Gasp, Cough, Sputter ...

I just want to mention I have never had this happen to me but at the same time felt like sharing especially since we Orthodox tend to rely on so many beans during fasting periods. Getting sick after a meal may not be the sign of bad cooking ... it may be a sign that you did cook your beans at a high enough temperature long enough. Read on ...

http://www.foodreference.com/html/artredkidneybeanpoisoning.html

RED KIDNEY BEAN POISONING

Red Kidney Bean Poisoning is an illness caused by a toxic agent,Phytohaemagglutnin (Kidney Bean Lectin). This toxic agent is found in many species of beans, but it is in highest concentration in red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). The unit of toxin measure is the hemagglutinating unit (hau). Raw kidney beans contain from 20,000 to 70,000 hau, while fully cooked beans contain from 200 to 400 hau. White kidney beans, another variety of Phaseolus vulgaris, contain about one-third the amount of toxin as the red variety; broad beans (Vicia faba) contain 5 to 10% the amount that red kidney beans contain.

As few as 4 or 5 beans can bring on symptoms. Onset of symptoms varies from between 1 to 3 hours. Onset is usually marked by extreme nausea, followed by vomiting, which may be very severe. Diarrhea develops somewhat later (from one to a few hours), and some persons report abdominal pain. Some persons have been hospitalized, but recovery is usually rapid (3 - 4 h after onset of symptoms) and spontaneous.

The syndrome is usually caused by the ingestion of raw, soaked kidney beans, either alone or in salads or casseroles. As few as four or five raw beans can trigger symptoms. Several outbreaks have been associated with "slow cookers" or crock pots, or in casseroles which had not reached a high enough internal temperature to destroy the glycoprotein lectin. It has been shown that heating to 80 degrees C. may potentiate the toxicity five-fold, so that these beans are more toxic than if eaten raw. In studies of casseroles cooked in slow cookers, internal temperatures often did not exceed 75 degrees C..

All persons, regardless of age or gender, appear to be equally susceptible; the severity is related only to the dose ingested.

No major outbreaks have occurred in the U.S. Outbreaks in the U.K. are far more common, and may be attributed to greater use of dried kidney beans in the U.K., or better physician awareness and reporting.

NOTE: The following procedure has been recommended by the PHLS (Public Health Laboratory Services, Colindale, U.K.) to render kidney, and other, beans safe for consumption:
* Soak in water for at least 5 hours.
* Pour away the water.
* Boil briskly in fresh water for at least 10 minutes.
* Undercooked beans may be more toxic than raw beans.

Sources: FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition.
BAD BUG BOOK (Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook)
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Moving Forward ...

Well, well, well ... the changes that come so unexpectedly that are such blessings!
DH is actually looking into changing his career path!! :D I am sooo happy for him. He has been in the automotive industry for 30 years. He's coached the kids in football and baseball and is now umpiring/officiating. He's thought about making the jump to full-time officiating for just over a year now but never could put the time commitment into it that it would require due to his day job. Now with the layoff HE CAN!!! I approached him about it this morning when I came in from classes and he says, "You know it's funny you mention that cause I was just thinking about that and [my friend] was even talking to me about that just a little while ago." He could easily make more than he did in the automotive industry doing something he truly enjoys. So I'm all for it.

This led to me possibly getting recertified in child birth education, lactation education, teen education, ante-partum, labor, and post-partum doula services again. I enjoyed that so much but several factors led me into shying away from it some years ago. Those reasons have passed. So if I ever had the option to jump back and get recertified then I would. I might be able to do it! My training classes and such definitely cost way more than DH's training classes so it would be a bit harder for me to do so. One problem I run into is needing a partner. I have a couple of people I could approach so I think I will discuss this a little further and then maybe I'll be ready to take the plunge back in there by the time May roles around. If not, it will be September before I can even think about it due to training scheduling. I can still go to school, still be home most of the time with the children (DH would fill in the time I couldn't), still homeschool, and yet bring in money to the family fold :)

I think I really need to pray on this... I love what I'm going to school for. I absolutely love the field and it excites me to no end. BUT I also love the childbirth/newborn field. I need to pray about where God wants me to be. What benefits my family the most, what is best for me, what is *my* calling to be? Perhaps it is a combination of both. Perhaps the childbirth scene is a "for now" thing until I can get my medical degree ... perhaps I shouldn't get my medical degree, perhaps I shouldn't go back into field I've already left, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps ... perhaps I should just pray!

As for DH though, I have known for a long time that he would be so very happy being an official. It's just something he really enjoys from the heart. If he could get paid to coach little kids I think that is truly where he finds happiness :) But he can't volunteer his whole life.... but I bet he finds a way to coach again when grandkids come around and are old enough to play :) We're still going to pray on this as well, though, but I'm really hoping he can get out of a field that demands so much of his time, yet gives him no satisfaction at all. He's so very honest (which we believe is one of the reasons they let him go and not because of seniority since three senior people were let go in the first two rounds of layoffs instead of him) - it kills him to see people overcharged, it kills him to have to try and sell work that people can't afford but he has to try and make it sound like they can't get by without it, all of that bothers him. It would cost the company money when he would correct labor costs - while the other two that are left wouldn't... they always had overcharges. ... We just found out their pay was cut to $200 a week and they get a commission on labor charges once a month - makes you want to charge as much labor as possible doesn't it when your paycheck depends on it ... both men are in knots thinking about it. It makes me ever so grateful that DH was the one that was let go ... in fact both men have said as much - that he was the lucky one. I honestly and truly believe so as well. God has always, always looked after me throughout my entire life, and I don't believe He will stop now.

It's odd, but I want to cry right now as I'm so happy about all of this! This is certainly a great way to start off Great Lent, is it not?? Relying on God for every single thing ... what a sweet, sweet feeling that is.

A loss can be a blessing ....

Yesterday we had what should have been a great blow to our family.... my DH was laid off from his job. At first I thought he had been joking when he told me but as it turns out I think it was just one big relief. He didn't like the atmosphere of where he worked and had been wanting to get back in to managerial positions. Only due to the business he is in, if one begins looking the word gets around and someone from his company would hear so he hasn't been actively looking. Now he can actively look. I have a feeling this will mean a huge change for us.... like moving - to another area altogether. We're here, Lord, send us!

So he got to thinking about everything while he was making contacts in his business world and realized we have no need to rush out and take the first available job that pops up. He'll draw unemployment and the money he makes being a baseball umpire will more than fill in the gaps as he'll be available to work way more than he was while working his "day job." Plus, I may be able to get a small part-time job at the hospital which would help out tremendously. Granted, neither of us likes needing the unemployment benefits, it will be temporary. This will allow him to search out the type of position he has been wanting for the past four years. So for that, I'm thankful for the unemployment benefits.

Perhaps, we were allowed to be in this position to humble us. I don't want to get into some personal stuff here concerning others within family so I shall just say we were perhaps a bit judgmental - even if what we believed turned out to be mostly true, it was wrong to have judged them. I still don't like what they are currently doing but I have to separate out not liking their actions and judging them. What a tough line to toe, is it not sometimes? But I will work on it.

For now I am also thankful for my husband being more relaxed than I have seen him in several years!

Life gets in the way sometimes

Sorry I haven't posted. I should know better than to try while I'm in school. But today, of course, is Cheesefare Monday and I'd like to make posting a bit more habitual during Lent. I've still got my notes to post on the book "On the Upbringing of Children" ... I like it and notes help me to figure out how to put things in to action.

A wee update on the past 2 months ...

We visited my father twice a week while he was in physical rehabilitation. He had to get strong enough to withstand his, prayerfully, last surgery in his whole ordeal - I'm not sure I've posted about it. He had a botched surgery that led to a ripped intestine. It made him so weak that they couldn't go in and do the next surgery until he'd gained strength. The whole ordeal began in October. He had the final surgery Friday, 25 Feb! He's doing great!!! I sat with Mom all day Friday while DH stayed here with the children. I left between 6:30 and 7 and didn't get home til nearly 10 pm. But for the past two months I would take the children up there one day during the week and we'd stay all day long with him. Then on Sunday's after Church we would go over and visit him - this time with DH.

I was so happy to hear the prayer I typed out for him helped him greatly. He didn't tell me until the day of surgery. He asked me to type it up again and laminate it cause it got lost somewhere during the move between the rehab center and the hospital. I'll have to get it and post it. It is a prayer that always greatly helps me when I'm either depressed or worried about the weight on my shoulders. I also gave him a paper icon of St. Anna as the icon was weeping myrrh. I'm so glad he liked them AND used them! See he isn't Orthodox so the fact he even accepted to have the things with him ... Prayers for his conversion to the One True Faith would be greatly appreciated.

I began the new semester at school. I'm bored. One class I don't even need but I had to take in order to go half time so the loan people stay off of me ... If I were on the quarter system then I'd have nothing to worry. So alas, I'm taking a class I don't need cause it's cheaper to do so. At least it's somewhat interesting and not a complete waste of time - World History from about 1600 to the present time. The other is biology - the second part. Since it is beginning biology it is utterly boring - this makes the 3rd time I've taken it.... NOT because I failed but because the first time was in high school taking AP Biology. The second time was not too many years ago when I earned my Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science. BUT it doesn't transfer here and in order to take the next set of Biology's I have to retake this biology. Again, another waste of time and money. Why must the educational system be like this? I mean really?

I'm truly trying to believe that there is a method to this madness and that something good comes out of me taking this set of classes twice. But honestly there is no use in crying over it cause it still has to be done if I want that medical degree.

Well, DD15's "boyfriend" has come to our Church several times these past couple of months. If you will, pray he is overcome with the truth of the One True Church and converts, please.

DS19 thinks he wants to join the Air Force as well with DS18 while my cousin wants to join the Marines or the Army National Guard. (This cousin and his mom are the only other Orthodox in my family - they are Greek Orthodox :) ). I'm just a little overwhelmed as I don't like the current state of the country (or the world really) so I'm worried for them all. My cousin (DC20) called to talk to me about the Marines versus Army NG since I am a Marine. It was really his wife that has the issue. She's worried that he will come out "crazy" if he enters the Marines. Now initially DC wanted to be a chaplain BUT with his wife not being Orthodox it presents a problem with him going into the priesthood. I know he really wants this but he didn't come back to his faith until after he'd married and they had a child on the way. So now he has to live with this. So of course, I also ask for prayers for DC20's wife to see the truth of the One True Church and also converts.

On the homesteading front we've gotten the garden turned and discovered it is full of ants. So we're trying to get rid of them organically as possible and do some container gardening. We've got some seeds planted, some seedlings, and I've got to plant some more seeds here today. Also I've got to get the peas and onions out. They were supposed to be out this weekend but stuff came up. We've also gotten rid of a lot of bags of clothing. Several were taken to a friend that is also an Orthodox homesteader :) including a whole nother garbage bag of cloth diapers! I already gave her two a couple of years ago but I found more here and there - it is utterly amazing the places you can find cloth diapers even when your home is spotless and relatively organized. I'm sure if I started looking for other things that I'd come across the same sort of thing - finding them in all sorts of odds and ends places! Other bags were taken to charity bins. Speaking of charity, we're having a food drive at the Church to take down to St. John the Wonderworker's food bank ... I need to remember to get those cans and such that we don't need right now!

Activity wise ...

DD12's Horse Quiz Bowl Team came in 2ND in the STATE at competition this past January! Now her team is now studying both Hippology and Horse Judging for the next two competitions coming up in the April/May time frame.

DD7 has earned a spot at State Competition in May!!!! She also won a medal for 4TH place in BEAM at her competition a couple of weeks ago. January's meet was her worst ever meet - we're talking super loooooooow scores and an all-around score of 30.15 or something like that. BUT this meet in February was her best meet of the season!!!!!!! Her all-around was 33.3!!!!!! (The highest all-around score one can get is 40.00 ... all-around for those that don't know is when you add the scores from all four events - bars, beam, floor, and vault - together. At this level getting all 8's is good and gets you a spot at State Competition if you score at least a 32 at two meets.)

Soccer has started up again *sigh* Don't get me wrong, I love soccer, I love watching my kids play, I love their enthusiasm, I love their camaraderie with their team mates ... but, I don't relish the long days. Most of the time it's fine but when I get a headache, the day is interminable. I put the time to good use though ... during gymnastics the rest of us go to the library and do work or read depending on how much school work was completed during the time between my classes and leaving for gymnastics. At soccer, we walk/jog, play on the playground, kick the soccer ball around with each other (the ones that aren't having soccer practice that is), and so forth. I may start bringing the scooters and bikes as well so they can ride while I walk/jog. There is also a frisbee golf course around the perimeter of the park so we will to do that as the days get longer and it's daylight for most of practice.

DD15 is in the Talent Show - dress rehearsal is Wednesday and the talent show is Friday evening. Not what I wanted to hear as that is when the only two evening services are this week and I have class on Wednesday (a test so I can't miss at all or I get a 0 without a legitimate hospital excuse, death certificate/obituary/and proof of relation, or police report stating I was in a traffic accident or in court) and this talent show on Friday. I can't stand conundrums!

She also has LGPE coming up the next week. There will be a practice concert Tuesday night for the parents and then all day Thursday is the actual competition.

So, as you can see, I've been just a tad bit busy.