AMAZING!

I just saw an amazing documentary called The Business of Being Born. It is AMAZING!!! It is a MUST see for anyone that is pregnant, will ever be pregnant, anyone that knows someone that might ever be pregnant.... ok, so for EVERY woman! I don't "make noise" about many things, BUT, this I will! The documentary is about all the information you really need to know about giving birth and what your choices are! Amazing! Lots of my friends didn't even know that they actually had choices, even after 3 kids! I don't judge people that choose what they want, but AWARENESS is power!

Here is a bit about my experiences:

So, I gave birth to Isabel in a hospital in Utah with a doctor. The doctor induced me and I had an epidural and there were lots of interventions. I felt like it was not natural for me to do it this way. I didn't really have any choices. After my experience, I knew that I never wanted another baby the same way. I dont think it was a bad experience, I know I was lucky. There was something missing and I knew I wanted to FEEL something different.

So, I used a Midwife for Gabe in a hospital using no drugs. It was a great delivery! Loved my midwife!! But, we were fighting for our rights and birth plan the entire way. Then, he was born and was whisked off to the NICU for unnecessary reasons and kept there for 6 days. Later, we talked to many resources telling us that the staff were told to get as many babies to the NICU as they could to PAY for their new Woman's Center Wing. (that was St. Luke's in Salt Lake City) and our pediatrician said that there was no reason Gabe needed to be in the NICU.

Then we were pregnant with Adeline and knew we hated hospitals! So, we decided to go to the freestanding Birth and Family Place in SLC using a midwife, whom I loved! http://www.womenandbirthcare.com/ It was also an amazing experience! A comfortable place. I loved it! The insurance took 3 years to pay my midwife. Sick! Currently, the Birth Center is under attack. Sad stuff.

So, here comes Beatrice! I have taken "baby steps" for this moment. A HOME delivery!!! WOW! There is absolutely nothing that compares to being at home and delivering your baby! I was so comfortable! It was hard work, but the experience wasn't something that needed to be numbed! It needed to be experienced and felt. She was a healthy baby and she came when she came. (shortest delivery of about 4 hours! 6 days late! HA!)

Adeline holding Beatrice right after she was born!So Cute!

Beatrice, 2 days old. Dec.17th, 2007. She was so alert!

This is what my body was made to do! Oh yeah, I am not the only one. Most woman that can have children can do this too! Heavenly Father has made us and we can do so much more than we think we can!! It's totally AMAZING! If I can do this, I can DO ANYTHING!!!

70% of babies are born with Midwifes in every other developed country except for the USA. 1 out of 3 babies are born by Cesarean section in the USA. That is not because we have different woman, it's because one intervention leads to another. Dont get me wrong, medical assistance is there for a reason, when you actually need it. It is just sad that having babies is more about business than a fact of life here in the USA.

There, that was my "noise".

RENT THE DOCUMENTARY OR WATCH IT ON NETFLIX!! http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/

My Homemade Bread

I make bread every week. I got this recipe from a friend from New York. BUT I did some adjustments to it and this is what it is now. I like that all of the ingredients are things that are easy to keep in my food storage.
People have asked for the recipe and those that have it, like it. It's one of those fool proof recipes. I am certainly not a chef, so it's perfect for me! SO, I just thought I would post it. Also, I grind the wheat almost every time for the wheat flour because it just tastes better and boy, is it more nutritious! If you try it, I hope you like it! Enjoy!
I found this photo on the web and liked it, so its not from me, but it works!

Wheat Bread
Makes 2 loaves

1-2/3 cups warm water
2 tsp instant yeast
2 tsp sugar
1 egg, beaten
3 TBSP Extra Light Olive Oil
1/3-cup honey
3 cups whole wheat flour (I usually grind the wheat right before I make it)
2 cups whole wheat white flour
1 tsp salt

Combine the water, yeast and sugar in mixer. Wait until foamy. Add eggs, honey and oil. Mix well. Add the wheat flour and beat on high speed for 5 mins. Then add the white flour and salt and beat on high for 2 more mins. The dough should be sticky. Let it rest for 10 min. then beat on high for 5 more mins. Put dough in greased bowl and let rise until double in size about 45 min. ( I often skip this step. I do not see a difference in the bread and it saves me LOADS of time. If I counted up the time that I will save for my lifetime, it maybe be up to a year of time saved! :) ha!)

Divide dough into 2 pieces. (I use oil on my hands and counter when I roll the dough out. I don’t use flour. Any additional flour will dry out the bread.) Roll each piece into a rectangle working out all the air bubbles. Turn over and roll tightly into loaf. With the seam side up, pinch the ends into the loaf. With oil on hands, lightly coat loaf and put in greased loaf pan (seam side down).(I like to use the long loaf pans, they are perfect for sandwiches!)  Let dough rise to top of pan or double in size.
 Bake at 350* for 24-30 mins. After baking, remove loaves to cooling racks and completely cover with damp cotton cloths or paper towels until cool.

Note: This recipe fits a Kitchen Aid mixer.