Talking

Reed and I sat down a few days ago to list out the some of the words we hear North use. I think that it is so interesting to hear how his sounds are developing within the context of his growing expressive language.

For example, a few days ago he was asking for "wa-wa", yet yesterday and today he asked for a glass of water by saying "na-na". When he says the word fish, he pronounces it "bish". As I look over the list that Reed and I compiled, I see that about many of his words begin with "B". They include: "bird", "Bas" (Basil), "Bru" (Bruin), "buck", and my personal favorite as I hear the request from morning to night, "B-B's" (blueberries!)

In the last week he started to add words together. A few mornings ago I cracked up when North walked into our bedroom after watching Reed go to the bathroom. He looked at me and said, "Dada pee." He will also protest if I turn off the computer before he is done watching You-Tube videos of fish. "More bish!"


Manners are also in a process of developing. For a while now, Reed and I have been modeling saying please and thank you as we hand him food or other items. Yesterday, when he and Reed were in the kitchen he pointed up to the fruit platter and pleaded, "num-nums, nums-nums, peas?"

I can only wonder at the range of his receptive language. He seems to understand so much of what we say to him. I can ask a simple request of him "Please put these clothes on the couch" (He loves helping with the laundry), as long as I am very simple with my words and am sharing an idea he has heard before. However, the other day I asked him to get my new blue shoes from the shoe rack by the front door. I knew he didn't quite get the whole idea because he brought me my black shoes. Oh well, at least he tried!

On a side note

I was going to write of an experience from earlier this week, however Rixa has once again posted a thought-provoking link to a major study.

The Trouble With Repeat Cesareans published by TIME magazine, highlights the corner that our current hospital birthing practices are forcing onto many women and their babies. According to the article, the number of US hospitals not allowing VBAC's has risen from 10% in 2004 to 28% (currently). In addition to that number, an additional 21% of hospitals will allow VBAC's, but have no doctor willing to oversee the delivery. Slightly less then half of all American women who have healthy pregnancies and babies, will be forced to have a major surgery because of a lack of normal pregnancy care.

In this article, reasons given for the decrease of VBAC's range from fear of uterine rupture (in reality occurs in 0.75% of deliveries), increased rules placed on hospitals regarding availability of anesthesiologists on call, and of course! malpractice insurance rates skyrocketing.

This study parallels some thoughts I am having as I re-read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth . Near the end of her book, she describes what happens to women's bodies as synthetic versions of oxytocin ( the contraction hormone) are injected into women's bodies. Common amounts given to laboring women are greater then what the body would normally secrete during a contraction and might also interfere with the flow of oxygen transferring from mother to child. Ina May cites two studies (published in 1999) which found that uterine rupture increased by 28% when Cytotec (also a synthetic labor inducer) was given to women who have had a previous c-section. I think further studies need to be conducted as to safe levels of induction drugs given to women with previous c-sections scars.

On a personal note, based on what I read from this book while pregnant with North; I questioned my doctor about the way my uterus would be sewed up if a C-section was to occur. Many times, doctors will just sew the two layers of muscle together as they close up the uterus, which can cause the uterus to be not as strong during the next labor. I wanted to be prepared and proactive towards my second labor being as normal as possible.

So I wonder, is it our uterus we fear or could it be the medical interventions? Could it be a common mental vision of a uterus blowing up that is causing many women to lose their innate trust in their own body's abilities? Really, the numbers seem to be quite small to justify all that pain, healing, and lost time a Cesarean causes. Please read the end of this article, as it lists all the problems repeat Cesareans can cause. I wonder if all people were better educated towards preventing Cesareans, then maybe we could help future women and their partners chose a healthy birth when their time comes.

A drive to the snow

Our family adventure for today was a trip to the snow. Our favorite spot is about 20 minutes inland. Pre-North, we would go further up the same mountain to sled and hike around, but as the wind was howling today, we opted for a spot right off the lower road.

North was uncertain about the whole experience. In hindsight, I realize that we should have practiced with the bulky layering before bringing him to an alien world of whiteness. He was a bit overwhelmed.

Once out in the snow, he refused to move. If he fell, he would stay laying down. He didn't want to walk in the snow or touch it.

Let me show a close up of a face that sums up his thoughts on the experience today:

However, Reed and I had a great time. Taking the dogs to the snow is always so much fun. Today was Basil's first experience with the cold, white stuff also. With North so young last winter, we just didn't venture out much. Based upon how Basil was jumping and goofing off with Bruin, I think he likes snow much better then North.

Bruin is on the sled with Reed. I tried with Basil, but he wasn't having any of that!

Bruin never poses for family pictures. I think he is camera shy.

School thoughts

Tonight I went to a school board meeting.

I went into the meeting initially understanding very little about a decision that the board was to vote on. I needed to hear the presentations given as the decision could affect our family. That is, if we choose to send North to our school district. (We have lots of community choices, thankfully)

The town I live in is a somewhat slow growing population in a county of declining school enrollment. However, it is also in a community of relatively affordable housing in a state that is considered by some to be Golden. So prospects of schools gaining in enrollment later on, are possible. Two elementary schools make up our district; one of which 50 years ago earlier merged into the town school district.

The "town" elementary school runs a Spanish immersion program in addition to traditional classrooms. The students in the immersion program are excelling with their education, the traditional kids are not. The "country" school is doing fine based upon the kids test scores, but could use some cultural diversification. (that opinion is all mine!) Coupled with the county-wide decline in school enrollment causing every district to tighten their belts, the school board has decided to change the way the two elementary schools work in order to better serve the needs 0f all kids in the district.

Tonight the school board is considering two options.

Option one: Run one school as a full Spanish immersion program, traditional kids would go to the other school.

Option two: Run one school as K-2, the other would be 3-5.

Parents from the "country" school are upset that "town" kids would be mingling with their kids. "After all, they didn't choose to put their kids in the Spanish class right?" Why should their kids be with the other kids who come from Spanish households?
Or even worse, druggie families, ick! "Make those kids go somewhere else!"
This is what some of the parents are implying during the meeting, I am not being sarcastic or making it up! The school board meeting was a bit emotional.

I didn't stay for most of the public comment or for the vote. I will be able to read about it all in the paper tomorrow. But I went to the meeting and later talked with two friends on the phone (one a past principal of the Spanish Immersion school, now a Superintendent of a neighboring district, and the other gentlemen also a past principal of a SoCal school), because I want to know more about the process that will create a school that North may attend in the not -to- distant future.

I want my children to go to a school community that is dynamic and culturally sensitive to a global world. I know I live in a very white community. I don't speak a second language and many of my friends look and think in ways that are very similar to mine. But to me, it doesn't mean that this is an optimal or the only environment to grow and thrive in. I would like to show all of my children that they can see themselves as a small (yet important) part of a larger world. A major step in their educational lives will involve the school that Reed and I send them to.

Personally, I think the "country" parents are sunk. Regardless of the vote, their kids will be mingled with the undesirables. Some parents will take their children elsewhere, but after a bit time all families will adapt. All of the kids in this school district, regardless of socio-economic status will be given a fairer chance at better teachers, access to equal materials and services, and just possibly the parental involvement may increase also. The last part was a bit of a stretch, but I can hope for our future, right?

Dinner

Inspired by another post I read; I decided to see what fish we had in the freezer and cook it in a new way for dinner. I saw a package of rockfish. Also on that the same shelf was a box of puff pastry.

I searched the Food Network website using my two ingredients as guidance and found this recipe.

Uncle Bubba's Seafood Pot Pie

As luck would have it, Reed and I had eaten scallops for dinner a few nights ago, so we didn't have any of those, but frozen shrimp are usually in our freezer along with any of Reed's fish.

I didn't have fish stock, but I like a specific brand of vegetable bouillon, so I used that instead. I also didn't have heavy cream, but since Reed and I use non-homogenized organic whole milk for cereal and coffee, I figured that would be heavy enough. Besides, this recipe was from Paula Dean! She loves b-uuuu-ter!

The recipe also called for the cook to prebake a lattice cover for the top of the pot pie, but I like the crust to surround all the gooey-ness, so I used a whole sheet.

Even with all the modifications, I would call dinner a success. The nutmeg came across a little strong, but otherwise the flavor was good. When we only have a few scallops available, I will definitely think of this recipe in the future. Somehow I had a bit of leftover filling, so I will re-heat it as a seafood chowder and serve with bread and salad in a few days.

We also ate our first asparagus of the year. Reed and I saw some at Safeway yesterday, but they were huge and woody and completely dried out. Today at the Co-op, I found a smaller, fresher, and organic selection of the springtime veggie.

I just re-read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbra Kingsolver a few days ago. She says that asparagus needs to be eaten in the manner of corn. Find it, cut it, cook it, eat it; in as few minutes as possible. Although what we ate tonight was a little older, it was still nice to eat with a butter-garlic-lemon sauce.

In the middle of cooking, North took a bad header into the kitchen floor. You know how kids can hurt themselves and their mouths open, but the pain is so bad that their cry is still trying to catch up? North did that. I had to turn down the stove so I could put an Arnica salve on his head and comfort-nurse for a few minutes. Five minutes later, North and I were back in the kitchen as happy as can be.

That, and in all other times of tragedy, is why I nurse my toddler. He bounces back with amazingly good cheer once he gets a good dose of comfort and breastmilk.

Reed and North horsing around

A hospital birth story. This is what our birthing model of care could be.

In the link above, a woman is unable to labor at home, because of a known complication. The medical staff at the hospital cares for the women in a respectful, empathetic manner while still providing medical assistance when needed. The baby is birthed safely, mother and father appear to have a experience that they will remember with pride forever.

Thanks to Rixa (of Stand and Deliver, formerly True Face of Birth) for posting the original list of links. Navelgazing Midwife is a amazing blog to read.

This past Sunday, we met a friend at a lagoon. The weather couldn't have been nicer.

A lagoon is a natural occurring freshwater/salt lake caused by either a stream or river flowing towards the ocean. Because of coastal rock formations or specific eddy currents, sand will accumulate around the mouth of the river, forming a barrier that traps the freshwater. Large storm waves will break apart parts of the sand "spit" a few times a year, thus allowing ocean marine life to enter the lagoon. When the storm ceases, the ocean life will become trapped behind the sand.

We had intended to explore more of the beach, but became distracted by the huge amount of agates. If I remember right, agates are formed from a type of volcanic rock. They are amber and milky and will shine right out at you from the sand. (well, they shined out to Reed and Carl anyway, I kept missing them)

Finally Reed did some casting!

Because of all the action the rocks receive from the waves, both the ocean and lagoon side of the sand spit were covered with smooth rocks. You know how you can lay down on small rocks and somewhere on your body you feel a sharpness? Not with these rocks. Because of the sun overhead, it almost felt like I was getting a hot stone massage. At one point all four of all were laying/sitting in the rocks in the sun, just looking for agates. It was lovely.

The wind gradually picked up so we headed back to the dock. Carl jumped out at the dock to get his truck and boat trailer; while we waited North drove the boat in circles. Basil had jumped out with Carl, but then panicked because Reed and I were still on the boat and driving away. He jumped off the dock into the water and swam over to catch up. Reed had to fish him out of the water while trying not to run him over at the same time. Silly dog.