I've come down with my THIRD infection (the 2nd was a relapse from the first) associated with nursing! Sometimes it feels like nature is conspiring against me to get me to give up nursing the little one. Well its not going to happen; each time I start to feel like throwing in the towel, my iron will (inherited from my mom) snaps to attention. It goes something like this:
Iron Will "TEN HUT! I don't THINK so Garrett (Baker), you will NOT give up when you've come so far!"
Me: "buuuuuut it huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurts!!!
Iron Will "so did LABOR"
Me: "this is true. but this is the third time this has happened, why meeeeee?"
Iron Will: "stop your whining, at least you are ABLE to nurse!"
Me: "shutting up now...."
As you can see, there is no use thinking about giving up. Any advice on curing blocked ducts is appreciated!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Chocolate Epiphanies
I had a realization this morning, with my hands buried in dry ingredients for homemade chocolate cake. its not about me. my life is now 5% Amanda and 95% kiddos. and yet I don't mind because my view of motherhood has changed. I used to think that motherhood was about "balancing" your priorities equally. motherhood is really about doing the best you can with what you have been given.
not all mothers are able to breastfeed but I can, its a resource I was given. in turn, I have friends who were blessed financially and for them buying formula isn't a burden. both of us are doing our best to feed our babies with what we have been given.
most new mothers don't have to parent teenagers along with their first infant or work 24 hours a day. I do, but the flip side is that I also have my husband along side me 24 hours a day. most women don't get to work with their husbands.
as I make a "welcome" cake for our new boys arrival, I'm preparing my heart as well and hoping that his future here is bright.
not all mothers are able to breastfeed but I can, its a resource I was given. in turn, I have friends who were blessed financially and for them buying formula isn't a burden. both of us are doing our best to feed our babies with what we have been given.
most new mothers don't have to parent teenagers along with their first infant or work 24 hours a day. I do, but the flip side is that I also have my husband along side me 24 hours a day. most women don't get to work with their husbands.
as I make a "welcome" cake for our new boys arrival, I'm preparing my heart as well and hoping that his future here is bright.
thnx for prayers
Thank you to all who prayed for us during this difficult parenting time (see last entry). I have really felt your prayers and things are getting better. Jackson has had three straight days of going 4 hours or more between feedings (he sleeps like a hybernating bear during that time) and this morning he went 3 hours before being hungry! I'm so relieved! I figure he will continue to stretch them out slowly. He has grown in length again so I think that was the culprit.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Baby Difficulties
Jackson has begun needing to eat every two hours (start to start) and occasionally will only go an hour and forty five minutes. I've been through all the "tests" to make sure he is getting enough milk, he is wetting enough diapers, and that he truly is hungry. He's just going through a growth spurt and needing lots of nutrition. I've spoken to a lactation consultant but I don't really agree with her, her opinion is opposite La Leche League and many doctor's sites I've checked out.
I actually think Jackson may have been needing more frequent feedings for a while and I mistook the crying for gas. James and I have noticed since I've been catching his cues to feed earlier, he has seemed calmer. So essentially once he started feeding every two hours, he calmed down and has less fussy spells.
One of the hardest things about all of this is knowing the right thing to do. Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to newborns. You should put him on a schedule. You should NEVER put him on a schedule. You should pick him up when he cries. You should let him cry it out. I'm so conflicted between meeting his needs and spoiling him! Right now, James and I have decided to go with instinct and feed him when he shows hunger cues. I truly think its a growth spurt, although everything I've read says growth spurts last a few days and this has been going on for over a week. It started three weeks ago when he was feeding every 3 hours (pretty much since birth) and then suddenly needed a couple of 2 hour feedings per day. He gradually upped that until they are all two hour feedings.
I'm to the point that I figure that if I accidentally spoil him, it would be better to break him of a bad habit than potentially let him go hungry.
Really, I'm just very tired. I've been trying to do too much at once. I love couponing and getting bargains but its just not feasible until Jackson can go longer between feedings. I've been blessed with a job that allows me to focus on the baby during the day and with an understanding husband who will take care of our job responsibilities while I nurse. I'm so lucky to be where I am and I just need to slow down and count my blessings. Please just pray for me to remember that its ok to not do everything.
I actually think Jackson may have been needing more frequent feedings for a while and I mistook the crying for gas. James and I have noticed since I've been catching his cues to feed earlier, he has seemed calmer. So essentially once he started feeding every two hours, he calmed down and has less fussy spells.
One of the hardest things about all of this is knowing the right thing to do. Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to newborns. You should put him on a schedule. You should NEVER put him on a schedule. You should pick him up when he cries. You should let him cry it out. I'm so conflicted between meeting his needs and spoiling him! Right now, James and I have decided to go with instinct and feed him when he shows hunger cues. I truly think its a growth spurt, although everything I've read says growth spurts last a few days and this has been going on for over a week. It started three weeks ago when he was feeding every 3 hours (pretty much since birth) and then suddenly needed a couple of 2 hour feedings per day. He gradually upped that until they are all two hour feedings.
I'm to the point that I figure that if I accidentally spoil him, it would be better to break him of a bad habit than potentially let him go hungry.
Really, I'm just very tired. I've been trying to do too much at once. I love couponing and getting bargains but its just not feasible until Jackson can go longer between feedings. I've been blessed with a job that allows me to focus on the baby during the day and with an understanding husband who will take care of our job responsibilities while I nurse. I'm so lucky to be where I am and I just need to slow down and count my blessings. Please just pray for me to remember that its ok to not do everything.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Delicious Low Fat, Sugar Free, High Fiber Granola Recipe
I have always loved granola but only ate it every now & then because its so unhealthy. Store bought is full of oil and sugar. So I started making our own when James & I committed to eating healthy. I LOVE this granola & am losing weight eating it!
Spiced Granola
6 cups rolled or steel cut oats(not quick or instant)
2 teas cinnamon
1 teas ginger
1/3 cup honey
3 egg whites
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
6 oz bag dried tropical fruit (sometimes I can only find trail mix so I pick the nuts out)
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine oats, cinnamon, and ginger in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the honey, egg whites. and applesauce. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir. Pat into a long pan or cookie sheet, loosely forming large mounds. Bake for one hour taking it out to stir every 15 minutes. Watch for large nuggets, they should be broken down into smaller parts during the stirring time or they will be soft inside. Let cool, then add fruit and almonds.
I always double this recipe because we go through it too fast otherwise. This recipe is picky cereal-eater approved!
Spiced Granola
6 cups rolled or steel cut oats(not quick or instant)
2 teas cinnamon
1 teas ginger
1/3 cup honey
3 egg whites
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
6 oz bag dried tropical fruit (sometimes I can only find trail mix so I pick the nuts out)
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine oats, cinnamon, and ginger in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the honey, egg whites. and applesauce. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir. Pat into a long pan or cookie sheet, loosely forming large mounds. Bake for one hour taking it out to stir every 15 minutes. Watch for large nuggets, they should be broken down into smaller parts during the stirring time or they will be soft inside. Let cool, then add fruit and almonds.
I always double this recipe because we go through it too fast otherwise. This recipe is picky cereal-eater approved!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Off Time
James and I work two weeks on, one week off at the boys home. Right now we are traveling to Brownwood during our off time and staying with his parents. Next semester James will be taking classes full time (while we work, we will still be at the boys home) so we will get an apartment near his school in San Marcos. Its been really nice to be back in Brownwood. Both of our parents live here and we get to visit with my sisters too.
Jackson is busy being spoiled to death by his grandmothers. Its wonderful being able to hand him over to them after eating and have my hands free to do other things. I'm still working on the cross stitch I'm making for Jackson with his birthdate, weight etc. I didn't finish it in time ( I was going to do all but the weight and ounces) and it is taking forever since Jackson wants to be held so much.
Really, the baby is happy and content to be on his own as long as he doesn't have gas. Unfortunately, he has gas after every feeding. By the time I get him down for a nap, I only have an hour, maybe, to do chores and things. I know that it will pass and I'm trying not to wish it it away since that means he will be older and I will never get that time back.
Jackson is busy being spoiled to death by his grandmothers. Its wonderful being able to hand him over to them after eating and have my hands free to do other things. I'm still working on the cross stitch I'm making for Jackson with his birthdate, weight etc. I didn't finish it in time ( I was going to do all but the weight and ounces) and it is taking forever since Jackson wants to be held so much.
Really, the baby is happy and content to be on his own as long as he doesn't have gas. Unfortunately, he has gas after every feeding. By the time I get him down for a nap, I only have an hour, maybe, to do chores and things. I know that it will pass and I'm trying not to wish it it away since that means he will be older and I will never get that time back.
james' birthday cheesecake, low fat, low calorie
james adores cheesecake! his groomscake for our wedding was actually cheesecake! so when we started eating healthy, this seemed like the perfect thing for a birthday cake. the caramel topping looks lovely zig-zagged across the top. this cheesecake is teenage boy approved!
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:5 hr 5 min
makes:16 servings
15 chocolate or vanilla wafer cookies, crushed (1/2 cup), I needed more for my pan
2 packages (8 oz each) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
2/3 cup sugar
3 egg whites or 1/2 cup fat-free egg product
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups Yoplait® Original lowfat vanilla yogurt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup fat-free caramel topping
Pecan halves, if desired
1.
Heat oven to 300°F. Spray pan round cake pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle cookie crumbs over bottom of pan.
2.
Beat cream cheese in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar, egg whites and vanilla. Beat on medium speed about 2 minutes or until smooth. Add yogurt and flour. Beat on low speed until smooth.
3.
Carefully spread batter over cookie crumbs in pan. Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven; cool in oven 30 minutes with door closed. Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
4.
Drizzle caramel topping over cheesecake. Place pecan (or walnut) halves in a circle around edge of cake. Store covered in the refrigerator.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 180 (Calories from Fat 70); Total Fat 7g (Saturated Fat 4 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 25mg; Sodium 190mg; Total Carbohydrate 21g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 17g); Protein 5g
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:5 hr 5 min
makes:16 servings
15 chocolate or vanilla wafer cookies, crushed (1/2 cup), I needed more for my pan
2 packages (8 oz each) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
2/3 cup sugar
3 egg whites or 1/2 cup fat-free egg product
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups Yoplait® Original lowfat vanilla yogurt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup fat-free caramel topping
Pecan halves, if desired
1.
Heat oven to 300°F. Spray pan round cake pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle cookie crumbs over bottom of pan.
2.
Beat cream cheese in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar, egg whites and vanilla. Beat on medium speed about 2 minutes or until smooth. Add yogurt and flour. Beat on low speed until smooth.
3.
Carefully spread batter over cookie crumbs in pan. Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven; cool in oven 30 minutes with door closed. Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
4.
Drizzle caramel topping over cheesecake. Place pecan (or walnut) halves in a circle around edge of cake. Store covered in the refrigerator.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 180 (Calories from Fat 70); Total Fat 7g (Saturated Fat 4 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 25mg; Sodium 190mg; Total Carbohydrate 21g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 17g); Protein 5g
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