Friday, October 23, 2009

Before and After, So Far

So a lot of you have been asking for before and after pics. Honestly, I don't have a great before picture, but this one of me playing the Wii in April is ok.




And here I am about 6 months later and 50 lbs lighter.


I love being smaller and healthier. I know I can still lose another 20 to 30 pounds, but it will come. Didn't Audrey do a good job taking pictures of me?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The $17 Pumpkin


A couple of weeks ago Audrey explained to me that pumpkins grow in a field called a pumpkin patch and we can go there and pick some! I thought that sounded really fun and we decided to go as a family and pick out our own pumpkin. I looked online and Hee Haw Farms said you could pick your own pumpkin in their field for 30 cents a pound.

When we arrived they explained that you have to pay for the farm yard entry and then you can pick and pay for a pumpkin. At $5 each (Nathan was free) we decided to go have some fun.





The kids loved the animal train, Curtis and I even got to ride on it!

The corn pit was really fun, too.

This rabbit was the sweetest rabbit I have aver had the pleasure of holding!


Nathan can't get enough of driving!

Hayride!

Pony ride!

The goats reminded me of our family's little farm in Houghton.
I can't seem to convince Curtis that having one ourselves would be fun though. =)

We had a really fun day and got one really expensive pumpkin. I can't wait to toast some pumpkin seeds.

Oh My Little Nathan...

He is growing up too fast! Two weeks ago he figured out how to climb out of the crib, but of course couldn't climb back in, so we switched him to a toddler bed. He loves it as exclaims, "Big boy bed!" when we put him down. I was hoping because he can get back in on his own that he would choose to take naps there, but instead he cries at the door till he falls asleep and wakes up with carpet impressions on his face, but the boy still needs a nap each day, so I'll take what I can get.

He also is binky free! He kept chewing right through them. I would give him a new one and the next day it was destroyed. I was scared to take binkies away completely, I didn't know how he would react, but he did great, no crying or complaining. I think having the exciting new big boy bed helped.

He is talking so much now too! The other day he was sitting quietly reading a book and Curtis and I heard him say, "Three, two, one, BLAST OFF!" He also loves saying "I love you!" He is such a sweetie.

He still loves my green smoothies (though they are a rich red most of the time now because of the beets I have been putting in). He also loves my green water (dehydrated greens in a water bottle). Audrey still won't taste either one.

I love my little guy! He is so much fun.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Today...

Today was a pretty good day.
It started off with me being surprised by Obama's Nobel Peace Prize and
unimpressed by the moon "bombing".
We brought Audrey to the school bus and chatted with neighbors.
I did the dishes and cleared off the computer desk (both long over due).
I answered emails and read and posted on the MScured yahoo group while Nathan watched a little bit of Barbie and a little bit of Pooh (he can't ever make up his mind).
Nathan and I got Audrey from the bus stop who told us about a train that said, "I think I can, I think I can!"
After lunch, I played in the perfect fall weather in the backyard, jumping, resting, reading and tickling on the trampoline.
I planned out the size I want to build my compost boxes and figured out how to open the chicken coop roof. Anyone know of any good books on raising chickens in your backyard? I have a lot to learn about gardening too.
I made raw fudge and Nathan and I dipped flax crackers in it, Audrey dipped apples in it, before putting it in the fridge to harden.
I got two orders from my BuzzAboutBaby website.
We went on a bike ride and I decided I really do want a nicer bike, at least a nicer, wider seat.
We played at the park. I got to pretend I was a princess, find a buried treasure and create pictures with bark.
It is only 5:00 and I still get to make dinner, watch The Office Wedding and snuggle with my hubby.
I am so blessed.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Ta-Da!

So I have been in a quandary of sorts recently. Because of my recent weight loss (45 lbs so far!), I no longer have any pants that fit. I am really tired of constantly pulling up my pants, but here's my dilemma: I am still losing weight and I want to be pregnant again soon, so I will be shrinking or growing. I just can't seem to justify buying a pair of pants that may only last a couple of months.

Last night I had an idea. I noticed that there were no stitches between the "border stitches" of the waistband on my pants, a perfect place to string some elastic through. The result:

An elastic waist band that will grow or shrink with me!
I know it's kind of sad that I am resorting to elastic, but hey, they now fit, without falling off, they didn't cost me anything and you can't even tell with my shirt down. I think I'm going to do this to some more of my pants!

Friday, October 2, 2009

Kettle Corn Recipe

(We were obviously painting on the day this picture was taken.)

I mentioned my new favorite treat, Faux Kettle Corn, on my Slenderization Status blog and have been asked for the recipe, I thought I would post it here. My kids love it too!

3 batches of air-pop popcorn or 2 batches of stir crazy popcorn: Pour into paper grocery bag or large mixing bowl

Blend together (in a blender, mixing by hand doesn't work as well, I've tried):
1/3 cup agave (I suppose honey would work, but might have a stronger flavor)
1/3 cup coconut oil (if solid, place in container in a sink of hot water until it is a liquid)

Pour this mixture gradually over the popcorn and mix, then gradually sprinkle on:
1-2 tsp. of sea salt (to taste)
Shake or stir well.

Enjoy!

Clarifications

From a recent experience I had, I realized that I may be slightly misunderstood, so I want to clarify a few things, and the more I read and learn, the more my opinions change, so next month all might be different, but right now these are the things I want to comment on:

1) I am under the care of a medical doctor, a neurologist, and I am doing the things he tells me to do. I feel it is important to track my condition and have medical guidance in what I do.
At my last appointment he said, "What you are doing is working, keep it up!"

2) The neurologist is the one who told me not to take the drugs for MS, for the sake of my unborn, or in my case, un-conceived baby. This opened the door for me to look at more. No one could make me sit on may hands with my fingers crossed, hoping I would be ok while I waited. I have learned so much now and am doing so much that I feel if I am doing well and my yearly MRI's come back with no new lesions then I feel no need to start the $1000/mo. injections that even my neuro calls toxic, but they are not out of the question.

3) I feel strongly that anyone in any condition should do their own research and work together with their doctor to incorporate what they found. I mentioned vitamin D to my neuro and he said, "Yes! I just read a study on how high doses of vitamin D have reduced occurrences in MS. But because the ranges were so varied, 4,000IU to 20,000IU, I set it aside." Wow! Here is a simple way to help people with MS and because he didn't really understand it he set it aside. He was more than happy to assist me in using this therapy though, because I brought it up.

4) I do not eat completely raw. I experimented with this and I feel healthier because of it, but because I didn't like many of the recipes I felt there were holes in my diet. I love cooked broccoli, but not raw, so I cook it and enjoy it. Mostly I am eating whole foods, with as little additives as possible and avoiding foods I feel I am sensitive to (gluten and dairy are the two main ones).

5) Diet is not the only thing I am doing. I take several supplements that double-blind, medical studies have shown to help (omega-3 oils, vitamin D, specific antioxidants), and I am seeing a wellness doctor who is helping me with emotional freedom techniques (which I feel got me through my miscarriage), heavy metal detox and immune support supplements. Curtis doesn't believe in a lot of the alternative stuff Dr. Babcock uses, but he cannot deny the results. I feel like a new person compared to just a couple of months ago and Curtis can attest to this.

6) The doctor clarified, at my last appointment, that I have not actually been diagnosed with MS yet. I have to have a second episode for that definite diagnosis. Well, I'm not wait around for that. I am doing everything I can to never have another. But only time will tell. He said on average episodes happen every 18 months. It will be years before anyone who has MS knows if what they are doing really works.

I know I'm babbling on, sorry, one more.

7) This goes along with #3. Medications alone with not stop MS. The meds only slow it (if they do anything at all for some, besides cause horrible side affects). I met a woman at a park with two young children the same ages as mine. She was using a cane and struggling to maneuver over the wood chips and failing to keep up with her kids (I caught one from falling off the play structure for her, she just couldn't be there with them). I was pretty sure she had MS and decided to talk with her. She said she had been on Copaxone for 2 years and it has worked great for her. She only recently started using a cane. In my mind, an episode once in 2 years isn't far from the average 18 months without meds. I would not be satisfied with a therapy that after only two years left me using a cane, but surprisingly she was. I asked her if she had tried any alternative therapies, she had honestly never even heard of them.
On a more personal note, I give my aunt Wendy as an example. She did all her doctor said, used Avonex for years and as we speak hardly has the strength the lift a fork to her mouth. This is someone I love, who lived with us and close to us, who came to Sunday dinner when she could. I guess my point is THERE HAS TO BE MORE, more that I can do.

I hope to never turn down a chance to learn and grow. I love all your support and advise.

"Moppies"

I bought funny microfiber mopping slippers the other day.
I thought it would make mopping my floor easier and more fun.
They worked pretty well, but need straps on the back to hold my foot in while I scrub.
The kids enjoyed it a lot! Audrey was good enough at it to spray the solution on the floor and shuffle over to mop it up. She came up with the name "moppies". She's so creative, she makes up a lot of words, just like her mommy. =)
Nathan couldn't figure out how to spray on the floor, just at himself, so I did it for him and he shuffled on over too. It was really cute to watch.