My life is random these days, so I figure my blog posts should reflect that.
I learned a few random things this week that I wanted to share with you all.
This is going to be wayyyy TMI, but after twenty-three glorious months of being period-free, I can no longer claim that. (Sorry, my one male reader, for starting out a blog post with this topic.) I've been dreading my first month of this because I've heard how terrible the first one is. However, my cramps were more minimal than they've ever been in my entire life. Of course, I had to google this to figure out why, and I am fairly certain that the lack of dairy in my diet has a big role in it. Apparently, if you avoid dairy for a few days before your period, your cramps should decrease. Considering I've been dairy-free since June, I happily reaped the benefits. Try it this month. Thank me later.
*****
L has been struggling with what I think are hives. I always thought of hives and welts as being the same thing, but apparently, hives can look like bug bites. And? They come and go and can last for weeks after being exposed to an allergen. Like, oh, your daddy (along with the entire neighborhood) cutting the grass with the windows open when you are allergic to ... grass. Allergy medicine and anti-itch cream help, but they are still a bitch. For you and your worried momma. End of story.
*****
Allowing your child to look at a toy catalog in the car as you drive him home from school can be dangerous. Why? When he tells you he wants "this hooker with a bottle," it can cause you to freak out, wondering what on God's green earth he's looking at. Upon further investigation, you might die of laughter when you realize it's a bottle-shaped punching bag with a hook to attach it to a door frame. Of course. A hooker. With a bottle.
*****
Any random tidbits of advice you want to share with me this week?
Namaste.
Showing posts with label allergies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allergies. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Food Allergy Friday: Food Intolerances
I've read about food intolerances, but only minimally. L has an actual allergy (to wheat, milk, turkey, and tomatoes) and so I haven't had to explore the intolerance route.
Until recently.
You see, I'm almost positive that G has a milk allergy. I've eliminated milk from both of our diets (mine too, since I'm still breastfeeding him) and every time that darned cheese has seduced me and I've cheated, he's vomited and/or gotten a rash.
Then lately, he's started a cough that is similar to L's was before we got the food allergy diagnosis. I tried to chalk it up to everything under the sun. I did not want to go gluten-free. It's expensive. It's tricky. And frankly, I love me some bread and pasta. I am Italian, after all.
But I told myself I'd try it. That surely, I wouldn't see a difference.
Fortunately...and unfortunately...I did see a difference. But not only did I see a difference in my sweet little man, surprise surprise, I saw a difference in myself.
You see, for as long as I can remember, I've religiously taken allergy medication, 365 days a year. Although allergy tests show that I am not allergic to anything, I've been diagnosed with non-allergic rhinitis. I've tried every kind of medication out there, as well as vitamins for food allergies, all-natural nasal sprays, etc. Nothing's really helped. If I go a day without it, I am a mess. Sneezing, coughing, snotty, leading-to-asthma attack mess. It's bad.
But.
Since I've been gluten-free, guess how many allergy pills I've taken. Go on, guess.
Less.
LESS.
Zero. Nada. Zilch. Not. A. One.
I fell asleep the first night without taking it, and woke up to a surprisingly snot-less nose. I decided I'd wait until I need it but miracle of miracles, I never did.
I asked my food allergy circle of friends on Twitter if this could really be related. It had to be coincidental, right?
One of my most knowledgeable Tweeps told me that, indeed, gluten intolerance and sinus issues are often related. And my other positive symptoms, including more focus and increased energy, could also be related to the lack of gluten as well.
A quick internet search told me the same.
This weekend, my favorite gluten-filled cereal (Trader Joe's Maple Pecan Granola Cereal) called out to me.
In a moment of rebellion, I decided I would have a bowl. This would surely tell me if my lack of symptoms were correlated with my new diet. I enjoyed a great big bowl, and felt nothing. Whew.
For about ten minutes.
Sure enough, almost immediately, I started sneezing. And sneezing, and sneezing, and sneezing.
Guess who will be eating baked potatoes and salads for lunch again this week.
Until recently.
You see, I'm almost positive that G has a milk allergy. I've eliminated milk from both of our diets (mine too, since I'm still breastfeeding him) and every time that darned cheese has seduced me and I've cheated, he's vomited and/or gotten a rash.
Then lately, he's started a cough that is similar to L's was before we got the food allergy diagnosis. I tried to chalk it up to everything under the sun. I did not want to go gluten-free. It's expensive. It's tricky. And frankly, I love me some bread and pasta. I am Italian, after all.
But I told myself I'd try it. That surely, I wouldn't see a difference.
Fortunately...and unfortunately...I did see a difference. But not only did I see a difference in my sweet little man, surprise surprise, I saw a difference in myself.
You see, for as long as I can remember, I've religiously taken allergy medication, 365 days a year. Although allergy tests show that I am not allergic to anything, I've been diagnosed with non-allergic rhinitis. I've tried every kind of medication out there, as well as vitamins for food allergies, all-natural nasal sprays, etc. Nothing's really helped. If I go a day without it, I am a mess. Sneezing, coughing, snotty, leading-to-asthma attack mess. It's bad.
But.
Since I've been gluten-free, guess how many allergy pills I've taken. Go on, guess.
Less.
LESS.
Zero. Nada. Zilch. Not. A. One.
I fell asleep the first night without taking it, and woke up to a surprisingly snot-less nose. I decided I'd wait until I need it but miracle of miracles, I never did.
I asked my food allergy circle of friends on Twitter if this could really be related. It had to be coincidental, right?
One of my most knowledgeable Tweeps told me that, indeed, gluten intolerance and sinus issues are often related. And my other positive symptoms, including more focus and increased energy, could also be related to the lack of gluten as well.
A quick internet search told me the same.
This weekend, my favorite gluten-filled cereal (Trader Joe's Maple Pecan Granola Cereal) called out to me.
In a moment of rebellion, I decided I would have a bowl. This would surely tell me if my lack of symptoms were correlated with my new diet. I enjoyed a great big bowl, and felt nothing. Whew.
For about ten minutes.
Sure enough, almost immediately, I started sneezing. And sneezing, and sneezing, and sneezing.
Guess who will be eating baked potatoes and salads for lunch again this week.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Me neither.
Do you ever have a really overwhelming day at work when every time you think you have the scheduling logistics figured out, someone tells you that you have to change it? So you are constantly trying to get your disorganized attention-deficit self organized while your head is spinning over scheduling changes, and in the meantime your to-do list just keeps growing and growing and growing and you are wondering how on earth you are going to keep it together since you have the biggest caseload you've ever had?
No? Me neither.
Do you ever get so stir-crazy from looking at scheduling conflicts and data sheets and numbers and names that you decide to go to Wal*Mart during your lunch break so that you can buy a pretty binder and a bunch of Sharpie pens with your money from the PTO to make yourself feel better?
No? Me neither.
Do you ever find yourself a little jealous of your husband, who gets to stay late at work every single night? Because just once you'd like to stay a little late to get caught up and have him rush out to get the kids from school and come home to a messy house and have to make dinner and pack lunches for tomorrow and bathe the boys?
No? Me neither.
Do you ever pick up your toddler and have to grit your teeth when his teacher says that the cough he's had for two weeks is now worse because you knew that was coming? And because he's fever-free, eating, sleeping, and playing fine, realize that you'd better take gluten out of your diet in addition to dairy because you're afraid he might have the same allergies as his brother? Have you ever worried about the fact that keeping three people in one house on a gluten-free, casein-free diet is going to be expensive and a bit tricky?
No? Me neither.
Do you ever find the overwhelming sensation to cry and ask God, aloud, to come near, in the middle of your kitchen when you can't figure out what to make for dinner? And have you ever given up and made hot dogs, taking solace in the fact that at least they are hormone, antibiotic, and nitrate-free hot dogs? And when you looked at your preschooler's plate of said hot dogs, gluten-free pretzels, organic strawberries, and vitamins, have you ever told yourself that meal could be much worse, even though you really know it should be much better?
No? Me neither.
Have you ever not had time to blog but you know that it's cheaper than therapy so you go ahead and write a post anyway? Have you ever totally put yourself out there on your blog even though you know some people are going to realize just how crazy you are? Have you ever wanted to apologize to your blog friends for publishing a psychotic post and failing to comment on their blogs, all in the same day?
No? Me neither.
No? Me neither.
Do you ever get so stir-crazy from looking at scheduling conflicts and data sheets and numbers and names that you decide to go to Wal*Mart during your lunch break so that you can buy a pretty binder and a bunch of Sharpie pens with your money from the PTO to make yourself feel better?
No? Me neither.
Do you ever find yourself a little jealous of your husband, who gets to stay late at work every single night? Because just once you'd like to stay a little late to get caught up and have him rush out to get the kids from school and come home to a messy house and have to make dinner and pack lunches for tomorrow and bathe the boys?
No? Me neither.
Do you ever pick up your toddler and have to grit your teeth when his teacher says that the cough he's had for two weeks is now worse because you knew that was coming? And because he's fever-free, eating, sleeping, and playing fine, realize that you'd better take gluten out of your diet in addition to dairy because you're afraid he might have the same allergies as his brother? Have you ever worried about the fact that keeping three people in one house on a gluten-free, casein-free diet is going to be expensive and a bit tricky?
No? Me neither.
Do you ever find the overwhelming sensation to cry and ask God, aloud, to come near, in the middle of your kitchen when you can't figure out what to make for dinner? And have you ever given up and made hot dogs, taking solace in the fact that at least they are hormone, antibiotic, and nitrate-free hot dogs? And when you looked at your preschooler's plate of said hot dogs, gluten-free pretzels, organic strawberries, and vitamins, have you ever told yourself that meal could be much worse, even though you really know it should be much better?
No? Me neither.
Have you ever not had time to blog but you know that it's cheaper than therapy so you go ahead and write a post anyway? Have you ever totally put yourself out there on your blog even though you know some people are going to realize just how crazy you are? Have you ever wanted to apologize to your blog friends for publishing a psychotic post and failing to comment on their blogs, all in the same day?
No? Me neither.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Food Allergy Friday: The initial diagnosis
Over the last year, since my L was diagnosed with food allergies, I've done quite a bit of research. I remember walking out of the allergist's office last June in a daze, shocked at the diagnosis and wondering how on earth we were going to deal with it. I remember crying along with L when I introduced yucky bread (and he was right...that rice bread was yucky) and thinking our lives had been turned upside down.
I was right.
But now, I am actually grateful for what I've learned. Even though at times, it can make things more difficult, for the most part, it makes life simpler...and it always makes me feel good, in more ways than one, to be eating so healthy.
I've been feeling a pull to write a post with some things I wish I would have known that day in June. I am not sure if there's a mama out there who needs it, but if you are her, please comment or email me...I'd love to hear from you. I'm going to start with L's diagnosis, then in upcoming weeks, I'll talk about hidden allergens, our favorite foods, recipes, etc. If there's something in particular you want me to discuss, let me know and I'll start with that. Welcome to Food Allergy Fridays!
Regarding L's initial diagnosis:
* While L did vomit fairly frequently and had loose stools from time to time, his main allergy symptom was coughing. I fought and fought for an cough-variant asthma diagnosis, which is tough at the age of 2. I finally convinced a nurse practitioner to let me try an inhaler. She gave me a sample and said, "You'll know when this doesn't work that it's not asthma." It worked.
* L also had red bumps around his mouth, which I never knew were related to allergies. They were small and spread out, so I didn't think they could possibly be hives. He also had dark circles under his eyes and was pale. Makes sense...in essence, we were poisoning him, albeit unknowingly!
* He was also VERY itchy. He constantly complained about this, and was always scratching. The two areas I remember him being itchy were his feet and his bottom. He was always pulling at his underwear and had his hands down the back of his pants, scratching.
* Not all children have all these symptoms, nor do they have exactly the same symptoms as L. All kids are different and if you have an unexplained symptom, it certainly can't hurt to get allergy tests done. Our allergist says that they are able to be allergy tested at 18 months. The day G turns 18 months, we'll be marching back into the office for his turn.
* Blood allergy tests are not even remotely as accurate as skin allergy tests. L went through blood testing for allergies (which were traumatic for all of us) and the results indicated that he was allergic to...NOTHING.
* I trusted my mom gut a few months later, when, out of nowhere, L had an asthma attack. As I sat with him, using his nebulizer, I remember thinking, "If this is allergy-induced asthma, what the hell is he allergic to?" I called my childhood allergist and made an appointment. A week later, we were walking out of the office with a diagnosis of allergies to wheat, milk, turkey, and tomato (plus grass and one type of mold).
* The first few days off of foods to which he was allergic was rough. It was like he was going through withdrawals. He was lethargic, weepy, and just plain felt sick.
* Now, however, we haven't used the nebulizer with him since his diagnosis. At all! Considering we were doing nightly breathing treatments, plus using extra rescue treatments at times, I find this amazing.
* L's behavior was impacted by his allergies. While some of it can be chalked up to terrible two's (and our response to his behavior, pre-Love and Logic training), the allergist promises that part of his craziness was allergy related. When we went for testing, L was literally jumping off of the chairs and ripping pages out of books. When we returned for our one year checkup, he sat quietly on the floor, actually reading the books.
Getting the diagnosis was really an eye-opener for us, between understanding the root of his problems as well as learning more about food in general. It's been the epitome of a blessing in disguise for us. Now I say that someday, I'll serve as a volunteer to support other food allergy moms, because it was hard for me to find information and support at first. For now, we'll start with these posts.
Any questions? If you'd rather e-mail me, feel free. I'm at namastebyday@gmail.com. Also, if you have a tip/post/website to share, do so in the comments!
Happy (Food Allergy) Friday!
I was right.
But now, I am actually grateful for what I've learned. Even though at times, it can make things more difficult, for the most part, it makes life simpler...and it always makes me feel good, in more ways than one, to be eating so healthy.
I've been feeling a pull to write a post with some things I wish I would have known that day in June. I am not sure if there's a mama out there who needs it, but if you are her, please comment or email me...I'd love to hear from you. I'm going to start with L's diagnosis, then in upcoming weeks, I'll talk about hidden allergens, our favorite foods, recipes, etc. If there's something in particular you want me to discuss, let me know and I'll start with that. Welcome to Food Allergy Fridays!
Regarding L's initial diagnosis:
* While L did vomit fairly frequently and had loose stools from time to time, his main allergy symptom was coughing. I fought and fought for an cough-variant asthma diagnosis, which is tough at the age of 2. I finally convinced a nurse practitioner to let me try an inhaler. She gave me a sample and said, "You'll know when this doesn't work that it's not asthma." It worked.
* L also had red bumps around his mouth, which I never knew were related to allergies. They were small and spread out, so I didn't think they could possibly be hives. He also had dark circles under his eyes and was pale. Makes sense...in essence, we were poisoning him, albeit unknowingly!
* He was also VERY itchy. He constantly complained about this, and was always scratching. The two areas I remember him being itchy were his feet and his bottom. He was always pulling at his underwear and had his hands down the back of his pants, scratching.
* Not all children have all these symptoms, nor do they have exactly the same symptoms as L. All kids are different and if you have an unexplained symptom, it certainly can't hurt to get allergy tests done. Our allergist says that they are able to be allergy tested at 18 months. The day G turns 18 months, we'll be marching back into the office for his turn.
* Blood allergy tests are not even remotely as accurate as skin allergy tests. L went through blood testing for allergies (which were traumatic for all of us) and the results indicated that he was allergic to...NOTHING.
* I trusted my mom gut a few months later, when, out of nowhere, L had an asthma attack. As I sat with him, using his nebulizer, I remember thinking, "If this is allergy-induced asthma, what the hell is he allergic to?" I called my childhood allergist and made an appointment. A week later, we were walking out of the office with a diagnosis of allergies to wheat, milk, turkey, and tomato (plus grass and one type of mold).
* The first few days off of foods to which he was allergic was rough. It was like he was going through withdrawals. He was lethargic, weepy, and just plain felt sick.
* Now, however, we haven't used the nebulizer with him since his diagnosis. At all! Considering we were doing nightly breathing treatments, plus using extra rescue treatments at times, I find this amazing.
* L's behavior was impacted by his allergies. While some of it can be chalked up to terrible two's (and our response to his behavior, pre-Love and Logic training), the allergist promises that part of his craziness was allergy related. When we went for testing, L was literally jumping off of the chairs and ripping pages out of books. When we returned for our one year checkup, he sat quietly on the floor, actually reading the books.
Getting the diagnosis was really an eye-opener for us, between understanding the root of his problems as well as learning more about food in general. It's been the epitome of a blessing in disguise for us. Now I say that someday, I'll serve as a volunteer to support other food allergy moms, because it was hard for me to find information and support at first. For now, we'll start with these posts.
Any questions? If you'd rather e-mail me, feel free. I'm at namastebyday@gmail.com. Also, if you have a tip/post/website to share, do so in the comments!
Happy (Food Allergy) Friday!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thankful Thursday: The Blessings in Disguise edition
It's funny how rough days can turn into gratitude-filled days when given a little help.
Today, I am grateful that L's stomach issues are just that. Last night, he vomited pretty violently out of the blue, and after consulting Dr. Google, I am fairly confident that he never really outgrew his reflux. I started feeling sorry for the both of us when I began suspecting that we are going to have to limit his diet even further. Later, I got a sweet e-mail from a friend, saying exactly what I needed to hear. Of the billions of things that could be wrong with my kid, this is fairly minor, all things considered.
I'm also grateful for friends who talk me down from the ledge when I attempt to diagnose my L with worst-case scenario illnesses before settling on reflux. Believe it or not, I have women who I can email about details of L's puke, and who will listen patiently and respond with advice based on their own kids' experiences.
I am thankful for The World's Best Husband, who, upon receiving my text that Logan had tossed his (gluten-free) cookies all over his bed, responded by telling me to throw the sheet and blankets in the tub and he'd deal with them when he got home, because he has practice. Nuff said, right, ladies?
On a somewhat-related note, I am super grateful for the allergy-friendly superstore that is W h o l e F o o d s. L and I made such a scene in there yesterday, jumping up and down and celebrating gluten-free, casein-free finds, including Curious George cookies, ice cream cones, and pizza crust (L) and soy-free butter, yogurt, and organic grapes (me). We both had perma-smiles for the hour and a half we were there; even the $140 total (when we originally went for just pizza crust and cheese) couldn't wipe it off our faces.
I am thankful that G is at such a fun age so I can enjoy him so much this summer. His mischievous side is really starting to show, and watching him and L play and giggle together makes me smile daily. He's a fantastic eater, plays so well with L or alone, and is a trooper on our daily outings. That totally makes up for the fact that he still only says "Dada" and "Nana."
I am thankful for said daily outings. So far, we've done something fun every day, from seeing free ventriloquist shows at the library, to playdates with friends, to trips to grandparents' houses. The speed of these summer days is mind-blowing, but to say we are enjoying it to the fullest is an understatement.
I am grateful that I finally got pulled into the genius that I originally thought would be just another time-suck: Pinterest.I've found ideas for parties, for crafts for L and I to complete, and even Father's Day gifts (which reminds me, I am oh-so-grateful that another blog-turned-IRL friend has agreed to help me create).
I am thankful that I've rediscovered my love of yoga. I can practice far more regularly thanks to my summer schedule. Rocking out warriors, wheels, and tree poses both strengthen and center me, and I wonder how I got away from it for a while. I found another perfect-for-me teacher this week, and as a matter of fact, I'm off to find my zen this morning. Namaste.
Today, I am grateful that L's stomach issues are just that. Last night, he vomited pretty violently out of the blue, and after consulting Dr. Google, I am fairly confident that he never really outgrew his reflux. I started feeling sorry for the both of us when I began suspecting that we are going to have to limit his diet even further. Later, I got a sweet e-mail from a friend, saying exactly what I needed to hear. Of the billions of things that could be wrong with my kid, this is fairly minor, all things considered.
I'm also grateful for friends who talk me down from the ledge when I attempt to diagnose my L with worst-case scenario illnesses before settling on reflux. Believe it or not, I have women who I can email about details of L's puke, and who will listen patiently and respond with advice based on their own kids' experiences.
I am thankful for The World's Best Husband, who, upon receiving my text that Logan had tossed his (gluten-free) cookies all over his bed, responded by telling me to throw the sheet and blankets in the tub and he'd deal with them when he got home, because he has practice. Nuff said, right, ladies?
On a somewhat-related note, I am super grateful for the allergy-friendly superstore that is W h o l e F o o d s. L and I made such a scene in there yesterday, jumping up and down and celebrating gluten-free, casein-free finds, including Curious George cookies, ice cream cones, and pizza crust (L) and soy-free butter, yogurt, and organic grapes (me). We both had perma-smiles for the hour and a half we were there; even the $140 total (when we originally went for just pizza crust and cheese) couldn't wipe it off our faces.
I am thankful that G is at such a fun age so I can enjoy him so much this summer. His mischievous side is really starting to show, and watching him and L play and giggle together makes me smile daily. He's a fantastic eater, plays so well with L or alone, and is a trooper on our daily outings.
I am thankful for said daily outings. So far, we've done something fun every day, from seeing free ventriloquist shows at the library, to playdates with friends, to trips to grandparents' houses. The speed of these summer days is mind-blowing, but to say we are enjoying it to the fullest is an understatement.
I am grateful that I finally got pulled into the genius that I originally thought would be just another time-suck: Pinterest.I've found ideas for parties, for crafts for L and I to complete, and even Father's Day gifts (which reminds me, I am oh-so-grateful that another blog-turned-IRL friend has agreed to help me create).
I am thankful that I've rediscovered my love of yoga. I can practice far more regularly thanks to my summer schedule. Rocking out warriors, wheels, and tree poses both strengthen and center me, and I wonder how I got away from it for a while. I found another perfect-for-me teacher this week, and as a matter of fact, I'm off to find my zen this morning. Namaste.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
I get by with a little help from my Tweeps...
People like to warn about the horrors of social networking. I agree with a lot of them. There are lots of crazies out there. I'm fairly anonymous on my blog. Search hard enough (or ask around) and you can find out my kids' names. Look around a bit, and you can find out a roundabout place where I live. I don't have an exceptionally large following, so maybe that's why I am more lax. But I do know that there are dangers.
That being said, I won't be deleting my social networking sites anytime soon (even though there are days I consider it). Today was a reminder of why.
On Sunday, someone gave poor L a piece of non-gluten-free bread. The story of how he got it isn't the point. It wasn't B or I who handed it over, but we've all slipped with his allergies.
I digress.
Today is Wednesday and the third day that he's woken up, violently vomiting, followed by diarrhea. When it happened Sunday night into Monday morning, I expected it. When the cycle repeated itself very early Tuesday morning, I was concerned, but a call to the allergist confirmed that this second reaction phase was indeed normal. But when my L woke up this morning and vomited again (and again and again), mere hours after a dose of Benadryl, I was a bit panicky.
I called the allergist's office to get a recording explaining that they were closed on Wednesday. Hours of bothering Dr. Google turned up a whole lot of nothing. Exasperated, I turned to Dr. Twitter. As usual, Dr. T. did not disappoint. His friendly nurses completely turned my day around.
I simply tweeted a request for anyone with gluten allergies to come forth and rescue me. And rescue me they did. A few of my Twitter besties retweeted my cry for help and did the legwork to hook me up with resources. Thanks to them, help came out of the woodwork.
Another sweet friend emailed me the contact information for a clinical dietician at a local children's hospital, as well as encouraging thoughts on my parenting, that I desperately needed to hear. Although the woman she recommended couldn't give me specific help with L's present issue, she was full of information on necessary supplements for L due to his milk allergy, and suggestions for G's suspected milk allergy.
I called L's pediatrician, who tried to convince me that L's sporadic vomiting was viral. Or simply acid reflux. My mama instinct was screaming but I managed to remain fairly respectful while I dug my heels in about this being allergy-related.
I became more and more aggravated, until I got a tweet from a woman who has Celiac Disease. She put my mind at ease, explaining that it's unfortunately normal for L to still be vomiting; that the fact that all of his ahem-functions are normal between bouts of illness are a good sign; that the reason he throws up only late at night/early in the morning could be due to excess acid, and explained why.A few other women jumped in with valuable tidbits of information and encouragement.
In the meantime, someone responded to a post that I had published on a food allergy forum, continuing to give me answers and support.
As I type this, L is napping peacefully. I am no longer choked up and tense, as I was this morning. Even though L hasn't eaten much today, I know he's hydrated and his response to the wheat he ate is normal. I have a plan of action for tonight to hopefully keep him more comfortable through the night. Without my social networking, I'd be the one sick to my stomach.
I didn't link to everyone who helped me today because I was afraid I'd forget someone, and not everyone who helped has a blog to link. Plus, I know they did it out of the kindness of their heart, not for blog traffic. Hopefully they know just how grateful I am for their friendship right now. I love the fact that some of my online friends are my closest friends, and someday I'll figure out a way to hug them in person and buy them a beer.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sunday Snippets
I don't have much going on at the moment. Goodness knows that's not necessarily a bad thing, but as for blog fodder? Meh. So I present, Sunday snippets.
***
G continues to hold the title of The World's Worst Sleeper. I've tried sleep training. I've tried cosleeping. I've tried everything. The boy just does not enjoy sleeping. Last night he was up three times. Sometimes, he'll sleep through the night seven nights in a row...and then he's all, "You liked that? Too bad, sucka." Oh well. I'll sleep eventually. Or not.
***
Speaking of G, I am doing something today that is very un-Gina-ish. I'm taking G to a model search. Before you write me off as a psycho stage mom, understand this. My friend Tiffany has her own clothing line and is holding the search for her company. I'll get professional photos of G and whoever gets the most "likes" on Facebook will win. My competitive side is considering doing a giveaway over here on the ole blog. One entry for voting, another for reposting/sharing/tweeting. What should I give away? Maybe I'll give an extra few entries for a winning idea. Aaaand....go!
***
L is learning to read and loving it. I am constantly answering the question, "Mommy, what's dat say?" Last night, he sounded out (with a little help) "On The Run" at a gas station. Then I had to explain why it said "on the run" when we were actually "in the car." He has reached the "why" stage and it's exhausting.
***
Last Friday, I had to say, "Your hand does not belong on my bottom," to two different students. They were not both male.
***
This morning, L brought up his private parts in conversation, which is a common occurrence lately. I reminded him that they are indeed private and quizzed him about who is allowed to touch them. His answer...his girlfriend in his class! Both B and I almost died. And yes, I turned away before he saw me laughing.
***
As if I needed another one, I found the trillionth reason why I love Trader Joe's. They have signs in their store explaining why dark chocolate is good for you and insisting you should eat a little every day. Dark chocolate covered cranberries? Don't mind if I do. Oh...and one more thing, they carry these:
...which taste just like a particular chocolate/coconut girl scout cookie. Seriously. Go buy them. And if you have milk and/or wheat allergies like L? Try these. L is tickled pink that we don't mind that he eats them for breakfast. And we are tickled pink that we found another protein source for him.
And that concludes the most exciting parts of my life right now. Try not to be jealous of the glamour. Namaste.
Friday, March 25, 2011
On allergies
On a daily basis, I get asked a lot of questions about L's allergies.
How I knew he had them. What his symptoms were like. If he will outgrow them. What happens when he has an attack. If I carry an epi-pen. How he deals with them. How I deal with them. If the food is more expensive.
In short the answers are: I had a God-whispering/momma instinct moment. He vomited daily, had bumps around his mouth, had asthma attacks, was super itchy, and sometimes, diarrhea. I don't know, and I have mixed feelings on if I want him to grow out of them. It depends on which food and how much he eats. No. Better than me. Better than I used to. Yes and no.
Leave a comment if you want a post or an e-mail going into detail on any of these.
I haven't posted about his allergies in a while, and I know I have some new readers so I figured I'd give you an update. L's allergic to wheat, milk, turkey, and tomatoes. He can tell you that himself, although sometimes he says "potatoes" instead of tomatoes. Also, he'll try to tell me he's allergic to vegetables so that he can get out of eating them. He also tells me that I am allergic to yummy things that he is eating so I don't ask for a bite.
We've had only one instance of him taking a bite of something that he knew he wasn't supposed to. He can tell you what happens to him when he eats the food. Honestly? It amazes me that he's wise enough to handle the allergies the way he has. We've gotten to the point that we can eat ice cream or chocolate in front of him. (I always, always make sure he has his own special treat.)
We go back in June to get retested. I'll get tested then too. I told him this the other day. When I said we'd have to do the "caterpillars" (needles in his back) again, he gave me a look like "The hell we will." But when I explained that maybe they'd say he's no longer allergic to one of the four things, he brightened, and said, "Dat would be great!" Then when I explained that they might say he is still allergic to them, he shrugged and said, "Dat would be okay. We can still get my special treats."
Like I said. Wise beyond his years.
The other night, we had a issue. One of his grandparents assumed that he could have popcorn (he can, as long as it's butter-free) and gave him some microwave popcorn. When I picked him up, I read the ingredients and didn't think much of it, since he had only eaten one small bowl and the butter was less than 2% of the ingredients.
Over 24 hours later, my poor little L had severe cramping and diarrhea all night long. The next day, he was starving. No fever, and tons of energy. B mentioned that his bottom was very red and sore the night before (that used to be the itchiest part on him---makes sense if you think about it) and I figured it couldn't hurt to call and ask the allergist.
Sure enough, corn can take over 24 hours to digest, and milk allergies can have "delayed reactions."
When my mom called to check on L, he said, exasperatedly, "I was poopin' all night because of dat popcorn!" I laughed out loud.
If you know a kiddo with food allergies, don't assume they can eat ANYTHING. Even if their mom says they can have potato chips, it might not be every brand (for L, plain Lays are a-ok, Pringles-not so much.) I think it's safe to say that a mom would prefer you call before you give anything at all that she hasn't provided. And have the container ready so you can read the ingredients. For instance, you'd be shocked at what has gluten (some popsicles, hamburger patties, broths). Also? Be careful about cross-contamination (if peanut butter has been used on bread, L can't eat it. He has his own jar at our house).
If your child has weird medical things going on that you can't explain, go get them tested for food allergies. It's so good to know. G will get tested at 18 months regardless of symptoms. L had pulmonary and digestive issues, among others. We went to four doctors before my mama instinct told me to get another allergy test done. Speaking of that, get the skin "scratch" test done. Blood tests are very inaccurate at diagnosing food allergies. L's first allergy blood test came back saying he was allergic to....drumroll please...nothing.
L's allergies have been life-changing for us, and not just in negative ways. We all eat so much healthier now. I've learned so much about food in general. I'm learning to cook, which is a miracle in and of itself. Last night, I made coconut fried chicken ala Laura, and when B asked L if he could try it, L answered, "No. I'm afraid you might wike it." The coconut vanilla pudding I gave him for dessert was 'da most dewicious pudding ever' according to sweet L. I couldn't help but agree.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
No, your eyes haven't deceived you. There's a recipe on my blog.
Have I mentioned that I don't enjoy cooking? Or baking? Oh, I have? Well, I don't. Not even a little. I try to trick myself into liking it by telling myself it's a creative art, but it doesn't work.
But my girl Laura hooked me up with the fantastic allergy-friendly chocolate cupcake recipe. It's so simple that even I can make them. You know, when I remember to double all ingredients when I double the recipe. Ahem.
The recipe originally came from this blog ,
but Laura changed it up a bit, then I changed it a little more. I personally prefer to use sugar rather than artificial sweeteners, even Stevia, so that's the change I made. Plus, I took out the coffee. I figured ten kids under four at a birthday party wouldn't exactly need the caffeine.
Both L and my cousin's little boy have food allergies and rarely get to eat anything chocolate. The looks on their faces when we told them that these were "safe" were priceless. Seriously heartwarming.
The other good thing about these cupcakes is that they aren't super dense and bland like most gluten-free foods. Have you ever tasted gluten-free products? Let's just say that I have a hard time doing the whole "Mmmm, delicious!" thing when I usually try them in front of sweet L.
Want to know how to make delicious, fairly healthy, allergy-friendly cupcakes? You've come to the right place.
Don't be afraid of all the coconut ingredients. Even with coconut oil, milk, and flour, they still just have a hint of coconut flavor.
Oh. And I got my flour and oil from www.netrition.com. Great site for allergic folk like us.
Chocolate Coconut Flour Cupcakes
1/4 cup coconut oil
3 tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
6 tablespoons sugar
4 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup coconut milk
Preheat oven to 350F and line 7 muffin tins with paper liners. (I got more than 7. Goodness knows I probably did something wrong. But whatev.)
In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Whisk in cocoa and set aside. (This part smells amazing.)
In a small bowl, whisk together coconut flour, baking soda, baking powder, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt. Be sure to break up any clumps.
In a larger bowl, beat eggs with vanilla and 3 tablespoons sugar until frothy. Add butter/cocoa mixture to eggs and beat until combined. Add half of coconut flour mixture and beat on low for a few moments, then add almond milk and beat in thoroughly. Add remaining coconut flour mixture and beat on low, then use a rubber spatula to stir and make sure all ingredients are well combined.
Divide batter among prepared muffin tins and bake in center of oven for 18-20 minutes. Cupcakes are done when the top is set and a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5-10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Gluten Free and Casein Free Frosting came from this blog
(This is edited to substitute soy-free ingredients.Look at me, subbing ingredients. Watch out, Pioneer Woman.)
o 1 pound box of confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar and confectioners' sugar are the same)
o 1/4 cup coconut milk
o 1 t vanilla
o 1/2 cup coconut oil
* Add 1/2 cup cocoa powder to make chocolate frosting
Beat with an electric mixer, scraping the bowl often, until it reaches the desired consistency. Add milk or a non-dairy substitute to thin.
o 1/4 cup coconut milk
o 1 t vanilla
o 1/2 cup coconut oil
* Add 1/2 cup cocoa powder to make chocolate frosting
Beat with an electric mixer, scraping the bowl often, until it reaches the desired consistency. Add milk or a non-dairy substitute to thin.
If you make these, let me know how you like them!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Is it too late for a New Year's Resolution?
I talk a good game.
I make G's food from organic fruits and vegetables (although I admittedly have given him store-bought food a couple of times at school when I ran out. So sue me...it's free there!).
I can't remember the last time I had a cheeseburger and fries. Or ice cream. (But oh, how I crave it.)
We don't drink any cow's milk since we found out about L's milk allergy. We use hemp milk and I am actively searching for coconut milk. L doesn't get any dairy, and B and I eat it sparingly. I haven't decided what I'll do about milk when G turns one.
I've removed soy from our diet...as much as possible, anyway.
I put my boys on a delayed vaccination schedule and don't vaccinate when they are sick. (I won't stop vaccinating them, however. I don't believe that autism and vaccines are related, which is another post for another day. Maybe.)
I clean with all-natural products from this website.
And then, yesterday, I read this post that made me realize that there is so much more I need to do.
I have got to stop buying crap for L, specifically hot dogs (even though I buy nitrate-free franks), fruit snacks, and candy. Don't get me wrong...I'll still give him the gluten-free cookies as a treat, but I know he eats way too much sugar.
When I read that sugar decreases your immune system, it was a wake-up call. If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know that my kids are always sick. Always. This year, I've accepted it a little more, since everyone I know in our area has had sick kids all.winter.long. But if removing sugar can make us healthier, I'm all for it.
I ordered a dozen glass jars tonight, and will be tossing out my plastic-ware and storing my leftovers and bulk items in them when they arrive.
I'm going to start cooking things in the toaster oven instead of the microwave when possible.
I'm dusting off my air popcorn popper that has been sitting in my pantry for years, since I've been too lazy to ditch the microwaveable kind.
I just finished cleaning out my pantry and threw away a huge bag of junk.
But.
I didn't throw away the three (three!!) boxes of fruit snacks in there. That new case of Caffeine-Free Dr. Pepper we bought this weekend? I'm going to finish it. Also, I'm not making any promises about the dark chocolate covered raisins that we buy on a weekly basis. Oh, and the aspartame-laced Mint Chocolate Chip gum to which I am literally addicted...I'd love to say I'm throwing it away. But I won't. And you're going to have to pry my unopened jar of Nut*ella from my cold, dead hands if you think it's going anywhere.
As I type this though, my sweet L just sneezed out a huge snot rocket. Plus, I have a feverish baby in my arms, nursing.
So even though I am going to be seen as a mean mommy who won't buy fruit snacks anymore, I'm digging in my heels.
And I promise, albeit reluctantly, that if L can give up some of his sugary snacks, I won't buy any more soda. Or *wincing*, Nut*ella.
You're gonna have to give me some time on the gum, though.
I make G's food from organic fruits and vegetables (although I admittedly have given him store-bought food a couple of times at school when I ran out. So sue me...it's free there!).
I can't remember the last time I had a cheeseburger and fries. Or ice cream. (But oh, how I crave it.)
We don't drink any cow's milk since we found out about L's milk allergy. We use hemp milk and I am actively searching for coconut milk. L doesn't get any dairy, and B and I eat it sparingly. I haven't decided what I'll do about milk when G turns one.
I've removed soy from our diet...as much as possible, anyway.
I put my boys on a delayed vaccination schedule and don't vaccinate when they are sick. (I won't stop vaccinating them, however. I don't believe that autism and vaccines are related, which is another post for another day. Maybe.)
I clean with all-natural products from this website.
And then, yesterday, I read this post that made me realize that there is so much more I need to do.
I have got to stop buying crap for L, specifically hot dogs (even though I buy nitrate-free franks), fruit snacks, and candy. Don't get me wrong...I'll still give him the gluten-free cookies as a treat, but I know he eats way too much sugar.
When I read that sugar decreases your immune system, it was a wake-up call. If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know that my kids are always sick. Always. This year, I've accepted it a little more, since everyone I know in our area has had sick kids all.winter.long. But if removing sugar can make us healthier, I'm all for it.
I ordered a dozen glass jars tonight, and will be tossing out my plastic-ware and storing my leftovers and bulk items in them when they arrive.
I'm going to start cooking things in the toaster oven instead of the microwave when possible.
I'm dusting off my air popcorn popper that has been sitting in my pantry for years, since I've been too lazy to ditch the microwaveable kind.
I just finished cleaning out my pantry and threw away a huge bag of junk.
But.
I didn't throw away the three (three!!) boxes of fruit snacks in there. That new case of Caffeine-Free Dr. Pepper we bought this weekend? I'm going to finish it. Also, I'm not making any promises about the dark chocolate covered raisins that we buy on a weekly basis. Oh, and the aspartame-laced Mint Chocolate Chip gum to which I am literally addicted...I'd love to say I'm throwing it away. But I won't. And you're going to have to pry my unopened jar of Nut*ella from my cold, dead hands if you think it's going anywhere.
As I type this though, my sweet L just sneezed out a huge snot rocket. Plus, I have a feverish baby in my arms, nursing.
So even though I am going to be seen as a mean mommy who won't buy fruit snacks anymore, I'm digging in my heels.
And I promise, albeit reluctantly, that if L can give up some of his sugary snacks, I won't buy any more soda. Or *wincing*, Nut*ella.
You're gonna have to give me some time on the gum, though.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Allergies? Yes, please.
It occurred to me this week that I haven't posted about our journey with L's allergies in a long time.
Jodie posted about her daughter's newly-diagnosed food allergies and sensitivities and it immediately brought me back to how I felt this summer when L's allergies to milk, wheat, turkey, and tomatoes were first diagnosed. .
I remember walking out of the allergist's office like a zombie...thinking that our lives had changed and we'd never make it without Goldfish crackers. Pancakes. Ice cream. Club crackers. Cheerios. Ketchup. Et Cetera.
I remember crying when L cried over our first attempt at PB&J on rice bread. (Thank God we've found edible gluten-free bread now.)
I remember getting goosebumps when we found a gluten-free bakery that showed me that there were delicious options out there for us.
And now I am grateful for L's food allergies. They are the epitome of the "blessing in disguise" cliche. They have changed our lives...but in a positive way. We eat so much healthier now. L's diet consists mostly of protein and fruit. Granted, he gets the occasional treat of Fruity Pebbles or gluten-casein-free lemon cookies, but overall, my boy eats healthier than he ever has. And so do we.
I've since learned that milk isn't as healthy as we had originally thought, which will change the way I introduce G to milk at a year. L's hemp milk has become a staple in our house, and we use it in everything.
I've been shocked at what I've learned about soy. I knew something wasn't right when we switched L to soy milk and he had terrible diarrhea. After researching for months, it makes complete sense.
I've gained more information on preservatives and heavy metals in foods. We don't eat completely organically, but when we have the option, we absolutely choose it. I'm making G's food and the peace of mind I get from that is priceless.
I have had family and friends tell me that their children have had similar symptoms to L but they are afraid to get their kids' allergies tested simply because they don't want to deal with the outcome.
You know what? I get that. I do. It's expensive. It can be a pain in the ass. It can make things hard on my sweet L when he can't eat what his friends are eating. When he sadly says, "That's not gwuten-fwee, wight?"
However.
After changing L's diet, giving him lots of vitamins and probiotics, and sneaking veggies into his smoothies (thank you, Jess), the little man has gone from the least healthy person in our household to the healthiest. We've all been fighting colds for months now and L is the first one who has been able to kick it. Don't get me wrong...we're still working on his immune system. He came home from school with a double ear infection last week.
But I'm getting my allergies tested when L goes back for his yearly follow-up. And you can bet that the day G turns 18 months, he'll be in the allergist's office as well.
***edited to add: If you are considering taking your child in for allergy testing, get a skin test done. L's first allergy test was done via a blood test and was not only traumatizing but was completely inaccurate...it said he was allergic to nothing.
Oddly enough, if the rest of us have food allergies...a little part of me will be glad.
Who would have thought I'd ever type that out loud?
Jodie posted about her daughter's newly-diagnosed food allergies and sensitivities and it immediately brought me back to how I felt this summer when L's allergies to milk, wheat, turkey, and tomatoes were first diagnosed. .
I remember walking out of the allergist's office like a zombie...thinking that our lives had changed and we'd never make it without Goldfish crackers. Pancakes. Ice cream. Club crackers. Cheerios. Ketchup. Et Cetera.
I remember crying when L cried over our first attempt at PB&J on rice bread. (Thank God we've found edible gluten-free bread now.)
I remember getting goosebumps when we found a gluten-free bakery that showed me that there were delicious options out there for us.
And now I am grateful for L's food allergies. They are the epitome of the "blessing in disguise" cliche. They have changed our lives...but in a positive way. We eat so much healthier now. L's diet consists mostly of protein and fruit. Granted, he gets the occasional treat of Fruity Pebbles or gluten-casein-free lemon cookies, but overall, my boy eats healthier than he ever has. And so do we.
I've since learned that milk isn't as healthy as we had originally thought, which will change the way I introduce G to milk at a year. L's hemp milk has become a staple in our house, and we use it in everything.
I've been shocked at what I've learned about soy. I knew something wasn't right when we switched L to soy milk and he had terrible diarrhea. After researching for months, it makes complete sense.
I've gained more information on preservatives and heavy metals in foods. We don't eat completely organically, but when we have the option, we absolutely choose it. I'm making G's food and the peace of mind I get from that is priceless.
I have had family and friends tell me that their children have had similar symptoms to L but they are afraid to get their kids' allergies tested simply because they don't want to deal with the outcome.
You know what? I get that. I do. It's expensive. It can be a pain in the ass. It can make things hard on my sweet L when he can't eat what his friends are eating. When he sadly says, "That's not gwuten-fwee, wight?"
However.
After changing L's diet, giving him lots of vitamins and probiotics, and sneaking veggies into his smoothies (thank you, Jess), the little man has gone from the least healthy person in our household to the healthiest. We've all been fighting colds for months now and L is the first one who has been able to kick it. Don't get me wrong...we're still working on his immune system. He came home from school with a double ear infection last week.
But I'm getting my allergies tested when L goes back for his yearly follow-up. And you can bet that the day G turns 18 months, he'll be in the allergist's office as well.
***edited to add: If you are considering taking your child in for allergy testing, get a skin test done. L's first allergy test was done via a blood test and was not only traumatizing but was completely inaccurate...it said he was allergic to nothing.
Oddly enough, if the rest of us have food allergies...a little part of me will be glad.
Who would have thought I'd ever type that out loud?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Kiddie Detox
Earlier this week, L came home from school and ran for the bathroom.
He had a bit of an, ahem, explosion.
Considering he's been potty trained for over a year, I thought he must be getting the flu.
And then I asked him what he had eaten that day.
"I didn't eat my chicken nuggets at wunch. 'Dey were yucky," he answered. "I just ate my strawberries and raisins."
Hmm.
I remembered that I had given him blueberries for breakfast.
And another box of raisins for a snack when he got home from school.
I asked him what he ate for morning snack, and he remembered. "Strawberries. And a fruit bar."
(A fruit bar is an all-natural fruit leather.)
Well. That explains it.
This is what happens when you have a wheat and milk allergy and can't eat crackers. Or I guess I should say when you can't eat an enticing cracker. Have you tried some of those gluten-free crackers? No? Don't. Trust me.
Thank goodness for cereals (Chex, Kix, Cocoa Pebbles) that are allergy-friendly.
If anyone else has any suggestions for my little man, I'd appreciate it.
Because I have a feeling that DFS might frown on fruit cleanses for three-year-olds.
Just sayin.
He had a bit of an, ahem, explosion.
Considering he's been potty trained for over a year, I thought he must be getting the flu.
And then I asked him what he had eaten that day.
"I didn't eat my chicken nuggets at wunch. 'Dey were yucky," he answered. "I just ate my strawberries and raisins."
Hmm.
I remembered that I had given him blueberries for breakfast.
And another box of raisins for a snack when he got home from school.
I asked him what he ate for morning snack, and he remembered. "Strawberries. And a fruit bar."
(A fruit bar is an all-natural fruit leather.)
Well. That explains it.
This is what happens when you have a wheat and milk allergy and can't eat crackers. Or I guess I should say when you can't eat an enticing cracker. Have you tried some of those gluten-free crackers? No? Don't. Trust me.
Thank goodness for cereals (Chex, Kix, Cocoa Pebbles) that are allergy-friendly.
If anyone else has any suggestions for my little man, I'd appreciate it.
Because I have a feeling that DFS might frown on fruit cleanses for three-year-olds.
Just sayin.
Friday, December 31, 2010
a lesson in perspective
I started the last day of 2010 feeling a little sorry for myself. I woke up beyond exhausted after a night of listening to my little man cough and cough and cough.
And for once, it wasn't L. Poor G-man had been hacking all night long.
I called the pediatrician, bundled us all up, and headed in. As soon as the doctor heard G cough, he looked concerned. This man is ridiculously laid-back, so the look on his face panicked me. He asked how long G had been coughing like that and when I told him two weeks (before you call DFS, this was his third trip to the doctor in that time), he immediately sent us to the lab for a chest xray.
As I sat waiting in the gross urgent care room for the xray, I got teary. Why are my kids always sick? Why do my kids have to be the ones with allergies and asthma that apparently cannot be controlled?
And then a mom came in, carrying her little boy whose cough silenced the entire room. This little guy had a scary cough. He couldn't catch his breath. His mom told me that they'd been doing breathing treatments every. ten. minutes. the entire night.
It was then that I thanked God for the lesson in perspective as well as for the health of my kids.
So I have two little boys who aren't exactly the picture of health. Asthma sucks the big one. Food allergies are a pain in the arse. But to say it could be worse is quite the understatement. G's tests all came back negative. L's asthma has only landed him in the ER on one occasion. We've got this food allergy thing down...in fact, we are eating healthier than we ever have.
So I don't get to stay home with my boys, even part-time as I'd hoped. It's just not in the cards for us, financially. But I got to stay home with G at least part-time until he was four months old. G stays with my mom and a friend of ours, and L goes to a school that's so good I'd want him to go even if I did stay home. Plus, I love my job. A lot. And how many people can say that, and mean it?
So G went from rocking out 8-hour nights every!single!night! to only making it 3-4 hours before waking up to eat...or worse, just party. Even though I am going back to work full-time on Monday, I don't need sleep
sleep deprivation is getting easier
I am very tolerant of the lack of sleep knowing it's temporary
....New Year's Resolution #1: Find a way to survive on less sleep.
Happy 2011!
And for once, it wasn't L. Poor G-man had been hacking all night long.
I called the pediatrician, bundled us all up, and headed in. As soon as the doctor heard G cough, he looked concerned. This man is ridiculously laid-back, so the look on his face panicked me. He asked how long G had been coughing like that and when I told him two weeks (before you call DFS, this was his third trip to the doctor in that time), he immediately sent us to the lab for a chest xray.
As I sat waiting in the gross urgent care room for the xray, I got teary. Why are my kids always sick? Why do my kids have to be the ones with allergies and asthma that apparently cannot be controlled?
And then a mom came in, carrying her little boy whose cough silenced the entire room. This little guy had a scary cough. He couldn't catch his breath. His mom told me that they'd been doing breathing treatments every. ten. minutes. the entire night.
It was then that I thanked God for the lesson in perspective as well as for the health of my kids.
So I have two little boys who aren't exactly the picture of health. Asthma sucks the big one. Food allergies are a pain in the arse. But to say it could be worse is quite the understatement. G's tests all came back negative. L's asthma has only landed him in the ER on one occasion. We've got this food allergy thing down...in fact, we are eating healthier than we ever have.
So I don't get to stay home with my boys, even part-time as I'd hoped. It's just not in the cards for us, financially. But I got to stay home with G at least part-time until he was four months old. G stays with my mom and a friend of ours, and L goes to a school that's so good I'd want him to go even if I did stay home. Plus, I love my job. A lot. And how many people can say that, and mean it?
So G went from rocking out 8-hour nights every!single!night! to only making it 3-4 hours before waking up to eat...or worse, just party.
....New Year's Resolution #1: Find a way to survive on less sleep.
Happy 2011!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Because it's been far too long since I've posted about puke
Last night, we decided to go to the mall.
B needed to pick up a suit and I needed to find a dress, since we are attending a wedding reception tonight.
So we decided that it would be a good idea for the whole fam to go to the mall.
That was our first mistake.
B brought home dinner from a new deli nearby that has a gluten-free menu. He ordered L's sandwich on the gluten-free bread that we always buy. When we opened it up, we noticed that it looks better than our bread usually does, but we didn't think much of it. And L chowed down. He ate more than I did for dinner.
About twenty minutes later, we began the process of heading out. G's diaper was changed. L went potty. We dug out L and G's jackets. The boys got their socks and jackets on. L found his tennis shoes. Everyone got strapped into their carseats and after a 15-minute routine to get everyone ready, we were finally off.
We stopped at a gas station to fill up, and L started coughing while B was pumping gas. I remembered that we forgot to give him his medicine, and after B finished, we headed back home to get it, as L's cough was getting worse.
We were too late.
Pukefest 2010 went down in the car. Sigh.
Maybe the deli put the wrong bread on L's sandwich.
Maybe he just ate too much and coupled with the cough, had a recipe for disaster.
Maybe the cold air brought on an asthma attack.
Really, though, it doesn't matter. The kid was covered in vomit, and so was his car seat. B literally had to carry him in in his seat and hose the seat off after he got him out.
The trip to the mall was cancelled. I decided to clean the house instead, partially due to the lingering throw-up odor permeating my house. I was not a happy camper. L was crying, saying he wanted to go to the mall. G was crying, demanding to be fed. I wanted to cry, but held back.
And then G went 7.5 hours between feedings last night, went back to sleep without a fuss, and both he and L slept in until after 8.
What puke?
B needed to pick up a suit and I needed to find a dress, since we are attending a wedding reception tonight.
So we decided that it would be a good idea for the whole fam to go to the mall.
That was our first mistake.
B brought home dinner from a new deli nearby that has a gluten-free menu. He ordered L's sandwich on the gluten-free bread that we always buy. When we opened it up, we noticed that it looks better than our bread usually does, but we didn't think much of it. And L chowed down. He ate more than I did for dinner.
About twenty minutes later, we began the process of heading out. G's diaper was changed. L went potty. We dug out L and G's jackets. The boys got their socks and jackets on. L found his tennis shoes. Everyone got strapped into their carseats and after a 15-minute routine to get everyone ready, we were finally off.
We stopped at a gas station to fill up, and L started coughing while B was pumping gas. I remembered that we forgot to give him his medicine, and after B finished, we headed back home to get it, as L's cough was getting worse.
We were too late.
Pukefest 2010 went down in the car. Sigh.
Maybe the deli put the wrong bread on L's sandwich.
Maybe he just ate too much and coupled with the cough, had a recipe for disaster.
Maybe the cold air brought on an asthma attack.
Really, though, it doesn't matter. The kid was covered in vomit, and so was his car seat. B literally had to carry him in in his seat and hose the seat off after he got him out.
The trip to the mall was cancelled. I decided to clean the house instead, partially due to the lingering throw-up odor permeating my house. I was not a happy camper. L was crying, saying he wanted to go to the mall. G was crying, demanding to be fed. I wanted to cry, but held back.
And then G went 7.5 hours between feedings last night, went back to sleep without a fuss, and both he and L slept in until after 8.
What puke?
Friday, August 6, 2010
Friday Fragments
I am having 3rd trimester anxiety. Not about the baby coming...just a too-busy mind and a need to vent. This post is boring and simply a way to get some things out of my brain so that with any luck, I can get back to sleep. Kudos to you if you even skim it.
This is my second rough night this week. Monday night was absolutely terrible...between big painful contractions that woke me up, little man getting hiccups three times between 10 pm and 6 am, L deciding to sneak into our bed, and seven trips to the bathroom, I was almost in tears. So I am handling tonight better. I was up at 2:30 am with racing thoughts and a growling stomach. Fruit snacks and The Real World cured that. Now I'm up at 4:40 am with an allergy attack (even after my 10 pm Zyrtec) and a growling stomach. Here's hoping a banana and a blog post works.
It occurred to me that my doc has been spouting percentages at me every time he examines me. On Wednesday, he estimated 70%...and out of nowhere yesterday, I realized that he must be talking about effacement, right? So something is happening. I'll be 36 weeks on Saturday and I am planning on starting to try all the natural induction methods this week. Sex, spicy food, walking...can't hurt. I am not even considering castor oil until I get really desperate, though. Just sayin.
My summer is just about over. I'm going to my classroom on Monday to work on it and my schedule. Meetings start on Thursday and Friday. This summer has been extremely satisfying. I think L and I have done something fun every single day except for maybe two days, and I am so proud of that. And yes, the library and his grandparents' house counts as fun. He's been asking to go back to school, and shockingly, I'm ready for him to go.
Speaking of L, he's gone through such a language explosion lately. His two new words are "certainly" and "ridiculous" and he uses them in perfect context, although "ridiculous" may not always be behaviorally appropriate. He continues to be the Master Negotiator, starting pleas with "Mommy, here's da feeng..." He is such a social butterfly...he makes friends of all ages everywhere we go by flashing his smile and starting conversations about our upcoming plans or his girlfriend, Hermione.
L's diet is getting easier and easier, too. He doesn't get upset if I buy something at the grocery store or he sees someone eating something that he can't have. He just asks, "Will that make me itchy?" If I answer yes, he either says he doesn't want it or simply moves on. I find it amazing. The soy milk seemed to upset his stomach, and the rice and almond milks are disgustingly watery and lacking calcium, so I ordered him some calcium chewables this week. I am praying he'll tolerate them. I swear his behavior has improved in leaps and bounds every week since we started his diet, and he hasn't needed allergy or asthma medicine since. Again...amazing.
The nursery still isn't done. I only have two bottles. I have no diapers. I'd like to devote Sunday to getting-ready-for-baby day. That probably all depends on if I am up at 5:01 am Sunday morning blogging while I sneeze, stuff my face, and watch my belly move with a certain someone's hiccups, though...
Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekends!
This is my second rough night this week. Monday night was absolutely terrible...between big painful contractions that woke me up, little man getting hiccups three times between 10 pm and 6 am, L deciding to sneak into our bed, and seven trips to the bathroom, I was almost in tears. So I am handling tonight better. I was up at 2:30 am with racing thoughts and a growling stomach. Fruit snacks and The Real World cured that. Now I'm up at 4:40 am with an allergy attack (even after my 10 pm Zyrtec) and a growling stomach. Here's hoping a banana and a blog post works.
It occurred to me that my doc has been spouting percentages at me every time he examines me. On Wednesday, he estimated 70%...and out of nowhere yesterday, I realized that he must be talking about effacement, right? So something is happening. I'll be 36 weeks on Saturday and I am planning on starting to try all the natural induction methods this week. Sex, spicy food, walking...can't hurt. I am not even considering castor oil until I get really desperate, though. Just sayin.
My summer is just about over. I'm going to my classroom on Monday to work on it and my schedule. Meetings start on Thursday and Friday. This summer has been extremely satisfying. I think L and I have done something fun every single day except for maybe two days, and I am so proud of that. And yes, the library and his grandparents' house counts as fun. He's been asking to go back to school, and shockingly, I'm ready for him to go.
Speaking of L, he's gone through such a language explosion lately. His two new words are "certainly" and "ridiculous" and he uses them in perfect context, although "ridiculous" may not always be behaviorally appropriate. He continues to be the Master Negotiator, starting pleas with "Mommy, here's da feeng..." He is such a social butterfly...he makes friends of all ages everywhere we go by flashing his smile and starting conversations about our upcoming plans or his girlfriend, Hermione.
L's diet is getting easier and easier, too. He doesn't get upset if I buy something at the grocery store or he sees someone eating something that he can't have. He just asks, "Will that make me itchy?" If I answer yes, he either says he doesn't want it or simply moves on. I find it amazing. The soy milk seemed to upset his stomach, and the rice and almond milks are disgustingly watery and lacking calcium, so I ordered him some calcium chewables this week. I am praying he'll tolerate them. I swear his behavior has improved in leaps and bounds every week since we started his diet, and he hasn't needed allergy or asthma medicine since. Again...amazing.
The nursery still isn't done. I only have two bottles. I have no diapers. I'd like to devote Sunday to getting-ready-for-baby day. That probably all depends on if I am up at 5:01 am Sunday morning blogging while I sneeze, stuff my face, and watch my belly move with a certain someone's hiccups, though...
Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekends!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Random Tidbit Tuesday
I am messy. Disorganized. Very ADD.
So when nesting really kicked in for me when I was pregnant with L, it didn't surprise me. Maybe I got induced too early. Or maybe I'm just not the nesting type.
Again, I haven't felt any nesting urges. But I am super anxious about the nursery. I hadn't been, until my mom and I (well, honestly 80% my mom, 20% me) completed THIS on Sunday:
I don't know which creature is my favorite, but I am really partial to that baby owl. Regardless, I am dying to get the rest of it put together now.
The pictures I drew are framed and ready to go.
The mobile we are making (I wanted a really earthy one, and the plastic/fabric ones just didn't go with our theme) just needs to be assembled.
The letters of the little man's name have been painted and thanks to Katie, we have a really cool way to display them. I just have to get the item we need from my mom, who claims to have several in her basement.
The crib skirt has arrived. My stepmother-in-law and I are going out tomorrow to buy the sheets and bumper for the crib.
The crib is in the nursery, now that L's big boy bed and superhero bedding have arrived. (Let me tell you, giving a 3.5 year old a bed with his favorite superheroes on it made me Mommy of the Year in his eyes. When his room is complete, I'll post pictures of that too.)
The crib is missing a screw. (Long boring story.)
So I am in hurry-up-and-wait mode. Normally, this is my favorite mode. But right now, it's killing me. Maybe this is nesting for the girl with ADD?
-------------------
Tidbit 2:
Go check out Brittany's giveaway! (Try not to get addicted to her blog while you are there. I dare ya.)I would LOVE to win it so I could get my boys' initials on it, which are....
Hee hee. Not telling yet.
Lots of you have asked what the new little man's name will be but I'm not giving it up till he's born. I know, I hate when people do that too but I think it will be fun to reveal it that way. Only 5 1/2 more weeks to wait at most!
-----------------------
I'm knocking on wood as I type the third tidbit but I really believe that I am seeing L's personality changes that the allergist promised.
He's more focused (maybe I need to try his diet). He's happier. He's easier to motivate. He's more affectionate.
Don't get me wrong..he ended up in "bedroom time" (gotta love Love and Logic) once or twice yesterday, but the trips there are fewer and farther between, and he gets himself together significantly more quickly when he does get upset.
He did get sad on Saturday when B put protein muffins in the cart and was honest with L that they'd make him itchy. But my mom brought gluten-free, casein-free muffins and cookies over on Sunday,which helped.
My dad mentioned it yesterday morning, when L was at his house for an hour while I went to the gym.
Yesterday afternoon, I asked how he was feeling (due to the decreased energy) and he answered, "Doin' better." He went on to tell me he felt "mad" when he ate foods that made him itchy.
Amazing.
To think, a few short weeks ago I was literally grieving over this diagnosis.
-----------------------
Don't burn away your Tuesday...namaste!
So when nesting really kicked in for me when I was pregnant with L, it didn't surprise me. Maybe I got induced too early. Or maybe I'm just not the nesting type.
Again, I haven't felt any nesting urges. But I am super anxious about the nursery. I hadn't been, until my mom and I (well, honestly 80% my mom, 20% me) completed THIS on Sunday:
I don't know which creature is my favorite, but I am really partial to that baby owl. Regardless, I am dying to get the rest of it put together now.
The pictures I drew are framed and ready to go.
The mobile we are making (I wanted a really earthy one, and the plastic/fabric ones just didn't go with our theme) just needs to be assembled.
The letters of the little man's name have been painted and thanks to Katie, we have a really cool way to display them. I just have to get the item we need from my mom, who claims to have several in her basement.
The crib skirt has arrived. My stepmother-in-law and I are going out tomorrow to buy the sheets and bumper for the crib.
The crib is in the nursery, now that L's big boy bed and superhero bedding have arrived. (Let me tell you, giving a 3.5 year old a bed with his favorite superheroes on it made me Mommy of the Year in his eyes. When his room is complete, I'll post pictures of that too.)
The crib is missing a screw. (Long boring story.)
So I am in hurry-up-and-wait mode. Normally, this is my favorite mode. But right now, it's killing me. Maybe this is nesting for the girl with ADD?
-------------------
Tidbit 2:
Go check out Brittany's giveaway! (Try not to get addicted to her blog while you are there. I dare ya.)I would LOVE to win it so I could get my boys' initials on it, which are....
Hee hee. Not telling yet.
Lots of you have asked what the new little man's name will be but I'm not giving it up till he's born. I know, I hate when people do that too but I think it will be fun to reveal it that way. Only 5 1/2 more weeks to wait at most!
-----------------------
I'm knocking on wood as I type the third tidbit but I really believe that I am seeing L's personality changes that the allergist promised.
He's more focused (maybe I need to try his diet). He's happier. He's easier to motivate. He's more affectionate.
Don't get me wrong..he ended up in "bedroom time" (gotta love Love and Logic) once or twice yesterday, but the trips there are fewer and farther between, and he gets himself together significantly more quickly when he does get upset.
He did get sad on Saturday when B put protein muffins in the cart and was honest with L that they'd make him itchy. But my mom brought gluten-free, casein-free muffins and cookies over on Sunday,which helped.
My dad mentioned it yesterday morning, when L was at his house for an hour while I went to the gym.
Yesterday afternoon, I asked how he was feeling (due to the decreased energy) and he answered, "Doin' better." He went on to tell me he felt "mad" when he ate foods that made him itchy.
Amazing.
To think, a few short weeks ago I was literally grieving over this diagnosis.
-----------------------
Don't burn away your Tuesday...namaste!
I am NOT almost too embarrassed to post this...NOT me!
I did NOT notice that L was starting to break out on Friday, on our way to swimming lessons. I am flawless with his diet regarding his allergies and I do NOT make mistakes...for instance, giving him V8 Splash juice that I blogged about here. Of course V8 has tomatoes in it. I mean, that is beyond obvious.
I did NOT get an enormous cell phone bill this month, including 1100 texts and a XXX Wet and Sexy screen saver. I am NOT a bit confused about how this occurred, and am NOT suspicious that a little man whose name starts with an L might be the culprit. I do NOT ever allow him to play with my phone, and I am NOT afraid of what screen saver is on my phone that is broken at the moment. I am always engaged in educational activities with my son. He would NOT ever have a chance to play with technology, and he certainly would NOT possibly have a chance to see something X-rated. I am NOT calling Sprint to attempt to clear this up today.
Now that L is on his new allergy-induced diet, we are all healthy all the time. I certainly did NOT stop at McDonald's and get a Happy Meal on my way to Lilith Fair on Friday night. That's just gross. And even if I would indulge like that, I would absolutely NOT eat two tacos that my husband brought home at 1:00 am. That. Is. Disgusting. Fast food twice in one night...and immediately before bed? NOT me!
Speaking of eating badly, I did NOT order fries with a salad when I went out to dinner with my friend Laura on Saturday. Obviously, I was being healthy with my salad choice. Why would I order fries and ruin it? I would also NOT ever justify my fries by saying I had gone to spinning that morning. Obviously, those hundreds of calories I burned were already taken by the two fast food meals in one night the evening before. I mean...er...yeah.
I did NOT fail to shower regularly this weekend. On Friday, I did NOT wait until 3 pm to shower. And when I got home, excessively sweaty and gross from Lilith Fair, I did NOT go to bed without showering...and then hit spinning class the next morning. Those bikes are so close to each other...that's terrible gym etiquette. Ew. And on Sunday, I did NOT wait until bedtime to take a shower again, especially since I did leave the house. That would be almost 36 hours without a shower, since Saturday after spinning. You think I would go to Trader Joe's, unshowered, sans makeup, in a baseball cap? Gross, you guys. That is NOT how I roll these days. Blech.
I am NOT almost too embarrassed to post this. Good thing I am NOT repulsive enough to do any of the things I discussed here. Want to read what other people did NOT do? Head on over to MckMama's blog, who created this carnival. I do NOT hope other women there are more disgusting than me. Just sayin.
I did NOT get an enormous cell phone bill this month, including 1100 texts and a XXX Wet and Sexy screen saver. I am NOT a bit confused about how this occurred, and am NOT suspicious that a little man whose name starts with an L might be the culprit. I do NOT ever allow him to play with my phone, and I am NOT afraid of what screen saver is on my phone that is broken at the moment. I am always engaged in educational activities with my son. He would NOT ever have a chance to play with technology, and he certainly would NOT possibly have a chance to see something X-rated. I am NOT calling Sprint to attempt to clear this up today.
Now that L is on his new allergy-induced diet, we are all healthy all the time. I certainly did NOT stop at McDonald's and get a Happy Meal on my way to Lilith Fair on Friday night. That's just gross. And even if I would indulge like that, I would absolutely NOT eat two tacos that my husband brought home at 1:00 am. That. Is. Disgusting. Fast food twice in one night...and immediately before bed? NOT me!
Speaking of eating badly, I did NOT order fries with a salad when I went out to dinner with my friend Laura on Saturday. Obviously, I was being healthy with my salad choice. Why would I order fries and ruin it? I would also NOT ever justify my fries by saying I had gone to spinning that morning. Obviously, those hundreds of calories I burned were already taken by the two fast food meals in one night the evening before. I mean...er...yeah.
I did NOT fail to shower regularly this weekend. On Friday, I did NOT wait until 3 pm to shower. And when I got home, excessively sweaty and gross from Lilith Fair, I did NOT go to bed without showering...and then hit spinning class the next morning. Those bikes are so close to each other...that's terrible gym etiquette. Ew. And on Sunday, I did NOT wait until bedtime to take a shower again, especially since I did leave the house. That would be almost 36 hours without a shower, since Saturday after spinning. You think I would go to Trader Joe's, unshowered, sans makeup, in a baseball cap? Gross, you guys. That is NOT how I roll these days. Blech.
I am NOT almost too embarrassed to post this. Good thing I am NOT repulsive enough to do any of the things I discussed here. Want to read what other people did NOT do? Head on over to MckMama's blog, who created this carnival. I do NOT hope other women there are more disgusting than me. Just sayin.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Because I don't give enough updates...
I'd love to post about something besides L's allergies and finding the perfect birthing center, but the thing is...my life completely revolves around those two things right now.
So. You are stuck with those topics at least for one more day. Sorry, kids.
I took L back to the allergist yesterday for his two-week follow-up appointment. The doctor checked out his ears, and "hmmm"-ed. He looked up Logan's nose, and "ah-ha"-ed. He looked in his throat, and "huh"-ed. He listened to him breathe, and smiled.
He patted L on the back and turned to talk to me. L grabbed a book off the shelf and sat on the floor to read it.
"He's a different kid," he said, smiling. "Have you noticed?"
When I said that I absolutely had, he pointed to L, reading quietly on the floor. "Look at him," the doctor said, "his behavior has completely changed."
Thinking back, I realized that the last time we were in, L was literally throwing himself on the floor, ripping pages in the books, and jumping off of the chairs.
Trust me, he still has plenty of energy, and today threw several tantrums, but he's three. He is not nearly as sensory-seeking since he's been off of the foods to which he is allergic.
He's still totally himself...he asked the librarian if she knew how to get a hold of Hermione today, and insisted on wearing one blue Croc and one red Croc to Sonic. (I let him, deciding I was fostering self-expression and creativity, and not social inappropriateness.)
I told the doctor that we hadn't given him Pulmicort (his preventative asthma medication) in five days and he hadn't coughed once. I figured that if his asthma was really allergy-induced, then if we took the allergens out of the picture, we shouldn't need the steroids. We'll see if Dr. Gina's prognosis is on within a week or so, once the Pulmicort is completely out of his system. The doctor seemed guardedly optimistic about that.
We agreed to keep him on this diet for another six months and I didn't shed a tear when he suggested it. It's not easy or cheap, but it's doable. It's amazing two weeks can change things, huh?
------------------------
Regarding yesterday's post, I did some further research on this hospital today. They have a printable birth plan online. When I saw it, I gasped. Some of the things they ask you to choose from include:
*labor positions I would like to try (standing, on back, on all fours, sitting)
*whether or not I would like to delay vaccinations (yes, yes, yes...I got SO much flak for delaying L's Hep vaccine)
*if I would like to delay infant procedures while I bond and/or breastfeed the baby
*if I want an epidural right away or prefer to wait and possibly go without it
*temperature and lighting preferences
*if I would like either silence or music in the room
*whether I want to delay cord clamping
....and more.
Guess where mama's going to deliver the little man. There is no question about it now!
I am scheduled to be induced at 39 weeks due to some complications with L almost getting stuck even though he was under seven pounds. However, I am starting to reconsider that because I understand it can make it more difficult to go without an epidural. I plan to ask my doctor about possibly inducing me by breaking my water instead of Pitocin, whether I can donate any cord blood if I delay the clamping, and whether I can get a heprin lock instead of an IV. Thanks to my blog-friends for all of those ideas!
Happy weekend! I'll return with a 32 week update and belly picture tomorrow!
So. You are stuck with those topics at least for one more day. Sorry, kids.
I took L back to the allergist yesterday for his two-week follow-up appointment. The doctor checked out his ears, and "hmmm"-ed. He looked up Logan's nose, and "ah-ha"-ed. He looked in his throat, and "huh"-ed. He listened to him breathe, and smiled.
He patted L on the back and turned to talk to me. L grabbed a book off the shelf and sat on the floor to read it.
"He's a different kid," he said, smiling. "Have you noticed?"
When I said that I absolutely had, he pointed to L, reading quietly on the floor. "Look at him," the doctor said, "his behavior has completely changed."
Thinking back, I realized that the last time we were in, L was literally throwing himself on the floor, ripping pages in the books, and jumping off of the chairs.
Trust me, he still has plenty of energy, and today threw several tantrums, but he's three. He is not nearly as sensory-seeking since he's been off of the foods to which he is allergic.
He's still totally himself...he asked the librarian if she knew how to get a hold of Hermione today, and insisted on wearing one blue Croc and one red Croc to Sonic. (I let him, deciding I was fostering self-expression and creativity, and not social inappropriateness.)
I told the doctor that we hadn't given him Pulmicort (his preventative asthma medication) in five days and he hadn't coughed once. I figured that if his asthma was really allergy-induced, then if we took the allergens out of the picture, we shouldn't need the steroids. We'll see if Dr. Gina's prognosis is on within a week or so, once the Pulmicort is completely out of his system. The doctor seemed guardedly optimistic about that.
We agreed to keep him on this diet for another six months and I didn't shed a tear when he suggested it. It's not easy or cheap, but it's doable. It's amazing two weeks can change things, huh?
------------------------
Regarding yesterday's post, I did some further research on this hospital today. They have a printable birth plan online. When I saw it, I gasped. Some of the things they ask you to choose from include:
*labor positions I would like to try (standing, on back, on all fours, sitting)
*whether or not I would like to delay vaccinations (yes, yes, yes...I got SO much flak for delaying L's Hep vaccine)
*if I would like to delay infant procedures while I bond and/or breastfeed the baby
*if I want an epidural right away or prefer to wait and possibly go without it
*temperature and lighting preferences
*if I would like either silence or music in the room
*whether I want to delay cord clamping
....and more.
Guess where mama's going to deliver the little man. There is no question about it now!
I am scheduled to be induced at 39 weeks due to some complications with L almost getting stuck even though he was under seven pounds. However, I am starting to reconsider that because I understand it can make it more difficult to go without an epidural. I plan to ask my doctor about possibly inducing me by breaking my water instead of Pitocin, whether I can donate any cord blood if I delay the clamping, and whether I can get a heprin lock instead of an IV. Thanks to my blog-friends for all of those ideas!
Happy weekend! I'll return with a 32 week update and belly picture tomorrow!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tuesday Tidbits: Updates on the allergies
I'm happy to report that L's allergy-induced diet is going really, really well.
Like I mentioned yesterday, I wasn't thinking and gave L a few bites of pork in barbecue sauce. Barbecue sauce=tomatoes. And evidently, tomatoes=red bumps on L's mouth and chest, itchiness, and crazy uncontrollable
Trader Joe's continues to be our haven. Not only are their prices awesome, but they have soy yogurt, gluten-free cookies, and healthy snacks that L loves: organic fruit, all-natural applesauce, fruit leathers, etc., etc. When he was first diagnosed with all of these allergies, people kept saying, "This is going to be such a healthy change for your whole family." Honestly...I didn't want to hear it at that point. All I could think of were the dollar signs and the things he couldn't eat. But loading our pantry and refrigerator up with things that I can give L, guilt-free, does make me realize that these allergies might just be a blessing in disguise.
I am convinced that he understands it, too. He didn't even ask for cake at the birthday party we attended over the weekend, and when I handed him his special cupcake, he smiled and said, "This one won't make me itchy!"
When we walked into Trader Joe's tonight, he grinned and said, "We can buy food here that won't make me itchy!"
And when we finished up, he looked in the treasure box that is always filled with treats. He saw the suckers (his favorite) and looked up at me, asking, "Will these make me itchy?" When I told him they might but that he could have a special treat at home, he shut the box and said, "Okay, let's go."
That's a miracle, I tell ya. (It helps that he was constantly scratching himself like a 3 foot drug addict before we changed his diet. Who could tolerate that??)
Don't get me wrong. He still gets a little sad when I tell him he can have a chocolate chip cookie and I hand him one of the less-than-delicious gluten-free ones, when he expects a Chips Ahoy. He told me the other day he hopes he can "get better" so that he can eat some of his favorite foods again.
But I feel like we can do this now. We've found bread he can eat. He eats so much healthier, and even if this diet doesn't fix his asthma like I hope, the diet has got to help strengthen his immune system.
Now if I could just get him to love vegetables...any vegetables...like he loves his gluten-free cupcakes:
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday updates
I had my 30-week (Ahh! Thirty weeks) checkup today and things are right on track. I have gained about 25 pounds and my belly is measuring right where it should be, even though I am fully aware I look huge....
The doctor gave me almost all good news: the painful Braxton-Hicks contractions I've been having are not a big deal...in fact, they give me license to put my feet up and drink a big glass of water when I get them. Heck, if I would have known that, I would have told him about those a long time ago..perhaps even before I had them. An excuse to put my feet up? Yes, please!
He did tell me that because I went into preterm labor with L at 34 weeks, I'm at a greater risk to do the same this time. (They were able to stop the labor and I was put on modified bed rest then...here's hoping that I make it to at least 37 weeks without this little man attempting to make an early appearance.) Luckily, I am at the appointments-every-two-weeks phase (!!!) so he'll be keeping a close eye on us both.
My doctor also is not comfortable with me doing kickboxing or turbokick classes anymore due to balance issues at this point. He prefers I stay off the elliptical since I had some soreness after I used it last tme. But he made it up to me by promising I could do spin classes until the end of my pregnancy.
In addition, he said he'll do anything I want for my delivery, including not using forceps or a vacuum and waiting to cut the cord until it stops pulsing. I am beyond lucky to have him for my doctor. We joke around through every appointment and I can talk to him about everything from being scared about trying to give birth without an epidural, to rocking out my bikini this summer, and he's incredibly supportive about everything.
L joined me for my appointment today (he adores my doctor too). Having him there reminded me that I cannot wait to see my boys together. He's excited to meet his brother and loves to hear his heartbeat at the appointments. For now, this is as close as he can get:
In other L news, we had an incredible morning. We spent a long time at Trader Joe's, where they gave us a list of gluten-free foods and we became giddy with our options! L was actually belting out "Hey, Soul Sister" through the store, and I may or may not have joined him from time to time. We came home with taquitos, nitrate-free hot dogs, soy cheese, soy yogurt, dairy-free butter, gingersnaps, and much more. And it didn't cost us an arm and a leg! Although, I'd have paid just about anything to make him happy, and our meals today did just that. Want proof? Check him out after two delicious meals today:
We're back on the upswing in our house and it feels wonderful. Thanks for the support on my last post...your comments touched me and made me cry. I'm so blessed to have such amazing blog-friends.
I hope your Monday was as happy as mine!
The doctor gave me almost all good news: the painful Braxton-Hicks contractions I've been having are not a big deal...in fact, they give me license to put my feet up and drink a big glass of water when I get them. Heck, if I would have known that, I would have told him about those a long time ago..perhaps even before I had them. An excuse to put my feet up? Yes, please!He did tell me that because I went into preterm labor with L at 34 weeks, I'm at a greater risk to do the same this time. (They were able to stop the labor and I was put on modified bed rest then...here's hoping that I make it to at least 37 weeks without this little man attempting to make an early appearance.) Luckily, I am at the appointments-every-two-weeks phase (!!!) so he'll be keeping a close eye on us both.
My doctor also is not comfortable with me doing kickboxing or turbokick classes anymore due to balance issues at this point. He prefers I stay off the elliptical since I had some soreness after I used it last tme. But he made it up to me by promising I could do spin classes until the end of my pregnancy.
In addition, he said he'll do anything I want for my delivery, including not using forceps or a vacuum and waiting to cut the cord until it stops pulsing. I am beyond lucky to have him for my doctor. We joke around through every appointment and I can talk to him about everything from being scared about trying to give birth without an epidural, to rocking out my bikini this summer, and he's incredibly supportive about everything.
L joined me for my appointment today (he adores my doctor too). Having him there reminded me that I cannot wait to see my boys together. He's excited to meet his brother and loves to hear his heartbeat at the appointments. For now, this is as close as he can get:
In other L news, we had an incredible morning. We spent a long time at Trader Joe's, where they gave us a list of gluten-free foods and we became giddy with our options! L was actually belting out "Hey, Soul Sister" through the store, and I may or may not have joined him from time to time. We came home with taquitos, nitrate-free hot dogs, soy cheese, soy yogurt, dairy-free butter, gingersnaps, and much more. And it didn't cost us an arm and a leg! Although, I'd have paid just about anything to make him happy, and our meals today did just that. Want proof? Check him out after two delicious meals today:
We're back on the upswing in our house and it feels wonderful. Thanks for the support on my last post...your comments touched me and made me cry. I'm so blessed to have such amazing blog-friends.
I hope your Monday was as happy as mine!
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