Picture update

Ryan has been painting a house that belongs to a lady that is 102 years old. She is quite amazing for her age. She sewed these two aprons for the boys!

5 months old

5 months

3 1/2 months old

3 months

3 months

Are Vaccines Safe?

I have just begun my research on vaccines. I wish that I had known what I am learning before I had my first child. Anyways, I just want to encourage anyone who reads this to research vaccines and their safety if you have a baby or are going to have a baby. Here is a video that i highly recommend. There are also alot of great books out there too. She has some listed on her website. I don't know for certain that this lady speaking is a Christian, but she seems to be by some of the things she says. Anyways, this video is is highly informative on vaccines. What I appreciate the most is that with all the information she presents, she still says not to trust her but to do your own research and make your own decision. So, that is what I am passing along to anyone who reads this. I am thankful that none of my children were vaccine injured, but I wish that I had someone telling me 3-4 years ago to research and educate myself and not just do what everyone else is doing.

Mary Tocco is the speaker that I referred to above.
"Mary Tocco has twenty-seven years experience managing and promoting chiropractic offices. She has done extensive research into natural healthcare, home-birth, nutrition, and many other aspects related to wellness and anti-aging. As a mother of five very healthy children who were raised utilizing these principles, she is a consultant to many who want to promote natural family health. She is a wealth of information for families that want to avoid pharmaceuticals and can show them a more natural approach. She is also an independent researcher and public speaker. Since 1979, she has been investigating vaccinations and their connection to childhood illness. In 2006, she released a DVD called “Are Vaccines Safe?” that has been viewed by over 100,000 people worldwide. " http://childhoodshots.com/Preview_DVD_.php

Videos

Moses has seen the show Deadliest Catch, and asked if we could buy some crab from the store. He was so excited to have it for dinner!






This is song we've been learning with our boys. It's by Sovereign Grace Ministries and Bob Kauflin. It is a great worship song, about propitiation called "Jesus, Thank You." Here are the lyrics.




The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend,
The agonies of Calvary.
You, the Perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son,
Drank the bitter cup reserved for me.

Your blood has washed away my sin,
Jesus, thank You.
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied,
Jesus, thank You.
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table,
Jesus, thank You.

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near,
Your enemy made Your friend.
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace,
Your mercy and your kindness know no end.

Your blood has washed away my sin,
Jesus, thank You.
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied,
Jesus, thank You.
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table,
Jesus, thank You.

Update

It's been too long. I just don't have the time, let alone brain power, juice--whatever--to think clearly enough to write anything! I got 4 hours of sleep together in one chunk last night(he slept 7 1/2 hours!) and today has been the most clear-headed day I've had in a while. I feel like it really takes alot of effort to think clearly these days, especially when I'm so tired. Baby Abraham is 8 weeks old yesterday and abour 13 1/2 pounds. He is doing well:) I have been healing great from my c-section, but just so tired because I am waking 2-3 times at night. Hopefully he will sleep through the night more cosistantly soon. We will see how it goes. I have been schedule feeding and napping him since about 4-5 weeks old and that is going well. I don't stress about the naps too much as far as getting him to sleep without props. I do lay him down most of the time to go to sleep on his own, but he does take a pacifier and I will comfort him if he seems to have a hard time getting to sleep. Overall he is doing great, and he really doesn't cry too much at all.

So, to give you a peek at the rest of us I am going to post some videos now:)

I don't believe I posted this video. This is Moses and Elijah meeting their brother for the first time just a few hours after he was born.

Great Video

This brought me a great laugh! Click on the link to watch.

Greek-Irish Dancers

Pictures!

- 4 weeks old tomorrow-
Well, at least two of them are looking at the camera!

3 1/2 weeks old

Toes of course:)

-3 1 /2 weeks old-
Well, I guess here they are all looking at the camera!

-3 weeks old-
First bath

-2 weeks old-

-1 week old-

This is a good place to be

Family of 5

Abraham's Birth

It's been 11 days and I have finally made my way to the computer to write the story of our third son's birth. Abraham James Finlay was born March 14, 2009 at 12:38pm. He came out crying and weighed 8 pounds 10.5 ounces and 22 inches long. What a big boy! He beat his brothers by over a pound and an inch! He is doing great and growing fast. He was back up to birth weight by last Wednesday, 4 days after birth, and 1 week after his birth he weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce already! He is eating well and sleeping well overall. I am so thankful and feel so blessed.

We had been planning a VBAC, (a natural birth instead of a repeat c-section), and things had been going well in favor of that. We found a hospital that was supportive of that decision and we were just waiting for labor to start. On March 10th I began having a lot of prelabor contractions. They went steadily for 2 days straight and then stopped completely. The contractions picked up again Thursday night, but subsided enough where I could sleep. Friday morning, the 13th, I though my water had leaked. We called my midwife who was going to be my doula during labor, and she came over. Contractions were still going but they weren't strong and nothing else was happening. Finally after a test and check from my midwife she concluded that it wasn't my water and that this was all just pre labor stuff and that it could still be a day or two to a week until something for real happened. So we were disappointed but decided to just enjoy the rest of our day together. We went out to dinner with Ryan's family and walked the mall that night. Well, the next morning the exact same thing happened. I leaked again. Well, we were just perplexed, was this my water or not? We called my midwife again and she just wasn't quite sure and since I was a VBAC she thought it best that I go get checked out at the hospital. Well, we decided that would be the best thing to do and went in that morning. We were just praying that God would make it clear what was going on and what we should do. Well, the midwife on call at the hosptial was so kind and caring, it was a blessing to have her there that day. She did 3 different test to determine if I was leaking and in the end all 3 showed that I was not. They gave us the okay to go home and resume life and continue to wait. Again Ryan and I were perplexed about what to do. We both thought that we would feel relief and be glad to be sent home knowing my water wasn't broke yet. However, we both could not say that we felt comfortable going home. It was so strange and hard for me to admit this because for the past 9 months I had been praying, reading, and researching about VBACs, and I had felt so confidant that God was going to give me a natural birth. But when the time had come when we were faced with the decision again, and we asked ourselves, "is this really what we should be doing?" I lacked peace. It was such an emotional time for me. How could I lack peace about our natural birth that I prayed so long and hard about and really thought was going to happen? No, God never told me that we would have a natural birth, I just wanted it so badly and because we found a supportive hospital, I just thought that it would happen. But in those moments when it was just Ryan and I at the hospital sitting in the room talking and praying for the Lord's peace about going home or choosing a c-section, it was clear to us that God was saying that we ought to have another c-section. I was not goinn to fight against it though it was so hard face this. You see, when you've walked with the Lord and you know his peace when he gives it, you can't turn your back and do what you want to do because you want to feel his peace and blessing. So, we made the decision together. Ryan and I both felt that we should do a repeat c-section. And as soon as we made the decision there was the Lord's peace resting on us. I felt it and knew that was what we should do, but oh I can't tell you and you can't know unless you've been there how hard it was to surrender that over to the Lord. I mourn that loss of delivering my baby naturally, and I don't know why God chose that way for us. The Lord is all powerful, he can do anything. It would be nothing for him to have given us a natural birth, but it was a walk of faith for us, and I don't know if we'll ever know why, but we just needed to trust him and believe that his sovereign will is best. The thought that keeps coming to my mind is that perhaps an elective c-section was his mercy for us. I don't even want to imagine what it would have been like had something gone wrong during labor, had we chosen to do that....anyways, so that is the story behind why we had another c-section.

Now praises to the Lord for his goodness to us! We were blessed with two Christian God-loving nurses. The first was the nurse to put in my IV. She was having difficulty getting it in and it was quite painful. I just laid there praying that she would get it in and finally she did. I breathed aloud,"thank you Lord," and one nurse looked at me and said,"ah, you were praying," and the other nurse looked at me and said,"God answered your prayer." Well, by the end of our time together the IV nurse looked at Ryan and I and said with a confidence that only God could give her,"you are making the right decision."

I don't remember much else of what she said, but I felt in that moment God speaking through her and confirming our decision to have a c-section. She then prayed with me before she left the room. Then the baby's nurse found out we were believers simply when she heard what the names of our boys were! She came over to us right before the surgery began and said, "you guys are Christians, right? Let me pray for you." And she prayed with us right there while I was on the OR table! What a blessing it was to have God place those saints there and lift us up in prayer. The surgery began and it wasn't long before Abrham was born and he came out crying! The anesthesiologist made sure that I could see our baby while they were cleaning him up, and then Ryan was able to hold him right by my head during the rest of the procedure. It went quick and was all over in just over a half hour. As soon as I was ready to go back to our room they took his blanket off and placed him on my chest. He was with me the rest of the day! Such a difference from our past experiences where I was placed in a recovery room alone and not able to see my baby for 2 hours! It was so wonderful.
God has been so gracious to us all in bringing us through this experience healthy and well. I am recovering well! God has taken most of my pain away. I have only needed Ibuprofen, even though I've had major abdominal surgery! It's a blessing to not be drugged up on pain killers that make me groggy and incoherent. The way I feel now at 11 days is how I felt 2-3 weeks after my other surgeries. I am ever so thankful to be feeling so well so soon after. I am still resting lots and doing my best to no over do it.

Thank you to all who have been praying and are praying for us! The Lord is good and faithful. Though we don't always understand his ways nor can we know why he leads us the way he does at times, we rejoice that he is our king! He loves us and knows what is best for us. In him we find our rest.

More details coming soon

This is Ryan for Candice. Abraham James Finlay was born today at 12:38 pm via c-section after much prayer. He was 8 lbs 10 1/2 ounces, 22 1/2 inches long !!! Candice will write more details tomorrow sometime, but she is doing very well and is one happy mama. Thank you all for your love and prayers. --Ryan Finlay

Baby Abraham James Finlay has arrived!

Every Labor and Birth is Different...good to keep in mind

So....I was having contractions for two days straight and then things just tapered off early this morning. My body is getting ready for labor, but it's just not time yet. I read this today about pre labor and this makes sense for what has been happening. However, it's just hard waiting for the real thing! At least I have two distractions named Moses and Elijah to keep me busy, that and I've been cleaning and organizing and so I feel ready in that respect for baby to come. Ryan stayed home from work yesterday because we thought for sure something was going to happen. Although no baby came, it turned into a wonderful family day that was much needed for all of us. It was a blessing to just relax and be together. Also, I slept wondrefully last night, better than I have in a few weeks, and I got a great nap today too. So I feel quite rested, any time today would be great;) All in all, I know the Lord has his perfect timing, so I am continually remembering that and resting in his soveriegnty. It's amazing how thinking of being pregnant another week seems overwhelming! The end is so near, I just wish I knew when it will be.

The contractions aren't painful, just very uncomfortable.

Not Much Change

Well, it seems like things are going slow. I am still having contractions like every 10 minutes or so. We went for a good walk, came home and I took a shower and even a nap while the boys napped. I feel better as far as getting some sleep goes. I just want things to pick up. Not sure when that will happen. I'm just trying to not get discouraged as I know it could still be awhile. Thank you for your prayers! Will keep you posted:)

Early Labor

I've been having contractions since yesterday morning, about 6am. They've been continuing since then. I didn't sleep much last night because of them. I'm a little tired, but bed is the last place I want to be just because I feel so uncomfortable. I'm going for a good long walk this morning and we will see what happens.

A Day Out, Tea and a Soreness

A dear friend from high school came down from Olympia yesterday to visit. My dear husband spent the day with the boys and we went out just the two of us. We spent most of the day together just wandering around downtown Portland. It was so good to see her and visit, as we haven't spent time together like that in forever it seems. We had a wonderful time, walking, talking, and just catching up with each other. I am so glad I got to spend time with her before our baby came. We ended out afternoon at The Tea Zone which is a wonderful little tea house in the Pearl district. I had a tea called Evening in Missoula (A blend of Chamomile, rosehips, raspberry, papaya, peppermint, spearmint, strawberry leaf, vanilla, passion flower, red clover, star anise, and wild cherry bark) Oh my, it was absolutely fabulous! I drank it with some milk and sugar...oh so good. The guy at the shop said it had a complicated taste and he was right. However, I didn't pay enough attention when I drank it to be able to describe it, but it is my new favorite. I am going to try and buy some online or something. Definitely reccamend it:) So yeah, we did a bit of walking, at least much more than i am used to. I usually nap every day, so skipping my nap caused me to just be quite tired by the late afternoon early evening. And then i had a hard night. I fell asleep alright, woke once or twice to turn and go to the bathroom, but than I woke up at like 4:30am and my belly and hips were just so sore. I had a hard time getting comfortable and going back to sleep. Needless to say I kept Ryan up to as I needed him to massage me and help me get comfortable. So we slept in and didn't go to church today. I took a bath this morning and that was helpful. Very relaxing. We're just going to rest today. I am feeling so big and achy...I am just praying this baby comes soon...i don't know long I can go on...oh the woes...I know the Lord will give me strength, i just need to take it one day at a time. The end is in sight and I know we will be holding our baby soon...the end just seems so long...
Good news about baby's kidney. It's not better as far as I know, but I met with the specialist this past Friday and it was good to hear what he had to say. About 50% of the time these things clear up on their own. They will do some test a day or two after he is born and go from there. Usually they just like to wait and watch it, and do another test a month later. As long as things are not looking worse, we'll just wait and see. The thing he kept saying to me is not to worry and we'll just see how things are after he is born. And if they need to, it is a fixable problem. So, that was good for me to hear.

Okay, so I thought this was funny. It's a quote by Benjamin Franklin, on a napkin that says,"Beer is proof the God loves us and wants us to be happy."

Mascara

There are alternatives for natural mascara without harmful ingredients. Thanks to my dear friend Lindsay, you will want to check this out: http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/free-rebate-for-physicians-formula-organic-wear-mascara.html

37 Weeks

Yesterday, I had what should be my last ultrasound this pregnancy. I think I had 4 all together. They have been keeping watch on one of Abraham's kidneys. One has been retaining fluid and it has not been too much, but just enough for them to want to keep an eye on it. Well, yesterday they said it had more fluid in it than the last time, which is just beyond the level which they want to see it at. Anyways, I don't understand all the technical terms, but basically what could be wrong is there could be a narrowing in the tube, or whatever it is that comes out of the kidney to be causing a buildup of fluid. So, what they are doing is referring us to a kidney surgeon specialist and we are planning to meet with him next week. He will hopefully be able to tell us more...They will want to to do an ultrasound on Abraham a few days after he is born and some blood work. And the worse thing would be that he would need surgery to fix the problem...however, I forgot to ask how soon he would need it...anyways, we're just praying for healing. The Lord is sovereign and in control of this...there is nothing we can do but trust and pray. Please join us in prayer for him.

I am 37 weeks now and feeling oh so ready to have this baby out! :) Again, God's in control and we're waiting for his timing...but it's getting harder every day! --sigh-- I am just a bit achy at night I wake several times to go to the bathroom or to just change position. Like a race the last stretch is the hardest. I need endurance for the end.

Pregnancy Update

Once you reach the last month of pregnancy it feels like you've been pregnant forever! Well, not really, but I have a hard time remembering what is was like to not be pregnant. This pregnancy has actually gone by really fast compared to my first two. The last month just seems long because I want my baby to come! I look forward to the end and holding my new little one. It still seems unreal most of the time even though I feel him move every day. It will be weird to have a baby again. You forget so quickly about all the baby stuff and we have 2 little boys now. Elijah is almost potty trained and Moses is just about 3 1/2! My babies are little boys! It's crazy how fast they grow. I am looking forward to having Abraham--did I announce his name yet? I don't remember...our third son's name is Abraham James. I am looking forward to him joining our family. I think I'm really looking forward to seeing the boys interact with him. Moses is always telling me what is going to tell him when he is born and all the things he wants to do with him. Elijah is a bit less interested. He is still my baby in lots of ways, so it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to him. i know that they boys, Elijah especially will need lots of attention as well. Hopefully there won't be any jealousy.
So, yeah, I am 36 weeks and feeling ready! I hope that he comes early...but of course the Lord knows his perfect timing for him. I am just thankful that we have the opportunity to try for a natural birth. So, though I know it will be hard I am looking forward to labor. I have been taking an herbal supplement, Dr. Christopher's Pre-natals, in addition to my regular vitamins. These herbs are formulated to help give elasticity to the pelvic and vaginal area and strengthen the reproductive organs for an easier delivery. My doula who is a practicing midwife reccamended them as well as several friends I know. I have also been drinking red raspberry leaf tea, which also strenthens the uterus and pelvic muscles and helps those be more efficient during labor. I am not sleeping well at night lately. But I suppose it's just preparation for what is ahead! I have been waking every 1-2 hours because I'm either uncomfortable or i have to go to the bathroom. I nap just about everyday, which could contribute to not sleeping very well. It's a hard thing to know what to do, because if I skip the nap, then by dinner I'm a grouch mamma that wants to go to be as soon as I can! So, if I nap when my boys do I can get through the day much better. I probably need to exercise more.
Yes, I have a midwife for my doula. A wonderufl christian lady. She came to our house for dinner this past week and met Ryan and we got to talk through everything. The hope is that she can come to our house when I'm pretty sure labor is going and she can monitor the baby with her doplar, which would enable us to stay home for awhile longer. Then she'll come with us to the hospital when we're ready to go.

Alright, well I need to get to bed.


Here are a few pictures of my boys

Topic of Mascara

If you're interested, you have to link over to Lindsay's blog and read her post on mascara. Have you ever thought about the ingredients in your mascara? I never have. I used to wear it practically everyday and now maybe just once or twice a week. Which I'm glad since the brand I use has been Cover Girl for some years. Some of the ingredients in leading brands are linked to cancer and are a cause for concern. Anyways, i found it interesting.
How safe is your mascara?

Moses' Finger

Last night Moses got his finger smashed in the door. I shut the door not knowing he was there, let alone had his fingers in the way. It ripped the nail half off, from the bottom. (oh it looked so bad...) We took him to urgent care just to get it checked out. No broken bones thankfully. They snipped the nail back and bandaged it for us. It's probably the worse smashed finger i've ever seen, and we had a few growing up in my family of six kids! He is doing fine today, but it was a a long evening last night. However, God gave Moses much strength and grace, and us too. When it initially happened on his own he was praying, "God please help me." --so precious-- Anyways, so, when we were at the clinic, the dr. came in to examine his finger and he started crying before she even touched him. (he has been calmed down for quite awhile), and she said, "what's wrong?" and he said," i want you to be happy." Kids are so discerning of people. He could tell she either had a long day or was stressed or something. She didn't know what to say to that! Anyways, Moses did pretty well overall. We took him to the store after wards and got him a treat:) Needless to say I'm going to be way more careful from now on when I shut doors. It was so hard on me as his mom to have been the one to hurt him. So hard.

Childlike Faith

The boys are growing and changing and learning so much. It amazes me to think Moses will be 4 in the fall...time flies...i will never cease to be amazed by how quickly the days go by...I am continually learning and being challenged as a mom. Ryan and I both are challenged, and daily feel the ever need for the Lord's strength and grace. But He is SO good and his grace abundant! With that said, I wanted to share what happened earlier this week. The boys have been memorizing John 3:16 and this past Monday I started our morning Bible time off with them saying the verse. Then Moses asked me shortly after where God is. I did my best to explain, and then he said that he wanted God in his heart. Talk about being caught off guard! We pray for their salvation all the time, but I never expected him to earnestly desire it now. But why not? We talk literally every day with our boys about sin and our need for Jesus, so they've been exposed to the gospel quite a bit...but it still surprised me. For a moment I wasn't sure if this was "real," but the gospel is simple and he really gets it. So I shared with him again what that meant and told him how he could have God in his heart and what that would mean. I didn't want to just have him repeat a prayer but encouraged him to pray on his own. And in his precious almost 3 1/2 year old child like faith, he scrunched up his face with his eyes shut tight and said, "oh Jesus, please forgive my sin and come into my heart. Make me your child. Amen!" I can't remember if he said more than that, but that is what I remember. It just blessed my soul and I wished that Ryan could have been there, but he was at work, so we called daddy right away to tell him the news! Oh yeah, so after he prayed, I gave him this big hug and told him how I was so happy, and immediately he got really concerned and said, "mom, don't smash God! He's in my heart!" oh the laughter...

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. " 3 John 1:4

High Fructose Corn Syrup

So I am always interested in learning new things about food and nutrition and I have heard and read a little about high fructose corn syrup but not enough where I could explain it to someone else why they shouldn't eat it. Over the past 2 years I have been preferring more and more things pure and natural and the closer to natural the better, thus avoiding high fructose corn syrup. However, I was checking some blogs tonight and found some info at http://happyfoody.com/ on the subject that I though I'd direct your attention to if you're interested.

Little Workers

New Music

We met Solomon at our church and my husband and he have become friends. He and his twin brother Caleb and they just had an album recorded and that is what Moses is singing and playing to in this video. Check them out here: http://calebandsol.com/

Today is Friday

I know I'm his mom, but are these not the sweetest pictures? He is so excited about his new baby brother!

I hope to get a full shot of me soon. For now all you can see is the belly:)


So, a great investment I finally learned now that I'm on my third baby and almost done is a body pillow. I can't believe I did not get a body pillow sooner! I just bought one yesterday and it made such a difference in how I slept last night, it was wonderful!!! I am so glad to have one.

Well, I have exciting news! We finally met with a Dr. at Legacy Emmanual Hospital and they are willing to support me and let me try for a VBAC at their hospital. They still reccamended that I have a repeat c-section, but he said that if this is what I really wanted then they would support me and let me deliver there! No other hospital that I looked into would do that! It's been such a journey of faith with many emotions. This past month especially God's really been ministering to my heart and I've just had complete peace about this birth. A verse that has been an encouragement to me is Nehemiah 2:8b, "...And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me." Now I know the context and the story of Nehemiah is completely different from my situation, but when I was reading this passage, and got to that verse, it just hit my heart. I felt God whisper to me that his hand is upon me. I couldn't say that I had complete confidance that I would be able to try for a vbac at the hospital, but I just felt the Lord's peace wash over me and have been resting in knowing that he is soverign and clinging to hope that it just might go well for me. Anyways, I am so overjoyed and thankful to at least have another chance at giving birth the way God designed it. I can only imagine what it will be like if all goes well and I am able to hold my baby as soon as he is born. It's amazing to me how God desinged a woman to have all these instincts and desires to have a baby and nurture life and birth children! Truly incredible...
So, I'm due about the 3rd week of March. I would greatly appreciate your prayers as we prepare for this birth. Thanks! I have been in touch with a great midwife here and my hope is that as soon as labor gets going, she can come and be with me at our home. That way she can listen to the baby's heartbeat which will enable us to stay home a little longer and then she'll come and be with us at the hospital as my doula and support for Ryan and I. She is a wonderful christian lady and it would be a blessing if it works out that she could come.

In other news I think Moses might be allergic to peanut butter. He has had this small rash on the back of his right leg since the end of November. It never got worse or spread or anthing, it was just there. We tried a few different creams but nothing happened. After talking with several different people I got the idea from one lady that it could be related to a food allergy and the first thing I thought of was peanut butter. I definately feed it to my kids pretty regularly, so I cut it out of his diet right away, and after a week or so, the rash was completely gone. I also was putting lansinoh on it because it was so dry. Well, probably two weeks later, I gave him a small half of a peanut butter sandwhich and overnight the rash flared up all red again. Hmmm....so, no more peanut butter this week, and the rash is almost completely gone again. I realize the only way to know for sure is to have him tested, but for now I will just not feed him peanuts of any form. It's interesting as I did a little reading on peanut allergy to learn that reactions can vary from a small rash on various parts of the body to really bad life threatening stuff. I am glad he didn't have any bad reactions.

My boys snuggling on the couch:)

Plastic Info

Since I was thinking about plastics again today and wondering which numbers on the bottom are safe and which are not I thought I'd look them up. And then I thought I'd share what I found from this website.

Adapted from Green Remodeling, by David Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004).

The news about plastics has been pretty alarming lately, causing some of us to go dashing for the water bottles to see what kind of plastic they are—and find out if we’ve been unwittingly poisoning our children and ourselves with chemicals leaching into the water from them.

If you’ve been concerned, here is a handy chart that identifies the good, bad, and OK plastics and where they are found. Find out here:

1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Used to make soft drink, water, sports drink, ketchup, and salad dressing bottles, and peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars.
GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.

2 High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Milk, water, and juice bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners, and grocery, trash, and retail bags.
GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.

3 Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC)
Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses, and other foods sold in delicatessens and groceries are wrapped in PVC.
BAD: To soften into its flexible form, manufacturers add “plasticizers” during production. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when in contact with foods. According to the National Institutes of Health, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC, is a suspected human carcinogen.

4 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Some bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles.
OK: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones, but not as widely recycled as #1 or #2.

5 Polypropylene (PP)
Some ketchup bottles and yogurt and margarine tubs.
OK: Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2.

6 Polystyrene (PS)
Foam insulation and also for hard applications (e.g. cups, some toys)
BAD: Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen. Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of the plastic) are suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recycling.

7 Other (usually polycarbonate)
Baby bottles, microwave ovenware, eating utensils, plastic coating for metal cans
BAD: Made with biphenyl-A, a chemical invented in the 1930s in search for synthetic estrogens. A hormone disruptor. Simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer studies. Can leach into food as product ages.