Just being me.

oopssss

2013-10-09T13:17:00.000+11:00

Oh dear I'm not very good am I...
I could of course come up with numerous excuses for not posting more often - like how my life is too busy to have the time. I really just have been putting other things ahead of the queue.. But I have been fairly busy with our new baby boy Joshua and being back at work.

But yes! I'm finally back on this poor neglected blog! Even though it is soo hard to blog these days I will make it a priority. I have so much stuff I want to write down and not forget... I hope you guys are looking forward to a good catch up soon :)

Recipe: Berry Yoghurt Bake

2013-03-06T19:00:00.003+11:00

Found this recoe from taste.com.au and thought I'd give it a try. Its nice but its very very yoghurty and I didnt quite like the texture of the baked yoghurt..but its different. So for those of you who like yoghurt, give it a try.

Ingredients:

4 eggs beaten
50 ml honey
250g Greek-style yoghurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tsp cornflour
250g mixed raspberries and blueberries
Icing sugar to dust

Method

Preheat oven to 170C
Place the eggs, honey, yoghurt, vanilla extract and cornflour in a bowl, then whisk together until smooth.
Place half the berries in the base of a 23cm baking dish and top with the yoghurt mixture.
Sprinkle the remaining berries over top then bake in the oven for 40 minutes.
Dust with icing sugar before serving warm or hot.

Ahhh first day of maternity leave

2013-03-04T17:27:00.001+11:00

Woot! I finished work last weekend so today is officially the first day of my maternity leave. Seems all a bit scarily real now! Bubba is due on the 17th (13 days and counting) but I wish I know exactly when he's coming!

It feels so weird. After all these years of working, I've finally changed roles and become *gasp* a housewife! Well at least for the next 6 months. But its definitely a change of rhythm! While part of me is very glad to have stopped worked, another part of me is somewhat dazed and a little unsure of how the next 6 months will pan out.

Woke up this morning feeling totally bored. I know I still have a few things to sort and I should get to it soon in case bubba comes early. I guess its been an ideal day so far. I laid in bed until about 9 when hunger forced me up, scoffed some cookies then had to check work emails and attend to some last minute work errands (i know i know..i cant really stop working!) and then realised it was nearly 1pm and decided to stop working!

Then made some lunch, hung up some washing, did some cleaning and baked a cake! Also watched an episode of Desperate Housewives in between all that and now here I am listening to some music while bubba dances!

Tomorrow seems like its going to be a slightly busier day with doctor's appointment at 3:15 and then yoga at 5:45. I think I might drop by the cafe in the hospital for some chai latte and a slice of cake.

Every now and then, I catch myself wondering what it will be like when I go into labout, what the days will be like after bubba is born. Whether i'll get lonely, bored, upset.

I am trying to remind myself to just let go of expectations and just to take each day as it comes. I'm going to make the most of the last few days to myelf because let's face it once bubba comes, he'll be needing a lot of my attention and time.

I'm due soon!

2013-03-03T13:07:00.000+11:00

Hi..so I am due on the 17th March. I've been thinking, praying, asking my Ob wwhat do re.delivery. My first choice was of course to have a natural birth. However the doctor thinks it might not even be possible seeing lil Joshua might be too big for me. Honestly I am so confused I don't know what to do.

Herbed Wholemeal Rolls

2013-02-16T17:17:00.003+11:00

And as I didn't have enough carbs. I decided to bake some rolls! lol. John has been working so hard and I thought that maybe some hot buns with butter will do the trick.

Ingredients:

4 cups wholemeal plain flour
1 tbs dried yeast
1/2 tsp sat
1 1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 tbs olive oil
Olive oi extra to grease
1/2 cup finely shredded fresh chives
1 tbs polenta
Polenta, extra to dust

Method:

Combine flour, yeast and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add water and oil. Use a wooden spoon to sitr until combined, then use your hands to bring the dough together in a bowl. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
Brush a bowl with extra oil tl lightly grease. Place dough in bowl and turn to coat in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draught-free place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
Punch down the centre of the dough with your fist. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3 minutes or until smooth. Divide into 8 portions. Roll out each portion, sprinkle with chives. Roll up dough portions to enclose herbs.
Preheat oven to 250C. Sprinkle 2 baking trays with polenta. Place rolls, seam side down on prepared trays. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place in a warm draught-free place to prove for 15 minutes.
Brush with water and sprinkle with extra polenta. Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until golden.

Tuna and Pasta Bake

2013-02-16T17:09:00.001+11:00

So after an eventful peanut butter banana sandwich for breakfast I decided that heck more carbs will do me some good. lol. After all I am pregnant..and so Pasta and tuna bake it is!

Honestly we don't eat too much pasta at home..and even if we do we go with either the wholemeal types, organic types or those gluten and wheat free types.

Ingredients:

300g dried organic penne pasta
40 g butter
2 tbs plain flour
2 cups full cream milk (I got the A2 brand)
3/4 cup mozarella cheese
425g can tuna in springwater, drained and flaked.

Method:

Preheat oven to 220C / 200C fan forced. Lightly grease an 8 cup capacity ovenproof dish.
Cook pasta in a medium saucepan of boiling, salted water, following packet directions, until tender.
Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid.
Return pasta to pan
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Then add flour. Cook, stirring for 1 minute or until bubbling.
Remove from heat. Gradually stir in milk until combined. Return to heat.
Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes or until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese. Season with pepper.
Add to pasta with tuna and reserved cooking liquid. Toss to combine.
Spoon mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden.
Serve

Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwich

2013-02-16T17:01:00.001+11:00

Woke up this morning and decided that I feel like having peanut butter. Hah..So here's what I came up with.

Ingredients:

2 slices of rye bread
1 tbs organic peanut butter
1 banana, sliced
2 tsp organic honey

Method:

Spread 1 slice ryde bread with 1 tbs peanut butter. Top with 1 banana, sliced, and drizzle over t tsp honey. Top with another slice of bread. Cut in half.

Steak Diane

2013-02-13T20:49:00.000+11:00

Ingredients:

170g oven wedges
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 x 140g piece beef fillet steak
20g butter
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tbs brandy, optional
1/4 cup thickened cream
1 tbs fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Method:

Preheat oven to 200C. Place oven wedges onto a baking tray. Bake following packet directions, or until golden and tender.
Heat oil to a small, non stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 mins each side for medium or until cooked to your liking. Remove steak to a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm.
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to frying pan. Stir until melted. Add Worchestershire sauce, brandy, cream, parsley and salt and pepper to frying pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring or until sauce just comes to the boil.
Place steak onto serving plate. Spoon over sauce.

Brown sugar & lime glazed salmon

2013-02-13T19:43:00.000+11:00

Ingredients:

110g brown sugar
2 limes, juiced (I ran out of limes, so I used lemons instead)
2 x 220g pieces salmon fillet
80ml vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
2cm piece ginger, cut into julienne
2 bunches baby carrots, trimmed and peeled
2 tbs vegetable or chicken stock or water
60ml soy sauce
2 bunches long beans

Method:

To marinate salmon, place sugar, lime juice and 1 tbs water in small pan. Cook, stirring over high heat for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves and mixture is syrupy. Transfer to a small bowl, then cool in freezer for 10 minutes.
Place syrup and salmon in a large bowl and turn to coat well. Stand at room temperature for 15 minutes to marinate.
Meanwhile, heat 2 tbs oil in a large wok over high heat. Add garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 1 1/2 minutes or until starting to brown. Reduce heat to medium high - add carrots and stock, then stir fry for 5 minutes. Add soy sauce and long beans and stir fry for another 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender but still crunchy. Remove from heat.
Using a slotted spoon, remove salmon from marinade and drain on paper towel. Place salmon and remaning 2 tbs oil in a large non stick frying pan, then place pan over medium high heat. Cook for 4 minutes, turn salmon over, then cook for a further 2 minutes for medium rare or until cooked to your liking. Remove pan from heat, season, then rest salmon in pan for 5 minutes.
Divide vegetables among plates and top with salmon.

Beef and Eggplant Stew

2013-02-13T19:00:00.000+11:00

Its been a while since I made stew and so I decided to make some with steak and the remaining eggplant I found in the fridge. Thank God it turned out ok, but I think the next time I'll slow cook the stew instead.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
600g beed chuck steak, trimmed, cut into 4cm pieces
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
800g vine ripened tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 long red chilli, halved lengthways
4 (300g) baby eggplant, chopped
brown rice to serve

Method:

Heat 2 teaspoon oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add beef. Cook, stirring for 6-8 minutes or until browned. Add garlic, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, paprika and cumin. Cook stirring for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add tomatoes, chili and 1/2 cup cold water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cook, covered for 1 hour. Rmove lid, cook for 20-25 minutes or until beef is tender and sauce has thickened.
Meanwhile, heat half the remaining oil in a frying pan. Add half the eggplant. Cook, turning occassionally for 5-6 minutes or until golden. Repeat with remaining oil and eggplant. Set aside.
Add eggplant to saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring for 3-4 minutes or until heated through. Serve with couscous or brown rice.

Recipe: Cheesecake Brownie

2013-02-11T19:30:00.000+11:00

Ingredients

Square 20cm cake pan
Melted butter to grease
150g butter, chopped
300g good quality dark cooking chocolate, chopped
3 eggs
215g (1 cup) caster sugar
225g (1 1/2cups) plain flour
65g (1/4g) sour cream
1 x 250gpkt cream cheese, at room temperature

Method

Preheat oven to 180C. Brush a square 20cm cake pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line the base and 2 opposite sides with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang.
Combine the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
Whisk 2 of the eggs in a small bowl. Add whisked eggs and 140g (2/3 cup) of the sugar to the chocolate mixture, and stir to combine. Add the flour and sour cream and stir until well combined.
Use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese and remaining sugar in a bowl until smooth. Add the remaining egg and beat until just combined.
Spoon chocolate and cream cheese mixtures, alternately, over base of pan. Use a skewer to swirl to create a marble effect. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer insterted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 1 hour to cool. Cut into squares to serve.

Recipe: Red Bean Soup

2013-02-11T18:29:00.000+11:00

2nd day of Chinese New Year and I was really craving some Red Bean Soup so I decided to make some for lunch today.

Back in the old days, my grandmother will make us red bean soup for us as one of her dishes for CNY.

Got this recipe for Little Corner of Mine :)

Ingredients

1 to 2 cups red beans, soak overnigh for faster cooking
1/4 to 1/3 cups of sago
1 cup glutinous rice flour
Brown sugar or Rock sugar or Gula Melaka
1 piece of tangerine peel
Water
Coconut cream (optional)

Method

In a saucepan, boil it with water. When boiling, add in the amount of sago that you want. Stir and let it boil for 10 minutes. Turn the heat off and cover and let it sit for 15-20 minutes or until sago turned transparent. Rince in a sieve under cold running water, set aside.
In another large saucepan, add water of your choice, boil it. When boiling, add in red beans and tangering peel and let it simmer for abot 2 hours or until soften. Then, dish out the tangering peel and add in sugar of your choice to taste.
While waiting for the red bean to cook, make the glutinous rice balls. In a bowl, add in the glutinous rice flour, add a little water at a time until a dough is formed. Pinch and roll the dough into small balls, set aside. Boil another saucepan with water. When boiling, add in the glutinous balls in batches. When floats to the top, dish it out and place in cold water. Set aside.
When the red bean soup is done. Add in the sago and glutinous rice balls. Stir to mix well. Before serving, can add in a dollop of coconut cream, stir well and serve for thicker texture and fragrant. I omitted the coconut cream. Serve hot or at room temperature. I won't recommend you to put in the refrigerator as the glutinous rice balls will turn floury and hard.

Recipe - Soft Pretzels

2013-02-11T11:17:00.003+11:00

So decided to make some pretzels for hubby last week so theres food for breakfast. Haven't baked in a long time but perhaps its the pregnancy and I am feeling very domesticated at the moment!

Found this recipe from: Little Corner of Mine and absolutely love it!

Ingredients

(A)
- 2tsp active dry yeast
- pinch of sugar
- 2/3 cup + 1tbsp of warm water

(B)
- 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 4tbsp sugar
- 1tsp. salt
- 2tbsp oil

(C)
- 3tbsp baking soda
- 1 cup hot water

(D)
- 1 Sea salt + garlic powder/sesame seeds (I only tried with white sesame seeds)
- 2 Maple syrup/honey + cinnamon powder (I only tried with syrup)

Method:

Put (A) in a bowl, stir well and let stand for 10 minutes until creamy colored. In another bowl add in (B), stir well. Add in (A) mixture and knead until dough is formed.
Transfer the dough in a greased bowl, cover with cling wrap and let it rest until double in size. (My dough didn't quite rise up to double in size and it did take about 3 hours to rise up a bit)
Preheat oven to 218C. Line baking tray with baking paper.
Cut dough in half, divide into 6 balls. Take one ball and roll it into a long strand. Set aside. Repear with the rest of the dough and continue with the other half of the dough. After all 12 long strans are rolled out, take one and twist it into a pretzel shape and place on baking tray. Repeat and finish the rest.
Mix (C) together until baking soda is dissolved. Dip each pretzel into the mixture and place it back on the baking tray. Sprinkle the top with (D1) for salty soft pretzel or (D2) for sweet, soft pretzel.
Bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Ta- da

I'm going to miss being pregnant...

2013-02-11T10:59:00.003+11:00

I never thought I'd say this but I do think I am going to miss being pregnant (though I will be very glad to have my body back). There IS something very special about carrying around this little person inside of you plus when else can you have your belly handing out over your pants without feeling self-conscious about it?

Though I won't be missing the heartburn, the waddling, the CONSTANT peeing, the absolutely shattering tiredness, my swollen feet (which looks like giant pork sausages!), the general aches and pains and whatever other ailment I've had during pregnancy...but I will miss my little bubba in there. I love to rub my tummy, talk and sing to him, feel him kick and wiggle around. And I absolutely love when John talks to my belly!

So far, being pregnant has been a really life-altering experience for me. The feeling of life growing inside of me and connecting with this person I've never met is really cool. I know, I know it sounds sappy but I am in a sentimental mood this morning. And sshhh...I have to admit that I do like the special treatment you get when you are pregnant :P

So now, 36 weeks this week with about a month to go until I finally get to meet my baby face to face. I am going to miss being pregnant. I think this whole pregnancy has gone by tooooooooooooooo fast. I take comfort in knowing that they are safe, warm and cozy in me.

With just a few weeks left to go, I want to make sure I haven't missed anything - perhaps some prenatal bonding ritual that will later make me wonder with regret, "Oh damn, why didn't we do that?" This will most likely be my only pregnancy so no chance for do-overs later.

I feel like I should be doing more? Should we be playing bubba classical music? Should I be talking to them more? Should I be doing some positive visualisation, transferring my good vibes onto him? I have also been thinking about lullabies which I will sing to him and have been singing to him now.

Just a few weeks ago, a friend told me that while packing up her baby's clothes she got really sad, mourning over the fact that those tiny infant days were over now. I guess it all goes by really fast doesn't it? Six months from now, I'll probably be sad that my baby's newborn stage is over. Five years down the road, I'll be crying about them starting kindergarten. Maybe I feel like as long as he's in my belly I can almost stop time, keep him close and safe and hold on to him forever.

35 weeks

You know you're 9 months pregnant when.....

2013-02-08T21:24:00.004+11:00

It takes 5 minutes and breaking a sweat to get comfortable on the couch.

You can get to the bathroom in the middle of the night without opening your eyes.

You have to pee every single time you stand up.

You have perfected the art of picking things up with your toes, because you can no longer bend over.

You walk duck footed.

Turning from one side to another in bed is a 10 step process

Never running after a bus again.

2012-12-10T13:10:00.000+11:00

So being silly me, I decided to run after the bus this morning to get to work. On top of that, I dropped my bus ticket and had to bend down to pick it up. I must have got up too abruptly as right after tht I noticed some sharp stabbing pain on my abdomen. I started to panic at first then calmed down and started to breathe properly whilst gently massaging bubba.

I guess pregnancy isn't the time to start running. Running can also be hard on our knees. During pregnancy, our joins loosen, which makes us more prone to injury. So unless we are routine runners, we should try not to run especially after busses!

This is not the first time I felt that sharp stabbing pain. Its been on and off for I guess a couple of weeks now. Its like a really sharp pain like a bluntish knife being jabbed into me. I usually get 3 or 4 sharp pains and they only last a split second but they are quite painful. When that happens I tend to get worried if something is happening to my lil precious one.

I know when being pregnant, abdominal pain is common but I spent some time researching about it and I thought I should share it here.

Pelvic pain or discomfort is common during pregnancy. After all, ligaments are stretching, hormone levels are changing and organs are shifting around to make room for the growing uterus. BUT sometimes, pain is a red flag that something more serious is wrong. Pregnant women should always contact a medical professional to discuss concerns over the pain they are experiencing.

What are some of the common causes of pain during pregnancy? From relaxed pelvic joints to pressure from our growing baby's weight, here are some of the common pain during pregnancy. If the pain that you are experiencing doesn't go away or if you have symptoms such as bleeding, unusual discharge or very strong cramping call your ob-gyn immediately.

- Round Ligament Pain

This is very commong in the second trimester of pregnancy. Women will notice a sharp pain in the abdomen or hip, typically on the right side although it can occur on either side of the body. The round ligament supports the uterus, connecting it to the groin. As the uterus grows to accomodate the baby, the ligament stretches. Many of our movements can trigger the pain, including laughing and standing from a sitting position. Women can reduce this discomfort by stretching frequently and changing position slowly to reduce the sharpness of the pain. If the pain becomes severe or is accompanied by any other symptoms, it may indicate another health concern and women should seek medical attention. Round ligament pain should disappear for good by about 24 weeks.

- Pressures baby's weight

This only really happens in the third trimester. You may start to experience pressure in your pelvic region as the weight of your rapidly growing fetus presses down on the nerves that run form your vagina into your legs. This pain typically occurs with movement, such as when you walk or ride in a car because the baby bounces. To help relieve discomfort, lie down on one side and rest.

- Miscarriage

When a miscarriage is occuring a women may notice cramping on either side of the abdomen. The pain is as intense or more so than menstrual craming. Bleeding will accompany the cramping as the fetus is expelled. Some women may not notice a miscarriage early in pregnancy but later-term miscarriages such as those that occur after the first trimester are likely to cause significant bleeding and some tissue loss owing to the size of the baby.

- Preterm Labour

Any persistent cramping accompanied by unexplained bleeding after the 20th week of pregnancy can be a risk factor for preterm labour. At this time the loss of a pregnancy is no longer considered a miscarriage byt preterm labour. If you are experiencing a persistern backache and pelvic pressure that comes and goes, you may be in labour.

- Braxton Hicks Contractions

Pressure or tightening in the pelvis that comes and goes could be contractions, but if they are sporadic and generally not painful thay are most likely practice contractions, called Braxton Hicks instead of true labour contractions. These "practice" contractions tend to occur at around 20 weeks and can be triggered by dehydration, so make sure your drink a lot of water. You will know its a contraction if you lie down and feel your belly; your uterus will become hard, and then relax. They should disappear on their own but if you have more than four contractions an hour for two hours, call your doctor immediately.

-Digestive Issues

Pregnancy hormones and bodily changes bring about a long list of digestive ailments in women. Any of these can cause sharp pain on the right side of the abdomen or even in the lower rib cage area. Diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn and gas are common complaints of pregnancy that can all cause discomfort.

You can do the following things to ease some of the symptoms such as:

Take a warm (not hot) bath or stand in the shower and let the water hit your back
Try a pelvic support garment, which can keep the uterus from pushing down on your pelvis
Wear low-healed shoes with good arch support
Try to avoid quick movements and sharp turns at the waist
Get a prenatal massage
Exercise regularly - it could help prevent pain in the first place

You will need to call your doctor/OBGYN if:

Pelvic pain that you can't walk or talk through
Any bleeding
Fever and/or chills
Severe headache
Dizziness
Sudden swelling of the face, hands, and/or feet
Persistent nausea and/or vomitting
Less than 10 fetal kicks in one hour from 28 weeks till delivery
More than four contractions in an hour for two hours
Watery, greenish or bloody discharge.

Surprise..I'm Pregnant!

2012-10-26T15:36:00.001+11:00

I guess I'm good at keeping secrets. I'm PREGNANT! Just yesterday I went for my 18-20 weeks scan and everything is looking good with bubba. Call me suspicious or paranoid but I'm one of those people who doesn't always think things will go according to plan. And I'm not taking being pregnant for granted.

What are we having? Its a boy!!!

Here's a picture of me at 19 weeks++. It took me a while to be brave enough to put up a picture or even announce it to my friends. I guess also being pregnant is not exactly "flattering".

Being pregnant also explain my occassionall flakiness in my blog posting over the last couple of months. I get so tired sometimes and all I want to do is go to bed. In general, my symptoms have been more than mild. s a picture of me at 19 weeks++.

Nutrition, organic food and purity continues to be at the forefront of my mind. In fact it should be more important than ever. In the first few weeks of pregnancy where my symptoms were the worst, I regret to say that I was horrible when it came to providing proper, healthy nutrition to my growing baby. But now that Im feeling better..it should be my top priority.

Private Hospital it is

2012-10-08T13:09:00.000+11:00

We finally decided yesterday that we will be going private for maternity. I had no idea how much of a dilemma it is to choose where to give birth.

When we first found out we were pregnant, I automatically called in Royal North Shore to register for maternity. Main reason being financial as with public care its free. But now after visiting both private and public hospitals I understand why those who can afford to go private chooses to go private.

One of the main reason why we are choosing to go Private is because we have private health insurance. We have been paying for the cover for close to 12 months now as we need to be on a 12 months waiting period before we can claim any obstetric benefits. The other benefit is that bubba will also be covered after birth. Our health fund have a buffer in which the baby is covered, provided that we upgrade to family cover within the specified period.

I also like the idea of having my own private obstertrician.

So heres the benefits of going private

You get your own private room
The accommodation is way nicer than public care
The food is also nice than public care
We get to choose our own obstertrician
Check ups and management are held in the obstertrician's private consulting rooms and not in the public hospital waiting room
While our obstertrician doesn't stay with us during labour, the obstertrician will be there at birth and will visit us in the hospital afterwards.
We get to stay 5-6 days in the hospital
There is a nursery in the hospital where they will look after our babies if we want to rest
We get our own ensuite/toilet bathing facilities.

And here are the cons for private hospitals

They have the highest rate of intervention over all birth options, particularly caesarean sections.
Obstertricians usually dont see you much during labour. Its the midwives who monitor you in labour and they will likely be unkown to you. There will likely be 2-3 shift changes during the labour and while we may think that we will receive continuity of care with an obstertrician, they aren't around much at the birth at all.
We will have additional out-of-pocket costs with most obstertricians which vary from a few hundred to several thousands.

Why are we born if we have to die?

2012-08-30T15:37:00.001+10:00

If we are all born to die and we all die to live, whats the point of living life if it just contradicts?

When I was young, I was disappointed with life because I didn't know where my place in the world was. I was in a desperate search. My life was like a movie, full of drama and caos. When I became a Christian, I thought that each of us have a mission in this sinful world.

Now I realise that we are in this world to live and make the best of our situations. We are born to, then, die and leave this world. We die to give way to new life. We die in hopes that a new flower will bloom. We die because we lived. We die because we are given a chance and if that chance is shorten by our death, then we must make the best of what we have. A wise man once told me, in life there are no guarantees except death.

So I guess the saying only contradicts because that is what we choose to see and how we choose to see it.

Life is, and will be, only what we choose to make it. We choose our attitudes, perspectives and points of views that determines how hapy our lives would be. We choose how we allow what others do and affect us and how we react to each situation and circumstances that arises.

Goalless living?

2012-08-14T19:00:00.000+10:00

One of the questions I have been asking myself recently is “What happens if we deliberately live without any goals?”

All the books I’ve read in the past and just about every other self-help book assumes that goals are essential to success. But is this true?

We tend to think that living without goals would result in laying on a couch in front of the tv all day with a six-pack of beer (or whatever your own particular form of goofing off is!) But I suspect that this is actually the result of negative goals, rather than no goals at all. A negative goal would be something like “I don’t want to do the housework”, “I don’t want write that report”, or “I don’t want to do any work”.

The reason I have been asking that question is that I am conscious that many major positive changes in my life have come about without my having formed any definite goals about the changes. It’s been far more a case of acting on opportunity out of a deeper feeling that I am taking the right action for me.

Are goals/needs really just about a search for recognition, authenticity, conformity, nonconformity, acceptance?

Are ‘goals’ and ‘needs’ just interchangeable terms for a search to be accepted in whatever group we seek to be accepted into – or to be accepted for who we are in our individuality if there is no group identification? Even primary needs – food, shelter, warmth, cool, etc are a search to be accepted into the group that have these needs.

Maybe it's not the goal that’s the problem, but more likely an individuals reasoning behind them. Certain end results/goals will never lead to happiness in my opinion. For me, the hardest part has always been discovering what I want. Maybe it seems simple for some people and I might argue that those same people would answer “I want more $$”, “I want to move up the ladder” etc. But I think those are superficial things because what they REALLY want is whatever FEELING they believe those “things” will give them, NOT the thing things themselves ~ kind of like Fool’s Gold, if you will.

I think the reason most people are unhappy is because they are short-sighted about what they really want. You have to ask yourself the tough questions and take the required time to get to know yourself. I believe we all basically want the same things: comfort, freedom, love, acceptance and to make a contribution to this world. I believe seeking $$$ is what we’ve all been essentially “programmed” to do in order to keeps us all as working cogs in someone else’s machine. But where does it lead? I believe it leads to a false-happy; one where you’re never satisfied because you are reaching for the wrong things. This is the constant struggle we are all in that serves someone else’s purpose, not ours.

My Good Friend - Psyllium Husk

2012-08-14T13:12:00.000+10:00

Unfortunately, the process of having a child does not just involve thinking up baby names and making the spare room into a nursery. One of the first physical symptoms a pregnant woman is likely to experience is being constipated — but the good news is that there are steps you can take to try to get things moving again!

Why?
Being unable to pass a bowel motion is common in pregnancy, partly because there's increased pressure on the bowel (even in early pregnancy) and partly because hormones can make the gut less efficient. If you've recently changed your diet to a healthier one for the sake of your baby, you may also find that your guts are a little slow to adapt (this is a polite way of saying that you may find yourself bunged up, and flatulent). In addition, some pregnant women become reluctant to carry out as much exercise for fear of damaging their babies — and regular exercise is known to keep you, er, regular.

During pregnancy, it's important to get plenty of fiber. Some changes in your physiology that occur when you're pregnant make it more likely that you'll get constipated, and you can end up with hemorrhoids as a result. Psyllium powder is a safe source of fiber and helps decrease your risk of digestive trouble.

Psyllium husk is a source of fiber, which is made up of the chemical compound cellulose. Cellulose is very similar in chemical makeup to starch; both consist of long chains of glucose -- sugar -- molecules, explain Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book "Biochemistry." Humans can't digest fiber, however, so it contains no calories for you. Still, it's an important component of a healthy diet, and women should get 21 to 25 grams per day, notes the MayoClinic.com website.

Fiber Benefits

Psyllium husk, like all fiber, has many health benefits. When you consume fiber, it makes you feel more full, which can keep you from overeating. It also decreases the rate at which sugar from your food enters your bloodstream, helping to maintain your blood sugar and prevent diabetes. The increased bulk of your food because of the presence of fiber helps increase the efficiency of your gut, and fiber also binds toxins and cholesterol.

Fiber and Pregnancy

When you're pregnant, fiber in your diet has added benefits. Your higher hormone levels during pregnancy slow your gut down, which can make you more prone to constipation, upset stomach and hemorrhoids because of difficult or hard stools. When you eat plenty of fiber, you help your intestines to continue functioning more smoothly, which can reduce the likelihood of these symptoms, explain Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel in their book "What To Expect When You're Expecting."

Using Psyllium

There are many ways to get fiber in your diet -- fresh fruits and vegetables are a great source -- but you can supplement with psyllium husk powder if you're not sure you're getting enough dietary fiber. Each psyllium husk supplement is slightly different, so check package directions carefully before use. If you have trouble swallowing the powder in liquid -- it can be thick and chalky -- try baking the powder into cookies or purchasing a chewable, bar-type supplement.

syllium

One popular method of treating constipation is fiber supplements such as psyllium. Psyllium is a bulk-forming agent that helps stimulate fecal motility within the intestine. In addition, psyllium fiber has absorptive properties that can retain water to soften stools and ease defecation. Since fiber remains in the digestive tract and is not absorbed into the bloodstream, there is low potential for direct toxicity to the fetus. However, the use of fiber supplements should only be used under the guidance of a physician during pregnancy since psyllium fiber can cause bowel obstruction.

Are there are any medical complications to being constipated?
The main complication is feeling extremely uncomfortable, gaseous and generally unwell. Being constipated can affect much more than your bowel — and particularly your mood. However, in the short-term the main complication would be the development of haemorroids, or "piles": these are widened veins in and around the anus that may become painful or bleed.

How can I remedy the problem?
There are several ways to tackle constipation, most of which don't require a visit to the doctor.

Diet
Adults require 30g of fibre each day to maintain a healthy gut. A medium Granny Smith apple has around four grams, as a guide — or you can use the Calorie Counter to add up how much you have consumed each day. Aiming for five serves of vegies and two serves of fruit each day is a good "rule of thumb" guide. Including a high-fibre breakfast cereal is a good way to get a good hit of fibre in one go. In addition, these cereals are often fortified with vitamins such as folate — essential for a growing baby — and served with calcium-rich milk. Adding a tablespoon of husks like psyllium can also help, though don't overdo it. Too much fibre can affect how many nutrients you can absorb.
Water water
One thing that fibre does in the gut is expand, sweeping away all those dietary nasties as it goes. But it can't do this if it doesn't have fluid to help it to expand. Drink plenty of fluids (non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic) — water is best, or add a twist of lemon or a sprig of fresh mint to make it taste a little different. If this doesn’t do the trick, some people also swear by prune juice.
Exercise
As mentioned above, regular exercise can help to keep your digestive system to heel. This doesn't mean that you have to run a marathon, nor does it mean plenty of yoga (all that bending and stretching probably isn't a comforting thought if you're feeling bloated). Walking is an ideal form of exercise — walk as fast as is comfortable for at least thirty minutes each day. The good news is, as well, that women who regularly exercise during pregnancy often find that they have shorter, less taxing births and get back into shape more quickly afterwards — another incentive to keep at it!
Make time for the loo
Many women, in particular, find it physically hard to go to the toilet in a public convenience, and including those at work. If you feel uncomfortable spending quality time in the cubicles, try to get up a little earlier and eat your breakfast almost as soon as you get up. This gives your digestive system time to kick into action before you leave the house. Some people also think that drinking a glass of hot water with lemon in it first thing can help to get things moving.
Other tips include going for a walk at lunchtime, and not arranging activities for immediately after work &151; giving you time at home to put your feet up and relax for a few minutes.
Check what you're consuming
Some pregnant women like to take iron supplements and so on — check with your doctor if these may be having an effect on your bowel function. It's always a good idea to check if any supplement may have an effect on you or your developing baby in any case: for example, vitamin A supplements should not be taken during pregnancy. Your doctor will be able to advise if you can take a constipation-forming medication in another guise, such as in a liquid formulation, and indeed will be able to recommend a safe laxative to use should the above measures not completely clear up your problem.

Flaxseed oil?

2012-08-14T13:11:00.000+10:00

I have not found any solid, replicated studies on flax seed oil being effective in aiding with conception or pregnancy but my naturolpath swears by it.

When I was tyring to conceive, I have read studies which have shown it to be effective in aiding with conception. It used the principles of the glycemic index for "good carbs" and "bad carbs" and would be effective in helping those with insulin resistant fertility issues. I don't know how effectibe it would be in assisting those without insuin resistant issues in conceiving but, there again anything that contributes to overall health, contributes to conception.

Flaxseed oil contains mega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, B vitamins, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, fibre, protein, zinc and is considered to be natur's richest source of omega-3 fatty acids. Nearly every system in the body can benefit from flax seed oil's natural properties including the reproductive system.

My nauturopath told me that Flaxseed oil is great to treat menopausal symtoms, menstrual cramps, female infertility and endometriosis. Because the hormone-balancing lignans and plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) in flaxseed oil help stabilise a women's estrogen-progesterone ratio, they can have beneficial effects on the menstrual cycle, and relieve the hot flashes of perimenopause and menopause.

There are however differing views as it relates to the taking of the flax seed oil supplement while pregnant. On one side there are those who believe that taking the supplement is good for you and your unborn child, and can only aid with pregnancy. The other view of this is that there is information that suggests that taking flaxseed oil while pregnany should not be done as this can be extremely harmful to the unborn baby. They point to the fact that animal studies have been done that has shown a negative correlation between flaxseed oil and pregnancy. There are no studies that have been done on humans but people do base their results on the animal study.

It should also be noted that flaxseed oil does not contain the same levels of DHA as fish oil. Overall fish oil can be considered better at providing you with the amount of DHA that you need. There have been some studies that have been done that show fish oil greatly support pregnancy and healthy baby development and may even help prevent miscarriage.

So if you are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant and are concerned about the effects that flaxseed oil will have on your pregnancy, it is best to consult your physician. Your GP should be able to tell you specifically if it is safe or not for you to take this supplement.

Calcium with Vitamin D in Pregnancy

2012-08-08T13:13:00.000+10:00

I have been taking Calcium with Vitamin D supplements for a couple of months now and since I became pregnant I started to wonder if I should continue taking the supplements.

Heres what I found on the Internet.

Vitamin D - Why do we need Vitamin D?

Vitamin D helps us to regulate the levels of calcium and phosphate in our body. We need calcium and phosphate to keep your bones and teeth healthy.

Vitamin D also help us fight infections and may even reduce our risk of getting some cancers, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

If we don't get enough Vitamin D when we are pregnant or breastfeeding, it can preven our baby from absorbing calcium properly. A lack of calcium can cause our baby to develop weak teeth and bones.

How can we get Vitamin D?

There are two ways we can get Vitamin D:

Our body makes Vitamin D in response to sunlight
We can get vitamin D from our food, drinks or supplements

Good sources of Vitamin D in food include oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, and foods fortified with Vitamin D such as margarine and some breakfast cereals. Res meat and egg yolk also provide a little Vitamin D.

During the winter when there isn't as much sunlight, our food and body stores will give us the Vitamin D we need.

Do we need to take Vitamin D supplement?
It's recommended that we take a supplement containing 10mcg of Vitamin D during pregnancy and while we are breastfeeding.

Most pregnancy multivitamins contain Vitamin D. Only take a multivitamin that's made specially for pregnancy.

Vitamin D levels can be checked with a blood test. Pregnant women who are at a risk will be offered a blood test early in pregnancy. If the level is too low, you will be advused to take Vitamin D supplements. You should take the amount of supplement prescribed by your doctor or midwife. This amount may change depending on what your blood level is. Sometimes higher doses are needed at first to build your level up. There is no danger of over dose with these amounts.

Wholehearted Living

2012-08-03T23:18:00.000+10:00

I can't remember who it was - but a few years ago someone sent me a spam email about learning to never say "yes" unless you could say it wholeheartedly.

Whoever that was, thank you. I have been thinking of the logic of that for a few days now and I just can't agree enough on it.

The context was how easy it is for our lives to fill up with responsibilities that we have taken on more or less reluctantly. When someone asks us to do something, it is often difficult to say "no". So we end up saying "yes" against our better judgement. And one of the reasons why it is so easy to say "yes" is because we often don't have a clear and easy way to tell what our better judgement is. The other party will often come up with highly persuasive reasons which make us feel that we will be uncaring or ungrateful or illogical or mean or reckless or whatever if we don't agree with them. And since we don't want them to feel any one these things we say "yes" reluctantly - and regret it later.

By having a clear rule that we only say "yes" when we say it wholeheartedly we can cut through all the guilt and manipulation and find the only thing that really matters - our own knowledge of what is right for us.

I haven't use this method a lot but I have started and found it invaluable. So for an example the other day, a friend rang me up and asked me if I wanted to join a rally that met every month. I really didn't want to but had the feeling that I ought to do it and that I'd be letting my friend down if I didn't. As I wavered on the brink of accepting (and regretting it) I suddenly found myself saying "Sorry but no. If I would have committed to you today I would only be lying to you as honestly I don't feel comfortable with this." To my surprise, my frien though obviously disappointed, accepted my reason.

Now when faced with any decision, I always ask myself "Could I do this wholeheartedly?" And if the answer is "no", I don't do it.

So the question acts as a very good way of filtering our busy work, displacement activites and general wheel-spinning. And it greatly increases the commitment that I bring to my real work actions and the enjoyment that I get from my leisure and personal activities.

So what could I do wholeheartedly right now? Ah yes, kiss my gorgeous husband good night and then go to bed!

First Trimester Ultrasound

2012-07-19T13:14:00.000+10:00

Scheduled in for my first trimester ultrasound next friday. Its one week away but I have already started to worry.

So far I have been having it easy. I am 5 weeks + 2 now and im perfectly fine. No morning sickness, no bleeding, no spotting, no nausea. I do feel extremely tired and I have been experiencing cramps and really strong sense of smell. Which I heard are all pretty normal.

I found out that you can have your first trimester scan and not find a heartbeat and the baby has just stopped growing for some reason. Its made me so wrroed now.

I have been googling to find out more and apparently there are several reasons why you might not see the fetus's heartbeat at six weeks. First you may not really be six weeks pregnant. You may have ovulated late cycle.

The second reason has to do with the type of ultrasound probe the technician is using. Transabdominial probes (over the belly as opposed to in the vagina) are not as sensitive in detecting pregnancy and early heartbeat.

A heartbeat definitely should be seen if an embryo (or "fetal pole") is seen, usually as early as six weeks of pregnancy by transvaginal ultrasound.

Thus, a transvaginal ultrasound showing no fetal heartbeat will mean one of two things: either the pregnancy is too early for the hearbeat to be visible or a pregnancy loss has occurred.

I also heard that if you ever see the baby on a first trimester ultrasound with no heartbeat, you should wait at least seven days and have a follow-up ultrasound. Sometimes the angle is wrong or something the baby is just too small.

I guess chances are everything is fine and I have nothing to worry about and I will be able to see Little Opa's heartbeat. But I'm petrified!!

I think I should try to be more positive. Yes be positive and enjoy every day and just go with the flow. As long as I am keeping healthy and doing all the right things then the rest is in "God's hands". Keep thinking and worrying won't change anything.