The Swaddling Controversy

Every now and then on Facebook a debate gets heated. Well on a group I am on some moms are talking about swaddling their newborn babies. Here is a wonderful link that a very experienced IBCLC and author of many breastfeeding books goes into detail about why swaddling is NOT a good idea for breastfed babies especially ; http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/blog/tag/swaddling

I will share that I have been a 'breastfeeding councilor" for over 18 years. I have worked with many many moms and made many home visits. I will have a mom call and explain how her baby will not stay awake or sleeps for hours or falls asleep at the breast after a few minutes. Or mom is engorged...
When I arrive baby is most always overdressed or swaddled in a blanket. Yes babies will sleep when bundled its warmer and they just sleep too deep. Early breastfeeding cues are missed. Why? Because baby can not get his/her hands to her mouth. Babies suck on their hands in utero. Baby will fall asleep at the breast because they are overheated.
The first thing I do is have mom get the baby down to a diaper, take the blanket and drape it over both mom and baby and have baby on moms bare chest. That is where baby should and needs to be. Not wrapped up like a burrito and placed in a crib or swing.
Wear your baby in a sling skin to skin....you can tend to your home and other family members. Breastfed babies need to nurse often and on cue so momma wont get engorged, mastitis,and baby gains well.

I learned very fast as a first time mom that my babies HATE footed pajammas. They hated not being able to get their hands in their mouths, I was sent home being told to bundle and use those silly baby mittens....now I know why I had so many breastfeeding difficulties.

Moms follow your heart....hold your baby...People are shocked when I share yea I wore my newborns ALL day long in a sling. I RARELY laid them down. I even showered with my baby in a mesh sling...It was easier and baby was safe and happy and got a shower also. Motherhoood isnt easy. You do what you must do for your baby...

This is my Sebastian, I did kangaroo care in the NICU. This is how I held him all the time even at home, with a blanket over us both, until he was bigger...

It is Still EASTER 2012

While most others have finished celebrating Easter, we are still in the Easter Season as Catholics!
We all attended a very crowded 11 am Mass at the Cathedral and our Bishop along with many other priests celebrated the Mass.
Sebastian did very well except when it was time for the Consecration....When he began to shout "I want to go bye bye" "I want to go home" over and over.....So I made my way out into the east courtyard for a few minutes....HE said his hello to our statue of Fr Felix   Varella, whom BTW has been named "venerable" by Pope Benedict in March!
Sebastian LOVES talking to the life size statue....We went back in just in time for the Our Father....
After Mass came home cleaned, cooked and had an easter egg hunt....you know me only organic stuff in those reused plastic eggs... Organic fruit juice sweetened jelly beans, gummy bears, dried cherries. Natural lolly's and spry gum..

Here are some photos of our fun...and my beautiful children. Some of the photos were not the greatest as I am playing around with a new lens...should have stuck to my other one...and sorry for some reason my upload from the computer has two watermarks...

Homemade natural Marshmallows (bunnies)

Homemade Marshmallow Chicks / Bunnies 

Ingredients

1 cup of water, split into 2 half cups

3 tablespoons of gelatin

1 cup of honey

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon of salt

1/4 cup organic powdered sugar

1/4 cup organic cornstarch

Directions

1. Cover with parchment paper a 9 by 13 inch pan, or jelly roll pan (if not using a stand mixer, you will probably only need a 9 by 9 inch pan). Then grease the parchment paper. Sift the powdered sugar and cornstarch, sprinkle half on greased parchment. Other half will go in top of marshmallow.

2. Put 1/2 cup of water in a medium bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer with attached whisk), and sprinkle the gelatin over the water. Set aside to soften.

3. In a small pot, place the honey, salt and the other 1/2 cup of water. Heat on medium heat. Using a candy thermometer, bring the mixture to 240 degrees. (You can also test it by carefully dribbling a little of the liquid into a bowl of ice cold water. It should be in the soft candy stage — which will form little soft balls when cooled in the water and taken out. It takes about 7-8 minutes to reach this temperature.) Remove from the heat as soon as it reaches the right temperature.

4. With the mixer on low, very carefully mix in the hot syrup into the gelatin mixture by pouring the hot syrup in a drizzle down the side of the bowl. Once it’s all combined, add the vanilla and increase speed slowly to high. Beat for 7-15 minutes, or until the mixture is thick and fluffy and holds its shape when you lift the beaters out of the mixture. (It will look like marshmallow fluff.) Scrape into the prepared pan. I think it works best if the mixture is about 1/2 inch thick. How much the mixture fluffs up will make a difference in how thick the mixture is and how big of a pan you need to use. Adjust pan size at will. To help in getting a somewhat flat surface, I like to take another piece of parchment paper and grease. Put greased side down on marshmallows, and then press down to even out with your hands or use a small rolling pin.

5. Leave uncovered for 4-12 hours to dry. I found that after a few hours, it was dry enough to cut, but still sticky enough to roll in decorating sugar. Use greased cookie cutters to cut into desired shapes. Roll in sugar immediately. If desired, make a mixture of cocoa powder and water to make eyes. Dab on with toothpick or chopstick. Keep covered in an airtight container for up to one week.

 

 

This is how the mixture looks as it begins to boil

 

This is the gelatin and water mixture

Here the next few show the mixture boiling and is almost done

Here we are whipping the mixtures together

This is how it looks poured out

Ready to cut out our shapes

The girls loved putting the eyes on with chocolate

 

Lord Let me see him thru Your eyes....

I sit here tonight scared and nervous. Ryan was released from the VA hospital today and is suppose to be here in the morning (he is taking a greyhound bus). I know we should be happy and excited. I am sort of in a way because deep down I am praying for a Holy Week miracle. But I have to be realisitic. Though he was released does not mean he is well. The 8 week PTSD program 'ended' so they discharged him. Even though yes the Dr knew he stated he knew he could not handle being here 'fulltime' . He plans to see us but also has said he will go to the homeless shelter when he needs to get away!

As I said before there is MUCH I can not say public. I also learned the other night from ryan one incident that occured in Iraq that has left me in shock. I didnt respond very well when he told me. HE said there was more also. That frightens me. It was something I didnt expect. Yes it explains SO much of why he is suffering. But I feel like with other things he lied to me. I hear it a lot that the vets do not tell wives what happened over there. But I cant get past it. Yet anyway. This has torn my family apart. It has affected his faith. I do not know how or if we will get thru this. I am brought back to that forgiveness i blogged about a few weeks ago.

I ask you all for your continued prayers. That I respond in a positive loving way. Because right now I am angry, shocked and afraid.
My friend Liz told me today some simple advice, ask God to let me see Ryan thru His eyes as the child of God he is....So that is my prayer.....

Little boy hair trims

Sebastian has only had one real hair trim and he will be 3 in may. I will not give my boys 'buzz cuts' i just can't stand that look. Sebastian has such cute blonde hair . His bangs are in his eyes. I have been trying to trim his hair for weeks . He won't allow it . So the other day after a walk he fell asleep. I decided I would trim at least his
Bangs... He woke up of course . His sisters say he looks like a girl . I don't think so and really don't care . He is Sebastian . I like his hair longer ...it's just so cute ....it wont always be long .