Monday, June 16, 2008

The Zoo and Children!

Here are a few highlights from our trip to the Minnesota Zoo. This is the Asian Tri Colored Squirrel. He was one of our many favorites. We were at the zoo from around 11am until after 5pm and still did not get to see Discovery Bay, visit the farm animals (we did take a tractor ride to the farm and back though), the Imax Theatre and the Musk Ox. My husband and I have not been here since I was pregnant with Jedi, 9 years ago and they have added a ton of new things!
We DO go to Como Zoo every Summer though, it's free and takes about 2 hours to do everything, perfect for littles!
Grizzly Coast is one of the newest additions. There were a ton of people at the zoo and this exhibit was packed. I did not get any good pictures of the Bears, they were too far away and through glass and chained fences. They were fun to see, they are very soft and playful looking, although we know better. One was under water and was very playful with all of us viewers through the glass.

We also loved the Butterfly Garden! The above one is a Zebra Butterfly, but the others I have no idea what kind they are! Butterflies were everywhere, they were so beautiful!!! They were constantly on the move. Jedi just informed me this butterfly (below) is a Viceroy Butterfly. Jedi took this trip to the zoo pretty seriously, he constantly had his map out and was mapping out where we were going next and what animals were coming next. He actually wore out the map, it was well used! (I did get many pictures of him doing this! -It was SO cute!)
This below is a Black Necked Stilt. The birds were amazing! We did take in a bird show while there, I think it was one of my favorite parts. The albino Red Tailed Hawk flew very close to the top of Ballerina Rosie's head! The trainers were funny and very fun to watch.
This is a Cougar, he was very close, but of course this was taken through glass.
This is a Victoria Crowned Pigeon. She was very close and very beautiful! The flamingos are always amazing to watch. They are such an interesting bird. We also saw Tapirs, Gibbons, Monkeys, Red Pandas, Lemurs, Raccoons, Moose, Wolverines, Wild Horses, Camels, Caribou, Takins, (Talkins) very large bugs, Wolves, Coyotes, Bats, Boa Constrictors, Warthogs, Sharks, Fish from the Coral Reef, Leopards, Tigers, Lynx, and many other animals, this is just off the top of my head.
This was the first year we did not have a baby on a family outing like this. Babycakes is 2 now and did not even use a stroller until after our picnic around 2:30. It was a lot easier. I can see how people who do not have that "pro-life" or "open to life" mentality, decide to not have any more children. Things are easier little by little and they start thinking, I guess, that it would be too hard to start over with a little one again. It's really too bad. I guess I understand, but I do not agree with it of course. It was just different. It actually made me really wish for another baby. Wish and dream of that new personality.
This is the first time in our marriage that we are using NFP to not achieve pregnancy. I need to lose at least 20 more pounds knowing once pregnant, my diabetes will help me gain at least 60 pounds. I feel this pressure to get it done, hopefully this summer. I love being open to Gods will. Open to His gifts. I could never say "no thanks, God, we are done, we do not want any more of Your gifts"! I do believe that God knows best how to plan our family. He knows how many we can handle. (these are just my thoughts and feelings for myself) I think this little break though will have blessings. The break is for health reasons, I am diabetic and need to be at a healthy weight for a healthy baby, healthy pregnancy. I am trying to just enjoy the blessings of the children we DO have and the blessing to enjoy Babycakes while she is still the baby, enjoy Mary, she is only 3. Enjoy the big kid things Jedi and Ballerina Rosie like to do.
This trip to the zoo without a baby was interesting and thought provoking. Made me think of good things and feel that desire for the gift of a baby. That desire that is a gift from God.
(Maria: that desire is your gift, thank God for it. It is what helps you to be the best provider for your children that you have helped to teach for 20 years, it is the desire that helps you to love. It is the desire that makes you special. Whether the desire will be for your own birth children, adopted children, foster care children, or any child God puts in your path, it is a desire from God.) Prayers for you always, to know what to do with that desire, if anything.




11 comments:

  1. Hey Jamie,

    I saw this site and thought of you. It has some great things about gardens. I read your recent blog. My prayers are with you as you lose weight. Have you tried the South Beach Diet? My husband and I went on it together (it was the only way I would do it) and we lost a lot of weight and continue to lose weight because of the heathy lifestyle it encourages. It has also cured diabetes- not sure which type though.
    Have great week!

    In Christ,
    Sarah

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  2. oops, forgot to give the site to you. Here it is: http://www.biblicalwomanhood.com/supermarket.htm

    It has great tips for saving money on groceries.

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  3. Hi Sarah!
    Not sure if you will check back or not...I cannot do the South Beach diet because the way diabetes works is to count carbs. It's how I ajust my insulin, by the amount of carbs and if there is no carbs...well, it just doesn't work. my hubby went on a no/low carb diet 2 times and lost both times. I really like the weight watchers plan, but the diet is not the problem, the problem is not having or not making time to exercise!!!

    I have type 1 diabetes, so no cure there, any cures are for type 2. Type 1 used to be called Juvenile Diabetes, because it is gotten before the age of 30. The difference is it is not because of anything eaten/not eaten, being overweight, etc...and my pancreas does not work at all, it is a useless organ in my body. With Type 2 diabetes, it is usually gotten because of poor diet and other health reasons, and the person with type 2 their pancreas does work some of the time.

    Thanks for the link!
    Blessings to you!

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  4. God bless you, Jamie, as you continue to do God's will and love the blessings that you have.

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  5. God bless you and your efforts! You can do it!!

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  6. My favorite was the bird with the long skinny legs.

    Looks like it was a good time and Jedi learned a lot!

    Prayers to you and your next baby! You make a great mother, Jamie, and your babies are beautiful!

    You sure are good for Marie!

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  7. What a fun trip to the zoo!

    I appreciate hearing your thoughts on having babies. When the twins were babies it was a very hectic time for us (Aslynn was barely two then). But, the boys got to a certain age and one day Paul and I were sitting in the living room and we thought, "Wow. When did life change that allowed us to both be sitting!?" I, like you, really could see how a family could move on from there and be done. But, also like you, the 'ease of life' doesn't pull on my heart the way a new baby does. As you know, we were then blessed with Henry.
    I hope you are able to accomplish your goals this summer and be able to welcome a new little one to your already adorable group.

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  8. Hi Jamie!!!!

    I have been enjoying catching up on your blog! I missed reading it! I did print out your post on Balance and read and re-read it a few times on our trip. I could relate with so much of it. I too am working at finding the right balance for myself as well, and I thank you for sharing all of that with us.

    It looks like you all had fun at the zoo! What a fun thing to do for Father's Day!

    I will keep you in my prayers as you try to lose the weight before conceiving again. You have a beautiful family! And your right, God DOES know what is best for all of us, and he will never give us more than we can handle. I tend to get overwhelmed sometimes with the thought of another pregnancy, but I have to remind myself, that God won't give me the grace until he sends the blessing! :) We just have to trust Him.

    Have a great week!
    Love, Jessica

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  9. I'm praying for you Jamie. During my last preg, my Dr. said that exercise was the key for me, too, to prevent GD & future diabetes. I just have such a hard time finding a kind of exercise that I will do regularly, and then, the time to do it. Sometimes I just wonder why we need more exercise than chasing the kids and doing everything that needs doing around the house to keep it organized. Then, there are those days when it would be good to have exercise giving me a cardiac workout and NOT my kids!! (Did that make sense?)

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  10. Dear Jamie,

    Am I the "Marie" you mention in your blog? Thank you so much for the prayers and saying my desire for a baby is from God. That really does mean a lot to me. When I pray for the grace of motherhood, I always add "if it's your will God." I really hope it is God's will for me to be a Mom someday.

    The thing is though we just celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary yesterday (6/16) and we've now been trying for a year with no success. I've been praying the rosary 54 day rosary novena off and on for a year for a child, prayed many rosaries, and many other prayers, but still I haven't been able to get pregnant once.

    I know that it probably has to do with the fact that I will be 42 in August, I was diagnosed with endometriosis in February after surgery, and yes, I'm overweight. I can't do anything about my age, but I can do something about the diet. However I started diets hoping it would help me to become pregnant, but when that time of the month came again and again, I felt so disappointed and discouraged that I started eating poorly again.

    My biggest problem is that I love pepsi and I drink several every day. Also I love sweets. I guess I'm a sugar addict.

    I know that if I lost fifty pounds it would help me with the asthma, not develop diabetes type two (my Mom has it), and maybe a little with the endometriosis, but would it make a difference in helping me be able to become pregnant? Or are the odds not in my favor due to my age and the endometriosis?

    I would love to have a diet/prayer/encouragement buddy if anybody is willing.

    Jamie, thank you again so much!

    You are in my prayers.

    May God Bless you and your lovely family.

    prayrosary4life@aol.com is my email

    Love,
    MariA

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  11. Please pray for me? I am almost finished with a 54 day rosary novena. I am praying for the grace of motherhood. However today I feel so sad and disappointed. That time of the month came again despite all the "trying" on my fertile days and all the prayers.

    Also today we celebrated my aunt and uncle's 40th anniversary. We had a great time. However my relatives all asked about my surgery and I told them about my endometriosis. I couldn't even tell them that the doctor said I might be infertile cos I thought I might cry. I was also told today by my cousin that her daughter is expecting. I am very happy for my cousin who is expecting, but it made me feel sad too. I know this sounds awful, but how come she is being given the grace of motherhood and not me??

    I think I need prayers for a stronger faith and perseverance. I just feel sad and very disappointment. My husband wants me to continue NFP/Creighton model and seeing about visiting a Catholic pro-life doctor, but really I feel like giving up. I have the feeling that we are not able to conceive without medical help. That's the conclusion I've come to now. It's the reality.

    Prayers, please? Thanks for listening! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    May God Bless you.
    Maria

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