tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075788484607196622024-03-13T02:16:55.976-05:00Marin's MommyHeather H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15793936700197050385noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607578848460719662.post-35215025277009044652013-05-14T23:00:00.000-05:002013-05-14T23:37:06.084-05:00A Conversation In Cloth (Diapers)I'm no expert, but I will share what I have learned about the world of cloth diapering, including my personal preferences, for anyone who might be interested...<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>People are using cloth diapers <i>after </i>they invented disposables? Gross!</b><br />
Actually what I think is gross is paying lots of money to put plastic with scary chemicals against your baby's sensitive skin, letting them pee and poop in it, rolling it up and throwing it in a landfill to preserve it and take up space for the rest of time. That is my nutshell version. If you want a more thorough explanation, this article is where it's at: <a href="http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/dangers-of-disposable-diapers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Disposable Diapers Are Dirty And Dangerous</a><br />
<br />
On the positive side, using cloth diapers will:<br />
<ul>
<li>Save <b><span style="color: #e69138;">money</span></b>, especially if you use them for more than one kid. You can also buy them used and/or resell them when you're done if they are still in decent shape.</li>
<li>Be better for your baby's <b><span style="color: #e69138;">skin </span></b>without the preservatives and absorbent chemicals in disposables. You can even go all the way and use cloth diapers with natural fibers like bamboo and cotton instead of microfiber.</li>
<li>Help preserve the <b><span style="color: #e69138;">environment </span></b>by reducing the amount of resources used to produce disposable diapers <i>and </i>the amount of waste added to landfills.</li>
</ul>
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Ok, I'll take a diaper made out of cloth instead of plastic.</b><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><b>All-in-one</b></span> <b><span style="color: #e69138;">cloth diapers </span></b>are basically a disposable diaper made out of cloth that you wash and reuse. If you are scared, or you have to deal with childcare providers who may resist the idea of cloth diapers, this might be the place to start. A good example of this type is <a href="http://www.bumgenius.com/organic.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bumGenius Elemental</a> diapers.<br />
<br />
<b>But won't those take forever to dry?</b><br />
No, not forever, but longer than you might like. To help with this, some AIOs have semi-attached absorbent layers, which allows them spread out and dry faster, and you can tuck additional soaker pads underneath to increase absorbency. <a href="http://www.bumgenius.com/freetime.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bumGenius Freetime</a>, <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/cloth-diapers/duo-all-in-one/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thirsties Duo AIO</a>, and <a href="http://www.gro-via.com/cloth-grovia-aio.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Grovia AIO</a> have this feature.<br />
<br />
<b>What if I want the inner part to be completely detachable?</b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Pocket diapers </span></b>are kind of like AIOs but you can completely remove the absorbent inner layer, called an "insert". This makes them faster to dry and you can customize the absorbency as needed. There are lots of choices for this type, all with various features (explained better later) and prices. <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/diaper-rite-pocket-cloth-diaper.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Diaper Rite</a> seems to be the cheapest, and it is also the least bulky one-size system that I have found. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/cloth-diapers/duo-diaper/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thirsties Duo Diaper</a> has "duo" openings so the insert comes out on its own in the wash. It is a two-size system.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bumgenius.com/one-size.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bumGenius 4.0</a> is very popular and moderately priced. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/fuzzi-bunz-one-size-pocket-diaper.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FuzziBunz Elite</a> has a different way of adjusting the size, using elastic instead of snaps, which I like, but it's a little more expensive. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/rumparooz-one-size-diaper.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rumparooz G2</a> and <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/blueberry-deluxe-pocket-diaper.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blueberry</a> pocket diapers are pretty expensive, but they don't seem that much different or better than the others to me.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>But I don't want to wash the whole diaper every time the baby pees...</b><br />
The two types described so far, AIOs and pockets, require you to wash all the parts of the diaper every time the baby even just pees in them. <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Shell systems</b></span>, sometimes called <b><span style="color: #e69138;">all-in-twos </span></b>or <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>hybrids</b></span>, don't have the top half of the pocket that goes between the absorbent insert and the baby. The insert just sits in there, or sometimes snaps in, so if it is just wet, you can replace the insert and wipe out and reuse the shell/cover/wrap part. You save some money by buying fewer shells and more inserts. <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.flipdiapers.com/products.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flip</a> is the all-in-two diaper system from the makers of bumGenius. The shells can be used with their stay-dry microfiber inserts, organic cotton inserts specifically made for day or night, or disposable inserts.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.gro-via.com/hybrid-cloth-diapers.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GroVia Hybrid Diapers</a> also have shells that can be used with their snap-in soaker pads or disposable inserts.</li>
<li>Thirsties makes covers in a two-size system (<a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/cloth-diapers/duo-wrap/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Duo Wrap</a>) as well as by size (<a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/cloth-diapers/diaper-cover/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thirsties Diaper Cover</a>), and their <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/cloth-diapers/stay-dry-duo-insert/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Duo Inserts</a>' wicking and absorbent layers separate via snaps so that they wash and dry more thoroughly.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.gdiapers.com/shop/?gclid=CIiytbLHircCFSdgMgodvV0AuQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gDiapers</a> are the only cloth diapers carried by Babies 'R' Us. The system includes the cotton shell, a waterproof pouch, and either reusable cloth inserts or disposable inserts that can be torn open and flushed, composted, or thrown in the garbage.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Can I choose to buy covers and inserts separately?</b><br />
Sure, you can! Most covers and inserts are sold separately (as well as in sets) so you can buy whichever combinations you want even if you don't want the set. If you like Thirsties inserts and Grovia shells, for example, go for it! This also opens up options for using whatever kind of absorbent layer you like, going back to the good old-fashioned flats and prefolds, and supplementing with extra-absorbent "soakers" for heavier wetting. <i>(Note: The following are options for the absorbent part of the diaper system, but they all still require a waterproof cover!)</i><br />
<ul>
<li><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Inserts</span></b>, like the ones that come with pocket diapers and shell sets, are made specifically for this purpose. They usually have multiple layers of fabric, such as a more absorbent material like hemp in the middle, and microfiber or another material that wicks moisture away from the baby's skin on top.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Flats </span></b>are the truly old-fashioned cloth diaper. Each "diaper" is just a large square made of a single layer of fabric, usually Birdseye woven cotton, that you fold to fit. They dry quickly and have many other uses in addition to diapering. <b><span style="color: #e69138;">Prefolds </span></b>are the cloth diapers most of us remember. They are made of fabric "prefolded" into a convenient rectangle. They can be bleached or unbleached, Chinese or Indian, and they come in various sizes and thicknesses, too. You can use flats and prefolds by (1) folding and fastening with pins or a Snappi (2) folding and laying in a diaper cover, or (3) stuffing into a pocket diaper. When I tried prefolds on Marin, they became sopping wet very quickly, right up against her bottom. I have since used them in pocket diapers, but I wouldn't recommend them without some additional layer to wick the moisture away from the skin.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Contours </span></b>are like prefolds that are also "pre-shaped" into a diaper, but you still need fasteners and a cover. <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/kissaluvs-one-size-hybrid-contour-diaper.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kissaluvs</a> makes a one-size contour diaper. <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Fitteds </b></span>are like contours that have built-in Velcro or snaps for fastening, but you still need a waterproof cover. One example is <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/tots-bots-bamboozle-fitted-diapers.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bamboozle</a> by Tots Bots. I haven't tried them, but contours and fitteds apparently work pretty well for newborns. They are bulky by nature, and whether they wick the moisture away from the baby's skin depends on the material they are made from.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Soakers </span></b>are extra-absorbent inserts for use in addition to or in place of regular inserts during heavy-wetting periods, like naps or overnight, or for heavy-wetters. Marin hasn't needed them yet, so I don't have any personal experience or recommendations to offer.</li>
<li><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Flushable/disposable inserts </b></span>are designed so you can either throw them out or open them and dump the absorbent contents in the toilet and flush. They are marketed as good for travel and childcare, but I'm not sold. If you're throwing them out, you might as well just use a disposable diaper, and what childcare provider wants to bust open a diaper insert? I just keep a few disposable diapers on hand and use them when we go out or on a trip.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>So which type is best?</b><br />
Well, it depends. Obviously people like them all for different reasons. As for me, in theory, I liked the <i>idea </i>of a <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>shell system </b></span>so I wouldn't need a whole new diaper every time and I could put whatever inserts I liked inside. Less money, less laundry, etc., right? But it's kind of a pain to wipe out the shell during a diaper change, and half the time I just replace it anyway. And, like I explained, you need a wicking layer, so you can't <i>really </i>use whatever insert you want.<br />
<br />
In practice, I actually prefer <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>pocket diapers</b></span>. Yes, you have to use a new one for every pee, so it costs a bit more, but I like that the wicking layer is built in. And <i>so far</i>, they have held poop (and poop juice) in better.<br />
<br />
I shied away from <b><span style="color: #e69138;">AIOs </span></b>from the beginning, but then I didn't know about the ones with semi-attached inners or space to add soakers as needed. If stuffing the pockets annoys you, or you want to keep it super-simple, AIOs might not be so bad after all.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Wait, there are <i>more </i>choices to make?</b><br />
Yes, even once you have picked the type and brand of diapers you want, most will still have options regarding sizing and closure. There are 3 basic sizing systems: one-size, two-size, and sized.<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Most of the diapers I have mentioned are <b><span style="color: #e69138;">one-size </span></b>diapers, claiming to be adjustable to fit babies from about 8-35 pounds. They usually have snaps to decrease the "rise" of the diaper to fit smaller babies, plus the obviously adjustable waistband. (FuzziBunz uses elastic with buttonholes to adjust the back and leg openings.) On the smallest settings, they can be pretty bulky, but the benefit is that you only have to buy one set. (In my opinion, this is probably the way to go.)</li>
<li>Thirsties brand has a unique <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>"duo"</b></span> system with two adjustable sizes. Size 1 fits babies from 6-18 pounds or 0-9 months, and size 2 fits babies from 18-40 pounds or 9-36 months. This is supposed to allow them to fit better with less bulk, but you have to buy two sets. (I really like the Thirsties products I have tried, but it's kind of a bummer to have to buy a double set.)</li>
<li>Several brands also make their products in <b><span style="color: #e69138;">specific sizes</span></b>, which makes them fit better with <i>no </i>extra bulk from overlapping fabric, but then you have to buy several sets to fit as the baby grows. Some people say you don't have to buy every size because the weight ranges overlap some, but still... </li>
</ul>
Finally, most diapers come in 2 types of closures: snaps or Velcro.<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Snaps </b></span>definitely stay closed better and last longer, which is a huge
plus if you plan to use the diapers on more than one kid or resell them,
but they can be kind of annoying to fasten when you are trying to
speed-change a diaper on a screaming baby.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Velcro </span></b>(or Aplix or hook-and-loop or whatever proprietary version each brand uses) is much faster
to use, so I liked it better at first, but attaching the the tabs for washing turned out to be pretty tricky when the diaper is poopy! Wear and tear is also much harder on velcro. The tabs usually end
up at least curling, and they can lose their "stickiness" after a while.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>I don't care what they say, one-sizers do <i>not </i>fit tiny newborns.</b><br />
When Marin was born, I had a sampling of cloth diapers of various types and brands, and not one of them fit her. Someone told me that I should just use disposables until she got big enough to fit into cloth diapers, and their logic was that it is hard enough to adjust to having a newborn let alone figure out cloth diapering right off the bat. I think this is sound advice, and I took it. If you want to jump right in with both feet, you will probably find that you need more specialized equipment. Here are some of your best options:<br />
<ul>
<li>If they make one, buy a set of newborn-sized diapers in the type and brand that you like best. This costs more money, but they are usually not as expensive as the "regular" sizes.</li>
<li>Buy this <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/cloth-diaper-sampler-package.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">newborn sampler pack</a>. It includes a bumGenius AIO, a FuzziBunz pocket, a Bummis wrap, a Kissaluvs fitted, and 2 Diaper Rite prefolds. That should be enough to get you through the newborn stage, while at the same time allowing you to try out several options to help you decide what you want for later.</li>
<li>Buy <a href="http://www.softbums.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SoftBums</a> one-size diapers. <a href="http://blog.diapershops.com/how-to-cloth-diaper-a-newborn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">According to Jenny</a>, they really do adjust to fit even the tiniest newborns all the way through potty-training. <a href="http://www.kellyscloset.com/SoftBums-Echo-Shells_p_4576.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Echo</a> is a shell system, while <a href="http://www.kellyscloset.com/SoftBums-Omni-Shell_p_4577.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Omni</a> can be used as a shell or pocket diaper, and they both work with SoftBums "Pods" or other inserts. I wish I had known about these from the start!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>What else do I need?</b><br />
<ul>
<li>A <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>diaper pail</b></span>, which is basically a trash can that seals up tight to keep odors in. Diaper Dekor and Baby Trend Diaper Champ seem to work well with cloth diapers because you can use your own pail liners. The Playtex Diaper Genie and the Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Pail don't work well for cloth diapers because you have to use their plastic liners.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Pail liners</span></b>, preferably 2, so you can use one while the other is being washed. Mine is from <a href="http://www.planetwiseinc.com/Planet_Wise_Diaper_Pail_Liner_38_cat.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Planet Wise</a>, but as long as it's waterproof and you can wash it with the diapers, any brand would probably work fine.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Wet bags</span></b>, at least 1, maybe up to 3, depending on how often you plan to have baby wear cloth diapers out of the house. These are for storing dirty diapers until you get home. My wet bag is from <a href="http://www.blueberrydiapers.com/Home/Bulk-Ordering/bwbag_2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blueberry</a>, but again, as long as it's waterproof and washable, any should do fine.</li>
<li><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Diaper liners </b></span>are flushable sheets that you lay in the diaper next to the
baby's skin. Pee soaks right through, but poop sits on top so you can
just pick the liner up and put it in the potty and flush. This sounds
great, and I think it would be when the baby starts eating solids and
the poop gets more solid, too. Before then, the poop is all mushy, and
in my experience, the liner makes it spread around more and increases
the likelihood that it will reach the edge of the diaper and escape.
Besides, breastfed poop is water-soluble, so as gross as it seems, you
can just throw it in the wash as-is and you'll never see it again. </li>
<li>A <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>diaper sprayer </b></span>is attached to the toilet plumbing to allow you to spray solid waste off the diaper and into the toilet. Like the liners, I think this will be more useful once the baby's poop is more solid, but I have heard that they are indispensable in the long run.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Cloth wipes </span></b>are a natural extension of the cloth diapering idea. You can use cloth wipes with plain water or make a gentle homemade wipe solution, and you can either spray it on the baby's bottom with a spray bottle or keep the wipes soaking in it. They can be tossed in the diaper pail and washed and dried along with the cloth diapers. I originally intended to use cloth wipes, and I still might start, because it would obviously be better for Marin's baby bottom, but so far I am still using disposable wipes for sensitive skin.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>What's this about prepping?</b><br />
All cloth diapers and diaper parts, including covers, pockets, inserts, prefolds, etc., need to be <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>washed prior to first use</b></span>.
This is for the same purpose as washing any clothing before wearing, to
remove chemical starching and sizing agents used during production, and
to shrink cotton products to the correct projected size. For <b><span style="color: #e69138;">synthetic
materials</span></b>, such as microfiber, microterry, polyester, PUL, etc., one
wash/dry cycle is enough. However, natural materials, such as cotton,
bamboo, hemp, etc., contain oils that repel moisture, so they require
multiple washes before they will be absorbent.<br />
<br />
To
"prep" diapers made from <b><span style="color: #e69138;">natural materials</span></b>, wash them 5-6 times with
only a small amount of cloth-diaper-safe detergent, drying between each
wash. This should be done separately from any synthetic materials, or
the natural oils can be transferred to them, too.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>So how do I wash these things once they're full of pee and poop?</b><br />
Every other evening, I throw everything, including the pail liner, into the washer and first run a <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>cold rinse</b></span>. Then I add a small amount of All Free & Clear detergent and run a <b><span style="color: #e69138;">hot wash with another cold rinse</span></b>. (Some resources recommend a warm rinse at the end instead, but my washer doesn't have that option.) Then I dry it all in the dryer on medium-low heat. Only the hemp part of my Thirsties Duo inserts is still damp after that, so I hang those to finish drying overnight.<br />
<br />
It is important to use <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>dye-free, fragrance-free, other-extra-stuff-free detergent </b></span>on your cloth diapers, and they make detergents specifically for this purpose. GroVia, Thirsties, and bumGenius make cloth diaper detergents, and <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/rockin-green-cloth-diaper-detergent.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rockin' Green</a> is another frequently recommended one. Also never use fabric softener with your cloth diapers; it adds a water-repellant residue that will decrease their absorbency.<br />
<br />
Once the baby starts eating solid food, and therefore pooping solid poop, it must be removed before the diaper can be washed. (Hopefully you weren't going to put poop in your washing machine if I hadn't said that...) This is where the diaper liners and/or sprayer come in handy. Remember, breastfed poop is water-soluble, so you <i>can </i>get away with throwing that in your washer.<br />
<br />
I understand that after a while, stains and odors will build up, and there are processes, called <b><span style="color: #e69138;">stripping</span></b> and <span style="color: #e69138;"><b>sunning</b></span>, that can help with that, but I haven't gotten that far yet. When I do, I will share what I learn...<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Additional Resources</b><br />
The following websites have tons of information in the form of articles, FAQs, and blogs, as well as decent prices on cloth diapers and supplies.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/cloth-diaper-how-to.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Diaper Junction </a><br />
<a href="http://www.kellyscloset.com/Cloth-Diaper-Information_ep_34-1.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kelly's Closet</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nellsnaturalbaby.com/Cloth-Diaper-Guide.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nell's Natural Baby</a><br />
<br />Heather H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15793936700197050385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607578848460719662.post-88825714539261177872013-03-27T23:41:00.001-05:002013-03-28T22:32:51.767-05:00Dinners for DaddyI used to sit down every 2 weeks or so and find 4 or 5 new recipes to try out. Then I would make a grocery list and go buy the stuff to make those meals. Garret and I cooked together nearly every other night, alternating with leftovers from the night before. From when I started that system, we didn't even start repeating recipes, aside from a few of our very faves, for about 4 years! Then I realized, hey, if we really like something, I should hang onto it and make it again. Duh. So I made a Google site called <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/" target="_blank">Keepers</a> to organize recipes that got 2 thumbs up from me and Garret.<br />
<br />
Then a tiny baby came and took over our lives. She doesn't like us to cook together because that doesn't leave anyone free to bounce her and tell her how adorable and special she is. She also doesn't like me to cook before Daddy gets home, and she has to go to bed early to get her cutie rest so there isn't time after he gets home either. So I needed a new plan. Somehow I thought that might happen.<br />
<br />
Freezer meals have saved us from a diet of fast food and spaghetti. I had to venture into the panic-inducing realm of <a href="http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=freezer+meals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> to get started, but once I found a couple blogs with recipes for meals that freeze well, we were off and running. Most of the ones I have tried come from <a href="http://www.amandathevirtuouswife.com/2012/10/all-my-freezer-meals.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Virtuous Wife</a> and <a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/12/fresh-food-friday-20-tried-and-true.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Six Sisters' Stuff</a>. I have integrated them into my site, but in an attempt to pass along the favor, I'm highlighting some of the recipes that have come in handy for feeding the grown-ups around here since
the lifestyle-revolutionizing arrival of Miss Marin.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>These
recipes have minimal prepwork. You can just throw it together in 10
minutes or less and let it cook. Just keep the supplies in the
pantry/freezer and you'll have stuff to make dinner without a trip to
the grocery store. They also freeze well.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/chicken-turkey/chicken-rice-bake" target="_blank">Chicken & Rice Bake</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/crock-pot/slow-cooker-tortilla-soup" target="_blank">Slow Cooker Tortilla Soup</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/crock-pot/forgotten-jambalaya" target="_blank">Forgotten Jambalaya</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/soup/turkey-bean-chili" target="_blank">Turkey Bean Chili</a></li>
</ul>
The
next few have more prepwork, like for a Saturday when your
husband/mother/BFF will hang out with your kid(s) while you cook, but then
you can freeze them and pop them in the oven at a later date.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/chicken-turkey/chicken-enchiladas" target="_blank">Chicken Enchiladas</a> (My mom says they are as good as any restaurant's.)</li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/chicken-turkey/chicken-pot-pie" target="_blank">Chicken Pot Pie</a> (This got <i>rave </i>reviews from Garret when Kali made it for us.)</li>
<li><a href="http://ellysaysopa.com/2007/07/01/some-good-old-fashioned-lasagna/" target="_blank">Lasagna</a></li>
</ul>
These are just plain quick and easy, not too much prepwork for a weeknight, and the ones with a * freeze well, too. (Not to say the others don't, just that I haven't tried it.)<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/beef-pork/beef-cheese-enchiladas" target="_blank">Beef & Cheese Enchiladas</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/beef-pork/pork-chops-with-raspberry-sauce" target="_blank">Pork Chops with Raspberry Sauce </a></li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/chicken-turkey/chicken-parmesan" target="_blank">Baked Chicken Parmesan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/chicken-turkey/parmesan-dijon-chicken" target="_blank">Parmesan-Dijon Chicken </a></li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/pasta/chicken-pasta-bake" target="_blank">Chicken Pasta Bake</a>*</li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/pasta/mexican-chicken-alfredo" target="_blank">Mexican Chicken Alfredo</a>*</li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/pasta/peppered-shrimp-alfredo" target="_blank">Peppered Shrimp Alfredo</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/pasta/tuna-tetrazzini" target="_blank">Tuna Tetrazzini</a>*</li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/soup/beef-stew" target="_blank">Beef Stew</a>*</li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/soup/mexican-pozole" target="_blank">Mexican Pozole</a> (slow cooker method) </li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/soup/white-chili" target="_blank">White Chili</a>*</li>
</ul>
These oddballs aren't dinners, but they're easy and very tasty.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/breads-breakfast/blueberry-cornmeal-pancakes" target="_blank">Blueberry-Cornmeal Pancakes</a> (<i>Please </i>use real maple syrup.)</li>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/cookies-dessert/ultimate-chocolate-brownies" target="_blank">Ultimate Chocolate Brownies</a></li>
</ul>
And
lastly, if you ever find the time, I highly recommend the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hambykeepers/beef-pork/sweet-sour-pork" target="_blank">Sweet & Sour Pork</a> recipe. It is just really good, totally worth the time, and
chicken works just as well.<br />
<br />Heather H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15793936700197050385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607578848460719662.post-29844731736133213132013-03-26T19:24:00.000-05:002013-03-27T13:17:15.376-05:00Ankyloglossia: It's not a dinosaur.The lactation consultant and the pediatrician both said the same thing, that Marin had a bit of a tight lingual frenulum. They said it can cause some problems nursing, and bad ones can cause speech problems later, but it didn't seem too bad so we should probably just wait and see before we considered whether to do anything about it.<br />
<br />
Here's our research in a nutshell: The lingual frenulum is the thin strip of tissue that holds the middle section of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. Sometimes it is too thick, too "short" (tight to the bottom of the mouth), and/or extends too far toward the tip of the tongue. This is called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankyloglossia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ankyloglossia</a>, or "tongue tie". Then it kind of overdoes its job, preventing the tip of the tongue from raising up enough to do the stuff it's supposed to do, like grabbing hold of a nipple, making certain consonant sounds like "l" and "d", and reaching out past the lips to lick an ice cream cone, for example. Really bad cases can cause teeth to grow in crooked and make dental hygiene more difficult to maintain.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheR4ILJhzQeODJQoj-avxlbkEmg-QAsGvXX0QGdMtp3Dvpt6WzUk2Fb8lGeKzF9-WDvYVmhlbh0IhaMtyUteON9s4iix7fW2xJMLEoErMObPxuiHDi-4gpIP_u0rBP055kZPIyrIQoxzAI/s1600/Tongue+Tie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=" "><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheR4ILJhzQeODJQoj-avxlbkEmg-QAsGvXX0QGdMtp3Dvpt6WzUk2Fb8lGeKzF9-WDvYVmhlbh0IhaMtyUteON9s4iix7fW2xJMLEoErMObPxuiHDi-4gpIP_u0rBP055kZPIyrIQoxzAI/s1600/Tongue+Tie.jpeg" title=" " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't Marin, but her tongue looked a lot like this baby's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Marin was able to nurse reasonably well at the hospital. She was no prodigy, but I understood that it would be painful at first until she learned to latch properly, so we just went with the flow. We went home when she was 2 days old, and she did great that first night, still taking into consideration that I thought nursing was usually "pretty painful" at first. The lactation consultant kept referring to it as "toe-curling" so I figured excruciating was par for the course. Then my milk came in. I am... ahem... well-endowed, so the difference between colostrum and milk didn't seem all that noticeable to me, but apparently it was the threshold for how well Marin's tongue could allow her to latch on. Her attempts were even more painful than before, which I didn't think was possible. She stopped nursing and started screaming. And kept screaming. All night. It was torturous to try to guess what might be wrong and feel so helpless! Finally we decided to try using the pump we rented from the hospital and giving her a bottle of breastmilk. Let me tell you how golden that slurpy relative silence felt at 4:00 AM! In the morning, we called the lactation department at the hospital and made an emergency appointment.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Our lactation specialist, Marshelle, was amazing. Marin would have been in trouble if she hadn't broken the cycle right then. She had lost a lot of weight, 10 ounces, in only a few days. We <i>really</i> wanted her to breastfeed. (If you don't know about all the benefits for mother and baby, click <a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> or <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-breastfeeding-benefits-you-and-your-baby_8910.bc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Breastmilk is like the nectar of the gods.) Anyway, Marshelle was very concerned about Marin's tongue, more so than the other professionals had seemed. She fixed us up with a nipple shield, a syringe, and a plan, and if it didn't work, we would need to have her tongue corrected. The plan was to pump a little bit to evert the nipple, then use the nipple shield to nurse, encouraging Marin with squirts of pumped milk from the syringe as necessary, then pump the other breast and feed her that from a bottle. This process took about an hour, and we had to do it every 2 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night for a week. I am saying "we" because Garret was almost as involved as I was, and I am
only half-kidding. He was about as supportive and helpful as I would
want a daddy to be without starting to worry about him! I <i>definitely </i>couldn't have done it without him.<br />
<br />
We went back for a follow-up the next week. Marin was much happier, she had gained weight, and we were out of the woods. Marshelle still recommended that we consult a pediatric ENT to discuss whether we should have her frenulum "snipped". She was doing better, but did we want to keep up this harrowing routine for months, then deal with speech problems, and possibly end up having to do the procedure later anyway, when she might have to be under general anesthesia? We made an appointment with Dr. Mahoney, ENT.<br />
<br />
Dr. Mahoney examined Marin's tongue and told us that she had not only a "moderate tongue tie", but also a "short mobile tongue". A "moderate" tongue tie means the tongue isn't completely tethered to the floor of the mouth, but it doesn't have the normal range of motion either. The "mobile" tongue is the part of the tongue that is supposed to be free to move around, the part that isn't completely connected to the throat in the back behind where the frenulum starts. So not only was her tongue tied down pretty tightly, it was also not as long as most people's to begin with. Our treatment options were:<br />
<ol>
<li>Wait and see what happens. Sometimes the tongue keeps growing in the first years and it might grow past the frenulum enough to prevent future speech problems. The nursing might improve very slowly if at all. The frenectomy could always be done later if necessary, but might require anesthesia and/or stitches later in childhood.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/images/image_popup/mcdc7_tongue_tie.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frenectomy</a>. At her age, this would involve an outpatient procedure of snipping the frenulum to free the tongue tip and cauterizing the cut edges to prevent reattachment. She would be able to nurse the same day with minimal discomfort, and complications are extremely rare. This would almost certainly alleviate difficulty nursing and reduce the likelihood of speech problems, but she might still need an additional procedure to lengthen the short mobile tongue at a later time.</li>
</ol>
Garret and I discussed it. This was one of the first decisions we had to make for Marin that didn't seem totally obvious. I was especially upset by the possibility of my little baby needing a second, more invasive procedure later. But focusing on the decision at hand, it seemed like the pros of the frenectomy outweighed the cons, and she wouldn't remember the trauma, and maybe it would help her sooner <i>and </i>later. So we did it. Right then and there. Well, the doctor did it. We waited in the waiting room and I cried.<br />
<br />
Marin fell asleep as soon as we got in the car. She slept all that afternoon and most of the night between feedings. Her frenulum was pretty thick, so there was relatively more bleeding than some cases and therefore more cauterization. For a few days, her mouth and slobber were all gray from the silver nitrate they used. A scab formed under her tongue and it all looked pretty nasty for about a week, but she was able to nurse with the nipple shield and it didn't seem to bother her too much, although she did get somewhat less cranky when the scab finally disappeared. It took a couple weeks for her to learn to use her loosened tongue to latch without the nipple shield, but we eventually weaned off of it, and now she's a nursing pro! She can stick her tongue past her bottom gums and into her lower lip, and sometimes it looks like <i>maybe </i>it could make it over and out before too long. It looks normal enough that the doctors probably wouldn't have noted any issue if it had started this way. We won't know if she will have speech problems until after she starts speaking, obviously, but we are optimistic that she won't need any more procedures.<br />
<br />
Here are some fun facts to lighten up the post:<br />
<ul>
<li>Marshelle also convinced our insurance company to give us a FREE Medela electric double <a href="http://www.stlmedical.com/images/landing-pages/breast-pumps/medela-personal-breast-pump.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">breast pump</a>. Score!</li>
<li>According to Dr. Mahoney, <a href="http://www.whyguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gene-simmons-photo.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">Gene Simmons</a> from Kiss may have had a frenectomy and/or the "additional procedure" in question to lengthen his tongue. It might have been necessary and they just went overboard accidentally or at his request or he might have just had it for cosmetic reasons.</li>
<li>There's another pun somewhere in this post. I didn't <i>intend </i>it, but I left it for Jerry when I noticed it. We'll see if he finds it... ;o) </li>
</ul>
Heather H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15793936700197050385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607578848460719662.post-46920534150729066592013-03-25T17:10:00.003-05:002013-03-26T11:26:11.297-05:00Marin's Birth StoryEveryone kept telling me not to get my hopes up, that first babies are almost always late. Not that I was miserable or anything. At 39 weeks, my only complaints were terrible trouble sleeping, swollen everything, and growing impatience to meet my little baby, but I was pretty mobile and not too uncomfortable. (Look for a future post about my pregnancy experiences.) I was due January 16. I bought groceries to make several freezer meals that week, and on Saturday, January 12, I made lasagna, chicken and rice bake, white chicken chili, queso fundido, and pineapple pepper chicken to freeze for after the baby arrived. (Look for a future post about the freezer meals we have made.) I was still planning to make beef stew and chicken enchiladas that week. I just thought I had more time!<br />
<br />
Saturday night, I was having some cramps that weren't too painful or regular, just kind of vague and uncomfortable. I was having trouble sleeping in general by then, if not because of crazy pregnancy thoughts running circles in my head, then because of my restless legs or the baby's jazzercise routine or tossing and turning to get comfy. So I was awake at 5:15 AM when my water broke, and I jumped up and made it to the potty so quickly that I didn't lose a drop. That woke Garret up, and he was startled and asked what happened. I said, "I think my water just broke." As usual, he just had to check, "Are you serious?"<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>So we called the obstetrician on call, and she asked about contractions. I was still just having the vague cramps that didn't really start or stop markedly, so she said to give it a couple hours and recommended that I try to get some more rest. We texted our families and tried to go back to sleep. Yeah, right. Since the beef stew meat was already thawed in the fridge and I knew I would be in the hospital for several days and it would go bad before I could use it, I asked Garret if he was up for making some stew. So yes, we made beef stew at 6:00 AM on the day our daughter was born.<br />
<br />
At around 8:00 AM, we left for the hospital. I had started to feel the beginnings and ends of contractions while we cooked, and they were lasting 1-2 minutes and coming about every 5 minutes from the first few that I could identify. On the way to the hospital, they were getting strong enough that I was using the Lamaze breathing techniques we had learned in our labor class. I was pretty sure I would end up with an epidural, but the plan was to play it by ear and see how I handled the pain. By the time we were in our room and I was all hooked up to my IV and monitors, I had a couple pretty bad contractions such that the breathing techniques were barely keeping me afloat, so we opted for the epidural pretty quickly. That was an excellent decision. Once the anesthesiologist started the meds around 11:00 AM, I was able to just relax and wait. I could feel the pressure of the stronger contractions but no discernible pain. I played Solitaire on my laptop. Garret stared at me. The nurse checked my progress every few hours, but not too often because my amniotic sac was ruptured already so they didn't want to introduce germs. We discussed baby names. We were thinking it would be Taya Malina. (Look for a future post with more details on our naming ritual.) Garret went down to the cafeteria and brought back a burger and tator tots, for himself, of course, as I was restricted to ice chips. Those tator tots never looked yummier!<br />
<br />
Fast forward to about 5:30 PM when the nurse came in and said it was go-time. They got all set up and I started pushing around 6:00 PM. Nurse Lisa held my right leg and Garret held my left. They arranged a mirror so I could see the progress, which was apparently pretty fast. It was hard, but not painful. It felt kind of like trying to squat a huge Acme safe that wouldn't budge. Garret was great, so supportive and so fun to watch (between contractions) because he was so excited that we could see the top of her head. They sent for the doctor after the first few rounds of pushing because she was already pretty far down. For each contraction, they would have me do 3 rounds of pushing for a count of 10. Twice, the doctor was talking when she was supposed to start counting, so she started with 1 when I was already on 4 and I kind of panicked. The second time, I told her that wasn't fair and she promised not to let it happen again.<br />
<br />
Baby Hamby was born at 7:03 PM. Right away we saw she had Garret's puffy eyes, my fat cheeks, and more hair than any baby in my family. Garret cut the cord, and remarked that it didn't look like he expected. About 6 people came rushing in and someone took the baby to put the antibiotic ointment in her eyes. Garret was so sweet, telling me I did a good job, but I told him to go be with her. They had him trim the cord after they clamped it, and then they started doing all the cleaning and measuring and whatever else they do to babies. I tried to watch them working on her while the doctor was delivering the placenta and suturing a superficial tear, but after several minutes -- maybe 5 or 10? It felt like hours! -- I started saying, "I want her. I just want to hold her. When can I hold her?" and I started crying. The doctor was like, "Come on, ladies, give the woman her baby!" and I finally got to hold my daughter.<br />
<br />
Then they asked her name. Garret and I looked at each other. She didn't look like a Taya or a Malina or any of the names we had seriously considered. We didn't know her name, but she was beautiful and she was ours. <3 <3 <3<br />
<br />
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Heather H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15793936700197050385noreply@blogger.com0Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, 3815 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA41.8178604 -88.00919199999998516.0500934 -129.31778599999998 67.585627399999993 -46.700597999999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607578848460719662.post-29456238985750723422013-03-24T22:42:00.000-05:002013-03-26T20:52:59.967-05:00PilotSo I guess I'm going to blog... Despite several blogs I have encountered that have been really helpful
on their respective topics*, and the fact that I enjoy reading the blogs
of some of my friends even if just to see what they are up to every now
and then, I still have my doubts that many people (besides my own mother) will really care to
read my ramblings. I don't have any special expertise or intended audience or aspirations to become a viral web sensation. But I have a beautiful baby daughter, and I want her to know what I am like now when she is half-grown and can't imagine that her mother is an actual person with like, real feelings and valid thoughts and stuff. I was inspired by an old friend and fellow new mom who pointed out (in <a href="http://stephycrocker.blogspot.com/2013/03/lame.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">her blog</a>) that we won't actually remember all the details of funny/important/everyday stuff like we think we will, and now that we have babies, we should try to preserve the memories for posterity. So here's a little preview of some of stuff I plan to commit to blogdom in the near future:<br />
<ul>
<li>Marin's birth story (<a href="http://hrhamby.blogspot.com/2013/03/marins-birth-story.html" target="_blank">Here it is!</a>)</li>
<li>the story about when we found out we were pregnant</li>
<li>the story of Marin's tied tongue (<a href="http://hrhamby.blogspot.com/2013/03/ankyloglossia-its-not-dinosaur.html" target="_blank">Done!</a>)</li>
<li>the story of my cat-bite while pregnant</li>
<li>a running list of the baby stuff we have found to be most awesome</li>
<li>some freezer meal recipes that I recommend and links to the *blogs from whence they came</li>
</ul>
Well, hopefully you're tantalized. We'll see if I can deliver.Heather H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15793936700197050385noreply@blogger.com2