Breastfeeding is gross....or is it?

I know everyone has seen the new cover of Time magazine and EVERYONE has an opinion on it. I am really NOT going to get into that, I have my opinion and you have yours. What I am going to get into is just how uneducated people are. I really thought we were making progress and really opening people's eyes to breastfeeding. And by "we" I mean the breastfeeding community. It is so sad just how many negative comments I've read and heard about breastfeeding that have surfaced because of Time magazine. I feel like we are going the wrong way!

Some comments, to name a few, and my opinion on them were...

they said - "When they are old enough to ask for it you need to cut them off" (that one was said a lot)
I say - My babies can sign "milk" by 6 months old...does that mean they're too old?

they said - "Your milk has no nutrition past a year"
I say - That's just not true! Breastmilk NEVER loses its nutritional value! Plus, there are MANY studies that show just how much breastfeeding satisfies their emotional needs just as much as their nutritional ones.

they said - "1 Timothy 2:9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes." (this one REALLY got to me)
I say - Jesus was breastfed. End of story.

they said - "That's disgusting"
I say - The WHO (World Health Organization), recommends that a woman breastfeeds their child for at LEAST 2 years. Do you know that we are the only species that drinks milk as adults? If you're drink milk from a cow's breast, why is milk from a mother's breast considered disgusting?

they said - "If a kid can eat solids, time to get them off the boob"
I say - Babies start eating solids around 6 months old, so that argument doesn't hold water.

they said - "Breastfeeding should be done in private, if you are going out, pump it and put it in a bottle"
I say - This is what's wrong with this country. Breasts are made to feed your baby, that's why God gave them to us. The problem is that breastfeeding is no longer then norm, so no one likes to even think about it. We are one of the ONLY countries that looks at breasts as sexual objects. Sad.

they said - "once a baby has teeth it's time to wean"
I say - If you are latching baby correctly you will NOT feel teeth.

I truely could go on, there were SO many of them. I am just appalled with how people think! Saying "that's not for me" or "I don't agree with that" is one thing, but saying "that's disgusting" or "DCFS needs to be called" is completely different. Do you know that we're ALL here because someone in our family breastfed? I am not trying to put down moms who chose not to breastfeed, or tried but couldn't get it, or whatever your reason may be, I am just upset with hearing uneducated opinions. If you don't want to, fine, but please educate yourself on it before bashing another mom's decision.

And, while I'm on it...

- Breastfeeding is NOT supposed to hurt! If it does, get help.
- When your baby cries it does NOT mean there's something wrong with your milk! It means they're babies!
- If your baby is not sleeping through the night it does NOT mean there's something wrong with your milk! It means they're babies!
- If you pump and don't get much it does NOT mean you don't have much milk! It means you didn't PUMP much milk!

I could go on, but those are the main issues I hear doing my job.

Again, I am NOT BASHING ANYONE WHO DIDN'T BREASTFEED, and I am NOT specifically talking about Time magazine, just upset with the comments I've heard lately because of that magazine!

Try not to laugh...

Have you ever been all worked up about something, trying to have a SERIOUS conversation with your child and accidentally say something stupid? Then, you try to keep a straight face and not laugh about it? No? Me either! LOL! Benjamin went down for a late afternoon nap and I wanted to get a shower in before the kids get home from school so I turned on the tv and told Zack to sit there quietly for a few minutes and not come in my room because I didn't want the baby waking up. As I'm finishing up in the bathroom I hear "boom.......boom......boom" on my bedroom wall. So I walk out there to see a ball roll accross the floor and Zack following behind it. Upset, I asked him what he was doing. Of course he didn't answer, so I quickly followed my question with a VERY serious and stern "when you hit the ball on the wall, you make a boom in my room!" Immediatly, I saw the smile starting to appear on his face, realizing what I said I tried to stay serious, but by this point he was giggling. I did good and kept my stern face, never broke a smile....until I turned around and walked away. :)

Emergency Exit

Have you checked your emergency exit lately for soccer balls? Nicolas and Joshua were kicking a soccer ball outside earlier and both came in very upset and began telling me this story...

Nicolas: Mom, me and Josh were just kicking the soccer ball back and forth (by this time I already know this story isn't going to end well)

Josh: Nicolas kicked it to me and when I kicked it back to him it went the wrong way (in my head I'm already thinking the worst)

Nicolas: You know that house right there? (he points to the house 2 houses down)

Me: yes

Nicolas: well Josh accidentally kicked it over there and...

Josh: it accidentally landed in her emergency exit

Me: her what? (I'm trying not to laugh here because I don't know what he's talking about)

Apparently it went down into the basement window well, Nicolas asked if he could climb down there to get it since they aren't home...ummmm no! You cannot climb down the ladder of their house, son!

Reactive Airway Disease = FUN!

Benjamin gets sick a lot….did I say a lot? Every time he’s around someone sick, he’ll get sick. When he was 3 weeks old, I had to bring him to the ER for this really bad cough that was pretty scary. Since then we’ve made more ER trips (never been admitted, thank goodness). When he was around 4-5 months he started getting ear infections, every time he got one he’d get this nasty cough and start wheezing. Last winter he got what seemed like 1 big 3 month long ear infection, antibiotics didn’t do anything for it, he just seemed to be sick the whole time, which triggered the wheezing/coughing. Finally we got tubes, thinking that fixed our problem! Well it didn’t. Not too long after he was sick again, this time, no ear infection! Just the coughing/wheezing. When he starts up we have to start breathing treatments, 4 times a day. And, when those don’t clear them up he gets put on a steroid which turns my sweet little boy into this psychotic monster! He even had “Bronchitis” 2 times during the summer…who gets sick during summer? A couple months ago, she mentioned that she thinks he could have Asthma (which makes sense since I had it as a child) A few rounds later of this coughing/wheezing business and she’s decided to call it Reactive Airway Disease. I am happy that we have a name for what’s going on, but doesn’t make it any more fun. I’m sick of him being sick!! I’m sick of missing work for him being sick! I’m sick of breathing treatments and whatever else he has to do. He could grow out of this, or it could later be diagnosed as Asthma. No matter what it is, it’s not fun!

Decorating....

Decorating the Christmas tree! I love this time of year and all of the beautiful decorations that go out! I always make EVERYONE (even Dan!) help! This is one of our family traditions...have to have that Christmas music playing too! :) Here's just a few shots from the evening...

Whew!

So much has happened since my last entry! I have started my photography biz up again, Dan picked up a 3rd shift part time (2nd) job, Thanksgiving, Christmas decorating and lots of fun moments in our house with these boys of ours. Lots of new things happening here but God is good and because of him there's minimal stress with our crazy schedules. :)

I've decided that I'm going to do something Christmas themed with the boys everyday this month. Christmas should be a whole month, not just 1 day! So, I've put up the challenge and hoping I can stick with it. Have a wonderful Christmas season everyone!!

School is now in session!

Well, the boys went back to school last month. Is it wrong to give a little Hallelujah? Don't get me wrong, I love them, love having them around and spending time with them but by the time summer comes to an end it seems like they're all at each others throats, there's fighting and just too much craziness....I'm just ready for my regular routine again! Plus, this is the first summer that I've been a working mom so it's been a little rougher because of that.

Elijah started Jr High this year. This was way harder on my then it was on him. He was anxious his first day but he took a deep breath and headed into it like a mature young man. :( Me on the other hand? Not so much. As he left me van and walked towards the school it hit me and I started sobbing like a little baby. Even Nicolas told me to get over it lol. (see what I have to deal with?) After the first few days when he got used to his locker, changing classes and following his schedule things were way smoother. I think he has the hang of it all now. He's getting so old, I can hardly believe he's a 6th grader and will be 12 years old this year. How is that possible???

Nicolas moved to Central this year. In our town there's a school just for Kindergarten, a school for 1st and 2nd graders, a school just for 3rd-5th grade, then Jr High (6-8) and High School. Yes, that does make having kids in multiple grades VERY difficult. Anyway, he started 3rd grade this year...so a new school. This is his teachers last year teaching, she's retiring after this year. I've heard she's kind of strict which I'm kind of happy about because if you know Nicolas, you know he needs a teacher like that! So far he seems to be doing well. We've really stressed to him that he needs to do well this year now that he's in Central, no more goofing around. I guess we'll soon see if that happens. He's a very smart kid, just doesn't apply himself.

Joshua started 1st grade this year (and a new school as well). I LOVE his teacher. Nicolas had her for 1st as well and she is one of the sweetest teachers I've ever known. I know her personality will work VERY well with Joshua's so I'm very excited about what this year will bring for him. He's a hard worker and did very well in Kindergarten. So far everyday he comes home, gets out his homework and gets it done. Where did this kid come from?? He is not like his bigger brothers AT ALL! LOL!

Zachary starts preschool this week. He's pretty excited about it too! He was supposed to be in the 3 day pm class, but I wanted him to be in mornings. Well, last week we got a phone call telling us they had an opening for mornings...Praise God!! So, he will have the same teacher as last year (which is fine by me) but will be starting this Wednesday morning!

Benjamin is 16 months now (too young for school) but is loving the alone time he gets to spend with grandma while mommy works! I think he misses his brothers a little bit but is enjoying being his own person a little too. :)