More to ponder

I wonder a lot about my ratio of veggies to fruit sometimes and I think this new little youtube video that is out where Dr. Brian Clement himself is being interviewed is insightful. I'd love some second opinions from other healthy eaters out there.

Something to Ponder

I post this for many reasons. I know a lot of friends and family from both my side and Alex's side suffering from diseases that can all be treated that doctors aren't talking about. Whether they do this with full knowledge of their intentions or in complete ignorance, I don't know for sure. I don't know all doctors personally. But I do know this: Even though I am not perfect at eating raw vegan foods, I stand by its many healing benefits. In this video are some of my favorite book authors. If anyone out there questions what I say, research for yourself. The money doesn't lie. The numbers don't lie. You have many options aside from what doctors prescribe. I love you all and hope that you find the road less traveled by is not as scary as it seems.

Random Reflections

I know I said I wanted to keep a better record of this pregnancy. Unfortunately, having two kids already doesn't allow me a lot of time. I don't know how I manage to find time right now. But naps help I guess. I should probably be napping myself right now but I would much rather write for a little bit. I'll try and get some belly pics up later too.

For now, I just want to write a little about how I've been feeling, both physically and mentally. I think this past month, I've just been too busy to really take a moment to let the thoughts of a new baby sink in. I feel somewhat sad about this. I guess it just seems as though with the first one, I had so much more time to indulge in every moment of what it would be like to be a mom for the first time. I'm just as excited, just not as nostalgic I suppose.

For the first three months, I did have slight nausea but nothing as bad as I can remember having it with Chrysalis. It could just be that she was a girl. But I really think my diet had a major role to play in my feeling so queasy ALL the time. About two weeks ago, the nausea really died down. For this, I am so grateful. Throughout the entire trip out to South Carolina, it was hard to remain vegan. We did cheat here and there and then also for a few weeks after arriving. We've been eating out and getting pastas at Macaroni Grill. I love cheesy pastas. Sadly, I can only say it makes me feel worse later. Because my diet has been meat and cheese free for so long now, I know without a doubt, that the cheese doesn't sit well in my stomach or intestines. If it's just chicken, it doesn't seem so bad. But I get pretty heavy bloating and some light cramping shortly after having eaten any dairy.

I was so upset to find absolutely no Jamba Juices nearby. They were my easiest source of getting quick wheatgrass shots. I haven't had them for a while and have noticed a huge slump in my energy levels. The best I could find was a place called Earth Fare that sells frozen shots that you can defrost. I guess it's the next best thing. I also got a jar of powdered grass to mix in with smoothies. But we don't get any living enzymes from these sources. Nothing can replace freshly juiced grasses. I'm sad that no one around here seems to know where to get wheatgrass and even more surprised to find how many don't even know what it is. I guess in the South, it's all about the fried chicken and waffles. Sounds good though. I might just splurge on this once simply for the experience. But yesterday I finally made it to home depot to pick up some trays and potting soil so that I can have some fresh grass growing on my balcony. I guess if you want it done right, you've got to do it yourself. I also thought I'd try strawberries in a pot since they disappear so quickly in my house. Don't know if it will work but we'll see. It's fun to experiment. And I like watching things grow.

Watching things grow and helping them along is soothing. I try to imagine how it all takes place on the inside. Sometimes I wish I could see through my belly so I can see how the baby is developing from day to day. But I can't imagine it all looks pretty. So maybe it's best this way. But the human anatomy and the stages of embryonic development highly intrigue me. All the things that have to occur in order for each cell of each organ to position itself to do its job properly absolutely astound me. How we are all made up of tiny elements found on the periodic table, magnetic energy and electric energy is enough to throw my mind into a whirl of thoughts. I wonder how all the elements obey God's will. And yet here I am, and I am a part of it as his daughter. A daughter of a divine heritage. It's taken me so long to realize what that really means and somedays I know it more than others. Today is a good one as I quietly reflect upon and count my many blessings.

Well, I wish all fellow bloggers out there well and as an old friend once put it, I send out my Good Vibes your way.

First Bath in South Carolina

Upon arriving to South Carolina, Auntie Gio decides to give the kids a bath. Her first time giving two kids a bath. Should I be worried?

With Orion's play shaving kit he got for Christmas, Gio decides it would be fun to make Orion a speedo.

And Chrysalis gets a two-piece bikini.

Which she tries to eat.

Well, at least they've got it all covered. :oP

Carthage Jail - More pics from G's Camera

Carthage Jail

We arrive at Carthage the next day.

Chrys runs around outside while Alex fetches us a tour guide to let us into the jail.

Carthage jail.

A lot of these pieces are from the time period but not originals. Fun to see though.

Shortly after it was a jail, this place was used as a home.

I liked how the forks only had two prongs.

The floorboards and the main structure are the only original things left. Our tour guide graciously pointed them out and asked us to notice the nail heads and how they were squared instead of round how they are today. These same kinds of nails were also used to make the pioneer engagement rings. And both my children definitely noticed the floorboards. They creaked like no other, and they of course thought it was funny and had contests to see who could make them creak louder.

A fireplace, a gun, a bed, and a table of food.

Orion wanted to eat it. It didn't matter that it wasn't real.

Orion sits for about 20 seconds.

One of the downstairs rooms used as a cell.

An old bucket.

Trying to listen to the tour guide.

Orion notices an old burning stove he couldn't stop trying to stick his head into.

Wilford Woodruff and some others were held captive here.

This bed that my boy so terribly wanted to jump on was roughly like the one that actually stood in place the day that Joseph saved John Taylor's life by hiding him under it right before he was killed himself.

Looking down from the inside of the window from which Joseph fell.

Alex trying to keep the kids from destroying anything and attempting to listen to the tour guide still.

Not sure if this is an original door to the top room where Hyrum and Joseph were, but if it is, that would probably be the hole from the first bullet that was shot that hit Hyrum in the face and killed him instantly.

None of this furniture is original like I said but they placed a little desk similar to the one Joseph wrote his many letters upon. This was the last room we were in as the tour guide patiently tried to explain all about those last few hours that were spent in this room before the prophet's martyrdom. My kids were both literally bouncing off the walls. Somehow their excitement could not be contained. I was almost ready to kill them myself. But it was funny. Somehow all the chaos came to an end the moment our guide turned on an audio clip of someone explaining the last few moments of the prophet's life with a fun story-like voice and then they began to sing A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief. Music really is such a universal language and it was the most incredible moment for me. I was actually on the verge of tears myself as I saw my little girl staring in awe at the little box on the fireplace from which the voices came from. My son actually sat down to listen. There was no way to deny they both felt the spirit in that room from that beautiful hymn. I also recalled a devotional I once attended at BYU with Alex when I was pregnant with Orion. Thomas S. Monson was the speaker then, not as the prophet at the time but he said something that I really have come to cherish as a mother, that I didn't at that moment before having kids of my own. Families were in attendance and it was at the great big Marriot Center so the voices of all the squirmy children made it difficult to hear, especially since we were seated in the nosebleed section. He said to be not annoyed or upset by the tiny tots that were present. They could not help themselves. "They are just such great spirits, and their little physical bodies are yet too small to contain them." I remembered that when sitting in the room where the prophet spoke his last words on earth. And as the hymn played and everything was silent for its duration, my frustrations were let go and the spirit flooded my soul like never before.

This stone was from the original Nauvoo temple. Orion searches for ladybugs. They were everywhere. He quickly found out that they were not ladybugs but corn beetles and they're not as friendly because they bite. Nothing poisonous but mildly irritating. I thought they were ladybugs too. They look alike I guess.

My sister and I tried to explain to Orion about how the prophet was killed and fell out the window and died. He lays himself down and asks, "Like this?" So we had to take a picture of that.

And then we told him to go and do it over by the window from which he fell. He did a great re-enactment.

The top window is the one from which our prophet fell.

Orion tries to get some water out of the old well just outside of the jail.

Some interesting things about the jail.

I look a little sleepy here. I probably was. But it was definitely a great way to spend our Easter Week. We never really got around to the whole egg hunt thing this year. Maybe we will still do it and people will wonder why we are celebrating Easter so late. I figure, this is just as important. Orion really enjoyed and learned a lot too. And even though Chrys may not understand much right now, I know she feels the spirit. And the most important things to remember around this time really are the Savior, his sacrifice for us all, and those who stood up against all odds to defend truth and righteousness in his name. Our testimonies of Joseph Smith the prophet have grown immensely. I know mine has at least. And so that my children and all other followers of our blog may know of that, I will stand as a witness of the truth of his teachings always.