trying our best to keep austin weird.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Drinking Breast Milk: Good or Gross?
I was reading up on some breast milk recipes a few weeks ago. I've assumed for a while we would drink whatever excess breast milk I had, because, come on, it's free! And not drink it like straight up but add it to smoothies, bake with it, etc. It seems very eco-friendly with no transportation or packaging, etc. I never really thought twice about it, until I was with my sister Lauren a few weekends ago and she is physically ill at the idea of drinking her own breast milk (there are some women I will never understand who are physically ill at the idea of breastfeeding their babies... but I've thought breastfeeding was like, the coolest thing ever, since I was about 10, so ya know). I don't think it's gross! I think drinking the mammary secretions from the swollen udders of an antibiotic filled bovine is way, way more gross than drinking my own. Well, honestly, I'm convinced humans don't really need milk anyways because it's for BABY mammals and not adults, but the incredibly savvy dairy lobbyists have convinced us otherwise. Anyways... thoughts on this?
And I leave you with these (from here):
Perfect for a summer's day?
CARIBBEAN MILK COOLER
2 cups breastmilk
2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon coconut extract
2 tablespoons sugar
Ice cubes
Mint sprigs (optional)
Directions: In a blender container, combine all ingredients except ice cubes and
mint and blend on high speed until frothy. Pour into four tall glasses filled with ice cubes. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired.
Variation: For a thicker drink, freeze pineapple juice in an ice cube tray. Blend these pineapple cubes with all other ingredients except mint. Omit regular ice cubes. Serve in a chilled glass.
Makes 4 servings.
Or what about a main course meal?
ITALIAN MACARONI
1/2 cup uncooked macaroni
1 cup water
1/4 - 1/3 cup peeled and cut up eggplant (zucchini may be substituted)
1/2 medium skinned and cut up fresh tomato
1/3 cup milk breastmilk
1 tablespoon grated cheese
Dash of dried parsley
Dash of oregano (optional)
Dash of salt
Cook macaroni, tomato, eggplant (or zucchini), and seasonings in water for 12 – 15 minutes. Add breastmilk and grated cheese. Stir well until cheese is melted.
Makes 2 – 3 servings.
Come on, you can even make soap with it! How cool is that?
* 2 cups vegetable oil (such as olive, coco, canola, cocoa butter, etc.)
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup lye (solid NaOH)
* 1 cup breastmilk
Heat oil to 115°F. In a glass measuring cup, add lye to water. (Not water to lye). When the solution reaches 115°F, add to oil. Stir until the mix is silky; then add milk. Color will change; it is normal. Stir until you get instant pudding consistency (this is what we call "trace"), approximately 60 to 45 minutes. Pour in moulds. You can use almost anything, like muffin tin or cookies tray. Take care to not use metallic material. Let sit 2 or 3 days, until you can unmould soaps easily. You have to let your soap "cure" 4 to 5 weeks, until it becomes neutral. You'll get approximately 12 2-oz soaps.
And I leave you with these (from here):
Perfect for a summer's day?
CARIBBEAN MILK COOLER
2 cups breastmilk
2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon coconut extract
2 tablespoons sugar
Ice cubes
Mint sprigs (optional)
Directions: In a blender container, combine all ingredients except ice cubes and
mint and blend on high speed until frothy. Pour into four tall glasses filled with ice cubes. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired.
Variation: For a thicker drink, freeze pineapple juice in an ice cube tray. Blend these pineapple cubes with all other ingredients except mint. Omit regular ice cubes. Serve in a chilled glass.
Makes 4 servings.
Or what about a main course meal?
ITALIAN MACARONI
1/2 cup uncooked macaroni
1 cup water
1/4 - 1/3 cup peeled and cut up eggplant (zucchini may be substituted)
1/2 medium skinned and cut up fresh tomato
1/3 cup milk breastmilk
1 tablespoon grated cheese
Dash of dried parsley
Dash of oregano (optional)
Dash of salt
Cook macaroni, tomato, eggplant (or zucchini), and seasonings in water for 12 – 15 minutes. Add breastmilk and grated cheese. Stir well until cheese is melted.
Makes 2 – 3 servings.
Come on, you can even make soap with it! How cool is that?
* 2 cups vegetable oil (such as olive, coco, canola, cocoa butter, etc.)
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup lye (solid NaOH)
* 1 cup breastmilk
Heat oil to 115°F. In a glass measuring cup, add lye to water. (Not water to lye). When the solution reaches 115°F, add to oil. Stir until the mix is silky; then add milk. Color will change; it is normal. Stir until you get instant pudding consistency (this is what we call "trace"), approximately 60 to 45 minutes. Pour in moulds. You can use almost anything, like muffin tin or cookies tray. Take care to not use metallic material. Let sit 2 or 3 days, until you can unmould soaps easily. You have to let your soap "cure" 4 to 5 weeks, until it becomes neutral. You'll get approximately 12 2-oz soaps.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Eco Trip
Today, I watched three episodes of Eco Trip, a new series on the Sundance Channel. Things I've learned:
1. Cotton=evil. Not actually, but it uses tons of pesticides which end up in groundwater and make people sick that live near the fields. Most cotton products also have a huge environmental impact because the cotton is usually shipped overseas for processing and then shipped back to the US for selling. Solution for myself: suck up the price and buy organic cotton; better yet, buy used (which is easier for me to do because it's cheaper...) Try alternative fabrics like bamboo and hemp. I love bamboo sheets. Mmmm.
2. Chocolate also uses tons of pesticides for the cocoa beans. Cocoa beans should be grown in moist climates like the Dominican Republic, but instead it's grown in West Africa, and for some reason I can't figure out they need tons of pesticides to grow (as well as tons of water since cocoa bean trees need lots of moisture). Dark chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa has lots of antioxidants, so eat that for health. Solution for myself: Eat organic, fair-trade dark chocolate (which I actually love anyways, and the price usually isn't too bad because you don't eat as much in one sitting).
3. 90% of salmon in our market is farmed. Farmed salmon has more PCPs and is even fed certain things to make it pinker. The salmon farms are ruining the natural habitat of clams in certain areas of British Colombia. They are also diseasing the wild salmon with lice and killing them off. Ten years ago, people only ate salmon if they lived on the coast and only when it was in season. With the rise of information about omega-3s and other good things about salmon (information supplied by the farmed salmon industry), 52 million Americans now eat salmon. I love salmon. Solution for myself: I can't afford ocean caught salmon, so I guess that means I get my omegas from something else... flaxseed?
I also just made this for lunch because I was hungry and sick of soup. And it was delicious!
1. Cotton=evil. Not actually, but it uses tons of pesticides which end up in groundwater and make people sick that live near the fields. Most cotton products also have a huge environmental impact because the cotton is usually shipped overseas for processing and then shipped back to the US for selling. Solution for myself: suck up the price and buy organic cotton; better yet, buy used (which is easier for me to do because it's cheaper...) Try alternative fabrics like bamboo and hemp. I love bamboo sheets. Mmmm.
2. Chocolate also uses tons of pesticides for the cocoa beans. Cocoa beans should be grown in moist climates like the Dominican Republic, but instead it's grown in West Africa, and for some reason I can't figure out they need tons of pesticides to grow (as well as tons of water since cocoa bean trees need lots of moisture). Dark chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa has lots of antioxidants, so eat that for health. Solution for myself: Eat organic, fair-trade dark chocolate (which I actually love anyways, and the price usually isn't too bad because you don't eat as much in one sitting).
3. 90% of salmon in our market is farmed. Farmed salmon has more PCPs and is even fed certain things to make it pinker. The salmon farms are ruining the natural habitat of clams in certain areas of British Colombia. They are also diseasing the wild salmon with lice and killing them off. Ten years ago, people only ate salmon if they lived on the coast and only when it was in season. With the rise of information about omega-3s and other good things about salmon (information supplied by the farmed salmon industry), 52 million Americans now eat salmon. I love salmon. Solution for myself: I can't afford ocean caught salmon, so I guess that means I get my omegas from something else... flaxseed?
I also just made this for lunch because I was hungry and sick of soup. And it was delicious!
Bed rest
I would be horrible on bed rest. I'm supposed to be resting this week per instructions from my supervisor at my internship and the nice senior missionary couple that are in charge of me while I live here. But I am so freakin' bored. I don't know how my sister did it for ten weeks.
Because you can only watch so many episodes of Law and Order: SVU, read so many mommy blogs, check your facebook so many times a day, and flip through so many library books on natural birth. I have, however, gotten a head start on my papers for the rest of the semester, and I'm even working from home on some research for my office. So, there are things to do... I suppose. Like WomanStats. I could be productive if I put my mind to it. But most of the time I just lay here thinking about how the sunshine outside looks oh so appetizing. I think I'll walk to the library today. I need to pick up my next childbirth book anyways.
Because you can only watch so many episodes of Law and Order: SVU, read so many mommy blogs, check your facebook so many times a day, and flip through so many library books on natural birth. I have, however, gotten a head start on my papers for the rest of the semester, and I'm even working from home on some research for my office. So, there are things to do... I suppose. Like WomanStats. I could be productive if I put my mind to it. But most of the time I just lay here thinking about how the sunshine outside looks oh so appetizing. I think I'll walk to the library today. I need to pick up my next childbirth book anyways.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Pregnancy (thusfar)
I wanted to post a little about my pregnancy thusfar, mostly so I can remember it and keep things in mind when I'm weighing the pros and cons of having another. And since my second trimester is quickly coming to an end, it'll be nice to look back with fondness on these days. Right?
1st Trimester:
* We found out we were pregnant the second week of winter semester. I kind of knew I was before the test was positive. Even though we had a negative test earlier that week and I was having what felt like pre-menstrual cramps, I just knew something was different. Lo and behold... baby.
* The first person we told was my sister Lauren. We called her as soon as we found out. I'm not the kind of person to wait and share good news. Even though I was barely into things, we told most people right away (within that week at least). I know some people don't like to share the news for fear of miscarriage, but I figured if that happened, we'd just update everyone. I wasn't too worried about it though-- I'm go with the flow on most things and figure there is a plan for us all.
* I thought pregnancy was awesome-- for about a week. I felt great, I went running, I rededicated myself to veganism. And then I started puking. I'm not exactly sure what day or week it hit me but UGH. I was so. sick. It was miserable. I threw up a good six times a day or so for at least a month. I tried everything: I started natural with ginger and teas; moved to Saltines; Vitamin B6 and Unisom; Phenergan; then finally to Zofran. Nothing helped. I think the Zofran might have a little bit, but I think by the time I had it I was past the worst of my nausea. I would get really sick whenever we came home at night. The bus ride was always the worst, and then walking past all the fast food restaurants on State St. got me everytime. Sorry about the puke on the side of the road during January-March. That was me.
2nd trimester:
* I pee constantly. That's the most annoying thing about being pregnant at this stage for me (which I am SO, SO grateful for!! I read all this about heartburn, constipation, pre-eclampsia, swelling, aching, etc. but I have luckily not suffered any of these... knock on wood). I wake up every two hours without fail, and I go about every hour at work. When I first moved to this office I was scared the people at the front desk would think I had a bladder issue or explosive diarrhea or something. Then, luckily, I started showing and they figured out I was pregnant. I pee everywhere too, it's been interesting when real restrooms are not available. I relieved myself behind some trees in the middle of Philadelphia because we were with a group and I didn't want everyone to have to walk and find a ladies room for me. Tim just stood watch (oh, and took a picture because he thought it was funny). Fortunately, I had some crazy days as a teenager at random drinking parties in the woods where I learned how to pop a squat.
* It took a while to feel the baby move and I kept convincing myself that our baby didn't have any limbs (what combination of medicines mimics thalidomide...?) In fact, we were sitting in our apartment in Washington, so it was well into my second trimester. I think it was probably around 23 or 24 weeks. I love feeling him move. I think it's really cool.
* I had my first "stranger touching my belly without asking" experience last week. And I liked it! Maybe it'll get old, but I think it's so cool that my cashier at Trader Joe's reached out and touched the little guy. I felt awesome and connected and part of this greater community of mothers than I could comprehend. I hope more women continue to do it. Thanks, Betty. That made my day.
* My breasts are leaking. I only figured this out because I was watching a video on how to self-express and thought I would practice. Then stuff came out. Oops. Tim thinks it's really funny and tries to squeeze them all the time. Apparently if you leak it means you'll be a stellar breastfeeder though, so I have no complaints with this one :)
* I've learned that I'm kind of a fatalist. Every little Braxton-Hicks contraction (which I have frequently) makes me think I'm in pre-term labor. I'm not paranoid, I just think I read too much about complications and so I'm convinced that I will have them. That, and before I was pregnant, I was so confident about my ability to be pregnant that I'm sure Heavenly Father wants to humble me somehow. I'm just waiting for it to happen...
* I've started to love pregnancy again. I've been walking 3 miles a day, eating better, and really enjoying this stage of my life. Even though work is sometimes hard on my body and my mind, I'm trying to keep things in perspective. Sometimes I think it was the stupidest idea ever to up and leave in the middle of pregnancy and move across the country temporarily, but I think we'll look back and realize it's worth it. We've had quite the battle with insurance and finding prenatal care, but in the end, we're having an awesome time in the nation's capitol. There is so much to do and see, and we will never live in a better location in DC ever again for this cheap.
3rd trimester: Bring it on.
1st Trimester:
* We found out we were pregnant the second week of winter semester. I kind of knew I was before the test was positive. Even though we had a negative test earlier that week and I was having what felt like pre-menstrual cramps, I just knew something was different. Lo and behold... baby.
* The first person we told was my sister Lauren. We called her as soon as we found out. I'm not the kind of person to wait and share good news. Even though I was barely into things, we told most people right away (within that week at least). I know some people don't like to share the news for fear of miscarriage, but I figured if that happened, we'd just update everyone. I wasn't too worried about it though-- I'm go with the flow on most things and figure there is a plan for us all.
* I thought pregnancy was awesome-- for about a week. I felt great, I went running, I rededicated myself to veganism. And then I started puking. I'm not exactly sure what day or week it hit me but UGH. I was so. sick. It was miserable. I threw up a good six times a day or so for at least a month. I tried everything: I started natural with ginger and teas; moved to Saltines; Vitamin B6 and Unisom; Phenergan; then finally to Zofran. Nothing helped. I think the Zofran might have a little bit, but I think by the time I had it I was past the worst of my nausea. I would get really sick whenever we came home at night. The bus ride was always the worst, and then walking past all the fast food restaurants on State St. got me everytime. Sorry about the puke on the side of the road during January-March. That was me.
2nd trimester:
* I pee constantly. That's the most annoying thing about being pregnant at this stage for me (which I am SO, SO grateful for!! I read all this about heartburn, constipation, pre-eclampsia, swelling, aching, etc. but I have luckily not suffered any of these... knock on wood). I wake up every two hours without fail, and I go about every hour at work. When I first moved to this office I was scared the people at the front desk would think I had a bladder issue or explosive diarrhea or something. Then, luckily, I started showing and they figured out I was pregnant. I pee everywhere too, it's been interesting when real restrooms are not available. I relieved myself behind some trees in the middle of Philadelphia because we were with a group and I didn't want everyone to have to walk and find a ladies room for me. Tim just stood watch (oh, and took a picture because he thought it was funny). Fortunately, I had some crazy days as a teenager at random drinking parties in the woods where I learned how to pop a squat.
* It took a while to feel the baby move and I kept convincing myself that our baby didn't have any limbs (what combination of medicines mimics thalidomide...?) In fact, we were sitting in our apartment in Washington, so it was well into my second trimester. I think it was probably around 23 or 24 weeks. I love feeling him move. I think it's really cool.
* I had my first "stranger touching my belly without asking" experience last week. And I liked it! Maybe it'll get old, but I think it's so cool that my cashier at Trader Joe's reached out and touched the little guy. I felt awesome and connected and part of this greater community of mothers than I could comprehend. I hope more women continue to do it. Thanks, Betty. That made my day.
* My breasts are leaking. I only figured this out because I was watching a video on how to self-express and thought I would practice. Then stuff came out. Oops. Tim thinks it's really funny and tries to squeeze them all the time. Apparently if you leak it means you'll be a stellar breastfeeder though, so I have no complaints with this one :)
* I've learned that I'm kind of a fatalist. Every little Braxton-Hicks contraction (which I have frequently) makes me think I'm in pre-term labor. I'm not paranoid, I just think I read too much about complications and so I'm convinced that I will have them. That, and before I was pregnant, I was so confident about my ability to be pregnant that I'm sure Heavenly Father wants to humble me somehow. I'm just waiting for it to happen...
* I've started to love pregnancy again. I've been walking 3 miles a day, eating better, and really enjoying this stage of my life. Even though work is sometimes hard on my body and my mind, I'm trying to keep things in perspective. Sometimes I think it was the stupidest idea ever to up and leave in the middle of pregnancy and move across the country temporarily, but I think we'll look back and realize it's worth it. We've had quite the battle with insurance and finding prenatal care, but in the end, we're having an awesome time in the nation's capitol. There is so much to do and see, and we will never live in a better location in DC ever again for this cheap.
3rd trimester: Bring it on.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Memorizing the apostles
Someone told me once, or I read once, that the best way to memorize who the Twelve Apostles of our church are is to break them up into groups of threes and find some way to remember each group. When the apostles were the same for somewhere around 7 years under President Hinckley, I had them down: Packer parries Nelson; Old Band Wagon; SHH; and Ever Under Battle. But now I'm trying to solidify the new ones. Packer Perries Nelson is the same. I just imagine Elder Packer and Elder Nelson in a sword fight and Packer parries Nelson. That would be something worth seeing. Old Band Wagon (Oaks Ballard Wirthlin) is now OBS (Oaks Ballard Scott), like short for obstetrician, I guess I've been thinking about birth a lot. SHH (Scott Hales Holland) as in be quiet is now Holy Holy Bednar (Hales Holland Bednar), because he seems so holy. And Ever Under Battle (Eyring Uchtdorf Bednar) is now the Cooking Chefs Association (Cook Christofferson Anderson) which is funny because it borders on redundant
I am, however, open to suggestions. I am a little afraid that Holy Holy Bednar sounds a little irreverent, even though its not, because I'm sure he is a very holy person. Any ideas?
And I secretly hope that the color of the ties in this photo shows political party leanings, but I doubt it. Elder Packer would be part of the black tie party. I don't know what that would mean.
Summation
I haven't posted in a while, so I thought I would. Here's just random thoughts of mine from the past while.
We went to Philadelphia a while back. The historical sites were pretty cool, but the actual city of Brotherly Love was a little run down and depressing. It was fun riding a huge tour bus through the ghetto parts of town with everyone staring at it. The best part of the trip was watching National Treasure on the way back.
We've also recently been to the Postal Museum and had an inside tour of the Pentagon thanks to our fellow intern Tiffany who works there. Both were pretty cool. But if you ever go to the Postal Museum don't get sucked into the direct mailing exhibit. It's funded by a direct mailing printer company and is one big propaganda trip, not a museum exhibit. Stick to the real mail.
Baby stuff has stupid names. A quick scan of e-bay products for baby stuff gives results back like "Galloping Fun Jumperoo," "Bouncing Tigger Jolly Jumper" and "SweetDollBaby" cloth diapers. Who are they marketing to, the babies? Seems like people start re-living their childhood through their baby early these days. It's obviously not a big deal, of course. If the product is good, what do I care.
On a similar note, shout out to Cait for being super ready for the baby. Our insurance situation is a little tenuous right now, admittedly. But besides that, thanks to Cait, I feel like we are as prepared as we can be. I should probably be reading up on being a dad a little more, too.
On another related note, Cait just said "Babies are so ugly. They look like aliens."
We had a good time hanging out with Cait's family this weekend, but we forgot the camera, so I'll steal this photo from Lauren.
And yes, that is a pretty nice beard if I do say so myself.
Target is a pretty fun place to work. I do have to be up at 4:30 to be there by 6 when I start working. But I also get home early, so that's nice.
That's it. If anyone knows where to get good souvenirs from France or Alabama here in DC, let me know.
We went to Philadelphia a while back. The historical sites were pretty cool, but the actual city of Brotherly Love was a little run down and depressing. It was fun riding a huge tour bus through the ghetto parts of town with everyone staring at it. The best part of the trip was watching National Treasure on the way back.
We've also recently been to the Postal Museum and had an inside tour of the Pentagon thanks to our fellow intern Tiffany who works there. Both were pretty cool. But if you ever go to the Postal Museum don't get sucked into the direct mailing exhibit. It's funded by a direct mailing printer company and is one big propaganda trip, not a museum exhibit. Stick to the real mail.
Baby stuff has stupid names. A quick scan of e-bay products for baby stuff gives results back like "Galloping Fun Jumperoo," "Bouncing Tigger Jolly Jumper" and "SweetDollBaby" cloth diapers. Who are they marketing to, the babies? Seems like people start re-living their childhood through their baby early these days. It's obviously not a big deal, of course. If the product is good, what do I care.
On a similar note, shout out to Cait for being super ready for the baby. Our insurance situation is a little tenuous right now, admittedly. But besides that, thanks to Cait, I feel like we are as prepared as we can be. I should probably be reading up on being a dad a little more, too.
On another related note, Cait just said "Babies are so ugly. They look like aliens."
We had a good time hanging out with Cait's family this weekend, but we forgot the camera, so I'll steal this photo from Lauren.
And yes, that is a pretty nice beard if I do say so myself.
Target is a pretty fun place to work. I do have to be up at 4:30 to be there by 6 when I start working. But I also get home early, so that's nice.
That's it. If anyone knows where to get good souvenirs from France or Alabama here in DC, let me know.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
ER Visit
Don't freak out. I'm not in pre-term labor or anything.
Last night, I got this NASTY cough and throat thing that kept me up all night, hacking and wheezing. I didn't really have anything to take (though honey is honestly what kept me alive, mixed in hot water), and when I laid down I could barely breathe. I hate going to the doctor for things that I'm usually pretty sure they can't do anything about, but I succumbed to the urge to find comfort in the ER where they could hopefully give me some kind of breathing treatment or cough syrup and make sure that my throat didn't close and I didn't die (because it was touch and go for a while there... I thought at least).
Ok. Here's the first lesson: don't go to a teaching hospital. If it has "university" in the title, find the next closest ER. I didn't even think about it at the time. I just knew it was two blocks away and it was 5 in the morning. I was seen my no less than 8 different doctors, 6 of them being what appeared to be first year residents. Even few minutes a different student doctor would come in to check me out and suggest a treatment. No one really knew what was safe for a pregnant person, and when I told them the cough was giving me painless contractions, I got a blank stare.
Second lesson: don't go to the ER at the change of shift from the night to day. At around 7 am, I was given an Albuterol breathing treatment since my throat was so tight. They gave it to me and left, and I started having the weirdest reaction. My body felt like there were cockroaches inside me trying to get out. I felt like I was hallucinating like that lady on the House episode we watched last week (turns out she had leprosy...) My hands and legs started shaking and my face got really flushed. Tim ran and got a doctor (a different one, go figure) who told me I was having an allergic reaction and would find out if Benadryl was safe for pregnancy. Never saw that doctor again. What seemed like forever later, a new doctor came in and I told him about my reaction (because I still felt so weird) and he said that was a normal reaction and I should be fine. Later, a tech brought me the Benadryl and looked at me like I was crazy when I told her I didn't need it because the other doctor said it was a normal reaction (and I actually called Lauren to verify this, that yes, Albuterol does that to you. I trust her knowledge of asthma medications over the doctor's. Rightly so).
There was a big chest x-ray debate as well. Some doctors wanted it, some didn't, they consulted for hours. Finally, they said no chest x-ray but a throat x-ray so less potential damage to baby. I didn't really want an x-ray at all but after the reaction and a dose of Tylenol with Codeine I couldn't really think to say anything about it. I wouldn't even let the dentist x-ray me a few months ago even though they said it was safe. I was wheeled down to the x-ray room where the tech looked at me and asked if I was pregnant. Um, yeah, check out the belly. That ain't fat. He looked astonished that the ER doctors sent a pregnant woman for x-ray so then he had to call them and verify. Then he tried to do the wrong x-ray (a chest one rather than a throat one). He made me stand up with all this heavy lead stuff around my belly when I felt like I was going to pass out from the reactions I was having and finally it was over.
Third lesson: take your husband with you so he can tell the doctors when it's enough. We got back from an unremarkable x-ray, and then the doctor suggested they stick a camera down my throat to see if it was swollen. I looked at him dubiously "I KNOW IT'S SWOLLEN! I CAN FEEL IT!!" He didn't buy it. Finally Tim was like no, she doesn't need it. I didn't see a doctor again. A tech brought me discharge papers and no one came to wish us well as we trudged out of that horrid place.
There is no way in HELL I am birthing my baby there.
Last night, I got this NASTY cough and throat thing that kept me up all night, hacking and wheezing. I didn't really have anything to take (though honey is honestly what kept me alive, mixed in hot water), and when I laid down I could barely breathe. I hate going to the doctor for things that I'm usually pretty sure they can't do anything about, but I succumbed to the urge to find comfort in the ER where they could hopefully give me some kind of breathing treatment or cough syrup and make sure that my throat didn't close and I didn't die (because it was touch and go for a while there... I thought at least).
Ok. Here's the first lesson: don't go to a teaching hospital. If it has "university" in the title, find the next closest ER. I didn't even think about it at the time. I just knew it was two blocks away and it was 5 in the morning. I was seen my no less than 8 different doctors, 6 of them being what appeared to be first year residents. Even few minutes a different student doctor would come in to check me out and suggest a treatment. No one really knew what was safe for a pregnant person, and when I told them the cough was giving me painless contractions, I got a blank stare.
Second lesson: don't go to the ER at the change of shift from the night to day. At around 7 am, I was given an Albuterol breathing treatment since my throat was so tight. They gave it to me and left, and I started having the weirdest reaction. My body felt like there were cockroaches inside me trying to get out. I felt like I was hallucinating like that lady on the House episode we watched last week (turns out she had leprosy...) My hands and legs started shaking and my face got really flushed. Tim ran and got a doctor (a different one, go figure) who told me I was having an allergic reaction and would find out if Benadryl was safe for pregnancy. Never saw that doctor again. What seemed like forever later, a new doctor came in and I told him about my reaction (because I still felt so weird) and he said that was a normal reaction and I should be fine. Later, a tech brought me the Benadryl and looked at me like I was crazy when I told her I didn't need it because the other doctor said it was a normal reaction (and I actually called Lauren to verify this, that yes, Albuterol does that to you. I trust her knowledge of asthma medications over the doctor's. Rightly so).
There was a big chest x-ray debate as well. Some doctors wanted it, some didn't, they consulted for hours. Finally, they said no chest x-ray but a throat x-ray so less potential damage to baby. I didn't really want an x-ray at all but after the reaction and a dose of Tylenol with Codeine I couldn't really think to say anything about it. I wouldn't even let the dentist x-ray me a few months ago even though they said it was safe. I was wheeled down to the x-ray room where the tech looked at me and asked if I was pregnant. Um, yeah, check out the belly. That ain't fat. He looked astonished that the ER doctors sent a pregnant woman for x-ray so then he had to call them and verify. Then he tried to do the wrong x-ray (a chest one rather than a throat one). He made me stand up with all this heavy lead stuff around my belly when I felt like I was going to pass out from the reactions I was having and finally it was over.
Third lesson: take your husband with you so he can tell the doctors when it's enough. We got back from an unremarkable x-ray, and then the doctor suggested they stick a camera down my throat to see if it was swollen. I looked at him dubiously "I KNOW IT'S SWOLLEN! I CAN FEEL IT!!" He didn't buy it. Finally Tim was like no, she doesn't need it. I didn't see a doctor again. A tech brought me discharge papers and no one came to wish us well as we trudged out of that horrid place.
There is no way in HELL I am birthing my baby there.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
All I want for my baby shower is a nice little iMac
My mom asked me if I was registering for baby stuff. My mother-in-law wants me to put together a list for the baby shower we're having with Tim's relatives. You know all I really want? This.
If everyone went in on something together, maybe we'd get this. Plus, right now if you order as a college student you get a free iPod touch, something we've also been talking about buying. Reasons this is more needed than receiving blankets and just as applicable to having a child:
1. I need a computer that I can work on so I can stay-at-home (most of the time) with the baby rather than lugging up to campus to work. I have this old laptop, but the g key is missing and the DVD player is shot. Speaking of the DVD player being shot, if we had this computer we wouldn't need our TV back. Tim's parents put it in their room, and we'd be sure glad to let them have it if we got this computer.
2. I want my child to be computer (and Mac) literate. We'd be giving our child a head start on life. Because PCs... honestly... they are so 1990s.
3. I can take lots of cute baby photos and edit them on this computer. Not to mention it has a webcam, so Grammy and Poppy in South Carolina can talk to the baby too.
4. I really can't think of anymore, except that I really, really, really want it. And I usually don't want things. And I'm probably being selfish and I probably won't get it. But it's nice to dream about.
Actually, I'd be happy with a Mac Mini too. But they don't come with the free iPod touch.
If everyone went in on something together, maybe we'd get this. Plus, right now if you order as a college student you get a free iPod touch, something we've also been talking about buying. Reasons this is more needed than receiving blankets and just as applicable to having a child:
1. I need a computer that I can work on so I can stay-at-home (most of the time) with the baby rather than lugging up to campus to work. I have this old laptop, but the g key is missing and the DVD player is shot. Speaking of the DVD player being shot, if we had this computer we wouldn't need our TV back. Tim's parents put it in their room, and we'd be sure glad to let them have it if we got this computer.
2. I want my child to be computer (and Mac) literate. We'd be giving our child a head start on life. Because PCs... honestly... they are so 1990s.
3. I can take lots of cute baby photos and edit them on this computer. Not to mention it has a webcam, so Grammy and Poppy in South Carolina can talk to the baby too.
4. I really can't think of anymore, except that I really, really, really want it. And I usually don't want things. And I'm probably being selfish and I probably won't get it. But it's nice to dream about.
Actually, I'd be happy with a Mac Mini too. But they don't come with the free iPod touch.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Lauren's germy little kids passed something to me this weekend. I feel horrible. My throat is on fire and my body is achy and weak. My nose is starting to stuff. I have not been sick like this in a while... and definitely not in the summertime. I blame it on the fact she made me use soap with triclosan and now there is some mutated bacteria eating away at my insides. Luckily I have a great guy that I'm living with that has made me carrot-ginger-mushroom soup and blueberry-orange-strawberry smoothies. It's a temporary fix, but I'm deteriorating quickly. I hate to call in sick to work though, even when I am really sick. I think it's because I feel like I have something to prove as a pregnant college student that I can do just as much as any other college student intern. I probably will try to work a few hours like I did today, but I know I need to take it easy or I'll never get better. Meanwhile, I'll keep chugging down those smoothies and demand more of this soup.
And is triclosan really bad for us? What about alcohol hand sanitizers. I don't know. Lauren seems to think it prevents her kids from getting sick because of its powerful germ-killing agents. They even have it in their toothpaste. She thinks the triclosan-is-bad is a conspiracy by the granoley parents. I don't know either way, there is really not a whole lot of conclusive evidence to prove it's bad, but there probably wasn't a whole lot of conclusive evidence to prove thalidomide bad either at the time. Better safe than sorry I think, or like this article says, better germs than cancer. If triclosan and tap water really do = carcinogen, I'd prefer to avoid it. I'll stick with Tom and Dr. Bronner.
And is triclosan really bad for us? What about alcohol hand sanitizers. I don't know. Lauren seems to think it prevents her kids from getting sick because of its powerful germ-killing agents. They even have it in their toothpaste. She thinks the triclosan-is-bad is a conspiracy by the granoley parents. I don't know either way, there is really not a whole lot of conclusive evidence to prove it's bad, but there probably wasn't a whole lot of conclusive evidence to prove thalidomide bad either at the time. Better safe than sorry I think, or like this article says, better germs than cancer. If triclosan and tap water really do = carcinogen, I'd prefer to avoid it. I'll stick with Tom and Dr. Bronner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)