Angel's Lair

Well - I combined some of my passions and put together something really special I think. The Untrained Housewife is a new website that is dedicated to help wives, mothers and homemakers with the many aspects of running a household. The things that were once passed down automatically - home remedies, organization skills and cooking tips.

Alas - in the call for equality, the generation of bra burners lost a lot of this. Now those who, like me, are struggling to return to the "stay-at-home-mom" type of roll, there are a lot of new challenges. Anyway - the site is up and running now - soon to be released from Beta testing and be fully launched.

You gotta check out the passion behind the housewife website - my heart in the matter.

Blessings
Angela <><

Current Mood: accomplished

On my new personal website, http://angengland.com, I've been going through several websites that pay writers. One of my friends asked me to consolidate the information from the site into one place that will make it easy-to-find the website you are looking for. Writers can easily compare each site.

Check out More about Making Money Writing Online for yourself!

Current Mood: accomplished

So some of you might be wondering what I've been up to since Micah's birth. Easy, I've been publishing my first little book. It's all about playing baby games with your infant and you can see the details here. http://themanyhats.blogspot.com/

I'm SO excited to be able to revamp some of my Suite101 articles and turn them into specific and focused books for people.

Blessings,
Angela <><

Just wanted to let everyone know my twitter name in case you guys also have twitter. If you don't yet, check it out - way much fun. If you do - add me, twit me and I'll follow you back. :-)

http://twitter.com/AngEngland

Blessings,
Angela <><

I just have to say - My milk has fully come in (Started coming in on WEDNESDAY) and I have yet to feel engorged. First time ever. The boy nurses like a pro.

This morning I was saying how much his little cheeks have filled out already and that he must be gaining weight already. And then my mom said, "No...it's just his cheek muscles getting so toned from all that nursing!" LOL!!

Highlights: Micah Sean's official stats are 7 pounds, 8 ounces; 20 inches long and absolutely perfect. :-) His arrival into the world was at 6:47 pm 9-8-08
Pictures: http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q236/AngEngland/Baby%20Micah/

Early labor contractions began yesterday morning before I got out of bed - very light, more crampy than anything. I ignored them and slept until Sidney got up to go to work. As they hadn't stopped yet or let up I told him to go ahead and call in to work and tell them he would either be late or not be in at all.

As things continued to progress I called my mom that morning to go ahead and come on over. Contractions were fairly light but were only 4 minutes apart at that point. I had some show so I knew it was "real" this time instead of the on-again, off-again I'd been having throughout the week prior.

Called Gail about an hour later and checked in with her to give her the head's up. She said "Great! I'm only 30 minutes away so call me when you feel like you want me there." I called her back about 9:30/10am and asked her to go ahead and come out. When she got there we did an exam and I was a 4cm. So officially my "active labor" begun at 10:30/10:45am.

Micah was very low - nearly a 1+ station but the cervix was behind his head a little bit. I knew then it wouldn't be a super fast labor like Brianna's which actually was a bit of a relief. Gail suggested a forward leaning position to encourage my cervix to move more anterior and encouraged me that it was very soft and almost completely effaces. My contractions were definately accomplishing things! Micah was in perfect position - I just had to let my body catch up to that good position HE was in. :-)

It was very uncomfortable to sit down or lean forward with my feet on the floor - I think because of how low he was and how much irritation my hips had from the past two weeks of back pain. I ended up building the pillows up on my bed to make a little nest and lay face-down on the pillows. I labored there, alone, sleeping between contractions for a good while and it felt really good. The contractions were a lot stronger at that point, but had spaced out a bit (every 6-8 minutes) allowing me to get some sleep while my body did it's thing. VERY nice. Especially after Brianna's steam-train, bull-dozer labor. *laughing* 
 

I got up some time later and walked around the house. Kids had gotten up from their naps and were watching a movie. Things were picking up speed and at some point my contractions began to move much closer together. Each time a contraction would hit I would go from standing, to leaning over whatever was handy - the back of the couch, the chest freezer, the midwife, my mom. Sidney had gone outside while I was napping to get some things done around the house and just as I was saying to Mom, "I want my husband in the house now." in he came to check on me. :-) Soon I was asking for the tub to be filled with water - I was ready to get in!

Gail got up (she'd had another birth a couple days prior so she napped while I napped) and checked on me before I got in the tub. For awhile it was just Gail and Mom and my sisters. When I felt the tempo of the contractions changing I asked Gail to check me one more time and lo-and-behold everything was perfectly in place and I was at 7-8 cm! Hurray! It was so encouraging to know I really was on the right track and I felt more in control again after that.

Soon my kiddos came in to "help" me and they were so cute. Brianna would rub my hand or pour water on my back. Evan thought my low moanings were "singing" which was a very generous definition I think. The kids made me laugh between contractions which was a nice difference with this labor compared to my other two. Having them there kept me in control.

Right towards the end of transition/beginning of the pushing phase (they sort of just ran together) I felt a bit more out of control. Gloria took the kids out so I could concentrate more. I remember about three or four contractions in a row where nothing felt right. I kept trying to change positions or get out or whatever. Finally Sidney got in the tub and I laid in his lap and that felt better. I was pushing with the next contraction.

The pushing stage was the only part that felt different to me - Looking back I think now it was because of all the hip/low back pain I'd had during the last two weeks. Micah was born quickly, within 10 minutes.

His official stats are 7 pounds, 8 ounces; 20 inches long and absolutely perfect. :-) His arrival into the world was at 6:47 pm 9-8-08

We moved from the tub as soon as the cord stopped pulsing and we clamped it. Sidney cut it. Mom took him from me so we could move to the bedroom. Once I got in bed all nice and comfy I took Micah back and he nursed right away. Placenta delivered easily and in full within 20 minutes and Micah nursed for a good 45 minutes at least! He knew right what to do and the quick nursing helped my uterus clamp down quickly. No post-delivery pitocin this time! Yeah!

It was an hour later before we actually weighed and measured him. So nice to have that time to introduce myself and get to know him a bit better.

His features look more like Brianna I think but his features are very dark like Evan and Sidney. It will be interesting to see whether his skin darkens more like Sidney's...I think it might. He has more olive tones than the other two did I think.

So anyway - there it is. :-) It was a really nice birth all told. He wasn't post-dates at all...even though according to the magic numbers he was a "week overdue". He actually had no signs of being over due at all and was perfectly perfect. So that's ok with me.

He isn't here. *laughing* 

Monday I had a nice round of steady contractions (similar to what I went through with Brianna) and the midwife came....my mother came...my kids came....but - No Baby Micah came! 

Felt very frustrated Wednesday when everyone went home but now I'm actually glad for the extra time.

I have sold one article to a print magazine, pitched about ten, written and submitted two on speculation, and am particpating in a challenge to send 30 queries in 30 days. Which I have done so far. I'm also about 1/10th of the way through a HUGE project for my mother which could actually result in additional paying contracts from other leaders so that is also positive.

At the moment however, my husband and I are going to the fair here in town.

As my midwife said - there has never been a baby that didn't come out. And since I'm not even officially overdue until the 16th I have ceased to stress out about it.

The only negative thing is that he HAS dropped and as a result of the added pressure on my pelvis my hips are very painful right now. For the past two weeks actually. Chiropractic adjustments help but don't last because I have a ligament that is either stretched or in spasm or...something....causing my low back to really hurt. I'm such a weenie about stuff like that anyway. (DOn't ask me how I can blow through childbirth no problem but then be a weenie about my back pain)

Anyway - if you want to pray for me - pray for my back.

Otherwise I will be back to update when we have some news.
 

Angela <><
 

Had the risk assessment ultrasound on Wednesday - my one concessoin to the distance from a GOOD quality hospital. :-) And sure enough, as I have known for some time, this baby is a little boy. 

Micah Sean is perfectly healthy - right on track growth wise, good fluid levels, placenta looks good, etc so green light on our home birth plan! Woot! SO excitied. 

Angela <><

Current Mood: cheerful

These small, agile lizards do change colors from green to brown but Anolis carolinensis are not true chameleons. See the common traits and needs of keeping anoles.

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Here are some top picks for classroom animals and information about what each animal has to offer in a positive way and what the potential concerns or problems could be for each animal. These four animals are good choices for school class pets as they require minimal interaction, are easy keepers and lead to educational opportunities.

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Classroom pets are an excellent way to add enrichment and responsibility to a young child's learning experience but special care should be taken picking the right animal. There are many considerations to keep in mind when selecting an animal to serve as your classroom pet.

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Penstemon was once prized only in native or wild flower gardens but is now popular for water-wise xeriscapes, hummingbird and mixed border areas as it is very hardy in many gardening areas.

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Penstemon was once prized only in native or wild flower gardens but is now popular for water-wise xeriscapes, hummingbird and mixed border areas as it is very hardy. I recently wrote a blog post as well highlighting how several native plants are now increasingly popular in home gardens and the subject of many hybridizers attention. http://plantsbulbs.suite101.com/blog.cfm/native_plants_making_a_comeback

read more | digg story

Use letter acrostics in personalized craft or gift ideas and these suggestions can help make it memorable and unique with characters, Scripture verses or baby ABC books.

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Full story with pics here: http://themanyhats.blogspot.com/

We are all pretty excited. 

Blessings, 
Angela <><

If you haven't yet watched "The Business of Being Born" you can get it, or watch it instantly on Netflix. It is WELL worth the time if only to watch the births and get a better picture of what a natural, unindered birth looks like. Beautiful - simply amazing. 

Anywho - just had to throw that out there. A sick day finally gave me the chance to watch it and I'm really glad I did. Covers some of the research, some heart-touching stories, and shows how interventions are sometimes NEEDED and a blessing. Very well-balanced and informative.

Angela <><

There are many ways for parents, teachers or care givers to teach toddlers more about the changing world around them as spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons pass.

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! Hurray! Sidney and I are expecting another baby. Gosh - it's been two years since I've been pregnant....sheesh....I have to remember what to do. :-) 

Look for another gorgeous Baby England to enter the world sometime in August or September. 

Angela <><

So as of our first read-through last night the play is ON!

God has provided exactly the right people - I hope. *laughing*

One part left will be played by me, unless puffin decides to join us or God has mercy on me and calls one more person. hehehehehe

So ignore the previous pity party. 

Although - I have to say - I told God....."Look, I thought you wanted me to do this play. But I still have 8 spots left to cast. So either you are going to have to bring some people to do it or I'm going to get a new script." and 36 hours later everything had fallen into place. 

Angela <><

Current Mood: cheerful

I have to say - as anyone knows - if you've been involved with theatre for any length of time you have disappointing experiences. 

But tonight I had open auditions for a play I was going to produce and let me tell you - it was without a doubt THE single most disappointing theatre thing I've ever been involved with. 

Yesterday I had auditions just for church members only - 7 people showed up. Not great but hey, it's just the regular church crowd right? I was looking forward to tonight becuase after talking with the high school drama teacher and having her promote the auditions, running it in both Durant, Atoka and McAlester papers (people around here are really particular about only taking one or the other) and putting it up on every radio station for a 150 mile radius I just knew the turn out would be better. 

We had a couple people call the church this week for directions. I packed up the kids and hauled them to the church tonight an hour early to get everything ready. I had someone come and watch them in the nursery. I missed dinner with Sidney. So I could sit in an EMPTY auditorium and twiddle my thumbs. 

What in the world is wrong with this stinking town?

I cannot tell you how many times I've heard people say "There's nothing to do here" or "I wish we had some cool stuff like bigger cities do". 

Well country-hick-morons! Here is your chance to step up and make something happen but NNNOOOOO.......
We didn't mean that WE wanted to make something to do around here or actually be a PART of something cool. We meant we wish everyone ELSE would do it. 

So apparently I'm supposed to pull 6 more people and a three-act play out of my butt crack. And all by myself. 

No wonder the community theatre here shriveled and died out five years ago. 
 

Current Mood: disappointed