Baby

I know its been awhile since my last post.  Our new little boy arrived 11/5.  Its been a busy 6 weeks since then but everyone is doing well.  I haven't added fluid back to my band and I think I'll wait until 6 months.  I am breastfeeding and want to make sure I'm getting enough calories, not too mention I can't imagine doing 48 hours fluids only right now.  Maybe when we start introducing solids at 6 months but who knows maybe I will wait longer.  Little guy is now about 11 lbs and is smiling at mommy and daddy.  He also has a really strong grip and can hold his head up pretty well.  I'm over the moon.  :)

Almost baby time.

Well, Thursday is my due date, but it looks like our baby boy will be here tomorrow. The last couple of weeks, I've spent trying to get this little guy to flip so he's not breech, but I'm starting to think he's enjoying his spot too much, because I don't think he's flipped yet... We've tried chiropractic, acupuncture, positioning, etc... I've been thankful to have a pretty easy going, mostly complication free pregnancy, so I'm rolling with the punches at this point. My c-section is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. If, when they do the ultrasound before starting, he has flipped, I'm free to go home until labor starts naturally, but if he has not flipped, then he has his eviction notice. ;) It's all a little unreal, but we're also ready! We shall see what tomorrow brings!

32 weeks

After my last post, I was asked for pictures, so here we go!

Let's see, in other news, I still have a nasty bruise on my arm from the lab work I had done over a week ago. My OB is not happy with my weight gain during the pregnancy, but I'm trying. I have no fluid in my band and I am still working out, but of course I'm no longer eating band sized portions. I do however, still avoid snacking/grazing throughout the day. I try to stick with my multiple mini meals as much as I can or at least 3 meals plus 2 snacks. I still make protein my go to. Dinner are frequently chicken with a salad or some other meat with a salad. Lunch this week is white chicken chili. Breakfast, non fat greek yogurt mixed with pumpkin! Yummy!! Been enjoying peaches too while the farmer's market has them. Delicious!!!!

I passed

Woo Hoo!!! I pass my glucose tolerance test! Wheeew. This is a relief. I had one high reading at the three hour mark so my doc still wants me to be aware of my sweets and carbs, but I can handle that. With my band in place, even without fluid, I still don't have carbonated beverages, pasta or rice, however, I do sometimes have bread or bread type products. It's the one thing I missed when I had fluid in my band! Oh well, I'm sure after the baby comes and when I eventually have fluid added back I'll say good bye to bread again. It's a trigger food for me anyway. Now I'm just waiting on my lap band doc to get back the results of my nutritional labs. Since being pregnant, she's had me going in for nut labs every 3 months. The first time we discovered I was low on Vit d, then we discovered Vit a and magnesium. My ob discovered low iron, so I'm curious what this round will find or if all the extra supplements are helping. I'm now taking my pre-natals, calcium, b12, vit d, magnesium, and iron daily and vit a once a week. I'm not sure I really want to add anything more to the list. In other news, I'm 31 weeks, so only 9 more +/- 2 to go! We have the crib put together and my rocking chair assembled. Still waiting on the dresser/changing table. My shower is coming up in about 2 weeks and then after that hubby and I will go shopping for everything else we need. We figured this approach would work well for us. We do already have the pack n play and car seat/stroller set thanks to my mom also. So far everything we have is cause she bought it; she's really excited I'm finally having a baby!! I've been on vacation the last week and have spent it mostly lounging around the house - with the exception of my workouts, visiting daycare centers and meeting baby's future pediatrician. I also made a quick run to the mall to buy some make up - I LOVE Bare Minerals!! Oh and I cut my hair and colored it - my roots were desperately showing!

updates - 29 weeks

I'm 29 weeks today and tomorrow is my birthday! :) I had my check in with the OB today - she said the baby is measuring where he should be and his heart beat was nice and strong, though he kept moving around on us today. He was an active little guy. Funny thing is usually I have a hard time feeling him move or kick, but not today! The only bad news from my visit was that I am slightly anemic and need to take iron supplements and I failed my one-hour glucose test and will need to go in for the three hour test. Oh joy............. On the anemia issue - I'm waiting to hear back from my lap-band doc. My ob is suggesting a slow release iron supplement, but she wants me to make sure it's safe with the lap-band since it's not going to dissolve as easily/quickly as other pills. I looked at the size of the pill and considering I don't have much fluid in my band, I should be okay to swallow it, but I'll wait to make sure. On the glucose test - yuck! I'm disappointed, but not surprised at the results. When I was younger and heavier, I have some issues with glucose intolerance. In my teens I had to take a 3 hour glucose test because they thought I might be diabetic, but my fasting numbers were always fine. Even then, at the three hour, I would fail the one hour but my 2 and three hour results were within the normal range, so we shall see what happens now. It is disappointing but I also know it's not the end of the world. I go in next Friday to take the three hour test. Not looking forward to it, but at least since I've become pregnant, it's much easier for them to draw my blood! Other than that, not much else is happening here. I've just been working and getting ready for baby.

Thanks for the comments!

Thanks all for the congratulations and warm wishes! This is such an exciting time. I had today off and have been working hard on organizing for the upcoming visit from the in-laws. I managed to reorganize the kitchen pantry, my bathroom, and the hallway linen closet! I'm feeling productive. I also went and got my haircut and did the dishes. Now I just have to start in on my makeup and getting it reorganized and my craft room, which will soon be the baby's room.

Exciting news

So I know I have not posted in long time. I've been around and am doing okay. It had been a crazy time at work, but that is all under control now and I'm getting ready for a vacation in June! Yay!! At the end of January, I went in and had a teensy tiny fill as I was getting hungry all the time. This adjustment was helping control my urges more than I could on my own, so I was happy. Fast forward a few weeks, suddenly I'm nauseous all day long every day. I know it's not my band, as I found out hubby and I are expecting our FIRST baby! SO EXCITED!!!! I ended up making an appointment with my lap band doc to have like half of my fluid removed, hoping it would ease the nausea a little, nooo, they took ALL of my fluid out and it didn't help ease the morning sickness at all. I also noticed after having the fluid out, I started getting heartburn again. I had not had heart burn since having the band put in, so that was a shocker to me. Oh well, it's all worth it for the baby! I'm not 15 weeks 4 days. Yes I've gained some weight, that's to be expected. I'm at 185 now. Not too bad. I'm due in November, so just in time for the holidays!

Still here

Still here and doing well - weight is right around 170. I've gained a little, but I'm okay with that right now. I have not been sleeping very well though and I think it's my mattress. It's only maybe 6 years old, 7 max, I think it's at the end of it's life. I went out yesterday and bought once of those really nice mattress toppers - not the egg crate kind, but a memory foam one. Really comfy at first, incredibly hot though! Hubby hates it. I think we're going to take it back and just invest in a new mattress. Our garage door is also broke. One of the torsion springs broke the other day when I pulled in the garage. Kind of scary really. I had just pulled in and pushed the button to lower the door when something snapped and the door slammed down! We're waiting on the parts to arrive so we can fix it, until then I'm parking outside, which is no fun.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!  Hubby and I are having a nice low key holiday at home this year.  I already opened one present early - a Nexus 7 tablet.  I love it!!!  I can't wait to see Hubby's face when he opens his gifts tomorrow!  This will be my first Christmas since my dad passed away.  It is difficult but we must go on.  I wish I could spend the holiday  with my mom but I don't have the help at work that I need to take time off.  Well for now I must go see what the dog wants.  Merry Christmas everyone!!!

still around

Hi all. I'm still around. It's been kind of crazy. I'm still working without an assistant manager at work, so that typically means 6 days a week, 60+ hours a week. I'm still working out with my training but my weight is holding steady. I fluctuate up a pound or two and back down a pound or two. Back in November, I took a week off to go fly to IL to see my Grandfather for his 80th b-day and then was supposed to spend some time back here in Seattle with my best buddy from Austin. Things didn't quite go as planned. Hubby and I made it back to see my grandfather, as did my mom and dad. Mom and Dad drove from Denver. However, when they got back to IL, Dad got sick and ended up in the hospital. That was Saturday. On Monday dad was still in the hospital but they were hoping to let him out on Tuesday so he and Mom could drive back home. Hubby and I flew back to Seattle as planned on Monday evening, stopping by the VA hospital there in St. Louis to see me Dad before we left. Got home safe and sound. Called mom Tuesday morning, they were letting Dad out and they were going to start the drive back to Denver. 30 minutes later, while they were on the road, Dad had a heart attack. Mom had already pulled over at a gas station, so EMTs arrived and rushed him back to the hospital. He had two more heart attacks at the hospital and were not able to save him. :( This was November 13th. :( I flew back to IL to be with my mom and the rest of our family there. Got to see Dad's brothers and many other family members. Then I helped drive mom back to CO. Her silly dog sat in my lap the entire way! It's been a month now and I still miss dad dearly. It's tough on my occasionally day off because that's usually when Dad and I talked the most. Although I call home usually every evening on my way home from work, Dad usually would let me talk to mom, except when I'd call while she was at work. In other news - hubby and I are officially trying to conceive!! We decided on Thanksgiving it was time! YAY!!

new dresses

I've always loved dresses but not how I look in them - until now!! woo hoo!!!

TGIF

Yay for Friday!! I actually have a day off from work today, super excited. I have not been posting much because since July I've been working 6 days a week from 8:30-7:30 a day. Here lately, I've been lucky to find some of my peers to cover for me for a day and let me have some time off, but even with 5 days a week, but the same hours, it leaves me pretty tired and I don't get on the compute much after that. Been keeping up with my workouts and loving it. My eating is some weeks good and others not so good, but lately, it's been good. I've been making "egg muffins" for the week. I take 6 eggs and mix them up with some salt, pepper, and whatever mix ins, such as sausage, potato and cheese and then pour them in to a jumbo muffin tin and bake. Pop them out and take one each day to work for breakfast! Delicious!! The scale is not moving, but my measurements are. I'm down to a size 6 for my work pants!! Some interesting numbers - I was at my highest in 2010. Since then I've lost 7.5 inches from my chest, 10.1 from my waist and 10.2 from my hips!! Of course there are losses else where too, but those are the biggies! I've gotten rid of a total of 43.5 from my body! That's 3.6 feet!!!! WOW!!!!

My first Triathlon - in pictures!

9 hours

In 9 hours I'll be competing in the Seattle Danskin Triathlon. Physically I'm ready but mentally I'm a tad nervous. Let's do it!!

Not enough hours in the day

Oh my. So, I'm still by myself at work - which means working 63 hours a week, every week. Sometimes, I get help for a half day, which means I work only 59 hours! LOL. Big improvement. It's not all bad though, I do love my job, but I'm looking forward to an improvement on the hours for sure. In other news, my Danskin Triathlon is ONE WEEK from today!! OMG!!!! I can't believe I'm actually doing it. And, yes my birthday is 11 days away! I'm ready for the Tri to be here and over to be quite honest. I've lost some of the excitement as I'm burned out with the fact that all I do is work and train for the event. Ahhhh well, after the tri I'll spend some time getting back to basics with my band. As I've been training I've not really lost much weight, but have done a good job maintaining it. I'm ready to drop a few more pounds for sure. Then, exciting news - hubby and I have started talking about if we're ready to start our family!! So, I need to put in a call to my surgeon and make sure I have the a-okay and to my primary care doc and maybe, just maybe, in October we'll start trying!! Hubby takes quite a few medicines due to his bi-polar that may not make this an easy task and he's not quite at a place where we can change his meds around, but we're hoping with his newest treatment, biofeedback, we'll be able to start changing his meds too. Super excited!!

Ten Things Thursday

Hmmmm.. Can I think of 10 things to say!?? LOL 1) I'm working 60 hours a week right now, it's crazy. Luckily, I took a few hours off today to rest and relax a little. It's basically open to close Monday thru Saturday with Sunday being my only guaranteed day off. 2) My weight is holding steady and has been for many months. I can eat what I want but in reasonable quantities. I guess this is maintenance, but I still want to drop another 10-15 lbs. My trainer and I discussed that I need to "clean" up my eating if I want to get there. 3) I had a fabulous 2 mile run today, followed by an hour of strength training with my trainer and then a visit to my Chiropractor. He's awesome and now I feel great. Last week I was having some major back pain, went to see him and he confirmed my hips were out of alignment. Between last week's adjustment and today I'm feeling much much better! I think he works miracles! ;) 4) We bought a hammock a few weeks ago and I'm loving relaxing in it with a good book when the weather permits! 5) My trainer, who is AWESOME also sells Rodan and Fields, a great skincare line by the doctors that created Proactiv. She turned me on to their soothe line, which is great for my sensitive skin! If anyone wants more information, let me know and I can get you in contact with her!! 6) I went to see Magic Mike last week. I went alone. LOL There were 5 people total in the theater! haha It was a fun movie to see, even if I was alone! 7) I've gone crazy with painting my nails and buying new polish colors, totally hooked on Essie!! 8) I also bought new boots for work. Cute ankle high boots with a 2 inch heel. A little tight since they didn't have wide width, but I think they will work! 9) Looking forward to seeing my friend from Texas when she comes out to Seattle in August to participate with me in the Danskin Tri. 10) 30 days left until my Danskin Triathlon!!!!!!

Change of mindset

It's interesting when you have to change your mindset from weight loss to maintenance or event training.... I say this because my trainer and I were discussing this the other day. For the last 6 years I have worked out and counted calories and kept my calories low to lose weight. For the last year, I've had my lapband to help. Now, I'm not at goal weight yet, but I am at a comfortable weight and I am training for a triathlon in August!!! My trainer and I have discussed that my focus between now and August is event training, not weight loss. This is harder than I thought! I'm still tracking calories and protein, but she's worried I will not get enough calories and protein to make it through my event training without injury or exhaustion. So, I'm trying very hard to eat right and get 100 + grams of protein a day. I've been averaging 85-90 grams of protein and about 1700 calories. Every day when I go see her, she checks in on my and it's still my instinct to feel like 1700 is too many calories! She feels it's just right for my training plan though. I don't doubt her, but after 6 years it's hard to change one's mindset!! After my Tri, I'll switch back to weightloss mode for the last 10-20 lbs I was to drop.

Short vent

Must vent - I hate when people don't get it! Grrrrrr!! I'm no where near being at my goal weight or being too thin, yet I was told I look like I'm wasting away and just skin and bones. Seriously, someone needs to get their eyes checked if they think I'm too skinny. Stepping off soap box.

More pictures

These two are me in a skirt for Grandma In-law's birthday - NO shaper garments needed!! LOL

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