Monday, February 21, 2011

Updates

I've been dairy free for almost a week now, and it's going well. I've never felt better and we're eating less wheat products too.
Since this diet makes me eat really healthy and I cook everything from scratch I decided to try to lose some of this baby weight as well. Most things I eat are low in fat anyway. I'm very excited and I will be posting about my weight loss.

Chris and I have set up a work out schedule so that we can both get to the gym. Tonight is my night...hopefully we don't get a ton more snow (on top of the 9" we got last night)...otherwise I won't be able to get there. :)

This week, Gina is coming over on Wednesday (since she has a day off) and I think I am going to try to have a playdate at my house Thursday with a couple (MOPS) friends and their little ones.

And the best thing this week...Chris isn't on-call!!! Last week was horrible. When he is on-call, he ends up having to work from home a lot and can't watch Keegan at night so I can catch a few hours sleep. Keegan goes to sleep around 12:30-1 am and then gets up between 3-4am. Normally I would go to bed between 9 - 11pm and then get to sleep until he wakes up at 3 or 4am. So I was really dragging last week.

Oh we went to a new peditrican on Saturday and I really liked the office. Saturday we saw a female doctor and she was really nice. They have a bunch of doctors at the practice so we may try one of the male doctors.

I'm really looking forward to next weekend, I think we get a date night! It's been a long time and I am so ready!
Aww...Aidan just ran up to me and gave me a kiss and ran off. So cute! That's the best part about being a mom!

I better get some laundry done while Keegan is sleeping and Aidan is playing.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

THE ELIMINATION DIET

THE ELIMINATION DIET
So as most of you know, Aidan was colic and ended up on Alimentum almost until he was a year old. So naturally when Keegan started showing signs of a Milk Protein allergy we put him on Alimentum. (after trying Similac sensitive soy -which he won't poop for days on end)

We have been battling with him and gas and colic. I've had two days in the last week that he did nothing but cry. So then we started looking at the fact that I nurse him about 40-50% of the time and especially when he's acting colicky. The proverbial "there's your problem" dawned on me.
It's been me...my milk has made him sick.
So I am left with two choices:
1. Switch over to all formula and stop breastfeeding.
2. Change my entire way of life and eating to continue to nurse him.

And I picked number 2.

That's right I have decided to go completely dairy free in order to nurse my son. So after doing much research, while holding and rocking a crying colicky baby most of the two days, I have found that dairy is in everything. Also, soy is not the best option either, since Keegan seems to be especially sensitive I am cutting that out too.

Tonight I am taking a trip to Trader Joe's (they have vegan/dariy free foods) and looking for the best non-dairy foods. Dr. Sears has an elimination diet that I am starting tomorrow. And then I will slowly add foods back that tend to be better tolerated. (I'll post that in a second)

Chris thinks I am kinda crazy, I feel kinda crazy but I also feels like this is the right decision for me. I was lucky enough to get a pretty nice supply of milk this time around and I'm going to use it....damn it. lol Granted I couldn't feed an army, but Keegan loves it and I love nursing him.

So I am sure the next week or so will be very frustrating and I will feel discouraged but somethings are just that important.

In other news: We have found a new pediatrician after months of not liking our doctor and feeling frustrated with him. Yay! Both boys go in on Saturday, Aidan for his 2 year and keegan for his one month.
And I have been going to the gym when I have the energy...I have lost all of the weight I gained with Keegan and a few extra pounds. But now I am working on the weight I gained with Aidan. I still have about 30-35 pounds to lose to be back where I was before babies...with more stretch marks and saggy skin. (but totally worth it) :-D

Time for a shower while both babes are napping and who knows how long that will last!!!

Saturday, February 12, 2011












Aidan



I have SO much to be thankful for!

Sometimes it's easy to overlook or forget how many wonderful people we have in our lives and how much we have to be thankful for.

I was just looking through pictures of Aidan and Keegan, how in the world did we make such beautiful children, sometimes I even feel guilty. Why did I get so lucky when so many people are suffering everyday from the pain of infertility?
But today, I cried. I cried because I am SO in love with my babies. I carried my babies, felt some of their first movements, heard their tiny hearts start beating, and held them only minutes old. I don't know what they will do with their lives or where their passions lie, but everyday I see something new, a new word for Aidan and Keegan smiles a little more everyday. Little things but absolutely priceless to me.

Besides my kids, we have amazing people around us. First and foremost- Gina (AKA - Aunt Gina) What would we do without her? She is not only my BEST friend, a part of our family and my boys ADORE her. The love she gives them is unconditional and forever. I hope we never have a day without her!

Then there is my husband.
Sure we have our ups and downs and I guess lately I have been feeling more downs. But really, he loves me more than I could ever ask anyone to love me. I decided that I have to let go of some of the things that I have been really upset about. I won't go into too many details but when I came home from the hospital we had a pretty rough two weeks and I am still very angry at him for some thing. But tonight, I decided I can't let it keep eating me, let the anger build and come out over little things. Love can be difficult and I've had to realize that sometimes our greatest show of love isn't flowers or romance but giving each other extra sleep or some time away from the kids or the two minutes of alone time together. Life has changed, and we have changed but with that our love and bond only grows. May 19th will be our 10 year wedding anniversary, nothing special I'm sure but *maybe* Aunt Gina can watch the boys for a whole day ;-) and we can enjoy some quality alone time.

Another thing I am so thankful for...MOPS. I don't know what I would do without these ladies. They remind me that I am a good mom even when I feel less than perfect.
There are always opportunities to get out of the house, playdates and new friendships. I thank God everyday for MOPS, it has been a lifesaver.

So many things and people to be thankful for, I wonder how did I get so lucky!?

Another thing is that I have been suffering some depression. Not full blown Post-partum but the baby blues are sticking around a little longer. Is it from the issues with Chris? Or the winter and all the snow? Or the lack of sleep ( 3-5 hours of sleep at night is just not enough) Or just the stress of two kids?! I am dealing with it, but there are days I would like to just lay in bed and cry all day (today was one of those days). But honestly, I know that I will get through this and I am trying to stay active, positive and keep good company - staying away from the toxic people in my life. I don't need other people's negative energy.

"The past is history, the future is a mystery and today is a gift. That's why it's called the present"

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Some pictures

Back of our Birth announcement



Front of our Birth announcement





My boys! <3



All my boys!




My first week...

My first week home alone with both kids has been very eventful to say the least!
The first day Aidan had some sort of tummy bug and was vomiting all afternoon. And since it was my first day without Chris I was doing laundry and cleaning, the kind I can't do when he's around.
Then Chris had a really bad day at work, a system that he created / designed went down at work. And it's a very visible system all 3000+ people use it. So he stayed at work until 9pm and when he got home he had to work from home and didn't stop until 1am. So no break for mommy that day!
Then to top off a really fantastic day, I get a FB message from a "friend" bitching me out. It's so childish and petty.

The second day, Tuesday, I took the boys to Target to walk around. Our first trip out went great! And that afternoon my MOM called me. We haven't spoken in almost 2 years. So I guess we are on the road to reconciliation. However, I think too much damage was done to ever have a really great relationship.
Again, Chris had to work late and work from home again. So mommy didn't get a break that day or night either.

Yesterday, I woke up feeling like I was drug behind a truck; stiff, sore, headache and just feeling miserable! I've lost 5 pounds just in this week from forgetting to eat, nursing Keegan and running around like a crazy woman.
Aidan was acting up and I just didn't have the patience with him. He had a few time outs! I know it's an adjustment for all of us, including Aidan but I think his behavior was just a 2 year old thing. It's adorable! NOT!
But last night Chris came home early, took the boys and let me go do whatever I wanted or needed to. I went to the gym, signed up for my membership. Chris started going to Planet Fitness so I went to check it out, it was really neat! I loved it! So I got the package with unlimited free tanning, you can bring a guest for free, free personal trainer and they are open 24 hours a day. All for $19.99 a month! I ended up walking on the treadmill for a little bit, I'm allowed to start walking and using the elliptical, just no weights yet!

Today...is going to be a good...i hope! I'm driving out to see one of my MOPS friends and she is going to take pictures of Keegan. She is working on her photography and hasn't tried taking (professional) pictures of a newborn. I was happy to help, not to mention its nice to have some adult conversation! God love her she has 5 kids!!! :)

I'm still dealing with issues from my friend. I've tried taking a non-confrontational approach but she is still trying to drag me through the mud. I'm done dealing with it. The sad part, she is/was Aidan's Godmother. But she hasn't been around since he was infant. But she is blaming me for us not getting together. But she just has too much on her plate and is blaming everyone else. But now she is a toxic person in my life.

Tomorrow we have MOPS. It will be the first MOPS since I had Keegan that I am bringing both boys! I went last time but I only took Keegan. I am looking forward to it, we are making coupon books for our husbands. :) And I need my MOPS fix. I swear when I get home from MOPS I am a better mom and wife. I love the ladies and they make me feel like I belong and I'm doing a good job!

Anyway, I better start getting the kids ready for our day.