Yup. We'd make some pretty cute babies!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Buying locally, organically
I think I've probably talked about this in previous post(s), but I want to stress how strongly I feel about buying locally. Connecticut is so fortunate to have CT Farm Fresh Express.
CTFFE allows you to choose and order the food you want from their website, they pick it up from farms around the state, and deliver it to your door weekly. No membership or minimum fee required, and everything is made locally so energy costs are cut and we are supporting our local economy!
There are many other reasons, as well, which you can find on the "Why Local" section of their site.
One thing my friend Kaley has educated me on is Raw Milk. I know I must have mentioned this in the past because it's something I advocate for, but hardly ever talk to anyone about because it's not a widely accepted practice. Many people don't realize that raw milk is actually much better for you than pasteurized & homogenized milk, when from the right farm. See Real Milk site for answers to all questions and an endless source of information. I haven't bought pasteurized/homogenized milk since, except for a few times in a pinch when I needed to get it that second and even then, I bought Farmer's Cow (from Connecticut) at Stop & Shop.
I recommend everyone educate themselves -- obviously make the decision that is right for you and your family, and always question (and even visit) the farms you get your milk from to see how they treat their cows, how the cows are fed and what sanitary measures they take.
I also recommend everyone do a Google search for their own state's version of CTFFE. Even if you have to start one yourself or just shop the local farmer's markets for a while, it's worth the trouble when you'd rather just cross the street from your house and buy your groceries from your grocery store chain. You'll thank me later! :)
CTFFE allows you to choose and order the food you want from their website, they pick it up from farms around the state, and deliver it to your door weekly. No membership or minimum fee required, and everything is made locally so energy costs are cut and we are supporting our local economy!
There are many other reasons, as well, which you can find on the "Why Local" section of their site.
One thing my friend Kaley has educated me on is Raw Milk. I know I must have mentioned this in the past because it's something I advocate for, but hardly ever talk to anyone about because it's not a widely accepted practice. Many people don't realize that raw milk is actually much better for you than pasteurized & homogenized milk, when from the right farm. See Real Milk site for answers to all questions and an endless source of information. I haven't bought pasteurized/homogenized milk since, except for a few times in a pinch when I needed to get it that second and even then, I bought Farmer's Cow (from Connecticut) at Stop & Shop.
I recommend everyone educate themselves -- obviously make the decision that is right for you and your family, and always question (and even visit) the farms you get your milk from to see how they treat their cows, how the cows are fed and what sanitary measures they take.
I also recommend everyone do a Google search for their own state's version of CTFFE. Even if you have to start one yourself or just shop the local farmer's markets for a while, it's worth the trouble when you'd rather just cross the street from your house and buy your groceries from your grocery store chain. You'll thank me later! :)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Endicott!
When I was applying to colleges out of high school, I applied to 10 and got into 8. Endicott was one of the colleges I was accepted to, and was high on my list but decided to go to Eckerd instead. I went to visit Endicott with Daniel a few months ago (he applied also but doesn't really have much interest in going there, I don't think) and fell in love with it. Not only that, but I found out they have an online Psychology degree! So, I started thinking about transferring because Endicott feels better to me than Ashford. Ashford is fine... and I chose it because it has a physical campus as well as having online degrees... but, really, it is mainly known as an online university. Endicott is mainly known as a private campus college.
So, I applied, just to see if I could get in again. Tonight, my mom called me saying that there was a big packet from Endicott at their house addressed to me. Not sure why, since I'm sure I gave them my address, but obviously because I'd applied in the past they sent it to the address I lived at then.
Anyway, to the news... I GOT IN! I asked my mom to open it while we were on the phone together and she started reading the, "We are pleased to inform you..." (or something similar). Now, I'm trying not to get too excited because I don't know how many of my 80+ credits will transfer. If fewer than 70 transfer, I doubt I'll do it because I don't want to have wasted that money spent on those courses that won't transfer. So, crossing my fingers and we'll see!
It'd be nice to just go to Massachusetts for graduation instead of Clinton, Iowa. :p Rod will stay at Ashford, but he refuses to go participate in his graduation so I decided I'd just throw him a graduation party and get him a gown and hat when the time comes. But I'd like to go to my graduation, I think.
So, please send vibes that my credits transfer!!! I'd love to be an Endicott alum. :)
So, I applied, just to see if I could get in again. Tonight, my mom called me saying that there was a big packet from Endicott at their house addressed to me. Not sure why, since I'm sure I gave them my address, but obviously because I'd applied in the past they sent it to the address I lived at then.
Anyway, to the news... I GOT IN! I asked my mom to open it while we were on the phone together and she started reading the, "We are pleased to inform you..." (or something similar). Now, I'm trying not to get too excited because I don't know how many of my 80+ credits will transfer. If fewer than 70 transfer, I doubt I'll do it because I don't want to have wasted that money spent on those courses that won't transfer. So, crossing my fingers and we'll see!
It'd be nice to just go to Massachusetts for graduation instead of Clinton, Iowa. :p Rod will stay at Ashford, but he refuses to go participate in his graduation so I decided I'd just throw him a graduation party and get him a gown and hat when the time comes. But I'd like to go to my graduation, I think.
So, please send vibes that my credits transfer!!! I'd love to be an Endicott alum. :)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Dreams of fostering
Last night I had a vivid dream that Rod was becoming very interested in foster care. We were sitting in the living room and the phone rang. He answered the phone and it was a social worker in Connecticut offering to provide us some information on a little boy named Dawit (an Ethiopian name, not sure why the foster child here in the U.S. would have the name, but who knows? Probably because I was reading a Yahoo! groups post about a family with an Ethiopian adopted child with this name). He was about three or four and Rod was extremely interested in fostering him. I woke up to Rod coming home from work and getting into bed, and I had a sinking feeling you often get when you wake up from a dream you wish was reality. I didn't know I was that interested in foster care myself! I know it's what Rod would prefer if we can't conceive... at least, that's what he told me a couple of years ago, and his mind changes constantly.
We'll see.
WHFC Sponsorship
Today we received a packet from Wide Horizons with information on the child and family we just started to sponsor this month. He is a 10-year-old boy living in Kebado, in the Sidama region of Ethiopia. We will call him "MB".
The area of Ethiopia where MB lives is lush and fertile, but unfortunately, agricultural infrastructure is poor so only the wealthy are able to have large harvests. Many of the families that are sponsored by WHFC are encouraged to start small businesses such as "rearing livestock, owning small shops, mule transportation, honey bee hives, craft making, making and selling tea, and photography to name a few." (letter I received about the Family Empowerment Program)
Most of the families starting entrepreneurhip - like MB's family - have only completed the initial steps and need support and advice on how to save funds and handle the startup process. As of exactly a year ago, MB's family was receiving counseling and was starting to spend more money on daily consumption. The family has only saved up 80 Birr so far, which is less than $5 U.S.
MB's family's targeted business is bicycle rental, rearing animals, retailing local drink in their home, and their monthly income generated is 300 Birr, or just under $18 U.S. Their business was initiated in September of 2008. The challenges they have faced in the past was little or no customers, but they are fortunate enough to have their own house that they can use to run their business out of.
As of last year, the estimated time for the family to reach self-sufficiency was two years.
Both of MB's parents have died of chronic disease. He lives with his grandmother, aunt, cousins and siblings. Thankfully, he is in good physical condition and is currently healthy. He likes to play football and ride a bike. His daily activities include cleaning the house, looking after cattle and helping his family.
This information was sent to me in the packet from the past two years of sponsorship. They update annually. According to the 2009 update, MB's previous sponsors didn't correspond with him. Not cool!
I am going to write to him often, and hopefully visit him and his family one day!
I'm hoping another update will come shortly, since it has been a year since that last annual update.
If you are interested in child sponsorship or any other type of humanitarian aid, you should definitely check out Wide Horizons for Children. They are reputable and experienced and have some great programs, not just sponsorship and not just in Ethiopia. Check them out here.
The area of Ethiopia where MB lives is lush and fertile, but unfortunately, agricultural infrastructure is poor so only the wealthy are able to have large harvests. Many of the families that are sponsored by WHFC are encouraged to start small businesses such as "rearing livestock, owning small shops, mule transportation, honey bee hives, craft making, making and selling tea, and photography to name a few." (letter I received about the Family Empowerment Program)
Most of the families starting entrepreneurhip - like MB's family - have only completed the initial steps and need support and advice on how to save funds and handle the startup process. As of exactly a year ago, MB's family was receiving counseling and was starting to spend more money on daily consumption. The family has only saved up 80 Birr so far, which is less than $5 U.S.
MB's family's targeted business is bicycle rental, rearing animals, retailing local drink in their home, and their monthly income generated is 300 Birr, or just under $18 U.S. Their business was initiated in September of 2008. The challenges they have faced in the past was little or no customers, but they are fortunate enough to have their own house that they can use to run their business out of.
As of last year, the estimated time for the family to reach self-sufficiency was two years.
Both of MB's parents have died of chronic disease. He lives with his grandmother, aunt, cousins and siblings. Thankfully, he is in good physical condition and is currently healthy. He likes to play football and ride a bike. His daily activities include cleaning the house, looking after cattle and helping his family.
This information was sent to me in the packet from the past two years of sponsorship. They update annually. According to the 2009 update, MB's previous sponsors didn't correspond with him. Not cool!
I am going to write to him often, and hopefully visit him and his family one day!
I'm hoping another update will come shortly, since it has been a year since that last annual update.
If you are interested in child sponsorship or any other type of humanitarian aid, you should definitely check out Wide Horizons for Children. They are reputable and experienced and have some great programs, not just sponsorship and not just in Ethiopia. Check them out here.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Quitters!
The same day I decided to take on this personal weight loss challenge, I found out that my father-in-law Dan has decided to quit smoking. He went to his doctor and his doctor told him that if he didn't quit right now, he was going to die. He has already had two heart attacks in the last 10 years, one of which was only a couple of months ago. At this appointment a couple days ago, the doctor asked if he was having any angina pains, to which he answered yes, slightly (although he told me he was fibbing, he was actually having worse pains than he admitted). So the doctor asked him how badly he wanted to live. And that did it, apparently.
I'm so excited for him! And proud. Now, he's tried to quit in the past... but, hey, I've tried to quit eating badly in the past too, and we both failed on our attempts, so maybe this time will be different. He did mention he wants to be around to see his grandkids. :) We really, really want that, too.
I have been doing pretty well the last couple of days. I shopped and got a bunch of healthy snacks, I've been eating oranges and goldfish -- which I realize isn't necessarily a super healthy snack, but it's better than McDonalds french fries or frozen pizza, that's for sure!
Today I ate some spaghetti and meatballs, which I really should cut back on. I didn't eat as much as I usually would have, but it was still too much. Again, I'm trying to aim for 1000-1500 calories a day, and I think today I was probably a little over that. I had a lot of carbs. BUT, again, it wasn't fast food or super fatty stuff.
The other thing I have yet to do is exercise. I haven't in the past two days and I really need to do that every day. Maybe I'll force myself tonight. It helps when I use my stepper and watch TV at the same time... that is, it helps me exercise for longer before I get totally bored and quit... it helps to distract myself and time goes by faster.
I'm hosting the whole family Sunday night for dinner (except Daniel who has to work and maybe Dan who said he might be too cranky from his nicotine withdrawal to have to come to dinner and be all jolly--we told him we didn't care and to re-think and come). It's kind of going to be a pre-Valentine's Day celebration dinner, I guess. I have to think of what to make! Something Valentine's Day themed, if possible...my mom's bringing dessert so that leaves me in a pickle with how to make a main course Valentine's-themed. We'll see!
I'm so excited for him! And proud. Now, he's tried to quit in the past... but, hey, I've tried to quit eating badly in the past too, and we both failed on our attempts, so maybe this time will be different. He did mention he wants to be around to see his grandkids. :) We really, really want that, too.
I have been doing pretty well the last couple of days. I shopped and got a bunch of healthy snacks, I've been eating oranges and goldfish -- which I realize isn't necessarily a super healthy snack, but it's better than McDonalds french fries or frozen pizza, that's for sure!
Today I ate some spaghetti and meatballs, which I really should cut back on. I didn't eat as much as I usually would have, but it was still too much. Again, I'm trying to aim for 1000-1500 calories a day, and I think today I was probably a little over that. I had a lot of carbs. BUT, again, it wasn't fast food or super fatty stuff.
The other thing I have yet to do is exercise. I haven't in the past two days and I really need to do that every day. Maybe I'll force myself tonight. It helps when I use my stepper and watch TV at the same time... that is, it helps me exercise for longer before I get totally bored and quit... it helps to distract myself and time goes by faster.
I'm hosting the whole family Sunday night for dinner (except Daniel who has to work and maybe Dan who said he might be too cranky from his nicotine withdrawal to have to come to dinner and be all jolly--we told him we didn't care and to re-think and come). It's kind of going to be a pre-Valentine's Day celebration dinner, I guess. I have to think of what to make! Something Valentine's Day themed, if possible...my mom's bringing dessert so that leaves me in a pickle with how to make a main course Valentine's-themed. We'll see!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Bahamas, here we come!
Soon (within the next 6 months), we will be sitting in those chairs!
Our best friends (we'll call them Hailey and Warren) and we are going to be going to Sandals Royal Bahamian in the Bahamas. We just booked the vacation last week. We're all very excited, especially with the huge amounts of snow, ice and rain we've gotten recently... it will be a great change of scenery. :)
Source of all above pics: http://www.sandals.com
I would have slightly preferred a vacation with a little more culture and change from the typical, tropical vacations that are the only times I've ever been out of the country, but Hailey and Warren aren't big on vacations that aren't all-inclusive and Americanized. (Hailey's afraid of wildlife and crimes, and Warren's afraid of the outdoors, haha.) I had suggested Belize, which is both tropical AND cultural (Mayan ruins, etc.), but they didn't have any big resorts that were what we were looking for exactly. Hailey and Warren like the brand name of Sandals because they went to one in Jamaica for their honeymoon and they know what to expect. Rod wasn't complaining because all-inclusive means all you can eat - for one set price!
And, at the end of the day, we're not too picky - we just want to go on vacation with them. We can take plenty of cultural vacations in the future. Maybe in a couple years we can convince them to try Belize or Australia or something... that'd be the next step up, I think. ;)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Annie and Rod Capps
Wow, so who knew there was a musical couple named Annie and Rod Capps? How funny!
http://www.maynardmusic.com/bio.html
http://www.maynardmusic.com/bio.html
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
SNOW! And more SNOW!
So back in November I posted about how I'm glad we don't live in California.
I think I spoke too soon. You would not believe how much snow we have gotten so far this winter! I think I've been to work one day in the last few weeks. We've had four feet of snow and today, we had several inches of ICE from rain and sleet. It's been terrible. I think it is just now starting to subside... knock on wood...
Anyway, I thought that was funny because the other day I jokingly mentioned we should just move to California. Oops!
I love the snow, I always have... it's just a pain to shovel, plow, slip, drive on ice, and worry about icicles falling from the roof onto your head when you walk out the front door... eek!
I think I spoke too soon. You would not believe how much snow we have gotten so far this winter! I think I've been to work one day in the last few weeks. We've had four feet of snow and today, we had several inches of ICE from rain and sleet. It's been terrible. I think it is just now starting to subside... knock on wood...
Anyway, I thought that was funny because the other day I jokingly mentioned we should just move to California. Oops!
I love the snow, I always have... it's just a pain to shovel, plow, slip, drive on ice, and worry about icicles falling from the roof onto your head when you walk out the front door... eek!
Our driveway:
Driving into work:
Driving into work:
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Holding off
Today marks the day we agreed to "officially" start trying to expand our family. I don't think I'm quite ready. It's hard to believe I'm typing these words...
Am I ready to be a mom? Heck yeah! I've been ready since I was ten years old, it feels like. Am I ready physically? Nope. I'm still very much overweight, and Rod keeps telling me this doesn't matter because obese women give birth all the time and everything's fine. But it's not fine. It creates risks for both mother and baby, and I want to be healthy so I grow a healthy baby and can deliver him or her safely and as easily as possible.
Not only that, but my reproductive system still isn't working. I've been on these new drugs for a couple months now - the Provera and Metformin. The Provera I took the first 10 days of December and had a period, and then had another period in January without taking the Provera (you're only supposed to take it every 3 months to bring on a period). I was excited at first thinking, maybe the one cycle of Provera did it - maybe it jump-started my cycles back to normal! But alas, I haven't gotten a period since. I keep forgetting to take the Metformin. It's not like the Zoloft where if I don't take it, within 6-12 hours later I have a terrible, "dizzy" headache. I can't tell a difference whether I take the Metformin or not. It's supposed to help with insulin resistance, which is probably from my obesity and causes the offset of my menstrual cycles.
I have a few more months before I go back to the OB/GYN. I'm going to exercise and diet until then (I hope), try to get on a better schedule with the Metformin and if I don't ovulate between now and my appointment, I will talk to her about other options (Clomid, probably) and probably get an SA for Rod just to be sure there's no problem there.
To be honest, I want to adopt. This is not to say that I don't want to have biological children, too. I would love to grow a person inside me and experience pregnancy, and bring something into the world that is genetically the love of my life and me combined. But it's not as important to me as just having a family and raising a child, and there are so many children that are in need around the world already. Why not bring one of them into our family? Unfortunately, Rod doesn't share this same desire. Although he agrees to adopt in the future, he wants to try biologically first.
His main reason for the order of biological first, adoption second? He's afraid of being a bad dad. He's afraid he won't do it right, and that with a biological child, he feels more comfortable with the chance of messing it up than with a child that we adopted. He has a hard time explaining it better than that. I try to reassure him that I married him because I know he's going to be a great dad. I see it in him. He's a different person than his dad. He's not going to disappear, he's going to be a big part of his childrens' lives, forever, no matter what. We have a different family, and he is a mature, responsible and loving man. But I suppose what he's feeling is normal.
With Clomid, if I am remembering correctly, you can only take it for 6 months, no longer. After that, it's either more serious interventions or letting God and patience control whether we ever get pregnant, and begin expanding our family with adoption. We are both happy with this scenario and waiting until that step presents itself to make the decision.
Rod hates that I think ahead like this and seem pessimistic. But I know my body and I know nothing is happening, and it's been two and a half years since we stopped 'preventing'. In other words, we haven't been trying, but if I was working correctly, I would most likely have gotten pregnant already. I also know from others I am close to who have been through infertility, so I am familiar with how the process typically works. So, I like to think that I am prepared.
Am I ready to be a mom? Heck yeah! I've been ready since I was ten years old, it feels like. Am I ready physically? Nope. I'm still very much overweight, and Rod keeps telling me this doesn't matter because obese women give birth all the time and everything's fine. But it's not fine. It creates risks for both mother and baby, and I want to be healthy so I grow a healthy baby and can deliver him or her safely and as easily as possible.
Not only that, but my reproductive system still isn't working. I've been on these new drugs for a couple months now - the Provera and Metformin. The Provera I took the first 10 days of December and had a period, and then had another period in January without taking the Provera (you're only supposed to take it every 3 months to bring on a period). I was excited at first thinking, maybe the one cycle of Provera did it - maybe it jump-started my cycles back to normal! But alas, I haven't gotten a period since. I keep forgetting to take the Metformin. It's not like the Zoloft where if I don't take it, within 6-12 hours later I have a terrible, "dizzy" headache. I can't tell a difference whether I take the Metformin or not. It's supposed to help with insulin resistance, which is probably from my obesity and causes the offset of my menstrual cycles.
I have a few more months before I go back to the OB/GYN. I'm going to exercise and diet until then (I hope), try to get on a better schedule with the Metformin and if I don't ovulate between now and my appointment, I will talk to her about other options (Clomid, probably) and probably get an SA for Rod just to be sure there's no problem there.
To be honest, I want to adopt. This is not to say that I don't want to have biological children, too. I would love to grow a person inside me and experience pregnancy, and bring something into the world that is genetically the love of my life and me combined. But it's not as important to me as just having a family and raising a child, and there are so many children that are in need around the world already. Why not bring one of them into our family? Unfortunately, Rod doesn't share this same desire. Although he agrees to adopt in the future, he wants to try biologically first.
His main reason for the order of biological first, adoption second? He's afraid of being a bad dad. He's afraid he won't do it right, and that with a biological child, he feels more comfortable with the chance of messing it up than with a child that we adopted. He has a hard time explaining it better than that. I try to reassure him that I married him because I know he's going to be a great dad. I see it in him. He's a different person than his dad. He's not going to disappear, he's going to be a big part of his childrens' lives, forever, no matter what. We have a different family, and he is a mature, responsible and loving man. But I suppose what he's feeling is normal.
With Clomid, if I am remembering correctly, you can only take it for 6 months, no longer. After that, it's either more serious interventions or letting God and patience control whether we ever get pregnant, and begin expanding our family with adoption. We are both happy with this scenario and waiting until that step presents itself to make the decision.
Rod hates that I think ahead like this and seem pessimistic. But I know my body and I know nothing is happening, and it's been two and a half years since we stopped 'preventing'. In other words, we haven't been trying, but if I was working correctly, I would most likely have gotten pregnant already. I also know from others I am close to who have been through infertility, so I am familiar with how the process typically works. So, I like to think that I am prepared.
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