Michael and Jaspenelle

Exploring life, spirituality, and so much more
4:10 pm

Financial Obstacles

Let’s see, in the past three and a half weeks I’ve given birth, got a bladder infection (remember to stay hydrated people!), the van has broken down, Damian and I have gotten thrush and now Windigo has an eye infection, it looks like Aos is getting it too.

Seriously, is financial stress part of parenthood? Why does everything seem to go expensively wrong at the same time.

The gas pump died on our van a week ago and apparently a former owner replaced the fuel line with normal hose so it has to be replaced too (since it was leaking.) $700 for that. We broke down in a parking lot on our way to my two week midwife appointment, that was fun in the blistering heat. Our friend Shannon came and picked up Damian and I though (bless her) while Michael waited for the tow truck.

Damian and I have thrush at the moment (it is basically a yeast infection in his mouth that got transfered to my breasts.) I get chronic yeast infections so it is not too surprising but it is certainly not making the nursing experience pleasant. We are treating it though and it is starting to improve. I feel guilty for giving it to him, though I know it is really not my fault. though I could cut more sugars out of my diet (which hasn’t been the best this past few weeks…) I had forgotten till now how much my physical and mental self suffers when I do not control my diet better. It is more stressful emotionally then financially. It is making Damian’s bowel movements irregular, it is hard to see him struggle. I have been wearing him in the sling most of the day so that he feels secure, it seems to be helping.

I called the vet today and explained that we really couldn’t afford to bring the cats in but that I know what is wrong with them (they get this thing about once a year, it is a reoccurring herpes eye infection. They get it when they get stressed.) I said we would bring them in if we had to though, they are part of our family after all. Luckily the vet was really understanding and though he can’t give us the antibiotic without seeing them, he can give us an anti-viral gel. Michael is picking it up after work. We have never used this treatment on them so fingers crossed that it works.

Does anyone else has this problem with any of their animals? Is there anything preventative you do for it (other then trying to keep them low stress?)

The +90F heat isn’t helping any of this. We don’t have screens so we can’t open the windows to get a breeze going (we only have AC in one room) the cats would get out if I opened them as is. I called the landlady about it today and tried to be as polite as possible. She was also understanding (I am thankful for all these small miracles) and is going to see what she can do about it.

I am wondering what will happen next and how we will get through it. I know we will, we always do, and if anything this makes Michael and my relationship stronger because it shows us how much we need each others support. I am quite an optomistic person but this is even dragging me down I guess.

This will probably be amusing to some, but when I am feeling down I love listening to Walking in Memphis to calm my mind. It is such a beautiful song. Marc Cohn has such and amazing voice. Music is a force more powerful then the darkest mood in my life.

5:36 pm

Baby Stuff

I thought I was getting my ultrasound today but it turns out today was just a check up. I have lost three pounds which baffled me a bit as I have been eating and had very little morning sickness. I had bad morning sickness today though, so I wonder if it was water weight? Still I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight, so more food for me.

I am having my ultrasound on January 24th, I have to pee 3 hours before going and then drink 32oz of water and hold it. Oh joy. I just may explode! If we bring a blank vhs they will tape some of it for us, does anyone still use vhs? Do they sell them? I think we have a couple upstairs maybe… We don’t even have a vcr.

Still, all is well. One of Michael’s coworkers may be giving us a crib and I look forward to setting that up!

10:48 am

Dietary Bitchiness

If we didn’t eat anything they link to cancer, aging, diabetes etc, we would all starve to death! No salt, no carbs, no sugar, no red meat, none of these fish, no dairy… (I am sick and cranky today, so pardon the mini rant.)

Whatever happened to “everything in moderation”?

Sometimes I want to punch these dietary Nazis I run across. On the news today, they had one (not as bad as most) talking about how sugar (any kind, from refined to fruit!) is bad for your skin and causes aging. You know, this guy makes me want to eat more sugar because he had horrible skin! It was stretched over his bones like a zombie (of course that may be the face lifts, so healthy…)

Of course fruit is my favorite food group too, so that may be the source of my annoyance.

Currently I love grapefruit drizzled with a little honey, sometimes I will eat several a day, but I am decently sure that is a pregnancy craving since it only started a few weeks ago. Otherwise I adore soft fruit, nothing done to it. Just organic and picked when sun ripened. Peaches, strawberries, blueberries, yum! I love pomegranates too, especially made into a dressing over a fresh spinach salad.

My grandma use to make jam business, all natural products and it was delicious. More then the jam though I just liked sneaking handfuls of fresh fruit from the storage bins… I am sure she knew I took them, the blueberry stained lips must have been a dead giveaway.

Sooo, what are some of your favorite foods?