Happy New Year's!

In the long-lost days of my childhood, I put massive effort into New Year's resolutions. I'd take several hours to write out a long list that usually included a plethora of self-improvement chores - such as long daily readings of the Bible, Shakespeare, classics, and French/German/Shorthand lessons, besides other exercises in self-discipline. I'd write them out in complete self-satisfaction, file them neatly, and then forget them completely - perhaps remembering them briefly a week or so later - before my mind consigned them to utter oblivion (until I found them randomly years later and realized that no resolution had been kept longer than 24 hours... usually 12 at most).

So now? Nope. No New Year's resolutions. I've learned not to waste my time.

But I do pick things to work on (when I want to, not at New Year's) when I see that they are needed. So, in lieu of New Year's resolutions, I will write out what I'm working on in my life right now (a partial repeat from an entry a few weeks ago).

So here goes... here's what I'm working on in my life right now:

(1) Rebuilding the following areas of my life: physical (pregnancy weight, anyone?), marital, spiritual

(2) Decluttering - an ever-present chore

(3) Balancing having a clean house and spending time with kiddos (NOT easy!)

(4) Parenting - learning the skills that just aren't there by nature

(5) Learning to be a CROCK POT MASTER!!!

(6) [removed]

(7) Working on finding a preschool and an elementary school for our kiddos - and more importantly, figuring out how on earth to pay for them

(8) Trying something new - I am going to try out our local Arizona Student Midwives group! I am SO excited!!!!!

And so... Happy New Year's, everyone! Here's hoping 2010 holds great things for all of us.

Medical Cannabis for Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

This is not a new article (2004, I think), but I just saw it when a birth buddy posted it on Facebook. Interesting stuff! I haven't really been involved in the medical marijuana debate, so I don't feel justified in posting an opinion (morally, politically, medically). Here is the original article:

Medical Marijuana: A Surprising Solution to Severe Morning Sickness

Does anyone out there know anything more, or have any opinions to share?

I took a quick look around the web to see what the status of medical marijuana in the U.S. was (try this site) and found that it is legal in thirteen states, not including my own (which is in some odd state of legal limbo).

Anyhow, this is a hyperemesis blog.... so I post all information I find, however wacky!

Happy Beginning-of-Life Day, Baby!

No, I am not pregnant. Just realized that the title might be misleading, so I thought I'd better disclaim first.

Anyhow....

A midwife friend of mine said some time ago that she always celebrates her baby's first beginning-of-life (my own phrase) day - the day when he/she began life on this planet (as in "day of conception" rather than "day of birth"). I thought it was a lovely idea, and I intended to celebrate our baby's beginning-of-life day - and I just remembered today that it was four days ago! Ah well, better late than never.

December 12, 2008 was the day when I charted that cute little basal body temperature-rise that signals that ovulation has occurred... and knew that unless God Himself intervened, we would most likely conceive that cycle. I won't say why. Ahem. And one week later, when the nausea and heartburn hit, I knew I'd been correct!

Actually, in some ways, since conception occurs within 0-48 hours after ovulation, you could say that I knew about our baby before he was conceived! Pretty cool. (Long live Natural Family Planning!)

So.... Happy First Beginning-of-Life Day, Baby! You have been a most welcome addition to our family!

HG on the Dr. Phil Show

Thanks to Anna for posting this!

Dr. Phil talks about Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Click on the story link to read the article, and then click on the "Talk about the Show" link to see many, many women writing in with their HG stories. Some of them are heart-wrenching.

Publicity is wonderful!

Mourning

I had hoped never to be writing this again, but once again, our dear friends' babies are now in heaven.

I had been haunting Facebook and my friend's blog for news ever since Thursday, when I was expecting their announcement (their transfer of their adopted babies was on the 2nd), and by today I was pretty seriously worried. They announced this afternoon that their test results confirmed the worst.

I am devastated for this family. They have now dealt with years of infertility, adoption paperwork, and two failed transfers. I can't even imagine what they're going through. God knows what He is doing, but we do not... I'm not sure that my faith would hold up as well as theirs has.

The next time I make an announcement for this sweet family, I sincerely hope that it will be about an upcoming birth. Praying for them!