, an extra 300 calories a day, about equivalent to Snickers bar, is what is recommended. Remember, you only need to gain 25-35 lbs if you are already at a healthy weight.
Moving a pregnant body around isn’t easy,  and putting on more weight than is necessary makes it that much harder, especially in the last months.
Alternately if you got pregnant with a few extra pounds already in tow, pregnancy isn’t the time to attempt to loose weight.  While it is true that some overweight women may not see much weight gain, and I have heard of one or two losing weight- these are the exceptions, not the rule. It may be your figure at stake, but it is another persons life and health, your baby’s.
I personally didn’t struggle with eating too much, I struggled to eat much at all. Morning sickness took it’s toll in the early months and later nothing sounded good, so while you shouldn’t eat for two, you should:

Refine your eating habits & Take your Vitamins

In our body obcessed culture, I think a lot of women are terrified of a pound, even when  it’s healthy and necessary, like when you’re growing a baby. You need to eat when your pregnant. It may have been fine to skip breakfast and grab a donut for lunch on your way to the mall before you were pregnant, but those days should be over now that you’ve got higher priorities than your figure and that sale at Macy’s. No time? Make time. Make lunches on the weekend and package them up for work. Grab a package of bagels to eat in the morning. Trail mix makes great snacks and is easy to transport.

Try to eat 5 times a day. 3 meals and 2 snacks. This also helps with morning sickness.
Eat plenty of green stuff and fiber. (spinach, apples, etc)
Make sure you get enough protein. (eggs, cheese, tuna & nuts  are all great quick things to eat  for protein boost)
Try and cut out or at least severely limit your caffeine intake, and NO RED BULL. (I love those things- but not preggo!)
Drink water every chance you get.
Try and lay off the sugar and processed carbs, like white bread. They just make you more tired.

Yes you really do need to take your vitamins. Today’s food processing and cooking methods often lower the amount of available nutrients in the food we eat. Be sure that you are taking a good prenatal that has folic acid, DHA, and Omega-3′. DHA and Omega-3’s also help stabilize mood. Nifty! Check with your doctor to see if you need to be taking iron and ask for free pre-natal samples (I got about two-months worth which helped in the money department) I am told that they even have some pre-natals with stool softeners which will help:

When the train isn’t leaving the station…

The absolute worst thing about pregnancy to me was… constipation. It happens. And it is not comfortable for you or those around you. You don’t really understand how the world, your mental health, and emotional well being hinges on that not-discussed bodily function. But when you can’t go it’s torture, especially when you are already bloated with baby. Probiotics are a God-Send. There are healthy bacteria that normally live in our gut that help us to process and break down food, when our body gets out of balance or when we take anti-biotics and some other  medications, these helpful bacteria are often flushed out with the bad guys. It helps to replenish them with Probiotics. The more different kinds of bacteria the better. And get the refrigerated ones, it makes a difference.
The other thing that helped me was to take Greens, which is basically a green powder mix made up of all kinds of plants. Super healthy, and it works wonders. You can get both probiotics and greens at any healthfood store.

Be smart about over the counter meds

I was pregnant during the winter, also known as cold and flu season. The thing that really sucks about being pregnant in the winter is that you really can’t take anything if you get sick. You’re options over the counter are Tylenol… and well Tylenol. (some doctors say benedryl is ok-it makes me really really sleepy…), which is something I didn’t know until I got sick and was on the phone begging my mid-wife for Thera-flu (no chance).  There are some natural things that you can do/take to beat a fever or cold.
Emergen-C is generally considered safe- just be sure you are not getting more than the daily recommendation of vitamin A between all your supplements.
Garlic Tea will break a fever- just boil a couple of cloves of garlic and let it sit for 5-10 minutes- then drink.  I couldn’t taste it at all actually while I was drinking it, but I did have a lingering garlic after taste for a while. The important thing is that it brought my 102 fever down within 2 hours! Garlic is a natural antibiotic with a myriad of medical uses.
Echinacia helps boost the immune system.

Morning sickness?

Or in my case- the “all-day-hangover-without-the benefit-of-party-the-night-before” is often the worst symptom for moms-to-be. The thing that helped me the most was Ginger. You can often find Ginger candies at Asian markets, which was personal favorite; but ginger snaps and ginger tea will do the trick as well. Mint is also considered helpful, as is keeping something small and bland in your stomach, like saltines. A lot of women also swear by Sprite or Ginger-Ale, but my weapon of choice was Sparkling water.

A word on Alcohol

While most doctors here in the states will tell you not even to sniff a glass a wine while pregnant, this isn’t the case everywhere. In France, for instance, it is acceptable for a pregnant woman to drink a small glass of red. I myself enjoyed some dark beer or a small glass of red now and then and found that it helped calm my stomach and my braxton-hicks (actually recommended by my mid-wife) and helped me to sleep. They key is to drink in extreme moderation, and of course talk to your health professional and be sure that there are no health problems that alcohol may exaggerate. And no beer bongs, k?

Oh my achin’ back…

Even women without prior back injury’s will start to feel the gravity of bringing a baby into the world, usually in the form of back pain. Chiropractic saved my life. I became a believer in chiropractic when I was sustained an injury after being thrown off of horse at the age of 10. (I went through almost a year and a half of physical therapy with no relief, 2 months of seeing a chiropractor and I was riding again.)
I had never heard of or thought of seeing one for pregnancy back pain until my midwife mentioned it.  Chiropractic during pregnancy makes sense for a lot of reasons. First of all, most of us have horrible posture, weather we stand all day or hunch over a desk, and that leads to mis-alignment.  Throw in up to25 pounds of baby-to-be and a significantly changed center of gravity, and chiropractic seems almost essential. Even better, Did you know that women receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy are shown to have significantly shorter labors?
Something that helped me a lot was getting a yoga/balance ball and sitting on it at work, rather than my office chair. Sitting on the ball encourages better posture, strengthens your core muscles (important in labor and delivery) and helps keep your pelvis and back in line. It really did help alleviate my back pain. Check with your HR department and see if they will allow it.

Pregnancy Pillow?

Yes. Get one. I wished I had just spent the money and got one. Instead I ended up buried in a sea of couch pillows. One behind my back, one or two between my knees, hugging one… my poor husband….

Keep the good times moving

Stay moving during your pregnancy.  Even the most religious of fitness buffs can often find it hard to muster up the gumption to stick to a routine during pregnancy, especially since some activities are not recommended for pregnant women. You will be tired, and cranky, your shoes won’t fit right, but go for a walk anyway. Walking is the easiest free activity that anyone can do at almost anytime. Too hot or too cold? Go to the mall. And if you happen to be a mermaid check out water aerobics, a great choice for pregnancy since the water keeps you buoyant and it’s practically no impact.
Staying active is important becuase pregnancy is basically a marathon with a sprint at the end. You will need every bit energy you can muster during labor and delivery and staying fit will help you maintain your stamina and endurance. Plus, the more active you are the more energy you have! And as an added plus you get the feeling of accomplishment for being healthy and staying fit, things that benefit both you and baby. So get moving, but don’t over do it, and double check with your health care provider before trying a new fitness activity.

Looking good – for cheap

Maternity clothes are absurdly expensive, and you don’t really need special maternity clothes except for a few items.
Maternity pants are necessary, for your comfort and for baby’s. But you can make your pre-pregnancy pants stretch a little farther with a couple of neat inventions, a belly band (sew lace on the bottom for an added touch!) and waist extenders (in a pinch just use a thick rubber band around the button hole and button).  Yoga style or dance style pants are often extremely comfortable, buy them in black and pair with a nice shirt and they look like dress pants.

Maternity shirts, are in my opinion, often unflattering (You’re already pregnant and feel like a whale, why do you want to wear a tent and look like one?) and overpriced. I looked for regular shirts that were long, stretchy, or had an empire waist and just bought a larger size. I got tons of compliments and saved money too!

I hope that this helps some moms-to-be out there and feel free to add your suggestions in the comments!

Clothing

Ok. Being pregnant and registering for your baby registry or a new parent is nerve wrecking and can get expensive if you try to follow everyones recommendations. You get all kinds of answers when you ask what you do and don’t need.
Here’s my take on new baby essentials. (and be sure and check your area consignment stores and consignment sales!)

Depends in time of year for some things- but all in all the basics stay the same.
For a newborn I really really really recommend the kimono style/side snap t-shirts.
Onesies are cute as are those frilly frocks- but dressing a floppy baby isn’t easy, especially if it’s your first and you will come to hate anything that makes diaper changes take longer than necessary.
Also our baby was a spring/summer baby in Texas and the shirts and diapers were plenty as it was pretty hot.
I would say 6-10 shirts should be suffient for a newborn.
For cooler climates go for Sleep n’ Plays. (4-10)
Forget the socks and shoes- they NEVER stay on. Never.
Hats (3)

Travel

Diaper bag is a necessity. But not a suitcase. Although I do understand the better safe than sorry mentality. I ended up getting a larger diaper bag, and  small diaper change kit. That way I could stuff the diaper bag full of everything I might need, but then leave it in the car an just carry the diaper change kit when I went in somewhere.

Car seats, strollers, and travel systems oh my! What’s a new parent or parent to be to buy? It’s all so confusing.
In the end it comes down to how much you want to spend and how much room you have. Travel systems can be convenient but also more pricey and take up a lot of trunk room.
If budget is a big concern I recommend getting a frame stroller and a compatible infant car seat.

For colder weather I recommend getting a bunting bag or car seat cozy to help protect baby. Two other things that we really liked for our baby were a toy for the car seat and car seat seat belt covers/pads.

Feeding

If you are going to breast feed I cannot recommend enough the “My Brest Friend” breast feeding pillow. Silly name, great product, and worth every penny. I tried a boppy and it just didnt work for me, although many swear by them.

A good pump is also a life saver and a necessity if you are going back to work or want any time away from baby at all. On the expensive end are the electric dual pumps. I was extremely blessed with the gift of a Medela Pump in Style. But manual pumps can work just as well and are easier to transport. Don’t forget breast milk storage bags/bottles.

Nursing bras are a necessity. Target has some cheap ones, as well as Motherhood Maternity. Don’t forget the breast pads. I also recommend Lily padz.

My husband refused to use anything other than Playtex Drop-ins and they are very convenient as well as BPA free.
If you are going the formula route, don’t forget to get bottle brushes, a bottle drying rack, and a microwave bottle sterilzer.

Sleeping

Typically Moses baskets, bassinets and cradles are all used for newborns up to 15-30 pounds, at which time you can switch to a crib. You can always just use a crib from the beginning, or even use an expensive pack n’play with a built in bassinet, but a cheaper one works just as well with a blanket and a sleep positioner.
If you are wanting to co-sleep you can go the expensive route and get the Arms Reach co-sleepers or get an in-bed co-sleeper.

Accessories

Recieving blankets…lots of them.
Pacifiers (don’t use before a month old- can lead to nipple confusion).
Wipes- lots of them. lots and lots.
Diapers- decide if going cloth or disposable. Don’t buy them in bulk until you know they will work for you. We got a case of Pampers as a gift that we couldn’t use becuase they broke our daughter out. For more info on cloth diapering go to www.diaperpin.com

Those are the basics. I will probably ad a few things to this as they come to mind, but I hope this helps! Cheers!

So I’m three months into this mom thing and I’m still alive. That’s a good sign, right? In all honesty being a mom will be much harder than you expected and much easier than you think. Here are a few things that I learned along the way.

Sleep when they sleep- No really- Seriously, I mean it!
After a few days of recovery I was up and trying to clean and cook and do laundry when she slept. That just led to a very tired and cranky me, which lead to a very tired and cranky baby, which led to a very tired and cranky hubby…
You just had a baby, relax while you can, sleep as much as possible, and let the house be a mess (or call a friend or relative to come help you). Also take it easy the first 2 weeks at least to keep your bleeding under control.
Speaking of that… I have on word for you- Depends. Yes, really.

Breastfeeding doesn’t always come naturally- Don’t take it personally
It didn’t for me. I had flat nipples (something I had never even heard of) that made it very hard and very painful at first. There are some gadgets you can try to help with this- like nipple shields and the like.
The bottom line for me was that our problems breastfeeding led to huge feelings of inadequacy and a lot of emotional turmoil. While to some extent feelings like this are natural, don’t be afraid to ask for help, call your mom, your doctor, your mommy friends, or hop online- and that goes for any questions you may have about anything. In the end our midwife came over and helped us get latched and it was smoother sailing from there.

Your life is not your own- but thats ok
The biggest adjustment I think is realizing just how selfish we are. Nothing brings that home like having a tiny, helpless, thing that depends on you for life becoming the center of your waking (or semi-waking) world. You can’t just get up and go to the mall, or the movies, or even Starbucks without a game plan. Everything, from the clothes you wear (black shows spit up, go for patterns, and stretchy shirts work well to nurse) to the accessories you choose (dangle earrings will be a thing of the past once they start using those hands) are now determined by this tiny overlord. I’m not going to lie, it’s going to feel like there is no YOU left at all sometimes, between feeding the baby, changing the baby, and entertaining the baby… not to mention going back to work and keeping your hubby happy.
But in the end that is ok-take a deep breath and enjoy this time as much as you can. You may resent having to hold them all the time now- but there will come a day when you wish they would let you hold them. The dishes and laundry can wait- they will be there tomorrow, but your baby is changing ever second and needs you now.

Don’t feel guilty for feeling depressed and maybe a teeny bit resentful
It’s so normal. I cried every day for the first 3 weeks pretty much and wondered if I had made a wise decision in having a child. It does pass if you let it, and remember that a large part of it is hormonal. I was way more emotional after having my baby than I ever was pregnant. Talk to someone or have someone watch the baby so you can have a few moment to feel like you again.

Don’t feel guilty for having someone else watch the baby
It’s good for you and the baby, and everyone loves babies; so take advantage of all the people that want to help watch her and grab some you time, or better yet, you and hubby time.

Focus on communicating with your partner
In the first few days/weeks after baby you and your partners world is going to revolve around baby. You will be caring for her, talking about her, and watching her every moment of every day- so where’s the You and Him in all that? You have to make it happen and it isn’t always easy. You may be spending more time together than ever while caring for the baby, but quantity does not equal quality. Carve out some quality time for you and he to reconnect emotionally and just have fun with each other… without the baby.
And know that intimacy issues are also very common, you are not alone if you have problems with libido or the like. Be open and honest with him about your feelings and willing to try things to get you two back on track. Again talking to another woman or couple thats been there can be a big help. Remember that your baby is just on loan to you for the next 18 years- you have a lot longer than that to be with your husband.

Those are the biggest things that I can think of at the moment that I learned. There are a lot of little mom tips and technical things that I can share as well- here are just a few:

Vaseline works better than any diaper rash cream.
Mylicon is a lifesaver.
You really DON’T need that suitcase sized diaper bag.
Slings/baby carriers are so worth the money.
Consignment stores and Consignment sales will save you a ton.
What works for one baby won’t work for another.
Wipe olive oil on your baby’s bottom after cleaning it- the oil will protect babys skin and make the gunky poo much easier to clean off the next time.

Baby smiles are the most addictive drug ever- hold on to you heart and your wallet- and enjoy.

And if you are just at your wits end, remember that laughter is the best medicine. Go here>  www.lets-panic.com

Has just signed up for Ping.fm > Do it.

Me. Today is my first day back at work since having my baby. No tears, yet. It also marks my first day in a revised role. Before I was in charge of E-Mail Marketing as well as blogging. Now I’ve graduated from Spammer to Social Media Manager, which I was somewhat handling before anyway.
Before I left for leave I got our blog up and running but nothing has been done while I was gone, which reflects my biggest problem and anxiety in this new role. I don’t really know much about any sport or the associated equipment, much less the 5+ sports that we cover. Delegating isn’t really much of an option since our entire company is pretty understaffed at this point.
I’m trying to look at this lack of knowledge as an opportunity not an obstacle but I’m at a loss at where to start. The blog is supposed to be an outlet for Product Sneak Peeks, Product Reviews, Industry News and Ruling Changes, and How-to’s. With so many sports how do I get a line on each sports Hot New Thing? Without the know-how or support from others how can product reviews be successful? And of course- how can I market this mammoth undertaking aside from spamming the hell out of forums etc. (which I won’t do)? As far as I’ve searched there isn’t another blog like ours. No other sporting goods retailer is attempting to do what we are-which is awesome, except that I have no idea how to start paving the way.
I’m also trying to get my head back in the social media game. So I am now a SMUGle There is a lot of good info there for the n00bs, plus I love the name.
So i’m off to crack open the virtual books and hopefully get some answers…

Father God,

Thank you so much for the amazing and life-changing blessing of pregnancy, and for the blessing of a child that you are about to give us. I pray for your peace and joy during the pain and trial of birth and that she will be born whole and healthy and surrounded by your love and protection.
I thank you for your prefect grace and wisdom and know that this child is a gift from you for a time. I pray for this daughter that you will fulfill the promise of her name, Azaria, “One who is helped by God”. I dedicate her to you now, because I know that she is your child first. Help me to remember as a mother that I am a steward of this child’s soul and give me the grace, wisdom, love, and strength to be worthy of the gift. I pray that you will bridle my words and guide my actions so that everything I do will be for your glory, not only for my own soul but that I may be an example. Continue to raise me up and sanctify me, and show me who you would have me to be as a woman and as a mother. Help me to remember that your will is prefect and everything that comes from you is for the greater good of the kingdom.
I pray for her soul that you will protect it and raise it up for your glory. I pray that she is one of your chosen and that you will manifest in her a generous and joyous spirit. Protect her child’s heart and give her a spirit of wonder, that she will never be able to look at this world and not see you in it. Give her a sharp mind and strong spirit.
Thank you so much for your love and grace.
Amen

So I am now 37 weeks pregnant, but I feel like I must be like 50.
I’m convinced that the last weeks of pregnancy are akin to trying to approach the speed of light- the closer you get to the goal the slower things go.

So…. boobs. Yes, boobs (breasts makes me think of chicken). I will be the first to admit that I have never really been entirely comfortable with them. Growing up in the bible belt in a Southern Baptist home and being a victim of abuse as a toddler it’s not all that surprising I suppose. But boobs are something you can’t ignore once you get pregnant. They are THERE, loud and proud, and if you intend to breastfeed you have to get somewhat comfortable with them.
I can tell you that before I knew anything about babies or pregnancy, so from high school till about 23, I naively thought that bottle feeding was the way to go. No way I was gonna let some little leech use me like an all-you-can-eat buffet and take my body hostage for a year or so. Obviously I’ve grown up a little. I won’t make the breastfeeding argument here, as that’s not what this is about, but I will say that if you do the research and you are able to breastfeed, the choice is clear.
The messages about femininity and sexuality are contradictory and somewhat harmful in today’s society.
Particularly with boobs. In America boobs scream SEX. They have been relegated to the domain of tittie bars and men’s magazines or pink ribbon campaigns. They aren’t even really a part of woman, as they are objects which women posses that bring arousal and pleasure. But they are also life-giving and nurturing and very much a functional component of “mothering”. And functional and mothering is about as far as you can get from sex in modern America, in fact it’s downright sex-less and portrayed negatively if at all in relation to sex. Here in the west, and particularly the bible belt, this dual female identity is a problem. Sex and sexuality is bad or taboo (and it is in the way the world defines it- but not in marriage) hence sexual things, like boobs, also pick up this connotation of being sexual and bad. Introduce babies into the picture and you have sex/boobs/bad that suddenly comes up against babies/boobs/nurturing with no real good idea about how to think or feel or align these two ideas. After all, isn’t introducing sexual objects to children considered child abuse? No wonder we have a generation of confused young women out there.
What it comes down to is that boobs and their dual roles help mirror our roles and strengths as women. Women are sexual and passionate, but also life giving and nurturing. For me, those two things are hard to reconcile. Sex, as I said, has been pounded into my head as bad, and nurturing has been skewed as weak in a world where womens liberation ended at “equal with men” and forgot the “different from” part.
So here I am with two huge boobs that are, at some point in the near future, not only going to be a part of my body, an object for my and my husbands pleasures (Which I still have a hard time with), but also a fully functioning comfort/nutrition machine.
I’m still not sure how to think or feel about it all, but I know that this is what my body was made to do. I am a fully equipped and functioning woman. I have the ability to get and give pleasure which ultimately culminates in the ability to harbor and give birth to new life, which my body will nurture through breastfeeding. Remember this and really thinking about it helps me to see the whole of it and not just the “sex” part or just the “functional” part, but the “sexual woman as mother” part and almost be ok with it.
I’m sure that I will still have some issues and questions and some insecurity, but making peace with my boobs and in part my sexuality has been a big part of pregnancy for me, and one that I am grateful to have gone through now, so that I can raise a healthy daughter with a healthy image of what being a woman is about.

So I figured it was time I post an update about my feelings and being pregnant. I sorta have this love hate relationship with emotions- I like to keep them at arms length- so a lot my writing probably seems a little cold. But I do have emotions, deep ones, they just take a lot of thought and a lot of words to process- and I tend to be lazy. 
In the beginning I was SERIOUSLY freaked out by the idea of kids. I had just started feeling the pull of wanting to be a mother (the biological clock does exist, sorry to say) although I didn’t really tell anyone that.
At the same time there was (and maybe still is) a part of me that is/was afraid that my looking toward motherhood and desiring a child was just a way to distract myself  and pass the time waiting for Chris to graduate so we can travel and do other things. A way of looking for a meaning and a purpose (which is what my mom did to a very unhealthy extreme).
On the other hand, I firmly believe God is in everything, and it’s only when we started paying for his will in the matter that I got pregnant, and literally like a week later.
Once I got pregnant it was awkward. You feel like crap half the time but you don’t look preggo yet, you also don’t know how to feel, at least I didn’t. I don’t like a lot of attention, and I don’t have many female friends (and at the time none who were married and had had kids). I’m also an only child with a really bad mother-daughter relationship experience- so I’m surrounded by this culture that is suddenly baby crazy (thanks Hollywood) and have no idea how to feel except scared and completely unprepared.
It was to the point that I even discussed adoption (giving her up for adoption) with Chris, becuase I was honestly not sure if I could emotionally deal with a child of it would be fair to a child to have me as a parent.
Thankfully he understood that he needed to hear me out and let it be ok to have these feelings. (I have a wonderful hubby!)
Then she started moving… Oh man did I ever freak out. Suddenly you can no longer ignore that there is something… someone… completely and totally seperate from yourself… INSIDE YOU. And IT’S MOVING. And did I mention it’s INSIDE YOU? I really think God wired women in just the right way to not go ape-shit at this and try and cut it out (I’m sure men would!)- because feeling  your whole body move with somethings body moving inside you that you can’t control, is seriously messed up.
So a few weeks of random breakdowns in random places over random things that remind you that you’re entire life is changing, you have no idea what’s coming, what to do, or how you are going to feel, who you are going to be or how you are going to make it through labor much less their childhood are COMPLETELY NORMAL…. (right?…)
Then wait till you SEE your stomach move. Then you really can’t ignore it, and neither can anyone else. Oddly enough it was one of these times that I felt everything really settle in for me, and that I became, or realized that I was OK with it. I rolled over in bed from laying on my side and my belly looked like a ski-slope. One side was way higher from a little baby back curled up. But instead of freaking out about it- I laughed- there was something…cute and even comforting about the experience and I woke Chris up to see. 
That was a week or two ago. I’m now at 33 weeks. I’m still pretty much scared out of my mind if I let myself think about too hard, but Pregnancy and Motherhood and what women were designed for, and very-well designed for.  I have faith in myself, my family and most of all my God to get me through the rest of it.

But for a short recap, Things I hate about pregnancy:
Constipation, Morning Sickness, Loss of Focus, Elastic Pants

Things I love about pregnancy:
My relationship with my husband has just become better and better, I’ve grown up in so many ways since being pregnant, looking foward to a unique experience that no one can every truly share

I just wanted to spread the word about Freecycle, for those people who may not be aware of it. It’s an amazing grassroots organization of people who like to get and give things for free. We all have stuff laying around we don’t need or use, and we all have times that we need things and can’t afford to or don’t wish to buy into consumerism and purchase a new one.

Freecycle to the rescue! You just find and join your local group online, and then you can post want ads, or respond to other peoples. The only requirements is that nothing can require payment- you are recycling your un-needed and un-wanted items to others who need them for free. 

Got an old box of clothes that don’t fit anymore? Post on Freecycle- someone can use them! Need a bike? A shelf? Some hangers? Post on Freecycle- someone’s got something laying around in a garage they don’t need.

I posed a box of Chris’ clothes and was overwhelmed at the response and the need reflected- I wish I had more to give!
I recently lost my cellphone- I posted a Want ad for a cell phone and got three responses- and I now I have a cell phone.

So next time you’re cleaning out your closet or garage, or you find yourself needing something, check out freecycle, and do your wallet and maybe someone elses a favor.

Misery. Absolute. Complete. Misery.

Pregnancy is no fun in a lot of ways.  Add the flu on top of that- and no bueno. The worst part is that you can’t take anything for it. While I don’t generally like to take drugs- over the counter or otherwise- pregnancy is the one time I would like to be able to. Unfortunately that’s not an option, and my midwife prefers that I don’t even take Tylenol (fever is the bodys way of burning out an infection- as long as it’s not too high then it’s not fun but it won’t hurt you). 

So on Wednesday night when my fever hit 101.8 we broke down and called the midwife again. She suggested some homeopathic remedies.

Garlic Tea:

Cut up 2 cloves of Garlic
Bring to Boil in a pan of Water
Turn Heat of and Let Steep for 20 Min.
Bottoms Up!

Honestly, I couldn’t taste the garlic at all, but it may have been just becuase I was so sick. Garlic is a wonder-drug-plant of sorts. It’s a natural anti-viral, anti-biotic and anti-fungal. The only side effect was the odd craving for garlic bread….

Apple Cider Vinegar (liquid)

This stuff is stiff and very acidic. It needs to be diluted in water if you have any hope of choking it down. It’s apparently used by a lot of fitness freaks as well to help increase metabolism. I drank 2tbls.

Echinacea (pills)

Herb that I’m sure we’ve all seen or heard about at some point. I took 6 pills, spread out.

I did all this Wednesday night and Thursday morning I woke up fever free. So if you are pregnant or just trying to avoid unnecessary chemicals gives these cures a go.  They worked for me.