An Unexpected Pregnancy’s Happy Ending: Adoption Options
Thousands of women each year experience the tumultuous nine months that comprise and unexpected pregnancy. And each year in North America, thousands of babies are given up for adoption, and placed in loving homes. The adoption process is a long and arduous one, filled with paperwork, anticipation and sometimes, heartache; but it’s still a journey people embark on every day and when they have a baby in their arms at the end of it, they’d tell you they don’t regret a second.
There are two types of adoption: Public and Private. Both are available to North Americans, and both are very similar in end goal; to place children in loving and healthy homes. But there are big differences between the two options and couples looking to adopt should examine both options very well before choosing their adoption path.
Public Domestic Adoption
Public domestic adoption is a quite different journey for those looking to bring a child into their lives. It is of no charge to prospective parents which can help out for those that have spent money trying to conceive already, or for those couples that have a moderate cash-flow.
The children and infants available are generally already wards of the government due to unplanned pregnancies neglect or troubled homes, which means that their birth families are not involved in the process at all. Thus, the prospective parents would not necessarily have access to any family medical records, but they would also not be in any danger of the birth parents changing their minds.
The waiting period for a “healthy” newborn can be up to 8 years in a public adoption; prospective parents can have a child placed with them much sooner if they are willing to consider older and / or special needs children and babies.
Private Adoption
If a couple chooses to use an adoption agency or find a prospective birth mother on their own, this is called Private Adoption. There are two types of private adoption that happen most frequently in North America: Open Adoption and International.
- Open Adoption
Women who have found themselves pregnant and are wanting to find their unborn baby a home will contact these agencies or place ads (where legally permitted) to find prospective adoptive parents. The birth mothers will choose the couple that they think will suit the child’s needs the best.
The average waiting period for a newborn is about 2-4 years. It is usually a much shorter wait than a public adoption. In a private open adoption, after a couple is chosen, and the baby is taken home, the birth mother has a short period of time to change her. These situations do happen are quite heartbreaking for everyone involved.
If the baby remains with the new parents, the birth mother (and birth father) can make arrangements to stay in contact with the family and the baby.
A big advantage with open adoptions is that prospective couples have access to the birth family’s social and medical history. A disadvantage for most people is the $10,000 – $20,000 cost.
Couples looking into open adoptions should be aware of the cost and the fact that the birth mother will most likely become part of their extended family. Some people forget that they may need to walk away and that may be too much to handle emotionally for some couples.
- Private International Adoption
International adoption has recently come to the forefront of North American adoption options due to its popularity with celebrities in the past couple of decades. International adoption is done privately with a domestic agency.
The waiting time in an international adoption is typically only a couple of years. A child is usually chosen from an orphanage by officials residing in the country the child resides in.
Adoptive parents will have to travel to the country and fill out masses of paperwork to obtain the rights to adopt, and the fees can be up to $50,000; this includes travel and lodging.
Whether a couple wanting a child goes the public or private route, there are pros and cons to both. When looking at options, be sure to be wary of not only cost and time, but also emotions and reactions. The reality of adoption is harder than people want to believe; when thinking about human lives, it isn’t desirable to look at things logically – people tend to think with their hearts.
The hope is that an unplanned pregnancy or previously unwanted child finds joy and love in the arms of a healthy, happy couple. When a child finds love and acceptance that is the greatest happy ending.
Building Healthy Homes: Want to Secure the Health and Life of your Family at Home?
And you thought your family and children were so safe inside the home environment cozily protected from potent health hazards! But did you know that the source of asthma, lead poisoning, and many such types of chronic health conditions could lie within your home environs?
According to recent survey it has been revealed that your family especially the kids are threatened with major health risks if the design/architecture, built and maintenance of your home is improper.
So while planning out a new home or a home remodeling/renovation make sure that your home planner or design architect makes use of healthier home building techniques and technology. This shall ensure that your family and kids residing in such healthy homes are much more healthier and safer!
You might incur higher expenses while constructing a healthy and environmental friendly home as compared to normal homes. But the health and life of your children and family is supposed to be of utmost importance above anything else!
So while you are busy with your home plans or home renovation ideas spare a thought on the following points to build a healthier and safer home.
Budget your home plans keeping in mind that you have to use non-toxic or less toxic building materials that are a bit more expensive than general building materials.
General building and construction materials (particularly glues, paints, varnishes, insulators, etc.) are usually loaded with toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as urea, formaldehyde, lead, asbestos, carbon monoxide, etc. derived from petroleum. If inhaled continuously these toxins accumulate in the body leading to serious health problems.
While constructing cabinets and countertops or for sheathing, sub-flooring and roof decking the ideal choice is solid wood but if it is too expensive go in for exterior grade plywood only instead of particleboard/fiberboard that contains toxic glue mixed with wood chips.
Avoid vinyl and wall-to-wall carpet flooring. Vinyl floors contain poly vinyl chloride (PVC) a harmful chemical while fully carpeted floors accumulates dust, dust mites, molds, etc. all of which are potent causative agents of allergy, asthma and other chronic respiratory problems. Instead use healthier floor alternatives as cork, solid wood, marmoleum, tiles, bamboo, and so on.
Always make use of strictly low-odor and non-toxic paints containing highly reduced amounts of VOCs such as paints comprising of just clay and pigments. Paints are usually loaded with high quantities of lead. Avoid using such paints completely.
Avoid using resins and glues that contain formaldehyde especially urea formaldehyde.
To build the foundation, walls and roof panels of a healthy home make use of thick, natural, hygroscopic and breathable plasters and stuccoes such as clay-treated wood chip placed over sand and fine gravel instead of using foam boards or poly vapor barriers. This renders efficient indoor humidity control thus preventing the formation of molds. In this way you can also avoid the accumulation of harmful radon gas inside your home.
Avoid building bedrooms/living rooms over the garage space of your house. Toxic gasoline fumes can outgas from the fuel tank of your car and infiltrate into the bedrooms.
Install carbon monoxide testers/detectors especially near furnaces, fireplaces, and garage areas of your home. Radon testers must be essentially placed in the basement areas of your home as this harmful radioactive gas occurring in soil can seep into your home through the foundation.
For construction of a healthy home only hire registered professional home planners and home builders/contractors who have the required knowledge of building and planning healthier homes based on strict building guidelines.
Healthy Meal Plans to Lose Weight
2010 is all done, and 2011 is rolling in.. this means new years resolutions. One of the most popular new years resolutions are to get in shape, or perhaps shed a few pounds. Many people think that if they get a gym membership, and go a couple times a week this will be all they need to achieve their goals of getting in shape or losing some weight. WRONG. Weight loss is a journey…. and for some, it can be a very long journey at that. Gaining back your health includes an abundance of change. One of the largest contributing factors to weight loss is your diet plan. Today I will give you a few tips to get healthy and shed a few extra pounds with healthy meal plans to lose weight. No gym required.
The reason you have gained the weight in the first place has been your diet. Many people disregard breakfast. This meal is the most important meal of day because it starts up your metabolism. This is something that you really need to understand. You metabolism WILL slow down if you are only eat 2 LARGE meals a day, it will slow down if you are eating 2 small meals a day, and it will slow down if you are not putting the right fuel into your system.
To start off, cut out the simple sugars. These include white bread, sugar in your coffee, pastries, plain bagels, white pasta, cookies and most fast food.
Then, recognize the importance of water. Its huge. It gets your digestive system moving, and it helps rid of any toxins that are slowing you down.. literally.
Start eating a healthy breakfast. This should/can include, a bowl of cereal (Fibre One, Vector, Cheerios, nature valley) you should use low-fat milk, and for some extra nutrients add fresh berries, apples, or bananas.
You can also refer to the other breakfast healthy meal plans idea that I have previously posted.
Then.. about 3 hours later have a snack. This snack should include a fruit accompanied with a protein or a fat. So, lets say an apple with 10-15 almonds, or a low fat cheese.
So, if you work a job that is from 9-5, we are probably at about 2:30 or three o’clock. Now its lunch time. This should include a protein, a complex carbohydrate and some vegetables. This can be a piece of chicken breast, accompanied with a small sweet potato and a fresh salad. Avoid processed dressing. Try Balsamic vinegar and olive oil to put on your salad, and if you need to spice up your chicken try some Mrs. Dash sodium (salt) free spices.
Now, its about 5:30 you are hitting the road and your on the way home. Dinner time is creeping up, but if you’re sitting in traffic and you can feel your tummy growling. For times like these make sure you have something in your bag. This is when most people fail. Many people swing through the McDonalds drive through to get a burger to hold them until they get home. Terrible idea, AND it waste of money and chances are you will feel guilty afterward if you’re trying to get in shape! So.. always have a little granola bar in your bag. Not a granola bar that is loaded with sugar like a S’mores bar. But try something like Kashi or Nature valley. These can even be thrown into your dash board for desperate times.
Now you are home, and the family is getting hungry. You’re dinner, much like your lunch should consist of a protein, a complex carbohydrate and vegetables. This can include extra lean ground beef spaghetti sauce, whole wheat noodles, and a fresh spinach salad with any vegetables. Again, light on the dressing.
If your family enjoys stir fry. Sautee some frozen or fresh vegetables with some diced up chicken breast, and put it on a bed or brown, or wild rice.
Many of us deal with unsupportive families who are not willing to eat such foods, but this is about YOU.. not the entire family. IF they are not willing to be supportive and help make the changes, recognize what you are going after… YOUR HEALTH. Continue your healthy eating, and consider the fact that you recently had a granola bar, you can hold off for a few extra minutes to make your own plate.
Remember… drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. Drink with every meal. Its hard to get used to, but after a few days, your body and mind will thank you.
Key point here, DO NOT starve yourself. It will only come back to bite you. Eat frequently. When you are hungry.. EAT.. just make sure its healthy, clean food. With all of this information, you are well on your way to starting a fabulous diet that will not feel like a diet, it will become your lifestyle. It will help with your weight-loss and over all health. So, there you go, this is your new outline to starting your healthy meal plans to lose weight. In the upcoming articles, I will give you some more meal ideas and few extra tips to rid of the few extra pounds.
Remove the Poisons With a Home Remedy For Colon Cleansing
Colon cleansing is a great way to lose weight and to get you on a path to better health. An unhealthy colon can lead to all sorts of problems you don’t want. Some possible problems are colon cancer, constipation, feeling sluggish and weight gain. When you clean the colon you are actually removing harmful toxins and impurities from the body.
A healthy colon and body cleanse is needed because a dirty colon can be the result of you eating processed foods, eating foods that are not healthy or having unhealthy eating habits. When your colon cannot eliminate the toxins effectively, it becomes overburdened and toxins accumulate. Be sure to check the labels on the packaged food items that you consume and make sure that the ingredients are all natural and that no preservatives are used on the products.
Many people are looking for a good home remedy for colon cleansing. Whatever home remedy you use to clean colon out you want to aim for going to the bathroom two times a day. You also want to make sure there is no straining or pain when you go. Drinking plenty of water is a key to clean the colon. You want to make sure you get 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Getting enough daily water will help you to keep you digestive system healthier by flushing those toxins out through sweat and urine and will also keep your body hydrated.
Another great home remedy for colon cleansing is getting fiber in your diet. Fiber can help with digestion and help ensure regular bowel movements, which leads to a clean colon. One of the most fiber-filled foods is whole grains. There are many foods that can contain whole grains. These include whole wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice and whole grain cereals. You can also eat peanuts, rice cakes, sunflower seeds or beans. These foods all contain fiber and are also healthy.
A healthy colon and body cleanse is necessary to keep your body in top shape and free from toxins. There are various colon cleansing procedures which are being used by doctors. But many people would like to clean colon out naturally by using various home remedies for colon cleansing. You can use these home remedies for colon cleansing to cleanse your colon and eliminate the toxins from your body within the comforts of your home.
One of the best ways to clean the colon out is to use a colon cleansing supplement that you can use in the privacy of your own home. These supplements work to thoroughly cleanse the body of all toxins by gently flushing them out through the colon. Most people will experience noticeable results such as increased energy, natural weight-loss and enhanced metabolism within a few weeks of beginning detoxification.
Just a few of the benefits of using a supplement as a home remedy for colon cleansing are:
1. You can do it in the privacy in your own home.
2. Less expensive than going to your doctors office.
3. No embarrassment.
4. Not having to talk to someone about your bodily functions.