It's hot out.

Summer is in full swing here, with temps in the 110-115 range. It's hot outside and our house is hot (we keep the air on about 83-85, as anything cooler would be financially stupid). Our house is simply not capable of cooling with any normal energy expenditure - windows are '70s original single pane, doors have damage from years of dogs (not ours), and the house was poorly/not insulated anyway. So yeah, good times in hot Phoenix! Seriously, we get used to it. But it's hot :)

C is in art camp this week...the other three and I are just keeping busy with splash pads, friends, and swimming. OP has taken a couple of dives of off beds this week (eek!), but aside from trauma is a happy, smiley, super mellow little guy. L is B.U.S.Y. as one might expect a two-year-old to be...but I swear, I forget just how busy they are every time. He can climb on the counter, puts stools on chairs to reach higher, gets his own ice water, and lately has taken to joining us in bed every night...which happens to have a lovely side-effect of him sleeping past 5:00 in the morning! Wednesday he didn't get up until 8! Today was 7:15!

That's the news from here...sorry for the lack of updates. A few pics:

(above: a borrowed Didymos wrap...cotton/wool blend...I loved it so much I had to get one of my own (below)!)


(Light Blue Fische)

OP is a happily wrapped baby these days...too bad there's that heat element!

Rice. A post about my sister.

My sister planted rice in a rural Indian village this last weekend:
(second from left, red shirt, black head scarf)

She also drove on the "wrong side" of the road, playing dodge-the-cows:

I think I've mentioned it before, but I am so thrilled with google video chat and my webcam! I am able to "live" talk with A from half a world away...I often catch her in the morning, as she's headed to bed (12.5 hour time difference), and get all the updates of life in Srinigar, Kashmir, India...for those new to the blog, A is an Urdu language interpreter for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), based in Srinigar, India - the seat of the Kasmiri conflicts.

Silence.

That's what I hear right now. The boys are both asleep, and the girls left this morning with my mom for three weeks in Alaska!

We spent last week in San Diego, visiting family, playing on the beach, cruising the zoo, and generally just enjoying being over there. We lucked out with some amazing weather, but sadly returned to some (relatively) nasty humid heat here in the ol' Valley of the Sun.

Master OP has hit 16 pounds (at 18 weeks); Big L has started saying so many more words recently, and even combining for two-word sentences rather regularly.

One funny (?) from this morning...Big L was getting ice for his water from our freezer, and saw the ice cream. Well, he pointed to the logo and clear as day said "Easy." Confused? It's from Fresh & Easy and he actually recognized the brand! I thought that he did that the other day in SD too, when we drove by a store...but he was in the back seat, and I didn't hear him clearly. I'm convinced now that indeed, brand recognition starts early. Scary.

OP at 16 weeks

Nothing much to report, but Master OP did roll from belly to back on Tuesday. More soon!

Green smoothies and other uses for the Vita-Mix

I have been on a Vita-Mix kick recently! Below are the things I've made in the last few days.


Breakfast this morning: bunch of kale, 2 whole green apples, 1 banana, 2 peaches, some almond milk pulp (more on this below), OJ, and a splash of honey. I actually make a "green smoothie" every morning, but typically I go lighter on the greens and add a little more fruit...I just felt like going super-green today. A typical smoothie would include about a half-bunch of some kind of green (kale, spinach, romaine), blueberries, banana, and whatever else needs to be consumed (mango, apple, orange, strawberry, etc.). I usually add no sweetener (just wanted to offset my whole bunch of kale a little today), and usually use water as the base, not juice...but we happen to have fresh OJ taunting me from the fridge! Can I just say, it makes me SO happy to see my two-year-old (and the girls too) slurping down copious portions of these concoctions!

Almond milk: almonds, water, and a splash of vanilla. It turned out great, but a little thick, so I strained it through cheesecloth. This "pulp" is now being added to other recipes as a little nutritive boost.

Coffee freeze: almond milk, coffee, ice, vanilla and honey. Who needs Starbucks?

Strawberry ice cream: raw goat milk, whole frozen strawberries, sugar, and a splash of vanilla. It was AMAZING. So much better than anything store-bought, and it was Liam-friendly (no cow dairy)!

Peanut butter: peanuts! So flavorful!

Moroccan lentil soup: from the Vita-Mix book...this recipe. I even used home-made chicken broth D made. The only thing I didn't have was raisins, which I'm sure would add a nice sweet to the soup. I thought it was quite good, though the consistency the next day was pretty funny...

I love the Ranch Market!

Today's purchases, for $27.50:

4 avocados
1.4 lb green beans
bunch spinach
2 bunches kale
cauliflower
2 cucumbers
1.7 lb zucchini
1.5 lb brussel sprouts
1.5 lb yams
honeydew melon (3.75 lb)
2 yellow peppers
2.4 lb peaches
5 lb bag apples
pineapple
5 kiwis
2 lb organic Fuji apples
1.6 lb nectarines
4 - 1 lb clamshells of strawberries
5 champange mangos

YUM

I was not the best advertisement for babywearing while shopping however...Master OP was on my back in the mei tai screaming, as I had neglected to feed him BEFORE shopping. Silly mama.

The girls had a busy, tiring weekend...Papa B and Aunt B and Uncle M were over on Saturday to swim and eat; they took the girls home via the rodeo. After a late night, they were up early riding horses and running around the ranch. We picked them up for pictures (coming soon!) mid-morning, then returned them after lunch. They swam and played until about 4:00, when Papa B returned them home. We all went out to dinner, and then the crowd crashed hard! I had to wake up C at 7:45 so we could get her to her art camp on time!

June in Arizona...

...couldn't be more perfect (so far)! We have had highs in the low 90s, lows in the 70s. Every night, we've been opening up the house, sleeping with windows and doors open and enjoying the fresh breeze. The mornings have been more of the same - until about 11:00 when it heats up enough that I have to resort to the air. Honestly, if the house had better insulation and air flow, I could probably get away without any A/C at all! Sadly though, even on a nice day, the house gets too stuffy without.

Anyway, C has been LOVING every minute of her art camp so far. She's on day three today and has been doing paper maiche, jewelry making, dance, and lots of games. Yesterday she was dressed and brushed and ready to walk out the door at 5:30. Yes, in the morning!

The other kids and I have been hanging out - spent some time with friends yesterday, went for a walk just now. E rode her bike, and the boys rode in our new Phil and Ted's double stroller...I finally broke down and got one when they went on sale through Costco for half the normal retail. I hate to admit, but it is nice to be able to walk without a baby strapped on me...just now and then!

D is in Las Vegas for the day at a work conference...he flew up this morning, and didn't have to leave until about 7:00. He dropped C at her camp for me, which was a nice break, and we got to hang out together this morning - crazy! He usually leaves by 5:30.

That's the news. Papa B arrives today, so we look forward to visiting...off to make some food while the house is still cool!

The big update

Now that I have a moment to sit and write, figured it's time to share the "big" news (no, no more babies!!). I have decided to take a break from my apprenticeship. That's right - no more office days, no more births, no more post-partum visits. It was a hard choice for me to make, but one that became more glaringly obvious the more I started doing. Thing is, our family was sacrificing a lot for me to be gone so much, and our kids are so young! I know the day will come when the crew wants nothing to do with us, so right now, while they still love, adore and cherish every moment with mom, I need to spend my time with them. The same goes for D - I felt like I was never home to spend time with my husband, as I took advantage of his being home to do afternoon "work."

So the truth is - we're thrilled! I know I will miss the midwifery work, but I also know that it is there, and will be there when our family is ready to make that choice again. The addition of Master OP just changed things more than I ever thought it would.

The first bit of family fun we're doing is a trip to San Diego at the end of June :) One of my aunts is planning on flying over on Monday (the 22nd) to make the drive with the kids and me. D will then fly over on Thursday afternoon for the weekend. Sunday we will pack up and trek on home. We are looking forward to catching up with the extended family there, and having a little break from our heat (though to be honest, it's not bad yet!). Just a few days after we return, the girls are flying up to Alaska with my mom for three weeks. I'm not going this year, as I was going to be on call and busy at work...but even with my changes, it should be exciting for the girls to go on an adventure by themselves.

We love mei tais in this house!

Here are the boys just moments ago...OP fell asleep moments after the picture, as is his norm in any carrier. L loves going "uppie" in his MT too.

D is wearing a toddler-sized Kindercarry; I have on a Baby Hemp Tai.





Excuse the dorky pose...but I thought for once I'd post a pic with BOTH parents! Shocking :)

(and apologies to those on Facebook...I'm trying to keep my blog updated, so many posts are doubling with what I post over there!)

Fourteen

Master OP is fourteen weeks old today...and fourteen pounds even! He is a smiley little guy who adores being carried, and still sleeps a ton. Yes, he gets bonus points for that last bit :)

Goofy "hold the camera-self portrait" pic (he's really much cuter in real life!):


The girls have 2.5 days of school left - mostly play. This afternoon is water day, tomorrow is hand-made ice cream social day, and Wednesday is a half-day, with a puppet show. C will then start an arts camp for just one week (6/8 through 6/12), which is every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the city Art Center. It will be a looooooong day, but I know she'll love it - dance, drama, arts, kids...and no siblings!

July 2 the girls are going to Alaska for 3 weeks...by themselves! My mom is flying up with them, and they will fly home alone. Grandma has lots of plans for their visit, including a camping trip, which they're very excited about.

That's the latest and greatest.

Three births...

I apologize these birth stories are quick versions...but you'll see it was a long weekend and I don't have the energy to write out more elaborate stories at this point.

Friday, we got called out around 3 in the afternoon. After some creative child shuffling, I headed out to J's house. S (the midwife) was already there, and mama was in active labor in the tub when I arrived. Mom labored like a rock star, chatting between contractions and denying that she was anywhere close to holding her baby (ha!). Within an hour, her vocalizations changed and she began pushing...at this point, I was put in the role of "the midwife," so I donned my sterile gloves (didn't want to be rushing at the last minute or having sweaty palms trying to get them on!) and crouched in front of the tub to wait. Her water broke during a pushing contraction, and six minutes later, the baby was born...into MY hands! What an incredible gift, and how sad that so few ever have the privilege to experience it. This little guy weighed in at 9 lb 6 oz.

We went out to dinner and coffee; I got home around 10 p.m. I knew at this point another mama was having some contractions, but wasn't ready for us yet. I headed to bed around 11:15, and was woken at 11:40 by the phone and S saying it was time to go...this mama (a primip, or first-timer) was laboring in the tub with her husband and doula. Within a couple hours, she was pushing, and her baby girl came sliding into the water just before 3 a.m. on Saturday, weighing 8 lb 1 oz.

Now the third birth...Mama was having some health issues at 32 weeks that indicated checking in to the hospital. She went in on Sunday afternoon and the staff was unable to find a heartbeat. Ultrasound confirmed that their baby girl was no longer alive. A C-section was performed, and the most gorgeous, precious little girl was born sleeping, weighing 2 lb 8 oz. There were no obvious signs of problems, nothing discernible on the pathology report. Baby B was greatly loved, and will be missed.

Flashback Friday Again!

A few pre-wedding/kid pics!

Worthington Glacier, 1997 (the summer we met):


Glacier Bay, Summer 1998:


And reaching even further back...

Spring of 1992:


Eek - can't believe I'm sharing those...be nice! :)

Anybody know...

How to fix the margains of this layout so I have a wider space for pics and all??

Flashback Friday

Courtesy of a Facebook friend...(clickable if you can't see the whole pic)



Taken at a wedding in Chicago a couple months before E was born...so C is about 18 months old here.

Four babies

Any guesses? I think we played this one back when L was new...

Adding by request: individual pics, going clockwise from upper left

1.2.

3.

4.

Other random comments

Trying to make up for my non-blogging...

Good news: we seem to have eliminated some kind of trigger from L's diet that has cleared up his skin and solved most of his night-time sleep problems! We have gone night-shade free and are also avoiding straight cow's milk. He still gets goat milk for his nap and to go to bed...but the last time we ran out of goat milk and gave him cow milk, he woke multiple times at night and was rashy again the next day...however, we were seeing that with potatoes and tomatoes as well, so for now it's all out of his diet. We don't seem to have issues with yogurt or cheese though.

Baby OP is now 12 weeks old, and as of one week ago weighed 13 pounds, measured 24 inches long and has a petite 15.5 inch head.


My sister is in Thailand doing her training for the ICRC; she returns to India on Saturday to begin her new job as an interpreter in Kashmir.

My parents and sister were all here visiting at the end of April! We celebrated my dad's 60th birthday, and I was spoiled by having my parents drive the girls to school each morning, and pick them up each afternoon...heaven!

Pics from the visit:





Multi-tasking auntie: Indian-food chef and baby-wearer!

My first post-OPB birth

April 29, in the evening, I attended a birth...and in my slacker haze, I never posted it! This mama lives very close by us, so I had arranged to attend as the assistant's assistant basically. I wanted the ability to go nurse OP if need be, and the experience to see how it would work out.

Around 7 p.m. I headed over to their house; S (midwife) was already there, and N (assistant) was just moments behind me. Mom labored in her room with the help of a doula and her supportive husband. We checked in occasionally, but pretty much stayed out in the living room. Close to 11, mom started pushing on the birth stool, and out came a perfect little boy. He did make a grand entrance by virtue of coming at 42 weeks on the dot! Congratulations to the whole family :)

As for my crew, OP did just fine without me - he was sleeping when I left and did wake up, but took milk from daddy no problem...the only bad part was he didn't go back to sleep! I returned home around 2 a.m. to a very tired husband who had to get up two hours later for work...

For the record, he has since stayed home with daddy and gone back to sleep just fine, so we're hoping for the near future it won't be a big issue...(lots of births coming up soon!)

L's new doll

L's birthday doll arrived today...I thought my little boy could use his own doll, since he often plays with the sisters'. He loves giving them rides in the sling, mei tai, and stroller...so now he can care for his own. Oh, bonus: he's a European doll - so he is even truly anatomically correct *wink*

Hmm...what is it?

Ooh, look!


Happy


And hugs...

And if anybody needs one for their own kids, my mom ordered it from here. There are a few styles - this guy is "Titus."

Two!

Saturday was L's second birthday. No big celebrations...cupcake dessert Saturday just for the candles, and family brunch on Sunday.


Aunt B brought over two baby goats on Sunday (not to keep!). The kids enjoyed feeding them:





Big C loves carrying her baby brother just like mama:


And L had a blast helping daddy start the side patio transformation (think Mexican courtyard...we hope):



I am one of those slacker bloggers who has been sucked into Facebook...I will try to make more effort to keep my blog updated - sorry!

All I want for Christmas...