Jazzercise!!

Since my last post was a bit of a heavy note I thought I'd lighten it up a little today.

For months I have been agonizing over how to exercise with a toddler. Nothing seemed feasible as Midge is now in high gear all the time. I didn't want to pay $30 a month to go to a health club and then an extra $10 a month for childcare. It seemed as if I would never get rid of the extra junk in the trunk. I walk the kids to and from school but the heat has forced me to take the car in the afternoons. Therefore I felt stuck in my fat rut without a light at the end of the tunnel.

That was until I found out about Jazzercise. My friend mentioned she was going and loved it. I have to admit that when I first heard about it I immediately pictured this:

I needed to check it out because my friend used the word "addicted" and anyone who uses the words "addicted" and "exercise" in the same sentence is either crazy or has found something really good. Since my friend is very levelheaded I assumed the later. After an internet search and a phone call I found out I could go for free anytime I wanted if I put one hour in each week in the childcare area. At this point I would have been willing to wear a full on flourescent pink one piece stretch leotard complete with scrunch socks and a scrunchie. Just one hour of childcare a week and I can come whenever there are classes and work out for free and have free childcare?? Sign me up!! Lucky me I grabbed the last childcare spot available. "It's destiny," I convince myself. I am meant to Jazzercise.

So today was my first official workout day. Let me tell you it was more fun than I thought. Most of the women there were moms or grandmas and I felt comfortable and secure. And it's a good thing too because some I probably looked like I was doing a drunk ho-down instead of a graceful step ball change.

The only challenge is that Midge didn't like the childcare. He cried a bit at first and I went in after he wouldn't calm down for 10 minutes. Then I went back out and he continued to cry for the rest of the time off and on. I felt bad but he has to get used to being in there. By the time the workout was over I was sweating and felt great and Midge was covered with hives and was snotty and hiccuping. Poor little guy! Maybe tomorrow will be better.

I will be sure to report my progress.

Spare Him The (Un)Kindest Cut!

I have debated writing about this topic for awhile but I have decided I am going to go ahead and throw it out there since it is a hot topic and something I feel is very important to research and discuss.

What do 85% of the men in this world have but it removed in the most common surgery performed in America?

Answer: A foreskin!

When I was in high school I had to do volunteer hours and I chose to do mine in a newborn nursery at a local hospital. I remember seeing this thing that looked like a torture device for infants, and I didn't know what it was for:

Little did I know that I would be subjected to hearing many baby boys being circumcised. Their cries were enough to turn my stomach.

I would scoop up the newly circumcised boys and try to soothe them. I would pray that I would never have a boy because I never ever wanted to subject him to that pain. At the time I didn't know I had a choice. It became a sore spot in my heart and an experience that would forever shape me.

So many of you are reading this and saying "And.....???"

Well, did you know that no health organizations in the world recommend circumcision? It has no proven medical benefits, the benefits are regarded as "potential." North American culture has adopted circumcision as "normal" and we often see it as "cleaner" and want our boys to look more like their fathers. What is so interesting to me is that so many of us don't bother to question the practice of circumcision on our tiny infant sons but if our children needed a tonsillectomy or ear tubes we would be weighing the pros and cons and getting second opinions. We are told the procedure is simple and the baby won't feel much pain. We hand our little boys to the doctor trusting that we are doing the right thing. But what if we aren't?

The practice of circumcision is fear-based and excuses for circumcision always have been consistent with the dreaded disease of the day. For instance, in the late 1800s it was thought to cure masterbation (now we all know that isn't true). As time went on it was thought to cure tuberculosis, insanity, hip joint diseases, convulsions, bloody noses, and night terrors. For a long version of this history please click here. Now there are studys that are trying to prove that circumcision prevents HIV/AIDS.  These studies have been regarded as flawed by many but the media continues to advertise these claims in an irresponsible manner.  If this is true why does America have one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates as well as one of the highest circumcision rates? What a false sense of security to those who will use that in lieu of safe sex. It also doesn't prevent penile cancer and is not recommended by the American Cancer Society. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are also a reason a lot of parents site for circumcising their sons. Unfortunately, this claim holds no water as it would take 195 circumcisions to prevent one UTI, which can easily be treated with antibiotics. See this link for more info. Yeast and bacterial infections can occur if the forskin is not properly cared for or if the foreskin is prematurely retracted. These can be treated with antibiotics and creams without unneccesary surgery. Keep in mind that girls get far more infections than boys and our first resort is never to cut their genitals.

So now that we have moved past that issue, what about the hygiene issue? Is a foreskin really that hard to keep clean? As a mom of two intact boys I can tell you it is not at all. Before your son is retractable you do not have to wash under the foreskin at all. In fact you should not attempt to retract the foreskin. It will retract on it's own sometime between two years and puberty. Premature retraction can lead to infections and other complications that can lead a doctor to recommend circumcision. You just clean it like a finger. After the foreskin is retractable all that has to be done is a quick splash of water with the foreskin pulled back and that is it. No harsh soaps needed! We live in a country with running water and there is no reason to be scared of the "unclean" penis. Little boys can be taught to clean their private areas just like little girls. No harsh bristles or clorox bleach needed...just rinse and go!

So let's talk about the father/son penis mismatch scenario. How important is it that a son's penis look like his father's? When a boy sees his father naked and compares himself for the first time the first thing he will probably notice is hair. Should we run out and make a mini-penis toupee so father and son match? Mothers and daughters don't match either. Should we run out and involve plastic surgeon so daughter has breasts to match mom? Of course not! We often project our own insecurities on our children and it is so easy just to say "Back when daddy was a baby he had his foreskin taken off. Now we know that wasn't the best thing to do so we left yours alone so you could have all of your penis." And while we are on the topic let's talk locker room teasing. Who is going to point out somebody's penis is different for fear of being teased for being gay? In the unlikely event it does happen you can teach your son to say "Eww, dude why are you looking at my junk anyways?"

Is the foreskin just a little piece of skin? Not at all! It is a highly sensitive and functional sexual organ.

A foreskin protects the head of the penis, which is by design an internal organ. When the foreskin in removed the head of the penis becomes calloused and desensitized. When the foreskin is removed sexual pleasure in the male is reduced and in women it takes away the gliding action that reduces the need for lubricants. So don't let someone convince you that the foreskin is "just a piece of skin." It is a functional part of the male penis that is an important part of their sexual well being.

Is circumcision safe? I find that most people have heard a foreskin horror story but never a circumcision horror story. The truth is that baby boys are harmed by circumcision. Not only is the penis size and sexual fucntions reduced but there are risks of bleeding, infection, scarring, skin tags, removing too much skin, bowed penis, meteal stenosis, buried penis, skin bridges, loss of penis, and death. These things are 100% preventable by chosing not to circumcise. 

Does circumcision cause pain? Yes, it absolutely does. Babies feel pain when they are circumcised. Even if the numbing patch (EMLA) is used the sensation of the foreskin being torn from the glans is like ripping your nail off of your finger. Using any kind of local anesthetic is painful because needles and lidocaine hurt. The recovery is also painful as a raw penis is rubbing up against a soiled diaper and can cause great pain and discomfort. No matter how you slice it (pun intended) this procedure is not pain free.  There have been studies that have shown that infants who are circumcised have increased stress hormones and are more sensitive to pain later in life.  If a circumcision has to be done as an adult he can be given anesthesia and pain medication.  Generally speaking most men don't have to be circumcised as adults.  The horror stories that people are eager to share about foreskins often involve a doctor who is not familiar with how to care for the foreskin or problems originating from premature retraction of the foreskin.

Lastly, is circumcision ethical? Is is okay to remove a healthy, functioning body part from someone who is not able to consent? This procedure, once done, cannot be undone. Should we perform surgery to prevent potential disease?  We do not perform routine tonsillectomies because we might get recurrent throat infections. We don't pull our teeth out in case we get cavities. Why remove a healthy organ? It makes no sense. Because a circumcision has no proven medical benefits it is technically a cosmetic procedure. Why should it be okay to perform a cosmetic procedure on an unconsenting newborn? And why is it considered a birth defect when a baby is born without a foreskin but "normal" when we take it off a week later?  The truth is that people in America have seen the foreskin as a problem for many years when in reality we are the ones that are creating the problem.  I have always liked the bumper sticker that says "If a baby was meant to have a foreskin he would have been born with one."

Of course I am not writing this as a criticism or a guilt-laden lecture. I merely want to share with my readers my thoughts and feelings on circumcision based upon my research and personal choices. I highly encourage you to do your own research. Watch a circumcision video and read as much as you can get your hands on. Remember that it is okay for you to make a choice that is against tradition or culture.

Here are some informational websites:

http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/

http://jewishcircumcision.org/

http://www.circumcision.org/

http://www.noharmm.org/home.htm

American Academy of Pediatrics' stance on circumcision:

http://www.aap.org/publiced/br_circumcision.htm

I also want to let you know that if you have chosen to circumcise your boy I am not placing any judgement on you. It is not my intention to make you feel guilty for the choices you have made for your children.  I just want to encourage you to question this procedure and do some research on it's benefits and risks.

Off to bathe my baby boy!

The Mirrors

This morning I came home from dropping the kids off from school and found this:

Aww.  He loves me.

More Ways to Get Involved

I just thought of who more ways to get involved with your community. The first is to Freecycle. Click here to get information and join your local group. It's a great way to get items you are looking for for free and to keep re-usable items out of the landfills. I have used it in the past and it great!

The other thing is to go to meetup.com and find a local organic produce meetup in your area. It is a great way to get organic food for a good price while supporting the community. I love mine...a huge basket full of fruits and veggies for $22! Can't beat it!

Be Green So We Can See Green

California is nasty.

For those of you who have never been here I will paint you a picture.

Here is a view of the place I live:



The brown air is all pollution. In elementary school we would actually be denied recess because there would be a "stage 1 smog alert." Meaning that the air quality was so bad that it was more harmful for us to go outside than to stay in and miss the exercise. As it stands I am a two pack a day smoker although I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. The air here is so bad that just by breathing in and out I pollute my lungs the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes. When it rains Californians are advised to stay out of the ocean for 72 hours because the rain washes pollution into the ocean in potentially toxic amounts.

What contributes to this awful air quality? Well...



The majority of people who work have to commute. The ridiculous price of housing (another rant altogether) forces a lot of families to drive to higher paying areas.

What else?



Yes...superstores like Wal-Mart kill air quality. Not to mention small businesses and the local economy. There are many reasons I won't shop Wal-Mart. The reason that pertains to this topic is that in order to get the products into a Wal-Mart store many many diesel trucks must travel to and from the warehouse to each Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart also increases vehicle traffic. And if you are concerned about America's economy consider that about 70% of Wal-Mart's products are made in China. And it's workers are paid pathetically. While it may be good on our pocketbooks to shop at Wal-Mart, in the long run it is putting many Americans out of work and harming the economy. You can read more here.

What else?



Call me a tree-hugger, I take it as a compliment. Trees take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are our natural air purifiers. Cutting down trees is like taking away our air. Which brings me to my next point:



This is a topic I could really go on about. Instead of telling you why recycling is important I am going to give you tips on how to re-use and reduce your waste:

-Buy re-usable grocery bags. Then use them. Some stores offer incentives for bringing your own bags. Trader Joe's holds a monthly raffles for it's earth friendly customers.

-Stop using plastic bottles. They contain chemicals that can leach into your drinking water and they stay in a landfill for 70 years. Buy yourself a Klean Kanteen and re-use it. They are re-usable, recyclable, and BPA free.



-Use cloth diapers. They are a huge money saver and not as difficult to use as your grandma might lead you to believe. Nowadays you don't have to mess with pins and leaks are pretty minimal. Disposable diapers are a huge landfill burden and contain chemicals you may not be aware of. Xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and isopropylbenzene are just a few that have been found. Some have been linked to asthma and other health problems. They are also scented, which is another irritant.



Buy organic. Preferably locally. Less pesticides=less pollution. Less time food has to travel to store=less pollution. This is goes for both produce and meat.



Don't support factory farms. I am not saying you have to go 100% vegetarian but I highly recommend that you watch this video to get an idea of how factory farms work. I also want you to watch The True Cost of Food so that you can see how buying meat and produce from Super Centers and non-local farmers affects everything from the economy to the environment and our very health. If you do chose to eat meat make sure your cows are grass fed.



If you don't need a Hummer, don't buy a Hummer! I am just ashamed that car companies produced the electric car several years ago then pulled it and started mass-manufacturing SUVS and Hummers. I'm not only ashamed, I am pissed. By now there should be electric cars everywhere on the road. Who killed the Electric Car? Check this out:



Clean up after your pets. I don't like dog poo in my drinking water supply. Please be responsible. Also, properly dispose of oils, paints, and other hazardous household products. My tap water is cloudy with floaties when it first comes out of the faucet. I am thankful for my Brita filter but I know I am still ingesting chemicals that are harmful.



Stop using commercial laundry detergents. Ever notice they don't list their ingredients? It's because they are full of chemicals. You really do not need all those suds and bubbles to get clean clothes. You are probably doing yourself more harm than good plus the plastic bottles that the detergents and fabric softeners come in go into landfills. Instead of Tide and Downy try Charlie's Soap or Maggie's Soap Nuts. I have used both and I think they are both excellent products. Plus the people I have spoken to at both companies are so nice!

I hope I have provided you with some good information. I am not trying to guilt anyone into my suggestions or to criticize anyone who shops at Wal-Mart or drives an SUV. My intention is to provide you with some good information that will help you impact your health and the health of others around you for generations to come.

Thanks for reading. I know this was a long one.

It's a Jeep Thing,

So today my hubby and I decided to take the Jeep out off-roading. It was relaxing just getting out in nature, away from the sounds of the city. After stopping at a local tiny local liquor store to get a pack of Big League Chew and a vanilla Charleston we ventured off the beaten path and found ourselves at a cool little stream in the valley. At this point he wanted to show me how to climb some smaller rocks and here in this video you will see me get myself right stuck. For the record, I did have myself some successful climbs right before this one:



So I decided this was a perfect moment to do a mini-video blog. Here it is:



It was a fun trip. Here are a few pics:

Me and Midge hanging out:



The happy couple:



Midge got really wet so we went ahead and let him wade in his birthday suit. Although his tushie is the cutest I did appropriately censor it for young eyes:



Overall it was a great trip.

Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!

I don't know how I never saw this before. I can't stop quoting it lately.

Shhhhuuuuunnnnnuuuhhhh!

Disclaimer: Probably not appropriate for all ages. I recommend that you preview this before letting your kids see.