I wish we had a better local grocery store! Our store's organic section is tiny. I should be happy they have one at all I suppose but gah! how am I supposed to change the way we eat when I'm so limited to one little section + produce? the center aisles are nearly completely useless to us now. What I wouldn't give for a local wild oats or a store like the one my husband used to manage - but alas - I live in the middle of the junk food and pretend foods section of the country. I miss connecticut again! I did find some stuff for him though - and in some cases, we'll be trying some of the vegetarian stuff even though we're NOT going veggie - that stuff has less junk in it. I did find a little cookie Wolverine can have - it's got a lot of sugar in it but at least it's natural sugars and not hydrogenated corn syrups and dextrose it's listed as: Sugar and Molasses. It also has no pretend color or flavor and those are the things I'm focusing on for this round. Cut out the pretend stuff and the chemicals (that aren't big fancy names for vitamins and minerals anyway). That's all I'm trying to do. (and make sure that our animal products are manufactured in a humane and decent way.)
It shouldn't be so hard! It really shouldn't be so hard to find companies that are willing to part with their chemicals.
On the plus side - my grocery store DOES carry some of the mrs. meyers products and some burt's bees products. I LOVE burt's bees. Especially their chapstick - it's like blistex but so so much better.
I think the biggest struggle with the transition into a better diet for Wolverine will not be the added prep time or the increased work load for me in the kitchen and grocery story but will come from our families. Not so much my Dad - I think he will be quite taken with this idea unfortunately, he's also the one living furthest away. We went to the Hubster's parents' house to visit with his relatives who were in town.We left Wolverine with them for an hour or so and went with CrazyHorse to play in a creek. I guess I should have said something to someone about not giving Wolverine stuff he's not supposed to have. But then, it never occured to me that anyone would give him jelly beans or chocolates. He's not even two. Even before we looked into this new diet, I had sugar restrictions well in place. And I can't even be too mad because the woman is a virtual stranger and I don't think my motherinlaw saw her giving him chocolate. But it still irritates me. What I need to do is get a food mill - something to make sausage like things. Wolverine will eat anything that looks like a hotdog. Maybe if I make them at home, stuffing them with good meats and veggies - maybe he can still eat what he likes and be eating all the stuff that's good for him too. I'll be very interested to see what my grandmother thinks. She's a snackbuyer. She loves plying my kids with everything they like to eat (even if it's not good for them). But I think she'll go out of her way to try to find alternatives too. So, we'll see. Today, CrazyHorse and I are going to make fruit leather. Trying to replace the gerber fruit strips he loves so much. If it goes well, I'll post the recipe.
My youngest has had a myriad of problems from the start. First, we had the reflux - which was miserable. Then we had the skin irritations. He's allergic to most everything. Dreft, certain styles of Pampers, Aveeno, Johnson & Johnson soaps and lotions, and about a billion other things. If it's meant to touch his skin, he'll probably react to it. Apart from his overly sensative skin, he has eczema. Mild and probably controlable but definately there. We recently had a scare with a swollen lymph node and the doctor walked around the subject of modifying his diet to perhaps a whole food sort of diet. I've been looking into it tonight between thunder storms and really - it fits in to the changes my family has been making so far this summer. Yes. It takes it to a new level but, it IS the ideal we want to strive for! It certainly won't be easy and will definately take some doing but it's so worth it if it makes my baby feel better. We're going to try and find his triggers this summer - see what it is that makes him itchy and miserable and see if we can't do better by him. The hope is that he grows out of it - but even if he does, the lesson is a good one to learn - that the food we eat effects us in ways we aren't always aware of. I'm going to follow our progress here - Maybe, maybe, another mother who is going through the same kind of thing with her little ones will find this blog and find something about it that is useful.
~S
I am having a horrible time lately with Wolverine sleeping. Every night he wakes up and refuses to go back tohis crib. At first, I thought it was just his cold. That always makes him extra fussy and clingy. But the cold is gone now and he's still doing it. So I thought maybe he's hungry just before bed. That wasn't it either. Now, I've put the bumper back in the crib - he's a tosser - and we'll see if that does anything to help. I would give just about anything for a night uninterrupted and in my own damn bed!
Any suggestions?
I've been a bit under the weather lately - had all four wisdom teeth removed. Surgery went well, as did my recovery. If you don't count the fact that half of my tongue is numb.
Wolverine had a well baby check up and his weight is off. He's growing - but he's not gaining weight the way he should. Especially for a kid that seems to eat non-stop. I'm a little bit concerned about this. Not overmuch at this point - CrazyHorse and the Hubster are the same way - tall and skinny. But, we have to take him in to get bloodwork done. Any time a doctor says that blood work needs to be done is a scary moment. But I'm not freaking out until someone gives me a reason to.
CrazyHorse has started his program - he was supposed to have another one today but, with the delay, I'm not sure how that will work. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. So far - I like the program.
~S
We have walking!! A bit stumbly, a bit jerky, timid steps - but we do indeed have walking. And he enjoys it mightily. Pretty soon, he's going to be a terror. I have to get the house ready for the storm of curiousity that is about to hit full force!
Buddy, the puppy, is acclimating well. Champ, the older dog, seems to have adopted him. All is well and good with them, so long as Buddy leaves Champ's favorite bone alone. And he's learning.
CrazyHorse now has glasses. But I fear the perscription may be wrong so we're getting a second opinion today. Long story short: went to place A and Dr. A was an ass. Said stupid things and did not spend much time looking at CrazyHorse's eyes, even though the numbers all point to ambliopea - which is NOT good. He wouldn't answer my questions and the people in the front, where you pick your frames and do that kind of thing were even worse. I asked them several times about what our insurance would cover and they never did answer me. Never went over options with the lenses, just typed it all in and said - $280 please. I tried asking more questions and no one would answer me so I took the kids and I left. With a copy of the prescription. Went to place B - they were great at answering my questions and walking me through what was and was not covered. Hubster went ahead and got his checkup with Dr. B. Very thorough, very inquisitive and helpful. Wish I'd gone to Dr. B first! So, today CrazyHorse is going to see Dr. B and we'll see if we can't get this straightened out. And then, when I have the proper prescription, I'm going to start filing complaints about Place A... cause they really pissed me off.
~S
My Baby said Mama...
takes him a minute, he opens his mouth - open, closed, open, closed - several times and then puts sound to it, first it sounds like bababa but then he looks at me and smiles and says - Mama.
~Sarah
We have started Wolverine on baby food - he's doing really great. He loves his food. So far, he loves squash and bananas. Carrots he seems to want to raspberry out and splatter orange everywhere. It's fun to clean up let me tell you.
Even if I'm a little stressed, we're doing OK. We're doing better than a lot of people.
He's started to babble with a B sound... bababababa... I can pretend it's more a mmm sound.. right?
HA
~Sarah
Six months old...
Wolverine had his checkup and his shots... yesterday was miserable.
He’s eating cereal very well now and we only have about a week or so before we begin to venture into the world of Vegetables! This thrills me to some extent but, like the appearance of teeth, it means he’s getting bigger, getting older. And I’m never going to have another newborn that came from me. Ever. So I’m sad.
Makes me wonder if the TL was the right decision... ah well... probably for the best in the end and I’ll just have to come to terms with it. It certainly seemed the best at the time after I’d gained 80 pounds and was truly utterly miserable and expecting lots of comlications with the delivery. How easy it had been to say - just tie me off when you’re in there Doc...
the mistakes we make with good intentions and a healthy dose of fear...
~Sarah
Day two of rice cereal and so far - no reaction. Finally something that is working the way it supposed to. This way, we can be certain he's getting enough to eat - he's just my big boy. He started out that way and it looks like he's going to stay that way...
Now - if we can only get CrazyHorse to even out.
~S
typing one handed so - no formatting...
had a rough day. again.
Wolverine is spitting up every two minutes again.and he won't let me put him down. thats fine though cause i keep listening to the sounds of his breathing anyway. headed for dr on wednesday.
my grandmother's biopsy came back - all clear. no cancer. best news of the month let me tell you.
going to cut and paste this where appropriate... am probably going to be mia until we get this figured out.
s
Lend me your fingers and I will gladly chew on them...
I don't think he's teething... not at 3 months... right? He loves to gum everything- my fingers, my shoulder, my face when he can. It's gotten to be comical.
~S
Had our two month checkup yesterday... I can't believe it's been that long!! Anyway - he weighs in at 13lbs, 4oz... Overall he's doing great except for this reflux thing. I was hoping we'd gotten past it but we havent'. I hate the idea of giving him medicine so young but it *does* help him and that's all that matters...
~S
The last couple of days have been miserable. It turns out my poor little Wolverine has reflux - which explains the spitting up all the time and the crying when he's gassy. We tried chamomile tea. We tried sitting up with him for 30 minutes after every feeding but it just wasnt enough so - now we have a perscription. I'm just hoping it helps him. Everytime he cries (not the hungry or change me cries though) my heart breaks a little. I haven't been getting much sleep though - especially the last few nights - he just doesn't want me to put him down. I'm really hoping his medicine works so that, what little sleep I *do* get can be much better (and maybe even in my own bed instead of on the couch!)
On the upside, I know that, even with the spitting up, he's getting enough to eat (always my first concern) - he's up weight wise. He was born at 10 lbs 6 oz. lost a little in the hospital then gained it back and was 10 lbs 10 oz at his 2 week check up and now, at his One Month check up, he wieghs 11 lbs 4 oz. He's my bruiser ;)
~S
Blog #2
So - my hormones are still a huge giant mess. I spent two solid hours in the middle of the night balling my eyes out because I was having a hard time standing up that first night home from the hospital. Of course, it isn't helping that every chance I get to sleep, someone else wants or needs me for something. Be it via phone, visit, feeding, or whining... Crazy Horse is acting out a little but I think that's to be expected. He's just not sure what to make of all this yet. He's five and really thrilled with his brother, even if he is missing all the attention...
Blog #3
This second pregnancy was miserable and I was not looking forward to my repeat C-section. My first c/s was truly horrible but this one - Wow! Our only real problem was my vein issues... I'm having a hard time getting rid of the last bits of tape residue from my iv locks and my back hurts with a capital H but otherwise - everything has been great. I'm having no trouble with my staples. I'm moving around pretty well and I'm down to just the occasional motrin. Wolverine has been a part of my life in some form for months now but, seeing his face, hearing him cry, staring into those midnight eclipse eyes - beautiful. It's all more than I ever hoped for.
Blog #4
Crazy Horse has decided that I know nothing about babies. To some degree I'm pleased that he's not trying to get rid of Wolverine but I think, having gotten CrazyHorse through his infanthood, He should have SOME faith in me. I know it could be worse and I should simply be grateful but - jeeze! I'm not deaf, I can hear him crying. I am not blind - I can see when he's fussy. And the baby monitor is not CrazyHorse's personal communications system. Wolverine is his *brother* not his baby!! OK - done venting that.
I just had one of those days where I wish that CrazyHorse would understand that this is not the first time for me.
I still can't believe it's only been two weeks. That's all the older he is. That's all the distance there is between myself and surgery. I'm doing much better this time around. Of course, it helps that I wasn't allergic to the staples. Now - its the steristrips that are a pain. The adhesive pulls my skin and it stings like a misplaced bandaid that seems like it wants to come off but really is clinging stubbornly with superglue to my skin.
I'm stressed and tired of course - what new mom isn't? Overall though - we're doing pretty well.
~S
We arrived at the hospital at 5:30am... after a night I couldn't sleep through anyway. After some prepwork and all that good stuff, they stuck me with needles - my veins are too small it seems as it took several tries and two blown viens to get two good locks. This really sucked. After that - my husband was given his scrubs and he changed into them. I was taken into the OR with the anthesthesiologist to get my spinal... again NOT FUN. The first attempt did not work. The second attempt did not work. The third attempt - they didn't give me a spinal but an epidural... stupid tiny veins and stuff. This whole time - my nerves are crazy and insane so I am talking because that is what I do when I am nervous - I talk. How much a dork am I but that I talk about science fiction writers... debating Heinlein and Asimov and professing my love for Ender... Had I been any more nervous, I'd have been rambling about Spock. What a geek am I?? Fortunately, someone in the room was just as bad as I since this was not a one sided conversation.
So - finally I am sedated and the surgical blind is up and they allow my husband to come in - my nerves settled ALOT after that. It felt like my whole body was packed with gauze and they were putting more in. Little tugs, little pushes. pressure... and then - kidtwo cried. I was awake to hear his first little wail. I can't even begin to describe it. I missed it with Kidone - I was put completely under. I never really got over the guilt from that one. But this time - I got to be *THERE*...
I'll write more tomorrow. I only have so much time at the computer right now and while it'll get better - right now - I have to work in pieces...
~S
Well - we're home ;) I'll be posting the whole story tomorrow or the next day - Don't really have the energy to do it today ;)
But - we're home and safe and healthy.
~S
Last one... No more Doctors visits until time for the baby to get here...
According to the sonogram - he's measuring at full term now. roughly 9lbs - give or take - and this is still two weeks before his due dates.
My dad and his wife are in ... it's nice but... I can't get the nursery finished. The carpet was installed, the walls are as done as they're getting for now. My rocker is put back together and the tall dresser is in. The curtains got put up and the lamp plugged in but... with the airmattress int he nursery - I can't put together the crib, move the other dresser, or get kidone's room finished. But- I no loner have to chase kidone... that helps. ALOT. More than getting the nursery don.e
~S
So - there are only days to go... I have to admit - I am a little scared of the surgery itself but I am SO looking forward to NOT being pregnant! I just can't wait to meet this kid! The nursery should be done this evening - except for the trim (meaning handpainted border of alphabet and stars) - that's just going to have to wait. oh well... it was good in theory.
KidOne is nervous about me going in - he must be. He asked me the other day how I felt when my mom died. Threw me for a terrible loop. He's only five and he's asking me this. I know it's my own danged fault for explaining things to him - but I don't believe in lying to him. We tend to make things scientific and clinical when possible - if only becase he repeats everything to everyone.
I am really looking forward to bringing the baby home - this is one of those things I have wanted for so long. I am so glad that KidOne is not going to be an only child. He needs someone to play with that isn't mommy (not counting school friends).
I have a lot of worries right now though too. With KidOne - I showed no sign of post partum depression - my depression didn't come back until well after that and it was just my normal cycle. But I *know* I'm susceptible to it - given my history of depression. It scares me a little - but only so much. I know I don't have it in me to hurt my kids. Period. So, I guess I'm just worried about feeling that way - like that - so dark. I know how to deal with it but that doesn't mean I look forward to it.
~S