The Library

After three years of law school, I have decided that I want to be a librarian! Well, not really, but kinda. I took Connor to the library for the first time this last week and he loved it. I realize I am probably a bit late in doing this, but when you are in law school and have a toddler and an infant, going to the library is not on top of the important things to do list. Also, having spent countless (often miserable) hours in the law library, I had forgotten what a joy it can be to go to the normal library. Anyway, it was so neat watching his little eyes light up as I explained that he could read as many of the books as he wanted and we could even take some home (as long as we brought them back). We went to story time, signed up for the summer reading club, and got a list of the summer events. I am looking forward to introducing him more to the library this summer because when I was little I loved the library.  It was always exactly what I wanted/needed it to be. If it was cold and dreary outside, it was always warm, brightly lit, and cheery inside. If I needed some solitude, there was always a quite corner to sit in. Then there is the smell of a library, all that paper, some old and some new, it just smells good. And then all the stories. You can go anywhere you want with books and imagination is so much better than t.v. or movies. I hope someday both Connor and Vivian feel this way about libraries and reading.

Anyway, being in the library made me want to spend more time there, work there, but then a job at the library will definitely not cut it when I start getting bills for my student loans. Blarg! Maybe I can just volunteer.

Hemp: The Magical Plant

First of all, let me say that I am not a complete health food freak, although I don't think there is anything wrong with that (and it might be that my family just hasn't reached this status yet, but will in the future). For the most part, I think we eat similarly to most Americans. There is always pop in our house, we eat pizza and hamburgers, etc., etc. However, both of my children have food allergies and this has led us to make changes in our diet, which has also led to healthier eating. Connor is allergic to dyes, specifically Red #40, but probably the other dyes as well. Luckily, it is pretty easy to tell what has Red #40 and to avoid it. Vivian, on the other hand, has a milk protein intolerance. This is more difficult. It took us eight weeks of constant crying before we figured out what was wrong with her and switched her to Nutramigen (a formula based on cow's milk, but with all the milk proteins completely broken down). Now that she is starting to eat solid foods, this allergy is becoming more difficult. She can't eat yogurt, cheese, ice cream, or milk, or anything with any of these ingredients in it. I can always tell when I have accidently given her something with milk or a milk product because she'll get a rash on her face. Basically she can eat meat, fruits, vegetables and some bread. She still drinks Nutramigen, but as you can imagine, it is more expensive than all other formulas and it feels like it is costing us an arm and a leg right now.

A few days ago, Vivian went to the pediatrician for her nine month check up and she said we could start introducing a milk alternative. She suggested rice milk. However, after doing a lot of research, I realized that rice milk is just not that nutritious. It contains no fat, no protein, no calcium (unless fortified) and no vitamins or minerals. It is basically just carbs and sugar. So I started looking at other alternative milks. Almond milk: no go, Curt and I both have nut allergies and we can't introduce nuts until she is two. Soy milk: no go, it acts a a synthetic estrogen and can cause a girl to go through puberty early. Goat's milk: no go, there is a lot of cross reactivity between cow and goat milk, meaning if you are allergic to one, it is likely you'll be allergic to the other. That's when I came across hemp milk, which I initially dismissed because it seemed a little too alternative. Yet, as I researched it more (Curt also researched it), I found that it is actually very good for you. It contains fat (which babies need for brain development), easy to digest proteins, all ten essential amino acids, omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, calcium, and several other vitamins. It is probably the most nutritious alternative to milk out there right now. Also, in case you are wondering hemp milk has no drug properties and is not marijuana. It is perfectly safe to consume. So, Curt and I agreed that we would give it a try. We picked up a carton at Akin and we each had a glass and let Vivian have a sip. She liked it immediately and wanted more! We both thought it tasted pretty good as well. It is thin, similar to skim milk,  and has a creamy, nutty flavor. Since then we have been replacing one ounce of each of Vivian's bottles with hemp milk. We are still watching for any sign of allergic reaction, but so far so good. Eventually, we hope to replace half of her formula with it and thankfully, it is much cheaper than Nutramigen (about three times cheaper).

So we hopefully have found the miracle alternative to milk, but this post also has another purpose. While researching hemp milk, I discovered that it is illegal to cultivate hemp in the U.S. because it is classified as a drug. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not allow cultivation. All the hemp milk I will buy will be imported, making it more expensive than it needs to be. A few days ago, I posted about BVO, which has been banned in more than 100 countries, except the U.S. Also, many countries, except the U.S., have banned Red #40. I am completely lost when it comes to the choices the FDA has made regarding our food quality. The FDA refuses to ban BVO and Red #40, despite the fact that it knows of the numerous health risks associated with these additives, but bans the cultivation of hemp, which has numerous uses and health benefits, because it is classified as a drug. Yes, marijuana also comes from hemp, but the U.S. could regulate hemp cultivation just like it regulates everything else. I feel like when it comes to food quality, this country is completely a$$ backwards.

I'll step down from my soap box now.

Goodbye

Tonight I had to say goodbye to one of my very best law school friends who is moving tomorrow. She got a really awesome job in the great state of Colorado. I can't even begin to imagine how much I am going to miss her, especially since she has been my friend since the very first day of dog law week our 1L year. There is something about law school friends that make them different than all other friends. I think that law school must be similar to hazing in that the difficultly, the fear, and possibly even the socratic method bond you to your friends in a way that is different than any other friendship. When I was struggling my first year, especially my first semester, I knew that she would understand the grief I was experiencing, the feeling that law school was invading every aspect of my life, every crevice of my brain, because she was going through exactly the same thing. Only another law student can truly understand what law school does to a person. I know that I will miss her dearly (especially when I am sitting in class, particularly Mansfield's class, with a bunch of 2L's next semester), but I am so happy and excited that this new chapter of her life is beginning. Therefore, I can only wish her the best of luck and say that I am truly grateful that we met and became friends, lifelong friends.

Our First Family Vacation

Our first family vacation to Silver Dollar City was a huge success! We were a bit worried about the drive up since Vivian hates riding in the car and how Connor would handle sleeping in a hotel. Connor does not like to sleep away from home and has only done so seven times in his whole life. I've tried on a couple of occasions to stay the night with him at my parent's house, but he spent the entire night alternating between crying and saying, "Go home." Anyway, despite our worries, everything worked out perfectly. We left around noon, close to Vivian's nap time, and she slept most of the way there. Connor ended up really liking the hotel too, especially since my parent's room was right across the hall and he was able to go back and forth whenever he wanted.  We stayed at the Welk Resort and they have a Splashatorium, which he really enjoyed (as you can see).

(Relaxing in the hot tub - it was his favorite)

(Apparently there are pictures of me doing something similar to this when I was a child - lol)

(Vivian didn't really like the pool or hot tub, she ended up sitting with Grandma Cindy and watching Connor play.) 

We all had a great time at Silver Dollar City as well. Connor really liked making his own candles, buying homemade lye soap from Granny's Lye Soap Shop, and the Ghost Trap. He even went in the Marvel Cave with Dad and Granddad Tony (and only cried twice :) )

(Dipping candles. All of Connor's candles were blue.)

(We told Connor he could also buy a candle. I tried to get him to buy a dragon. He picked out the sea green unicorn he is holding above. It is currently on display in his bedroom. I'm gonna save it to show all of his girlfriends later on!)

(Vivian sleeping with the pink Snoopy she bought in the gift shop while Connor was exploring the cave.) 

(Eatin' lunch.)

(Connor also HAD to buy a cane. His Granna has a cane, so he needed one too.)

All in all, it was a great vacation and when we asked Connor what his favorite part was, he said, "All of it." Can't beat that. 

Brominated Vegetable Oil - YUCK!

Two days ago, we all went to the grocery store and Connor asked if he could get some Mountain Dew White Out, basically because the can is blue (his favorite color). Obviously I knew that getting him Mtn. Dew White Out would not be a nutritious drink; however, I was glad he didn't pick out a drink that contained Red #40, so I said yes and didn't read the ingredients. When I got home I opened one for him and glanced at the ingredients. The very last ingredient listed was brominated vegetable oil. I had never heard of putting brominated vegetable oil in pop nor did I know what it was, so I asked my chemist husband what "brominated" meant. He said probably something referring to bromine. I remember bromine from my undergrad organic chemistry class and I remember only being able to work with it under a vented hood because the fumes/gases it puts off are toxic. So, I went online to look up brominated vegetable oil. Basicially brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is vegetable oil with bromine atoms attached and it is used in citrus drinks to help keep fat-soluble citrus flavors suspended in the drink. It makes the drink have a cloudy appearance and it is not often listed as an ingredient. There are numerous health concerns associated with it and it is banned in over 100 countries, including India. Now I don't know much about India, but I do know enough to know that food quality is not high on the list of important goals in India. So I ask, if BVO is banned in over 100 countries, why is it not banned in the United States? Even the FDA has recognized that it is dangerous and it is currently listed as an interim food additive. Another interim food additive is saccharin, which is known to cause cancer, but is also not banned. Basically, I am just frustrated that I am continuing to find that really bad ingredients/additives are being allowed in our food when other countries are banning them. I also really hate when I see an additive negatively affect my son, who is sensitive to artificial dyes. One another note, does anyone want an 11 pack of Mtn. Dew White Out?