Dear Baby T (as we affectionately call you now),
What are you doing in there? I feel like you are making waves, punching your way out, and kicking in response to your dad's voice. I would love to see what things look like from your perspective and how you respond to everything. It has been really neat to feel you move a lot more - this is the time of the pregnancy where you are super-active (weeks 24-28) and you still have lots of room to somersault and move around. Your movements are really special, they always make me smile. It's like a constant reminder that you are growing and coming into the world very soon.
Your dad and I are getting more and more excited each day for your birth. It feels much more real now. We are currently working on building a garden in our tiny backyard, and we hope that you will like growing things with us next year. Your dad is the real green thumb, so please ask his advice. There are still lots of things that we have to do to prepare for you - buy your bed, sew some clothes, get a carseat, decide our birthing method, etc. Speaking of the last one, we have been watching more birth videos and learning more about the birth process. I feel more confident about it as I learn more; your dad and I hope that your birth can be as natural as possible. We are getting ready for your big debut!
Last, we have been thinking about what you will be like - personality, physical, emotional, and spiritual. I mentioned this in the last letter, but know that your dad and I will love and accept you no matter what!!! We have been talking a little bit about handicaps. In my opinion, each of us is handicapped in different ways, to varying degrees. If you have a profound functional handicap, we will do our best to support and help you. One of our past church leaders said that those that have profound handicaps are special and blessed. In many instances, they are blessed because they do not go through the temptations and trials that most of us do. They have a ticket straight to the celestial kingdom! This is reserved for some of the most choice spirits, and that is really wonderful.
I wanted to write to you about that last point because I feel it is very important. Keep growing healthy and know that you have two parents that love you unconditionally and a whole bunch of other folks that can't wait to meet you and support you throughout your life!
All my Love,
Mom
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Vaccines Rock
As a Public-Healther, I love vaccines. This is National Infant Immunization Week, and a great time to talk about it. They are one of the cheapest (in most cases), most efficient ways to prevent major illness and death caused by infectious disease. Vaccines have changed the health of the world - including erradiation of smallpox in 1977, prevention of HPV and HPV-related cancers, and prevention of polio (to name just a few). Of course, we do not have vaccines for every infectious disease yet - e.g., myriad unsuccessful attempts for HIV - but scientists are working on it, albeit not as much on "neglected diseases".
Vaccines do come with some risks. There are common side effects, such as soreness at the injection site, and there are very rare major side effects, such as an allergic reaction. The risk of a major side effect or death is so rare that vaccines are well-worth it. The restrictions on and testing of vaccines are generally exhaustive; infectious diseases usually pose a greater risk than any rare side effect. Here is a link to a Fit Pregnancy blog discussing vaccine myths.
With Aaron researching autism and with a brother who is autistic, you may be wondering how we feel about the MMR-autism controversy. The first and only MMR-autism implication stems from a 1998 Lancet article that was offically retracted this year, 2010. The main author of the paper manipulated and withheld results, while receiving money from folks who had a vested interest in seeing false results published. 10 of the 12 paper's authors retracted their support as well. The myriad studies completed after this false 1998 article showed no correlation or causation of autism by MMR vaccines. Vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines happen to be given at an age when autism and ASDs are detected - as the brain develops rapidly. Not vacciniating/waiting to vaccinate kids has led to a sharp increase in measles and mumps (particularly in the UK), which could have easily been prevented. Pertussis (whooping cough) is currently on the rise in the US, so make sure you and your child are up-to-date on your immunizations, particularly DTaP/Tdap. Here are the currently CDC-recommended vacccine schedules.
It is your choice whether or not to vaccinate, but I recommend, yes, please do. All evidence points to vaccines protecting you, your child,and those you come in contact with.
Vaccines do come with some risks. There are common side effects, such as soreness at the injection site, and there are very rare major side effects, such as an allergic reaction. The risk of a major side effect or death is so rare that vaccines are well-worth it. The restrictions on and testing of vaccines are generally exhaustive; infectious diseases usually pose a greater risk than any rare side effect. Here is a link to a Fit Pregnancy blog discussing vaccine myths.
With Aaron researching autism and with a brother who is autistic, you may be wondering how we feel about the MMR-autism controversy. The first and only MMR-autism implication stems from a 1998 Lancet article that was offically retracted this year, 2010. The main author of the paper manipulated and withheld results, while receiving money from folks who had a vested interest in seeing false results published. 10 of the 12 paper's authors retracted their support as well. The myriad studies completed after this false 1998 article showed no correlation or causation of autism by MMR vaccines. Vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines happen to be given at an age when autism and ASDs are detected - as the brain develops rapidly. Not vacciniating/waiting to vaccinate kids has led to a sharp increase in measles and mumps (particularly in the UK), which could have easily been prevented. Pertussis (whooping cough) is currently on the rise in the US, so make sure you and your child are up-to-date on your immunizations, particularly DTaP/Tdap. Here are the currently CDC-recommended vacccine schedules.
It is your choice whether or not to vaccinate, but I recommend, yes, please do. All evidence points to vaccines protecting you, your child,and those you come in contact with.
Monday, April 26, 2010
BBQ and Mangos
The spring/summer weather always invites cravings for salads, BBQ, and fruit. I love eating this time of year! We cooked a lot of Spring-inspired dishes this past week. My dad and brother Greg stopped by for the several days to set up for the Palermos' big move in July and visit with us. We had a great time with them and can't wait for the family to be closer. We also cooked snacks for a friendly cookout, church group, and dinner for some friends who recently had a sweet baby girl. There were lots of goodies, but these two are the clear winners from the week:
BBQ Chicken Pizza
(pic and recipe from the Pioneer Woman, inspired by CPK)
• 2 Pizza Crusts (see below - double recipe)
• 2-3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or 1 package of chicken tenderloins
• Barbecue Sauce (used Sweet Baby Ray's original BBQ)
• Olive Oil, For Drizzling
• 16 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, sliced (plus more packaged mozz. if needed)
• ½ whole Red Onion, Cut In Half And Sliced Very Thin
• Chopped Cilantro, to taste
Cook chicken in oven, on top of stove, or on forman grill with desired spices (you can cook in BBQ sauce if desired). Dice and set aside. Start pizza crust dough (see below) and let rise while you chop cilantro and red onion. Slice fresh mozzarella into thin rounds. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Roll/stretch out one pizza crust, after it has risen for 30 minutes. Lay it on a sheet pan drizzled with olive oil or pizza stone covered with flour and cornmeal. Drizzle a little olive oil on the crust and spoon a couple of tablespoons BBQ sauce on the crust-spread evenly. Top sauce with half the sliced mozzarella and packaged mozzarella. Sprinkle on half the diced chicken, sliced red onion, and cilantro. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and toppings are bubbly. Repeat with other crust and other ingredients. Slice and serve immediately. You can reserve some BBQ sauce for dipping. Simply amazing.
Supereasy Pizza Crust (makes one 12-in pizza - from allrecipes.com)
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rise about 30 minutes (ours did not rise a lot).
These steps are also listed in the recipe above (don't repeat!): Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal/flour. Spread with desired toppings and bake at 450 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Fresh Mango Lime Bread (pic and recipe from Joy the Baker)
•4 large eggs
•3/4- 1 cup flavorless oil such as canola or safflower old
•2 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour (we used 1.25 cup wheat and 1.25 all purpose)
•1 teaspoon baking powder
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar
•1 to 1 1/4 cup diced mangos from 1 large peeled and pitted mango
•1 cup diced apple (we used Gala,but any type will do)
•3/4 cup moist and plump golden raisins
•grated zest of 1/2-1 lime + lime juice
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 inch loaf pan. Put the pan on an insulated baking sheet or on tow regular baking sheets stacked on on top of the other. This extra insulation will keep the bottom of the bread from over baking. Whisk the eggs and the oil together. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Rub the brown sugar between your palms into the bowl, breaking up any lumps, then stir it in. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix until blended - the batter will be very thick (really more like a dough than a batter. You can add in a little oil and lime juice if needed. Stir in the mango, apples, raisins and zest. Scrape the batter into the pan. Bake the bread for 1 1/2 hours, or until it is golden brown and a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. If the bread looks as if it’s getting too brown as it bakes, cover loosely with a foil tent (we covered at 45 min). Invert after cooling for 5 minutes and eat up. YUM!
BBQ Chicken Pizza
(pic and recipe from the Pioneer Woman, inspired by CPK)• 2 Pizza Crusts (see below - double recipe)
• 2-3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or 1 package of chicken tenderloins
• Barbecue Sauce (used Sweet Baby Ray's original BBQ)
• Olive Oil, For Drizzling
• 16 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, sliced (plus more packaged mozz. if needed)
• ½ whole Red Onion, Cut In Half And Sliced Very Thin
• Chopped Cilantro, to taste
Cook chicken in oven, on top of stove, or on forman grill with desired spices (you can cook in BBQ sauce if desired). Dice and set aside. Start pizza crust dough (see below) and let rise while you chop cilantro and red onion. Slice fresh mozzarella into thin rounds. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Roll/stretch out one pizza crust, after it has risen for 30 minutes. Lay it on a sheet pan drizzled with olive oil or pizza stone covered with flour and cornmeal. Drizzle a little olive oil on the crust and spoon a couple of tablespoons BBQ sauce on the crust-spread evenly. Top sauce with half the sliced mozzarella and packaged mozzarella. Sprinkle on half the diced chicken, sliced red onion, and cilantro. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and toppings are bubbly. Repeat with other crust and other ingredients. Slice and serve immediately. You can reserve some BBQ sauce for dipping. Simply amazing.
Supereasy Pizza Crust (makes one 12-in pizza - from allrecipes.com)
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rise about 30 minutes (ours did not rise a lot).
These steps are also listed in the recipe above (don't repeat!): Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal/flour. Spread with desired toppings and bake at 450 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Fresh Mango Lime Bread (pic and recipe from Joy the Baker)
•4 large eggs
•3/4- 1 cup flavorless oil such as canola or safflower old
•2 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour (we used 1.25 cup wheat and 1.25 all purpose)
•1 teaspoon baking powder
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar
•1 to 1 1/4 cup diced mangos from 1 large peeled and pitted mango
•1 cup diced apple (we used Gala,but any type will do)
•3/4 cup moist and plump golden raisins
•grated zest of 1/2-1 lime + lime juice
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 inch loaf pan. Put the pan on an insulated baking sheet or on tow regular baking sheets stacked on on top of the other. This extra insulation will keep the bottom of the bread from over baking. Whisk the eggs and the oil together. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Rub the brown sugar between your palms into the bowl, breaking up any lumps, then stir it in. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix until blended - the batter will be very thick (really more like a dough than a batter. You can add in a little oil and lime juice if needed. Stir in the mango, apples, raisins and zest. Scrape the batter into the pan. Bake the bread for 1 1/2 hours, or until it is golden brown and a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. If the bread looks as if it’s getting too brown as it bakes, cover loosely with a foil tent (we covered at 45 min). Invert after cooling for 5 minutes and eat up. YUM!
Friday, April 16, 2010
One Year Sealed!
Last Sunday (4/11/10) marked one year since Aaron and I were sealed for eternity. One year ago, we headed up the Washington, DC to make an eternal committment to one another in the DC LDS Temple. It was a very special day for us, which we were fortunate to share with family and friends. The sealer (priest authorized to perform the ordinance) mentioned angels were there watching over the event - this was really special.
It has been a truly wonderful year, filled with lots of joy. I couldn't ask for a sweeter, more thoughtful, or more balancing companion and spouse. Aaron and my eternal committment to each other and temple covenants really deepened our relationship; our perspective on family changed for the better. And, our little Baby Towers will be directly affected - our children will be "born into the covenant" and will be sealed to us eternally. It brings peace to know that our family can be together into the next life, even if we are separated in this earthly life for a while.
We celebrated the one year with homemade Chicken Parmigiana, homemade raspberry NY Cheesecake, going to serve at the Apex, NC Temple, and having dinner with our local Mormon missionaries (who were instrumental in helping me on my spiritual journey with my faith, and thus, the temple). It was fabulous.
Some of you may be thinking, "Wait, you guys got married in July, and I was there!" Yes, you are totally correct. We got married for "time" in July 2008 - a typical wedding where we committed to be together "till death does us part". We were not yet ready to enter into a temple, or eternal marriage at that time (I needed to take temple preparatory classes, make specific lifestyle changes, and be a member of the LDS church for a year first). When that time came and those changes were made, we went to the temple and made a deeper committment. This eternal marriage can last beyond "till death does us part" if we live and keep our temple covenants, which is really amazing.
If you are interested, here is a short video (3 min) about Mormon temples. Here is another.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Are plastics harmful?
Convenient, yes. Sturdy and shatter-proof, yes. Harmless, no.
Research has shown the chemicals and molecules in plastics are hazardous to your health. Check out this article in the recent issue of Time. We are exposed to hundreds of synthetic chemicals in our daily lives, but I am particularly weary of BPA (bisphenol A) and phthalates. BPA is ubiquitous in plastics (as well as the lining of cans for canned foods, CDs, eyeglasses) and started getting some attention in the 1990s. Both BPA (a synthetic estrogen) and phthalates (esters of phthalic acid) are used to make plastics more durable and flexible. They are also endocrine disrupters, meaning they mess with the normal function of hormones in your body. For example, some studies have shown a possible correlation between BPA and higher incidence of miscarriages. In addition, there are myriad health problems on the rise in society (some of which is unexplained) - obesity, diabetes, autism, ADD, etc. These all have possible connections to harmful environmental exposures.
It is really pretty scary. Aaron has learned about some of these connections in his genetics courses at Duke - making it all the more real for us. Researchers found the link between BPA and genetic abnormalities by accident. They were conducting studies on mice, and found that their control group (those without any treatment), not the experimental group, had the abnormaliites. Eventually, they linked this bizarre finding back to new plastic water bottles that the control group had been given, water bottles that were leaching BPA into the mice's drinking water. Ick!
Recently, the CDC found BPA in 92-93% of Americans' urine. It is everywhere. So, what do we do? Ideally, Aaron and I would love to go plastic-free, but that is not an easy transition. We threw out all plastics in our kitchen marked with 3, 6, and 7 (the number in the triangle symbol at the bottom of the container). We also don't wash ANY plastics, no matter the #, in the dishwasher or use them in the freezer. The molecules in plastics are more likely to leach out chemicals when heated or frozen. Last, we try to eat less processed food, which is more likely to have harmful additives, and incorporate more fresh and homemade foods into our diet. We have not yet eliminated our exposure to plastic, disposable dishes and replaced our tupperware with other, safter storage containers, but we are working on it.
Are you totally freaked out yet? I think we will learn a lot more about the health effects of highly industrialized societies in years to come - similar to the info we know now about BPA and phthalates. Convenience comes at a cost. Just how high is it?
Other reading: NY Op-Ed about BPA, 11/09; Steps to reduce BPA exposure/USA Today, 01/10; EPA summary of phthalates, 2007; EPA Action Plan for BPA, 2010; Pictures from here
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The Stork is Halfway Here
Aaron and I went in to get the 20-wk ultrasound this morning. It's a........health baby! We are going to wait to find out the gender until birth, which I think will make things a little more fun and traditional; I have also heard that it can help motivate the labor process. Here is the run-down from today:
Brain and Head - perfect, and moving up and down
Nose and Chin - cute, both coming to a point
Mouth - no cleft palate, moving around to suck thumb
Eyes - two with lenses
Neck, Spine, and Ribs - perfect, rounded C curve like normal
Heart - 4 chambers pumping at 138 beats/min, blood moving through heart and major arteries
Diaphragm and Lungs - yep, very cute and in place
Belly (kindeys, stomach, etc) - great, water in stomach and bladder to indicate digestion working properly
Hands and Arms - all 10 fingers and moving around to suck thumb
Legs and Feet - all 10 toes and kicking
A clean bill of health! Baby Towers, now 12 ounces, had his/her feet up at my stomach and was pretty active during the first half of the ultrasound. Baby T is moving constantly, but I can only feel the larger movements at this point. For those of you wondering, I am showing more now. I had my first "When are you due?" asked from a stranger this weekend! This belly has a mind of its own.
Can you believe we are over halfway to meeting our bundle of joy?
"A Mormon Conservative Stands Up"
In another of my keyword "mormon" news searches on google, I ran across this poignant and fiesty guest column in the Standard Net (newspaper based in Ogden, UT) by LDS Republican Ambassador Lynn Hansen and this response to it by Salt-Lake Tribune columnist Paul Rolly.
I've been thinking about writing down my thoughts about health care in the US and the new reform bill for some time, but I have not found the time yet (look for it soon!). Health care is an issue at the heart of my work and my schooling, and I care deeply about seeing our country move in a positive and responsible direction.
More to come...
I've been thinking about writing down my thoughts about health care in the US and the new reform bill for some time, but I have not found the time yet (look for it soon!). Health care is an issue at the heart of my work and my schooling, and I care deeply about seeing our country move in a positive and responsible direction.
More to come...
Friday, April 2, 2010
Heavenly Sweets
I've had a bit of a sweet tooth lately; Aaron seems to always have one. We tested out these beauties recently, and loved both. They are easy to make (always necessary in our kitchen) and crowd-pleasers.
Individual Molten Chocolate Cakes (from PW's Tasty Kitchen feed)
• 4 pieces (squares) semi-sweet baking chocolate
• ½ cup Butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 whole egg yolks
• 6 T. all-purpose flour
• 2 cups real whipping cream + 2 Tablespoons sugar OR frozen yogurt
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease 4 ramekins and place on cookie sheet.(We've been dividing this recipe in half to make two servings.) Melt chocolate and butter in small saucepan on high in a double-broiler. (We hold a saucepan over a another with boiling water.) Stir in sugar until well blended. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour. Divide between cups. Bake 13-14 minutes until sides are firm and center is soft. Let stand 1 minute. Invert cakes on dishes and top with whipped cream or frozen yogurt. Esto satisfeita!
Rich Banana Bread (Adapted slightly from allrecipes.com)
• 1/2 cup butter, very soft or almost melted
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream OR plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 very ripe medium bananas, mashed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, stir together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda, powder, and salt in a second bowl, stir into the butter mixture until smooth. Finally, fold in the sour cream or yogurt, walnuts and bananas. Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool loaf in the pan for 10 minutes before serving. Nothing like banana bread fresh from the oven!
Individual Molten Chocolate Cakes (from PW's Tasty Kitchen feed)
• 4 pieces (squares) semi-sweet baking chocolate
• ½ cup Butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 whole egg yolks
• 6 T. all-purpose flour
• 2 cups real whipping cream + 2 Tablespoons sugar OR frozen yogurt
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease 4 ramekins and place on cookie sheet.(We've been dividing this recipe in half to make two servings.) Melt chocolate and butter in small saucepan on high in a double-broiler. (We hold a saucepan over a another with boiling water.) Stir in sugar until well blended. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour. Divide between cups. Bake 13-14 minutes until sides are firm and center is soft. Let stand 1 minute. Invert cakes on dishes and top with whipped cream or frozen yogurt. Esto satisfeita!
Rich Banana Bread (Adapted slightly from allrecipes.com)
• 1/2 cup butter, very soft or almost melted
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream OR plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 very ripe medium bananas, mashed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, stir together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda, powder, and salt in a second bowl, stir into the butter mixture until smooth. Finally, fold in the sour cream or yogurt, walnuts and bananas. Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool loaf in the pan for 10 minutes before serving. Nothing like banana bread fresh from the oven!
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