21 Day Fix

Back in February/March, I completed a whole30 - 30 days of whole foods. No sugar, no dairy, no grain, no processed foods. For me, that process was meant to help me break my sugar addiction. I lost ten pounds in 30 days without any exercise, which was an added bonus, but my goal was to kick sugar to the curb. It worked for a short time, but before I knew it, I was back to shoving mass amounts of chocolate in my mouth on a daily basis. It did help me make better choices overall though. I have done really well at eating more balanced meals and fewer carbs. Filling up on the real food instead of the empty carbs.

Since then, I have gained about 4-5 pounds back. Back then, while I was happy to shed some pounds, I didn't really care about my weight. I didn't love how I looked, but I just didn't care enough to work on it. After Leland, it took me a year to actually give a crap. After Alden, it took a solid 20 months, but I'm finally there. Ready to work on lose some weight and get in shape.

I have been running this summer, which is great exercise, but I know I need more than just running. I really need to strengthen my core (and in the process, maybe tone my tummy a bit), and working on lower body strength will help me with running.

That's where the 21 Day Fix comes in. I have several friends who have completed (and continue to do) this program. They have seen awesome results and seem really happy with the program. So I decided to give it a try.

I'm on day 6 and I'm enjoying it so far. Food-wise, it's different than whole30. On 21 Day Fix, you are allowed a variety of healthy foods, but it's about portion control. On whole30, food choices were more limited, but I was allowed as much as I wanted. So I can have two servings of grain a day, and I can have some cheese or greek yogurt or peanuts. It's not quite as limiting with what I eat, but more about how muchI eat. It's about eating more veggies and protein, and smaller portions of the other stuff.

Each day, I can have 4 red, 3 green, 2 purple, 2 yellow, 1 blue, and 1 orange. Most days I haven't used them all. I usually have an orange or half of another container leftover.

With whole30, I liked most of the meals I made, but Dave didn't quite as much. Also, I feel like there aren't any other options that I would like. So I could do another whole30, but I would pretty much eat all the same things as last time. That's not very exciting. So far, I have found tons of recipes that are Fix-friendly that I think I would love. The ones we have tried so far, we all enjoy!

Favorite so far: burrito bowls

My bowl was overflowing. Trust me, I was satisfied.

Dave's plate - easier to see what's in there.
Recipe here

And unlike whole30, this program involves exercise. Daily exercise. The program comes with a workout DVD and a schedule of when to do which workout. The workouts are only 30 minutes, which has been easy to fit into my day, but they are TOUGH. So far, each workout has had me sweating buckets, and definitely sore the next day. But that's a good sore. I'm excited about it. I may not be able to crouch down or even walk down some stairs without wincing, but I'm excited about it. Because it means I'm really working.

Running is not a 21 Day Fix workout, but I am still trying to keep up with it. So I took my boys out for two slow miles a few days ago.

My goal with this round of 21 Day Fix is to lose around 10 pounds, and to see a difference in my abdomen. I think that's an attainable goal. As of today, I am down 4.5 lbs. Which means I'm at 140 lbs...I haven't been below that since long before having kids. Can't wait to see that scale drop a little more. I know that it's just a number, but it feels good. And I'm already noticing a difference in my arms, quads, and tummy. I like it. A lot.

I can totally see myself continuing the 21 Day Fix after this round, but I will probably need a short break in between. I mean, the fair starts right after this round is over and I will need some greasy, fried goodness before I dive back in.

Stupid Skin

A few years ago, when I was pregnant with Leland, this red bump appeared on my bottom lip. I posted about it here, but the short version is that I went to my dermatologist and he won't do anything about it until I am done with pregnancy and nursing.

Fast forward to about a month ago, when a red bump appeared below my eye.

I thought it was a zit at first, because it had a little white spot in the middle, but it didn't go away after a week, and I couldn't pop it. 

I called my dermatologist, but they couldn't see me for two weeks, so I went to my doctor, or actually a PA at my doctor's office because my doctor was on vacation. She said it was a stye and gave me a prescription for an antibiotic cream. After a week, it was still there, and actually seemed bigger.

I went back to the PA and she said it's probably a milia, which is a keratin deposit under the skin's surface. She couldn't treat it and suggested I come back to see my doctor. I decided to see my dermatologist instead.

According to my dermatologist, it is most likely an oil deposit, but he didn't want to remove it because it would leave a scar. He referred me to another dermatologist who specializes in the area around the eye. He will probably (hopefully!!!) remove it at that point. My dermatologist said that it's highly unlikely that it's anything serious, but if they remove it, they will do a biopsy just in case.I can't get in to see the new dermatologist for a few weeks, so I guess I just have to deal with it until then.

The point here is that I'm so stinking tired of dumb skin issues on my face!

A New (Food) Journey

In a few weeks, I am going to embark on a new, slightly terrifying, food journey. I will do the Whole 30 challenge. Thirty days of whole food - no grain, no sugar, no dairy, no processed foods.

This is sort of an extreme food challenge for me. I try to eat whole foods as often as possible, and I don't really feel like I eat incredibly unhealthy. But, as of late, I do eat a lot of carbs and refined sugar. This is a huge change for me and for my family (let's not talk about how much Dave is NOT looking forward to this).

When I first decided to do this challenge, my main motivation was weight loss. I am not overweight, and I'm actually fairly content with the number on the scale, but I wanted a way to kick-start myself into losing a few pounds and fitting into my clothes better. However, after researching it more, I am now more motivated by the health benefits for myself and my family. I have always had some digestive issues and dismissed them as just the way things are for me. But now my boys seem to be inheriting the same issues, and I don't want them to go through their whole lives like this. I want them to eat well and feel great NOW so that it's just a habit when they're older.

I feel that doing the Whole 30 will be a good way to force me to create healthier meals and eating habits for my family so that it will become easier for me. I am the queen of excuses, like when it comes to food prep, saying I don't have time, but really I just don't make time. I also think that it will be good for me to cut out sugar for a good chunk of time. I have a definite addiction to sugar and I'm hoping to get it under control. I do not want sugar to be such a big part of my diet. The Whole 30 is considered a type of  cleanse, and that is why I'm doing it. I need to detox from all the sugar. That's the only way I can see myself getting control of it.

To start this journey, I ordered the cookbook Against All Grain as well as a zoodle slicer. I have always wanted to try zoodles, so now is the perfect time!

Now, I'm not saying that I am going completely Paleo after this challenge. I'm not a person that likes to be defined or limited by labels. If I want to have bread, I will eat bread. If I want to have pasta, I will eat pasta. And if I want cake, I for sure am going to eat cake! But I would like to have some of these healthier meals more often than not.

So, will I always have zoodles instead of pasta? Not necessarily, unless of course I like them better. We shall see.

I'm anxious to get started, but have decided to wait until I have at least the majority of the 30 days planned out. If I go in without a plan, I am sure to fail. I need to prepare my mind (and my refrigerator). So I've begun by looking up some meal ideas and soon I will make my actual grocery lists for those weeks. My friend, Kristina, is going to do the challenge with me, and we have decided to start on February 15. That way I can enjoy a few Valentine's Day treats and still be done before spring break. In the meantime, I am just trying to cut back on my sugar consumption and make better choices.

I am looking forward to seeing how this challenge will affect my eating habits and even just the way I look at food and nutrition.

I will post about the process both during and after, and will include things like before and after pictures and any changes in weight. Wish me luck!

First Trip to the Dentist

I Leland had his first dentist visit a few days ago. He was so excited about it! I'm not really sure where his excitement came from, other than the fact that I really like going to the dentist (who doesn't love clean teeth?). A few months ago, he was being less than cooperative about brushing his teeth, and when I told him that the dentist wants him to brush his teeth so he won't get cavities, he suddenly was all about brushing. Since then, he has asked almost daily if he could go to the dentist. However, our dentist doesn't take kids until age three, so we had to wait a bit.

Well, Friday was finally the big day. He looked forward to it all day. At one point, he asked if there would be tractors there (always with the tractors...). I told him probably not, but that he could pick out a prize if he didn't have any cavities. Then he was even more excited.

Leland was very cooperative and enjoyed his first experience at the dentist. Our hygienist was quite impressed, as was I. Of course this mamarazzi had to document. Excuse his crazy bed head/hat hair and chapped cheeks/chin. He had a cold and had just woken up from a nap.

Big boy in the chair!

He picked chocolate flavored toothpaste. Sounds gross to me - I stick with mint - but he didn't complain.

Loved the "vacuum" and had fun holding it himself.

And since his teeth looked great with no cavities, he got to pick a prize! (Anyone else find it weird that the tooth prize box has holes in it? Like, we're at the dentist and the prize box has cavities? No, it's just me? Okay.)

He chose a toy car.

I'm glad this was a great experience for him. I know that the dentist can be a scary place for lots of kids...and adults. I'm thankful it was so easy and fun for him. After it was all over, he told me, "That was so really fun, Mama!" Yay! We'll be back in July for more fun at the dentist!

That Awkward Moment

Last week, I had my six month check up at the dentist. I wasn't really looking forward to it. Not because I have a fear/dislike of the dentist, but because I was tired and just wanted to take a nap. Or get my hair done. Or do something with my kids. But I went.

As I mentioned, I was tired (My kid doesn't sleep, remember?). I was yawning when the hygienist called me back from the waiting room. She kind of chuckled at my yawning and I said something like, "Sorry, I'm really tired today for some reason." And she said, "Well, I can imagine!"

I thought it was a bit of an odd comment, but maybe she was just referring to me being a mama of two little ones. I shrugged it off.

Then I sat in the chair, yawning again. I couldn't help it! And she asked me how many children I had, and I said two. And then she said...

Wait for it...

"So this is number three? How's it going?"

Uhhh...what? I was so confused (maybe because of my fatigue), and I just gave her a confused look. And then I realized what she was saying. She was asking me how my pregnancy was going. How my freaking PREGNANCY was going! And I'm NOT PREGNANT.

She mumbled something about how she must have seen it on my chart from last time, and quickly changed the subject. On the outside, I just laughed it off. But on the inside, I was all, "Crap! Really? I still look pregnant?"

I'll admit, it wasn't the best comment I'd heard all day. I mean, I know I have some work to do. I am at my pre-pregnancy weight, but not my pre-pregnancy size. I still have some (or...a lot) of belly flab and my clothes don't fit quite right. I haven't made much of an effort to fix it. Okay, I haven't made any effort to fix it. I eat whatever I want, whenever I want, and I rarely participate in any form of exercise. Nursing is seriously the greatest gift in the world to allow me to lose the weight without even trying. But it doesn't help in toning. Not that I was ever that toned to begin with, but you get the picture.

So yeah, the comment hurt my ego a bit at first. I didn't think I looked pregnant - a little flabby, but not pregnant-looking. But then I figured she probably did see it in my chart, and since the last few times she has seen me, I have been pregnant (or recently gave birth), it's an easy mistake for her to make.

After a few minutes, I wasn't quite so upset about it, and I actually felt embarrassed for her.

But it was definitely the kick in the pants I needed to try and work on this body of mine. I don't have any expectations to wear a bikini or be super skinny - that's just not me. But I would like to get back into running, perhaps eat less sugar (I don'twant to eat less sugar, but I should eat less sugar), and just feel better about myself.

I've started running again, just a few times, and not very far or very fast, but it's a start. And I have been eating less sugar. So I'm off to a decent start. Let's just hope I don't have any more of these awkward moments in the future.

DIY Magic Butt Cream

Leland has never had much of a diaper rash. Once in a while, he gets a little red, and I apply some Vaseline and that's that. A few times, I have had to apply some actual diaper cream, but it clears up quickly.

Alden has a bit more sensitive skin, and I've had to use actual diaper cream more often, but it's never lasted more than a couple of days. Until last week when I went to change his diaper and his penis/scrotum area was SUPER rashy. I had never seen it this red. If it weren't his genitals, I might share a picture, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

I tried diaper cream first. Nothing.

Then I tried Vaseline. Then Aquaphor. Nothing.

Then I tried coconut oil. Then lotion. Still nothing.

I knew there had to be some secret remedy out there, so I went to social media. Someone on my instagram suggested Magic Butt Cream. Considering how Magic Nipple Cream has saved my life on more than one occasion, I called our pediatrician to see if I could get a prescription.

But they said they don't call in that kind of prescription on the weekends - only absolutely necessary scripts, like antibiotics (LAME!). And they also said that many insurance companies won't pay for it because it's mostly over-the-counter meds.

So I checked with Google and found a recipe for homemade Magic Butt Cream. Then I went to the pharmacy to see if it was correct. Actually, I first asked if I could just use my Magic Nipple Cream on it (guessing it's a yeast infection, and the cream has an anti-fungal medicine in it), but since the nipple cream also has a steroid, the pharmacist said not to use it. And he gave me a list of what I needed.

To make your own Magic Butt Cream, you need:

• Clotrimazole (athlete's foot cream) or Miconazole (women's yeast infection cream) - both have anti-fungal medicine so both will work. If you have a prescription, the pharmacy will use Nystatin.
• Diaper cream with 40% zinc oxide (Desitin maximum strength)
• Triple Antibiotic Ointment (Neosporin)

Mix them all together (equal parts of each), and apply liberally. Store in airtight container.

I noticed a difference after one application. And Alden didn't seem to be grabbing himself during diaper changes quite so much after the first application. Now, you can use just an anti-fungal to clear up the rash from what I've heard/read, but the other ingredients help form a barrier against moisture, as well as relieve discomfort. In the recipes I found online, people have also mixed Maalox in, because it helps with the pain (gives a cooling sensation). The pharmacist didn't suggest this, and it sounded weird to me, so I didn't include it. But I think if Alden seemed really uncomfortable, I might try it. Anything for my kid.

Yay for butt cream! I am so glad I found something that works, but I hope I never have to use it again.

Stinkin Hormones

When I was pregnant with Leland, I developed a strange bump on my lip that looked like a blood blister.

Ignore my unshowered, lazy-day look. 

It didn't hurt, but it drove me crazy. I could always feel it, and, obviously, see it. I tried popping it, but it always came back. I read that this was somewhat normal, so I decided to try and ignore it and hoped it would go away after he was born. It didn't. 

I went to a dermatologist to get it checked out when Leland was about a year old. He told me it was caused by hormones and would likely go away after I was done nursing. He said if it didn't go away after that, he could remove it. 

Well, I was pregnant again before we were done nursing, so I never got the chance to see if it would go away on its own. After Alden was born, I called the office to see if they could just remove it, even though I'm still nursing. He said no. He said to wait until I'm done nursing again, because it will likely just come right back if I'm still nursing. The bummer is that I plan on nursing Alden until 18 months-2 years, so it'll be a long time before I can have it removed. 

So I've had this red dot on my lip for two and a half years now. It doesn't bug me as much anymore; I think I've gotten used to it. But every so often I catch someone looking at it during a conversation, or a student will ask me what it is, and then I am reminded.

Hormones. Who needs 'em?

Don't Be So Sensitive!

I have super duper sensitive skin. I break out in hives somewhat easily, and I have to be careful about the kinds of skin products I use.

I can't wear make-up every day because I break out. I reserve powders and blush for special occasions, like date nights, weddings, getting professional photos taken, etc. The rest of the time, I only use eye make-up. Sometimes on weekends, if the only place I'm going is the grocery store, I just don't wear make-up at all. Of course, those are the days when I see EVERYONE I know. When I do wear make-up, I can only use Clinique. I have tried just about every product out there, and they all make me break out in hives. I can use Cetaphil face wash for sensitive skin, and I use Clinique moisturizer. I use the boys' natural soap instead of adult body wash, because it doesn't have any yucky stuff in it, so I don't break out. 

All that to say that sensitive skin is a pain in the butt. And it looks like Alden inherited it from me, only worse. While I may get rashes/hives, mine is pretty easily controlled, and has really gotten much better after pregnancy. Alden has eczema and it has been very difficult to get under control. 

It started out with what I thought was cradle cap. He had a horrible case of it. As it turns out, it wasn't just cradle cap. His eczema made it worse and very difficult to clear up. Our doctor suggested a new lotion, and finally, after months of using special creams/oils, we had a clear scalp. 

Then he broke out in hives from amoxicillin (mostly on his head) and it has been awful since. 

It is slowly clearing up, but every time he scratches (which is a lot), it makes his eczema flare up, causing more blotches and more itching. It is a vicious cycle.

This is actually a good day for his head. Just a little redness; mostly scratches. 

His face is looking good here, too. A little red, but not terrible. 

While his head seems to be the most sensitive area, he definitely has issues in other parts as well. His bottom is always at least a little red. Thankfully, though, he hasn't had a major diaper rash. 

And his back has been super blemished lately. 

I'm glad that his head is starting to clear up, but bummed that we're dealing with it still.

A friend told me to try Vanicream soap and shampoo. Her son's allergist recommended it to her and she said it has helped him a lot. So we're giving it a try. 

His back looked a lot better tonight, and so did his head. I'm hoping it will continue this way. Our pediatrician said he needs a good dose of summer. I think I need that too!

On the Mend {I Think}

Well, Leland and I woke up yesterday morning without fevers and actually feeling decent. A little tired still (or a lot tired in my case), and some crabbiness, but no more run-down, awful flu-like symptoms.

Alden, however, woke up with hives all over his head.

Upon waking Sunday morning - not even the worst it had looked

After it cleared up a bit

His head seems to be his most sensitive skin area, and so that is where he broke out in an allergic reaction to his amoxicillin. We got an appointment with our pediatrician right away though, and he was put on a new medicine, and we got him some Benadryl.

This morning. Still a little blotchy, but not bad.

He had another rough night of itching, but seems to be doing much better now, thankfully. He has some small blotches on his chin and neck, but hes almost back to normal.

Everyone went to work and daycare today, and all was well. Both boys went to sleep easily tonight, and I am so beyond thankful. Alden is even sleeping in his own bed again, so hopefully we're back on the right track there.

As much as I hate being sick, and I hate losing sleep, it is the worst thing ever to see my babies sick. To see them helpless and in pain. I am so thankful it was short-lived (though it seemed like an eternity while we were living it).

The Week That No One Slept...

It's no secret that I've been sleep deprived for the last few months. Alden's sleep is ever-so-slowly improving, but we're still up every 2.5-3 hours at night. I'm getting used to just being tired all the time, but this week has been difficult.

Leland developed a cough (again) over the weekend, so all week he has been getting up 2-3 times a night from coughing. Dave has been great about getting up to help get him back to sleep (Dave is usually impossible to wake up) but I still can't sleep when he's up. I can't block out the noise - it's a curse.

Along with Leland being up at night, Alden had a couple of nights where he was up every half hour. Yes, every.half.hour. I think he was having some tummy issues because he hadn't pooped in a couple days, and that was keeping him up.

Wednesday, I honestly thought I was going to die from exhaustion. Wednesday is my day at school where I don't have any breaks until 2:45, so I am going, going, going all day. It's a LONG day, and after three nights of pretty much no sleep, I was starting to lose it.

Last night, Alden finally pooped and was able to sleep better. And Leland's cough has started to improve, so he was only up once last night, and not for very long. So we finally had a decent night's sleep, and we all had a much better day today than previous days.

Now it's Thursday night at 9:30, and I should be in bed. But it's Grey's night, so I'm staying up later, and will once again be tired tomorrow. At least tomorrow is Friday, which means only a half day with students. So, I don't need energy ALL day - just until noon. And after Friday, it's the weekend, which means NAPS! Long naps with my babies.

However, it appears that Alden may be coming down with Leland's cold/cough, so it looks like next week may be a repeat of no sleep (Which is fine with me, as long as Alden's cold/cough doesn't get too bad. I'm nervous that he might get RSV like Leland did at his age.).

Sleep is for the weak anyway, right?

You Get What You Pray For...

The last couple of weeks, Alden has been somewhat "irregular." He used to go {you know, go} every day and then suddenly he didn't for six days!

I was so freaked out by that and decided to take matters into my own hands. Our doctor suggested a suppository to help move things along. It worked, but after that, he was still only going every 3-4 days. 

I started praying for Alden to poop on his own. I asked God for Alden to give me big poops every day because it would just make me feel better. 

Well, I sort of got my wish. Yesterday, Alden went a couple of times and I was so relieved. But then today, he had diarrhea at daycare - four times. He must have what Leland had last week. Oh man. I guess I should have been more specific in my prayers and asked for healthy poops. 

I'm a little worried about him, but I'm sure he'll be fine as long as he keeps nursing. 

On the funny side, when I texted fave to tell him about Alden's poop, he texted back, "Oh shit." Not sure whether the pun was intended but when I told my friend Courtney, she said she almost responded "Oh crap." Pun not intended. Then as we were talking about it, she said, "That really stinks." I cracked up. Get it? Stinks?

Then as we were walking out of school, I said, "Well I guess I know why he slept like crap last night." Again not intentional. 

We just kept saying these accidental puns back and forth. Definitely helped take the edge off a little.

Hopefully sickness #2 {see what I did there?} for my boys is a quick one. We're ready to be healthy. 

Moms Don't Get Sick Days...

To continue from my post yesterday, I suddenly felt way worse last night. My throat got so swollen and sore that I couldn't swallow and it was difficult even talking. Needless to say, I requested a sub again {again the request wasn't filled and the school had to fill it internally}.

I took the boys to daycare and drove across town to the Urgent Care that opens at 7:00 {the one close to me doesn't open until 9:00}. Sure enough, just as I suspected, I have strep. 

Before heading into the doctor, I was daydreaming about a day in bed, just creating without any responsibilities to any other people. Can't remember the last time that happened and it sounded heavenly. 

While I was waiting for the doctor, I texted Mindy to see how Leland was doing. He's been awfully whiny lately and I was curious if it was just for me or if he was like that at daycare too. Mindy said he was having a rough morning, so I decided that, since I have the option today {most days I don't}, I would pick him up. 

There are various dynamics going on in Leland's life right now that could be causing his whiny behavior: (1) two molars coming in; (2) not feeling well earlier in the week; (3) too much time spent indoors due to cold weather and illnesses; and (4) just being a two year old.

But one thing that I have noticed is that Leland starts to whine a lot when I pick up Alden. He cries and asks me to pick him up. So, I think part of his behavior could be some jealousy or just wanting more individual attention.

So today, instead of spending my day in bed watching TV, I picked Leland up from daycare after getting my prescriptions. He had lots of one-on-one mommy time, and I must say he was significantly less whiny. He still had his moments, but I could definitely tell a difference.

Leland fell asleep on my lap and I moved him to his bed because I knew he would take a longer nap on his own. We both got a 2.5 hour nap in, and I actually woke up before he did!

A day spent at home alone did sound pretty amazing, and I know I need the rest. But I also know what I can and can't handle, and I knew I could handle Leland for the day. 

I tell myself often, as a reminder, that I'm a mom first. My boys are my first priority; that's what being a parent is all about. They come before work, play, and myself. 

It was nice having some alone time with Leland. We haven't had that a whole lot of that recently. Thankfully, he takes long afternoon naps and goes to bed early, so I'll still get plenty of rest tonight. And tomorrow is Friday - the weekend is practically here! Hopefully by Monday I'll feel like myself again and can go to work and be productive. 

Baby and Mama Well Checks...

Earlier this week, we had Alden's one month well check and my postpartum doctor's visit.

At Alden's appointment, we discovered that he is now 22 inches long and weighs a whopping 10 pounds, 11 ounces. He was 6 pounds, 8 ounces at birth, so this means he has gained over FOUR POUNDS in one month. The doctor said that sometimes babies only gain a pound, most of the time it's two or three, and once in a while they see four. So, more than four is some definite growth.

I talked with the doctor a little bit about our issues with my oversupply because I was concerned about what that meant for Alden's development. He said that it's really not a huge problem for Alden. As long as he's gaining weight, the issue is really just about my comfort. That was a relief. Since then I feel like I've gotten a good handle on it though. My milk still comes out pretty fast, causing Alden to leak quite a bit out of his mouth {nursing is messy for us...we go through LOTS of burp cloths}. But he doesn't gag nearly as much and I'm no longer in pain or look like a porn star. Phew.

Later that day was my postpartum appointment. I am now back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Wahoo! It took me a year to get back there after Leland, so this is pretty exciting for me. However, pre-preg weight is not the same as pre-preg size. I'm still wearing my "chubby" jeans and not my regular ones. But oh well. Once I get running again, that should get a little better.

After talking with my doctor, I decided to get an IUD. As much as I love having Alden here, I am not ready for another surprise blessing. We would like to wait until he's closer to three before having another. My doctor was ready to do it the next day, but I had plans. She's out of the office next week, so I go back on December 4th to get it. They will also check my blood sugar that day too, just to make sure it's ok.

So, in a nutshell...healthy, chubby baby. Healthy, not-so-chubby mama. And no more surprise babies.

My Life with GD...

...Isn't completely terrible.

I'm not gonna lie. When I first found out I had Gestational Diabetes, I threw myself a big ol' pity party. I am a sweets girl through and through. When I'm not pregnant, I eat a lot of sweets. With this pregnancy, it is all I have craved {I was sort of sure this one was a girl, because with Leland I craved salad and baked potato}. To say goodbye to brownies, doughnuts, ice cream, cookies, etc., was cause for some serious pouting from me.

Besides the sweets, I was also worried about what in the world I was going to eat. Because GD is about limting carbs, not necessarily sweet stuff. So...bread, pasta, and all that other stuff I love was going to be gone {I thought}. I wasn't sure what I would eat.

Thankfully, after meeting with the dietitian, I had a better understanding of what GD is and what I can eat.

With GD, it's not that I can't have carbs, it's that I have to limit them. I have to count them, and am only allowed a certain amount for each meal/snack. I also have to make sure I have protein at the same time, because protein balances your carbs.

I am allowed 30-45g of carbs for breakfast, 15-30 for snacks {mid-morning, afternoon, and evening}, and 45-60 for lunch and dinner. Depending on what I eat, those carbs can go a long way. Like, a sandwich wrap with turkey, cheese, lettuce and tomato totally fills me up, but doesn't even meet my minimum carb amount for lunch, while a peanut butter and jelly sandwich maxes out my carbs for the meal and doesn't leave me feeling very full.

I have been able to manage my blood sugar pretty easily over the last two weeks. I have had maybe four or five high glucose levels. And with each of them, I was either experimenting with what I can eat {mashed potatoes get me no matter how little I serve myself} or I didn't eat enough protein with that meal {one morning, I ate plain oatmeal and a nectarine, but I forgot to have protein, so my sugar was high}.

The hardest thing for me is to remember to have carbs and protein. If I have just carbs, my sugar is high. If I have just protein, my sugar is low and I don't feel full. So I have to have both. Sometimes they don't exactly go together, like a graham cracker and cottage cheese, but it works, so whatever.

I have only allowed myself one sweet treat so far. I had half of a Hershey bar with some peanut butter. It didn't mess up my sugar at all, so I was excited. I have also discovered that honey roasted peanuts, while they taste sweet, aren't too carby, so that helps my sweet tooth a little. And a 1/2 cup of applesauce with cinnamon is pretty satisfying for a night-time snack as well {I eat a few cheese slices too so that I get my protein}. Apparently, one half cup of ice cream is within my carb allowance for snack and it has some protein, but I haven't taken that chance yet. Plus, I sort of feel like a half cup isn't really worth it. When it comes to dessert, my motto is "go big or go home." If I had a half cup, I know I would just want more.

Really, GD is all about balancing your carbs with your protein and watching portions. I can still have pasta, just not a huge plate of it. I can still have a sandwich from my favorite deli, but I just eat the bottom bun, not the top. I can still have fruit - I just have to measure it. I can even have my favorite cereal, and a full serving of it - I just have less milk in it. {Funny story though...Dave thought he was doing me a favor by eating the rest of my cereal because he thought I couldn't eat it. He doesn't even really like it, but he ate it so I wouldn't have to be tempted. Apparently, he hadn't noticed that I've been eating that for my night-time snack.}

Living without the sweets kind of sucks, but it's a lot easier when they're not around. If we don't have ice cream in the house, I'm not as tempted by it. It will be hard at school when students have birthday treats, but I only have 8 weeks left to avoid those.

After that, I will seriously have a sugar free-for-all for a little while. I'll be nursing so the calories won't matter so much. I already have my post-birth meal planned out. A sandwich from Chef's In with a chocolate milkshake for lunch. Maybe some fries too. And for sure a doughnut for breakfast. Anyone who comes to visit in the hospital is required to bring chocolate. Not really, but it would be nice.

Take Two...

After a rough night of Leland being up nearly all night {not sure why, but he was up every half hour between 11:30 and 4:00, just wanting to snuggle...weird for him}, Friday morning, our little family got up ridiculously early for what I like to call "Take Two" of tubes surgery. You know, since we were supposed to do this whole thing two weeks ago, but due to a slight temp, slight cough, and a rash, we had to reschedule. Well, today was the day.

I got up at 5:00am, woke up Leland and Dave at 5:30, and we left the house at 5:45. We checked in at the surgery center at 6:00, did some paper work, and waited to be called back to the pre-op room.

Leland had fun playing in the waiting room with the kitchen toys. Those are always his favorite. Then, in the pre-op room, it became quite apparent how little sleep he had gotten the night before. In typical Leland fashion, he wanted to play with everything that isn't a toy, and threw a little tantrum when he didn't get his way.

Rolling on the floor, mid-tantrum

But they didn't last long, and he would get distracted by something else.

Playing with the blood pressure cuff

Rolling around with his blankie. He was seconds away from falling asleep.

The anesthesiologist and the doctor came in to talk to us before the procedure, and then we just waited for the nurse to come get him.

The nurse came in at about 7:00 and introduced herself. She was super nice, and when she held out her arms for Leland, he went to her without a problem {I think it helped that she had a stethoscope...the kid likes stethoscopes}. They left the pre-op room and we waited for a minute to make sure he was out of sight before we went to the waiting room. We didn't want him to cry for us, since he went with her so easily. And he didn't cry at all. I peeked out the door and watched them walk away and he was perfectly content. I wasn't though. I was crying. Then I looked back at Dave and he was tearing up too.

We went to the waiting room, and I was starving so I bought a muffin and a juice. I had barely eaten any of it when our little buzzer went off saying that his surgery was done. So we went to conference room to meet with the doctor and he told us that everything went fine. He gave us some post-op instructions and answered our questions. And then we went back to the waiting room to...well...wait for Leland to wake up. This took approximately five minutes. 

So we went to recovery and our boy was awake, just chatting away with the nurses. He was a little grumpy, but was doing well. He ate a small snack and had some water, and then we left. We went home and had some breakfast and just resumed our day as if nothing had happened.

We left the surgery center shortly before 8:00. So, the pre-op stuff took about an hour, the surgery took 5-10 minutes, the wake up from surgery took about 5-10 minutes, and the post-op recovery took about 20 minutes. Lots of waiting before the surgery, but I was amazed at how quickly the actual surgery went.

I was told that Leland may be groggy throughout the day, but that was not the case. He was full of energy and wanted to PLAY! He was a little grumpier than usual, but overall was fine. He really wanted to play in his pool, but we didn't have his ear plugs yet {he has to wear ear plugs now for all water play and baths}. So after his morning nap, we went back into town to get some from the doctor's office and then visited the park.

I am amazed at how well he recovered, and so thankful it was fast and easy! Now, I look forward to moving on and enjoying our summer, with hopefully no more ear fluid or infection issues from now on.

Change of Plans...

Friday morning, we woke up bright dark and early so that we could be at the surgery center {for Leland's tubes} by 6:15am. Leland had a little rash on his tummy the day before, but it didn't seem like a big deal. I had a cold last week and had a rash a few days later. Since Leland was getting over his cold, I thought he must be getting the same thing. His ENT said that he would still do the surgery unless he had a fever, so we headed there ready to get this thing done and over with.

We checked in and got our little buzzer that would let us know when we would head back to surgery. Leland wore his brand new turtle jammies for the occasion.

We changed Leland into his surgery gown thing and got some pretty sweet matching bracelets put on.

But while we were changing him, we noticed that his rash was getting worse. 

This picture was actually taken later in the day, after his rash started to clear up.

We talked to the nurse and the doctor and they didn't really know what to say, so we asked the anesthesiologist. She said that since he had a temp 99.5, was getting over a cold, and had the rash, it would be best to reschedule. Dave and I completely agreed, and Leland was thrilled to finally be able to eat something.

We headed home and just hung out the rest of the day. Leland's temp went back to normal, and his rash completely cleared up the next day. All was well...

...Until the middle of Saturday night when Leland woke up several times with a fever. It got up to 101.4, which is pretty high for him - he has never had a temp that high except when he had RSV at 4 months old. I stripped him down to his diaper, gave him some water and tylenol, and waited until morning when I could call his pediatrician. In the morning, I also noticed that, while his rash was gone from his tummy and back, it was now on his arms and legs. We got an appointment with our doctor {yay for weekend hours at our ped's office!}, and they confirmed what I already knew - an ear infection. 

Today has been the worst. Even though his ear infection is supposedly just beginning and not too bad, he is miserable. I haven't seen him like this in forever, and it breaks my heart.

Our ENT office will call us this week to reschedule. I'm hoping that we can get in this week or next, but we'll see.

The Stomach Flu Strikes Again...

All week long, I have felt so TIRED. The last two nights, I have gone to bed at 8:30, but I still wake up exhausted. I thought it was just the whole "being pregnant, while teaching and raising a toddler" thing.

Last night, I slept horribly, and when I woke up this morning, I knew I wasn't just tired this week. I have the stomach flu. Leland had it about two weeks ago, and my students have had it, so I guess it was only a matter of time. But I thought it would magically skip me since I had it in January. No such luck.

I spent the day laying on the couch, being sick, and catching up on the shows I missed this week. Which, incidentally, was all of the shows I watch {Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, Nashville and Bates Motel} because I went to bed so early all week.

It felt so weird to be home with Leland. I missed him so much. I know I was sick and couldn't take care of him, but I found myself wishing he were here with me. He was at his Aunt Laura's house and I was able to face time with him at lunch, so that was nice.

The good news is that I'm now feeling much better. Thankfully it didn't last too long. But now I have to go to work tomorrow to train for my summer coffee shop job. So I still don't get to spend time with Leland. Thank goodness summer break is only 3.5 weeks away, so I'll have lots of time to spend with him.

ENT Verdict...

On Monday, we had our appointment with the Ear, Nose, Throat doctor. He took a look in Leland's ears and there is still fluid in them. So, at least two months of fluid, but quite possibly more. The doctor recommended tubes, and we agreed that it's probably the best option.

I went there wanting answers and wanting a solution to this problem, and it looks like we have found both. But I am still so sad. I don't like the idea of my sweet baby having surgery - being put under anesthesia and me not being there to hold him. It's just not what I would ever choose to do, but like I said, I know it's probably the best thing at this point.

His surgery will be June 14th. I requested a Friday so that I would have the weekend with him as he recovers, and this was the first Friday available. It seems far away, but I'm glad because that's actually the last week of school, so I will have more than just the weekend with him. I am anxious to get it over with. Though the doctor said that many times, when a child gets tubes this young, they will need a second set {because the first set falls out, but they still have issues with fluid/infections}. I'm hoping we don't have to go that route. But I needed tubes twice, so Leland probably takes after me. For now though, I'm taking it one step at a time.

Next Step, ENT...

That's Ear, Nose, Throat in case you didn't know.

It is no secret that Leland has had some issues with ear infections. He has only had three, but that's only in a 5 month span of time, and they were all difficult to treat. Apparently, oral antibiotics do nothing for Leland, so he had to get shots, and each infection required 3-4 shots clear it up. That's 3-4 visits to the doctor per infection, and actually each dose of the antibiotic is two shots {one in each leg}. It's no fun for anyone involved.

His last ear infection was a little less than a month ago, and at his 15 month check up, he still had fluid in his ears. No infection, so he didn't need a shot, but still...fluid in the ears is not good. The doctor suggested we come back in 2-3 weeks and see if they still had fluid, because it can take a few weeks for that to go away. Yesterday was our appointment, and he still has fluid in his ears.

The doctor said it's really up to me whether or not they refer him to an ENT specialist. She said we could wait another few weeks and check again and make the referral then if it's not cleared up. I decided to have them make the referral now.

While I absolutely do not want Leland to have to get tubes, I am also concerned about his ears. I'm not necessarily as concerned with the infections as I am about the fluid. Basically, he's had fluid in his ears for at least a month, but really, for all we know, it could have been there since his last infection in January. There's no way to know. I feel that his language has been delayed because of the fluid. He is nearly 16 months and he really doesn't say many words on a regular basis. He used to say mama and dada, but now he doesn't really say them purposefully - not to us. He babbles all the time and I can tell he tries to repeat words we say, but they all come out the same. They all sound like dada or baba. It makes me so sad, because I just know that he's not hearing us clearly and that's at least partly why he's struggling. I hate that everything probably sounds like we're talking underwater to him. Also, with fluid constantly in his ears, any little inkling of a cold or something can easily become an infection. 

We have tried many different ways to prevent the fluid and infections. We took him off dairy. We've been taking him to the chiropractor 2-3 times a week. I place a warm rice compress on his ears sometimes when he drinks his bottle, because it's supposed to help drain the fluid. I give him supplements that are supposed to promote drainage and build his immune system. Have these things helped? I believe they have helped some. But I don't think it's enough.

If this were just infections that were easily treated and then we didn't have to deal with the residual fluid, I wouldn't be in such a hurry for an ENT consult. But considering it's constant fluid that won't drain, I feel like we need to do something.

Add to all of that the fact that I had tubes in my ears twice as a child, and I think perhaps Leland is just genetically predisposed to issues with his Eustachian tubes.

I am not a fan of going to the ENT or of getting tubes. But right now, my mommy gut is kicking in and telling me we need to do something. If we go to the consult and they say he doesn't need tubes, then at least I got it checked out, and I will feel better. If they tell me he needs tubes, I would rather do it sooner than risk any more infections or hearing/speech delays.

I don't know yet when our appointment will be. They are supposed to call us next week and let us know when our appointment is.

I can't win...

This morning, after a few days of Leland not sleeping well {at night or nap time} and pulling at his ears a lot, I decided to go to the doctor to get his ears checked. Part of me thought it was just teething - he appears to be getting two bottom teeth and maybe a molar or two - but another part of me said we should probably check just to make sure before school starts again on Monday.

I told Dave this which immediately led to an argument. Dave thinks I just make things up in my head to be worse than they are {could be true, but at the same time, I'm the one who has been up in the middle of the night and knows exactly how different he's been acting}. And he was not looking forward to yet another $30 co-pay, as those are getting way old and adding up quickly. {His last ear infection, when all was said and done, ended up costing around $200. Ugh!} With anything we {I} do, Dave just sees the dollar signs and starts stressing out and getting cranky.

What Dave doesn't see is that I am stressed about it, too, but I have stress from several areas. First of all, there is something wrong with my baby, and I don't like it! I want him happy and well, and I hate that he can't tell me what's wrong. Second, I am TIRED! I have been up with him for several nights, losing lots of sleep, and I desperately want my sleep back. Third, I don't like spending the money either. And fourth, I have Dave all mad at me about it. So it's not like this is all a piece of cake for me either.

Whelp, I went with my gut, against my husband's judgement, and took Leland to the doctor. And it turns out Little Man has another ear infection.

So I was right. I win. Only this is one argument I wouldn't have minded losing. With this argument, I was right in taking Leland to the doctor, but there is no winner when an ear infection is involved. {Not that we "win" or "lose" in our arguments anyway, but you get what I mean.}

We opted to start with the Rocephin shot this time, since the two rounds of oral antibiotics didn't touch his last ear infection. We have to go back for a re-check in a few days. Hopefully, this can be taken care of with one or two shots, because these shots are THE WORST! They are thick and they sting and he cries and cries until we leave the office. At this point, Leland starts tensing up the second he lays down in the office because he knows what's coming. And the tears start once the nurse preps his leg with a cotton ball. It is a horrible experience to say the least.

So, yes, I was right. But who ever said I wanted to be right this morning?! In this situation, I just can't win. :(