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White Water Rafting
On Saturday I got to go white water rafting with my dad, sister, brother, and their spouses. We originally thought my dad’s wife was going to go, but she was having some back pain and decided not to go on Saturday morning.
I live in the west, and we are fortunate to have some wonderful rafting spots about two hours away. This year was almost a record year for river depth, and even though the water had receded some, it was still pretty high.
My dad has a friend, Dan, who is around mine and my siblings ages, and he is a trained white water rafting guide. He works as a professional guide, and even has his own raft. He was not working on Saturday and he graciously offered to take us all rafting in his own raft for a private trip.
In order for me to be at my sister’s house, “in the big city” by 7AM, I got myself out of bed at 4:45AM, Saturday morning. I kissed my sleeping babies good-bye, but I was really excited to be going. Initially I didn’t think I could go, because Joe had planned something with the boys, but it fell through. He was wonderful and told me to go, and he’d watch the boys all day.
We hit the road and after we got to the town, met up with Dan, waited while him and my dad drove their trucks down to our ending spot (so we’d have a way back up the river when we were done), did a safety check, and got a safety lesson (which turned out to be crucial), we were on the river by 11AM.
It was spectacular. It was hot out- probably in the upper 90’s. The water was ice cold, but it felt good, because by that point we were all dying of the heat. There was a view of the canyon that you just can’t see from the road. We noticed some clouds starting to build, but it seemed like we were about 15 minutes ahead of them, and even though at one point it was cloudy, we had the sun out the entire time.
According to Dan, we were pretty much in class II and class III rapids most of the time. Especially during the first part of the trip. It seemed like our group quickly figured out all the rowing in sync, and were off to a good start.
About an hour and a half into the trip, we finally hit some major white water. I think this would be a class IV rapid. We heard Dan yelling at us from the back of the boat, “forward, forward!” We hit the rapid and it was thrilling! I was sitting on the right side of the raft, and felt myself jerk as we hit the rapid head on. I don’t know if it was instinct or Dan’s instructions to us before we started kick in, but I leaned into the boat, and dug my foot in as tight as I could into the holder for my foot.
Then I saw a wall of white water hit us. It hit the raft on the left side, completely covering my sister, Mara, her husband, Kevin, and my dad. Then to my horror, I saw Mara, flip backwards and out of the boat. It looked like she hit her head on a rock!
Mara shattered her knee cap 12 years ago in a rafting accident on this exact river. I was so scared that she had hit her head or had hit her knee again. I heard Dan yell, “Mara!” We all realized at about that moment that Mara had fallen out, and what was worse, we couldn’t see her at all. She was being held down under water somewhere, even with her life jacket on.
The rapid carried our raft out of the area where Mara fell, and even though Dan had instructed all of us to try to grab the raft if we fell out, as soon as Mara’s head popped out of the current, we were too far away for her to try to grab the raft. She was too far away from us to try to extend a paddle to her as well. The rest of us in the raft, just froze for a few seconds. It was really surreal. I could see Mara’s head going under water, and then back up. None of us knew if she had hit her head, or her knee or what.
I felt myself getting really scared and nervous. I wanted to get out and help her, but I knew that would not be the thing to do. I forced myself to listen to Dan, who started yelling commands at the rest of us. I knew listening to what he was telling us was the best and only way to help Mara. We had to get the boat out of the rapid, and to the side, so we could grab Mara when she came by us.
Dan expertly got us to the shore in a matter of moments. We had a few moments where we could watch Mara, and she was doing exactly what Dan had told us to do when he was going over safety instructions. He said to never point your head downstream, because you risk hitting your head on the rocks. He said to sit up, keep your legs together, bend your knees, and point your legs downstream. Mara was doing just this, and was keeping her head above the water for the most part. She was doing great!
When Mara got closer to us, Dan threw Mara his rope line, and was able to pull her out of the rapid to the raft. Kevin and my brother, Jeff, were then able to pull her back into the raft.
Fortunately, she was not hurt-only shaken up a bit. She said it was horrifying and it was like being in a washing machine. Dan said most of the time if someone falls out, the raft is there for them to grab on to. But since ours wasn’t, Mara ended up with the ride of her life. (Keep reading to the end for pictures of this!)
She lost her expensive sunglasses, but we were all so happy she didn’t have any injuries. After we took a short break we were ready to hit the water again.
While we didn’t have another rapid quite as exciting as our first rapid, we still had a blast. We stopped for lunch a little while later. The spot Dan really wanted us to go to was already taken, but we ended up at a place that had a rock about 15 feet up, where you could jump off of, into the river.
After we ate, we contemplated the jump. At first I didn’t think I was going to do it. After watching some people from other raft trips though, I decided if they could do it, I could too. The clincher was when my dad made his way over to the cliff to give it a shot.
I was nervous. It looked a lot more scarier standing on top of this rock, looking down into the river in person. Mara went first, and she told me the last few seconds were the worst. So, I said it was now or never, and took the plunge!
The water was freezing as I hit, and the force of the jump pushed water into my nose, but it was so fun and exhilarating. We decided to do it again.
Dan and Jeff, were waiting for the rafters who took our lunch spot to come by, and when they did, they jumped in. Unfortunately, they didn’t get them very wet, but came pretty close.
I jumped again, trying to hold my nose this time, but I still got water up my nose. I didn’t care- it had been ages, since I did something like this.
We cleaned up from lunch, gathered our stuff up, and went back on the river. We were on for another two hours, had a blast with some more rapids, and then our trip was done. I was so sad it was over. I felt like I could just stay on the river the whole day. We all kind of joked about staying on the river, but I think we all kind of meant it too. It had been a perfect day- none of us wanted it to end.
We helped Dan roll up the raft while my dad went to get his truck. We loaded everything back up, and drove back up the river to where we parked. It took about 20 minutes and Dan said we had gone about 15 miles down the river.
We decided to go grab some Mexican food and margaritas at a local spot Dan knew of. We all got to talk some more, and relive the day. Jeff got the high score on a pinball machine game, so he was happy.
After dinner it was about 7PM, and it was time to head back. We all said how much fun it would have been if we were camping and staying over, but we hadn’t planned for that. We all thanked Dan multiple times for taking us, and for being such an awesome guide.
I rode back to the city with my Dad. After I got back to my sister’s house, I had about an hour’s drive in front of me to go home. I was getting so tired, so I headed back. I got home at 10PM and saw Joe in the living room-the boys were asleep.
I realized that this was the first time since having kids, that I had been away from them the entire day and evening. I have to admit that I had so much fun. Not because I was away from them, but because for one day, I had zero responsibilities.
It seems like a lifetime ago that I was that carefree. I enjoyed just being, taking in what was happening and living in the moment. Thanks to Joe, I knew the boys were being well cared for, and I didn’t have to worry about them. A day later, I realize it was a day I really, really needed. For this day I wasn’t mommy, but Heather again, if that makes sense.
When you have young children, you just have to give certain things up for awhile- white water rafting is one of them. I am so happy I was able to go though, and hopefully in a few more years, the boys will be able to go as well.
In the meantime for me, having a day where I could just be, and enjoy each moment as they came, was wonderful. It was a blast, and I hope I don’t have to wait another four-and-a-half years before I can do it again.
To see pictures of us hitting the first rapid, and viewing Mara’s fall out of the raft, you can view our six pictures here. We are pictures 12-17, and you will start at picture 12. You can hit the arrow to see the series of pictures. In the front of the raft left to right, is my brother, Jeff, and next to him is Kevin (Mara’s husband). Behind Jeff is his wife, Kat, and next to her is Mara. Behind Kat, in the hat is me, and across from me, is my dad. In the very back is our guide, Dan.
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World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week starts today, and runs through August 7th. The theme of this year is “Mother Support- Going for the Gold.”
Supporting a mother who is breastfeeding is so important. There are so many other demands that a new mother faces when nursing, having support can be invaluable to the mother and new baby to establish breastfeeding. One of the best books I have ever read on breastfeeding is the La Leche’s Leauge’s, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. API Speaks is giving away a copy, and I have a link to the giveaway at the end of this post.
But did you know that nursing a baby past six months and has many health benefits for the baby and the mother? Sadly it seems that once a baby is nursed passed six months and beyond, support often turns to opposition?
Nursing mothers who continue to breastfeed past six months, a year, a year and a half, two years, three years, and even four years and beyond also need support. Likely they have heard negative comments about nursing their older child.
I am happy and proud to say that I nursed Ryan (my first son) until he was 26 months old. I wanted to nurse him longer but I was seven months pregnant with my second son, Cole, and my milk had gone, and it was incredibly irritating to me- pregnant hormones and all. I am still nursing Cole, mainly before nap time and bedtime, but he has shown no interest in weaning, and I don’t have any interest in forcing him to do so. In fact, it is a very nice bonding quiet time for us at the end of the day.
So many mothers who nurse a baby older than a year, feel like they have to hide it, and not talk about it. Sometimes mothers are made to feel like they are doing something wrong, or potentially stunting their child’s development, but that is not the case at all.
In honor of supporting breastfeeding mothers, who nurse their babies of all ages, I am posting one of my favorite pieces about breastfeeding, by Diane Wiessinger, MS and International Board Certified Lacatation Consultant (IBCLC). Perhaps you will learn something you didn’t know about breastfeeding, or maybe it will inspire you to support a breastfeeding mother to keep nursing a bit longer if she wishes to do so.
I think it would be great as a a society if we supported ALL nursing mothers, whether they were nursing a newborn, infant, toddler, pre-schooler, etc. It truly is one of the single best things a mother can do for her child, and that should be supported and celebrated.
What if I Want to Wean My Baby?
by Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC
| Breastfeeding your baby for even a day is the best baby gift you can give. Breastfeeding is almost always the best choice for your baby. If it doesn’t seem like the best choice for you right now, these guidelines may help.IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR JUST A FEW DAYS, he will have received your colostrum, or early milk. By providing antibodies and the food his brand-new body expects, nursing gives your baby his first – and easiest – “immunization” and helps get his digestive system going smoothly. Breastfeeding is how your baby expects to start, and helps your own body recover from the birth. Why not use your time in the hospital to prepare your baby for life through the gift of nursing?
IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR FOUR TO SIX WEEKS, you will have eased him through the most critical part of his infancy. Newborns who are not breastfed are much more likely to get sick or be hospitalized, and have many more digestive problems than breastfed babies. After 4 to 6 weeks, you’ll probably have worked through any early nursing concerns, too. Make a serious goal of nursing for a month, call La Leche League or a Lactation Consultant if you have any questions, and you’ll be in a better position to decide whether continued breastfeeding is for you. IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 3 OR 4 MONTHS, her digestive system will have matured a great deal, and she will be much better able to tolerate the foreign substances in commercial formulas. If there is a family history of allergies, though, you will greatly reduce her risk by waiting a few more months before adding anything at all to her diet of breastmilk. And giving nothing but your milk for the first four months gives strong protection against ear infections for a whole year. IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 6 MONTHS, she will be much less likely to suffer an allergic reaction to formula or other foods. At this point, her body is probably ready to tackle some other foods, whether or not you wean. Nursing for at least 6 months helps ensure better health throughout your baby’s first year of life, and reduces your own risk of breast cancer. Nursing for 6 months or more may greatly reduce your little one’s risk of ear infections and childhood cancers. And exclusive, frequent breastfeeding during the first 6 months, if your periods have not returned, provides 98% effective contraception. IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 9 MONTHS, you will have seen him through the fastest and most important brain and body development of his life on the food that was designed for him – your milk. You may even notice that he is more alert and more active than babies who did not have the benefit of their mother’s milk. Weaning may be fairly easy at this age… but then, so is nursing! If you want to avoid weaning this early, be sure you’ve been available to nurse for comfort as well as just for food. IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR A YEAR, you can avoid the expense and bother of formula. Her one-year-old body can probably handle most of the table foods your family enjoys. Many of the health benefits this year of nursing has given your child will last her whole life. She will have a stronger immune system, for instance, and will be much less likely to need orthodontia or speech therapy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least a year, to help ensure normal nutrition and health for your baby. IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 18 MONTHS, you will have continued to provide your baby’s normal nutrition and protection against illness at a time when illness is common in other babies. Your baby is probably well started on table foods, too. He has had time to form a solid bond with you – a healthy starting point for his growing independence. And he is old enough that you and he can work together on the weaning process, at a pace that he can handle. A former U.S. Surgeon General said, “It is the lucky baby… that nurses to age two.” IF YOUR CHILD WEANS WHEN SHE IS READY, you can feel confident that you have met your baby’s physical and emotional needs in a very normal, healthy way. In cultures where there is no pressure to wean, children tend to nurse for at least two years. The World Health Organization and UNICEF strongly encourage breastfeeding through toddlerhood: “Breastmilk is an important source of energy and protein, and helps to protect against disease during the child’s second year of life.”(1) Our biology seems geared to a weaning age of between 2 1/2 and 7 years(2), and it just makes sense to build our children’s bones from the milk that was designed to build them. Your milk provides antibodies and other protective substances as long as you continue nursing, and families of nursing toddlers often find that their medical bills are lower than their neighbors’ for years to come. Mothers who have nursed longterm have a still lower risk of developing breast cancer. Children who were nursed longterm tend to be very secure, and are less likely to suck their thumbs or carry a blanket. Nursing can help ease both of you through the tears, tantrums, and tumbles that come with early childhood, and helps ensure that any illnesses are milder and easier to deal with. It’s an all-purpose mothering tool you won’t want to be without! Don’t worry that your child will nurse forever. All children stop eventually, no matter what you do, and there are more nursing toddlers around than you might guess. Whether you nurse for a day or for several years, the decision to nurse your child is one you need never regret. And whenever weaning takes place, remember that it is a big step for both of you. If you choose to wean before your child is ready, be sure to do it gradually, and with love. 1.) Facts for Life: A Communication Challenge, published by UNICEF, WHO, and UNESCO, 1989 copyright ©1997 Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC |
Don’t forget to head over to API Speaks to enter for your chance to win the book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
You can click here, to read Part I of this post.
In order to really assess what we were dealing with, I took some of my dad’s advice. He said you can usually spot a yellow jacket’s nest by watching them at dusk. He said they make a bee line when the sun starts to go down to their nest.
So later that evening and the next evening I watched. Of course I was watching the one enterence that I knew of, and there were a lot of them entering. I saw a lot buzzing around our tree, but I didn’t really see a spot where they were all trying to get in.
Joe and I figured the one entrance that we saw was hopefully the main one. Not wanting to risk another episode like the one from a few days ago, we waited until it was dark and had cooled off. Joe hung up a Rescue yellow jacket trap from the tree they were buzzing around. I filled in the hole that I had dug, when I hit yellow jacket oil.
Then we were ready. Joe sprayed an entire can of a white foamy wasp/yellow jacket spray into the entrance. I watched from a safe distance. Nothing. There were no angry yellow jackets swarming up. I figured the trap would be filled by the next morning.
At the risk of sounding a bit obssessed at this point, the next morning I checked the trap, and there was not one yellow jacket in it. There were also none entering or exiting the opening to the nest. Had we succeeded? Maybe this wasn’t such a big nest after all. Only time would tell. I was cautious though. Look what happened last time I thought the nest was killed.
A week later, happily, there is no yellow jacket activity to report. While I am not stupid brave enough to try to dig the nest up again, even though the new can says you can as well, I think we may have solved our yellow jacket problem for now. When it gets cold, we will dig up the area and see what is under there. But for now, I’m just happy there aren’t hundreds of those suckers buzzing around.
I will see a yellow jacket in the trap every day, but then they are gone, out of the trap. It is eerie. We have used those traps for a few years now, and always had a ton of them captured within a few days. A week later, there is not one in there. Could it be the yellow jackets have gotten smarter, and figured out a way to escape from the trap? I have a vision of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds in my mind now, but with yellow jackets stinging away instead of pecking. I do find it interesting nevertheless.
Hopefully we won’t have any more battles with the yellow jackets.
Thanks for stopping by A Mama’s Blog for Bloggy Carnival. You are going to go “green” in more ways than one, with this giveaway. I hosted a similar giveaway from Lets Go Green.biz a month ago, and it was so popular, we decided to offer it again for Bloggy Carnival. This is round two -here we go!
If you are like me, you might be trying to gradually replace household items in your home with more eco-friendly options. Who wants to expose their family to harmful chemicals, so often found in traditional cleaning products?
But probably the biggest single factor for me in holding off replacing more household items is the cost. We only have one natural grocery store in our town, and paper products, etc. are pretty expensive there. My regular grocery store doesn’t have that big of a selection of eco-friendly paper, plastic, and cleaning supplies. I suspect I am like a lot of people, who would like to purchase more eco-friendly products, but can’t justify spending double, triple, or even more on them.
Fortunately, we don’t have to now. There is a fantastic company, Lets Go Green.biz, which now provides many eco-friendly household products that are affordable. In fact, many products cost less than what I have been paying for conventional items.
What makes it even more affordable, in addition to their already low prices, if you use the coupon code FRIEND during checkout, you receive an additional 25% off your order! How wonderful is that?
I am so excited and pleased to offer a fabulous giveway from Lets Go Green.biz. It is valued at over $37 and all the products are eco-friendly. One lucky person will win:
Let’s Go Green Large Canvas Shopping Bag (I have used this bag, and it is great. It is a heavy weight bag. This is the bag to take to the grocery store to tote all your heavy items. You will love it!)
32oz. Glass Cleaner (I have used this, and it works wonderfully! It gets the smudges and little handprints off the windows with no streaks. It is dye and fragrence free, non-toxic, and it is biodegradable!)
Recycled Bath Tissue 4pack (Have been told this is really soft-not rough at all. 🙂 )
Recycled Paper Towel 3pack
13 Gallon Ecosafe Tall Degradable Kitchen Bags (15 count)
Slider Gallon PVC Free Freezer Bags (10 count)
5 Minute Shower Coach (to help time your showers and conserve water)
Toilet Tank Bank (helps save almost a full gallon with every flush)
Walnut Scrubber Sponge (made with organic walnut shells)
To be eligible to win this prize, all you have to do is go to Lets Go Green.biz, and look at their products. Then leave a comment here, stating what product, or products you would like to try, or what product caught your attention. That’s it!
The contest will run for the entire week, ending at 10 PM. eastern time, August 4th. A winner will be picked by random.org. This contest is only open to those who have a United States shipping address.
Going “green” doesn’t have to be expensive, and thanks to Lets Go Green.biz, they have just made it a lot easier and affordable. Good luck- and may the “green” be with you!
After entering this giveaway, make sure to head back to Bloggy Carnival to enter more of the fabulous giveaways!