Healthy MOM™

Did you know that when doctors and nurses talk about your pregnancy's "Due Date", they refer to that magical day as your "EDC"?

So, just what is EDC code for?.... Estimated Date of Confinement!.... That's right! CONFINEMENT!  Welcome to Parenthood!

Back in the "Old Days", having a baby signaled the beginning of a period where the mother would most likely be 'confined' to the home as she cared for her newborn and herself. Other women in the family would rally around to cook, clean and support her in her transition to motherhood. I actually know of a woman who in the 1940's,  was not allowed out of bed for 30 days after delivery…..!

Yep! That meant using a bedpan as dictated by her private duty nurse!

OK… That is just a bit absurd , extreme, and not really healthy…

But nowadays have women taken the experience of motherhood to the other extreme?

Women are so amazing at managing every single aspect of their lives. And life can include a job, kids, grandparents; not to mention supporting a partner in their endeavors. Unfortunately, that often means she will take care of everyone else first, and IF she has anything leftover for herself… Well, that's a bonus! This kind of "I can do it all" thinking is also a set up for depression and anxiety.

I wonder if we can't find a happy medium between the confinement idea, and what I call the "I'm dancing as fast as I can" phenomenom…

…..by the way…. The woman who was not allowed out of bed for a month after giving birth to her first child, was my mother…..

Meet Healthy MOM™
Kay Yanit, RN,BSN,CLNC is a mother of two beautiful and smart daughters Keenan and Lindley; and of an equally beautiful and smart 'almost' son-in-law Eric. She has worked as a Pediatric ICU, Neonatal ICU and Labor and Delivery nurse for 30 years. She currently works with moms and babies at the Women's Health & Birth Center at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield, Oregon. You can reach Kay at 541-741-4649.

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Have a Happy Easter! Here are some fun ways to spend the holiday.

Saturday, April 3

MEGGA egg hunt - 9:30 a.m. to noon
Lane County's largest egg hunt at Jack Lively Memorial Park, 6100 Thurston Rd, Eugene
Egg hunts, crafts, games.
Info: 541-736-4544 or Willamalane Park and Recreation

The Dog-Gone Easter Egg Hunt for dogs - 10:15 a.m.
Greenhill Humane Society, 88530 Green Hill Rd, Eugene
2,000 dog-treat-filled Easter eggs
Info: 541-689-1503 or community@green-hill.org

Sunday, April 4

Easter egg hunt - 9:15 a.m.
Charnel-Mulligan Park, 17th & Charnelton, Eugene
Egg hunt, door prizes and Easter Sunday service at Lighthouse International Church, 18th & Charnelton, Eugene (across from the park).

Are we missing any Easter Celebrations? Add comments so moms know about your exciting event.

I discovered an easy and addicting new snack recipe this weekend, while thumbing through a magazine featuring country singer Trisha Yearwood. She was sharing favorite family recipes from her cookbook.

Since I did not bring the recipe home with me, I was going from memory, so this is my version of the recipe. I'll do some homework and try to find the correct directions. Please forgive me if I forgot something, but they turned out entirely too good just like this.

Sweet and salty snacks
40 saltine crackers
1 stick of butter (half cup)
1 cup brown sugar
8 oz. chocolate chips

Directions:

Spread saltines on a cookie sheet. Melt butter and brown sugar in saucepan over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.

Drizzle over crackers and place in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, until bubbly. Remove from oven. Sprinke chocolate chips over hot mixture and spread as they melt. Cool and break into pieces.

I made the mistake of placing the pan back into the over to melt the chocolate, so it cooked a bit more. Don't do that. Just let the heat from the mapley goo melt the chocolate so you have a nice top layer. It didn't matter though, we devoured them in a matter of minutes and the kids loved them.

Oh, I should know better but I couldn't resist, and it is so addicting! The cool part is that it only takes four inexpensive ingredients that are almost guaranteed to be in your kitchen when that need for sweet and salty attacks.

So I am now initiated into mom-hood of broken bones. Delaney broke her wrist at school playing "sharks and minnows." Today was the big day and she's now sporting a bright blue cast. So, I guess all I can say is that it wasn't as scary as I thought it'd be and thank goodness she's not left-handed. And now I can sign her cast. Talk to me in eight weeks!

The doctor was so great. We're lucky to have such a great pediatric group here. He kept her smiling, even with the prospect of eight weeks without softball or riding her pony. Thanks doc!

I just received this message from a MOM reader and thought that we'd better share this recipe from MOM Magazine, Summer 2009 with everyone...

"Hey MOM - your summer issue last year had a recipe for lemon-blueberry squares and they were soooo good. I kept the recipe but can't find it. Do you think you could send the recipe?" Thanks for such a great magazine, Kristen

Blueberry Lemon Squares

• 2 cups rinsed Oregon blueberries
• 2¼ cups flour
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup (½ lb.) butter
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ tsp. baking powder

Directions: Mix flour and powdered sugar until blended. Mix in butter, cut into small pieces with a large fork until dough holds together when squeezed. Press evenly over the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden brown, usually 20 to 25 minutes. While the crust is baking, whisk eggs together with sugar, lemon peel, lemon juice and baking powder. Stir in blueberries. Pour egg mixture over warm, baked crust. Return to the oven and bake until the filling is firm and does not move when gently shaken, usually 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and let cool at least 15 minutes. Serve warm or cool.

If it's out of season and you don't have blueberries in your freezer, try ordering frozen, dried or powdered blueberries from Sunset Valley Organics. They are delicious. With a recipe recomendation like this, I'm off to make some lemon-blueberry squares right now. Enjoy!

Looking for an educational, yet fun way for your 6-8 year old to spend Spring Break 2010? Check out the Science Factory Spring Break Science Adventures

Register kids for the Science Factory's Spring Break Science Adventures Camp. It gives your child a chance to explore a variety of fun science topics while participating in exciting hands-on activities. This fun spring break camp goes from March 22 - 26, 9 AM-noon & 1 PM-4 PM. Cost is priced per individual half-day program at $18 for Science Factory members/$25 for non-members. To register for all ten programs only costs $165 for Science Factory.

I was so excited to be at a photoshoot today for the April/May issue. We shot at a local park and the sun was shining. As we were leaving we passed the cutest couple sharing a picnic in the park.

They had a basket and everything. That's it... The next time the weather is nice, I'm packing a picnic.

What's your favorite place to picnic? And what do you pack?

In the spirit of MOM Makeover, I decided on a whim to have a little mini-makeover myself....I went from being a blonde to this:

If it wasn't for the beautiful and sunny weather we've been having, I would try to convince you that it was just a natural seasonal shift in my hair color, but I don't think I'm going to get away with that... :)  It's a couple shades darker than my natural, and I kinda like the change. I'll go lighter again I'm sure, but it's fun for now. Thank you to the lovely ladies at Epic Day Spa for doing such a great job!

Do you color your hair? Why or why not? Comment by 9 a.m. Monday March 8th and I'll pick one random person to win an awesome shampoo and conditioner set kindly donated by our MOM Makeover sponsors, Heartspring Wellness Center & Samaritan Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

My answer? I do (obviously) color my hair - my natural color is a mousey brown color, and all though I do have some natural blonde highlights, the overall color is pretty dull. I like having nice, fresh color - it makes me feel like a new person!

Don't forget to nominate a deserving MOM for our makeover HERE!