GOING TO....NY

I am getting ready to go to New York with my Sister on Tuesday to complete our training with Julie Tupler - with the Tupler technique. There are some challenges being faced right now in terms of the training and some other issues. I am a little apprehensive about some things that have arisen with this program and its facets. The material is brilliant...the training needs to be tweaked. So... wish me luck! I will need lots of prayers!

Susie, I mean Sister Barrowes (another of my sisters) - we hope we can at least WAVE to you somewhere now that you are serving there in NY!

BABYSITTING CO OP

Brian and I were finding that we were literally never having date nights. Sometimes I would just burst saying "I have GOT to be taken out on a date -its an EMERGENCY!!" I would start to totally lose any sense of being a wife - and just got into the mom mode - where you mismatch all day, don't brush your teeth until noon, and don't really do your hair. SICKENING! I could feel things going downhill.

Then a girl in our ward suggested we do a babysitting co-op. We have 4 families - and each family has 1 week of the month to watch EVERYONE'S kids. We have 9 kids on that day. (The babies under 1 do not come - they stay with mom and dad). It is sure awful on the day you have to watch the kids, but it sure pays off to have THREE DAY NIGHTS during the month where you don't have to worry about lining up a babysitter, paying them, giving instructions, or feeling like its too much hassel to plan everything and then not doing it. We have set times 6 to 10 pm every Saturday night.

We have also found that pizzas from Aldi - the 89 cent ones - are perfect for this crowd. We go through two of them. Pretzels and popcorn are also a must.

Well, this past Saturday was our 3rd night, and it was hilarious because the kids all started dropping like flies because they were tired starting at 8:30. We had 2 kids per bunk with the bunk beds, plus a pack and play, we had kids sleeping in the living room, one on our bed, and one resting in the family room. All but 3 were asleep when the parents came! Brian and I looked at each other and agreed that this was our easiest one yet.

And then on those three weeks in a row - our goal is to do a NEW restaurant for one of the nights, a movie for one of the nights, and our "walking date" for one of the nights - where we just walk and talk and wander downtown homewood - maybe getting coldstone or some chocolates or walking to the videostore and getting something.

This CO-OP is REALLY good for me - gives me something to look forward to during the monotony of changing diapers, making food, doing dishes, and doing time outs!

THERE IS A WINNER

So for financial curiosity during 2007-2008, I have tried out the various VARIATION TYPES similar to Airborne.

I have tried Walborne, as well as one called Best Defense.

For whatever reasons, the other versions do not work on me. Everytime I do airborne, that achy feeling, and sore throat thing GO AWAY within 24 to 48 hours of initially taking the airborne (and taking it every 3 hours from the onset). When I do the alternate versions, the cold/flu things are slower to come on, but then they come on with a vengeance.

So, I guess that is that. It has been a year long experience trying different versions out – and the outcome is that AIRBORNE is the winner.

And since each container is $6.99, and I go through the whole thing in a couple of days – its like paying $6.99 NOT to be sick. AND IT IS SOOOOOOOO WORTH IT! I REALLY REALLY hate being sick. If one of us is sick in the Wayne household, we all end up passing it back and forth to each other over and over.

So, thank goodness for Airborne – YES!!!

UH OH....does this sound like.....

So Brian, for this baby, REALLY likes the name Hallie. I like it too – its growing on me.

Everyone we have mentioned the name too says they also really like the name...

Here is the KICKER…

If you say the name 3 times to yourself with the last name “WAYNE” does it sound like….well….a different word…?

Without really coming outright and SAYING what we are fearing that it sounds like…we are wondering if its really obvious to anyone else. If NOT, then we may fell good to go ahead with the name…

So say “HALLIE WAYNE” to yourself, and tell us…if it sounds like…anything IN PARTICULAR to you.... (we are trying not to influence the outcome of this semi-survery!)

enough is enough

I am getting extremely anxious for warm weather. In Chicago here it s still only in the 20s with wind chill in the single digits. We have had one of the snowiest winters on record – seriously snowing every other day for 3 months straight. I LOVE the snow, but enough it enough. The side effect is that Chicago is the most pot holeish city – they are filling 1500 pot holes (large ones that make your tires flat) per DAY vs. the normal 300 in the winter per day. I have gotten very good at maneuvering the car around these things - but I am a little tired of it, I have to say.

BRING ON THE WARM WEATHER!!!

For us pregnant people

So, since it seems all of a sudden that many of my blogging friends are pregnant, I have to post my find. Now, this may be common knowledge to many, but I guess I have not clued into the whole thing.

In part of my training, we have tons of articles we have to read and research and do summaries on. Well the cool part about it for me, is that they are all pregnancy related. And since I am 7 months pregnant - I am really interested in the contents of all the articles. So really, that part doesn't feel like work at all...

So for my preggo friends - here is the summary on Red Raspberry leaf tea and a couple of other natural approaches:

HELPFUL HERBS DURING PREGNANCY:

Red Raspberry leaf tea is the most widely used, and safest of all uterine/pregnancy tonic herbs. It contains fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself. It also has a rich concentration of vitamin C, the presence of vitamin E, and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. IT also contains

vitamins A and B complex and many mineral, including phosphorus and potassium.

There are many benefits of drinking Red Raspberry: preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage – it tones the uterus as well.

Easing of morning sickness – many woman attest to its gentle relief of nausea and stomach distress throughout pregnancy. It reduces pain during labor and after birth – tones the muscles used during labor and delivery – it eliminates many reasons for a painful delivery and prolonged recovery. It provides a safe and speedy parturition – it works to encourage the uterus to let go and function without tension. It allows the contracting uterus to work more effectively and so may make the birth easier and faster.

It assists in production of plentiful breast milk – the high mineral content assists in milk production. One should being drinking one cup daily early in pg. Work up to two to three cups a day and then in the last 3 – 4 weeks, drink 4 cups daily.

Yellow dock root provides an excellent, fully absorbable source of iron.

Chamomile is very soothing and often sleep-inducing safe tea during pregnancy.

Comfrey tea is exceedingly helpful for healing wounds to heal up an episiotomy or other tears. Make a tea from 3 tsp of comfrey leaf and 1 cup on hot water – simmered for 20 min. After straining and cooling the tea, a soft cloth can be dipped into warm tea and applied to the wound area to promote healing.

Julie Tupler, who I am training with for the Tupler Techniqur, told me she recommends the brand Alvita to their clients. I didn't do anything with these herbal teas for my first two. Just curious if any of my veteran baby having friends had any experience with these?