Lamaze Breathing. Selah.

Do any of you moms find Lamaze breathing techniques helpful years after giving birth? I have found the breathing method helpful more times than I can count this week.

Cameron broke his hand. His fourth metacarpal in his right hand to be exact. I used lamaze breathing to help him (and myself after watching his fingers bending the wrong way).

After the kids decorated his cast. 

This gives me goosebumps when I look at it.

I employed the handy breathing strategy when Josiah started sounding like a smoker of 30 years in the doctor's office. The kid had something big to hack up. Our doctor, without looking up from writing a prescription for me for my ear infection and sore throat (that I've had for over a week) said, "He shouldn't go to school tomorrow." Alright.

Sick days. Not as great as he had hoped.

Dr. Fernand Lamaze, you are my hero! While I was working out at Pop Physique, I practiced a slow, deep approach. I made it through my work out without feeling like I was going to throw up. I focus on my butt looking more like this. 

Did you know that "cast claustrophobia" is a thing? Neither did I until last night! I came home to Cameron basically having a panic attack about his cast. He was seriously considering removing it himself. Again, more lamaze breathing for everyone involved. If you know my husband, you know he's an incredibly level headed, sweet, quiet dude. For the past 24 hours that has not been the case. He looks like a lost dog that has bad fleas. Poor guy. Pray for him.

Today has been nothing but driving and going and doing...and driving. I took Josiah back to school. I got stuff for dinner at Vons. I came home, cleaned, got Mae ready for the day. We went to Whole Foods to find anti-anxiety supplements and homeopathic remedies for Cameron's anxiety. I went to the juice bar. I needed me some kale juice. I dropped Cameron and Mae off at home, went back to get Josiah (it's his first minimum day for Back to School night). I come home, make lunch, tell Cameron not to dissolve his cast in a bucket of vinegar. I leave for physical therapy. I go to physical therapy where very sore parts of my body are given pressure point treatment. I DID SOME MAJOR LAMAZE BREATHING. I drove home (but missed my on ramp, had to back track through LA traffic). I finish some work for Josiah's teacher. Cameron is dealing with insurance and doctor's office approval. *HEE-HEE-WHO* REPEAT. I finally get the bright idea to ask the doctor's office to give Cameron something for the anxiety. They send a prescription to Target.  Cameron takes Josiah to capoeira and Mae to Target to get his meds. It's quiet.
*DEEP INHALE*
...then I'm off to Back-to-School night.

Tonight will be a good night to meditate on this wonderful reminder that God gives us:

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Selah.

Rescue Cat 911!

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.

~Abraham Lincoln

I am the animal lady. I will rescue your animal. I will take in the stray cat, get the lost dog home and feed the feral.
Yesterday we found a stray in the parking lot. While our neighbors could not catch her, my 4 year old, cat-trained boy caught her and came marching back up the stairs declaring "I GOT HER, MOM!" The cat is super sweet and was very hungry. She is lounging on the "bed" the kids made her right now. I'm going to make posters of her and if that fails, take her to the animal rescue.
That is one stray cat who is safe from the outside world.
 Meanwhile in today's news...
 On my way back from my Doctor's appointment (that will be another blog entry), I see a little kitty sitting on the sidewalk looking sick and skinny. I pull over (it's next to Washington and Fair Oaks, two main streets in Pasadena) and I walk slowly. This cat lets me grab her and take her back to the car without a struggle. It's obvious that she doesn't feel good. I check her out and see that she's got a bite on her neck (vampire cats?), torn up little paws and she's missing some fur in different spots). Cameron informs me that he's seen this cat before in the morning in front of the same house. If this cat belongs (I use that term loosely) to someone, they don't deserve it. This cat is in need. I give her some food, she eats. I call the SPCA and they tell me to come down. I drop her off. She's in good hands one way or the other. If she can be rehabilitated, she'll find a forever home. She was a cute little thing. If she's too far gone, she'll have a peaceful death surrounded by loving people instead of on the corner of a cold street or beneath a car's tire.

Moral of the story people: Treat animals well. They are under our stewardship and we need to treat them accordingly. I've already written about that, though. You can read it here.

"All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures."

-St. Francis of Assisi

First Rescue Cat, Angela (as Josiah says).

Second Rescue Cat, Lazy (as Josiah says).