Health and well-being

WARNING: This post is a TMI post, just so you know.  TMI people. 

When I delivered Wes 16 months ago, I had gained a total 25 of  pounds.  I was okay with that because it was a healthy weight gain for my body size and I knew that breast-feeding was going to help with the weight loss.  What I didn't take into consideration is that I was going to be much more sedentary and that I was also going to need to keep my caloric intake pretty high to keep my milk production going.  I didn't lose as much weight as I wanted to so from the beginning of April to the beginning of June I exercised with Wii Fit or my exercise video game, I can't remember the name of it right now.

 In the two months that I exercised, I got down to 130 pounds.  I was super excited!  I had cut out snacking after 8 at night, no sodas, and was just trying to be more active all around.  I had planned on continuing and was hoping to make it to 120 by the beginning of August.

 I hate to report, but I have not exercised since we started moving.  I think my last day was June 10 or 11 and not only have I stopped exercising but I have also started drinking Cokes again but also snacking after 8.  I don't feel as good as I used to and I know that I need to start exercising again.  I do really well with deadlines and goals so I need to get myself pumped up again, make myself a calendar to track my progress and get to it.

 One reason that I want to get into better condition is because I want to start 'trying' again soon.  I had a whole timeline planned out in my head that got completely messed up due to my LASIK surgery.  I had planned, without knowing this wouldn't work, that I would get my eye surgery in February and start trying right away.  It took three to four months to get pregnant last time, so that would put my expected delivery date right around Wes' birthday, making them almost exactly two years apart.  

 However, I didn't stop breastfeeding until February 2 and Hoopes requires that there be a 3 month waiting period after breastfeeding stops to allow for any hormonal changes to take place.  I understand that, I get that my body had to readjust to it's new normal, but there went my timeline.  Then they told me that I couldn't plan to get pregnant  for another 3 months after my surgery in case I needed a touch-up on my 3 month follow up.  They won't do the touch-up if I'm pregnant so there goes another 3 months of not being able to get to it.  Six months of my timeline is now being set aside and I am frustrated that I can't do anything about it.  Sure, I could have not had the surgery to begin with if I really wanted to stick to my timeline. 

 After stumbling into doorways and furniture when getting to Wes while we were still breastfeeding, not to mention how often he grabbed my glasses, I knew that I really wanted to be able to see my next baby at 2 in the morning without any glasses.  So my plans are put on hold for a while and I have become okay with that. 

 I am on birth control pills until I decide to stop and I forget how they have become such an integral part of my life.   I have endometriosis, a female health disorder that occurs when cells from the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other areas of the body.  I was diagnosed with it at 25 and have had several treatments over the years to alleviate my pain and suffering associated with it.  To be clear, I do not have a severe case of it and am grateful that I don't but I still had horrible periods because of the  endometriosis .  I have had surgery to remove a build up of the tissue, been on Depo Provera for two and a half years, and been on continuous birth controls to stop my periods from happening so I don't continue to build up that tissue again.  Due to my continual  usage of the pill, my last refill was a partial fill, meaning that I didn't get my normal three months to use straight through.  Instead I got only two months, which leads me to what I have been leading up to with all the LASIK and endometriosis talk:  I decided to take a week off of the pill to stretch out my last two months of my prescription.  By doing this, I can make it to my annual exam date.  Great idea, horrible real life application.

 I warned Casey that I might be a little more emotional lately due to being 'off this week' but haven't yet experienced any of those symptoms.  What I do have is horrible cramps and my headaches are back.  Before being diagnosed, when I would get my period it was like clockwork.  I took my last pill on Saturday, I would start on Tuesday and I knew, without fail, my worst day would be on Thursday.  My cramps were horrible.  I couldn't stand, sit or lie down comfortably all day.  I would get a little relief by standing up but leaning forward at the waist so I could rest my arms and head on the counter and I would sway back and forth.  I had my stash of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, Excedrin Migraine and Coke ready and knew that the end of my work day could not come quick enough.  

 I would make it home and head straight for the tub for a super hot bath and then go to sleep.  At 4 in the afternoon.  It was the only way that I could deal with the cramps and the migraines.  I eventually got to the point that Excedrin didn't work anymore and tried several different migraine medications.  Sleep is the only thing that I have found that cures a migraine for me.  I have literally had to call out sick to work because of migraines before, as well as have Casey come pick me up from work because I couldn't drive home.  My worst migraine lasted about three or four days and I remember working a day shift and almost having to call someone to come pick me up because the sun was too bright for me to drive, and even though I really shouldn't have done it, forced myself to drive home with one hand covering my sunglasses-covered eyes.  The next night I had to work and that is when I had to call Casey to come and get me; I got off of work and got in my car and made it a block before the headlights got to me.  I pulled over and called Casey crying, upset that I needed his help to make it home.  A stupid reaction, I know, but I still hated that I couldn't control my body enough to drive fifteen minutes home, that I couldn't even make it a block.

 I had cramps yesterday, but not too bad.  But this morning, oh boy did I have CRAMPS.  They let their presence be known.  Wes gets up about 6:30 and plays in his crib pretty well until about 8.  I get him a bottle, which he drinks in bed, and I get up and do my thing until he is ready to get out.  Every day without fail, this is our routine and this morning I just couldn't do it. I got him his bottle at 8, but had to ask Casey if he could get him up and ready this morning, and then I realized that it was already 9 in the morning.  My cramps were horrible.  I tried sleeping a little longer and was able to go about our busy day.  

 We got ready and headed out to a birthday party and all was well.  After the birthday party we headed to a baby shower, and that's when it hit me.  I started to feel a headache coming on and realized I left all of my medications at home.  I had no Excedrin, no ibuprofen, no acetaminophen, nothing.  Casey had already gone home with Wes, who was starting to have a come-apart after too much stimulus and sugar and not enough naps.  As soon as I got home I took my Excedrin with a Coke but it wasn't working.  

 I was on my laptop, trying to figure out why our phone service was out (thanks Sprint) and the light from my laptop started getting to me.  Casey sat down next to me on the sofa and turned the TV on and the noise, oh the noise!  I had to tell him to turn down the volume and then I had to close my laptop so the light didn't get to me.  I started feeling nauseous and hot and just sat here and waited.  I waited for it all to either go away or to throw up.  I waited for something to happen.  After a few minutes, the nausea went away and I was able to continue my web search.

 It just reminds me that I need to have help to control my own body.  I'm broken and don't work without intervention.  I hate the idea that my body doesn't work the way it is designed to, the way it is supposed to.  Because of my endometriosis I fully expected it to take a long time to get pregnant and was thrilled that it didn't.  I so hope that this next go round will be just as easy, but that is why I want to be as healthy as possible before I start trying.  If I can be at my best physically with what I can control (IE: weight, body shape, etc.) than hopefully the things I can't control will not weigh so heavily on me.  I so want to be healthy and am hoping that I can do so soon. I want to be able to not worry about what I can't control and take charge of the stuff that I can.  So exercise, here I come again.  

After Casey goes to sleep...

I get crafty!  Those nights that Casey should go to sleep at six, since he has to be to work the next day at three in the morning, I have three hours plus all to myself.  I can't really leave the house, in case Wes wakes up and Casey won't hear him. 
When we lived in Centerville, I watched a lot of TV because my craft room was Wes' room.  Not now though.  I will technically have the whole unfinished room as my craft room, once I get the time and energy to organize it and set it up.  But for now I am making do with the (for now) unused linen closet in the hall. 
I have been pretty crafty the last few days and I am so excited to have that outlet again.
(I am writing this on my phone and am not sure how the layout will work, so I am just going to explain the pictures in the order that they appear.)
This is the first finished page in Wes' quiet book.  The sea creatures slide back and forth on the 'waves' on the page.  The next picture is the next page and I just put some wooden beads on a ribbon so he could slide them up and down, and then placed those over a cute patterned fabric I had.
The next two pix are of a baby shower gift I made.  I had a really cute striped minky fabric and found the printed flannel and made a cuddly blankie for my cousin's baby boy.  I also made a matching diaper wrap out of the flannel fabric.
Lastly, I made a super cute big-sister book for my cousin's daughter so she wouldn't feel left out.  I had seen several variations on this same idea on Pinterest and figured out what would work for me and whipped this up.
The book is made of sandwich bags sewed in a fabric cover.  I decided on the sandwich bags because the were resealable as well as durable.  The first page is a princess coloring book and stickers.  I also threw in a little notebook so she could keep coloring after the book was done.
I made two different pages out of flashcards, one is a Dr Seuss color and shapes pack, the other is a Sesame Street alphabet pack.
There is another coloring book and sticker set, this page was Cars themed.  The last page i filled with a couple of wooden figures on craft sticks that she can use as puppets or toys or whatever she can think of.
I left one empty page, so that she can put some snacks or her own toys in there.  I can't wait to give it to her, I hope that she really likes it.
Well, that is my crafty recap for July.  I hope that i can get at leasy two pages a week finished for the quiet book from here on out, until it's done.  Who knows if that will happen, but I hope to have it finished for Christmas this year.

Two crazy months

 I can't believe that it has been two and a half months since last I posted on here.  It seems like yesterday that we saw our 'new' house and yet we have been in for almost a month now.  The month of May was a big game of hurry up and wait.  Either hurry up and get documents signed only to wait for the sellers or get paperwork into the mortgage company and wait for them.
 We were originally scheduled to close by May 30, but due to Memorial Day and some delays with underwriting, we didn't close until June 7.  We were then supposed to get keys to the house on June 11, but paperwork errors and delays pushed back the actual filing date until June 12, and the sellers' attorney wouldn't give us the keys until everything was filed and legal.  Jerk.  They had the money in escrow and the paperwork had been submitted just not completed, but he still wouldn't give us the keys.  Thus began our crazy (remaining days) of June.
 Anyway, we started moving in on Tuesday (by which I mean we got the carpets cleaned) and all through Saturday we packed up my car everyday and moved as much of our stuff as we could that could fit in the Element.  Several trips were taken, Wes stayed with one of my sisters for a couple of days (just the during the day) and then spent a night with my parents as well so he was taken care of and not in harms way.
 On Saturday we got a U-Haul truck and, in one fell swoop, were able to pack up all of our large, heavy or bulky furniture and move it over.  Friends and family helped move beds, sofas, desks, entertainment centers, tables and chairs.  That afternoon, we headed over to a cousin's birthday party and then came back home to get ready for Father's day the next day.
 I feel bad because I feel like all of my male relatives got screwed on their Father's Day gifts.  I spend a month before Mother's Day making gifts for all of my female relatives and spent like two weeks on my male relatives gifts.  But handmade the gifts were and so I am was able to feel good about that.  After Father's Day, we had a week to finish packing our stuff at our old townhouse so my Mom came over a couple of days and watched Wes for me for a few hours so that I could go back to Centerville, pack my car up and then clean.  After four days of this routine I got the town home cleaned up and empty in time to spend the weekend at home with Casey and Wes.
 Casey was on call that weekend and call weekends kind of suck.  If we try to go out, without fail he will get called in to work.  However if we sit at home all weekend and wait for the call, that is all that we do; we wait and wait and wait.  Also, one of my friends from high school was coming through town and we hadn't seen each other for about a year and a half so I wanted to try to get together with her and her husband.  We had them over for dinner on Sunday and it was so good to see them.  Her husband had been stationed in Germany for the last few years and were now being transferred to San Antonio and we were able to spend the evening catching up with each other.  It was nice to see them and know that they were doing well.
 Monday I had my one month check-up on my eyes (oh yeah, I got lasik surgery for part of my Mother's Day gift) and decided if I was going to go all the way to Sandy, we might as well make a day of it and went out to Ikea as well.
 The next day was a busy one: I had to go to Casey's work and pick up his townhouse key, then take the dogs to my sister's house, go to our old townhouse for a final walk through, stop by the store and pick up some last minute things and then meet Casey at home in time to head down to Cedar City.  Of course, I spend all morning packing our luggage and getting the dogs ready to go, have Wes & the dogs loaded in the car and when I turn my key to start my car, my battery is dead.  Awesome.  Luckily Casey had decided to drive his bike to work so his car was in the garage.  I have given countless jumps to people over my years but never had to do it myself so I had to call him and have him talk me through jumping my car.  Which I was able to do, but it took me a half of an hour to do it.  But I did it and although my whole afternoon timeline was shot, I was able to get everything done that needed to.  I did want to get my car washed before we left but decided it wasn't worth it.
 We made it to Cedar about 11 that night and finally I felt like I could relax.  Casey's brother from Nebraska, and his family, were out visiting his parents for the week as well as the rest of his brothers and sister and their families.  It was nice to see just about everyone one together and we were able to spend some quality time with them.  Lots of talking, eating, teasing, laughing was had by all and a great time it was.  Wes had a great time; all of the other kids followed him everywhere and he had so many people to play with.  We had a hard time putting him to sleep because he wanted to stay up and play with everyone but he was so tired from playing everyday that his afternoon nap came back into play (yay!).
 We came home that following Saturday night and were able to go to one of my aunt's birthday party on Sunday.  We got a chance to see lots of family and Wes got a chance to play with my parents.  North Salt Lake had their city firework show on Tuesday, the third, so I invited my sisters and parents over to watch them from our back patio.  It was a nice way to see fireworks; air conditioning and snacks leading up to the show and then no parking issues to worry about after.  The only thing missing was the smell of fireworks, which is one of the best parts.  This was Wesley's first firework show and he did really good.  He stayed up until 10 when the show started and he kept pointing and clapping at the fireworks but he was getting grouchy that last hour that he was awake.
 The next morning we went to his first parade as well.  He payed attention for about ten or fifteen minutes total and spent the rest of the time running around being chased by my dad or getting strawberries from my mom.  He loved it but I don't think because of the actual parade.  He did get a Tootsie Roll from one of the floats and had his first candy and he REALLY loved that but that was his only candy.   The rest of our week was spent trying to slowly start unpacking things, mostly stuff that we needed or wanted immediately.  Casey was on call for the holiday and that weekend so we didn't do much.
 Yesterday, one of my sisters and I took Wes to the splash pad park by our house.  He loved it!  He ran from fountain to fountain, sticking his face in the sprayers and trying to grab the water.  He wanted to play with the big boys and would follow them and he kept running from one set of fountains to the next.  We were there for an hour and he had so much fun.  I'm shocked how much fun he has had in the water this year.  Last summer, when we had a pool in our complex, he hated the water and would cry and scream every time we took him in the water.  This year we can't get him out!  He splashes around, kicks his feet and is starting to stick his face underwater by himself.  I thought we were going to have to force him in and now I think we are going to put him in swimming classes at the end of the summer.  Thankfully South Davis Rec has an indoor pool and swimming lessons all year round so that we can start teaching him.
 We are heading to my family reunion this weekend and are so excited to go.  We took Wes camping once last year and he was so little that I don't think it even fazed him.  He did really well but he was maybe three or four months when we went so he slept a lot and that was about it.  This year I think he is going to love it.  We are going to stay in a cabin with my mom and grandparents so that should make it a little easier than the tent, but I like tent camping so I think I'm going to miss that part.  The area we are going has recently been burned by a wild fire so I'm not sure what we are going to do (hiking and stuff like that) but the resort has a pool so if all else fails we can do that.
 I told Casey that when we get back next week, I am really going to start unpacking things.  We have our family room downstairs as well as our unfinished room full of boxes than need to be sorted and unpacked.  Thankfully, it seems manageable once I get started.  However, my little helper may make it not so easy and I think I might tackle the unpacking during nap time.  That seems to be the wisest way to go.
 I hope that you are still here.  I hope that I haven't put you to sleep trying to catch you up on our last two months. I promise that I will start posting more often, at least once a month, and will hopefully have some pictures of the house now that we are starting to get settled.  I guess that is all.  Laters!