The Fifth Time in Seven Years

I'm now counting my calories again, for the 5th time in 6 and 1/2 years.  This method of dieting has historically been successful to the degree that I remain committed to exercise self-control.  Losing weight while nursing is very rapid after the birth, but after the first month, weight loss (for me) goes very slowly, if at all.  So I resort to calorie counting.  It is difficult to find the balance between eating enough to support the nursing while not eating too much so that weight loss occurs.  It is possible, but I usually get tired of the math involved before I finally reach my goal.

After Jeramy and I were engaged, I lost 35 lbs. by counting my calories in addition to exercising 6 times every week.  I had always been overweight my entire life and that was the first time I achieved a pant size in the single digits.  It was very thrilling.  And then . . . I got pregnant our first month of marriage.

After Moriah was born, as soon as I left the hospital, I attempted to resume regular exercise and calorie counting.  I had committed to have however many children God would give us and I was determined not to be 500 pounds because of all the pregnancies.  I knew that I needed to lose the weight before getting pregnant again, and based on how quickly we got pregnant the first time, I knew I didn't have long to wait before pregnancy #2.  I lost the weight really quickly, by the time Moriah was 3 months I lost 23 pounds, only 5 lbs. more than I was at our wedding.  Then . . . I got pregnant again when she was 4 months old.

After Lily was born, I waited a while longer before counting my calories.  But, likewise, I lost 45 pounds and achieved my pre-pregnancy weight.  I maintained this weight for a few months, and then I got pregnant again when Lily was 11 months old.

After Shiphrah was born, I think I lost most all the weight again, some 40 pounds or so, by counting my calories.  And now, 5 months after Joseph's birth, I'm at it again.  Since his birth I've lost 25 pounds.  The frustrating part for me, especially after being overweight my whole life, is that my size has gone from big to small to big to small so many times in the past 6.5 years.  It has literally been like a yo-yo.  However, when I consider that my married, child-bearing years are few in comparison to the total number of years of life I may have and the "reward, gift, blessing," etc of the children that it has produced, I am content.  I know that I'll be 50 before I know it and maintaining a healthy figure will no longer be such a battle because of pregnancy.

Alfalfa, For Balance

Medicago sativa

Active ingredients: iron, chlorophyll, Vitamins A, B6, E, D & K, beta-carotene, biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, fatty acids, saponins, copper

Actions: general tonic, alternative diuretic

Alfalfa has a history going back to ancient times, cherished for its nourishing abilities for people and their animals.  It has a deep tap root and grows in rich soils, making it very rich in trace minerals it that pulls up from deep below the surface.  It purifies the blood.  It balances the blood sugar, preventing the swings of hypoglycemia common in pregnancy.  It soothes the digestive tract and contains the enzyme betaine and the saponins balance the intestinal flora.

Compiled by Vickie Liguori, 2006

I was also told that Alfalfa can help increase platelet levels.

Red Raspberry Leaf, From of Old

Rubus idaeus

Active ingredients: volatile oils, pectin, citric acid, malic acid, tannin, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, Vitamins A, B, C & E.  It has the highest known herbal source of manganese.

Actions: Astringent, tonic, toning, pelvic & uterine relaxant.

Raspberry leaves have a long tradition of use in pregnancy to strengthen and tone the tissue of the womb, assisting contractions and preventing excessive bleeding.  Raspberry leaves also tone the mucous membranes through out the body and soothe the kidneys and urinary tract.  Raspberry works on the digestive tract to stabilize it.  It continues its good benefits after birth to aid in milk production and recovery.  The tonic and relaxant actions on the smooth muscles of the uterus act to reduce the pain of uterine contractions during childbirth and makes them more effective and productive, shortening the duration of labor.

Currently there is some controversy surrounding the use of Raspberry leaf during pregnancy, which is unfortunate since its use has been associated with pregnancy and birth since ancient times according to some writings.  The concern is early miscarriage.  For this reason, some midwives recommend use after 16 weeks gestation.  It also has been known to help with nausea during pregnancy.

Compiled by Vickie Liguori, 2006

Oat Straw, Interesting . . .

Avena Sativa

Active Ingredients: 50% starch, proteins, alkaloids, saponins, flavones, sterols, Vitamin B, silica, calcium, magnesium, silicon, potassium & iron

Actions: Nervine tonic, anti-depressant, nutritive, demulcent, vulnery

Oats is one of the best remedies for "feeding" the nervous system.  It is useful for exhaustion and depression; it strengthens the whole nervous system, making it a preventative and protective herb to enhance the ability to cope with stress.  While being stimulating and energy-giving, they are also relaxing and an aid to sleep.  Oats are also a uterine tonic and works on strengthening the thyroid and balancing hormone production.  It can be helpful for high blood pressure, varicose veins and hemorrhoids.  It is also a soother for the digestive tract.  It lowers blood sugar and is useful for fluid retention.  It is one of the best sources for magnesium, helping irritability and calcium absorption.

Compiled by Vickie Liguori, 2006

Nettles, I'm So Glad I Found You . . .

Urtica Dioica

Active ingredients: histamine, tannin, saponins, acetylcholineformic acid, sterols, chlorophyll, glucoquinine, serotonin, iron, vitamins A, C, D and K in an absorbable form, very high in minerals including silicon.

Actions: astringent, diuretic, nutritive, detoxifier, glactagogue, decongestant, hypoglycemic & tonic.

Nettles is one of the most widely applicable plants we have. It strengthens and supports the whole body. It is one of the most powerful plants we have to deal with allergic rhinitis, or more commonly known as pollen allergy or hay fever. Studies are also showing that it has a broad range anti-inflammatory usage, so it useful with migraines, arthritis, lupus pain, etc. It is an extremely nutritive plant, high in vitamins and minerals, particularly iron, silica and potassium, and is showing broad anti-fungal effects as well. Through its diuretic effect it promotes detoxification and works to prevent bladder infections. it also strengthens the kidneys and adrenals. The readily assimilated high calcium content helps to diminish muscle pain in all areas of the body including the legs, round ligaments, and back. With its high Vitamin K content it helps prevent hemorrhages. Because it strengthens the blood vessels and maintains arterial elasticity it helps prevent hemorrhoids and varicose veins, helping to maintain a normal blood pressure also.

Compiled by Vickie Liguori, 2006

I've been drinking a tea containing nettles and the first day I noticed a significant difference in my reactions to outdoor pollen!

Nutrititious Meals Abound

This is why my girls place in the lower 50% percentile for weight when they have check-ups at the doctor's office . . .

because we eat healthy meals at home.

On today's plate: p.b. & j sandwiches, carrots with a dot of ranch dressing, and an apple. Shiphrah has a shredded cheddar cheese sandwich and applesauce.

Providing healthy meals is a parent's responsibility.

Ectopic Pregnancy? Don't panic!

I just recently read an interesting, informative blog post on ectopic pregnancy. Apparently it's more common than people think and it's not a death sentence to both baby and mom in every case! Oftentimes, when trying to balance a biblical worldview on the sanctity of life on this issue we opt to save the mom's life because the baby will die regardless. But that is not always true.

Head on over to Life in a Shoe and read Ectopic Pregnancy & the Sanctity of Life and her follow-up post, Ectopic Pregnancy Clarifications.

Beware: Predators Are EVERYWHERE!

You go about your day the same old usual way: your commute, your chores, your exercise, your errands and everything else in between. All the people you meet from day to day that cross your path - you would have no reason to suspect them of anything. Usually when you meet someone new, you give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they aren't a serial killer and are genuinely a nice person, right?!

That's all well and good but BEWARE: sexual predators are everywhere! When you first meet them, they will probably seem pretty normal, just like everyone else. As you get to know them, they begin to win your trust. After that, they begin to slowly, methodically cross certain boundaries to see how you will react. Then they will strike and leave you wondering, "How did this happen?" School teachers, clergy, boy scout leaders, and family members and others comprise this group of heinous criminals! Most of the time the offender is someone you know and trust, not a stranger!

It happened to me. And it happens to hundreds of thousands and even millions of people everywhere. These predators may live in your town, neighborhood and even next door! If you live in Gwinnett County go to the Sheriff's Sex Offender website, click to "Search for Offenders in Your Area," type in your address and see how many registered offenders there are in your neighborhood. There are 11 within a 1 mile radius of my home and two of those are in my same subdivision! Stay alert to protect yourself and your precious children!

Also, you must be aware that not every abuser has a criminal record. Not every abuser has ever been reported or prosecuted. The current statistics are this: 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be assaulted by their 18th birthday! AND only 1 in 10 actually report it! So I can deduce that of those 11 registered offenders living in close proximity to my home that 1) they are repeat offenders and/or 2) there are actually MORE than 11 living in close proximity to my home! This raises very unsettling questions . . .

1. How can I possibly know who to watch out for?

2. How can I protect my family?

3. How can I possibly trust anyone?

4. How do I teach and train my children in case something horrible happens?

5. What resources are available for awareness and preparedness?

6. If the worst should happen, where can I go for healing and encouragement?

A1. In many ways, we always watch out for everyone! You give them the benefit of the doubt in Christian love until they begin to "groom" you by testing personal physical boundaries - then you better watch out!

A2. Protect your family by always being aware of where they are, who they are with, how to contact them, locking doors, security systems, etc.

A3. Everyone can earn a healthy level of your trust, but that doesn't mean you must trust them with everything you hold dear to you! I trust my neighbor to pick up their dog doodie in my yard, but I will never trust them to watch my children with me absent, even for 10 minutes!

A4. Teach your children, even while very young, about physical boundaries. Teach them what is appropriate behavior, physical touch and language and teach them what is NOT appropriate! Teach them to say, "NO!" Teach them where they can go that is safe. Teach them what they need to know in an emergency. If you drill this information (phone numbers, addresses, etc.) or put it in song, they will remember and not easily forget.

A5. www.VoiceToday.org

Voice Today is a non-profit, Christian based, organization for victims, survivors and victors of childhood sexual abuse. They provide resources for all of these things. Voice was started locally, in Marietta, and has been reaching many with it's message of "Breaking the Silence" in order to equip families for prevention.

A6. Report it to the authorities in your jurisdiction immediately! If a sex crime has occurred, do what you can to get an accurate identification of the perpetrator with thorough visual description, DNA and any other information you can give. Some of this info may be on your physical person after an attack so don't bathe and lose valuable evidence before it can be collected. Voice Today was begun to free victims from the shame and guilt of past crimes committed against them. Victims can find healing and victory over these experiences through Christ who is able to heal every infirmity. His blood will never lose its power.

Protect yourselves and your young ones.

Spread the word.

Check out the web links.

If anyone gives you ANY reason to be suspicious, don't trust them!

Homemade Whole Wheat Crackers

1 and 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp iodized salt

3/4 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp chili powder

6 tbs oil

1/2 cup + 1 tbs water

salt for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium bowl place all ingredients in order, then mix with a fork until a soft dough forms, about 30 seconds. Place dough directly on ungreased pizza stone or metal cookie sheet. Using a rolling pin, roll very thin to 1/4" thickness or less. Use a pizza cutter to make cracker shapes. Dust salt on top of crackers and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until medium brown in color. Crackers should lift easily from baking surface. Cool completely uncovered, then cover to store. Crackers will be chewy immediately but will become hard and crunchy, a hearty, strong cracker, once cooled. These crackers stand up to my thick, dense chicken cheeseball without breaking.

The edges will cook more quickly than the center. After 10 to 12 minutes, remove browned crackers and replace stone in oven. Keep a close eye on it and remove the inner crackers after the remaining 2 to 3 minutes. When in doubt on the color change, remove the stone from the oven and allow the crackers to remain on stone.

I developed this recipe by altering an unleavened bread recipe I got from my friend P. Truelove.

Crackers are so expensive in the store and these are easy and really cheap to make. From start to finish it only takes about 15 minutes! Enjoy!

Trade the Calories, Not the Taste

Call me crazy but, I like celery.

I like the crunchy texture and I like that I can use it to substitute for bread or chips. I also like that it has very few calories and helps keep the intestinal tract moving. And it's very inexpensive.

It can be used in place of onion in recipes.

Use it instead of high-calorie tortilla chips when dipping salsa. It's packed with veggies. You can eat as much of this as you like and still not pack on the calories. Yum!

Use it instead of bread with the same sweet salty flavor to make the always fun Ants on a Log snack with peanut butter and raisins. It's high in protein, get a fruit serving and lots of flavor.

Make a sweet sweet snack with PB-free Ants on a Snowy Log using cream cheese and raisins. You'll get a serving of calcium-rich diary, protein, and a serving of fruit too. Who said you can't have your cake and eat it too?!

I like to use it to dip my chicken cheeseball with instead of high-calorie crackers. Use it to dip tuna fish too. Oh, the possibilities!

Does anyone else like celery?

5K CHUK Run

The Norcross Police Department is hosting a 5K CHUK Run event today as a fundraiser for United Cerebral Palsy of GA. At 8a.m. the 5K commenced from Thrasher Park down to FBC Norcross on North Peachtree Street, then returning back, going through Sunset and Longview doubling back to the Park. At 9a.m there was a Fun Run, then activities for the whole family from 10a.m. until 1p.m. at Thrasher Park.

This was my first race! I was so excited to run in beautiful, familiar territory as I had often run from Thrasher down North P'tree to Langford Rd and back (2.1 miles) while nursing Lily 2 years ago. I think that maybe 20-30 people raced at 8a.m. Rounding out the first mile I was the third runner with two men ahead of me. During the second mile another man and a young lady passed me so that I finished 5th overall and the second woman in 27 minutes. There were so many hills, all familiar, but still difficult. But I'm very pleased and excited at my performance. It was so much fun. I would definitely like to do more races in the future. Afterwards I got to mingle with a few of the other racers and talk with the Chief, who so graciously hired Jeramy twice. There were free doughnuts, sodas, bottled waters, coffee, bananas & oranges after the race.

I think that it was good to do a somewhat lower key race for my first. This is the first time that NPD hosted such a race and with rain clouds looming, it wasn't crowded. Plus, downtown Norcross is such a pretty, shaded run with beautiful houses and landscaping that it's not boring at all. Yay!

Calorie Counting

As far as methods for weight loss go, I prefer calorie counting. Actually, I love it because I'm not restricted from eating any type of food I desire. The only restriction comes with the daily calorie limit.

I check out CalorieKing.com or FitnessMagazine.com and use their caloric needs calculators to determine how many calories I need daily depending on my activity level just to maintain my current weight. Then I subtract a few hundred from that so that I lose weight. It's just simple math.

Most foods have nutrition information and tell you how much a serving is. But sometimes the serving size can be vague, like with raisins. A quarter cup of raisins is 130 calories, but they're kind of squishy, you can really smash more than that below the 1/4 cup measuring line. :-) But knowing that 40 grams is the exact weight, really keeps you on target, if, you have a scale. And the same with shredded cheese, which tends to pack on the calories quick or even grapes and chocolate chips that don't have an even line and leave spaces and gaps when measuring. I get a headache just thinking about it.

Months ago I won a giveaway on Callie's blog for a gift card to CSN online store and got a scale. This has been the most wonderful thing to help me calculate the calories in all the food I prepare at home! Before the scale, I would add up all the calorie quantities for every ingredient in my food, then divide by cup (like for soup) or into a fraction (like a casserole in a 13 x 9 dish). It was hard and stressful because I might measure the divisions wrong, then the fraction portion sizes would not be equal and I knew that I wasn't getting an accurate measurement.

But now I just weigh the finished product and divide the total number of calories by the total number of food weight in ounces to get the number of calories per ounce. Then decide how many ounces I want to eat and I can change my serving size depending on how hungry I am! It's so much easier and faster! All you need is a regular calculator and internet access to a database like CalorieKing or LiveStrong.com and you're good to go. Here's my calculation for Triple Chocolate Cake -- ooh, so satisfying!

I won't be shy. I gained about 35 lbs. during my last pregnancy. I was 200 lbs. total when I delivered Shiphrah August 17th. (I know I didn't quite look it - I'm big-boned, muscular and was very swollen.) Now I weigh about 50 lbs. less by breast feeding, exercising (I love running!) and counting calories. As I lost weight, I would cut more calories too. I hope to lose another 10 pounds soon. If you want to lose weight and still eat every food you love, count your calories. You can do it.

Calm After the Storm

Wednesday Shiphrah had her two month check-up appointment and we went to Bi-County Gwinnett Pediatrics. We had a pleasant experience: I came prepared with all the forms filled out in advance, submitted the new insurance card and co-payment. The reception desk was friendly and they also took the other forms I prepared for both Moriah and Lily at the same time. Within about 10 minutes or so we were moved to triage. Shiphrah weighed in at 11 pounds and 10 ounces. :-) The triage nurse was nice and enjoyed playing with her while doing her examination. When we moved into our formal examination room we were met with a medical student within a short time who asked basic questions and performed a simple exam. After another 10 minutes or so the doctor comes in and does her round of questions and exam. Everything went very pleasant until Shiphrah received her vaccinations. The expected crying commenced and she was comforted accordingly. Upon leaving we were able to check out with our next appointment set. We were in and out in 75 minutes. Yay!

Then the storm began. (Literally it started raining when we left.) Then Shiphrah began screaming, literally screaming, in pain for the next 12 hours. She did have some short bouts of unsettled comfort, maybe 30 to 45 minutes. But her appetite was abated and when she was hungry, she couldn't bear the pressure on her thighs to breastfeed! G'Wanda came over from work to help out. I could not have made it through the evening without her help! She did finally eat from her first bottle which she was VERY reluctant to take. Every time she kicked her leg, pressure was put against it, or she was in any position other than over the shoulder, she would scream bloody murder. It was really rough. I don't mean regular baby crying. Her face would get red, hot and sweaty, the scream was blood curdling and her entire body would tense up. Her entire left thigh was red. She did not run any fever but it was obvious that she was miserable. Tylenol didn't do anything to relieve her pain.

But, by the grace of God alone, at about 1:30 a.m. it stopped! It was like a miracle! Seriously, one minute she is screaming and then the very next minute she would coo at me, kick her legs and not be in pain! It was amazing! She nursed and was fine! Then she slept for 5 hours before her next feeding! Thank the Lord! I can't describe the gratitude Jeramy and I had when she was no longer in pain AND slept well.

I don't know if we'll submit to those vaccines again. If we can put them off until she's older, I think I would much prefer that instead.

Recipes for Breastfeeding Moms

Our little one seems to have quite a bit of gas and it causes her a lot of belly discomfort. Jeramy and I refuse to call it "colic" because we reason that that term is just what doctors use to say, "Yeah she screams and we don't know why."

But since cutting my diet down significantly to eliminate the majority of known gas-causing foods, laying her to sleep on her stomach and keeping her over my shoulder during her wake times has brought about a better disposition and a somewhat more steady sleep routine. (And I'm more pleasant, too.) The list of gassy foods I found Here are:

• Apples
• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Beans
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cheese
• Corn
• Fruit Drinks
• Ice Cream
• Milk and Milk Products
• Onions
• Pasta
• Peaches
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Prunes
• Soft Drinks
• Whole Wheat

Which is pretty much everything I eat! Also I had to eliminate caffeine and chocolate. *NO! Not chocolate!!* And I was very surprised to see some fruit on that list!

So, I've taken to making pumpkin bread for breakfast with grapes, melon, nectarines or oranges and an egg or bacon or french toast with jelly or maple syrup. For lunch and/or dinner I'll have white bread sandwiches with mustard, pretzels, Campbell's tomato soup, cucumber slices, salads with catalina dressing and brown rice. PB and J works too and buffalo wings. Spicy things seem to be okay when done low to moderately. I'm taking a calcium supplement and the white bread is fortified with calcium too.

About two weeks ago I made a chicken soup in the crockpot with 3 bouillon cubes, 2 white meat frozen chicken breasts, 1.5 cups brown rice, carrots, celery, 1 can of Leseuer peas, parsley, salt and pepper, cooked on high for 4 hours. Everything was raw when I put it in the crockpot and filled the remaining room with water. After it cooked I cut the chicken up into smaller, bite sized pieces and it was great. Give it a try. It was really easy and really yummy. It also doesn't cost a lot.

Last week I made another crockpot soup with 1 lb. hot italian sausage (which probably has some garlic and onion in it, I'm sure), maybe 1/4 cup of olive oil, a heaping handful of fresh basil, some oregano and parsley, about 2 cans of diced tomatoes, 1 can of Campbell's tomato soup, carrots, celery and I filled the remaining room in the pot with water and cooked for 4 hours on high. It was good but next time I think that chicken broth or bouillon will add more flavor instead of water and possibly a bay leaf or two. I wanted to add rice to this soup too, but we ran out. Only add one or two carrots if you add any. I really wanted something similar to sausage and lentil soup, but I'm unsure as to whether lentils are considered a bean. It's more like a pea, but aren't beans and peas from the same family?

If you have recipe ideas that don't contain those gassy foods -- PLEASE SHARE!!

God's Grace on a Tuesday

Last Tuesday, Mom planned to drive back up to Virginia for one more visit before beginning work at her new job. All the preparations were made and she set out early in the morning. As she was driving up the highway, not more than 50 miles, she began to feel dizzy and noticed some kind of visible fumes coming out of her air conditioning vents. She also realized that she had been following a carbon monoxide truck for quite some time.

After turning the A/C off and opening the windows, she decided that she needed to pull over when she could no longer read the writing on the road signs. She pulled off at an exit near Jefferson into a Waffle House parking lot. After resting a few minutes in the car she realized that her condition was not improving and she needed an ambulance. She was able to step out of the vehicle and enter the Waffle House before collapsing on the floor with a fully conscious seizure.

The employees called an ambulance which came and took her to the hospital. We met her in the ER and she appeared, in all respects, to be normal. The EMT personnel did not give her any medication and she seemed to recover on her own. After only a few hours of collecting blood work and performing other tests, the ER discharged her and we took her home.

The next day the mechanic found nothing wrong with her vehicle and concluded that it was safe to drive. The day after, Friday, Mom's follow-up appointment with the doctor indicated that her episode was consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning and should not produce any long-term side effects.

Praise the Lord!

So many other things could have happened! This situation could have ended much, much worse than it did! God's grace is great and amazing! We know that He still has some work for my Mom to do, more time to learn, be sanctified and to glorify our God in heaven! He is sovereign, even if the circumstances were drastically different. Let us trust in Him.

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."

James 4:13-15

Update: Pregnant? Get in the Water!

When everyone hears about my due date being in August the first thing I hear is how miserable I'm going to be - enduring the last stages of pregnancy in the worst season of the year, especially in Georgia. I don't really consider it a big deal though and turn the conversation to the positives: summer birthday parties outdoors! Besides, human gestation is 40 weeks, chances are summer will be some time during pregnancy. I was pregnant with the girls during the summer also. What's the big deal?

My in-laws have an in-ground pool in their yard. Yesterday Jeramy, Grandma Jane, cousin Danielle and I took the girls swimming in the pool and it was great! Not only did the girls have such a fun time getting tan and wrinkled in the water, but I didn't expect how physically comforting it would be for me during my third trimester. Immediately upon entering the water the pressure was taken off my lower back, buttocks, legs and my bladder! It was so much easier to move and be in otherwise uncomfortable positions. There was such a huge difference by being in the pool! In the pool, I almost completely forgot I was pregnant. Out of the pool, the exact opposite!

I found an article on Fit Pregnancy online that goes into greater detail about the benefits of swimming during pregnancy. Here's the first paragraph:

Heat, humidity, the summer doldrums - not the best invitation to exercise, especially if you're pregnant. But there's a remedy: Get thee to a pool! Being in the water just plain feels good when you're pregnant, and there are physiological reasons why. Water greatly reduces the usual stress on your musculoskeletal system and supports the weight of the fetus, thus taking a load off your lower back. Water also makes it easier for the heart to pump blood, reduces pregnancy-related swelling (edema) and takes pressure off your bladder. Even as it soothes you, the pool environment allows for a total-body workout. Water provides 12 times the resistance to your muscles as does air, thus offering a strength-training benefit similar to lifting light weights.

Woo hoo! Once I was in the pool, I didn't want to get out. Yeah, it's that good!

Pregnancy Update

It is now the 29th week of pregnancy with Baby girl #3. Things are still going well. I can definitely feel and see that my belly is getting bigger. There is a lot of movement and my renewed past time is watching my belly jump around. :-) This baby is very responsive. If she kicks and I rub in the same area, she'll kick or move again! That's fun! She tends to move around more when I'm hungry. Because of how active she is in utero, I feel that she will be just as active later, like Moriah.

About 2 or 3 weeks ago Braxton-Hicks contractions started. They tend to happen when I'm more physically active throughout the day. I continue to go to the gym 4 to 5 times a week. I alternate treadmill walking with the elliptical machine. I also alternate strength training the major muscle groups: legs & lower back on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Then on Tuesdays I'll concentrate on arms and shoulders; Thursdays I'll work my back (mid & upper) and chest. The only reason I'll skip a day at the gym is for inadequate sleep. :-) Although now it is getting harder to push myself out of the bed. :-) So far I've gained 20 pounds.

Fatigue has returned. The afternoon naps are now becoming a necessity whereas during the second trimester I could easily remain awake during that time, now I can't fight it anymore. :-) But that's perfectly okay. Pretty soon, I won't be getting much sleep at all. :-) Physically the hardest thing for me to do is bend down all the way to the floor. It's easier when clothes give proper leverage, but when they don't . . .

At the last OB check-up, the doctor was pleased with my blood pressure, weight and belly measurements. I've not had any swelling that I can tell. My glucose levels are normal. But the slight antibody reaction has returned. The last time they measured for the antibody, it came back negative, but this time it returned back so slight it's immeasurable. The doctor is not alarmed and neither am I. I know the drill now: sign in, get weighed, pee, blood pressure, see doctor, take blood, schedule next appt. They'll probably take my blood every time now just to keep a close eye on this weird antibody reaction.

Update: Baby #3

Now it's 25 weeks and counting. There is a lot of movement from the baby - usually most of it is while I'm awake, which is good. Sometimes women have a lot of baby movement when they're lying down, trying to go to sleep, but she seems to be on the same schedule as I for now. :-) Bending down is difficult and awkward especially at the end of the day. I've not had too much lingering pain and I'm very thankful. Pelvic tucks and glute stretches work really great for the tail bone.

There is still the occasional bouts of nausea, but I can more easily tolerate garlic and onion in small amounts now than before. It's been a little while since I last vomited, but it seems to be occurring now about once every 2 to 3 weeks or so. Carbonated beverages help settle my stomach but they have a lot of sugar (or unhealthy sugar substitute) so I try not to indulge too much.

Exercise is going well. I continued to run last week, but I strained my groin muscle which prevented me from doing a whole lot this week. Monday when I tried to run, I had a little discomfort/pain in the bottom of my belly after 3 minutes (5.5 mph) so I stopped and just walked. Based on that last experience, I think my running days are coming to an end. But I'm so very pleased that there has been nothing to hinder me from running up to this point! Yay!! I definitely don't consider stopping now a failure! I still plan on getting regular cardio exercise 5-6 days a week, strengthening and stretching. So, I'll keep you posted.

So far I've gained about 13 pounds. I'm getting a little discouraged that I won't be able to keep my pregnancy weight at 20-25 pounds, but all I can do is remain disciplined with exercise and diet and that's all God expects of me. So, I try not to let it bother me too much. Plus I remain hopeful that I'll lose it all afterwards. :-D

See new pictures of the girls in the right sidebar from April.

Update: Baby #3

I'm very thankful to be feeling more movement from the baby. I was a little concerned last weekend because several days went by where I didn't feel anything. Currently I'm 20 weeks, at the half-way point! Weight gain tends to fluctuate but the last time I weighed myself I had gained 8.5 pounds during this pregnancy. My goal is not to gain more than 20 pounds overall by remaining physically active and watching the content of my diet. Remaining physically active helps curb discomfort, weight gain, emotional rollercoasters, etc. :-)

The larger my belly becomes, the more I feel that I'm becoming a spectacle in the gym. It's really funny because I waddle in, carefully step up to the treadmill, and after a warm-up and stretches, I run 2 miles at 6 mph before I cool down. And I have trouble bending down to touch the floor! :-D I hope to be able to continue running at this pace at least until I'm 24 weeks and I would like to continue running into the third trimester. My goals are flexible so that if running becomes uncomfortable or painful, I can slow down or stop without feeling like a failure. So far, so good. I'm thankful.

Last Sunday morning, as I laid in the bed I realized that when this child is born we will have three children under three years old! And none of them are twins. I thank God that I won't have to change three sets of diapers, though. Feeling overwhelmed?

Next Tuesday (13th) we have the ultrasound and find out the gender! Don't forget to vote in the left sidebar! The poll will close the day after.

Saturday Strings

Play violin during brain surgery?

Choose: end your career or drill holes in your head.

Click here.

I think it's a little crazy!

If it were me, I might just as well retire.