Here's something to smile about:)

Hello readers, I think I fixed the followers thing.. I'm not sure, but either way! Enjoy! Here is a nice article on 50 totally awesome perks of being Mom! :) Lots of blogs on the way.. Busy summer! Happy Memorial Weekend!

http://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/119367/50_totally_awesome_perks_of?utm_medium=sm&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=natural_fanpage

(Just copy and paste, looks like this page is still not fixed...)

Card North America Day!

Tomorrow is May 21st, the WHOLE Network and Save Our Sons have asked all intactivists and intactivists in the making to "card America" go to their site here: http://www.thewholenetwork.org/
We're to either print out or order their cards/magnets/flyers and put them literally EVERYWHERE! Stick them in the Maternity clothes section, tape them to the baby clothes, stick them in pregnancy books, anywhere a pregnant woman (or anyone for that matter) will see them! Get Creative! *As I realize this is tomorrow and ordering won't be an option unless you already are an intactivist and knew about this, I suggest printing them out/ordering them from the following sites:
Info cards, magnets, flyers and ideas can be found at:

peaceful parenting: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.409331317670.191616.202794322670

The Whole Network: http://www.thewholenetwork.org/intactivist-shop.html

Saving Our Sons: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.215254401827022.60741.166998263319303

Barefoot Intactivist: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=155485434497690&set=o.141651165881117&type=1&theater

TLC Tugger: http://www.tlctugger.com/prodINTACTIVISM.htm

NOCIRC: http://www.nocirc.org/publish/

Intact America: http://www.intactamerica.org/resources

Circumstitions.com Intactivism Shop: http://www.cafepress.com/intactivism

*Remember even if you can't tomorrow, ANYDAY is great! Check out this site to see what and where others have put their Cards! :)
https://picasaweb.google.com/109361092076563354551/CardNorthAmerica#

*Intactivist on Fire*

Dear Friends,

You know how people say; "Well I wish someone had told me!" After making a decision only to learn later it may have not been the best route? I don't want that to be you.. For many of you, you really know me, you know I don't ever push things onto people. And as a general rule as a doula I'm purely here to educate.. That’s what I do! You know I care, if I didn't I would not be writing this..

I've been at the cross-road point lately.. Trying to decide how to delicately articulate my words..

My main focus in my career is geared towards birth. Natural birth more to the fact. I've taken clients of many back grounds and whose choice to birth was their own. I'm generally unbiased in a mom's decision on how or where she chooses to birth. And I hope whatever you choose will make you happy and that when its all said and done you enjoyed your experience. But I'm not here to discuss birth.. I'm writing this to all the moms, moms-to-be who are expecting boys, or may have boys in the future (even if you've already had a son whose been cut, it doesn't mean they all do)

I have a wonderful long list of new momma's who are expecting in the near future! It's just wonderful! But like I stated before, remember I care about you, and I'm just giving info. so it's something for you to think about and really look into..

Your expecting a little boy. Perfect in every way, right? Your son will be beautiful.. Yes? (hopefully you're all nodding, duh! ;-) haha.. Sorry. Anyways.. There is a choice many mom's (and dads) don't see as an option.. It's just something society has chosen as the norm.. And to what I'm referring to is the controversial topic of circumcision.

My dear friend.. I implore you to do the research for yourself, don't just take anyone's word for it.. Even mine. My reasons behind coming to you today is not to scare or bully.. This topic I've been studying myself for almost 2 1/2 years.. It all started with a paper I had to write for school. It really opened my eyes.. I never really knew much about it, except it was just what was done to newborn boys. But the fact that parents really don't know what goes on is what was horrifying to me.. Some parents I've discussed this with (mostly my clients who had boys) Either one, wouldn't do it, it seemed pointless to do that to their sons when they are so tiny. Or they just didn't know and their doctor stated it as a matter of factly, "so lets get his circumcision done." kind of thing.. Some parents do their research. I do give them that. But sometimes its biased information.

One thing I've heard from parents; "Well he needs to look like his father." well for one thing, do you think they'll be standing naked together and discuss their penis? Really? lol.

Another common "reason" is; "He'll get made fun of. via; locker room, etc.." Did you know that by the time your son reaches that stage of life he can be powered with knowledge and the fact that he will be the majority.. Not the minority.. In 2009 the CDC announced that almost 70% of baby boys were kept intact. This percent is still rising today. So if peer pressure of being made fun of is a worry, start saving for your daughters boob job while your at it.

But I don't really want to go into that at the moment.. It's the immediate future I'm more concerned with. It is false that circumcision protects against HIV/STD's.. It doesn't prevent UTI's or penile cancer. It does not make it "cleaner" this is a huge falsehood.. If that were the case than why don't we circumcise our daughters?? It's basic hygiene. You wash! There is no "special" way to take care of an intact male.

Did you know that baby boys don't receive real pain medication? The doctors ensure you they don't feel it.. Have you witnessed a circumcision? If not, youtube it.. Then tell me they don't feel it. People who can watch them without feeling, without your heart feeling like its going to stop, really must not have one. Those screams are NOT from a baby who is just "colic-y" its from a brand new soul, taken from the only person who has ever been their constant. And ripping pieces of their flesh from their body. Sugar water is not a pain medication.. If someone gave me sugar water then started cutting me with a scalpel I'm sure as heck going to feel it!! It's no different with our precious, perfect baby boys. Even with anesthesia, the dorsal nerve cannot be completely blocked, making the surgery incredibly painful.

Some mom's may say; well my son hardly cried! (which by the way, is it because they were actually present? Or going by what the nurses told them? Because if I were present, watching them strap a baby to that board and take scissors and scalpels to a baby I would NOT just stand there!) Let me tell you why this is.. When you experience extreme pain, you will cry, but then go into shock.. Which is what many baby boys do. They start to act lethargic. And stay that way for many days if not weeks. Many scream when they soil their diapers, changing them is painful, its an open wound. I've had to witness that with one of my clients baby’s.. He had a horrible time latching on.. It made breastfeeding a bit difficult. He just wanted to sleep. Which is a normal reaction for going through a traumatic experience at such a young age.

When the doctor cuts off the foreskin of healthy baby boy, he's cutting off over 20,000 nerve endings.. (take you finger and drag it lightly across the top of your hand, then straight down the palm, notice the different sensations? That’s several thousand. And compare the sensation, its not "unbearable" right? Its not over-stimulated.)

~No national or international medical association in the world recommends routine circumcision.

~Only the USA circumcises the majority of newborn boys without medical or religious reason.

~Circumcision denies a male's right to genital integrity and choice for his own body.

~Medicalized circumcision began during the 1800s to prevent masturbation, which was believed to cause disease.. (this was started by Dr. Kellogg.. The same man who owns Kellogg cereals..)

~All mammals, male and female, have a prepuce organ called the "foreskin" or "clitoral hood."

~Female Circumcision has only been illegal in the US since 1997~

Now for the religious ones.. If you believe in the bible, read it! It states that all sacrifices are done away with in Christ. When he was sacrificed, he took upon himself all sacrifices.. "The law of Moses was fulfilled in Christ. Obedience to the law of Moses was no longer a requirement for salvation since Jesus had completed his atonement. "

Here are a few references:

New Testament (Law of Christ)

Acts 15:1-35

Galatians 5:6

1 Corinthians 7:19

Galatians 6:15

Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants

3 Nephi 15:4-5

D&C 74

Moroni 8:8

"Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.ʺ Moroni 8:8

I have countless sites and books that will be most helpful.. I do apologize for how long this is.. There is just so much information.. I'm passionate about this, and like it was stated in my first paragraph, I wanted to have a clear conscience that I tried..

If you choose, after research, learning, asking, that you will still circumcise your son.. Stay with him.. Don't let him go through that alone.. You hold your babies when they get shots. When they are scared. When they are in pain... Stand by him..

Helpful Sites:

http://www.thewholenetwork.org/the-library.html

http://nocirc.org/

http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/

(WARNING: The link below has graphic images and a video. If you've never witnessed a circumcision, this is one of the ways it is done...)

http://www.drmomma.org/2011/01/neonatal-circumcision-video-for.html

http://www.drmomma.org/2010/11/circumcision-most-twisted-logic-in.html

(there are hundreds more.. but like I said.. do your research

Again, know as a friend, this is why I am coming to you..

I won't allow this to be done to my sons.. They will remain the way God made them.. Perfect. Not what our society has deemed the norm.. Please, please, really research for yourself..

peaceful parenting: Inspirational Jealousy

peaceful parenting: Inspirational Jealousy: "By Katherine Henderson © 2011

The above link takes you to a wonderful site, Peaceful Parenting. She has guest writers come in and submit their stories, this is one of them. I've been on both sides. A hospital birth, that was all but enjoyable. And a home birth, where words cannot fully express the pure ecstasy and explosion of emotions that came from that amazing experience!

As a doula I've had these conversations with clients. The 3 years between my kids births offered me plenty of time to educate myself on what I truly wanted. I had the honor of attending many births between my own and seeing these women call upon their own power to birth their babies the way they wanted! Oh what joy it brought me, but a small part of me still jealous that I had yet to have the dream birth.. Where I can say I did it, feel empowered by my own body! As I'd seen so many women do. THAT is what I got. 7weeks ago I gave birth to my son. Inspired by the amazing work. It truly is "Inspirational Jealousy" (Just the good kind;)

~Our Home-Water Birth of our Son~

I'm not even sure where to begin this amazing journey. It really starts just before the birth of my firstborn, which stings a bit to remember. In 2006 I eloped with the love of my life, we lived happily in Provo, UT. We found out we were pregnant with our first in the fall of that year.. My husband had known it was going to be a girl, and what her name would be before we even knew we were pregnant.. Sometime in the winter we had moved to WA state, my husband (who served in the United States Marine Corps) found out he would be deploying to Iraq around the time our baby was to be born. So as you can see, it was a very stressful time.
July 2, 2007 our precious firstborn child came into the world, at 1439 a beautiful baby girl, 7lbs 14oz 19 1/2 inches long. The experience wasn't what I had hoped for, or discussed with my CNM. As a hospital birth, Bonding wasn't established, they took her away all night, and nursing just failed.. I was in a downward spiral. At just two days old, my husband had to leave.. I was left alone, a new, single mom. With support pretty much non-existant. I went searching for something more. I researched everything I could get my hands on that involved pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum time. I accidentally stumbled across Doula's. That is where my new road emerged.
During the first year of my daughters life, things took time.. My husband in a war zone, I moved into our own apartment when my daughter was 5months old, probably the best thing I could have done for us. I continued to research Doula's, and this new world I stumbled upon. As my daughter grew, we gained the bond that we so desperately needed. My husband came home just before her first birthday, (2008) and to our surprise I became pregnant (I was on BC) sadly, we lost that baby on my first mothers day.. The experience was very hard for me, but we decided to try for another baby, it felt right.. After several more miscarriages during those 2 years after he returned, life wasn't right for me.. I suffered from severe depression and anxiety. I gained an unhealthy amount of weight and no longer had a drive at life.. I had started schooling, to become a Doula, that was my own outlet, a small glimmer of hope that one day I might be able to experience the bliss I read about, studied, and witnessed at the births I was blessed to be apart of.
In 2009 my husband was once again preparing to deploy, my doula business was just taking off, we had just closed on our first home, but all was on hold again.. Afghanistan was my next painful experience.. But during that year I was determined to change things, I joined a gym, lost weight, felt great, worked hard at my Doula job. Took care of my daughter, our new home, and everything else that came my way.. In May 2010 my husband came home from Afghanistan, I felt a wonderful new chapter starting.. To our surprise, we became pregnant instantly! We found out in June we were expecting. I was terrified to loose this baby, but found faith.. We were thrilled, the "estimated due date" was March 15 2011. A wonderful pregnancy was mine to enjoy. I felt so blessed and honored to be carrying another child.

Through divine guidance we already knew it was a boy, and had been given a glimpse already at our future. His name; Peter Aragon. His first name, Peter. Came to me when we were 9 months pregnant with our daughter, 3 1/2 years before his birth, during our sealing. (We're LDS, and after a year we were able to be sealed for time and all eternity on our first year anniversary! And then 2 days later had our firstborn) I shared this knowledge with my husband and tucked it away in our memories for when that son came to us.. His middle name however, came after my husband returned from Afghanistan. We hadn't found out I was pregnant yet, but I felt strongly about it.. Carlos Aragon, whom our son is named for, was killed in Afghanistan in March of 2010. My husband was the last person with him, and it forever will affect our family. Without Aragon's sacrifice, my husband may not have come home, and our son would not have joined us.. So I'm forever grateful. An only saw it fit that our son be named in his honor. I don't believe it is a coincidence that we had a son, or that he was born in March, the same month, exactly a year later.. Heavenly Father really does work in mysterious ways..
After 3 years of schooling, Doula work, obsessed with everything birth and beyond. I was prepared. I knew my options. We decided to have a home water birth, the best way we felt it was for him to come earthside.. We hired a wonderful midwife, who stood behind us every step of the way. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I was so anxious to meet my son. I LOVED being pregnant, feeling him move, it was like magic to me. I never felt "done" in the way you hear so many women complain.. I became a bit nervuos though, I had horrible nightmares I couldn't control. But some how made it through. I read all of Ina May Gaskin's books, to read amazing positive home birth stories. (Ina May is one of my heros!)
Well before we knew it, March was here! I had 3 weeks of prodromal labor, constantly thinking, "this is it" but then only to figure out it wasn't! Well after all that, we all got in the truck one Satruday, (march 12) and went for a nice long bumpy drive on the farms.. Well let me tell you, that did something! The next morning I had lost my plug and had my bloody show! I knew it was going to be in the next few days! That night (march 13) my husband and I were watching a TV show, while I had mild contractions on the birth ball.. It was a bit late, maybe 10pm? and I felt we should turn it off and go to bed.. So we did. Around midnight I woke to some pretty powerful contractions. I was able to fall back to sleep till around 1ish. I labored peacefully in my bathroom for a while, not wanting to wake up Mark yet. Till I was sure this was it.. Soon they picked up in intensity and I knew.. I woke up Mark, and we started preparing for the birth of our son! I was doing pretty good using the sink as an anchor and squatting down during contractions. Mark was busy making calls to our birth team, getting my food/water, and setting up our bedroom/birth pool for the big event! He was amazing!
Our midwife showed up around 2am I think, I was excited! During the early/active labor stage I just went with the flow, joking with everyone, and enjoying the experience. It was so cool! It was just like having a get together, but the perk there was going to be a baby at the end!
The tub was finally filled up, we had white christmas lights hung around our window, (my bedroom is painted red, and the decor/bedset is red/black) very romantic setting!) candles lit, and all my affirmations taped up. Our birth photographer showed up and was a fly on the wall, silent and did a beautiful job!
Our daughter was sound asleep in her bed, as well as both dogs. It was perfect.
My labor picked up and I was in the zone, only thing that shocked me was Peter turned from anterior to posterior half way through. Causing intense back labor.. That part was powerful. The normal contractions where easy, no problem, its just the back ones took alot of my attention to stay grounded.. And with the amazing hands of my husband and midwife it was managed. I roared my baby earthside. I loved being in the birth tub, it helped melt the rushes. My husband, my amazing love, was there through it all. He jumped in the tub to hold me, he spoke encouragment, love and support. I'm so very grateful for his strength, and how much he helped me.
I labored through the night, a few hours before I began pushing Mark and I got out of the tub and got to have several rushes alone, he helped me to relax and we got back into the tub for the big finale!
It was around 7am, my daughter woke up and came into join us! She thought it was really cool! (I'm 4 weeks postpartum now, and she is always pretending to have a baby, or nursing! I just love it! :)
I was on all fours in the birth tub, Mark behind me squeezing my hips to help my back labor, I felt my son's head.. He was there! In that moment I was smiling ear to ear! Years of waiting, the pain of seeing everyone have their babies, it was finally my turn! But even more, I was birthing him how I wanted, in my home, safe, sound and protected.
I could feel the soft hair of my son, his head finally coming earthside! I don't even know what words to best describe this. The feelings I had, thoughts, it was amazing! Being in my own home, my space, no annoying medical staff, no yelling or rushing.. It was normal, peaceful. My birth was not a medical procedure, I wasn't another patient being timed or pushed into unnecessary interventions. Everyone present did what *I* wanted, an amazing primal insinct took over, I felt empowered not only of my own great and marvelous work but by the millions of women before me who had given birth the way God intended. I was connected to them, I wasn't alone, and I had the strength to do it. I can't deny that God was present, I honestly believe he is present at every birth. There is a veil our babies pass through to enter our world and God willing at the end of a long life, pass again through it. As I felt my perfect baby, perfectly moving through my body, I breathed him into being..It was pure ecstasy! I've been asked if I'd label this experience as Orgasmic, ((if you haven't watched that documentary I HIGHLY recommend it!)) and I have to say.. It was! It was an Orgasmic Birth, pure and awesome. My precious baby boy, came peacefully into his daddy's hands. Mark then passed him (baby was still under the water) between my legs and into my arms, I lifted him out of the water and onto my chest. The amazing feelings that exploded I can't bring all into words. But it was my piece of heaven! Our son, Peter Aragon Jensen, came earthside, safely into his parents hands at 0745 am on March 14th, 2011. Weighing 8lbs 14oz, 22 inches long!! (no tears, none with my daughter either) A lovely full head of brown hair! Our daughter then stripped down to her underwear and jumped in the birth tub with us! Our little family, together! I felt amazing! Exhausted, but empowered! I did it, *I* did it! After all the waiting, the research, the schooling, the ache.. I carried, birthed and now nurse my son! My baby.. He healed my soul. Bringing about this amazing new start for our family, renewing my faith and showing me how much my heart can love.

Staring at my little one now, as he nurses, smiling at me.. I've been truly blessed.
This birth re-birthed me into a new woman, I became a mother when my daughter was born, but birthing my son, I DID IT! I did what I was made to do. What God designed me to do. All I can do is smile, an go into a pure state of ecstasy to remember the most wonderous experience that took place right here in my home.

~All because two people fell in love~