and it begins...

Hey!

So I went out grocery shopping today. :) No processed food! I just bought veggies, fruit, meat and bits and pieces for baking bread, and ALMONDS!

Got home and went to0 work.

Almond milk:

Take 1 C Almonds (blanched - drop them in boiling water for 30 seconds, pop the skin off)

and 4 cups water, put in a blender. Blend for 3-4 minutes. Until smooth. Strain through cheese cloth or like me stockings. :) I put the 'Almond paste' in a dish, added salt and its like Almond butter (like margarine and butter, not peanut butter). DONE!

I am going to start making cheese tomorrow and yogurt. :)

I have been asked by our local M.O.M.S group to talk about these things that Im doing and why. This is very exciting for me and its fast becoming one of my passions. :)

Its one of those things that I find myself thinking about when Im driving and trying to sleep. :) Which is funny because those time slots have been only filled with BeautiControl thinking for the past 2 years, so now its like this big debate, which love do I think of for the next hour?? Which is REALLY funny cause I NEVER thought I would be one of those irritating mothers who is a 'granola'.... which I guess I am now. :( Ok ok... get over it.. lol!

I keep going back to the fundamental fact that this is best for my kids. Someone asked me the other day if we were going to refuse to eat processed food, like at other peoples houses, and that's not what I am trying to do. Its not ALL about saving money and its not ALL about processed food being 'bad'. Its a part of each and the whole idea of it being a lifestyle. :) So a part of all 3! Plus I kinda like a challenge. :)... ok ok, I really like a challenge!!

So Im not speaking at MOMS until April, but Ive already figured out kinda what Im going to talk about. Ive asked Julie Olson to talk abit about Norwex, I think Im going to ask Karen Warner to talk a little about our overuse of Complex Carbs, I would LOVE to ask Janelle Hildebrant to talk about her Greenhouses and how much they are and such, but then how much time will I have??? lol.. Im going to do an outline about the biggest facts in this lifestyle that I love and the reasons we chose it. Im also going to talk a little bit about some enviromental concerns I have and such and such. You all will def get a bigger picture a little later on.

On other news, Joe has decided to get 40 chickens.... ummm.. what??? 20 layers for eggs and 20 broilers for meat. My dad is kinda helping with the master minding in the background a bit, I was speaking to him last night about this matter and brought up the fact that we were thinking of getting people to 'speak' for a certain number of chicken for a low cost. They would bring 'Ruffage' over once a week to feed them and then pay us a cost for keeping them for them. Then after 3 or so months we would kill them all. :( I said, 'Dad, how do you suppose we go about killing 20(or he said you are actually supposte to do them in 50 -100 at a time) or 100 chickens??? Without taking them to the butcher (because that expensive)??' He suggested we have a slaughter party... groan. We have a few kinks to work out, but Im sure with my Dad being part of the 'big plan' we will have 50 chickens to slaughter in the next few months... joy. The thought makes my stomache turn. Me and my children will be away for that weekend, I will tell you. Gesh. But he seems to think that the people responsible for thier chicken send an individual to the 'party'.... Anyway.. we have some kinks to work out, as I said.

Well, til next time.

New Years - So much more to plan for!!!

So everybody constantly tells me I do too much. With 3 little ones (1, 2, and 3) I guess I should just concentrate on cleaning and potty training??

But thats not me. :) I am trying to become a better housewife, but I want so much more from this experience I call MOM.

I had an interesting conversation with a client the other day while doing product drop offs. She was asking me how Deacon was doing and we got to talking about something that is becomign more and more of a passion of mine.

These are my thoughts:

In the 50s and 60s, times were simple. Men worked, wives stayed home and made babies. A womens job was almost consumed with food. Weeding a garden, making meals ahead of time, whatever. And if you go farther back, they milked their own cows, made their own cheese, milk, bread, everything. And it took time.

So in the 70s (Or I call it the CHEMICAL era) they went big time into processing food, instant food, prepackaged sugar crap, and women slowly ventured big time into the workforce. So they had no time to home make like before.

We have continued in that Chemical era to become what resembles todays grocery store.


This is funny because I truly didnt care about these things a year ago. But that was when I was introduced to Norwex. Norwex is a company that sells these all natural cleaning things. Like silver cloths, no chemical detergent, silver toothbrushes, just use water mop, ect. I bought one of everything. Before that I said that I would use Green things if they worked better or the same as the regular things. Norwex blew me out of the water. Everything works!! So I started using these things in my daily life and noticed some thigns started to change. my hubbys backne went away, my ashma got better, ect. I also came to the realization that things that smell, are chemicals. thats all.

We are the generation of Febreeze, Swiffer, Bounce and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. These things are horrid for you!!! The amount of harmful chemicals is astounding! Did you know they actually have a warning on Bounce that tells you it ' must not come in contact with CLOTHES'?!?!?! How crazy is that?

So I have taken out all the chemicals in my house. Its amazing how STRONG Tide smells. It takes awhile to realize that we are now wired to think that that smell equals clean.

So that was that.

I was talking to this client and she told me how easy making Almond milk was. I was like, no. I cant do this. Then I thought about it and now I cant see how I cant do it.

We are not going to buy any processed food for 6 months. Then in June we are going to stop going to the grocery store all together!! We are going to live off our land. We live on 2 acres, so we have the space. I work part time on my BeautiControl buisness, so I have time.

We are going to buy 3 apple trees, make a green house, build a garden, buy 12 layer chickens, 12 broiler chickens,ect. We already have 7 goats. 2 male and 5 female. In the spring hopefully the females have babies. Then I can milk them. :) I have looked into making Almond milk, Almond cheese, Almond butter, almond yogurt.... its SO easy! When we get some goat milk, I will look into making some of that into cheese, butter, ect. We will raise chickens for Eggs and chickens for meat. We are going to start our garden in the greenhouse, then transfer into our quite big garden. We are looking into getting dwarf apple trees, so that they produce appples sooner. I have already started making a loaf of bread a day. That may or may not cease in June, havent decided yet.

I really have no clue what Im doing. But all I know is any effort will be in the right direction.

If you have any tips, tricks, or would like to join me in my journey, please email me at spaahh@live.com

The last little while.

So, how to start?

Since I'm pregnant, I have to go back to work. Well, I have to if I want to get a year of free money. I like money, so back to work I go! I originally was supposed to go back April 1st. But because of Deacon's recent hospital stay we decided to postpone it for 3 months until he gained a bunch of weight. With this recent news, we have decided that I will go back to work June 1st. In the last month Deacon has gained 3 lbs so we are very happy with his progress and are okay with me going back. I'm apprehensive about going back. I'm excited about something different. But I'm very nervous about leaving my boys (of course!). I was very happy knowing that my good friend Kori (who has looked after my kids for quite awhile), was willing to take them still. Then she told me that she wouldn't be able to. Her hubby is going to camp and the extra stress is not okay. So here I was without someone who I trusted to look after my kids. It was very upsetting and stressful. I don't blame her or anything it was just a bad situation. I can't have just anyone look after them. Riley is not a problem, a little aggressive but not a problem. Deacon can actually be termed handicapped, so just the price alone would have killed us. Plus I couldn't just leave THEM with anybody. I would think about their well being constantly at work. Is she changing Deacon enough? Is she feeding them proper food? Is she disciplining them the way I want her too? ARG!!! So then I asked my little sister who works at White Spot if she would be willing to look after them for 4 1/2 months. And she said YES!! Yaa!! I completely trust her and she will totally listen to what I want. Now I feel a little better about going back. :)

So I call Bartle and Gibson where I "work" and explain whats going on to them. They say sure come back we would love to have you! It was kinda known that they would have to lay me off sometime this year. They originally hired me while I was pregnant with Riley. Knowing that I would be on Maternity Leave soon. Then I came back when Riley was 8 months old while I was pregnant with Deacon. Again I worked for around 4 1/2 months and then went on Mat Leave again. I know silly. But I worked there just as overflow. They needed someone for Quotations, I went there for a few months. Then I went into Inside Sales for a few months. Wherever they needed me I went. So I had a conversation with my boss just before I was supposed to come back originally where he asked if we were planning on having more kids. He asked me that right after I asked him if they would have to lay me off later this year. It answers itself. lol. So when I called them last week, my boss told me that they couldn't guarantee to have me working there for the full 4 1/2 months. POW! Crap! That's not good. So we will see what happens... (play suspenseful music here)

Onto more happy news, My good friend Amanda had a little (meaning BIG) baby boy yesterday! He weighs 9lbs 6ozs!!! Congrats!!

I also found out that M, A, J, K and ME are ALL due in November! That's not including my cousin Nicole who is due in Oct! WOW!!! baby s are everywhere!

Im Expecting a very special package!!!

Well I found out that I'm pregnant.

That statement alone is enough to scare the shit out of me. Its not that I don't WANT another child. Im sooo excited for another one! But, right now when we are discussing Deacon and how hard it is going to be, its upsetting to hear that I'm having a child that could possibly have HD as well. I'm moving forward only because I've been through it, know what to expect, and I'm okay with it. Another hard thing to deal with is everybody else telling me I should'nt have another one right now. How is that your choice? Joe and I are the ones at home with them. We're the ones nurturing them and teaching them. Its just really annoying that a perfect stranger or even someone that knows me really well would say that to me. ARG!

On another note, we are going up to Oliver this Easter weekend! We're going up for my BIL Alex's competition. Plus I really need a haircut! Joe's cousin that lives in Kelowna is an amazing hairdresser. I wish she had never done my hair because now I compare everybody to her. LOL! Its like having a crush on a really hot guy!

Anyway, please visit my blog about Deacon, I need as many people as possible to comment and visit so that it will turn up in Google searches. Thanks!!!


www.myhirschsprungsbaby.blogspot.com

The start of soo much more.

So yesterday I thought about how to fix the problem. How do I go about getting better? A suggested that I see my dr. and maybe get medication. A different A told me that I would spend weeks trying to get the right thing and I would be void of all feeling. So I instead decided that helping other people makes me feel better soooo. Hmmmm... how can I help others?

Well my Dad's been pushing me to find a support group that deals with Hirschsprung's. I CAN"T FIND ONE! I search and search and I find maybe 3 and of those 3 none of them have more comments than 6. I need more. So he suggested making my own! I was like no. Thats not going to work. Than I started to think.

So now I have launched www.myhirschsprungsbaby.blogspot.com. Its a look inside Deacon and his illness. Im hoping that it will become a place for "experienced" parents to help new HD moms to figure out whats best for their child. Ive messaged 3 other blog parents I've found in hopes that they will help me out with their expertise. I only know what has and hasn't worked for Deacon a long segment baby. I've researched a little about short segment but Im no where near a mom who deals with it on a day to day basis. I would LOVE it if you could go there and send everybody you know there and comment so that it would turn up in google searches! Thanks guys!

The end of the line.

So, I havent been feeling like myself recently. Ive told a few people that I feel depressed. I feel sad all the time, I dont want to do anything, and I cry ... alot. Its hard.


So this is what I have figured out so far.
With all of Deacon's past surgeries after the fact I can pretend that he's fine. When someone asks me how he is, I reply, "great!" And I push all my feelings and thoughts and fears to the back fo my mind. I know now that if I had been honest with everybody I would be breaking down all the time. So it was like a survival thing. I just kept thinknig as soon as he has his last surgery he will be just like every other little boy. Which as we now know, is false. He will always be different. Yes my son is going to have alot of trouble potty training. Yes we are going to have to make a special diet for him. My Dad told me this morning that I have to start thinkning of him as handicapped. The reason fdor that is that when I will be thinking like that I will be way more open to see his problems. But thats hard. Handicapped? Are you sure? So for the last 2 weeks, Ive been trying to deal, the best I can, and its not working. IM DEPRESSED!!!! All I think about all day long is the mistakes Ive made and how scared I am to make more. Thats not me. I told my Dad last night that I wished that Deacon could just live inside me, that way I could protect him forever. I DONT feel that way about Riley. Riley I love to see him trying new things and falling. To me that means that he is learning and becoming stronger. But with D its hard because its like hes sitting on a teeter totter. Barely staying on.
So I just thought that you would like to know whats been going on with me. Suckyness. I have decided that I want to start a blog just for D and for other parents who are going through the same things. Like what to feed him and how to make him grow.

On a happier note, Deacon now weighs 15 lbs!!

this is Monday morning.
Same time.




This is Tuesday morning. Grey
This is in the hospital

This is my skinny little man.

Well, Im so excited!! I just found out (last) that my cousin Nicole is expecting!

Now that Ive said that...

The last week had been a gong show. I started off the week with all sorts of fun and interesting things that we were going to do. Being that it was my 2nd to last week before I went back to work and all. I started each day with a long list of things that needed and wanted to be done. Sunday was pretty interesting, we went to church where Deacon threw up all over the pew chairs. It was quite embarrassing and I told him to not repeat it. He was acting strange and listless. I decided to take him to the dr. As it was my little bro's birthday party at my parents. I went to the clinic with little D and Joe took Ry to their house. I thought it was probably the flu and he told me that yes it was. Not a big deal, just to give him gravol and feed him Pedialyte. If he was worse after 48hrs to take him again to the dr.s. We didnt think much of it. We cont on to mom and dad's and had a great time! Monday, he was better, a little. Or so I thought. I noticed that he was losing abit of weight. He hadn't thrown up since the day before. I had to phone and cancel all my appy's for that day. He was still eating abit and he was sleeping alot! I thought I would wait until Tuesday to see how he was. Tuesday morning I woke up and he was grey. Grey. Grey with blue lips and marbled legs and arms. GREY!!! I was terrified. But I didnt want to be that crazy mom who was bringing in her baby over the smallest thing. So I called my mom and my mum. Both of whom were practically yelling for me to take him to the ER. Ok... my fears are right. So I called his surgeon in Children's and told the secretary what was going on. She told me she was going to page Dr. Webber to call me back. I said that's fine but I'm leaving in a few to bring him there anyways. She told me great he'll be waiting for you. So I dropped off Ry at Sara's and hightailed it to the ER. It was the shortest wait ever! As soon as I stepped into that hospital we were rushed into a room, told to undress and then the staring started. He was SOOO skinny. I didn't even realize how skinny he was! His ribs were showing! I then witnessed the lying of the nurses and Dr.'s beginning. He looked like I had starved him for weeks! Or even months! Not that he had had the flu for 2 DAYS!! Anyway, finally a Dr. who believed me came and started an IV. In an hour they pumped 120mils into his little body! It wasn't until 3 days later when Dr. Rothstein told me that his kidneys were VERY close to failure and that HE WAS CLOSE TO DYING!!! That I finally knew how close we had come. We now know that if Deacon ever gets sick he is to be brought to Children's immediately! That includes vomiting 2 x, fever, lethargy, and or diarrhea. That's a scary thing. To be told that your child cant make it through a simple flu. All in all, it was a pretty scary week. Ive been told that there is not lasting effects from it. Thats nice. Plus we got connected with a gastrointestinal dr. that will help us help him gain weight!! I just weighed him and he is 14lbs!! So I just thought you should know...