Gluten-Free Ramblings: Week 1

When I had initially written my first blog post on Gluten Free”, I sat on it for a few days before publishing. Not that I have a mass following, but I think it might post to facebook too, and that felt about as “putting yourself out there” as those dreams where you find yourself walking into class naked.  I wanted to be sure I was really on board with going GF and I felt like “putting it out there” would put it more in stone.

Nope.

I actually felt really awkward about putting so much personal information out there and advertising it. Not immediately but more while I was out, away from my computer and couldn’t do squat about it.

Anyway….My mind has been through the wringer this past week. Tuesday, 9/16 was my first official “Gluten Free” day. I posted the blog the following Friday. In the mean time, my mind had gone every which way, up down and sideways, knowing it is what I need to do for my health but feeling a lot of guilt over the added expense it becomes to grocery shop (shout out to Aldi and their “LiveGFree” line- more on that later), guilt over new challenge I/we face while going out, and toss in a smidgen of self-pity mixed with “I have no idea what I am doing, I am seemingly now always ravenous, what the heck can I eat”, and it pretty much made a perfect storm of mental chaos. My mind was in complete “obsess” mode. I get a bit obsessey about food anyway if I have to think about what I am eating as it is, but I was a bit nervous this might push me a bit too far and I’d end up not quite where I wanted to be on that end as well.

Until last night. All of a sudden, my mind was at peace. Calm. Quiet. We were on a walk and I was there on a walk with the kids and my husband. Physically I was on that walk, mentally I was on that walk. I was there running, laughing, chasing, smiling, feeling and having fun. I haven’t felt really embedded into a moment and not distracted like that in a while.  I believe it was God giving me my answer. It was like the question (gf/no gf) no longer existed. The worry, stress and weight was gone. It will all get figured out as it needs to. So it’s done. And I am on board and contently so. Trying to ignore the Costco blueberry muffin calling my name in the cabinet.

This week on my Gluten Free journey, I have learned:
+ Aldi’s Gluten Free line (“Live Gfree”)  has yet to disappoint….granted all I have tried is the pizza dough, “Hot Pockets”,tortillas and pasta (could NOT taste the difference with sauce) .I made the pizza crust earlier in the week so I had something for pizza night. The box made 2 crusts. One I saved for pizza night, the other I have been using for bread with soup (Again with Aldi- their “Simply Nature” Lentil soup was quite tasty too!). My husband could not tell the difference between my crust and store-bought. I call it a success!! The tortillas I could tell were not the same as flour tortillas, but they still satisfied my shredded-colby-cheese-and-pepperoni-wrap addiction.
+Cooking: I am doing a bit more cooking than I was. I am trying to plan ahead (premade pizza crusts!) and get some of the things I can make ahead done during naptime. I am, thankfully, finding cooking relaxing again. At least this week. Thanks to my neighbor’s thoughtfulness, I now have an awesome GF cookbook holding the secret to making “Real Sandwich Bread”, “Old-Fashioned Birthday Cake” and “New York-Style Pizza”.
+ENERGY!!  I almost forgot- my energy has been improving. I am in no way complaining, and yes, I am knocking on wood for this one.
+Less stress (anxiety?)….I feel more calm and better able to take things that would normally test my patience with a lot less seriousness. I am more able to not “sweat the small stuff”. I feel nicer. Calmer.  More of the mom I want to be. My mind seems calmer and quieter too, helping me to stay “in the present”.
+There is a new sense of excitement when I look on the back of something and see “Naturally Gluten-Free” stamped right there, in all of its helpful glory. It’s like my soul smiles.
+I almost feel like I didn’t realize how bad I was feeling or how good I could feel until just very recently. Hopefully this continues.
+ I have some of the most supportive, encouraging and thoughtful friends on the planet!
+I am hoping to make my own breads and flours and what not. I think it makes more sense to do that than to spend $6 on a loaf of “bread” that I have heard mixed reviews about.
At the beginning of this journey, I did have some headaches. Sunday I didn’t have a chance to drink my coffee before church. That ended up being borderline migraine, so back to coffee I went in the afternoon. Glad I did. It’s pretty delicious. Day 4 and 5 I had hives, which I read was from the toxins (in this case, gluten?) trying to get out of your system. My medicine seemed to feel stronger for a day or two too, but thankfully that balanced itself out before the heart palpitations stayed and freaked me out. Then I stopped paying attention, figuring if something needed my attention it would jump out at me. I seem to have survived thus far.

I think what I really am most surprised about is the energy and patience. During the day, I am up and doing things during the kids’ naptime, not feeling like I need a mental (or physical) break. I ran again this week for the first time in far too long. I paid no attention to time or distance. Just ran to run. Even though I was on a treadmill, it felt so freeing. 33 weeks to the next Half Marathon. Hopefully I still feel this way when it is time to start training again.

So, that in a nutshell sums up week 1. Learning curve for sure, but it feels so much more do-able than it did. Between “One day at a time” and focusing on what I can have rather than what I can’t, I am starting to find my way.

Until next time!

Gluten Free…

Yep. Here we are.

Going Gluten-Free…something I initially thought was, for some, medically necessary and a diet or lifestyle choice for others.

Until recently. Recently I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (or “Hashi’s” as some refer to it). That was what was causing my thyroid to be on the fritz and my test results to show I am hypothyroid. My white blood cells are attacking my thyroid, causing it to become underactive. What does gluten have to do with the thyroid?

“ What explains the connection? It’s a case of mistaken identity. The molecular structure of gliadin, the protein portion of gluten, closely resembles that of the thyroid gland. When gliadin breaches the protective barrier of the gut, and enters the bloodstream, the immune system tags it for destruction. These antibodies to gliadin also cause the body to attack thyroid tissue. This means if you have AITD [Autoimmune Thyroid Disease] and you eat foods containing gluten, your immune system will attack your thyroid.
Even worse, the immune response to gluten can last up to 6 months each time you eat it. This explains why it is critical to eliminate gluten completely from your diet if you have AITD. There’s no “80/20″ rule when it comes to gluten. Being “mostly” gluten-free isn’t going to cut it. If you’re gluten intolerant, you have to be 100% gluten-free to prevent immune destruction of your thyroid.” According to (http://chriskresser.com/the-gluten-thyroid-connection)

This explains why when I was on medication for hypothyroidism to help me, my levels fluctuated and went from 4.6 all the way up to 14 in July!! (The cut off for healthy thyroid is 3). Turns out it wasn’t anything I did, but my body attacked my thyroid causing the levels to be elevated. This also explains why there have been so many times I could swear I was pregnant (yet clearly wasn’t) from the random bouts of nausea and fatigue that comes and goes. There have been a few “light bulb” moments between the Hashi’s and now suspected gluten sensitivity that is feeding the Hashi’s and caused by these fluctuations and attacks.

It’s a bit scary when you’re doctor tells you it’s autoimmune and you begin to fully realize what that means. Initially, I was relieved that it was not the result of a doctor putting me on a medication unnecessarily due to a simple lab variance. I learned that it wasn’t my fault, someone else’s fault, or anything that I could have prevented. That part made me feel better. However, from what I am told, having one autoimmune disease opens the door to developing other autoimmune diseases down the line (think: celiac disease, lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and the list goes on). It is slightly unsettling to not know what the future holds in regards to this, knowing I want to live a long and full life with minimal ailments (don’t we all?!) but I am not letting myself dwell. From what I understand, if I can keep this Hashimoto’s at bay and under control and stop or slow down the attack on my thyroid (through the GF diet- which helps the immune system not attack the thyroid cells.) and keep up with my medications (that helps with the hypothyroidism and not the immune system) and blood work, then hopefully it will keep my autoimmune system settled and at bay and not develop further autoimmune diseases or worsening of the one I have.

Apparently, going gluten free is not simple and is a complete lifestyle overhaul- one that is black and white, 100% all in or not, as they said above- there is no 80%/20%.. Cross-contamination becomes an issue with gluten. You need a separate colander, cutting board, etc- one for gluten and one for gluten-free. I just listened to a webinar and learned that the amount of gluten needed to cause a reaction of the immune system, triggering an attack on the thyroid, is 1/1,000. So, if you order a salad and it comes with croutons, and you pick the croutons off and the amount that is left behind is enough to trigger a reaction. Intimidating to say the least.

The more I research the “hows” after the “whys” I am beginning to see what a huge overhaul this is and affects people around me too. It also means completely adopting a new way of eating. Many of my go-to’s are off-limits. Thankfully though, if I look to the bright side, it is fall and there are a plethora of gluten-free soups that sound delicious and cozy. It is going to require planning, preparation and adopting a new way of doing things food-wise, but if it improves my quality of life and keeps my body from doing more damage or developing new and more debilitating (and more costly) autoimmune diseases as time goes on, then I don’t really see what I have to lose.

I want to be around for my kids and husband. I want to be healthy and be able to be active with not only Jeremy (who can outrun me for days, but I’d like to be able to keep up with him at some point! =) and the kids, but one day our grandchildren too.

It is going to be hard and, admittedly, I am being my own cheerleader. If I am being honest, it sounds like a big pain in the butt and total commitment to do this. Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay on the medication, hope it’s enough and stay the course without change? Sure. But I am starting to see and think about “the bigger picture”. I don’t want to hope it is enough and end up with a worsened thyroid or 20 years from now developing another, possibly more debilitating, autoimmune disease. Because once the switch of an autoimmune disease turns on, so to speak, it can’t be turned off. I am still learning and, like everything and everyone, will learn as I go. It sounds like the first few days can be rough as your body “detoxes” for lack of a better word. Preparing myself for that. But also living and looking forward to and eager for a life full of health and happiness with the ones I love =)

Yes, It Realy Happened: How Hayden Was Born

I’m not sure if it all seems like a dream because it happened so fast, or because it was 2 weeks ago already, or because things like this generally only happen in the movies and not to people in real life. That Saturday was just like any other Saturday. I do remember being tired and there’s a good chance I was grumpy too being 2 days after my due date. OK, maybe grumpy isn’t the right word. Inwardly bitter because I am not only impatient but I prefer to have some sort of control over big situations and babies and birthdays are things that are 1,000% out of my control. Sometimes inward bitterness has a tendency to seep out to the outside world as grumpy. Anyway, Jeremy- the awesome husband that he is, saw this would be the perfect opportunity for Noah and Daddy to have some one-on-one time and gave this mommy a break by taking him to the library. When they came home, the rest of the day panned out as usual. I had been in hibernation mode for the last 2 days and I remember at about 4 or 5 that evening just feeling like I wanted to get out of the house and walk. I’m not a fan of the mall whatsoever but I asked Jeremy if he wanted to go. Then I realized I would then have to get dressed and be presentable in public, so I settled for the car ride to Blockbuster to drop off some movies and a swing through Wendy’s drive thru. When we got home, I realized they made a mistake and gave me a chicken sandwich instead of what I had ordered. Maybe that’s the ticket. Maybe when I’m 1,000 months pregnant with my next child, I will just start eating Wendy’s chicken sandwiches. After dinner, I remember pacing in the living room, seriously walking figure 8 laps, waiting for Noah to think it was weird. Not because I was in pain or uncomfortable but I just felt like I had to move. Too bad that sense of energy wasn’t focusing me on cleaning like normal “nesters”! When we all went up to the playroom to watch a movie, I took up my normal nightly routine of sitting on the physioball, never really thinking it was actually doing anything (maybe just hoping it was!) but it was so much easier to get my big ol self off of the ball than the couch! I’m not really sure when I went to bed that night.

OK, now the part you really care to read….I woke up at 3:35 in so much pain. It didn’t feel like a contraction, but it was like a burning like my hips and pelvis were coming apart. It reminded me of how back labor burns (had back labor with Noah- not fun) but in the front. Earlier in the evening I was reading online about moms that had false back labor when their babies were positioned wrong. One mom talked about how excruciating it was when her baby turned but then the actual labor was so much less intense because of the baby turning. I had been having nights of false labor, in my back, a few times a week for the past few weeks. Apparently those nights were doing something! After I reach over and death-grip the covers, Jer gets up and says we’re going and is getting ready to hop in the shower. I thought he was crazy. There was nothing to time, we can’t go now! They’ll just send us home and think we’re crazy. Ok, wait, another burning sensation that I couldn’t walk or talk through (but nothing in my stomach, nothing like a contraction, just plain burning!) What the heck is going on? Gosh, this baby must be trying to turn! I had him grab the phone before he got in. Before his shower I was going to call the Dr (yet had no clue what I was going to say…I knew something was happening, but wasn’t having contractions, no water breaking, etc) then I tried walking and had another burning sensation (contraction?) not sure how long after. Then I went to the bathroom and just sat, the pains are coming faster and stronger. When Jer comes out of the shower I told him “I don’t think we’re going to make it”. I couldn’t imagine driving to the hospital like this… Then I told him I was serious and he had to get the phone and call 911. As we’re on the phone with dispatch they ask where I am (still on the throne, baby being born as we spoke) and they kind of yelled at me to get me on the floor. Evidently, you’re not supposed to give birth on the potty…who knew? So I tried to stand up and get on the floor, and Jeremy had to catch her. It was crazy. My body was just pushing for me and there was no way to stop it. When she was born, I had a split-second moment of that mommy joy, that “Oh she’s here!” and then I remembered I was on my bathroom floor. She wasn’t crying right away. Neither Jeremy nor myself had ever seen a baby this fresh out of the chute so to say, normally the doctors and nurses take them, suction out the nose and mouth, clean them off, and get them crying etc. She looked blue. Is blue normal? Probably not. Panic set it. They were asking if her chest was rising and falling….I saw the sides of her abdomen moving and she was gurgling. Shouldn’t she be crying? Why does she still look blue?! 9-1-1 where are you?! Jeremy had to go chase own the ambulance (seriously, dispatch, getting the house address right in a situation like this is pretty critical. It’s amazing what one incorrect digit can do for a situation!). Thankfully, the blueness was from her rapid birth that caused temporary bruising in her face. Finally the paramedics get there. They ask Jeremy if he wants to cut the cord and hand him a scalpel type thing. Jeremy decided he’d had enough adventure and excitement for one night. Then, after they have me walk down the stairs and climb aboard the stretcher, they inform me they’ll be taking me to EMH. All I wanted to know is if my baby was OK, so I agreed. Hindsight is 20/20 and I still wonder if I’d have been allowed to demand (for lack of a better word) that I be taken to Fairview. So, Jeremy stayed home and waited for my parents to come and met our daughter and me at the hospital. Again with the “awesome husband that he is” part: after delivering a baby and ambulance chasing, he was cool, calm and collected enough to clean up, have things (coats, shoes, outfits, cups,breakfast etc) laid out and ready for my parents so they wouldn’t have to scramble trying to get out the door with the boys. I still have no idea how this whole thing happened at all. All I know is at my appointment the Wednesday before I was 4 cm dilated and 90% but they still scheduled my induction for one week past my due date if she didn’t come. The doctor didn’t think I’d make it to Thursday (neither did anyone but me) but I don’t think she quite had that in mind! Thankfully the boys slept through everything (hooray for sound machines!) including the paramedics coming and going and they woke up at their normal time to my parents being here.

Everyone is adjusting well. The first few days home had me scared for when Jeremy went back to work. I think we’ve ironed out all of the kinks and things seem to be going well. Getting out with all 3? Now that might be a different story! Thankfully (seriously, thank you Lord!) she is a good sleeper. She’s a pretty calm baby and really only cries when she’s hungry. She will be able to sleep through a hurricane when she’s older- I have no idea how she sleeps through all of the noise with these boys now! The only one who is not adjusting well is me…What I am not adjusting to is just how quickly she is changing and growing!! She already looks so different than her newborn self: stretched out and no longer always in that curled up ball shape, too tall for newborn pants and outgrowing newborn clothes, her face less puffy, she just looks older!! I am starting to think that each kids’ infancy goes faster than the last. I know she’s supposed to grow, and that’s a good thing, but ya know, I’m a sentimental sap like that =)

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Our Neck of the Woods

In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve got snow.  I so wish we could go sledding but it’s about 25*, with a windchill of about 13* according to weather.com. A bit better than yesterday’s windchill of a measly 4*, but still a bit much for those under 3 I’d think. And the parents that have to accompany them in the great outdoors.

Today has given us a chance to just be lazy together, which is nice. I had to stop myself from declaring another pajama day because personally partaking in pajama days 2 days in a row just feels a bit too lazy. Even for me. 

Jeremy went to find some Xbox Kinect games for us at Blockbuster. Apparently we weren’t the only ones with this idea. There was zero game selection appropriate for children, so Noah has a few new DVD’s to add to his collection, and we have a movie for our date-night-in tonight. (For those of you who missed the Facebook status, the fire-in-the-fireplace-weekend-kick-off, did not so much happen last night.)

While the boys were napping, I got a chance to hop online and educate myself on streaming tv shows, movies (now that we have Xbox), and all things that are required to get rid of cable but still watch the same shows as the rest of modern society. I’m still not completely sure I am ready to take the plunge, but I haven’t completely discounted it either. I’m not big on TV other than (being as honest as Simon Cowell here…) Price Is Right (yes, I know…), the News, and maybe the occasional guilty-pleasure, completely mindless reality show (Jersey Shore, Teen Mom, Giuliana and Bill and let’s not forget American Idol). And, I am breathlessly awaiting the return of Army Wives. Seriously, I miss that show. A little Army Wives and a glass of wine on a Sunday night while the kids are in bed? I see nothing wrong with that.

Perhaps I’ll get a chance to get on Pinterest a little later and get my creativity wheels turning for things for the kids to do this next week. Goodness knows it’s going to be a busy one, though I am looking forward to catching up with some friends. Here’s hoping Jeremy’s work schedule will even out sooner rather than later and maybe we’ll even get a chance to get out of the house, see some friends, and perhaps join in a story time or two. Funny how when he carpooled with his brother to work every day and the car was home with me, I rarely ever used it. Now that he drives to work and I have no car, oh the places I think up that we could go! Ah, well, nothing a little planning and organization can’t fix. 

Anyway, that’s what’s going on in our neck of the woods (in case Facebook isn’t enough for you 😉 And, while I’m a far cry from my “blog every weekend to catch up” goal, but hey, what can you do?

Until next time.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I have to agree with the old adage “Kids Say the Darndest Things”.  Last night was yet another reminder.  I love the quiet, special alone time I get when I am tucking my kids into bed at night. It’s nice to just snuggle and cuddle with sleepy Westin. It also makes for some pretty great and…interesting conversations with Noah.

I decided to sing “You Are My Sunshine” to Noah last night. It’s not a common song in our house, don’t ask me why, I guess I just kind of forgot about it. When I stopped at the last word in the line “When you’re not happy, my skies are ____”. Noah stops to think and fills in the blank with the word “beautiful”.  Missing the point of the song, I guess 😉

Then, he saw his stuffed dog that we made for his 2nd birthday at Build-A-Bear. His name is Meatball, which just happened to be Noah’s favorite word at the time. We talked about the day we made Meatball and I was trying to pick his brain to see if/what/and how much he remembered from that day. I’m always pretty impressed when he and I take a trip down memory lane. He remembers a lot! We were talking about how Westin was still in Mommy’s tummy. He asked me why and I told him because that’s where babies grow. Again, he asks why. At this point I am scared we are venturing into a whole different conversation and am getting very nervous that the “where do babies come from?” is coming. Anyway, he asks me why babies grow in tummies and I said because of God. Thankfully, he seemed happy with that and didn’t press for further details. Next, he asked if he gets a baby in his tummy. I said “No, only Mommies”. He was far from happy with this answer. Tears of sadness followed. Heart broken, bottom lip out, eyes dripping. Poor boy. It is quite a gift and a privilege, but I’m sorry. That’s just the way it is. Boys grow into men and men have an important part in the process too, you just don’t know it yet. 😉

Finally, last night, when Noah was all comfy and snuggled up in his bed, it was time for me to leave. I wasn’t done snuggling and talking with him. Evidently I was not getting out fast enough. Noah says to me “Do you want me to help you up?”

Oh how I love this kid. I can’t wait until both of them are talking and cracking me up.

Thankful for Elmo

Thankful for Elmo

I watch Noah and I can’t help but be incredibly amazed at how much he has grown and changed in the past 2 and a half years. He has become so fiercely independent with many skills, he is learning more every day and is just growing into such a fine young man it’s incredible. The expressions he says, the empathy he shows. His sense of humor. Sometimes I look at him and think “When did he turn 4?!” He makes me beam and he makes us beyond proud.
Anyway, I guess the point is that there are moments like that during our day. Then there are times that thankfully bring me back and put into perspective just how innocent and young he still is. His “B.B” that has faithfully been his comfy blankie since he was a baby passed down from me. It’s cute to see him embrace it the way that he does. His cars he likes to take to his bed with him. Adorably and innocently mispronouncing words. Another example watching a show like Sesame Street and seeing the genuine joy he gets from Elmo and his sense of humor. The little kid things like that that make him light up. Seeing him happy makes me happy. The way he’s not yet embarrassed to give his mom a hug and a kiss. It’s these moments of innocence that will start to fade out in the coming years, to be replaced by what the real world makes of you when you grow up. That will come far sooner than I’m willing to admit. I just never knew or realized how thankful I would be for a little red friendly monster named Elmo.

A Great Year Ahead

Have you ever had that feeling? That feeling where you’re just completely content, not worried or thinking about anything in particular, not rushing to finish the next thought, next sentence or what still has yet to be done?  Where everything just feels perfect, the way it’s meant to. For no reason in particular other than just being with ones you love? That pretty much sums up my day. Maybe it’s because I’m older. Maybe I’m even getting wiser. I found myself saying little prayers of gratitude at random times through our day. Noah’s sweet little voice saying “Happy Birthday Mommy” many times at random was also great to hear!

We started our morning off planning on going to a pumpkin patch. To Red Wagon Farms to be exact. We got there at 11:16. The fall festival didn’t start until noon. Oops! We decided to go to Olmsted Falls and take a hike through the woods and see the waterfalls. This fall foliage is just beautiful. I had regretted not bringing my camera more than once. So many vibrant colors. So many great shots of Noah and Jeremy down by the water, Noah throwing leaves into the falls and watching them get carried down stream. Westin was content just looking around nature. I’m not sure what it is about that baby and trees, but ever since he was a tiny baby in our tiny condo, going out on the back patio just to look at pine trees would calm him down in a way that nothing else would. We had planned on going back to the pumpkin patch after that, but hungry tummies were calling and needed to be fed. 

We planned on going to dinner later in the day to Moose Head Hoof and Ladder, right by where our hike took place. We took the boys to Jeremy’s parents house. Waiting for me were some beautiful, framed pictures of Noah as a baby asleep on my chest, one of the boys looking at each other and laughing, one of Westin at just a few days old and a more recent one of Noah and myself. It was just a perfect, perfect gift to tie into my feelings of being content and so in love with family. I feel content and in love with my family every day, don’t get me wrong, but it was just one of those “warm and fuzzy” kind of days. 

Our dinner was great. Literally, the food was great. But, not only that, but it had been a while since Jeremy and I had just had some relaxing down time, just the two of us. I felt like I did when we were dating, falling in love, that giddy-can’t-wipe-the-smile-off-your-face kind of feeling. We even talked about things other than the kids! Imagine that! 😉 I felt like I was glowing.  We vowed that we would do date nights more often and make a point to make time for them. We checked out World Market afterwords and have some fun plans for a few pieces there that we think will look great in our house.  I’m really excited about a bright red bench in particular, but we’ll see.

We went to pick up the boys, who were nothing but smiles. Tired smiles, but smiles none the less. We had ice cream cake and watched a bit of the Buckeyes game and headed home. Noah was asleep before we even made it out of their neighborhood.

I really don’t see how my day could have gotten better. I got so many birthday wishes, and I just feel so loved. I feel like this has set the stage for a very good year ahead. ❤

Storytimes and Traditions

Wow. It’s the first chance I’ve had to post in…awhile.  I’m listening to Westin trying to get himself back to sleep upstairs and thinking about his top teeth coming in, wondering if I should go up there….gah! I’m so good at second-guessing myself sometimes I should get paid for it.

Anyway, today was a pretty darn good day. Incredibly, incredibly long. Not bad long, it just literally felt like forever from the time we got home this evening from picking up Jeremy at work to bedtime. Time just moved slowly. We started our day with a trip to Puma and gPa’s to drop off Westin, and for Noah to play for a while. Then it was off to our first Storytime in far too long, just Noah and me. I think he’s been needing some one-on-one time and attention without Westin. When we got to the library, I was surprised we had made it in time. The next thing that surprised me was how incredibly easy (and fast!) it is to get out of the car and into a building in the rain with just one child in tow.  It was fun to be able to run holding hands in the rain, laughing at the chilly rain drops on our faces. When we got inside, yet another surprise awaited many of the children came dressed in their Halloween costumes. Oops! Noah didn’t seem to mind, but maybe wondered to himself why this storytime had a dinosaur, pumpkin and Scooby-Doo. While we were there, it took a loooong time for him to warm up. He really just wanted to sit on my lap the entire time and was content to just listen to the stories and watch the dances. Except for the “Dance any way you want to” song….Not sure who it is by or what it’s called but it’s kind of a young freeze dance. Anyway, he did a shy fast robot dance and a shy slow robot dance, and of course, that was right at the end, so by the time he felt comfortable enough to dance, it was time to go! We got to check out some books and I got a CD of kid songs and dances like the one from storytime. I’m sure he and Sarah will have a lot of fun with that tomorrow!  When we got back to Puma and gPa’s, he was more than excited to play and show them the truck book he picked out (and insisted on going to sleep with tonight) and to play. My dad made lunch, and I swear he has secrets and tricks up his sleeve for in the kitchen. Things always taste a little better when he makes them. Anyway, he made tomato soup and grilled cheese, which was just perfect for the weather we had today. After lunch, it was time to go home and put the boys down for a nap. Ahhhhh! My favorite time of day =) 

After his bath and after getting ready for bed, Noah got to watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”. I can already tell that this Christmas season of movies is going to be a lot of fun. He laughed and giggled those great little kid giggles during the movie, I couldn’t get enough. The best is when he reenacts scenes and does the voices. I don’t know where he comes up with this stuff, but this kid cracks me up! What a hoot!

After Noah went to bed, I got to work getting things organized for his little last-minute-Halloween-party for him and Sarah tomorrow.  There is something to be said for a mom that stamps/makes cards.  Well, besides “Thank You”, because I’m not that mom, but thanks to my mom, the kids now have ink pads and Halloween stamps to use to decorate the ghosts I cut out for the front of their treat bags. So, thanks mom! =) Anyway, I am really hoping that they have fun with it and it doesn’t turn out to be one of those “it was more fun to plan and look forward to than the disaster it actually turned out to be”kinds of things.  I’m sure their costumes will be off more than they are on, and as I was preparing everything for them for tomorrow, making sure things were identical and even to avoid any arguments, from sticker sheets to the candy that goes into the bags, I couldn’t help but think that soon it will be for Noah and Westin that I will have to take the same precautions.

Westin’s not crawling yet. Not talking, not walking. I’m pretty sure right now is the easiest I’m going to have it with these two for a long time. For now, he’s pretty content sitting on the floor and playing with toys and/or watching his brother play.  It’s not only for that reason that I don’t want him, or his brother, to grow up too fast. But something about watching Noah watch Charlie Brown tonight and reading some of “Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschooler’s Soul” that just reminds me just how great their innocence is, how the sweet and infectious tone of that little kid laughter is, and how I have to just soak it up now while I can, because before long, it will be Noah and Westin passing on the tradition from when I was a kid: baths done, teeth brushed and ready for bed before we all watch a special holiday movie together as a family. I’m so excited and blessed to be making such great memories that I hope they remember too.

Fall and Flowers

Wow. What a day! It was one of those you-know-it’s-going-to-be-“one of those days”kinds of day before the day even began.  In some ways, I think I’m glad at how it all turned out. Sure, it had a rough start, but it had the sweetest ending that brought tears to my eyes. The day also helped me realize that I think Noah and I might need some special Just Mommy-and-Noah, one-on-one time. We haven’t had that, like a special date, in oh-so-long. I want to do something for him to make him feel special. I think he misses that. I know I do.

The morning was one of those crazy-chaos kind of mornings, but it was fine. I was just letting things roll off my shoulders, and was content with going with the flow. Noah was up early, so in trying to see the bright side of wanting to go back to bed but not being able to,  I figured nap time would at least be early. On Sarah days it’s usually a safe bet, a very convenient and safe bet, for all kids to be asleep around 10. My goodness. How that backfired. But, after finally getting Noah down for his nap, and while having Sarah (the little artist who is now short on a nap thanks to Noah’s pre-nap anti-nap tantrum), I started thinking about the last time Noah had a special day. Which, really, it was the baseball game in July, but the last time it was just Noah and me. Before Westin was even born. I think we’re long overdue. I can tell he needs it, even if he can’t tell me that. Though I couldn’t call Sarah’s parents to come pick her up because this just dawned on me, I decided I still wanted to make him feel special. So, I wrote a book about Noah, and let him help decorate the pictures. Thank GOD he’s happy with stick figures. Seriously. The stick figure under “Once upon a time there was a boy named Noah” made his eyes light up. “That’s Noah?! That’s me?!” he asked excitedly. =) Then it went on to say how he has a Mommy, Daddy and little brother named Westin…..all illustrated in stick figures.  Not just any stick figures….the kind that make him beam, so I’ll venture to say they’re some darn good stick figures. It also mentions how he’s a great big brother, a great Noah, and how his friends and family love him just the way he is. You know, your typical feel-good kind of book. Of course he wanted to read this book before bed, which made me feel good.

I asked Noah what he likes to do that makes him happy. Hitting baseballs…of course! So, we go out to the front yard, get a bat and ball, and what does he want to do? Pitch. Fine by me, because I love to bat! He’s a far better pitcher than I am, and sadly, I’m not kidding. So we had one of those short, fat, squatty plastic bats and a foam ball and we played for quite some time until I realized that banking even a foam ball off of the house might not be brilliant. So, out to the back we went. Naturally, by that time, I think the novelty had worn off, and he didn’t seem as enthused. Needless to say we went back to the front yard to play some basketball. Once Jeremy came home, we all went on a nature walk through the reservation down the street. About a mile away is a little playground, and boy does Noah love it there! On our way there, the fields were just FULL of wildflowers blooming largely and vividly. There was also a massive amount of beautiful monarch butterflies in one spot. So pretty! Anyway, on the path, Noah, completely unprompted this time, just picks a flower and comes up to me and says “This is for you Mommy”……..instant heart melter. Tears in my eyes, and just what I needed today. I love that little boy! We played on the playground for a bit, but the sun was setting, so we had to get going. Much to my surprise, no crying about having to leave! We topped off our evening with a trip to Dairy Grove. This kid just cracks me up with his mannerisms and expressions. It was really nice to just be present and in the moment with him and just be able to soak up him being a kid and share some ice cream. These days aren’t going to last. He’s going to be 2 and a half next week, after all. Soon he’ll be on one of the 3,000 busses that come through our neighborhood, which I’m sure he’d be excited about!!

This fall-like weather has been a nice break. It’s getting me excited about Halloween, decorating for fall and putting up the dried corn-stalk things, and it’s a nice little reminder before the real cold weather comes that Noah needs an entire wardrobe, down to the socks.  Westin is shaping up to fit into Noah’s winter/fall clothes so that’s nice. As long as he doesn’t have a massive growth spurt, I think it’ll all work out. I just won’t remind myself that he ate 2 jars of carrots this evening… 😉

Happy weekend all =)

The Good Ol’ Check-Up

The boys had their well-visit check ups with the doctor today. I thought I was so smart scheduling them both for the same day so we’d only have one copay…..evidently they don’t go by what I think is smart. On the bright side, everyone is happy and healthy, so that’s a big thumbs up. I prepared myself for Noah needing shots, and it turned out he wasn’t due for any which was a nice surprise! =) He is 38.8 inches tall (97%) and 35.6 lbs (94%). Westin did need shots and is also a big boy at 26.8 inches tall (92%) and 19.9 lbs! (>97%).  Westin seems to be doing just fine and isn’t showing any bad reactions so far, so that’s good!

Noah will need his first trip to the dentist soon, and apparently the AAP is recommending that kids see the dentist at 1 year. This is new since the last time we went. Needless to say, we will be making a dentist appointment for him soon! The next time he is seen, providing we make it all winter without getting sick, he will be 3! Yikes! Where is the time going?! He spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the house with his stethescope saying he’s Dr.Bennet.

Since I started writting this blog, Westin’s day kind of went (slightly) down hill. Between teething (I actually feel tooth #2!) and the shots, boy was today a clingy/crabby afternoon! He was less fussy than last time but was still not himself and he ended up with a temp, so he got tylenol, which seemed to help.  By dinnertime, or a little after, he was back to himself, which was nice. It’s hard to get things done with such a clingy baby! (Though I love the cuddles, I could do without the fussies!). He went to bed awesomely tonight. He opened his eyes after I put him in his bed, and he saw me leave and didn’t cry, but fell right to sleep! =) Woot! Hopefully he sleeps better tonight than last night though.  Progress is always a plus!!

So thankful and in love with those boys! I love seeing them play together and hear Noah tell Westin that it’s OK and tries to make him feel better with his pretend medicine dropper. What a good big bro!

Until next time….