radical thoughts

I suppose the thing I am about to write is radical to some (but of the barely ten people I know of read this blog...maybe some will agree). I have recently had to have a check-up most women have 6 weeks after their baby is born. I've been through this before, and they always ask if you need to start birth control for family planning. Usually, they recommend the pill. 


I've shared what I've come to know about this before. A few years ago, I had no idea what birth control pills actually did. If you read the insert of any type of hormonal birth control, you'll see three ways listed in which pregnancy is avoided. Usually, the inserts say something along these lines: The pill effects hormones so a woman does not ovulate. A woman cannot get pregnant if she doesn't ovulate because there is no egg to be fertilized. The pill also works by thickening the mucus around the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released. The hormones in the pill can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus, making it difficult for an egg to attach to the wall of the uterus. It's this third part I take issue with, and it's the part I have noticed gets the least amount of press. We don't want to hear this, and take into account what it really means is possible.


If you believe life begins at conception, and profess it, then you might want to look closer. If a fertilized egg is life, because that is conception, then an insufficient uterine lining disallowing a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus and thrive does what?


Pro-life and pro-the pill? Not possible. Does "sometimes" really matter? Yup. 

Churched!

Today my little Theodore and I were churched. It's rather a satisfying feeling for me. That sounds odd, but I mean I am glad to finally be in a place where I can be churched, where it's normal. I asked to be churched in the Anglican churches we went to, as soon as I read about it and found it in the prayer book. At the less (read, much less) traditional church the "priest", and I say that in quotations because he later asked to be just called by his first name, and not by Father, gave me a confused look when I asked about churching. At the more traditional Anglican church, where the priest taught catechism with a Roman Catholic book, and the congregation liked to pretend Anglo-Catholicism exists, the priest was at least aware of the existence of the practice anciently, but he had never done it and wasn't too interested in it. I am glad, now, to be actually churched, and to watch my son carried through the altar. Theodore smiled big at our gentle priest, and didn't make a peep. As soon as his churching was over, several women converged upon us to hold him. I watched my littlest boy gazing up at Christ Pantocrater on the ceiling in wonder from a good friend's arms. It was sweet to see.

This weekend...

...shall be wine weekend. 

You know you laughed. Sorry for the vulgarization. 

liquid bread

I'm not pregnant anymore. It's a little bittersweet, as I have quite healthy and easy pregnancies. You do miss having a little one wiggling in your tummy, it is quite an experience. And the fact that they were very safe and warm in there and now they're out in the world exposed to all sorts of things is a tad unsettling...but my son is healthy and happy. Oh, and he's really, really adorable. 


Anyway, I can drink a little again, without worrying what trimester it is or only being able to have one drink, or not having any drinks because I am worried about stalling labor. Beer is actually very helpful for nursing mothers. Like I needed an excuse. 


So my love affair with Samuel Smith's oatmeal stout is back on. And it's beautiful. I also saw a Sam's Nut Brown Ale at Kroger that I need to try soon. I've also enjoyed some great New Glarus coffee stout, a lovely pinot grigio, a Guiness Stout, and Yuengling, among others. I don't know how some people don't have at least the occasional drink. I know some that don't because they were exposed to alcoholism and are trying to avoid it, or something like that. My father was a big alcoholic for many years (quite frankly he drank cheap, cheap beer which is a travesty), and so are many of my aunts, uncles, and my grandfather on my dad's side. My sister and I have had a few times when we drank too much when we were a little younger, but I also considered myself a "straight-edger" (with much less punk music than is mandatory) for a few years. She doesn't drink anything but girly wine anymore, and I hassle her about this as is necessary. Drinking good stuff moderately-and even occasionally a little irresponsibly-is an experience I consider a finer part of my life. 

...come on, it's just beautiful. 


This beer is very dark, slightly-sweet with a pleasant fizziness. It's called oatmeal stout because -- yes, you guessed it -- it's brewed with a little oatmeal, in addition to dark-roasted barley. You could almost have it with breakfast. I promise I haven't considered it...

A new love.

My newest son is here. He arrived on August 4th, at 10:09 am. His birth was perfect, short, easy, and he came into the world peaceful and alert. He's thriving already, and is sleeping well. I feel he will be the easiest baby of any of our children. His name is Theodore Owen Eugene. I'm so very happy.

It was funny this labor, asking for the intercessions of St. Anne, St. Theodore, St. John Maximovitch (my priest anointed me before the birth with related oil), my own patron St. James, and of course, the Theotokos and Christ God, the strength was not my own.

With prayers to say to Christ who rose from the dead and bestows life, saints who lived like me to ask for their intercession, with an image in my head of the Theotokos enthroned, looking on proudly with her newly born son...the whole experience was fuller. I don't really know exactly how.

I also cursed less. Which is probably good for my soul.

Many years to Theodore!