Queen's Edge Farm: Octuplet dilemma

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Octuplet dilemma

I have tried so hard to stay out of this discussion, but I am so frustrated. Where are people's minds? Why are they giving this woman such a hard time? It's crazy, and frankly it's none of people's business.

The newest incidence that has set me off is when the hospital where the babies are currently has threatened to not release the babies to their mom. This is outrageous! The hospital has zero authority.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on this woman's actions, but frankly it's not anyone's right. Now it would not have been my choice to have so many babies at one time, but she is not the first woman to do so. What about the Goesslin's sextuplets or the septuplets born in 1997, the McCaughey's (sp)? The only difference that I can see is that she is single and they are not. When did it become a crime to not be married. Yes, I believe it is a sin to have children out side of wedlock but that is another discussion. Nothing this woman has done has been illegal.

In my opinion, she needs to take her children and move.

I applaud her decision to not selectively reduce her babies while pregnant. Everyone knows that a high percentage of implanted embryos terminate on their own, so it isn't like she was really expecting to have this many children. And from what I understand she was only implanted with six, and two embryos divided into twins. That's nature folks, and nothing she could control.

I do believe she needs to take any money she has made on these interviews and buy a home OUTSIDE the State of California. Pay cash, so she doesn't have to worry about a house payment.

I also don't think it's a problem that she receives any kind of state aid, I mean that is what it's there for right? While I don't like any social programs, they exist, and if she qualifies, she is no worse off than any other "welfare mothers" that park themselves on state aid.

I believe this mom is correct and that she is being singled out for her single status.

The media needs to stop judging her. If there is a problem stop interviewing her, and others like her. Stop glorifying multiple births if it is a problem for you. And for goodness sakes start minding your own business. I am quite certain anyone else wouldn't stand for the public scrutiny of their lives.

It's not our job to police this woman's motives, no more than it is to question the Duggar's for having 18 children. We already have too many laws infringing our freedoms, do we really need more? It has to end someplace.

Sure, marvel at the scientific nature of a woman have eight children that survive. What a miracle?! But anything else is just plain noisiness. I guess everyone criticizing her doesn't have a life and should get one.

I for one will be praying for wisdom and strength for her, and good health for the children. I understand the needs of a preemie and a disabled child, I also understand the criticism of having an unpopular pregnancy. I can't tell you the amount of flack I have received with having my fourth child recently. It seems everyone has an opinion about the number of children I should have, my age, etc., etc., Prayer is definitely needed for this woman.

2 comments:

Brea in Texas said...: I think it became the public's business when she hired a publicist, who started saying that she (the mom) was asking for $2 million per interview. She chose to place herself in the spotlight.

But I agree with you on one thing; we will also be preying for that family. 14 kids under 8? Wow. And I'm hugs fan of big families. But that's a lot of work for a single mom. Yeah, many prayers. I admire that she refused to 'terminate' any of the babies when they found out how many had implanted.

~Brea; February 26, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Amy E said...: I think she should have gone with her first instinct and kept anonymous, but I can't fault her on making money. I mean people are going to talk ugly about her, she might as well make something. But 2 million an interview is kind of high. Maybe it was a way to prevent interviews? Who knows? People definitely don't agree with the way I live my life. They are free to ask questions, I am free to answer (or not), but it doesn't mean they have the right to keep me from my kids or deny me other rights. This is where I get UPSET.

I understand people having opinions on stuff, you know I have lots of my own LOL! But those trying to take the babies away when she hasn't even shown she can't provide or is neglecting them is crazy. How can someone be penalized for a crime they haven't committed yet? Okay, I will stop ranting!

Thanks for stopping by Brea. I sometimes feel like I am talking to myself. Which I guess is fine, I didn't create this blog for the general public, but my family and friends. So, I guess I shouldn't complain about the lack of comments.; February 26, 2009 at 2:55 PM

Grandma's Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

2 pkgs active dry yeast or 5 tsps if using bulk yeast
1/2 cup warm water (not too hot)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening, butter, margarine
2 tsps salt
2 cups milk, scalded
1 1/2 cups cold water
10 to 12 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

Yield: 4 loaves

Soften yeast in warm water, springkle in a tsp of the sugar
In LARGE mixing bowl blend sugar, shortening, salt and milk until shortening is melted. Add cold water, cool to luke-warm. Stir in yeast. Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and satiny, 5 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover with foil or damp towel. Let rise in warm place (85 to 90 deg) until light and doubled in volume about two hours. Punch dough down by plunging fist in center. Knead dough for about 5 minutes.

Roll out one fourth of dough to a 16 X 12 inch rectangle. Brush with 2 TBSP of melted butter. Combine 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon (or more to taste). Sprinkle mixture over dough. Starting with 16 inch side, roll jellyroll fashion. Either cut into 16 1 inch slices or leave as a whole loaf. Place on a greased pan, cover and let rise in warm place until light, about 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Mix one box 10X sugar with 2 tbsps water. If too stiff, add more water until icing consistency, add a drop of vanilla too. Spread on baked bread while bread is still warm.

2010 Homestead Stats

Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small washpan or bowl that holds about 2 gallons.

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the washpan. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Transfer soap (using a funnel if necessary) into empty plastic laundry holders, milk containers (I use my empty glass milk bottles and old Fab containers) Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

5 cups grape juice (about 3 1/2 pounds of ripe grapes)1 (1 3/4 ounce) box of sure-jel pectin7 cups sugarBefore getting started it is best to clean the entire kitchen, making sure the sink is empty. Bleach the sink and all utensils used in making jelly (I do this as I sell my grape jelly as part of my homesteading business.)

Wash the canning jars in warm soapy water, and rinse well. Set off to side.

Place a large pan of water on the stove to heat. Once it starts steaming, place lids and rings in the bottom, and 2-3 jars (depending on if you use actual jelly jars or pints) to sterilize.

Next make the grape juice using clean washed grapes (make sure you use rubber gloves when picking or washing wild grapes)To 3 1/2 pounds of clean grapes (6 cups of grapes) add 1 1/2 cups water.Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.Strain and squeeze out all of the juice with cheese cloth (see paragraph below)
I didn't have cheese cloth, so I poured the grape mixture into a large spaghetti strainer with a large pan underneath. I had to stir it around some as the skins and seeds would sink to the bottom, and clog the colander up. Stirring allowed the liquid to drain out. I then used a large metal spoon and squished it some to get more of the juice out.

In a very big pan, put 5 cups of the juice (it’s okay to add no more than ½ cup water to even out amount)Add the fruit pectin to the juice.Mix well.On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.Stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly.
Remove jelly from heat, skim off foam
Use a large spoon inserted inside the jar to lift CAREFULLY out of the water. DO NOT TOUCH THE INSIDE OF THE JAR OR THE RIM WITH YOUR HANDS.
Ladle jelly into hot jars, place a lid and ring onto jar (do not tighten yet).
Set jars to the side. After a while you should start hearing “pings” as the jar seals.
When jars are completely cool, tighten rings and store on pantry shelf.**SIDE NOTE: Wild Mustang Grapes are normally ready the end of June, so be prepared. Keep an eye open for vines on the side of the road, or any that friends and family may have growing in their yard. Many people just let them grow and don’t do anything with them, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a good supply. Also, the more you pick off the vine, the more the vine produces new grapes, so you probably won’t EVER run out of grapes to use until the vine dies or you get sick of making jelly. Good luck and feel free to contact me at queensedgefarm@yahoo.com for questions.