Fruit of the Womb Archive

During my first pregnancy, i devoured any information given to me about pregnancy, birth, and newborns. I LOVED Lamaze. I studied the fetal development in detail over and over, completely amazed at the changes going on inside me. I anxiously awaited that fateful day. And then it came. I had a doctor appointment that morning and was told to 'go home, pack my bag and head to the hospital'. I was immediately disappointed that i was already missing out on spontaneous labor pains or my water breaking. I was *gasp* "OVERDO!" Before reading further, please understand that I consider my first birth to be EXTREMELY oppressive. I realize that I sound very much a like a raging feminist when it comes to birth, and I will admit that I have much in common with feminists when it has to do with the rights of women during their births, motherhood, and the way allopathic medicine is practiced in our capitalistic, patriarchal society. However contradictory, (aren't we all in some w...

My best friend at the time had a great relationship with her mom. We had both got accepted to a great university and before i found out i was pregnant, we had been scheming about how to be roommates. After the big news, her mom suggested i have an abortion. "A baby will ruin your life!" she told me, "I can take you down there, we won't have to tell your mom." I know this was said with the best of intentions. But i had seen my mom pregnant with my younger brothers. I watched her belly grow and her ease into breastfeeding. My mom used talked to me about abortion and how God 'knows us from the moment of conception." She even told me that if she was ever raped, she would keep the baby. If she was so concerned about seeing the father's face in her child for the rest of her life, she said, she would give it up for adoption. It just wasn't the baby's fault. Thank you, mom. Lesson Learned for Talking with Teens: TALK TO YOUR KIDS. If you don't...

Before I move on, I think its worth mentioning a word about Craig's background...without getting too detailed. Adopted twice in his life, he had been abandoned at the hospital at birth. His first adoption from his native country was at age 2, straight out of an Orphanage. As I have matured, I think this knowledge has made it very easy for me to forgive him. Ironically, I think its one of the reasons I had a difficult time walking away from him as a teen. After having the two foster babies last year, especially the 13 month old, with all her control issues and manipulative behavior, it really brought home for me the extent of behavioral issues that can arise from atypical bonding. In order to paint the picture a little clearer, let me describe scene #2: We are newly married. I am 6 months pregnant. (I can still see the shirt i wore all the time, while sitting in the chair, and my protruding belly in my mind.) Everything in our 550 square foot apartment is brand new. The dishes, pot...

The church we have considered our church home for some time often has people give their testimonies. They call it "MY STORY". They value transparency. The point of this blog is to tell the story of how i got pregnant the first time. It's the start of my testimony, but it's also important for my personal growth, as I still continue to process and struggle through the results of my decisions at that time. My hope for my readers is that it sheds light on how you can talk to your teens. Of course, the biggest teacher for me was having vivid memories myself. I will preface this by saying that as I describe MEMORIES, some of the memories are straight out of my teen-age brain at the time, and were i to experience them now, i would most likely encounter a different perception. Nonetheless, these experiences have shaped who i am and make me into the person that I am today. I will call this Scene #1. I am in 7th grade. My main priority at the time was to be accepted by my peers...

We have a new student from Turkey that just arrived. I can tell she is a kindred spirit. She is calm and polite. Pretty shy, but eager to observe our loud, boisterous family. She is quick to laugh and feels frustrated with her limited vocabulary. From the little i know of Turkey, it's over 90% Islamic, and in a very crucial place in the world. Looking at the map, it borders Greece, Iran, Syria, Georgia, the Black Sea, Iraq, Bulgaria, and Armenia. Ankara, the capital, has over 5 million people and Istanbul, one of the world's oldest cities (and beautiful, from what i hear), has over 12 million! It is hard for me to even imagine. We have had many students over the last few years. Japanese, Korean, Brazilian, Chilean, Chinese, etc. The Turkish student is our first European student and one of the few beginners in English. It will be interesting to watch her blossom in her new language and gain the ability to express herself more and more. She has never tried sushi. She doesn't ...

As you can see, I am having a creative stretch. In the kitchen, at least. I have this fantasy that Food Network will call me up and invite me to be on "The Next Food Network Star" or something. I take recipes i find, then make them my own. Years of having to budget for groceries, making the meal stretch for 8 people every night, and dropping the midweek restaurant meals have led me to being a pretty darn good cook, if i do say so myself. Wine Tasting has grown into a bit of a hobby. I finally grew a palate for more than white dessert wines. Don't get me wrong, i love the right Muscat and Reisling, but i truly get a hankering for Amador Barberas or Coastal Pinots now. I know i enjoy the Zinfandels of the "Russian River" area and steel fermented chardonnays. The best way to spend an afternoon with girlfriends? Grab a SF Style sourdough bagette and a bit of Havarti cheese, maybe some gourmet dark chocolate and head west, south, or east from here and you will find y...

With zucchini having been used in every which way imaginable this summer (lots of zucchini bread, fried zucchini, squash soup, baked, boiled, and saute'd) and a couple of Turkey Sausage links in the fridge, I made a well known (and often boring) recipe super fantastic! 2 Tbls Olive Oil (I like to use Coconut Oil for High Heat Cooking) 1 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped into chunks 1 Zucchini, Sliced into 1/2 moons 1-2 Fresh Tomatoes, chopped (OPTIONAL) 1 Red Onion, Chopped 4-6 Large Tablespoons of Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil (Oven-dried them myself) 3 Links Turkey Sausage 3-4 Tablespoons Chopped Fresh Basil, chopped 4 Cloves Garlic 1 Tablespoon Red Pepper 1 Jar of Spaghetti Sauce or Diced Tomatoes/Tomato Sauce 1 lb. Favorite Pasta, Cooked While cooking your favorite pasta, Al Dente, Saute the Red Bell Pepper and Zucchini in olive oil until cooked through. Set aside on a plate. Squeeze Turkey Sausage from casings into pan and brown. Add onion and garlic. As onion appears transparent, ad...

FOOD: A favorite topic of mine. Today, GAZPACHO. We are at the end of summer, but the tomatoes were late this year due to the unseasonably cool summer we have had. But i have made a gazpacho that the japanese student can't leave alone. I instantly feel healthy after consumption. Maybe you will, too. Easy, Breezy Gazpacho for your Vita-Mix. Keeping the speed very low, the entire time gives it a salsa-like, crunchy texture. LOVE IT. 1 Stalk of Celery 1 Cucumber (I peel it, but probably don't need to) 1 Red Onion 1 Red Bell Pepper 4-5 Fresh Tomatoes 1 Can organic tomato sauce (16oz can) 1/2 of a lemon, juiced 1-2 Cloves garlic a pinch of salt a little Tabasco, optional, to taste 1/3 Cup Wine Vinegar 1/3 Cup olive oil 2-4 Tablespoons of Worchestershire (to taste) Blend until you have your desired consistency. Not too much! Voila! A perfect, veggie addition to any meal.