Weekend Update 04-21-12

Hi guys, Still writing to you from the land of the first trimester. Unfortunately.

So, my weekends are still pretty mellow.
Saturday was rainy- so no yard sales. Instead I was a lazy bum until around 1 when we ran 2 errands. Then in the evening some friends came over to watch UFC with us. I was feeling so/so but it was nice to have them over.

Sunday was church and then laying around the rest of the day. To be honest, the Zofran is not working as well as it did that first day. I still seem to feel rather puny in the evenings. But I do think it is helping some, so I am glad for that.

This week at work I am orienting with a lady who works 6-2:30. I am getting there at 6:30. But still, getting up much much earlier than I am used to. However, the first two days of the week have gone well. My trainer told our head boss today that I was doing too well to spend the rest of the week with her and needed to move on! Everyone has been very encouraging and I'm so appreciative.

Also I'm loving the inexpensive cafeteria meals. Lunch seems to be the meal of the day where I have the most appetite and it's easier to think of something you want when you have like 20 choices. There's also a Subway in the cafeteria but I've yet to try it.

Today poor Gracie girl was my "baby" again. I'd ordered a sling online (it was free, just pay shipping, with a promo code = couldn't resist) and it came in today. I always use her out of the 4 dogs because she is pretty compliant and she does not shed. Don't want baby stuff covered in fur as long as I can avoid it. In the one time I tried it out- it did not seem as secure as the Moby wrap. However, dogs are not the best test subjects :) It was, however, a lot less bulky and seemed like it would not make you as warm as a Moby might. We shall see once baby gets here :)

We are pretty much set to close on the house next Monday. Some last minute things need to happen- but hoping we won't be pushed back. I'll be off all next week so we can paint and get things ready before we move in. Wish me luck, energy, patience and no nausea!

Well, that's about all I have for now! 

Oh- and I hope it's not permanent- but since Blogger offered this new layout- which I have not updated to yet, all my previous post history is gone and none of my labels are showing up! Grr. Oh haha, I just realized I was signed in on my husband's account. I think somehow he has administrator privileges. Weird.

Purses for Freedom

I'm sharing this post from a fellow blogger. I don't usually do re-posts but I thought this one was worth sharing!

Originally posted by Ashley at

 

It's not just a purse 

Ever heard of SAK SAUM?

I'm going to guess probably not.

From their website...

Sak Saum is not ultimately about a bag, wallet, or scarf. Sak Saum is about a changed life...seeing people set free and empowered for their future.

We believe the cycles of trafficking, abuse, poverty and despair can be broken. We believe change is possible — we see it every day.

Sak Saum is a ministry dedicated to the rescue, restoration, transformation, and rehabilitation of vulnerable and exploited women. Located in Phnom Penh and the Saang district of Cambodia, we currently have 11 girls in our ministry program. 

Sak Saum is pioneering a model of self-sustaining ministry. Our work is supported through the sale of Sak Saum products. Sak Saum’s business reaches over 30 states in America as well as Australia, England, Japan, Germany and more. In order to meet product demand, Sak Saum has started two Freedom Facilities employing skilled sewers who receive fair trade salaries. These facilities are bringing job opportunity and financial empowerment to the rural Saang community.

As Sak Saum girls receive healing and vocational training, many of them move on to work full-time sewing for Sak Saum’s business. Our desire is to see the union of powerful, life-changing ministry with effective, excellent business.

So how can you get involved? It's easy. Just shop online. All prices include shipping. And I feel like they are very reasonably priced. Ladies, how awesome would it be to buy something for your mom for mother's day knowing that the gift also helped another woman clear across the world? It makes me teary-eyed just thinking about it. 

But they have more than just purses. They have aprons, baby shoes, and accessories.

Want to do more than just shop? Make a financial contribution. Or sign up that you are interested in hosting a home party. If you have a party you aren't signing up to run a home business. You don't earn a single penny off of the party. I don't earn a single penny if you read this and then host a party. 100% of the sales from every single item go right back to Sak Saum. 

This past weekend I went to a Sak Saum home party that my friend hosted. Here are the goodies that I got...

There is no way I could love this purse more

except than I remember where my money went

and how awesome of a cause it is.

100% of what I spent on this purse went to helping woman
rescued from the s.ex trade.

Both purses were $35.

Prices online are slightly higher because

they include shipping costs.

Below is the inside of the first purse...

but both of my purses have this on the inside.

I've already more than once opened my purses stressed

and frustrated from the day.

And then I see this.

And well I instantly remembered to count my blessings.

How about a coin purse made from recycled rice bags?

And for only $4?!

(Yellow bag)

The green pouch will hold my business cards.

Also $4.

And the black bag holds little accessories...

all the things that fall to the bottom of my purse.

This cutie was $8.

How can you beat handmade, adorable, affordable, and for a good cause? 

You can't!

So start shopping!!

And then come back and tell me what you got...because girlfriends share their shopping finds, right?! :) 


Would you also consider spreading the word about this cause? Maybe you can't afford to buy anything right now. But a blog post, a tweet, a facebook status...those things are free. And powerful. Please help spread the word.

Note from Sarah- I found the purses online to be around $40-$60 mostly.

Zofran is my fran :)

So yesterday morning we met with our new midwife. We both absolutely loved her and are so glad we decided to switch from an OB to a CNM. She was supportive and enthusiastic and I loved it when she told me it was "all about you". I laughed and said that's how it's been around our house too lately :)

She took like 30-45 minutes with us just talking and then she spent like 10 minutes trying to get the best ultrasound images she could. She included John in the conversation and was sure to make eye contact with him. He appreciated this and so did I.

I also liked that she is patient centered enough to happily oblige when I asked for a Zofran script. I was a little nervous that having more of a natural mindset she might be against medications in pregnancy unless absolutely essential. Thankfully she seemed to think nothing of it. She let me know that she would support "whatever kind of birth I want to have". That she is fully supportive of going totally natural but if I decide I need pain medications she will gladly support that too. She is supportive of laboring and delivering in whatever position you want. She even stated she's done a lot of hands and knees deliveries lately and that position seems to work well for babies whose shoulders are poorly positioned. She told us I could eat and drink in labor if I wanted (even though hospital policy frowns on this). She also let me know our best plan to have an all natural birth is to labor at home for as long as possible. To summarize, we loved her. I hope many more ladies in our area will consider her.

Anyway, let's talk about Zofran. My, it has made the first trimester so much more tolerable. I'm only 24 hours into it but it has improved my nausea a lot. I don't feel completely back to normal and I don't think there's any med that can do that, but, it has definitely helped. I think I did get a tad bit of a headache from it which apparently is a common side effect since it's a sticker on the prescription label. But it was mild and a lot more bearable than nausea. I did take a half dose this evening to see if it would still control the nausea and give me less side effects. But, I do already feel the nausea control is not as good with a half tablet. Of course since my nausea seems to peak in the evenings I should probably try and half dose in the morning and a full dose in the afternoon.

We still did not get to hear the heartbeat yet. I think next visit we will, as I'll be about 12 weeks then. But the ultrasound was a lot more clear and we could see the heartbeat much better. We could even see the baby moving its arms and legs! It was so sweet that our midwife was kinds giddy seeing the baby too. She was saying "Oh look, it's your baby! How sweet that is." It was kinda night and day from our first appointment with the OB, who was very appropriate and professional, but was more laid back. Kinda a "I've done this hundreds of times" attitude.

So anyway, I'm sure you've all heard more than enough about my OB appointment. :)

I'll sign off with the good stuff: