Life Lately

This is the 5 weeks of the year when I have a 2 and 3 year old. It is a crazy, happy chaos that we live in. We are entertained by baby dolls, dinosaurs, play make-up and transformers. Last weekend we went to the Delaware Museum of Natural History. We joined for this past year because the deal was as much as one visit! So, Austins favorite part is the dino bones and McKenna loved the doggies that were visiting for the day. 

A new pretty funny thing McKenna has been doing lately is grabbing her purse, keys and sunglasses whenever she sees her daddy getting ready for work. She says "Daddy, I go" and heads towards the door. It is the sweetest thing and shows just how much she loves her Daddy. 

Daddy and Austin spent some time together and Austin learned how to play a video game. This pleased his daddys heart and I am okay with it because his attention span isn't long enough to care much yet! 

Getting church ready with my kiddos! 

Swim lessons over the past 2 weeks for Austin have been amazing for his confidence. He was afraid to go under and is now a little fish. He turned around yesterday in the middle of lessons and said, "can I get some goggles?" 

Both of my kids are water babies and are loving the pool. 

Mommy got to go out with some friends to see the Phillies play. Even though they lost, we had some great seats and it was a great time. 

We are gearing up for a weekend of celebrating Austin turning 4! We have a count down going and he is so excited for his day. Looking forward to having family and friends over to celebrate our little, big guy! 

20 week update

Well we have made it half way! I am so thankful that this pregnancy in many ways has been so much easier. Maybe, by number 3, you just know what is coming and can mentally prepare better. However, I have had more energy & felt better and that is undeniable.

Baby girl had her ultrasound and has all 10 fingers and 10 toes and everything else is growing perfectly. She was measuring at 11 oz!  We seldom discuss names right now because we are super stuck. Can't really narrow down much and seem to be having the most difficult time naming this sweet little girl. I am feeling lots of movement and kicks all throughout the day.

Lately, life for me has been really good. I had the stomach bug for a few days which was NOT fun at all. Other then that, one day of vomiting from out of nowhere hit me last week and some serious headaches...I am guessing a jump in hormones or baby growth spurt. Either way, they are over and I was able to get to the gym for workouts. I am in a happy place where I have the energy to work out and feel so much better when I do! 
Some things I have been doing differently this time around...I attend a Barre class 1-2x a week and I feel like having time to strengthen my small muscle groups has really helped with less sciatica pain (so far), I also see the chiropractor 1-2x a month right now with plans to go more often as I get bigger, my supplement routine has changed drastically which has helped in every way, shape and form, I use my essential oils more often and take epsom salts baths frequently. I am pretty sure I drank a lot of water in the other pregnancies but this time around I get 80-100oz a day! 

Prego Stats:

How Far Along? 20 weeks 

Size of Baby: Large Banana

Weight Gain: 3lbs 

Maternity Clothes: Yep! Sizes Medium and Large depending on the brand. Still have clothes from my pregnancy with Austin that I love

Stretch marks: Nope. 

Symptoms: Growing belly and endless hunger

Cravings: fresh fruit most days. carbs on others

Gender: GIRL! 

Mood: Happy and excited! 

Nursery: Poor kid will be in our room with us for a bit!  

Movement: She is moving quite a bit lately. 

Sleep: Still sleeping well. Starting to get very vivid dreams that wake me up they are so real. 

Workouts: when kids aren't sick...3-4 times a week

Vitamin routine: my XFactor Plus multivitamin daily, Probiotic at night, Biocleanse during the day and Slim before a meal. I also have a full water bottle of lemon water every morning (either essential oils or fresh lemon). 

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope...yay! 

Best Moment This Week: Seeing our baby girl in her ultrasound & McKenna giving my belly kisses

Looking Forward To: day trips and vacations we have planned for this summer! 

2 years old!

Ahhh, where has the time actually gone! I haven't blogged in forever because I've been so busy and was just trying to live through the first trimester of baby #3. 

So my little girl is 2 today!

She is spunky, funny, always hungry, spirited, strong-willed, happy, athletic and daring. She loves to try to dress herself and will yell a little scream at you when she doesn't want your help. When dropping her brother off at school she always walked outside and said "bye brother" and when we would pick him up she would run to him with arms open for a hug. She LOVES her daddy - when I get her in the morning the first question is always, "mommy, daddy?" She still loves her binky and her caterpillars. She sleeps so well, 11-12 hours at night and 1-2 hour nap during the day. Currently, she loves to play outside, see her neighborhood friends and swing on the swing set. I anticipate a summer living at the pool and praying she doesn't jump into the deep end. 

Her stats:

Height: 35 1/2"

Weight: 32 lbs

Clothes: 2T-3T

Shoes: Toddler 8

Words: mama, daddy, doggy, kiki, papa, uncle jo, sorry, bubble, mine, baby

Loves: her binky, caterpillars, mickey, doggies and cows (moos), eating others meals, all food

Dislikes: being told what to do or being told no (tantrums follow), sitting still 

Friday Round Up #2

The week FLEW by yet again!!

I hope each of you had a great week and are ready to relax this weekend! The weather here is lousy! High winds and rain all day today. Praying it will clear so we can get in and out of the car during all our errands and school drop offs, without taking a shower.

We had a busy but very nice week. Everyone is healthy and happy! We have had a few landscaping companies come and take a look at our backyard. Looks like we will be getting it fixed, if the ground ever decides to dry out. I am so excited that we won't have a swamp out back anymore! 

Austin took 1 nap this week but the other days were filled with more awake time! He has to have quiet time (because mommy needs it). He also has been helping with some very age appropriate chores. I can't lie, I have enjoyed the earlier bed times and less fights going to bed! 

McKenna and I also find ourselves with more hours together while Austin is in school. So we have been shopping [because I can handle one in a store better then two]. She had her first dressing room experience and she LOVED it. She kept giving herself hugs in the huge mirror, it was hysterical. I found her this cute Nike Dry Fit on clearance! We also had to shop for shoes for her because her feet are growing like weeds!

Austin had his dentist appointment this week. His teeth are doing well and he was such a big boy! At our kids dentist, they go back for their cleaning without the parents. I am fine with this concept because when I taught swim lessons, the kids ALWAYS did better, if I worked with them without mom and dad hovering. Meanwhile, McKenna and I waited in the waiting room and she played on the climb structure they have. 

So you may know that I am SUPER passionate about gut health. I have become a researcher and have spent hours educating myself. Sometimes, as I learn more, it feels that I have been lied to my entire life. So having said that...look at this difference. The picture on the left was August 2017 and the right was November 2017. 3 month difference and the difference in the inflammation in my face is incredible! 

AUGUST 2017                                            NOVEMBER 2017

It is crazy to me! As someone who hid behind the camera, who wasn't feeling confident, who was tired ALL the time and lived for coffee and nap time, who had a weak immune system, constant brain fog, full body inflammation, and sugar cravings...that I could find healing and still be seeing improvements in my overall health, my energy, and my moods. I am thankful and grateful! 

Morning Routines

How do you spend your mornings? Do you get woken up by little pitter patter running into your room? Maybe by an alarm jolting you awake, much earlier then you'd want? Perhaps you wake up on your own ready to begin the day? Or you drag yourself out of bed knowing what awaits you?

At different stages of my life I have fallen into each of these categories! Not saying that one is right or wrong but I do believe some can be good and bad for us.

Think about it...your morning sets the tone of your day. It dictates how the day begins. Do you get up and have time for something that you enjoy or do you hit the ground running?

I have been reading this book called Hello Mornings. It has changed my perspective and it has made me realize that my mornings may just be the most important part of my day! Just like breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it gets your metabolism going...My morning routine gets my daily "metabolism" going! 

My choice is to wake up at 6 am daily.  Even weekends. My hubby gets up before me usually and makes a pot of coffee (if not, I set the coffee pot timer). I sit down, listening to the hum of the kids monitors, and have my devotional, bible and bible study book. I am working my way through the Psalms and try to read one per day. Next, working through whatever chapter we are reading for Tuesday bible study. I do all this while alternating between my coffee and my water. 

So, why this? For me, my relationship with the Lord is first and foremost in my life. I want to be an example to my kids that starting my day in Gods word, with His truth speaking to me is the BEST way to begin. It also helps me focus on what is true, right and just. I am much slower to impatience, anger and frustration if I can remember a verse or tidbit from my quiet times. 

This may look different to you...maybe you wake and work out, spending time on your health, maybe you pray during your workout or listen to a podcast. Perhaps, you spend time with your spouse. Nothing is right or wrong in this time but what is important is consistency and spending time in something that fills your cup. (Challenge is to not turn on the tv or electronic until you are done with your routine. Our minds are bombarded with news and media all day long, so taking 20 minutes in the morning to wake up without the noise is crucial!)

I am no expert at this. I have only been consistent for about a month and can honestly say it has made a difference. In the beginning it was hard because I love my sleep. Now, I am waking up before 6 and looking forward to my quiet, alone time. After reading, I look at my schedule for the day, check and respond to my emails/messages, may type up a blog post or schedule out my work time for the day. All this is accomplished in the first 30-45 minutes I am awake & before my kids get up. 

Oh, also, I make my bed FIRST! Before I do anythings else! And MOST days, not all, I get dressed before I even come downstairs. These are actions that I am adding into my routine until they become habits. 

You know, I have learned so much recently in regards to the fact that as humans we MAKE time for what we WANT to have time for. We HAVE money for things we WANT to have money for. We prioritize, whether we realize or not. OR we make excuses. Don't be your own excuse! 

Hope this is encouraging to you to make yourself a priority! 

Rainy Weekends

It literally rained ALL weekend here. Rain is so needed and can be nice but it makes everything ugly and dreary. I am longing for the sun to peak out. 

Friday movie night went well, I forgot to take pictures.#worstbloggerever Austin loved the movie and actually watched the entire thing. I believe this means we have entered into a new stage. McKenna on the other hand was into everything. Poor girl woke up Friday morning with swollen eyes and gunk. To the doctors we went and she is now on antibiotics :( She is already feeling SO much better and now I can work to boost her immune system naturally.

Waiting at the doctors. All smiles despite not feeling well. 

Saturday, McKenna and I hung home while Hubs took Austin to visit family and celebrate his Poppops 93 birthday. The man is incredible and gets around so well for his age. I was very sad to miss it but my girl needed some cuddle time and rest time. We stayed in on Saturday evening as...it was pouring. 

She picked this outfit out and decided to help me with the dishes! 

Sunday was an up early morning my Hubs, he went to the gym early and ran. Then we all went to church and Lowes, for me to get some paint! I will do a before and after when I get done :) I also made some delicious homemade baked wings. Loosely using an old recipe, I doctored it a bit and man alive the flavoring was SO good! 

Meals for the week have been planned and shopped for! I am not doing anything new this week..so I usually make a tentative list and make sure I have all ingredients but then decide that morning what we want :)

Monday- Honey, Lime, Siracha Chicken Skewers and grilled veggies over rice

Tuesday- Italian Meatballs, Spinach Pasta and Green Beans

Wednesday- Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad

Thursday- Broccoli and Shrimp

Friday- Skillet Chicken Fajitas  

Saturday- Chili and Cornbread

Sunday- Homemade Burgers and Potato Wedges with side salad

So pulling the binky plug on Austin has come along with him deciding to not nap. I knew the day was coming soon, that doesn't make it any easier. Trying to adjust to our new normal and also adjusting bedtimes accordingly. Why is he growing up so fast?!

Asking for some prayer...I stepped wrong yesterday and tweaked my knee. It isn't swollen but I know my limits and I know I am going to have to rest it for a few days. Would appreciate you adding a speedy recovery to your prayer lists. 

Off to get our Monday started. Hope you have a great week ahead! 

Austins Pregnancy & Birth Story

I remember thinking about child birth...not knowing what to expect. I mean, I knew what was going to "happen" as I had a few semesters of teaching Family Life education (sex ed) under my belt & I knew that I wasn't super picky about setting up the "perfect" birth plan- I just wanted the least amount of pain and a healthy baby.

At my very first prenatal appointment in 2013, my OB told me that my pubic bones were narrow and to keep that in mind. I tucked it away into memory but didn't think so much of it.

So Austins pregnancy was not how I imagined I would be as a pregnant lady. I got violently sick when I was 9 weeks pregnant and ended up in the hospital for fluids. From that point on, I was sick almost every single day for months. It was a constant battle between eating breakfast or just waiting for the nausea to hit. It was all day long, ginger ale and having to be on medication so I could keep anything down. In the beginning, I had no energy, other then what I gave to my high school Health & PE classes and I'd sleep in my office during my down time. When the nausea and vomiting finally went away, I was SO hungry, I gained weight quickly! It was almost painful but my body just needed the nutrients and calories. Needless to say, it wasn't the most pretty pregnancy. Swollen, I worked until 39 weeks and then waited.

I was due on Monday, June 30, 2014. The last month is always hard but that heat of summer did not help the swelling! So most of the last week of pregnancy was spent floating in our pool. I remember going to bed on the 30th thinking I was going to be pregnant forever.

Austin had other plans... At 1:30 am, I got up to go to the bathroom and my water broke. We called the doctor and they told us to take our time. Yeah, right! As excited, naive, soon to be new parents we only waited about an hour. (If I had a do over of this...I'd have waited MUCH longer!) We checked in, got hooked up and checked out around 3 am and yes, my water had broken but I wasn't dilated at all. So, we waited. I got moved to my L&D room not long after and I was given pitocin. I wanted to labor as long as I could without the epidural (but I knew I wanted it). So sometime in the early afternoon, after hours of pain, and not much progress with dilating, I asked for it.

So my spine was not easy for the anesthesiologist and it took many tries to get the epidural in. On one try, I got shooting pain down my leg (as I am sure a nerve was hit). Eventually, even though she referred to my back as "tricky", it was successful. The epidural actually was supposed to help me progress and it did. Sometime around 5:00pm, the doctor came in hurriedly, and said "Rachel, I am worried about this baby boy, we need to get him out." (Not what a mommy wants to hear.) So, I began pushing. The first push, everyone got so excited because they could see blond hair.

Then I pushed again. And again. And again I pushed for over 3 hours. I have never experienced anything like it...trying with all your might, over and over again and nothing changing. Not any movement...no progress. Pain in my bones. Exhaustion from not having slept the night before. Physical weakness from not being allowed to eat anything. Pushing. Pushing. Pushing.

So around 8:30pm, I looked at my sweet husband and through tears said, "I can't do it anymore."

They had thrown around c-section at some point during the hours and hours of pushing. At that point, I honestly didn't care how he came out, so long as he got out safely.

So we went in for an emergency c-section. That was probably the most enjoyable part of the whole day because he was out within 8 minutes. We saw the most beautiful blond hair, blue eyed big baby, 8lbs 11oz boy. He was perfect and healthy.

It was one of the best and hardest days of my life. All I could think of after he was delivered was how hungry I was. I hadn't eaten in 24 hours! 

I was living in a daze. I was handed this beautiful baby, as a first time mama, who wasn't thinking clearly (because no food/no sleep), I had no clue what to do. He was hungry but my milk wasn't coming. He would cry and not sleep. Then he started losing weight and we had to supplement until my milk came in. I cried over this multiple times...I felt like a failure. You have the lactation junkies telling you "NO, NO, no supplementing" but this beautiful baby who is hungry! So after tears and asking for input we gave him ounces of formula and I am so happy we did. My milk did come in and we were very successful in the nursing department.

Those first few weeks for me were HARD. The hormones were cray cray! I could cry about anything and nothing and I second guessed everything. I have done much research in the past few months and learned about how crazy hormones can be and also about something called Postnatal Depletion. It is interesting...read about it here! 

I share this story for a number of reasons. 

First, because it is OUR story. It is something that I experienced and learned So much from! 

Second, that it is okay to adjust your birth plans. We are so lucky to live in a time when we have tremendous medical options. It is also okay to supplement with formula so your baby gets what they need while your body, as a new mama, heals. 

Third, because I know we are not the only ones who have experienced a birth story like this. (One that didn't go quite as planned.) I have come to accept it and be okay with the journey of it. 

Thanks for reading! If you have ever experienced similar or have questions, please feel free to email :)