Check-In June 2008

[aklap]

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May is gone, June is here! We've got a bunch of tulips out front and some on the side of the house. I took this in early May. They're all gone now

Well, still no article in the local newspaper about the support group. Me thinks I'm going to send an email to the editor. Me thinks he might have forgotten.

I've got another stained glass project going on. This time it's for a raffle at church. One of our members [a 4 year old little girl] is battling a childhood cancer [if you have a few extra prayers laying around - I'm sure they'd be appreciated ]. I decided to make 8.5 x 11 panel to donate. The little girl's name is Lilyanna. One of the other fundraisers were Lilies for Lillyanna - so I decided to make this panel with a couple of Calla Lilies. I thought it'd be a nice reminder of who and why this is being done. I'll post some pictures of it when I get it done. Right now I'm in the pattern design stage. June 21st is right around the corner.

Not much else new in the Al n Peg house...how 'bout the rest of y'all?

For those of you just tuning in, Check-In is a chance to introduce yourself, let everyone know how you're doing, what you're up to, to touch base...something, anything, just let us know you're still around This is a great place for new members to say Hi!

The Check-In Time Tunnel

Here's what we were doing last June.
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[ostrich]

Ugh. June is going to be one expensive month. We just found out that DH bent the axle in his car (ran into a storm drain). Plus our insurance is in limbo until July, which means any doctor's appointments are at full cost for us. Plus we're going to CA at the end of the month. It's a necessary trip (family), versus a regular vacation, so maybe we won't end up spending as much.

On the bright side we hired a friend of a friend to help us with our landscaping. He's got some cool ideas for the back yard, which at this point is basically a large green rectangle. My goal is to at least get some trees planted this year.

All's quiet on the GF front. I got slightly spooked at dinner the other night. Went to Biaggi's and ordered the GF pasta and sausage. (I spent 2 hours working in the aforementioned rectangle. I deserved some sausage.) The pasta came out a little different than normal...more like NGF pasta. But the waiter assured me it was GF, and I didn't react. This week I'll be making Chex Mix to bring to a party.

Edited to add: Brilliant. There's no AC in my office today. It's already 87 degrees in here, and it's not even 10am. Let's see, 30 people x 2 computers per person + 3 monitors per person...
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Ostrich :>--O==={

Time falls away, but these small hours
These little wonders still remain

[Fifi]

Well, June is starting out interesting. I was grocery shopping last wednesday and the next thing I knew I was in the emergency room at the hospital. Apparently I had a seizure in the store and bit my tongue and got bruises. They tested me and decided it wasn't epilepsy, it was only a reaction to a combination of my prescriptions. I was in the hospital until Friday afternoon. I am just now having a clear head and a correct concept of time. I have never had an experience like that before. But the way I figure it is next time don't look at the prices June has to be better! I have also been worrying a lot lately so the stress may have had something to do with it. I hope to have a productive appt with my psychologist this weekend. I am looking forward to planting my herbs next weekend.

[aklap]

Good grief Fif!! I hope you're feeling OK now. Did they do scans of your head or how did the come to the conclusion it was a med reaction?

Take care!!
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Fifi]

I Had a list of all the prescriptions I take (about 9) and there are 2 anti depressants that have a side effect of seizures, (wellbutrin and celexa). And since I am taking fairly high doses of them the dr attributes it to them. I was given an anti seizure medicine prescription, but before I go adding any more to my list, I want to see my Dr and find out if I can eliminate some of the ones I am already on. They did an EEG, Cat scan, MRI, and found nothing. I am feeling much better now. kind of afraid to go back to the store where it happened.

[cruelshoes]

Holy schmoley, Fifi! Hope the docs get to the bottom of things. That is scary.

My husband and his brother are making some strides (finally!) on our neverending deck(s) project. There are railings up on the deck on the front, and it is starting to come together in the back. With a little luck it will be finished in a few weeks, since they only have time to work on it on weekends.

My husband is chicken crazy, and has gotten 3 more baby chicks for us. it told him he absolutely cannot keep all 3, he can decide what 2 are his favorites. These are Welsummers, and he wants them because they lay the chocolate brown eggs. Below is a picture. They are (l - r) JP Patches, Esmerelda and Gertrude.


They are named after characters from our favorite children's TV show, JP Patches, the longest running local television program for kids in TV history.

The kids are almost out of school. 10 more mornings to go! When they are out of school for the summer, I will start taking the bus to work. I absolutely cannot afford to drive anymore. My employer pays 60% of the cost of a bus pass, so the financial incentive to gve up the car is just too strong to ignore. Unfortunately, it increases my commute time from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours each way. In the fall when the kids are back in school, I will figure out if I want to keep doing it.

Economic conditions continue to hit my employer hard. My entire department was eliminated last month. Fortunately, I was able to get another job within the company. I work in the same office with a lot of the same people, but I have to learn a lot of new things. Luckily, this new job is shaping up to be a positive move for me with a lot of growth potential.

In the wake of my recent success with GF potstickers, I am trying out some more challenging cooking projects. My next challenge is spinach and cheese ravioli. I hope to have a great recipe with food porn to post soon.

Happy beginning of summer, everybody!
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

[Torrey]

Hey all,

Happy June! Well, I am looking for a job...been out of work since the day after Mom's Day, so I'm beginning to go a little stir crazy...there are a bunch of projects I would like to get done around the house, but I can't be spending money "frivolously" at the moment...

I have applied to numerous jobs through various job Web sites, and I am really trying *not* to go the recruiter route, but I just may end up doing that...we shall see...the cats are happy to have me around, though.

Other than that, not too much going on...getting ready for my little brother's wedding in August (in SF--can't WAIT!) and looking up potential job opportunities.
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~Torrey

August 24, 1975
GF BD July 12, 2004

[nancw]

I was so happy to turn our kitchen calendar to June! Crazy May: soccer, baseball, end-of-school-year activities, multiple doctor appointments and a visit from Mom just about did me in. Food continues to be challenging but the diligence is paying off huge in so many ways. The gardens are thriving, I'm eating fresh lettuce and spinach every day and the weather has gone from mixed-up to hot. I'm planning ahead for two trips in July. One locale has Whole Foods nearby, but the other does not. I wonder how much food I can fit into one checked bag. Who needs clothes anyway?
Take care all.

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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

[ShellyB]

Hi everyone

Thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce myself and wish you all a happy and healthy as possible June!

I posted a while ago when I was beginning to realise what was causing my 'problems' and thankfully I am now beginning to get my head round all this and feel sooo unbelieveably better

Several people have remarked how well I look, even some who don't know about my recent change of diet, so I'm feeling pretty positive.

I live in England with DH and have two grown up kids, one living at home and the other lives (literally) on the south coast.

It's been a wet start to June here, heavy rain for the last 24 hours and so it took me a while to get home from work tonight as parts of the road were flooded but never mind, hopefully the sun will come out soon and at least I managed to tidy the garden at the weekend.

Just waiting for DH to put a new door between the house and garage and then we can relax and enjoy life for a while

I love reading all the posts on the forum and have found a huge amount of information to help me find my way. Thanks guys

ShellyB

[HadassahSukkot]

hi all!! baby is here!!!

I just got home from the hospital with JD yesterday afternoon!

We were admitted on Saturday night as my contractions were 5 minutes apart and I was dialated at 1cm, then 1.5, and back to 1cm by 10pm. :idunno
The OB & Midwife team did an AWESOME job helping out, and on Sunday had me walking with DH, and taking more of my herbs to ripen things so the baby could come.

By 5 or so, JD was ready to start arriving and my labor was low in my back and so painful I couldn't stand and I was getting nauseous. The good thing though -- he cleaned me out, so I didn't need help in that department and everything was primed for us to get to work together.

Since things were so rough and I had gotten to about 3cm and not progressed by 6 or so, we had my water broken to help things along... I was soooooo scared at that point, but once it happened things just all kicked in and I got calm again.

To me, the hardest two points were transition and the END of the delivery. The rest was 'OK' except for the fact that my hormones went absolutely nuts and I needed two IVs to help slow the contractions down. I felt like I had to push while everything was ripening and moving towards transition, and was practically hyperventilating (serious!).

My mom and MIL had come to the delivery with me, and when the midwife asked if I wanted them there, I insisted they stay. At that point, I was NOT going to give up the extra help and assurance, and I am so so glad I did not send them out, even if I wasn't in the most decent of attire

It helped having the hand holding and the extra voices so I could hear what I was being told to do and not to do, as I got where I was in a "zone" at a certain point and couldn't really focus at all. We had music going to help keep me calm, and DH stayed within view so that he could help coach and I could focus.

We started on the bed (natural birth room, super great bed I must admit), but things were too hard and fast for me so we moved towards having a water birth. Sadly towards the end of transition, my heart was going so fast that they couldn't find JD's heartrate and we had a scare.. We had to run out the water from the tub and get me back onto the bed (that was not easy!!) and we got the CTG attached to his head instead of my abdomen. I told DH at that point if we needed a C-section -- do it and FAST. I got pretty scared at that point.

Then, things were OK again as soon as we found his heartbeat, and we were almost ready to start pushing again. When we did, the poor thing got stuck and I needed help. I remember telling them I couldn't do it anymore (too tired, too long -- though I had no idea how long we had been in there, I was so focused) We ended up with the OB taking a towel around my hips, me being turned to my side and the midwife holding my right leg/hip to assist me pushing.. My MIL took one arm, Mom the other and I was pushed to help me push the baby out. After about 5 minutes (give or take), it was obvious that JD was not having an easy time getting out, and I couldn't take one more hour of things being done 100% natural, so I had some assistance in that department (which to be honest, I didn't feel whatsoever)... And after a long pull & pushing from the back and LOADS of coaching, and the OB Pushing on my abdomen at the same time with his knee... Out came Jonathan at 10:35!

He weighs 9.4lbs, is about 23 inches long, has red hair, blue eyes and is just the sweetest, calmest newborn I've ever seen. He's exactly as he was in utero as well, preferring to sleep on his side or front, with his hands near his head (one near his mouth, one at his ear or behind his head), and with at the very least one knee up.

In the nursery, we could tell which baby was ours simply by his sleeping position.

Due to how Germany handles pregnancy and delivery, I was kept in the hospital until yesterday. Since I had some complications after delivery (things weren't getting tight again quickly and I had to have 3 doses of Oxytocin via IV from Sunday to Wednesday morning), things have been slow to get regulated.

Thursday I was feeling halfway normal, and by Friday both JD and I were cleared by the Pediatrician and the OB/Midwife staff to leave the hospital and go under the care of a local midwife here in town (daily meetings and exercise etc).

Sadly I have some issues with my milk coming in, BUT the hospital had a gluten free hypoallergenic milk that we can suppliment with while my supply comes in. I am giving JD about half of what he needs for each feeding, so we suppliment from there, and will reduce as my supply increases.

I will be drinking a breastfeed tea, and possibly having acupunture to help things along, and prayers/good vibes are always appreciated.

As far as Jonathan, he is doing wonderfully well


I'll have to post later. JD needs his diaper changed again (how in the world does he do it?) and his daddy has had his fill of diaper changing.

I have to admid my DH has done wonderfully well considering he has had to do the most of the baby care while we were in the hospital as I had lost so much blood, was so sore and bruised and had a nice IV jammed in my arm for 4 days straight.


Hope to see you all online sometime soon!
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[luvscowznh]

[celiacmaine-iac]

Wow, Hadassah! That's one good sized baby! Can't wait to see pics. Your family must be so happy right now. I'm glad all went ok in the long run. Congratulations all!!!
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Steph

[cruelshoes]

Congratulations, Hadassah! Your detailed description of the labor and delivery process reminded me why I don't want any more kids. I'm glad the little one is here safe and sound, and look forward to seeing pictures.
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

[aklap]

Contrats Had!!
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[nancw]

Way to go Hadassah! Congratulations and hope all goes well with your little guy. A big boy too - I had a 9 1/2 pounder naturally and yes, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It was a completely primal experience and an amazing thing to share with DH.
Enjoy...
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free