An Advertisement for Permanent Contracepton September 7, 2007

May I introduce you to the newest member of my blogroll: http://mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/

If you have not heard of her yet, if you are in the mommy circles, you probably aren’t checking your email enough. Her hilarious writings started with an Ebay post for a used baseball that sold for over $1000. More recently, her posting for a pack of Pokemon cards she was tricked into buying made the rounds of every active yahoo group I belong to, which totals…..5. (Is that all? It seems like more)

She has been compared to Erma Bombeck. I was raised on Erma Bombeck. She was really the only humorist that could make both my mother and myself roll. I guess that’s where the appeal is here.

Much as I love her and am entertained by her blog, I must be honest–whether she exaggerates for comedic effect or not–she is really helping me to come to grips with the idea that there could very well be no more Foster kids. Wow, that’s the first time I have written that, although, notice that the statement is nowhere concrete.

As Pickle has reached her toddlerhood, there have been days where I think maybe I want to do it again. Lucky for us, our financial situation prevents the serious consideration of trying again. By the time we got to number 3, I really felt like I had gotten the hang of things. I tried some new things and loved them, and want to do them again. Things like cloth diapering, and learning to use all different styles of slings. I want to have (Another) chance to successfully breastfeed with no issues. (Of the three, Pickle was the worst nurser of the bunch) It was the first time I got to play with girly clothes. I kept those and want to see them on another baby girl. I want a balance–2 boys, 2 girls. (I know, I know, I don’t get to choose, but this is my daydream, I can do what I want) I want Em to see me nursing a baby so that is imprinted on her for when she grows up. I want for Em to not be the only girl, to be able to have the sister that I always wanted for myself.

What I don’t want…Another kid. Not baby, I lurve the baby. It’s the kid I might be to old for. Sometimes I am throughly overwhelmed by the 3 (sometimes 4-dh) that I have. The logistics of getting us all out of the house on time to go anywhere is staggering. Adding one more to the mix? One more pair of shoes to find and fasten, one more head of hair to comb, one more bag of belongings, one more cup…..I sigh in dread at the thought. I try to minimize our family trips out, choosing to leave some/all of them home with dh if I can/he can. Sunday mornings is a must however. Sunday mornings are the worst mornings of the week. The catalyst is the hour in which they are all under the supervision of someone else, and I can look at dh and say, “Oh, hello,it’s you. Good to see you, how’ve you been.” To which, inevitably, he replies that he’s dizzy and has a headache. If anything can bring on that state, Sunday morning would do it, Post Concussion Syndrome or not.

The baby=easy. Diaper em, pop em in a sling and go. Bring one diaper and some wipes. Food will be on the go. No gear required, no mercury to chase.

The kid=cute, fun, but oh so much harder. I already feel like I”m herding cats most days.

Particularly today, when I have the first day of a head cold to deal with. That day when you feel like your head is big and your eyes are sandbags. Today is the day of not caring. I don’t care what you do, just leave me alone and don’t hurt anyone.

It’s money that makes the world go round August 31, 2007

Money over health, even.

This article in the WP today: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20523460/ talks about the ways and reasons that the baby formula industry quashed the governments attempts at increasing the rates of women who choose to breastfeed.

The government health agencies are well aware of the risks of formula and the benefits of breastfeeding. The reality is that there is a significant segment of the population that doesn’t know this. The reason they don’t know is because the formula companies work very hard keeping it that way.

Oh yeah, all the formula ads say in the fine print “Breast is best” and then go on to say how their product is just as good. It’s not. In fact, it can be detrimental to a baby’s current and future health. When cigarettes became popular, they were smoked, I assume, for various reasons including the relaxation benefits, the “cool” factor and other reasons. The immediate benefits outweighed the long term risks (addiction, cancer etc). No one cared about the long term effects. In my opinion, we are seeing the same thing happening. The formula companies like to promote the “benefits”: no pain, less colic (not true), mom’s ability to leave the baby (don’t even get me started on this one), dad can be involved…blah blah blah. And in making these “benefits” sound so good, no one cares about the immediate and long term effects on a baby’s health.

Guess what? There’s no tangible money in breastfeeding. There for, proponents of it don’t have the resources to hire lobbyists and pepper tv and magazines and billboards and dr’s offices, and hospitals with advertising and giveaways. All we can do is scream loud and long until our mouths are smothered by the hands of those with money.

It’s not easy being green June 14, 2007

Ok, here’s the thing:

I am not concerned about global warming. *gasp*

I’m sure by the end of this you are going to lable me a fundie idiot, but that’s ok. I wear that title as proudly as I wear other less fun titles.

When we first moved here, to the Smokies, I was searching around for churches, and I heard the most basic logical argument against Global Warming.

Brace yourself. A pastor said “Don’t you send a dime to the fund to stop global warming. Because it’s GOD’S world, and it’s GOD’S global warming”

Der. How simple. I am a creationist, a follower of God. I believe Him to be in control of everything, even my rediculous and insignificant little life. So why would he not be in control of that too–since you know he created the ozone and all? I’m pretty sure he’s got a back up plan.

I recycle, I “go green” when it is affordable (rarely) and it’s convienient. We recycle all our cans because we can make a few bucks by doing it. I think it’s good to recycle if doing so creates less waste AND can become a useful product. (I love the recycled newspaper kitty litter). People say they are doing it for their children’s children. I say, Jesus will be coming to rapture his church before we manage to kill off the planet.

Furthermore, and more scientifically, there is plenty of proof that the gradual warming/cooling trends that happen over thousands (millions?) of years is a normal thing for our planet. (Provided of course you believe our planet to be that old. Which I don’t) It wasn’t a hole in the ozone that caused the last geothermal warming trend.

If you’ve made it this far, allow me to link you to the article that spawned this entry:

http://nymag.com/news/features/33157/

and psssst. I’ve tried the diaphragm cup thing. But not cause it’s green. Because all the other crunchies were doing it. ;o)

Sincerely,

Pitiless Pollyanna

I’ve got enough things to worry about.