Lights Out!

For the last few days, I've been feeling very tired. I've been working out and doing all of the usual things. But I've been feeling very fatigued. I've also had a lot of headaches.

At work this morning, I was feeling very weak. As I was walking 1st grade out of the door, I grabbed some change to get some apple juice. I remember saying, "Don't run down the..."

Then I remember waking up on the floor and people staring at me. I am ok. I was able to eat lunch and have a normal rest of the day.

My dear husband (the registered dietitian wanna-be) is saying that I have low iron. By removing all red meat from my diet, and other things that are going on right now, he says I am not getting at least the recommended amount of iron.

Since I can't eat red meat, I'm going to have to find other ways to do this. Maybe take a multi-vitamin?

Can You Hear Me Now?

Today was Maddy's 9 month well visit. She weighs 23lbs 12oz and is just shy of 30 inches long. She is in the 98th percentile in both height and weight. The doctor said he was surprised to see how much she's grown, because she was very sick. But he's very pleased with her growth and development.

Her lungs were clear. NO WHEEZING! Yay! She can sit on her own, scoot on her bottom, crawl backwards, roll around in circles, feed herself finger foods (that can be very messy), and babbles like a crazy girl. She still has no teeth, but he said he isn't worried about it yet.

The bad news (there's always bad news) is that she has a double ear infection. This is infection #8 in a 4 month span, and has been on every antibiotic on the market. He said one more, and he has to refer her to the Ear, Nose & Throat specialist to have tubes put in her ears. I went home feeling very sad and scared. Naturally, I started looking for reasons and excuses, and when I couldn't find any, I blamed myself. I KNOW it isn't my fault. I guess it's just me wanting to protect her at all cost.

My mother-in-law came over this afternoon and we talked a bit. She told me that JJ had tubes put in his ears when he was a baby and had them for a little over a year until they fell out on their own. She said the surgery wasn't bad and it helped him out tremendously. I feel better after speaking to her. JJ doesn't seem to have lost his hearing, so the pros outweighs the cons.

Hopefully, they will clear up and she will have no more infections.

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears...Oh My!

Not really. But pretty close.

Maddy had a follow up with the pediatric pulmonologist today. He was pleased that she has not been wheezing and is doing a lot better. He told us to continue with the Pulmicort mixed with Foradil, Singulair, and Xopenex when needed.

We went over her bloodwork, and she does in fact have allergies. She's allergic to dairy, peanut, cat dander, grass, and cockroaches. Okay, I expected the peanut, dairy, cat, and grass allergy, but cockroaches!?!?!? I didn't even know you can test for that. Who wants to NOT be allergic to cockroaches?

She gets the cat allergy from my side of the family, grass and dairy from Adam's side of the family. I can't figure out where the peanut allergy comes from.

So all in all, a great visit. We got a lot of answers! Tomorrow is her 9m well visit.

Which Do You Like?

I am trying out different hairstyles on Debbie for my sister's wedding next month. Which do you like best? Remember, she is the flower girl.

Hairstyle A:






Or hairstyle B:





This one took the longest to style. :)

Dole Recalls Canteloupe

You can read the story HERE

Geeze, spinach, peanut butter and now canteloupe.

See, the things I eat NEVER get recalled - chips, pretzels, french fries...

BYU Bans YouTube Access

The popular Internet video-sharing site YouTube has been blocked on campus at Brigham Young University. You can read the rest of the story HERE.

I, personally, am happy. YouTube is filled with a lot of trash.

What do you think?

Are you a perfect mom/dad?

No I am not. I do the best I can in the situation that I am in and whatever I think is in the best interest of my daughters, my husband, and myself. Just because some doctor, some study, some book said that this was the way it was supposed to be done, doesn't mean that I do it exactly that way. Just because I work, it doesn't mean that I don't love my children enough to want to spend my time with them. It's because I love them that I work.

Please respect my parenting style and I shall respect yours. If you like what I do (which I share here and with my other friends), ask me about it. If you don't, let it go. Please don't judge me. Try stepping in my shoes and you will know.

Please try to not tell me that you are perfect and your world is perfect. It's probably not, but I won't judge. I will, on most occassions, let you be. I'm not a perfect mom.... but I am the perfect mom for my children.

Enough said, are you a perfect mom/dad?

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone enjoys the company of their significant other today. Do something nice for each other--even if it's a compliment.

Also, remember this feeling today and carry it with you 365 days a year. Everyday should be a day of love!

Some Pictures Are Worth A Thousand Words

Need I say more?

It's The MILK!

This afternoon we saw the pediatritian and we talked about the bloodwork that was done on Maddy. She, indeed, has a peanut allergy, but what was very shocking was the dairy allergy! He said the numbers were off the charts! THAT'S what's been causing her wheezing. He said people react to a dairy sensitivity differently. Some will breakout, some will have vomiting, others will have a never ending cough and have wheezing. Well, that's Maddy! It all makes sense! She was on Soy formula for a while but was switched to a milk based formula in November. THAT was when all the breathing problems started. I feel horrible because here we're giving her milk based formula and then giving her breathing treatments because of the wheezing.

Now she's strictly on Soy and we're following up with the pulminologist on the 19th, and absolutely NO peanut. We can't even touch it and then touch her.

I feel very sad. Her life has just changed.

SNOW DAY!

2 inches of snow this morning caused accidents all over the roads and interstates, closed roads up Signal Mountain, delayed the opening of banks and universities, and closed doctor offices, daycares, courts and schools.

ah...relaxation!