This is such a tasty (easy!) recipe!  

Add about 1/2 a bag of frozen berries (or whatever frozen fruit you prefer) to your blender.
Add one small container of plain yogurt
Squeeze in some lemon juice
Add a splash of OJ (or we like a small can of pineapple juice)

Blend & Enjoy!  

**You can also use fresh fruit -- just add a handful of ice!
​

THM Blueberry Muffins

2 c. almond flour/almond meal
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. butter, melted
4 eggs
1/2 c. sour cream
approx. 1/3 c . THM Sweet Blend
1 c. blueberries

Grease muffin pan.  Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.  
Makes 18 muffins.  

**Can substitute 1 1/2 c. honey for the THM Sweet Blend

​Enjoy!  

No Bake Energy Bites

1 cup rolled oats
1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips (minis work great!)
1/2 c ground flax seed
1/2 c peanut butter
1/3 c honey
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix well and put in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Take out and roll into small bite sized balls. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Can substitute with chopped nuts, chia seeds, different "butters" (almond, cashew), etc.
Enjoy!

This is our go-to fruit pizza recipe.  We love it!  If you've taken our classes -- you've probably had it!
  And I love that it’s pretty easy to make and has ingredients that are usually in the house to begin with.  Give it a try!  It never lasts long around our house!

​FRUIT PIZZA

Crust:
1/2 C butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 C sugar
1/2 tsp. almond flavor
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C powdered sugar
1/2 C shortening
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 C flour

**Mix ingredients and press into a 10×15-inch cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool completely!**

Cream:
8 oz. cream cheese
1 C powdered sugar

**Mix well, spread on cooled crust.

Top with fruit of your choice.
Paul’s favorite: pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, & grapes!
​
Enjoy!!

Laura began feeling “different contractions” Monday night about bedtime.  These contractions were strong enough and consistent enough that she began to expect something might be happening…  The contractions lasted until about 4 AM at which point Laura was able to get to sleep.  The next day we went about our business as usual.  We own a window coverings business and although Laura was not actively involved in much of the install side of the business, she still handled all the sales calls right up until the day before we went to the hospital.  We had a couple of appointments that day and throughout the day nothing signaled a major change.  That night however, just like the night before, right as we got into bed, contractions began that kept Laura from sleeping.  She tried sleeping through them for a couple hours, then got up and paced around and eventually went downstairs to allow me to get some sleep.  Around 2:30 AM, she felt a pop and some leakage but wasn’t sure it was her water breaking because it was not huge gush.  From then on, she noticed some fluid leaking corresponding with her contractions.  About 4 AM, she decided to wake me up and call our midwife.  After describing her symptoms, including the fluid leaking, the midwife suggested we go to the hospital to get checked.  Laura was Group B Strep positive and as a result, we had been told that the baby would need to be delivered within 24 hours of the water breaking.

I rolled out of bed, took a quick shower and made a snack to go.  Most of our bags were in the car so within 20 minutes of our phone call we were on the road.  I was tempted to see what the car could do as I figured this would be the 1st time in my life that I would have a reasonable excuse to do 100+ but there didn’t seem to be major urgency as Laura was not in terrible pain.

We got to Covenant at about 5AM and were admitted by Tina who would become our primary nurse (she was great!  Good temperament, easy to relate to and she told us that she had been primary for 4 previous natural births so she knew Laura could do it.)  At 5:30 we were in a triage room and Tina checked Laura for dilation and did a test to determine whether her water had broken.  Quickly it was determined that today was the day and we were set up in a birthing suite.  Tina’s initial reaction based on the fact that Laura was only 2+ cm was that it would be a long day of laboring at the hospital and by her calculations we would be having the baby around 7 or 8 that night!

This immediately bummed me out because we had really wanted to not be that couple that “raced in” at the first signs but I would quickly have my disappointment erased.  Laura didn’t say much but later told me she really didn’t believe it would be that long so she didn’t let it even enter her mind.  She couldn’t imagine having painful contractions that long so I think she was determined to make it move faster.

I went down to the car to grab our bags, got back to our room and Laura was being attended to by another nurse.  Tina had tried to stick her left wrist but had trouble so she had to call in another nurse who finally got the IV started in Laura’s right hand.  Because of the Group B Strep she needed to have an antibiotic administered.  This took some time so Laura was confined to a bed from 6:30 or so until about 7 when the IV was finished.  She immediately wanted to get up and move around.  I think unbeknownst to us this may have been the beginning of the transition phase.  Laura didn’t want to be touched!!  No relaxation time for her.  :)  About 8 AM Tina gently suggested another check as her instincts told her things might be moving quickly.  Sure enough Laura had gone from 2+ to 5+ in 3 hours.  That is when Tina mentioned to another nurse that she better call the midwife because she might be delivering this baby without her if she didn’t come soon…

Laura had made a few rounds around the room and had tried a few positions on the bed but the contractions were getting pretty intense for her at this point so Tina suggested she get in the bath.  Immediately, this improved Laura’s situation.  She relaxed a great deal and the jets on her back really felt good…  Contractions continued to be painful but were much more bearable in the warm water…

Soon after Laura got in the tub, Anne, our midwife arrived.  She immediately ordered various equipment be brought in and set up in anticipation of the birth.  She spent most of her time, huddled with me over the tub watching Laura, talking her through the contractions, and being a calming influence on her.  Anne told a few nurses that were waiting inside our room to be quiet because they were distracting Laura. After some time, with contractions getting more intense, she suggested another check.  I don’t recall her actually mentioning cm but she told Laura, it would be a good idea to move out of the tub soon.  Laura was reluctant and asked if she could deliver in the tub.  Anne was calm and said she would be willing but I could tell she wasn’t entirely comfortable with it as the tubs were not designed with a delivery in mind.  I gently suggested that I thought it would be better for everyone if she got out and she agreed so at about 10:30 we moved to the bed.  The next hour is a blur…  She was side facing with her left leg in the air.  I was taking turns with Anne supporting her leg and feeding her water and ice chips. The contractions continued to intensify to the point that Laura was really screaming with each one…  She noticed that if she turned the screams into grunts and really bore down that progress was faster…  She tried very hard and with each push we would tell her she was doing great and he was almost here although I had no idea.  :)

Suddenly though, during a contraction, I noticed a real physical change as the baby began to really pass through the cervix and I figured it must be a matter of a few more pushes…  Laura was getting disheartened with each push that it wasn’t over but Anne asked if she would like to see the baby so she brought a mirror in and Laura could see that he was really almost here.  This gave her renewed strength and resolve and after 2 more pushes I was suddenly thrust into position to catch my son.  One last big push and Max shot out like a hot potato…  I caught him with some assistance from Anne and immediately put him on Laura’s chest…  I think she was slightly in shock because she seemed surprised when there was suddenly a little baby clinging to her….  We waited a few minutes and I cut the cord.  The placenta came a few minutes later and Laura said she felt it but it was easy.  Anne said Laura had a couple small tears she needed to stitch.  The second one didn’t absolutely need stitched but she did it just to make it heal faster.
There was a little commotion when the baby was born because he was purple and not crying right away.  He had apparently swallowed quite a bit of fluid.  The nurses gave him a 5/9 APGAR score.  Anne wasn’t pleased with the score and said she would have given him a better score.
​
Laura commented after that it had indeed been the most painful thing she had ever been through but also that she would do it again no question.


Maximilian was born Wednesday September 25, 2013 at 11:37 AM.  He weighed 6 lbs. 15.8 oz. and was 20.5 inches long.

I went to bed on Tuesday, Sept. 22nd at 10:00 and woke up at my usual times to use the bathroom. 11:00pm , 1:00 am. At my 4:00 am visit, I noticed I was bleeding. I proceeded to keep an eye on this until 7:00 am when I called mom. She suggested that I call into OBGYN to confirm that this is normal. I called and talked to Kim Boote who told us to come in just to check things out. Josh and I went in at 8:15 am, driving separately since we planned on heading to work after we thought things are fine.

Kim checked me. The bleeding was a result of my mucous plug (Josh got to witness the check and the “whole mess” of the plug. I was dilated to 4 (the previous Thursday, I was only at a 1). She took a sample of my cervix to look under the microscope while Josh and I had an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid. Josh in the meantime called and cancelled his 9:00 am class and said he would be in for the 2:00pm one. Tami, the ultrasound tech said everything looked good. She couldn’t see baby’s head since it was so far down in the pelvis (good sign). After the ultrasound, Kim was going to put me on a stress test. While getting ready, she came in and said, “no need, your water broke. It appears to be a high, slow leak. I see ferning under the microscope.” Ferning is what they call amniotic fluid as it looks like branches of a fern. Kim showed us the ferning. We asked what was next as we thought we would just go into work. She said that we were going to the hospital to have a baby. Kim discussed with us that we will meet Anne at the hospital and hopefully try all the natural methods to induce labor. I thought I felt a bit different but couldn’t put my finger on it (turned out that they were the beginnings of contractions). Although we wanted to labor at home as long as possible, we had to go to the hospital sooner rather than later to possibly start antibiotics since we didn’t know when the water broke. In disbelief, we swung by at home first per Kim (she gave us an hour, we pushed it to 90 minutes). At home, I proceeded to call all my sisters to tell them that we were having a baby today. It sounded so strange to say. Josh started the “Contraction Master” application on the computer and tracked my contractions. They weren’t horrible, but they would take my breath away. I could talk through them, however, they were only 5-6 minutes apart. After gathering our things at home, we headed to the hospital.

When we arrived around 11:00am, the nurse took us to Room 371 and proceeded to tell me to get in a gown. I asked why and she said I needed to. I proceeded to ask why and she went and confirmed with another nurse that it would just make things easier. I told her that I would like to walk around and she gave me an additional gown to cover up my behind. I delayed putting the gown on while we waited for Midwife Anne to show up. Another nurse, Jolene came in and asked me about wanting an epidural. I told her no, we didn’t want one and we showed her our birth plan. She then said she wanted to push fluids so they can do a 20 minute strip to see how the baby was doing. I hesitantly agreed while we anxiously waited for Anne’s arrival-which came 45 long minutes later. In the meantime, we had 4 different nurses attempt to admit us, repeatedly asking the same questions (do you have any allergies?)- their communication between each other was lacking and wearing on us. Josh and I both thought that we were going to have to fight them all day. Nurse Jolene started an IV with fluids (“since we don’t know how much fluids you have had and this helps get baby active for the strip”). Anne finally came to our rescue and eased any concerns that Josh and I had stating she will be the policewoman with the nurses. We ended up with the stoic Nurse Barb. Once the strip was taken, she advised Nurse Barb to unhook us. Barb suggested that we just walk with the IV. Anne insisted that she unhook it and they will hook it up later for the antibiotics.

Around noon, Josh and I then proceeded our walking. Mom came with us for the first go round. My contractions were becoming stronger and as we walked, I would need to bend over and rest my forehead on the hall hand rails. After sometime, we came back to the room and Anne had ordered the antibiotics for ~20 minutes. Once administered, they hep locked me again. We walked more halls with increasing contractions which were every few minutes. (Nurse Barb also gave me a red popsicle to keep my mouth wet- It was the best thing!)

After sometime, we got back into the room and used the birthing ball. The most comfortable position for me was kneeling on the floor and having my head on the ball. Contractions were becoming more intense. Anne checked me and I was at a 5-6. I asked Josh to call Renee (my sister) to come since she was going to be present for the birth and our cameraman. After our Nurse Barb left I decided to eat something. I wasn’t hungry, but I had 4 almonds.

I transitioned while I was on the floor with the birthing ball. Contractions coming on strong and I got sick. Nurse Barb came in during this, noticed the almonds and made the comment, “and that is why we don’t eat during labor.” If I weren’t transitioning, I would have let her know my thoughts on her comment.

Renee showed up soon after I was done getting sick. I was in my own little world at this point and was becoming more oblivious to my surroundings. After my knees started to hurt from the floor, I moved to the bed. Again, sitting, lying down, squatting was not an option. I wanted to be on my hands/knees, essentially. Barb suggested that we try the squat bar. It didn’t work well for me. I ended up standing on the bed leaning forward on the bar. I eventually turned around with my knees on the bed and the head of the bed elevated for me to rest my arms on. After being on the bed (on my knees)..I started feeling the urge to push…I had asked Anne to check me. I was at 9 with a little bit of a lip of cervix showing. Anne suggested that I go and sit on the toilet to help open the last little bit of cervix. Josh assisted me to the bathroom and kneeled on the floor by the toilet and held me up. By this time I was having strong contractions and was started to bear down but not pushing to the fullest extent. After what felt like a few minutes, (Josh said 30 minutes), we went back to the bed, again on my knees with the head of the bed elevated and my arms resting at the top. A few more contractions and my water broke completely. Josh continued to coach me through the contractions and even grunt with me. A few times my grunts would go into higher pitched ones (which doesn’t help with pushing baby down), Josh would start with the lower grunts and I would follow suit. Josh was reading my cues well when contractions would come on. I had my eyes closed the whole time, he told me he could tell by the way my eyes moved under the lids that one was coming. I held his hand the whole time. It was comforting with him at my side the whole time. Anne did one last check and said I was fully dilated. I began pushing full force. After a few minutes, Anne said she had another patient next door that was also going to deliver soon. She said she was going to go next door and deliver baby and then come back b/c she thought I would be pushing for awhile. At hearing this, a tad bit of competitiveness kicked in..No way was Anne leaving me to deliver another baby and no way was that other woman going to deliver before me! I bore down and Anne was out the door for a few seconds when nurse Barb said, “wait…don’t push…baby’s coming.” (BTW, I didn’t stop pushing ..I continued to. I knew there were plenty of people to catch a baby if Anne wasn’t ready just yet). Anne came back into the room, baby was crowning, I felt the “ring of fire” and soon the head was out. Anne instructed me to push slowly (to prevent tearing) to push the rest of body out. Baby Boy Waddle was born at 4:59pm. I won! :)

Baby boy was caught by Anne and she handed him to me through my legs. He came out really clean!! No vernix, no blood, etc. As I held my new baby, Josh and Nurse Barb helped me to turn over to sit up in bed so we can gaze at our wide-eyed beautiful boy. We had instant skin on skin contact and Anne allowed the cord to pulsate until it was done. Josh then cut the cord. For less than a minute, Nurse Barb took baby to suction out the amniotic fluid since he was really raspy. Soon after, I put him to the breast. After an hour of holding baby boy who I referred to as pumpkin b/c he didn’t have a name until the next morning, they weighed him at 7 lbs, 6.4 oz and measured him at 19.25” long. His APGAR was 9 and then minutes later, 9 again. New Dad Josh got to then hold his baby boy. Aunt Renee (who was present for the birth and taped it) got to hold him and then Grandma Cathy came to visit that evening and met him as well. We phoned the rest of the family!

​Our first night, I didn’t sleep at all. I laid with Josh on the pull out couch so I could be close to him and Baby crib. Josh was out like a light. He was exhausted from the all the events of the day! The following morning at 7:30 am, Baby Boy was named by his father, Samuel James. We excitedly called the family and told them the good news!

​We had a new recipe brought to class this week.  These were a big hit!  
If you're looking for a tasty new meatball recipe, give these a try!  

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 packet of ranch dressing mix
2 eggs
Panko bread crumbs (use as needed)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients, roll into 2 inch balls, place on cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes.  
​Add into crockpot with your favorite barbecue sauce.

​Enjoy!