Interesting placenta medicine!!!

Recently we talked to a couple in Mexico (Thai-French). They told us that they turned the placenta into medicine. This medicine can be used throughout the baby's life and the mother's.

After checking this out on the internet, this is what we found...

...don't read on if you are extra-sensitive!

Keep in mind though that Chinese have made this type of medicine for centuries and that animals eat the placenta after birth.

Here is the powdered method, put into capsules.

http://blog.birthbalance.com/?cat=21

And here you will find a recipe to make a concoction, which entails soaking a piece of placenta in alcohol, then removing it, and using this concoction as a base for your own personal medicine.

http://www.unhinderedliving.com/placentaessence.html

The big day is coming soon...

I have decided, from the beginning, to have a homebirth. Manu has been supportive all the way.

In Mexico city , it's quite rare for a woman to birth at home. On the other hand, all the indigeous women do it at home, in the country side of Mexico. Here are the biggest reasons why I want to have a home birth:

1. I don't have to leave home to have our baby.

2. I know who will be here, in our home, it will be a small intimate group of people whom I trust and love.

3. There will be no intervention (epidural, IV, etc)

4. I won't come into contact with other sick people's germs in our own home!

5. I feel 100 % more comfortable in my home than in a hospital.

6. I want the most natural experience possible.

Of course if anything complication arises, then we are only a 5 mins. car ride from a small hospital called Maria Jose. I have visited it with my dad a few months ago, and it's pretty nice, considering it's a hospital! The private rooms look similar to a bedroom in a home...but let's keep our fingers crossed that we won't be going there!

We have a midwife, Laura Cao-Romero and a surgeon/homeopathic doctor, Yolanda Victoria who will be there for us.

Here is their website. http://www.parteras.org/

What I love about them, is that they see pregnancy and birth as a natural process. There was never any panic from their part throughout my pregnancy, even when I felt panicky...they calmed me by their wisdom and experience. I feel as though everything is going the way things should...naturally, and on its own time.

The date for little Simon's arrival is around the 10th of September. Manu is so excited and impatient for him to come out! I am mixed...part of me really wants to have him in my arms, start our lives together and get my belly back...and another part of me is enjoying the full night's sleeps, my freedom, the peace and quiet! But can't have both right?!

So...whenever little Simon is ready to come out, I'll be ready for him!

Still have a few things to get ready before...but of course, if they're not ready, no biggy.

By the way, it's going to be a full moon on the 5th. Laura, our midwife, told us that many births happen around the time after a full moon...so we'll see!!!!!!!

Who said pregnant women can't go on the zip line?!?!

Last weekend, we headed north east of Mexico City, about 1.5 hours to visit El Chico area, in the state of Hidalgo. (Just about 10 km north of Pachuca)

We left Friday afternoon to avoid traffic.

Once we arrived, we searched and searched for a decent hotel for a reasonable price and found the perfect one in a nearby village called "Carbonara", almost sounds like the Italian pasta! It's so tiny, that it's not even on Google Maps. Only about a 10 mins drive north of El Chico.

The rand spanking new hotel was 400 pesos including breakfast!!

Saturday we visited the Prismas Basalticos in Huaca. They look similar to Ireland's Giant's Causeway, but the difference here is that it's inland. The rock formation was created from hot lava that cooled in hexagonal columns. It's quite a sight!

We walked around and took in the beautiful scenery.

He's a getting bigger and bigger!!!!!

Later that day, we visited an old mine, which only closed in 1983, called The Acosta Mine, run by a British man. We walked through the tunnels and were shown what signs to look for when searching for gold.

Sunday, we were highly recommended to visit the zip line park, only 5 mins from the hotel in Carbonara. Being pregnant...of course, I figured it was out of the question for me...I'd have to settle for being Manu's photographer while watching him having a blast.

But once we arrived, Manu insisted I could do it...you just need sit back on your butt and enjoy the ride. The person who welcomed us in the parking lot, also figured I could probably do it, no problem.

I definitely wasn't prepared shoe-wise...I had a choice of Burkenstock clogs, or my wedding sandals! I opted for the latter.

The hard part for me, was getting to the zip line...we had to climb up the side of a mountain for about 15 mins...at 3200 metres above sea level. Although I was panting and walking slowly as a mule...I finally made it to the site.

We were harnessed in...and taken to the first station...I went first! I didn't want to be left behind waiting, as it might give me a chance to change my mind. But really, the harness was comfortable, the tightness was in the thighs, not on the belly. Literally, you hang from the metal cable, in a sitting position...very smooth!

It was fabulous. The view incredible...we were literally flying through the forest!!!

If you are interested in going...it is a cheap thrill, for about 12 dollars per person. The guys working there, are so kind and hospitable. It's totally safe and fun!

If you want to take a look at all the photos, they are here, on Picassa:

Getting ready for Baby!!

Only about 3 weeks to go....and here's what we've been up to.

We've got a hold of the list of things to get to be ready to welcome Baby!

His bed is nearly done...just a few finishing touches, material-wise. We'll post a photo when it's done!

Washed all the Baby's clothes so they are pristine clean for his new little body!

And that's about it....oh yeah...and Manu is already trying to play football with him...I wonder if he'll be as big of a football fan as Manu...I hope so, so that he'll have someone to watch the games with.

Concert : Soirée Parisienne

Here is the link to the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

http://www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca/viewevent.html?eventid=133

This was a big project for me!

It all started with the documentary I made on Nisha Coleman, my very close friend from Huntsville. The ironic part of this, is that we really got to know each other in Paris, while living there at the same time. She's a violinist and was busking in the streets of Paris. Last year, I gave a copy of the documentary "Nisha's Four Seasons" to Rob Saunders, one of the organisers of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts...offering him to use it, if a film festival was taking place in the winter time. After watching it, he asked if I had plans on building on it...ie turning into a concert...

I talked with Nisha...and after some brainstorming sessions, we came up with a multi-media, multi-sensory show: piano, violin, video, text, smells, tastes...

Here is the video of the concert. I do apologise for the poor sound quality.

Canadian Vacation

I went to Canada from the 16 of July to the 3rd of August. Manu arrived on the 22nd. He came purposely the day before the concert so as not to see me all stressed out, practicing our brains out for the concert. Nisha and I put on a show called "Soirée Parisienne". It happened on the 23rd of July. A great turnout, 120 people! We were even interviewed on the French CBC.

My dad and grandma came all the way from Montreal to see the show...and my bump!

Video of the show to come...

It was a nice relaxing time...well, once the concert was over.

Went to Sarah Thompson's baby shower. She's expecting a girl around the 11th of August. It was the first ever baby shower I have been to, and it was FUN! Manu came too...he was the only male, besides our little Simon in my belly.

Mom, Manu and I spent a day at Monk Lake and saw family: Tom and Jeanne, Neil and his fam, Michael and Mack, Marcia and her kids, Veda...and lots of dogs. Had a barbecue and a ride on the lake. The weather wasn't too inviting to swim in the lake...we passed. Next time.

The rest of the time, we slept in the cabin on Mom and Tony's lake, went for swims and ate delicious food. Buttertarts, pie, ice cream, BBQ, salads...

On our way home, we stopped in Toronto and spent the day with Sarah and Rob. We took a walk along the Ontario Lake shoreline and had yummy gelato.

The following morning, at 4 am!!!! We took the cab to the airport. Manu and I flew on different flights. I was on Air Canada...and bumped into Deanna Hendriks, a friend from the Music Faculty!! It was surreal. She was the flight attendant in First Class. We had a chance to chat and catch up. She's married and has a 3 year old daughter!

We are happy to be home, but sad to leave Canada...

lots of changes will be happening in our lives soon..come Sept. 10th. And for the new year, we are leaving Mexico!!! We won't be bored from now till then, that's for sure!

Bed Making

Dad (LG) came for a surprise visit to Mexico. We put him to work by helping Manu make Simon's first bed!! They did an awesome job. Now that it's done, it's my turn to do my part.
I need to figure out how to make a bassinet with material...that's my project for this month of August!!