I fed the rabbits very late this evening. Part and parcel of having 2 youngsters under the age of 3 in the house and no one to assist... I had to wait until they were asleep. Though I can generally accomplish chores even with #3 underfoot and #4 tucked into a front carrier. Anyway, when I have to feed in the dark, I use an old-fashioned oil lamp, the metal kind where the flame is completely enclosed. It doesn't light very well, but well enough to get feed in the bowls and water in the crocks. So I had an opportunity to quietly observe Landslide, the broken black ML doe birthing her litter tonight. I didn't get to see how many she had or even what varieties, though my guess would be the same as she had the last litter. Here's hoping this litter is overall healthier, though I won't hold out my hopes. On the other hand, there shouldn't be any more lengthy periods of time where I am not caring for the rabbits myself. The old adage, 'no one can do it better than I can do it myself' definitely holds true here.
Anyway, I'm hoping to have a peep at them tomorrow. There's another, different breed, doe due tomorrow and another a few days after that, then a couple week break, a few more, then a much longer break during the heat of summer. When the only rabbits that will be breeding will be meat rabbits.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Soapmaking Tribulations
I've been reading about soap-making (the old-fashioned way) for several weeks now, and I am enthralled. However, I've been getting equipment together, locating supplies, and trying to figure out what recipe to try out first. What I really need to find is a good forum of helpful people. However, this seems to be somewhat lacking. One forum I found is all but defunct on the admin side, I've been waiting a week to be approved for posting. Another is actually only a small section within a larger forum and not well visited by experts. I have questions, concerns, worries, ideas, and no one with whom I can really discourse about them.
It's how it was with rabbits all those years ago. And I won't deny that I made a lot of mistakes that could have probably been avoided had I had others to assist, suggest, and mentor. With the internet these days, one wouldn't expect it to be this hard to find recent information and knowledgeable people, but in this one area it appears to be just that.
The frustrating part is that most of the recipes I have (from books) yield a LOT of soap per batch and require rather hefty amounts of ingredients, some of which are a tiny bit on the pricey side of things. Knowing my family and my ability to market, I need recipes to yield smaller amounts of finished product. I suppose I could go browsing through the internet, however that is just so tedious and time-consuming. So I'll resort to that measure only at the utmost end of need.
It's how it was with rabbits all those years ago. And I won't deny that I made a lot of mistakes that could have probably been avoided had I had others to assist, suggest, and mentor. With the internet these days, one wouldn't expect it to be this hard to find recent information and knowledgeable people, but in this one area it appears to be just that.
The frustrating part is that most of the recipes I have (from books) yield a LOT of soap per batch and require rather hefty amounts of ingredients, some of which are a tiny bit on the pricey side of things. Knowing my family and my ability to market, I need recipes to yield smaller amounts of finished product. I suppose I could go browsing through the internet, however that is just so tedious and time-consuming. So I'll resort to that measure only at the utmost end of need.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Diaper Frustrations
I prefer to use cloth diapers on my youngest kids. Well my favorite type are from a manufacturer called Swaddlebees. I've always loved their fitted (all fabric, not waterproof) the best. However, this type of diaper has been getting increasingly rare. Finally the company appears to be eliminating the line altogether and was clearancing the remaining few for half the original cost. The ones I have for DD3 are wearing out after a couple years constant hard use and I doubt they'll be usable by DS. So I wanted to get the last of the dipes. When I started, there were 10 available, within hours it was down to just 7, so I bought them. This morning I received an e-mail saying there were only 5 left available and they would refund the other 2. So I ended up with only half what I originally wanted from them.
I suppose I'll have to look around at retailers and see if anyone else is planning to clearance these diapers. I'm sad though that I won't be able to purchase them anymore.
I suppose I'll have to look around at retailers and see if anyone else is planning to clearance these diapers. I'm sad though that I won't be able to purchase them anymore.
Earwigs
These nasty little bugs are terribly prolific this year. I hate them however because they seem to always be able to get into everything! DH claims it's due to the unusual amount of rain we've had so far this year. I can certainly believe that, but I still don't like it. Yesterday as I was driving, the littlest suddenly cried out. When I pulled over to check him, there was one of those horrible insects on him!! I got it off as quickly as possible, threw it on the ground and smeared it across the pavement. When I checked over DS, the bug had bitten him on the leg! I swear I am going to figure out some way of keeping those things out of the house and car.
Incidentally, these bugs are also known as pincer beetles.
Incidentally, these bugs are also known as pincer beetles.
Shipping in Rabbits
An opportunity came up a few weeks ago to have some rabbits brought in from California. Now, everything happens very fast when it comes to cooperative shipments, especially with this particular group of people. It's understandable really, but it does make it awkward trying to make fast arrangements when the rabbits we'd want wouldn't be from the original seller offering to ship. However, somehow I managed to locate the first breeder from which we'd gotten Fuzzy lops for my eldest. That last time so many years ago, I made arrangements for a single doe to travel across the country via a mid-way convention. This time I arranged to buy a pair and she offered an additional young doe to make a trio. So I bought and paid for the rabbits within a week. The seller sent photos of the rabbits and my eldest selected from those a very nice SSB and a BSD.
Then came the fun of the actual transport. At first they were going to the originator of the shipment in NC, but then real costs for shipping came to light that would have eliminated efficacy for the shipment. The alternative was to change carrier and someone would have to go to GA or DC to get the rabbits. It was decided that DC would be it and the arrangements were carried out. The rabbits finally arrived safely across the country, but then my affliction hit me! So I had to put off retrieving them for a full week. Thank goodness for the person that picked the rabbits up from the airport. Finally, I was able to pick up the rabbits from her and the next person in the chain came to get the remainder of the rabbits from me. So that aspect was finally done.
Now we have 3 beautiful fluffy rabbits who are very slowly adjusting to our more humid weather. I thank everyone that had a hand in helping to get them here, and the list is substantial! So Christina, Katie, Lisa, Kristen, and Whitney... thanks!!
Then came the fun of the actual transport. At first they were going to the originator of the shipment in NC, but then real costs for shipping came to light that would have eliminated efficacy for the shipment. The alternative was to change carrier and someone would have to go to GA or DC to get the rabbits. It was decided that DC would be it and the arrangements were carried out. The rabbits finally arrived safely across the country, but then my affliction hit me! So I had to put off retrieving them for a full week. Thank goodness for the person that picked the rabbits up from the airport. Finally, I was able to pick up the rabbits from her and the next person in the chain came to get the remainder of the rabbits from me. So that aspect was finally done.
Now we have 3 beautiful fluffy rabbits who are very slowly adjusting to our more humid weather. I thank everyone that had a hand in helping to get them here, and the list is substantial! So Christina, Katie, Lisa, Kristen, and Whitney... thanks!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Endometritis
Sadly my education levels are such that I know exactly what this disorder is and in what the potential complications can result. For those that don't know, this is a uterine infection, or more specifically an infection of the lining of the uterus, and it was what I was diagnosed as having a mere 4 days after the birth of my son. Now, i've kept this bit of information close because I don't want people trying to say it was a result of him being born at home. The truth is it could have happened regardless of his birth venue. Here's how it played out:
Friday: birth
Sunday afternoon: passed a small piece of placental tissue which had obviously been retained
Monday afternoon: began running very high fever, temps hovered around 101 or 102, but peaked at 103.7 in the late evening
Tuesday morning: called my regular doctor and set appointment for late afternoon
Tuesday afternoon: went to see the doctor and was basically told they couldn't help me, that I needed to go to the ER
Tusday evening: called ER and talked to doctor who said he'd arrange for home-based care
Wednesday morning: called back to first doctor from previous night and was told that hone care couldn't be setup until Friday or Saturday, which would be too late. He insisted I go to the ER. I then called around and around and around... finally found my former OB and made an appointment
Wednesday afternoon: saw OB as emergency visit, ultrasound performed to check for any lingering tissue in utero, she finally insisted I had to go into the hospital for treatment, but that she could make arrangements so I wouldn't have to sit in the ER, I could bring my baby with me
Wednesday night: I went into the hospital for an expected 24-48 hours IV antibiotic treatment, was told it was against hospital policy to allow the baby to stay with me in hospital. I told them flat out if he goes, I go. After several failed attempts, they finally got in an IV and began antibiotic treatment. Hospital policy staff allowed him to stay for that night.
Wednesday morning: still there, no one complaining about the baby, they continue treatment
Wednesday afternoon: I finally get to talk to a dr who wants to keep me another night, but I talk her into letting me leave that evening (full 24 hours treatment) with a script for oral antibiotics to continue treatment
Wednesday evening: I get to go home
Thursday morning: get prescription for gigantic horse-pills and take them religiously according to orders
It was a true and genuine nightmare. People have died from this particular type of infection before and trying to get through 2 subsequent nights of high fevers was the scariest thing I'd ever done. By the time I made it home, my head was killing me and I was utterly exhausted because I had barely slept for 4 nights (who really sleeps in a hospital... honestly?!). The funniest part of the whole thing was the irony of how hard it was for the doctors to get me into the hospital in the first place and how quick the policy staff was to try and make me leave. I actually think the doctors leaned on them pretty hard because it wouldn't have taken much for me to walk out of that place (I despise hospitals).
I'm also living proof that people *can* be pincushions. I think the staff/nurses were trying to see just how many times they could stick a needle in me. The back of my left hand was where the first doctor took blood for testing. Then in the hospital, even though I warned them that I'm a hard stick, they first tried the back of my right hand (you can see a vein there), no blood at all. Then a different person tried the middle back of my left arm (it's still black a week later!). Then a different person came in and tried the back of my right hand again, thought she had it but managed to get some blood for testing and it stopped bleeding. So she tried then on the inside of my right wrist, also no-go there. Then they switched off again and a man tried the upper part of my inner left elbow, even though no vein was visible, he managed to hit it (yay!), so that's where my IV went. The bad part is the blood they drew from my hand coagulated, so someone else came in and took blood (again) from the inside of my right elbow. So basically I was stuck 7 times for them to get what they needed. It's a good thing I've gotten over my fear of needles!
I also made an interesting statement that is very true... other than the occasional life-threating infection, I'm basically a healthy person. Go figure!
BTW, I'm doing much better now, except for the lingering bruises from the needles, I feel fine.
Friday: birth
Sunday afternoon: passed a small piece of placental tissue which had obviously been retained
Monday afternoon: began running very high fever, temps hovered around 101 or 102, but peaked at 103.7 in the late evening
Tuesday morning: called my regular doctor and set appointment for late afternoon
Tuesday afternoon: went to see the doctor and was basically told they couldn't help me, that I needed to go to the ER
Tusday evening: called ER and talked to doctor who said he'd arrange for home-based care
Wednesday morning: called back to first doctor from previous night and was told that hone care couldn't be setup until Friday or Saturday, which would be too late. He insisted I go to the ER. I then called around and around and around... finally found my former OB and made an appointment
Wednesday afternoon: saw OB as emergency visit, ultrasound performed to check for any lingering tissue in utero, she finally insisted I had to go into the hospital for treatment, but that she could make arrangements so I wouldn't have to sit in the ER, I could bring my baby with me
Wednesday night: I went into the hospital for an expected 24-48 hours IV antibiotic treatment, was told it was against hospital policy to allow the baby to stay with me in hospital. I told them flat out if he goes, I go. After several failed attempts, they finally got in an IV and began antibiotic treatment. Hospital policy staff allowed him to stay for that night.
Wednesday morning: still there, no one complaining about the baby, they continue treatment
Wednesday afternoon: I finally get to talk to a dr who wants to keep me another night, but I talk her into letting me leave that evening (full 24 hours treatment) with a script for oral antibiotics to continue treatment
Wednesday evening: I get to go home
Thursday morning: get prescription for gigantic horse-pills and take them religiously according to orders
It was a true and genuine nightmare. People have died from this particular type of infection before and trying to get through 2 subsequent nights of high fevers was the scariest thing I'd ever done. By the time I made it home, my head was killing me and I was utterly exhausted because I had barely slept for 4 nights (who really sleeps in a hospital... honestly?!). The funniest part of the whole thing was the irony of how hard it was for the doctors to get me into the hospital in the first place and how quick the policy staff was to try and make me leave. I actually think the doctors leaned on them pretty hard because it wouldn't have taken much for me to walk out of that place (I despise hospitals).
I'm also living proof that people *can* be pincushions. I think the staff/nurses were trying to see just how many times they could stick a needle in me. The back of my left hand was where the first doctor took blood for testing. Then in the hospital, even though I warned them that I'm a hard stick, they first tried the back of my right hand (you can see a vein there), no blood at all. Then a different person tried the middle back of my left arm (it's still black a week later!). Then a different person came in and tried the back of my right hand again, thought she had it but managed to get some blood for testing and it stopped bleeding. So she tried then on the inside of my right wrist, also no-go there. Then they switched off again and a man tried the upper part of my inner left elbow, even though no vein was visible, he managed to hit it (yay!), so that's where my IV went. The bad part is the blood they drew from my hand coagulated, so someone else came in and took blood (again) from the inside of my right elbow. So basically I was stuck 7 times for them to get what they needed. It's a good thing I've gotten over my fear of needles!
I also made an interesting statement that is very true... other than the occasional life-threating infection, I'm basically a healthy person. Go figure!
BTW, I'm doing much better now, except for the lingering bruises from the needles, I feel fine.
Addition
So there's a new addition to the family. At 9 lbs 4 oz he lustily announced his arrival just 2 and a half weeks ago. At 21 and 3/4 inches, he's easily the biggest and longest baby I've ever had! Of course, it should be expected since he was 12 days late. LOL I was honestly starting to wonder if he would EVER decide to join the rest of the family. Born at home, he has been nothing but a joy. The first son, and likely the only son, plagued for life by 3 older sisters. He's my little man!
Incidentally, he nurses like a champ, sleeps mostly at night (only waking once or twice now), and a disposable diaper has never touched his skin. I'm very proud of him. Make no mistake though, I don't consider myself to be a 'hippie' merely because I want the best (and most economical) methods of child-rearing. Breastfeeding and cloth diapering are economical choices. Babywearing in public is a safety measure (it's more difficult to snatch an infant that is carried by its mother).
Incidentally, he nurses like a champ, sleeps mostly at night (only waking once or twice now), and a disposable diaper has never touched his skin. I'm very proud of him. Make no mistake though, I don't consider myself to be a 'hippie' merely because I want the best (and most economical) methods of child-rearing. Breastfeeding and cloth diapering are economical choices. Babywearing in public is a safety measure (it's more difficult to snatch an infant that is carried by its mother).
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