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.

Manners, manners, manners ...

I ran across this nearly 2 1/2 year old post that I thought I would share. Laurie, from A Peek into My World said anyone was free to use this as she is a stickler for manners in children. I am, too, and sometimes having a fresh breeze of inspiration helps a weary mother keep her battle against bad manners going strong!

I think it's a great idea to be thinking about manners as we step into the New Year.
(The link is directly back to the following post.)


Teaching Old-Fashioned Values in a Modern World

One of the things that I have really enjoyed since I've had a child is a certain reading material called "Parents" magazine. I think there are good articles in this magazine and is a great self help in different stages in your parenting. I just received my magazine this past week and was looking through as my son took a nap. I came up on a article that was so great. I started looking back at how my mother use to parent and teach me all along my childhood. This article was about Old Fashioned Values and it reminded me so much of how I grew up. At the time as a child, I thought it was harsh but now that I am a mother I see that these values are understandable now.

The article writes like this:
There's no doubt that children are becoming more disrespectful at a young age. And the reason is, well duh: With smart mouthed cartoon characters, obnoxious reality shows and constant cell phone interruptions, it's crystal clear that society has become ruder and it's rubbing off on families. Some moms and dads are settling for behavior that's barely acceptable rather than holding their kids to a higher standards they grew up with. For instance, their happy if their kid doesn't roll his eyes when he meets someone new rather than expecting him/her to greet the person nicely.

Given all the outside influences, it may seem practically impossible to instill good, old fashioned values in a young child. While the wagging finger or scare tactics your parents may have used probably won't work, these modern approaches from leading experts will. Try them and your kids will get noticed - for their good manners.

The Old Fashioned Rule:

{ 1 } Don't interrupt adults in the middle of a conversation.
You're trying to talk to a friend and your kid screams over and over again: "Mommy Mommy Mommy MOMMY!" is there anything more exasperating? Young kids not only have little impulse control and patience, but they also translate your inattention as "Mommy being taken away from me; I need to get her back"

TEACH IT TODAY:
We inadvertently feed the problem by telling our children to say 'excuse me' as if that's the magic word. "They say excuse me and we go ahead and answer them. Well, that's still interruption." A better way: Explain what's expected up front: "I'm talking to Mrs. Jones right now. I'm going to be talking for a few minutes, and I don't want to be interrupted." If your child is waiting quietly, stop to tell him/her how much you appreciate it and that you're almost done. If he/she's not, hold up a finger as a signal to wait. If he/she keeps on, no matter how hard it is to tolerate - don't give in or she'll learn that badgering eventually does work to get your attention. Most importantly, hold up your end of the bargain and in a few minutes tend to her needs: "Now it's your turn, thank you for waiting"

{ 2 } Say "Thank you" without being prodded.
Your kids probably get a lot of gifts and treats. Why can't they learn to say thank you automatically? "When parents remind their kids in front of a person who gave the gift, the acknowledgement seems so insincere.

TEACH IT TODAY:
Reword your reminders. Instead of asking your kid to say thank you say, "It's the right time to show how much you appreciate your gift." Then kids aren't repeating your words and get used to giving the acknowledgement on their own.
Also get your child in the habit of helping you write thank-you notes. Toddlers can draw a picture; preschoolers may be able to print their name or the first letter of it. How much they can do isn't important, the point is to re-enforce that it's polite to thank someone for a gift.

{ 3 } Greet Adults with "Hello" and a proper name.
When most kids do say something to welcome an adult, they look at the ground and mumble or ignore.

TEACH IT TODAY:
Role-play it at home. Pretend you're Aunt Sally or your child's teacher and have him practice saying hello to you. Encourage him to smile or wave and clearly and pleasantly greet the person. If he's reluctant to look up, challenge him to find the color of her eyes. Once he feels comfortable with the process around the house, chances are he'll try it out in public. But it'll work better if you let it be his idea rather than yours.

{ 4 } Hold the door.
Many kids barge through a door, barely noticing the person who opened it or worse still, whether it's going to slam in someones face. They don't automatically think that they should get the door; you have to explain to them that it's the kind thing to do.

TEACH IT TODAY:
Practice at every opportunity. Once introduced to the concept, young kids love to hold doors because they feel like big strong helpers doing a very important job. Start at home: "Mommy's carrying a lot of groceries. Who can hold the door for me?" At the store or at school, where doors may be heavy for a young child to hold on their own, ask them to help you: "Here comes Mrs. Roberts and Brian. Let's hold the door for them because that's the polite thing to do." Begin very low-key and then one day - because you're not requiring it or demanding it - you'll be amazed to hear your child say, "Mommy, I can do it myself."

{ 5 } If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. (My personal favorite!)
Young kids learn from watching TV today that it's okay - even sometimes funny - when people say rude things to each other. Add that to the fact that a young child's sense of empathy isn't fully developed, and it's a recipe for a humiliating situation.

TEACH IT TODAY:
First, resist watching inappropriate TV shows - or, at least, discuss the problem behavior with your child. For instance say, "Do you think that was mean of Simon to talk to the singer like that?" Then let your child know what she says has the power to hurt the feelings of another kid or adult. See whether she can recall an example of a time when her feelings were hurt so that you can be sure she grasps the concept. It's also worth making up scenarios and asking her whether the person in the story said a good or bad thing. The more concrete you can make it for her, the better she'd understand it.

{ 6 } Give up your seat.
It usually doesn't cross a young kids mind that giving up a seat to an older person on the train or at a party is the polite thing to do. The chances he'll actually do it are even slimmer.

TEACH IT TODAY:
Lead by example. The next time you're riding a crowded bus or train, ask your child to sit with you. Say: "Would you come sit here on my lap so this nice man can have a seat? I think he would really appreciate it." The more often children see you do it, the more liable they are to come up with the idea themselves.

Interesting Fact:
Lose the Excuses!
"He didn't have his nap today"...."She's just hungry"....."He doesn't usually act like this"
It's incredibly tempting to make excuses for your child when he behaves rudely in public. "When you do this, children get the message that they don't have to answer for their behavior because their parents have done it for them. Instead, apologize for the inappropriate behavior. That sends the message "I did something wrong that Mommy and Daddy have to say they're sorry about it to others."

I completely forgot our good news!!!

Well, I didn't forget it per se, I just forgot to post it! The Friday after I posted "The Prodigal Blogger Returns" we found out that Terry's "regular job" is giving back the pay cuts and what nots and will be slowly hiring back people that were laid off. What does this mean for us???? It mean he can quit his second job and no longer has to travel or work nights and most weekends!! How could I forget to post that?? So now we are back to our "regularly scheduled life" so to speak. A normal "9 to 5" plus the every third Saturday - which could change once they start hiring back people within their department - but for now every third is better than *every* Saturday AND Sunday!!!

So the schedule is now be in at 7 (instead of 6:30) and then get off work on a rotating schedule of 4:30, 5:00, and 6:00 M-F. It's been an adjustment this week (last week he was on vacation) getting used to him coming home every night and having dinner together as a family every night. Granted, the children and I had dinner together as a family while he was out of town, it wasn't the same as when he was home.

Sorry, been sick

I just wanted to let everyone know, that I have been sick this past week and while better, I can't seem to do more than read and comment. While I did miss time with my family and Church services this weekend as well as did not get to enjoy the snow with the children, I have been catching up with old friends this week. The Lord truly knows exactly what we need when we need it. I have been so blessed this past week in spite of being sick and worse for wear.

This coming weekend shall be a busy one for us. Tonight we are having a bonfire to burn all the extra brush from around the house and few items from our garage that were in dire need of throwing away. I've always enjoyed sitting around camp fires in the cool of the night. We had planned on this last Friday for Western Christmas Eve since the boys were up visiting with a break from college and work but me being sick it just didn't work. So the plan is for tonight barring rain or lots of wind ...

Then tomorrow we get to head to my husband's hometown for a funeral. His aunt died from complications of a stroke earlier this week. It will be like a family reunion of sorts as there will be family members there that I haven't even met yet. That side of the family doesn't really get together much for anything - they just keep in touch via the phone tree and grape vine. More than likely we will spend all day there visiting with family and not be able to make it to Church in the evening. I'm just going to let the Lord lead us. You just never know who God will set in your path or when.

Sunday will be fairly busy as well. First there will be Church services followed by Church school as normal. After Church school, the children will be decorating the Nativity tree in the courtyard :) This shall be so much fun to watch! Immediately after we will head to the other side of the state from where we will be Saturday to visit my grandparents. We cannot go around them while sick as they are both in frail health. I feel like such a bad granddaughter. I don't do nearly enough for them that I should. I have cousins that live just as far away as I do and they manage to do more than I do... granted they have one or two children apiece but still, what excuse is that? It's not.

And though Monday is not a part of the weekend it is still full. I will be visiting my father. He should be in his new place of care by then. We've been careful not to make plans to go visit as we don't know at what time they are going to move him. They have been supposed to be moving him for the past week but something always comes and they don't. For those that do not know, he had a simple hernia surgery in October. The surgeon made a mistake and did not make sure he had stopped bleeding all the way since he was on blood thinners. This led to another surgery in which the intestines were ripped (not fault of that surgeon - as he had to get to the pocket of blood and he could not see all of the adhesions on the intestines further in. Of course that turned out to not be the last surgery. In the past 3 months he has been home 1 week and 2 or 3 days. He can't eat, his tummy gets badly distended when they put the nutrient dense liquid in his g-tube (a tube right into the stomach/small intestine area). He's lost a ton of weight and looks so tiny and fragile. He feels so bad for all of this but it's not his fault. The past couple of years has been bad on him. He had a heart attack, he had kidney cancer, he had a bleeding ulcer they couldn't find, now this. All I want is for my father to get better. He does not deserve this in the least. He's still so young with so much more to teach his grandchildren.

Just got a call - Daddy's being moved in just a little while to the physical therapy rehab center!! This is good news! He's closer to me now which means I can visit more often than once a week :) I feel such a great peace with this move. Please pray for him. His name is Ray and he is not Orthodox. I've been praying that through this somehow he will find his way to the One True Faith ... my mom, too.

Ok, much to do today! I need to do a little cleaning up and then crafts with Mary for her Nativity gifts she wants to give everyone. Tamara is with Terry at work and they will be home right after lunch today and I want all of the mundane stuff and the presents finished before they get home so that we can have some family time to play some games and maybe later watch a movie with popcorn before going out to light the bonfire.

Have a fun, safe time ringing in the civil New Year!