Baby Update

I was reminded today to update. Things have been going pretty well. We are "technically" at least 1/2 way now.  Last week I struggled a lot with depresion but I think that that was a combination of mental stuff, winter weather, and lack of Vitamin D (I forgot to take my fermented cod liver oil all week). So that has resolved it self. This week Baby has been a bit distracting as the movements (kicking?) has become much stronger. I find it rather distracting at times, especially while I am trying to be quiet and pay attention. Justin was able to feel baby move a last week which was fun. He had to wait for a while because just when he decided he wanted to feel baby decided that four or five violent kicks was enough for a while.  I have been hungrier than a starving lion the last few weeks and been craving milk, cheese (especially cottage cheese) and sweets (those ones are STRONG!). I also am starting to feel like I (especially my skin) am stretching in my belly. Not really pleasant.  Hopefully I'll be going shopping soon because nothing seems to fit right now. My maternity clothes are still too big and I'm outgrowing my "lose"fitting clothes. (Some I refuse to wear because they make me look fat rather than pregnant, but those are few. Please pray that my appointment will go well on Tuesday afternoon since it will start off with what has the potential to be a frustrating and emotional conversation. (Thank the Lord for giving me calm-ness and peace this week. His love does endure forever. - God bless

Iowans For Food Choice

Iowa House File 2044- Iowans for Food Choice Act- Give Iowas the freedom to buy milk directly from the farmer. It is currently illigal for any citizen to buy fresh real milk from farmers. This includes informed conscientious citizens who visit and question small careful health-minded contentious farmers who are concerned about the health of their animals.

IT SHOULD NOT BE ILLEGAL FOR US TO BUY REAL MILK FROM FARMERS THAT WE KNOW!

Please call or e-mail your representative (or mine) asking him/ her to support this house file.
Click here to find our representative.

Paul Bell (Jasper)
E-mail: paul.bell@legis.state.ia.us
Home Address: 611 E. 17th Street N., Newton, IA, 50208
Home Telephone: 641-792-9514

Eric Palmer (Mahaska)
E-mail: eric.palmer@legis.state.ia.us
Home Address: 1118 Clearview Drive, Oskaloosa, IA, 52577
Home Telephone: 641-672-2998

Occupation: Attorney at Law
Business Telephone: 641-673-7589
Business Fax: 641-673-7928

Jim Van Englenhoven (Marion)
E-mail: jim.van.engelenhoven@legis.state.ia.us
Home Address: 2309 Keokuk Drive, Pella, IA, 50219
Home Telephone: 641-628-1675

To learn more about real milk click here.

Two Real Food Resources

As many may know I am passionate about food. I love to eat healthy food and I love to research what makes food healthy. Finding this food is not always easy. Here are two local farms that I'm going to look into. I've not meet these families (that I know of).

Stoneyfield


Picket Fence Farm

There is also the Iowa Food Cooperative. This is by no means an exclusive list of things but I still spend hours looking through things. Mostly highlighting and copying names, finding web sites, and mapping their locations to see how practical it would be to visit them. (In the middle of winter getting to work has been an issue.)

That is all for now. God bless

Nursery Ideas

So I'm trying to post  some of my ideas for Baby's room. I like the idea of polka dots on our tan stripped walls. I like the idea of putting baby's name on the wall so here is an idea that I like.  (I made my own on Word that I am trying to post) This is the link for instructions. I am currently trying it out. E How
I am trying to work out how to make it a decal. Fabric would be a bit difficult for a name. So I am looking into other things but not paying an unreasonable amount.

So now I need to go work on Keifer

Baby De Jong

This is my new favorite "monster". Baby was rather uncooperative at our ultrasound appointment so the tech struggled to get decent pictures. Baby apparently takes after Mommy in that Baby likes to sleep curled into a tiny ball (or in a diver's tuck position). Of course as soon as we tried to figure out baby's gender baby's hands, legs, feet,  and cord were in the way. I think that Baby will be stubborn like Daddy. I'm still not concerned about the necessity of seeing Baby but it was fun. It also explained why I've had a lot of lower front abdominal pressure because Baby likes to be stashed into by pelvis and is best friends with my bladder. ( I do tell Baby it isn't nice to push on Mommy's bladder so much but Baby doesn't listen). Surprise.
Well, I need to get back to work. The Lord bless you all! 

Apostle Paul's prediction about food.

While I was reading my cook book during breakfast this morning I rean across this in the margin.

1 Timothy 4:1-3 However, the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, addicting themselves to seducing spirits, and to teaching lies in hypocrisy; burning up their own conscience; hindering marriage; abstaining from foods with God created to be consumed by the faithful, and recognizers of the truth.

I like the NKJV better. I included verse 4 too.
"Now the Spirit expressly said that in the latter times some will depart form the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is  sanctified by the word of God and prayer. "

If that is not a commentary on life right now where I live and in my time, I don't really want to know what it would be like, though I can see it coming.

Oatmeal

Growing up the only oatmeal that I would eat were the fruit flavored ones by Quaker. You know, the ones that are individually packaged and come in a box and sometimes eveon contain sugar cystals in the shapes of fruits or animals.

Once I got married my husband wanted oatmeal for breakfast every day during the winter our first year. Of course having to buy it I oped for the cheapest container possible. I made it. He ate it. I hated it! No amount of fruit, cream, honey, or brown sugar could make the microwaved instant glue paste appetizing.

I wanted to make myself like it because it is supposed to be sooo good for you. I was going to try steal cut oats but never got around to it.

Finally this winter I needed something more than toast to get me through the morning. (Likely because it has been -5 or colder every moring for that last few weeks and because the baby growing inside me seems to be hungry quite often.

I found something that works! Sally Fallon's recipe from Nourishing Traditions. Yes! A major plus is I don;t feel bad leaving the extra in the pan on the top of my stovetop until the next day.  In the morning i simply add milk or water and heat it up again. In the mean time I put some butter, fruit, and honey in my bowl. When the oatmeal is hot (yes please do stir it) I dump some in my bowl, mix it up and i have warm yummy goodness for breakfast! The texture is different. It is a bit lumpier, but it tastes better.
Another wonderful thing I found out is that you can mix it with egg (i suggest a bit of cinnamon too) and fry it in your frying pan with butter, whoala! A touch of maple syrup and you have oatmeal french toast (aka Fried Mush- believe me Sally Fallon my name is much more appealing).

Happy oatmeal mornings!

Oatmeal
1 c oats
1 c warm water + 2 T whey or like
1/2 t sea salt
1 c water
(Opt. 1T flax seeds)

1) Mix warm water and whey with oats, cover, and leave in a warm place for 7 hours or overnight.
2) Bring the other cup of water to boil with salt.
3) Add soaked oats, cover, reduce heat and simmer for several minutes.
4) Remove from heat. If desired stir in freshly ground flax seeds. Let stand for a few minutes.
5) Serve warm with plenty of butter/ cream, natural sweetener, and if desired fruit or fruit preserves, chopped nuts, or coconut meat.

Belly Picture 4

Here is the latest belly picture. We do pictures the first of every month since that is easy to remember and since we got a positive pregnancy test on the first of the month.

Things have been going pretty well. Physically I've been feeling pretty much great. My family went on a short hike while we were in Arizona. I still do all (most) of P.E. activities with the 3rd/4th graders.Emotionally things have been going better but I still find my new heightened emotional state very frustrating (being as it is pretty much uncontrollable).  Similarly I've found that I am terrified of icy/ snow covered roads. I mean terrified not scared. I work very hard to stay calm while riding in the car and I never fully succeed when the roads are bad. ( I have started carpooling because I would not leave town if I were driving most days.)

I'm really struggling with what I feel is an inadequate prenatal care system. I don't think that the care that my Dr. gives me is inadequate to the care of the other Dr.s in our town. I feel that the type of care and the system leaves much wanting and is outrageously over priced for the little it does do. (And I am insured!!) This is an issue that has been particularly upsetting to me because many people around me are content with the inadequate care and think that I am unreasonable or are unwilling to hear me out.
I'm going to stop there with that issue because there is no use getting upset about it until I can do something about it.