Organic Momma

So we are getting underway with another school year and going into another seaon of cold and flu. To expedite this, we vaccinate our children in order to enroll them in school. The latest scare is this swine flu epidemic!?!

Take a look at these two videos I am posting. One is a funny parody of sorts regarding the injection but sadly very true!! The second is what some states are doing to put into place ways to intercede in the event of a pandemic (for which the CDC is predicting).

1) Don’t Inject Me (Swine Flu Vaccine) Video

2) $1000/day or Jail Time for refusing Quarantine or Vaccine

Shaloam and good health to you and your family!!

Shannon Maggio, Organic Momma

Today begins a new school year and the less than thrilled sounds seem to fill the air. We begin today with the orientation and going through objectives for the year. They get to look at their books, along with getting their pictures done for their history “passports”. I was a little overwhelmed with this school year, having had a meltdown a few weeks ago. I am blessed to have an older sister to talk me down from the ledge, so to speak! I am now renewed and optimistic towards this year. My husband and I have been looking into some new ideas and we are excited to be passing on these new thoughts to our children. We will be taking on new ideas reagarding financial responsibility and encouraging the kids to reevaluate their priorities.

To sum up, it is going to be a great year with more learining opportunities than ever! But then that is what homeschooling is all about!!! So come along and join in by following our many adventures…………

Our passport pictures for 2009 school year!

Here is what’s new and upcoming at Organic Momma………

IsaBooties for Boys and Girls

Naturpedic Organic Mattresses

Diaper Bags, Moms Bags, Dads Bags and More!

Be checking periodically as I continue to add products to www.nyorganicmomma.com! As always, please feel free to contact me with suggestions regarding product I offer or you would like to see me offer.

Shaloam,

Shannon

It’s a girl! My husband and I welcomed our fifth child, a beautiful healthy baby girl. She was born at home into our loving arms and surrounded by my family. Her Aunt was there to do newborn massage on her and get her settled as I finalized the delivery. Her Grandfather was there praying all the way while keeping track of her Apgar upon delivery. Meanwhile her cousins were there to help clean up and keep track of times (pushing, delivery, etc.). Her other Aunt was helping assist her Grandmother with the delivery and taking care of me, while her honorary Aunt was responsible for her chord clamping. Most importantly, I had my husband keeping me strong with his comfort and loving encouragment. Looking into his eyes helped keep on track and remind me of what I needed to do to bring our baby girl into this world. “Keep going, your doing great!!!”, were the words he would keep saying. I will never forget his strength, the very strength he somehow transferred to me and got me through. Our Chloe was born at 2pm and weighed in at 8 lbs 8 oz. and 19 inches long.

It was not the typical smooth homebirth, in fact, it was quite the opposite! My labor began at 2:30am and she did not arrive until 2pm that afternoon. Given that this was a 5th baby, we were a little taken back at the length of time it took for her to arrive. Then upon further evaluation, we can now say that it was a God send! She was born with a short chord, making the delivery part a little more interesting. In fact, had I not had the team of people I had at my home things could have been worse! I will forever be humbled when I think of Chloe’s birth. It is easy for us to think that it is us that has control, beginning with getting pregnant and ending with having the baby. When you go through an experience like this, where if one thing had been different or altered even a little, the outcome could have been fatal or different. It reminds me of how little control I have and how much faith I need to say, “It’s out of my hands”. I give thanks daily and keep my mind from wandering into the “what if” or “it could have” and remain focused on the “wow, how great God is”. I don’t want to take away from the many miracles that took place that day, the birth that is Chloe’s. I look forward to retelling Chloe’s beginning to her, as I hopefully bring to life the very reality that life IS A MIRACLE!

So here I am, a new mother of now 5 and excited to see how this little miracle grows. I am enjoying every moment, relishing in her every move and growth. I will not take for granted what it took to get to this point and give thanks each day for all the ups, and yes, even the downs!

Shaloam!!

Come one come all……I am looking to liquidate some products from my store. Klean Kanteen (minus the sippys), Hotslings, and Melissa and Doug toys to name a few. I would like to bring in some other brands and products but can’t due to overstock of current products. Check out www.nyorganicmomma.com for the new Closeouts page, where all the bargains will be posted. Don’t miss out on this rare event! 40% off everything listed in Closeouts….with more things to be added along the way!

My husband and I met and in a whirlwind married in 1997. We celebrate that decision 12 years later, today, and reflect on how far we have come. We are getting ready to receive our 5th blessing (due any day) and have been through so much. We have had our job losses, money troubles, great jobs, monetary security, only to be at square one- jobless and barely making ends meet. We have had our fair share of arguments and fights but the end is always the same, we would not have chosen anyones else to go through it all with! We still have so much to learn and yet I am amazed at how exciting it feels to know that we get to do it together.

I used to laugh that, my dad married us and he is not into divorces so we’re just gonna have to duke it out or else! Now I just like to think that whether rich or poor, job security or not, I think we could stand the test of time and situations. God has been so good to us! He has given us health, family and a good sense of humor, and while I know that money would solve a lot of problems right not, I’m just glad that our every need is taken care of. My mother says, God is never too early or too late but on the exact time we need! She is right. I depend on the fact that a cord of 3 strands cannot be easily broken- God, Joe and myself! (Ecclesiastes 4:12) So as I enjoy the rest of my day and anticipate the dinner out with my husband tonight, I rest assured that if we continue to place each other first that we will be going strong for another 12 years and more! I look forward to it………

Shaloam!

Some new things at Organic Momma…… Here are the following lines I am in the process of establishing. I hope to have everything available right along. I have Natural Baby Company and Bummas officially! The others are still in process and I should know more about them soon. Feel free to suggest a company or line you might want to see on Organic Momma and don’t forget to check out the New Customer 15% off coupon on the site. This may be used towards your entire purchase of items listed on my site!

New Customer Coupon at Organic Momma!!

Ok so I can probably guess what you are thinking. Why would you go to those when this is your fifth? Well, I figure that you can never know enough, especially about this process. However, things change all of the time when it comes to standards because they are always finding better ways for moms to work through this intense moment. Although I am having a homebirth so the hospital procedures don’t really matter to me, it is always good to learn so that you stay informed for others. Everyone should have the right to choose what kind of birth they would like, even if that means intervention and medically managed or unassisted homebirth.

Last night I had the pleasure of sitting in on 1 part of a 2 part class. I have to say, even if I were not having a baby, I would have gone for the entertainment nonetheless. I chose these classes because the instructor is known to be pro choice and pro education of the patient. She is also and advocate for homebirth, although this is not mentioned in her class. She does however, make everyone feel comfortable in what they choose, as long as they get to choose!!! She has a power point presentation, materials with a free messenger bag and loads of fun and jokes. It was clear that she loved what she did and shared that with all of us in the class.

I could have justified not going to her class, saying that I knew what I was doing or the money was not necessary to spend, but I am glad I went. I like being able to spend time with others that are expecting and meeting those whom might be like minded. I am always amazed at how much I still learn when I attend these classes. If I did not get it the first time, I certainly will the second. Above all, the materials and bag make for the best part. I ge to take home the class in a folder and a great bag to boot! I can refresh my memory up until the birth, feeling as if I am not helpless in what I learned at the class should I forget.

I highly recommend these classes if you are expecting and live in the CNY area.

Check out her link below

Gentle Birth Choices, CNY Childbirth Classes

She holds classes the first 2 Tuesdays of the month at the Choices West Medical Building in Camillus, NY but would do a class on a location of choice if you put together a group of pregnant mothers you know to take the class together. This option gives you a discount as well! So just when you think you know it all, you will be amazed! Take the challenge and take the class!!

Shaloam!!

Darien Lake Day is fast approaching us, as it is something we have done as a family (grandparents, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles). Sadly though, I think this is the last year we will be going altogether. One of my sisters and her family will be leaving in 2 months for Colorado. We have been doing this for over the last 25 years faithfully as part of a state wide get together for homeschooling families. It started out as 1 day in June, spanned to 2 days (your choice on one) and now is open for you to choose which day in June works best for you.

My children, just like me when I was their age, are counting down the days till we leave that exciting morning. I am writing down all of the things needed for that day and stores to visit for the supplies. I usually bring snacks for the little ones to eat while we go from ride to ride and of course, lunch at the vehicle. Little ways to save money and still enjoy the few snacks we get there! I am thoroughly exhausted after that day but the smiles on my children’s faces gives me the strength to power through. But then how could we break up a family tradition? Especially when it will all change next year?! Bittersweet! I am not even sure that my children know what lies ahead. I know that they have been told about the move but I am not sure if they fully understand what this changes. You see, we live next door to my sister and her family and 2 doors down from my parents. They have been accustomed to being able to walk through the fields (as we live on a combination of 70 acres or so) and visit their homes for so long. We have lived here for most of their lives and this is where I grew up for over half of my life. There will be a hole once they leave. My sister has 2 children that are the same age as mine, not including the older ones that have babysat and my littler ones have grown attached to. They play soccer on the same team together every summer and have been homeschooled together all their life. I am not sure how I am going to hold it together when they leave, especially for my children.

For my husband and I, my sister and brother in law have been a constant help in how we look at marriage and family rearing. I can’t think of a family memory that does not include them. Pictures are filled with them and Holy Days/holidays have been essential with them. I just keep reminding myself that it will be ok and that it will work out, YHWH is in control!!

For now, I will take every moment given to me and look forward to “our” day at Darien Lake. I won’t waste time that I can’t get back and pray for our family daily. I encourage anyone reading this post to take the time to appreciate your family…..regardless of petty differences and division. Life is short and bitterness is not worth holding onto. Take every moment to spend time with your family and laugh out loud!!!

Shaloam!!

As stated in my previous post, I am just a few short weeks away from welcoming my 5th addition to the family. I have been buying the last few items needed to get ready and this has included the possibility of cloth diapers. Ordinarily I would use chlorine free diapers but I thought that this time I might try cloth like so many I know. However, the problem has been cost and which ones should I try. A great friend of mine just suggested GroBaby diapers and I have had my eye on Fuzzi Bunz one size. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would love to hear about them and any ways to be economical about this too! For those looking at this topic and interested in any cloth diapers as well, check out:

http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com/grobaby%E2%84%A2-ic-11_16.html

http://fuzzibunz.com/

These are just a few of the types I like and could suggest based on rave reviews from other moms. Good luck with your search and feel free to drop by and tell me what you chose and why!!!

Shaloam!