Even though healthcare in Canada is not "For Profit" (as in the US), many of the same mindsets appear here. I do not understand---other than greed---how a country has let birth become a money making event.
One area of profit for hospitals is epidurals/pain relief. There was a great blog post yesterday about this: http://wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com/ Look at October 7 (I can't get it to make a simple link to the actual post). Doctors getting plasma TVs for having the most number of medicated births in a hospital?
I think it would be a great idea if doctors, especially OBs, and hospitals had to make these things public. You know how books give you a list of questions to ask your doctor....what about "What sort of bonus do you receive from XYZ drug company" or "What have you received in the past 6 months from Similac?" Even better would be a doctor-disclosure pamphlet which details c-section/VBAC/vag breech/epidural/pre-date induction rates, with costs, income, and bonuses clearly stated.
The saddest thing is that birth outcomes in the US do not indicate that 'for profit' birth is better than non-profit birthing countries.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
"I have a Bad Back"
I often hear "I can't use a sling; I have a bad back" from moms, as they stand there with a toddler perched on their hip, their other hip thrown out to counter-balance. I ask these women, "Do you EVER hold your baby?"
If you plan to hold you baby at all, and in particular, walk more than a few steps while holding baby (from bedroom to kitchen is a few steps; from car to mall is more than a few steps), then a sling will be a lifesaver. If you will never hold your baby, then don't bother reading; you have bigger issues, LOL. Even when sitting, a sling is useful. Simply put, a sling will take the weight of the baby/toddler, and spreads it out over your body where ever the sling makes contact. So, instead of your arm and front shoulder 'taking the weight', you will now spread the same weight over the shoulder, across the larger back muscles, and around to the front again (one shoulder or two---more on that to come). Also, other people in the baby's life can wear baby....children as young as seven can even wear the baby once taught how. Maybe not for two mile hikes, but if you have a 'bad back' you're probably not going on a two mile hike.
There are many forms of 'bad back', but that is never a medical diagnosis. Different diagnosis will suit different carriers. Someone with poor muscle strength in the lower back should look for a carrier with a good padded waist, like the Ergo. Milder muscle weakness could tolerate a Mei Tai, and many of them come with padded waists, just not structured like the Ergo (name brands are not to be taken as a recommendation; just as an easy-to-Google-suggestion). Weak upper backs would do well with woven wraps or Mei Tai's, and in the early days, even ring slings and pouches. Wrapping yourself with 5 yards of fabric will actually make your back feel supported and is an easy and loving way to gradually build up strength. Think of this---if you hold a 10lb baby in one arm with no sling, the weight is supported entirely by that arm...which is connected to your back. But if you wrap yourself and baby with a 5 yard woven wrap, that's not many pounds per yard of contact! And, remember, a stretchy sling will feel comfy and conform to baby and you easily, but you lose support and the fabric has 'give'. Think of stretchy clothes that feel comfy because they move with you....but don't hold anything in, vs. your favourite jeans that compress your softness and keep it in place, LOL.
If your back issue is something like degenerative discs, you should try every option, but be prepared for limited babywearing. Same with arthritis (like I have). Your muscles might feel fine, but the extra load on the spine/pelvis might shorten your babywearing experience. I could not tolerate a low back carry with the MT....even though everyone says to transfer the weight to your hips by using a low back carry. I could do high back, front, and hip carries though. However, lack of flexibility made it difficult for me to learn wraps and soft-structured carriers.
But, what about carrying the baby in the carseat, or in a stroller? Aren't strollers good for exercise too? When you babywear, the baby's weight is added to your own, and you get the metabolic and weight-bearing results for that combined weight. Pushing a stroller--esp. one with large wheels--does not have that advantage. Your arms and shoulders might get some workout, but that's about it. Not to mention I see women with very poor posture while pushing strollers, particularly up hills. By leaning into the angle, they are losing a potentially awesome ab workout. And strong abs mean a stronger back; but it comes at a price of being hard on the shoulders. Babywearing encourages good posture for safety's sake, as well as pride. You're connected to your baby physically and emotionally and will take pride in that.
And don't forget the convenience of babywearing compared to the increasingly popular double stroller. I recently saw a woman trying to push a double stroller into Shopper's Drug Mart. There was a 90degree turn in the vestibule....shorter than the length of her stroller. She couldn't swing the stroller to go through the second door. I see moms at the library, lined up for the elevator with their strollers while I go up the stairs. What about strollers in small public bathrooms? Do you really want to push 50lbs of children and 25lbs of stroller around? That's pretty hard on your back! Compare to tying a 8lb newborn onto your upper chest....your body was already used to being heavier, and pushing the single stroller that you're already used to.
"My baby doesn't mind the carseat and it's convenient" is an argument to 'support' using the carseat as a carrier. I see these 'cocoon babies' all the time. Just because baby doesn't mind it, doesn't make it 'good'. Baby is isolated, can't see mom or smell her, not exposed to other adults or kids or noises. Even at 4 months, a baby is seeing only about 2ft in front of themselves. How far is it from mom's face as she pushes a stroller, to the baby's eyes?
If you have a 'bad back' you should be carrying the carseat (with baby in it) as little as possible. Ideally, for all babies, the carseat should remain in the car. There are better options. Let's take a look at the issues with carseats as carriers. First, they aren't light, often weighing 7-10lbs. Add that to an ever-growing baby...second...many babies hate them because the safe angle it gives baby in the car, is a poor angle for digestion. They are cold, hard, and unyielding. Things that a parent is not. Carrying a carseat....you can either use one hand, so you have the other hand free, but it means a seriously unequal weight load for your body. This is a very serious problem even if you don't have a bad back. You can use both arms and carry the seat high and in front, like the instruction manuals tell you to, but then your hands are occupied, and it's still a heavy load to carry in front of you. Instead, using a simple sling like a pouch, to get baby to and from the vehicle will save your sanity, your back, and keep your arms the same length.
"I won't be able to carry baby around at all". That's a tough spot to be in. As you get larger during pregnancy, your body is probably going to have a harder time supporting the weight gain, and you'll probably be on bed rest....weakening muscles even more. After the birth, you will be dependant on 24hr assistance, and I imagine it will be emotionally rough to see someone else carrying your baby around so much. A sling can be useful even when sitting. Newborns spend a lot of time sleeping....let them do it in the sling while you're sitting. They get to hear your heart again, feel your warmth, and learn your smell. You can nurse in a sling (although new moms should perhaps try nursing without the sling at first, as there's a lot going on), and this will give your arms and back a break. You can wear baby while you eat, even while you sit in a shower. I'd recommend a pouch or ringsling for these types of situations...it might be hard to tie a wrap or MT if you can't get up, not to mention a knot at the base of your back digging into a chair. If the other primary caregiver is over 8, they can also learn about the benefits of babywearing....and then they'll have their hands free to care for you :) A ring sling or pouch is also much easier to deal with when you're out in a wheelchair.
"My baby weighs too much" drives me crazy. Parents carry around toddlers all the time. Piggyback rides, on the hip, etc. If you put on 30lbs while pregnant, why would carrying a 8lb newborn be a problem? The weight gain in pregnancy is hard on your back because it is below your center of gravity. Babywearing keeps the baby up high, snuggled on your chest. You can easily carry weight up high or on your back, that you can't carry lower down. And, remember, the weight is spread out across all the contact points of the sling. Hold your toddler on your hip, your back is instantly pushed out of alignment to balance yourself. And, your hands are occupied holding the toddler. Use a ring sling and a hip hold....you can walk straight and tall and have both hands free to pay the cashier, drink your coffee, or hold another child's hand. A healthy person, babywearing from the start, can usually carry a 35lb toddler with little difficulty. A person with back issues might need to call it quits earlier, or limit sling use in the higher end. I could carry Meg on my back for the two mile 'get the kids at school' walk until she was 33lbs, but I could carry her on my front surprisingly, still, and in the ring sling on my hip. But only for short trips now or I get a flare-up in my neck. I have felt very lucky that my SI joints have not flared up significantly since her birth, almost 3 years ago. The pregnancy was very painful, but birth solved that flare up, LOL. I think wearing her from day 3 has helped my fitness tremendously and strengthened otherwise unused muscles in my back.
"I have a Bjorn/Snugli and it KILLS my back" Take a look at the narrow straps on a Bjorn style carrier, compared to the wide straps on a mei tai, ring sling or wrap. All the baby's weight is supported by where the straps touch you---high heels sexy shoes, or low, comfortable wedges? A Bjorn also places baby away from your body so the load is not connected to you. A traditional sling keeps baby snug against you, preventing 'baby sway' (when the baby moves away from you, pulling you with him). Let's not forget the financial and practical issues with Bjorn style carriers. They are usually limited to about 22lbs...for many babies, that's reached by 6 months, and usually by one year at the latest. You can't do back or hip carries. There are issues about spine and pelvis development when baby is suspended (instead of sitting). A $90 Bjorn will be in the yardsale pile by baby's first birthday, but a $60 Mei Tai will go strong for another two to three YEARS.
If you have a particular health issue and want to know more about babywearing, there is http://www.thebabywearer.com/ and a yahoo group "Babywearing". Remember---if you can hold your baby in your arms, a sling will make life easier, NOT hurt you; as long as you choose the right sling and use it correctly. Babies should be held by people, not things :)
If you plan to hold you baby at all, and in particular, walk more than a few steps while holding baby (from bedroom to kitchen is a few steps; from car to mall is more than a few steps), then a sling will be a lifesaver. If you will never hold your baby, then don't bother reading; you have bigger issues, LOL. Even when sitting, a sling is useful. Simply put, a sling will take the weight of the baby/toddler, and spreads it out over your body where ever the sling makes contact. So, instead of your arm and front shoulder 'taking the weight', you will now spread the same weight over the shoulder, across the larger back muscles, and around to the front again (one shoulder or two---more on that to come). Also, other people in the baby's life can wear baby....children as young as seven can even wear the baby once taught how. Maybe not for two mile hikes, but if you have a 'bad back' you're probably not going on a two mile hike.
There are many forms of 'bad back', but that is never a medical diagnosis. Different diagnosis will suit different carriers. Someone with poor muscle strength in the lower back should look for a carrier with a good padded waist, like the Ergo. Milder muscle weakness could tolerate a Mei Tai, and many of them come with padded waists, just not structured like the Ergo (name brands are not to be taken as a recommendation; just as an easy-to-Google-suggestion). Weak upper backs would do well with woven wraps or Mei Tai's, and in the early days, even ring slings and pouches. Wrapping yourself with 5 yards of fabric will actually make your back feel supported and is an easy and loving way to gradually build up strength. Think of this---if you hold a 10lb baby in one arm with no sling, the weight is supported entirely by that arm...which is connected to your back. But if you wrap yourself and baby with a 5 yard woven wrap, that's not many pounds per yard of contact! And, remember, a stretchy sling will feel comfy and conform to baby and you easily, but you lose support and the fabric has 'give'. Think of stretchy clothes that feel comfy because they move with you....but don't hold anything in, vs. your favourite jeans that compress your softness and keep it in place, LOL.
If your back issue is something like degenerative discs, you should try every option, but be prepared for limited babywearing. Same with arthritis (like I have). Your muscles might feel fine, but the extra load on the spine/pelvis might shorten your babywearing experience. I could not tolerate a low back carry with the MT....even though everyone says to transfer the weight to your hips by using a low back carry. I could do high back, front, and hip carries though. However, lack of flexibility made it difficult for me to learn wraps and soft-structured carriers.
But, what about carrying the baby in the carseat, or in a stroller? Aren't strollers good for exercise too? When you babywear, the baby's weight is added to your own, and you get the metabolic and weight-bearing results for that combined weight. Pushing a stroller--esp. one with large wheels--does not have that advantage. Your arms and shoulders might get some workout, but that's about it. Not to mention I see women with very poor posture while pushing strollers, particularly up hills. By leaning into the angle, they are losing a potentially awesome ab workout. And strong abs mean a stronger back; but it comes at a price of being hard on the shoulders. Babywearing encourages good posture for safety's sake, as well as pride. You're connected to your baby physically and emotionally and will take pride in that.
And don't forget the convenience of babywearing compared to the increasingly popular double stroller. I recently saw a woman trying to push a double stroller into Shopper's Drug Mart. There was a 90degree turn in the vestibule....shorter than the length of her stroller. She couldn't swing the stroller to go through the second door. I see moms at the library, lined up for the elevator with their strollers while I go up the stairs. What about strollers in small public bathrooms? Do you really want to push 50lbs of children and 25lbs of stroller around? That's pretty hard on your back! Compare to tying a 8lb newborn onto your upper chest....your body was already used to being heavier, and pushing the single stroller that you're already used to.
"My baby doesn't mind the carseat and it's convenient" is an argument to 'support' using the carseat as a carrier. I see these 'cocoon babies' all the time. Just because baby doesn't mind it, doesn't make it 'good'. Baby is isolated, can't see mom or smell her, not exposed to other adults or kids or noises. Even at 4 months, a baby is seeing only about 2ft in front of themselves. How far is it from mom's face as she pushes a stroller, to the baby's eyes?
If you have a 'bad back' you should be carrying the carseat (with baby in it) as little as possible. Ideally, for all babies, the carseat should remain in the car. There are better options. Let's take a look at the issues with carseats as carriers. First, they aren't light, often weighing 7-10lbs. Add that to an ever-growing baby...second...many babies hate them because the safe angle it gives baby in the car, is a poor angle for digestion. They are cold, hard, and unyielding. Things that a parent is not. Carrying a carseat....you can either use one hand, so you have the other hand free, but it means a seriously unequal weight load for your body. This is a very serious problem even if you don't have a bad back. You can use both arms and carry the seat high and in front, like the instruction manuals tell you to, but then your hands are occupied, and it's still a heavy load to carry in front of you. Instead, using a simple sling like a pouch, to get baby to and from the vehicle will save your sanity, your back, and keep your arms the same length.
"I won't be able to carry baby around at all". That's a tough spot to be in. As you get larger during pregnancy, your body is probably going to have a harder time supporting the weight gain, and you'll probably be on bed rest....weakening muscles even more. After the birth, you will be dependant on 24hr assistance, and I imagine it will be emotionally rough to see someone else carrying your baby around so much. A sling can be useful even when sitting. Newborns spend a lot of time sleeping....let them do it in the sling while you're sitting. They get to hear your heart again, feel your warmth, and learn your smell. You can nurse in a sling (although new moms should perhaps try nursing without the sling at first, as there's a lot going on), and this will give your arms and back a break. You can wear baby while you eat, even while you sit in a shower. I'd recommend a pouch or ringsling for these types of situations...it might be hard to tie a wrap or MT if you can't get up, not to mention a knot at the base of your back digging into a chair. If the other primary caregiver is over 8, they can also learn about the benefits of babywearing....and then they'll have their hands free to care for you :) A ring sling or pouch is also much easier to deal with when you're out in a wheelchair.
"My baby weighs too much" drives me crazy. Parents carry around toddlers all the time. Piggyback rides, on the hip, etc. If you put on 30lbs while pregnant, why would carrying a 8lb newborn be a problem? The weight gain in pregnancy is hard on your back because it is below your center of gravity. Babywearing keeps the baby up high, snuggled on your chest. You can easily carry weight up high or on your back, that you can't carry lower down. And, remember, the weight is spread out across all the contact points of the sling. Hold your toddler on your hip, your back is instantly pushed out of alignment to balance yourself. And, your hands are occupied holding the toddler. Use a ring sling and a hip hold....you can walk straight and tall and have both hands free to pay the cashier, drink your coffee, or hold another child's hand. A healthy person, babywearing from the start, can usually carry a 35lb toddler with little difficulty. A person with back issues might need to call it quits earlier, or limit sling use in the higher end. I could carry Meg on my back for the two mile 'get the kids at school' walk until she was 33lbs, but I could carry her on my front surprisingly, still, and in the ring sling on my hip. But only for short trips now or I get a flare-up in my neck. I have felt very lucky that my SI joints have not flared up significantly since her birth, almost 3 years ago. The pregnancy was very painful, but birth solved that flare up, LOL. I think wearing her from day 3 has helped my fitness tremendously and strengthened otherwise unused muscles in my back.
"I have a Bjorn/Snugli and it KILLS my back" Take a look at the narrow straps on a Bjorn style carrier, compared to the wide straps on a mei tai, ring sling or wrap. All the baby's weight is supported by where the straps touch you---high heels sexy shoes, or low, comfortable wedges? A Bjorn also places baby away from your body so the load is not connected to you. A traditional sling keeps baby snug against you, preventing 'baby sway' (when the baby moves away from you, pulling you with him). Let's not forget the financial and practical issues with Bjorn style carriers. They are usually limited to about 22lbs...for many babies, that's reached by 6 months, and usually by one year at the latest. You can't do back or hip carries. There are issues about spine and pelvis development when baby is suspended (instead of sitting). A $90 Bjorn will be in the yardsale pile by baby's first birthday, but a $60 Mei Tai will go strong for another two to three YEARS.
If you have a particular health issue and want to know more about babywearing, there is http://www.thebabywearer.com/ and a yahoo group "Babywearing". Remember---if you can hold your baby in your arms, a sling will make life easier, NOT hurt you; as long as you choose the right sling and use it correctly. Babies should be held by people, not things :)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Happy New Year!
Well, it's the second day of school. They were excited to get back. We got home at 11pm on Monday night from our weekend away, so Tuesday morning was a little bit rushed. But they got there on time. Lucy got the teacher she wanted, Huey has a new teacher.
But Meg? OMG. She has turned into the Tantrum Queen. I totally think it's exhaustion, but it still SUCKS. She's always been a little intense, mainly due to her low language skills (she really is a happy girl, easily calmed most of the time). I have this huge list of things to get done now that I don't have to drag three kids around, but her tantrums are worse than dragging three kids around. Especially since yesterday, the phone kept ringing. It's like, the telemarketers (and others) realize the kids are back at school, so it'd be a GREAT time (NOT!) to phone all the SAHMs. Argh.
Anyway. I was worried at the beginning of the summer that I would get stressed and overwhelmed and hate my kids by September. I had lots of plans, routines to put in place, ideas of how to keep them busy. Well. We did hardly any of it. One field trip. No trips to the library. A few trips to parks around town. But did we have a good summer? You bet! It was relaxed, spontaneous, not hot and humid, and passed really quickly. We had one bad partial week. My biggest annoyance was that I'd want to go do something (like, go to the grocery store), and the kids would be next door at their friend's. Normally he spends a LOT of time here so when they go there, I don't want them to come home, LOL. We spent a LOT of time in the driveway; so much that I moved a knitting machine to the garage!
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Meg. I want to sign up for different activities, but it's expensive. We get a 'daycare credit' from the government, but it's not enough to put her in 2/3 morning/week pre-school. And if these tantrums keep up we might be doing nothing. Her SLP is going to evaluate her tomorrow, and says she might not even need therapy until later this fall. So, back to day-by-day living. Right now, I've got to phone the doctor's while it's quiet.
But Meg? OMG. She has turned into the Tantrum Queen. I totally think it's exhaustion, but it still SUCKS. She's always been a little intense, mainly due to her low language skills (she really is a happy girl, easily calmed most of the time). I have this huge list of things to get done now that I don't have to drag three kids around, but her tantrums are worse than dragging three kids around. Especially since yesterday, the phone kept ringing. It's like, the telemarketers (and others) realize the kids are back at school, so it'd be a GREAT time (NOT!) to phone all the SAHMs. Argh.
Anyway. I was worried at the beginning of the summer that I would get stressed and overwhelmed and hate my kids by September. I had lots of plans, routines to put in place, ideas of how to keep them busy. Well. We did hardly any of it. One field trip. No trips to the library. A few trips to parks around town. But did we have a good summer? You bet! It was relaxed, spontaneous, not hot and humid, and passed really quickly. We had one bad partial week. My biggest annoyance was that I'd want to go do something (like, go to the grocery store), and the kids would be next door at their friend's. Normally he spends a LOT of time here so when they go there, I don't want them to come home, LOL. We spent a LOT of time in the driveway; so much that I moved a knitting machine to the garage!
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Meg. I want to sign up for different activities, but it's expensive. We get a 'daycare credit' from the government, but it's not enough to put her in 2/3 morning/week pre-school. And if these tantrums keep up we might be doing nothing. Her SLP is going to evaluate her tomorrow, and says she might not even need therapy until later this fall. So, back to day-by-day living. Right now, I've got to phone the doctor's while it's quiet.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I Don't Understand....
Recently, one of the Yahoo groups I'm in had an 'arguement'. Someone thought there was suddenly an increase in religious talk/postings. Someone mentioned that their beliefs are very important to them and so naturally it just 'comes up' in everyday conversations. Well, I don't understand how religious beliefs could come up in a discussion about diapers. Anyway, I was just reading through old emails from the group and came across one that must have been near the start of the 'arguement'. I don't get this woman's logic at all (some details have been altered):
"i have made and sent many pads to goods4girls dot org. But the pads I make just to donate, I dont donate to G4G because when I asked if i could inclose a Christian bookmark with the kits I was sending, she said "no, that it was a secular charity". Well, that was fine, she created the charity! who am I to insist that my personal beliefs get pushed into her idea?
so I just contacted some missionaries and sent the pad kits to Africa that way. My mom has been helping me quite a bit, in fact, she created her own NFP charity with a Christian emphasis, called Project Paprika (name changed by me). Which basically means that we make up the kits with 5 pads, a wetbag, and a Christian bookmark, and that we send it with a missionary, so that they have a platform to teach the girls hygene, taking care of yourself, and also sexual purity. so yeah, whether you donate with a religious agenda or not, the girls definately need the pads!"
It's fine for her to not impose her beliefs on a secular charity, but it's okay for missionaries to 'teach' these girls? I understand the teaching of hygene, etc, but all that could be done by health care workers. Doesn't anyone believe that these people might just be happy with their own beliefs and don't need missionaries? White people have done so much harm to so many people/cultures around the globe; often with the disguise of 'spiritual teaching'. I find it shocking that there are people out there who still feel that their religious beliefs need to be pushed onto others.
"i have made and sent many pads to goods4girls dot org. But the pads I make just to donate, I dont donate to G4G because when I asked if i could inclose a Christian bookmark with the kits I was sending, she said "no, that it was a secular charity". Well, that was fine, she created the charity! who am I to insist that my personal beliefs get pushed into her idea?
so I just contacted some missionaries and sent the pad kits to Africa that way. My mom has been helping me quite a bit, in fact, she created her own NFP charity with a Christian emphasis, called Project Paprika (name changed by me). Which basically means that we make up the kits with 5 pads, a wetbag, and a Christian bookmark, and that we send it with a missionary, so that they have a platform to teach the girls hygene, taking care of yourself, and also sexual purity. so yeah, whether you donate with a religious agenda or not, the girls definately need the pads!"
It's fine for her to not impose her beliefs on a secular charity, but it's okay for missionaries to 'teach' these girls? I understand the teaching of hygene, etc, but all that could be done by health care workers. Doesn't anyone believe that these people might just be happy with their own beliefs and don't need missionaries? White people have done so much harm to so many people/cultures around the globe; often with the disguise of 'spiritual teaching'. I find it shocking that there are people out there who still feel that their religious beliefs need to be pushed onto others.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thanks Freecycle!
Recently, we have had a string of good luck with Freecycle. Perhaps because the computer is always on, and is next to my kitchen? Sometimes nothing comes up that we need, or no one responds to needed posts. But lately, I've been feeling very blessed.
Detail of the top. The trim is solid, and the top is a veneer. I think there's more veneer, but 40 year old veneer is probably better than current veneer!
Huey learned to ride a scooter before his birthday, to keep up with the other kids. I asked for one, but no one had one. A few weeks after I bought him one for his birthday, he finally learned to ride his bike. The one he got when he turned 4. A couple weeks later, someone posted with a bike suitable for a 7-8 year old. Rob got it, fixed it up, and it's been awesome. Lucy broke Meg's tricycle seat, so I asked for a new trike. Someone responded, but it was on a moving truck and would have to wait a couple weeks. That was fine. We picked it up, and she loves it. I asked for a jogging type stroller, and got a response. The stroller was not in the conditioner the person had said it would be, and has needed some work. But the girls love to sit together and have Daddy push them around the neighbourhood. I find it too heavy and awkward with two girls (75lbs!), and it has steering issues.
Lately, I've passed on some towels, sock stretchers, a Jolly Jumper, and loaned the giant dog crate among other things I can't remember (so obviously I didn't need!).
I have been searching for a desk, hutch, or dresser for a messy corner in our family room. I love antiques but don't get the opportunity to shop. I was just starting to resign myself to shopping at IKEA again. Then, the woman I got the trike from posted an antique dresser!! OMG, her fingers were probably still on the keyboard when I sent my response, LOL. We arranged to go get it that night. We got there, and started to hear the story.
Lucy, about 43" tall, in front of the new cabinet.
It had been her FIL's, was about 40 years old (that's antique?), and had travelled around the States and to Brazil (where she met her husband). Once we got it home, we found the manufacturer's stamp inside. It was made in Hanover, Ontario, about an hour to the north!There was just no room in their new basement. Overall, it is a great, solid piece, weighs a ton.
The three compartments inside will be for the kids---three kids; three sections!! Fate!
There is one styling element we're a little iffy on, LOL. 
But Rob is excited to re-finish it and it will get well used and appreciated here.
Then, late last night, another woman I've exchanged things with before posted a jogging stroller! We exchanged emails, she sent a picture, and we're excited like Christmas morning!
Detail of the top. The trim is solid, and the top is a veneer. I think there's more veneer, but 40 year old veneer is probably better than current veneer!But isn't Freecycle for poor people? I hear you ask. No. The original idea behind Freecycle was to exchange goods that still had some use to someone, instead of putting them in the landfill. You know those little things---you buy the wrong vacuum bags, you've got too many muffin tins, the kids don't like their movie collection anymore. It's a way to network and find new owners for things, often things you wouldn't bother putting an ad in the paper for. Like, we got duplicate copies of a computer game from Wendy's. Sure, we could afford to buy Huey a new bike, but, being frugal people, recycling comes first. Kids grow quickly and he'll use it for only a year or two and there's no younger sibling to pass it to, but we'll re-Freecycle it. It IS a good resource for lower income people, particularly for baby items, but my experience has been that posting 'wanted' ads are not very productive---responding to 'offer' ads yields better results, but if you're in a time crunch, that's not always possible.
I've met some really nice people through Freecycle too. In fact, one of my friends---we chatted through Freecycle posts and then realized after she read my blog, that we had met a few times in a parenting class! Since then, I got her to join the Orangeville Band, and we and our kids, hang out together too. I also bought my third knitting machine through a Freecycle member!
Sometimes we get an item that doesn't work out---the original double jogging stroller, an old sewing machine--so we re-gift on Freecycle. But lately, I have been feeling REALLY blessed and lucky to be part of this Freecycle group. With Rob not getting overtime pay anymore, finances are a little tighter, so every little bit helps. I highly recommend you search out Freecycle in your area. I think the main site is http://www.freecycle.org/. It's operated through Yahoo groups though. If there's not one for your area, START one!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Birth Sounds Beautiful
I was reading a birth blog today and she had a great post about vocalization during labour. I knew all of this already, and in fact, when labouring alone, in the hospital, with Lucy, an nurse coming in to go on shift heard me and could tell that it was almost time. Birth noises are surprisingly cross-cultural similar. Women who believe in their power and allow it to happen, almost all make the same sorts of noises (and it's not the he-he-he-he-he-ho of Lamaze). However, the blog had an amazing video of a woman in transition SINGING, while someone (her husband?) played the guitar. It was the epitome of the power of vocalization during labour. Why don't ALL women know they CAN do this?
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Argh!
For the past 7 months, in particular, I have been trying to get into some mangeable household routines. I've done pretty good in some areas---I make my bed most mornings---and some areas are still a bit of an issue. One place where I've made improvements (progress; not perfection) is laundry. She's not called Messy Meg for no reason!
Two summers ago Rob re-vamped the laundry 'room' while I wasn't home. I put in my input, but he said it wasn't do-able. I think if I had had the chance to study the area before he started anything it could have been improved. A much bigger project involving plumbing, LOL, but the result would have been 'why wasn't it like that in the beginning?'
Here's my set-up. Washer on the right, dryer on the left. It used to be a closet, but when it was converted, they didn't think through the clearances needed for the shut-off taps (on the floor, behind the washer), the drain (not high enough to clear the washer, where it goes through the wall), and the exhaust. So, the machines stick out from the back and sides quite a bit. Big black holes where things drop, missing for months....above the washing machine is a rod. I wanted it lower but Rob said it'd be too close to the controls. I can barely reach it. On the left is a cupboard. I wanted it lower, but then there'd be nothing to attach the rod to. I used the top of the washer/dryer to fold the laundry. It's a top loader, so laundry has to get put away to do more. Except.....Rob won't put his away. His dresser is a mess and it can't fit more clothes in (his sock/underwear drawer looks more like a workbench drawer). He leaves his pile on the dryer, and there is always clothes hanging on the rod (I can't reach his rod in the closet either).
So...today, I'm doing a load of whites, including some towels and dishcloths. I thought perhaps it's time to brighten them up a little with a splush of bleach. 
A brand new dishcloth and an old one in the SAME yarn!!!
I rarely use bleach. I had put a few things in the machine, and the water was filling in, so I carefully aimed the bleach for where the water fills in as there were no items there. The bleach hit the stream of water and splashed. Uh huh, onto Rob's pile of clothes, onto the cuffs and hems of items hanging from the rod....Of course, it wasn't a light coloured load that had just been folded. It was navy (I say black) shorts and dark moss green shorts, his two best pairs;
a nice brown t-shirt with red trim we bought for Father's Day, moss green pants, his best, most expensive light blue plaid dress shirt, even a few specks on a 
brown shirt of mine.The black shorts I will just re-die black; I do that every so often with his black jeans. The green pants and blue shirt....it's on the sleeve cuff where it buttons and the leg cuff and not too noticeable. The mossy green shorts....I got them into some cold water quickly, so instead of distinct spots, there is a slightly discoloured area on the front thigh. It might re-dye. The brown t-shirt (my brown shirt is barely noticeable)....it looks like he got splattered with bleach. Not a lot, but on the front. I can re-dye it...but the trim is all red. And, given my past experience with trying to dye brown....
I haven't taken the load out yet....but it better be BRIGHT WHITE!!!
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