Friday, October 06, 2006

Friday 55 & Da Count-The Girls

FRIDAY 55
*a story in 55 words


'Last time, Sweetie.' she cooed as she offered her breast to her wee one. Her eyes met her lastborn's and she reminisced. She remembered the first time she'd breastfed each child, the times they'd slept in her arms after a full belly. She smiled...

CHOMP!

Devlish eyes caught hers. The imp knew he'd been weaned!


motherlovedkreider
*Mother Love by David Kreider


DA COUNT
*where we count what we do have instead of complaining about what we don't have...click the sidebar button to play along


For Da Count this week, I'm taking a bit of a cue from Cosima's post last week (celebrating all things feminine) and Breast Cancer Awarenss Month. I'm counting 'the girls.' They're not as perky as they once were (I think they were perky for about 20 minutes when I was 16). I nursed each of my kids until they were between 15 and 18 months old mainly for health and economic reasons.


There were times I wished my breasts were on velcro (none of the kids would accept a bottle of breastmilk, I tried.) so I could occasionally manage a little more time to myself. For the most part, I loved being able to nurse my kids though and sometimes that's a part of having babies I miss a lot. It's just tender and close and it amazed me that I could sustain another tiny human being in that way. By the way, the longer you breastfeed the lower your risk for developing breast cancer but I certainly won't hassle anyone who chooses the bottle instead.


I like that even though my kids are 15,13, and 11 they sometimes still cuddle up to me and lay their heads on my chest when they need some comfort. It makes me giggle when one of them tells me I have good 'cushions.'


And lest I forget, but without being outre, I'm also counting the pleasure they can give and receive in private moments.


Let's hear it for the girls!

24 comments:

KFarmer said...

Hurrah for the Girls! I breast fed both my wee ones too. Hard to imagine me feeding anything with what I have left, but once upon a time- twice, they did their magic. Great count! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow what a great 55!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Melissa said...

oh hahahaha! I love that flashfiction! My girls lived that one out a few times as well.

Great count too :)

yay boobies!

Anonymous said...

Woohoo, great Da Count and flash 55! I breastfed my son until he was almost two (gasp!). It's convenient, cheap, and most important of all creates a wonderful bond with your child.

lecram sinun said...

I'm all for counting the girls and a lovely post. Cheers!

S said...

A very sweet 55 Lime! I think weve all been bitten huh?

We (the community)have this very big soft friend, and all our kids, when younger, loved to nestle into her lap and lay their heads on her big soft breasts! It was so sweet!

Lovely 55 and Da Count, Lime!

Stealth said...

awww that made me tear up a little. I breastfed all my babies and I think it gets stuck in thier heads that "those are their boobies"

(especially my lil boy with his lil blonde curls) -- ya know..my boyfriend :-)

Thanks for reminding me and making me laugh and smile and..think...

I love your counts. :-)

The 'twins' count BIG.

Anonymous said...

YYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMM................
SENNNNNNNNNGGGGG!!!!!

That's a big toast (as in Bottoms up in Chinese!) for you girls!

Logophile said...

Oh yeah,
gotta count the girls!
And I think anyone who breastfeed can relate to your 55 story, definitely.

Amber said...

I breastfed to 14 months and it reeks havoc on the girls. I also did a 55 on breastfeeding, it's abeautiful and painfull experience.

lime said...

kfarmer, sweet memories eh?

steve, thanks, you too:)

lissa, scars to prove it, right?

cosima, right on all counts!

lecram, thank you:)

susie, what a wonderful image. you made me smile.

spitfire, glad to make you smile.

blither, thank you hun, you make me laugh and smile too.

kien, yyyaaammmm sssseeenngg!!!

logo, if i think hard enough i can still feel the lil teeth....i don't wanna think that hard.

amber, yeah it makes em stretch and sag , but i'd still do it that way if i had the chance again.

S said...

Hey Lime, after reading your 55 I got inspired....i have tshirt folding AND 55 today....
Boobies of course, so then Amber did boobies too yay!

Boysenberry said...

A great 55. Doesn't hurt that it was on a subject close to my heart :)

dr. psy said...

lime, why would breastfeeding reduce ones risk of developing breast cancer? I mean, is there actually a known reason for this?

Marc

Stephanie said...

Very sweet. I so wish I could have nursed but alas, I could not. It just wasn't in the cards. Lactation consultants and breast pumps are soooo much more expensive than formula. I felt I was failing V for a very long time. By the time the twins came along, I didn't think I could repeat that. I did try and only one was even mildly able. I had always looked forward to it too.

lime said...

boysenberry, ironic...thet're close to mine too, literally

dr psy, it has to do with the hormones involved in lactation. i get them
confused but i believe estrogen is the one that is suppressed while
breastfeeding (women who breastfeed exclusively also tend not to have ther
menstrual cycles restart for many months after giving birth too because of
this). high estrogen levels encourage tumor growth. ( i think that's how it all goes, if i'm wrong and someone knows better, pls feel free to correct that)

snavy, i'm sorry that it didn't work out well for you when you wanted to be able to do it. most important is having a sane mama and a healthy baby, so if bottle feedings got you that it's what was best for you guys.

word very *ewelogik* intellectually superior female sheep?

dr. psy said...

Oh, okay. I knew that estrogen was a contributor to breast cancer, so that makes perfect sense. Thanks.

Marc

Anonymous said...

I breast fed my ... er, nevermind. Let's hear it for the girls. They do, after all, make the world go round. Nice 55 too Lime. What happened to you the other day? I hollered back and you disappeared. Just letting you know I wasn't ignoring you. Love ya doll.
TG

EmBee said...

My son when younger had a 'thing' for boobs... His elderly preschool teacher surprised the hell out of us during a parent teacher conference when she said, "Zak's a 'boob man' isn't he?... He always taps my chest in order to get my attention." What can you say, he was a 4 yr. old who liked copping a feel!

Semi-Gloss Lacquer said...

I know this is going to sound bizarre, but, as a guy... (and yes, as a guy who was raised primarily by women,) I completely just DON'T think of breasts for breastfeeding...
I dunno what it is, I mean, as a figure painter/sculptor, (among other pursuits,) I've been around pleanty of breasts.
-It just never occurs to me that THAT's what they're for...

I'll eventually catch on, I think, though I'd not put any money on it...

lime said...

tg, thanks hun, teehee

margie, my boy's been a 'butt man' since he was 3. he goosed me while i was doing dishes and when i asked why he said....'cuz you pinch mine.' he still loves to goose people.

lacquer, LOL...true confessions. the ..erm..sustenance/solace...they provide is multifacetted

RennyBA said...

What a great 55 Lime! and what is more beautiful than Mother Love - unconditinal love!
Your post took me down the memorie lane - thouse where the days:-)
Have a wonderful week ahead!

Anonymous said...

Lefty and Droopy (my girls) send a Shout Out to your girls...

James Goodman said...

Great 55, Lime. :D