Crunchy Living Class

I meant to write about this earlier but it just hasn't happened. I've been busy with the kids, working in the nursery again, and I've really become active with Green Moms Network which is a group of green bloggers. It's how my blog has grown so much and I'm starting to help a lot with it…in fact I now have a weekly post for the GMN blog that pays…ok only $5/post but still!

Anyway back to the point of this post. Justin and I have talked about me teaching a "crunchy class" for awhile now. I've never really thought that anyone would want to attend and I'm not a huge fan of public speaking so I've put it off.

However, people said they were interested. So I did it. I had my first Crunchy Living Class a few weeks ago!

I'm planning on having one a month with each month being a different theme. This month was Natural Remedies so we made Elderberry Syrup and VapoRub.

Like I said, I had a lot of interest but apparently I picked a Saturday that everyone was busy on. In the end, I only had two people show up but it was probably for the best. As I mentioned, I don't like public speaking so it was nice to have more of a "just friends" atmosphere.

The class went well. It was easier than I thought it would be and it was fun hanging out with the ladies who showed up. I ended up with a lot of extra Elderberry Syrup (had to make a big batch ahead of time in case more people showed up) so I decided to sell it to some friends who couldn't make it.

I need to get planning next months class. It's supposed to be Natural Beauty themed and so I'm planning on doing deodorant, a scrub, and maybe something else…toothpaste maybe? I'm not sure (which is why I'm dragging my feet). I've also got to price everything which is never any fun.

So that's a little update about what I've been up to. Hopefully my next class will be a bit larger.

I'm Getting Old

I'm getting old. No not in age…well I am getting older but I would imagine 28 isn't really considered old unless you ask a teenager.

No, I'm getting old physically. I'm slowly moving into the age of aches and pains. Nights of uncomfortable sleep (although currently I'm blaming Verity for that one). I now officially get knots in my shoulders. I used to think knots were something people exaggerated about or almost inflicted upon themselves. I mean, think about it our bodies really shouldn't do stuff like that. But it does. I've now learned my lesson. I'm only 28 and I'm having my husband rub knots out of my shoulders. Wonderful… No more soaking in tubs for enjoyment, no more rice bags simply to warm up with…no these things are now a necessity.

Something else has changed with this passing year (I say year because everything seems to have changed at 28). I am no longer unaffected by caffeine. I used to be able to have my java chip ice cream and frappaccinos with no issues. Caffeine didn't "work" on me. It wouldn't wake me up but it wouldn't keep me awake in the middle of the night either. Not any more. Yesterday, I had a frappaccino at 5 pm (hardly night time!). I felt no different for the whole evening and then… it was time for bed.

Not for me. I was wide awake and a bit jittery (much like when I've dealt with restless leg syndrome) until 2 am!

Someone explain to me why caffeine will last longer than tylenol? There's something wrong with that!

I've always heard that pregnancy is harder the older you get. I'm still considered young in the pregnancy/baby world but I can agree that being pregnant with Verity at 27 was much harder than being pregnant at 21, 22, or 25! I don't know how women survive being pregnant in their late 30's or 40's!

I need naps now. I used to think a nap was a waste of time. I have plenty of other things I need to do! Now I crave naps. I can see why old people sleep all the time. This growing old is tiring!


So I'm getting old.

I don't like it.

Now of course, there are some good things to growing older. I don't have to deal with as much drama (ok there's still a bit…women are mean), no more school work (although I'm teaching school…hmmm), I'm learning just who I am now (only took me till my mid-twenties and after having most of my kids to figure that one out!). So growing older isn't all that bad. But the bad stuff…is not fun.

I need to find the fountain of youth in my natural remedies. I am always looking for remedies and health tips for my kids or if we get sick but it looks like I should start focusing on natural ways to age slowly or more easily now.

Stop the Insanity

I don't know why but the last few weeks has been one crazy incident after another. When you are a parent, it seems there are moments when life is good, nobody is getting hurt, driving you crazy and your house is miraculously clean.

Then there are the other moments…the moments when it seems that EVERYTHING is going wrong. You're kids are constantly fighting with each other, always getting hurt, and your house is now a mess because you are dealing with the kids or just too exhausted.

I feel like we are in one of those moments. The kids being insane and always bugging each other, I can handle that… at least I have in the past so I assume I'll survive this time too. The house is actually clean but probably only because we've had people over so it HAS to be clean. However, there is something that needs to stop.

The near heart attacks… No I'm not in poor health but I seriously think my kids might be trying to drive me to it! Shall we recap what's happened lately?

After searching the whole house for Everly, I find her outside, out FRONT, out of the GATE, walking the side walk of our BUSIEST street! It's a miracle someone didn't just stop and grab her or that she didn't decide to go into the street or that I found her when she had only just started down the sidewalk!

Ransom comes up stairs to show me that he has a bloody hand. He's not screaming, he's not really even crying although the tears are welling up. You can tell this isn't a "I ran into something" type cut, it's more along the "I made a huge mistake, help me" accident. I had asked him to bring me the epi-pen that was still downstairs…well apparently he decided to try it out. Not smart. Thankfully he only managed to stick himself with the needle and didn't inject any of the medicine. Thankfully it was only his hand and not something crazy like his mouth or eye!

Verity has fallen off a chair and a bed. Both times landing on her head and I'm pretty sure if she wasn't a squishy, flexible baby her neck would have snapped. She's perfectly fine but it's not fun to see your baby fall on their head like that.

I'm sure Logan has had something happen to him… in any case he's been in fine form lately with his tantrums, boredom, and contrariness.

So I'm ready for a change. I've had too many accidents, too much blood, to many near panic attacks. Moms shouldn't have to deal with that. This mama is ready to clock out. When can I cash in on my sick days and vacation days? Oh wait…I'm a mom. I don't get those.

36 Weeks

Weeks: 36

Baby Stats:  Baby is the size of a honeydew for those who love the fruit comparisons. She's supposedly almost 6 lbs but let's face it, my babies tend to be a bit bigger then normal so she's

probably already at or past 6 lbs! She is now around 18 1/2 inches from head to heel...once again supposedly.

Symptoms: Lovely Restless Leg Syndrome has finally shown up, I knew it was too much to hope that I would not get RLS this time around but it seems to be pretty mild. Other than that, just tons of braxton hicks. They say they just get worse with each kid and I can agree with that. I'm sure it's not the case but it does seem like I have braxton hicks all day long. Too bad it doesn't really do anything about when I'll go into labor (maybe for some women but not me).

Aversions/Cravings: Right now it's all about apples and warm desserts but I think that has more to do with Fall setting in then being pregnant.... 

Bump: Still getting bigger although as always I look like I carry small. Something to blame on the anterior placenta, I'm sure. It's annoying to have a smaller bump in the beginning of pregnancy but it's always nice come the third trimester when I am still able to put my own shoes on. :) 

Weight Gain: Depends on who you ask... At the midwives' I"m up 13-14 lbs but at home it's more like 17-18 as I probably gained 3-4 lbs before I first saw the midwife. Either way, it looks like I'll keep my 20 lbs goal. 

Worries: Not too many. I do worry about if I'll have to deal with induction talk with this baby. I know I can do a natural birth even with Pitocin (since I almost made it with Everly) but I would absolutely love to have a Pitocin free birth for once in my life! Also I'm worried that I'll go late again. Ok it's not so much a worry as a jealousy thing...everyone I know (even those who are normally late) has been having their babies early. I can't imagine that I'll be lucky enough to follow the trend so it's one more thorn in the side of having babies who like to cook.

Looking forward to: Finally having this baby. I know I still have a good month+ to go but it's always around this time that things seem to drag on and I'm anxious to move on to the baby part!

Medical Stuff: Nothing really. I've got my 36 week appointment on Monday but there should be nothing to report. Blood pressure has taken my usual third trimester dip (I thank the red raspberry leaf tea and stevia for that.), weights normal, midwives have been fine with my refusals of random procedures, get to go over my birth plan this Monday... I've always thought about making one but I always figured I can just tell them as things go...well 3 babies later, I've finally realized that just doesn't work very well for me. It does in some things but other things I tend to let slide if I'm already in the hospital room. So this time it's all going on paper so that I don't have to resort to being that "perfect" patient once in the hospital. Although this hospital and midwives are very easy going and much more my style so I doubt we'll clash on anything much.

Missing the most: Hmmm I don't know. Maybe just being able to sleep for longer then 2-3 hr segments but it's not like that will change once I have this baby. :)

Pregnancy milestone: Almost "term".

Out of the Mouths of Bloggers

I've seen similar "You know You're a Blogger..." lists before and naturally they always line up pretty well. To give you a glimpse into my blogging life (and the life my family now enjoys/tolerates) I thought I'd write one of my own.

Things You'll Hear The Blogger in Me Say:

"Dinner will be done once I take a picture"

"We need _____, who should I pitch to?"

"No I didn't get all this stuff for free, I worked for it."

"Hold on, I've got to update the blog/facebook/twitter/pinterest."

"How'd that taste? Does it need something? Is it blog worthy yet?"

"No you can't actually use this product right now, I just need you to look like you are using it for the picture."

"Can you guys just look happy for this blog photo? I know we've taken 50 pictures already but none of them are just right....just one more...really."

"No package? Where are those review products?"

"I love ____. I did a review for them and they are really great. You should get some, here's my affiliate link."

"Sorry you can't wear that diaper yet, I need to take clean pictures of it before we take the action shots."

I'm sure there are tons of other horrid blogger quotes that I say... these are just some of the big ones. Keep in mind that there's a good side to being a blogging family too... like free stuff. I mean I won't need to buy anything for baby #4 (not a new car seat, not new diapers, etc) because of my blogging. So there's good and bad...and even the bad I don't think is too horrible.