Zip it Up! (or at least try to)

Here I am trying to zip up my pair of jeans.  These are not my “skinny” jeans but they are my next size down.  One ritual I recommend in my Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You is to try on a set of goal pants every week.  Once you can zip them up, celebrate!  You’ve got another pair of pants to wear – finally! 

Then work on your next pair of pants in the next size down.  Slowly but surely, you will enjoy the feeling of progress and in time, you’ll be zipping up your skinniest pair of jeans.

As for me, these jeans are a size 10.  My goal is my pre-pregnancy size 6.  Getting there…

P.S.  Does anyone else have a dark vertical line down their belly like me? 

6 Weeks Postpartum

Many nights, I go to bed thinking about things I want to blog about.  But then another day goes by, and I’m back in bed with “blog” on my to-do list still. 

I think you understand because you’re a mom!  I realize with a newborn and 3 and 5 year old, many days it’s just about getting everyone fed   But today, before I go to bed, I must write something!

Today marks six weeks after baby!  Wow, how time has flown.  I absolutely love having a baby.  Lucy is the sweetest thing.  I do miss being able to leave the house in under an hour (ha, ha, remember how long it takes to pack up little kids and a baby in a car?). 

So, now that I am done pampering myself after my c-section (not working out, eating whatever I feel like)…it’s time to start exercising again and think NUTRITION! 

The plan is:

1.  Exercise at least 4 times a week for 30 minutes.  I’ll start with easier exercise videos and then ramp up (I just bought Jillian’s 30 Day Shred – I’ll let you know how I like it).  I will go back to spin class in January. 

2.  Write down what I eat and keep my food journal an open book.  My husband is my accountable partner (he wants to lose those sympathy pregnancy pounds too!). 

3.  Say no to sugar.  I am allowing exceptions (Thanksgiving, upcoming birthday party) but will “eat clean” when at home. 

4.  Listen to my own audio course each day, Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You beginning December 1. 

My goal is to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight/size in 6 months.  So that means I’ll be able to zip up my skinny jeans on May 10, 2010. 

What’s your goal?  Let’s help each other get there!

My Chocolate Free Day!

Confession time…for the last few days weeks months, I’ve been enjoying a little something sweet each day – usually something chocolate.  Dark chocolate being my favorite.  You know, when you’re pregnant, you’ve got cravings.  Then after baby is born, you need a little pick me up for those late night feedings. 

Well, I’m realizing that I cannot go on like this forever (my 6 week recovery period after c-section is almost over).  A few things woke me up yesterday.  Talking about one of his patients, my father who is a physician said, “If you need to have chocolate every day, you’re depressed.”  Hmmm….I didn’t like the sound of that much.

Then I started reading the book, Fit for My King: His Princess 30-Day Diet Plan and Devotional by Sheri Rose Shepherd.  Convicting.  Got to get back on the bandwagon.  Pregnancy cravings must die.   

So I decided to have a chocolate free, sugar free day today.  I made it all day long and before going to bed, I picked up a hoodie to hang in the closet.  There was something in the pocket.  I reached in…it was a Kit Kat from Halloween!  Can you believe it?  Chocolate found ME!  But I’m happy to say, I laughed about it and DID NOT eat the Kit Kat!

So one victory down…a chocolate free day!  If you can meet a small goal, someday you’ll meet a big one.  I’m taking it one chocolate free day at a time.

Wearing a Cesarean Support Garment

No…this is not a picture of my post-baby body!  Not yet at least (you must think positive moms!)…

But it is a picture of a garment that I really love.  It’s made by Design Veronique and I heard about it from my ObGyn’s office.  This cesarean support garment is an FDA approved medical device, ideal for recovery after c-sections.  What does it do?  It provides support, stabilization and comfort. 

When I opened it up from the box, I thought, “Will I really wear this tight, corset-looking thing?  And how hard is it going to be to take this on and off to go to the bathroom?” 

The first time I tried to put it on, it was comical.  You want to order it a little tight so it will do its job.  But the very first day, I couldn’t quite zip it up.  I waited about 2 days for the swelling from the c-section to decrease and then tried again.  With my husband’s help, I could zip it up.  The next day, I could zip it by myself.

I have been wearing it all day for 3 days now.  I am amazed at how comfortable it is.  I actually prefer wearing it because it gives me back support and protects my incision site.  Plus it gives the appearance of being slimmer, so when I look in the mirror, I have hope. 

I highly recommend Design Veronique’s cesarean support garment.  I’ll keep you posted about how long I use it and its benefits.  Corsets…no.  Comfortable Design Veronique…yes!

Welcome Baby Lucy!

When a baby wants to come into the world, there is no stopping him or her! 

Two weeks before her due date, and one week before my scheduled c-section (my prior baby was delivered c-section because she was breeched), I started having contractions in the middle of the night.  Not a big deal at first since I’ve been having Braxton Hicks contractions for several weeks.

But unlike other times, these contractions were steady each hour and at 3:00 a.m., they started increasing in intensity too.  Oh boy, I thought, this could be it! 

I had just packed my hospital bag that same day and I had done my last minute shopping that same day (diapers, etc) and purchased small gifts for my kids from their new baby sister.  God knew I would be going into labor because at least those things got done!  I checked into triage at the hospital.  Yes I was having contractions and was 3 cm dilated.  Everything moved very quickly from there.  I arrived at about 4:00 am, and by 6:00 am, I was on the operating table, and by 6:44 am, I was looking at a beautiful, chalky looking, baby girl!

Now the fun part I haven’t told you about is that my husband missed the birth of the baby.  No, we’re not military, but my husband flew to the East Coast for 2 days to attend his grandmother’s funeral.  We figured it was a little risky, but with the due date 2 weeks away, we thought it would all right. 

Just hours after he left, I went into labor.  I’m happy to say that God provided everything we both needed.  Peace and calm even though we were apart and the circumstances were not what we expected!  My dad came with me into the operating room and my mom watched our kids.  Everything went smoothly except of course, I missed my husband terribly in the hospital.  I stayed at the hospital for 3 days, and thankfully, my hubby made it to the hospital before I was discharged. 

Now Lucy has her own dramatic birth story!   She came into the world as my husband was saying goodbye to his 88 year old grandmother.  It is the circle of life from the cradle to the grave.  God is with us throughout the journey of life and His presence can make each moment sweet, whether in birth or death.    

Surviving Partial Bed Rest During Pregnancy

Being on partial bed rest during pregnancy has its ups and downs.  Of course, there are times you want to smash the clock, be done with your resting and get on with life!  But back to the ups and downs…

Ups:

• Enjoy sleeping now, you won’t be sleeping much after baby is born.
• This is payback for all the times you’ve have to stay up late to do work, clean, bake, etc.
• When else can you have an excuse to read novels and watch movies in the daytime?
• You can listen to audio books and have a “Bedrest University” experience.  You’ll be much smarter when you emerge from your slumber!
• You can talk on the phone to longlost friends, or write handwritten notes (imagine that!)
• You can pray and read your Bible.  God is the friend who’s always available to talk. 

Downs:

• You feel useless.
• You have to arrange schedules to make sure your kids are taken care of (if you have kids already).
• Your house is probably a mess (but to be honest, my house was a mess before I had to lie down).
• You long for outdoor adventures (a trip to Walmart).
• The days are running into each other and you want a diversion! 

There’s a season for everything so remember, THIS TOO SHALL PASS!  Try to think of one thing different to do each day, whether it’s reading something new or putting on a fragrant hand lotion.   Play games with your kids in bed.  Keep a thanksgiving journal and write down 3 things each day you’re grateful for.   Set goals for the next year.  Listen to inspirational/encouraging podcasts (like Losing Weight After Baby).

Your time in bed doesn’t have to be wasted.  There are ways to enjoy your pajama time!

Thank You Dear Husband!

I must say thank you to my dear husband for all of his wonderful help during my pregnancy!!!

Since Labor Day, I’ve had pain on my left side, under my belly, where the doctors think my baby is stretching out my ligaments.  When I stand for too long, the pain is so bad, but when I lie on my side, the pain goes away almost immediately.  It doesn’t take a surgeon to conclude what I’ve been doing for weeks…lying on my side…a lot!

You know as a mom, that’s not the ideal position to care for a 5 and 2 year old! 

So I must thank my hero husband who has taken my son to kindergarten, brought the kids to the park in the early evening to play, fixed countless meals and washed an amazing amount of dishes.  Like right now, he’s got the kids with him doing real estate errands (he’s a super realtor) and I’m about to lie down. 

In the morning, he gets up and gets the kids breakfast.  He closes our bedroom door quietly so I can get more sleep, because he knows I was up 4 times that night to pee and that 50% of the time, I can’t get back to sleep.

Thank you sweet husband for being so helpful, supportive, and happy as he does it.  He makes parenting look fun because guess what?  It is!

37 Weeks and Counting

My 2 year old daughter is so cute.  She says that she wants to be a doctor so she can help “mommy and the baby.”  The other day, she took a stick and pointed it to my belly and said, “I am going to take the baby out!”  She also says there’s a baby in her tummy too. 

So far, I think she’s going to like being a big sister as long as she’s involved.  I can see it already though, the clashes over, “Put the baby DOWN!” and “I want to hold the baby!”  This is part of life with siblings right? 

I am an only child so I never had to deal with sharing my mom or dad with anyone or sharing a room.  But I also missed out on playing with siblings and all the great fun that my 5 & 2 year old have together whether they’re racing each other, playing with cars and dinosaurs, or jumping up and down to music. 

My c-section is scheduled for mid-October so  it won’t be long now.  I’m hoping to get another time slot because the surgery is at 3:00 pm and I don’t want to fast that long and be miserable going into the c-section.  My last pregnancy was c-section so that’s why I’m having another.  I’m not looking forward to the recovery period and being so immobile for the first week or two.  I remember last time my husband helping me to get out of bed and lay down in bed gently since my abdomen area hurt so much.  Do you remember too moms-who-have-had-c-sections? 

About how long did it take you to walk around?  Drive again?  Exercise?

Swollen Feet During Pregnancy – What to Do?

Okay friends…it’s hot out.  We don’t have AC.  Most weeks of the year, this is just fine, but for about 5-8 weeks in August and September it gets pretty hot in my house.  Thankfully as I type I have a fan pointed to my body and am feeling comfy.  Except for that feeling in my feet.  My sausage-like swollen feet! 

Being 33 weeks pregnant in the heat isn’t that much fun (I’m sure many of you can relate and remember this!).  It’s not too bad except for my puffy feet which ache and look absolutely ridiculous.  In past pregnancies, I’ve worn those tight socks you buy at the drugstore to keep my feet from becoming so swollen, but in the heat, I’ve left those in the closet.  Plus who wants to look like a baseball player wearing with knee high socks and shorts – ha!

So here are a few tips I’ve been reading up on that I wanted to share to reduce the puffiness in your feet:

• Put your feet up whenever possible (try a stool underneath your desk)
• Stretch your legs, rotate your ankles, wiggle your toes
• Don’t cross your legs or ankles while sitting
• Try not to stand or sit too long, mix it up
• Drink lots of water
• Eat healthy

Any other suggestions?

Is a TB Test Safe During Pregnancy?

My son is in kindergarten so I’d love to spy on him help in the classroom.  One of the requirements is having a TB test.  I can’t remember when I had a TB test last, so I wonder at 31 weeks pregnant, if it’s okay for me to do now.

I looked around the Internet and still wasn’t sure.  At my OB/GYN appt yesterday, the doctor said it was perfectly fine.  So I’ll be on my way to the school nurse soon, and hopefully I’ll get to help out in my son’s class a few times before baby arrives.  In case you’re wondering if it’s okay, my doc says it is, and of course, it’s always great to check with your doctor too!