Halloween Party

I was one of the Primary witches. Adam went as a man in an orange shirt.

Nothing screams HALLOWEEN like candy all over the family room floor.

Lake Pleasant or Bust

We just had to leave Friday. So we went camping up at the lake for the night. TOO FUN!

Yes, our blog header matches those seats.

Is that a "Luggable Loo"? Yes it is.


I patched up the hole on the canvas until we get a new one. Not too bad, huh?
Pop the top to make another bed!

New white-wheel paint job. Nice work, Adam!

When you don't have groceries...you improvise! This is our make-shift tin-foil dinner.

Frozen peas included.

The passenger seat rotates to face backwards. Makes a nice little family room!

Sunrise.

Skipping rocks.

Postpartum Smack down CONTINUED

Thank you everyone for your responses! I loved your comments about exercise and getting out. When I had John, I was really struggling with anxiety so I went to LDS social services to get some help.

They have fantastic counselling at reasonable rates. Under the direction of my bishop, I received a couple months of therapy. I learned coping methods, diets changes and ways to take care of myself better. Here are a few things I've learned:

Definitely, exercise. This is not something to mess around with. It is a necessary component for healthy well-being. After I had John, my therapist suggested regular exercise and I started running. This has been my outlet for the past 5 years. I also go to the gym regularly with Adam and my mom (twice a week). We have been doing this for the past year (missing only a couple of days for illness or travel). Be accountable to someone...a friend or a spouse. Don't trust yourself to do it alone.

Progesterone Cream. It's more than a hype. I started using progesterone cream after I had Ella. You can purchase over the counter progesterone cream for about $25 a month. I use a prescription strength which I got from my Naturopath. Follow the instructions. Progesterone cream eases symptoms of PMS and menopause. It regulates periods, helps with mood swings, among many other benefits. Try it out! You can find these creams at Sprouts or Walgreens.

Food. Overeating or loss of appetite are two possible symptoms postpartum. In order to help me with mood balance after John, I started eating a lot of bananas and turkey to help with essential calming chemicals found in those foods. When I started eating turkey and bananas several times a day I noticed benefits in my mood within 2 days. Also, take it easy on the sugar.

Supplements. Vitamins do wonders. Omega 3, CALCIUM, evening primrose oil, vitamin D...the list goes on. I take 10 supplements in the morning, 5 at noon and 4 at bedtime. (At least I TRY to remember). If I'm supposed to be Super Mom, I need super fuel.

Relaxation: By golly, take a bubble bath every once in a while. Lock the door from the children. Mom needs to TEACH her children that she takes care of HERSELF. Warning: You might hear the kids screaming for you...let hubby handle it. He IS a father, you know.

Well, those are things I've been trying to engrave into my mind the last couple of years. It seems to be working. Yesterday I found myself getting WAY mad at the kids and I realized I had missed taking my progesterone cream for several days. Within 20 minutes of rubbing it on, I was back to normal again. Then I took some supplements and relaxed a minute. Works wonders! I'd love to hear if any of you have had success. Let me know!! This is good conversation, ladies! We can all work together with tips.

The Postpartum Smack down

Women of all ages, please join in for a postpartum smack down! Our goal: healthier women and happier families.

I've been thinking about postpartum issues quite a bit (ever since I had John). It's about time I write a little.

My friend Mandie and I have this overwhelmingly agreeable "postpartum understanding". We both look at each other and roll our eyes evey time we think about newborn babies. Yes, we love them. They are perfect and pure. But there's a little more to bringing babies into the world besides conception and birth.

Here's a few possible symptoms following postpartum (Sorry if this is a review):

hemorrhaging

hemorrhoids

constipation

extreme fatigue

back pain (in my case, broken tailbone)

swelling

perineal pain

Cesarean recovery issues

bloodshot eyes

cramping (gets worse after each child)

hair loss

extra weight

post-breastfeeding sagging boobs.

stress and anxiety

fast mood changes

varicose veins

headaches/migraines

episiotomy recovery

incontinence

Feeling a loss of control.

Wanting to harm the baby.

Wanting to escape.

Constant feelings of anger towards spouse or other children.

Avoiding social situations.

Not answering the phone or responding to people's invitations.

Unable to let the baby cry.

Constant fears (what if the baby gets hurt? what if the baby doesn't love me?)

Unwilling to take advice.

Unable to let others hold or tend the baby.

Obsessing over the baby or unusual obsessive compulsive behavior

Here's a few symptoms of postpartum depression:

Being very irritable
Being tired or unmotivated, beyond normal
Feeling hopeless or overwhelmed
Feeling sad or anxious (including racing heart, tight chest)
Sleeping too much or too little
Crying easily over anything or for no reason
Eating too much or too little
Inability to concentrate or make decisions
No interest in activities, particularly those that were previously pleasurable
Withdrawing from family and friends
Lack of interest in the baby http://pregnancy.about.com/od/postpartumdepress/a/ppdsigns.htm

Now, when I had John, no one told me these symptoms were possible. I just assumed it would be easy to get pregnant, a little tricky to give birth and joyous to be a mother. Is it just me or did I feel like I got hit with a frying pan after I had a baby? Well, I would really appreciate feedback on your postpartum stories.

Here's one I will never forget:

I was in the hospital. I just had John. That night, the nurse brought me a little snack of crackers and juice. I didn't have anything to eat for about 20 hours and the nurse said it was past dinner hours. Starving and exhausted after a long labor, I sat looking at Adam and baby John.

Adam had to leave the hospital and go home because there was no room for him to sleep. I was sharing a room with some young teen girl who just had her 2nd baby and was considering giving this one up for adoption. As I sat in the room by myself listening to this girl try to figure out if she wanted the baby or not, I had a rush of overwhelming anxiety.

All night long I sat in the room, peeking on John to see if he was still breathing. Then the doctor came in and took him away for circumcision.

I called Adam in a panic and he mumbled, "Hello?". I woke him up.

It took Adam 45 minutes to drive to the hospital. In the meantime I sat crying in the hospital room, hearing my baby screaming in the other room. "This is it," I thought. "I'm a mom now."

Suddenly my brain went into survival mode. I have not come out of that mode yet.

It was only recently I started feeling a little bit more like myself again. Still, the psychosis isn't over yet.

I know many of you women have stories that would haunt us all. Some continue to struggle with getting pregnant, others have suffered the loss of a child, then there are those who experience the birth of a beautiful child who is disabled or sick.

Here's the question: What physical things can women do to help with postpartum?

I'd love to hear feedback. This topic is constantly on my mind.

Great Hair Day

Tolmachoff Farms 2008

Ella and I went to Tolmachoff Farms with her preschool today. Look at all these veggies we picked! Thanks Teri...it was a blast! We took a tractor ride, picked veggies, ate lunch, went through the corn maze, ate ice cream..What a great time!

ZooWalk for Autism Research 2008

We had a good old time at the ZooWalk! Were were just a few among thousands of families...raising money for ASU's research center. Thanks Nana!