Welcome to Day 4 of our Blogging Giveaway Week! Each day will bring a new contest – each being open for 7 days, so check back daily! Be sure to check out our giveaways at www.HeavenInOurHomes.com and http://Sonbeams.com blogs as well!

Today’s Great Giveaway: Sleeved Bib (Value – $10 – $12)

Offered by: Angie from Angelic Baby Creations

A way to keep not only the front of your child’s shirt clean, but also their sleeves! Bibs tie in back, making it more difficult for little hands to pull it off.

Winner’s choice of bib, and open to US Residents only.

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Alright, How this contest works! Each contest is open for one week (from starting date of that contest). You can receive entries based on the following:

*1 entry for leaving a comment about something you love on the sponsor’s website

*1 entry for adding the ”Nine Months or Less” text link to your blog or website (Leave link back in comment)

*1 entry for blogging about this contest on your blog (Leave link back in comment)

*1 entry for each $5 purchase from our Baby/ Children’s Product Page (Before tax and shipping charges)

*1 entry for joining me on Facebook (Mrs. Candace)  and plugging our site on your page

You MUST leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments will be totaled, and Random.org will choose the winning comment number! This contest ends March 30th at 11:59 PM (CST). Comment button on lower right side at end of the post.

Let the fun begin! Thanks for visiting!

“Little Mommy”

I made it through the night, I think it was close to midnight before I was able to relax enough to fall asleep. Some ‘extended family’ matters have me a little more than stressed, and with my autoimmune conditions, these are only multiplied for me.

At least hubby is great to stick with me, learning years ago how I REALLY can’t handle tension. I just hope the contractions won’t affect the baby coming early! I’m still paying attention to the timing, since they are stronger today than yesterday.

I feel better that I’ll be going in for a visit tomorrow – me and all the kiddos. This did get me packing my own bag today! Plus I’ve alerted my family to be on guard to meet us at the hospital to watch our little ones.

“Little Mommy”

- I’m on Facebook now! – (Mrs. Candace)

I had a good visit today. Since my last visit 2 weeks ago from today, I have lost 3 lbs., so this puts me 5 lbs. behind where I should be.

After I came home from the hospital, I lost at least 8 lbs. I guess some of that had to do with not being able to eat the first day due to pain, and the second day from being paralyzed and knocked out on meds.

Thanks to a double batch of homemade, whole wheat chocolate chip cookies (which are SO good BTW), I’ve gained back several pounds over the past few days. Then tonight, I helped it along a little further by eating at least half of a large cheese pizza from Dominos, possibly a little more!

I had dilated a little more, now at 1.5 to 2 cm dilated. He didn’t say if I was more than the 25% effaced, and I forgot to ask. From now on, they’ll have me come in each week – since I usually continue to dilate each week, being between 4 and 6 cm by the time I actually go into labor.

The dr. didn’t seem too wild about my birth plan, saying some of it was hard?? Not sure what he meant exactly. He also wasn’t allowing me any room to share my concern over what happened while I was in the hospital.

Years ago, he was one of my favorite drs. – funny how indifferent he is now to my concerns. Maybe he won’t be on call when the time comes. As it turns out, my least favorite dr. years ago is now my favorite. He’s been the only one that seems open to listen to me as his patient vs. the others being upset that I’m not humbled by their presence (really).

I’m scheduled for a visit at the end of next week, a little more than a week – but just at the 36 week mark for the Strep B test.

I’ve enjoyed reading the comments and emails you all are sending – thanks! For anyone who would like, feel free to leave a comment sharing about your pregnancy adventures and/ or links to your blogs! I LOVE reading other pregnant mom blogs too!

“Little Mommy”

PS – I’m hoping to have some sort of contest as I approach the end, having you all guess what my final weight will be, or actual delivery date….. More info on that coming!

My blood pressure was a little high on top, I guessing from stressing out getting myself and all 3 little ones to the dr. Then pushing them through the parking lot, up hills, etc.

All I’ve heard for years is how American’s don’t get enough calcium in our diets, but apparently that’s not true!

Over the past few days, I’ve become an expert at yet another topic – kidney stones! Praise the Lord, He allowed my one big stone and about 15 to 20 coffee ground size flakes pass over the course of 4 hours this afternoon!!

I had hoped since I had gotten some relief at the hospital, that it might’ve passed there, but when I was woke up around 1:30 to sweats, turned chills, turned cramps, etc… it wasn’t looking too good.

DH had gone out last night to get me some Tylenol – since the dr. on call wasn’t wanting to call me in anything for pain and suggested 2 extra strength every 6 hours. It did help pretty well, but needed more at 3 AM. I guess I was awake for only another 30 minutes, then sweet sleep for 4 1/2 hours – the most I’ve had in FOREVER!!

I laid around most of the morning, feeling nauseous and cramping if I moved the wrong way. It seemed strange that if I could find that ‘one’ position, and not move, it was bearable. I wasn’t going to argue, I just got there and tried to stay there – in between LOTS of water and potty breaks.

Around 11, I was convicted about how I’ve asked others to pray, and subconsciously known God was in control – but yet had NOT stopped and prayed out loud over this. So, I did – I gave the Lord my kidneys, my body – and asked Him to heal me. Then I fell asleep. I woke up to a major contraction, and laid still for a while – wanting to time any following ones.

When I got up to go potty (again), I couldn’t believe my eyes, but THERE was my ‘baby’ (ha ha) and lots of tiny little babies. It didn’t even hurt coming out – I hadn’t felt a thing! Maybe it’s just the process of coming out that hurts, and not actually the ‘moment’ itself?

Anyway, DH thinks the thing is huge – it’s about 2 mm thick by 5 mm long. I was surprised that even the little ‘sugar crystal’ or ‘coffee ground’ size ones made my bladder feel as inflammed as they did for the next 4 hours. Inflammed, but nothing near impossible to handle!

So, in my research online (to see if this was indeed the stone), I came across pics plus info on calcium. In my mind, stones were from caffeine and greasy foods. But most info today says dehydration and calcium buildup. Other trigger foods that hit me hard – sweet potatoes, spinach, strawberries, then of course – milk and cheese.

My diet last week? Craving strawberry/ various fruits slushies CONSTANTLY, sweet potatoes the night before the attack, and a preg. craving for milkshakes – so 2 milkshakes from Arby’s. Then take out my morning glass of water that I had started trading for my OJ cravings.

Between being dehydrated and eating all these – no wonder! Oh yeah, another MAJOR note that most probably never consider – prenatals. Then name of mine? Cal-Nate. (Cal – calcium….) uh huh…

Prenatals have extra calcium, at least many do. But how often do drs. ever check blood levels in pregnant women? I was shocked upon my research how COMMON it is for pregnant women to get kidney stones!

But it’s really no wonder, we up our milk/ cheese intake generally, add prenatals, I wouldn’t have ever thought of sweet potatoes/ strawberries/ and spinach being harmful!!

I believe another thing I read online today said that stones are also more likely when a person if Vitamin A and D deficient. My prenatal clearly states it has no Vitamin A. This is all very strange and intriguing to me… and my confidence in the medical world lowered yet again.

My advice to pregnant moms – avoid prenatals w/ extra calcium unless you know you need it – and then ask drs. to keep tabs by doing regular bloodwork. Drink more water than you can imagine! I knew I was getting dehydrated somewhat, but didn’t go above and beyond to drink more water.

If you can see color when you potty – you aren’t drinking enough! Everything should be clear.

And for all the stories comparing to labor – it’s hard to say. Labor is shorter, but the pain isn’t just on one side – it’s both. I think the pain gets more intense in labor too… but it’s hard to say now that it’s over, I might’ve thought differently while having the attack on Thursday.

I just didn’t know what was going on, and was afraid my stomach was about to explode. I was pretty sure it wasn’t the baby, but didn’t know what was so wrong.

For anyone wondering – symptoms – twinging back pain, back spasms, front lower abdominal pain, nasuea, vomiting, uncontrollable shaking – at least these were mine. If you have any combination of these, don’t debate for an hour like I did – just get to the hospital and get some meds!

Thank you all for prayers and concerns! I’m still tired and sore, contracting some, but we’re going to be okay. I’ve got more praying to do now about the baby – that the mag overdose would’ve have hurt anything there. Other than that, I feel at peace with everything else over these past few days.

I have some more ladies wanting to share with us, and so we’ll pick back up on regular posts in a couple of days. Just another day or two of recouping!

“Little Mommy”

Here’s a post for all of our friends and family, as well as Heaven In Our Homes, Sonbeams, and NMoL readers….. Sorry, I’m beat and this is the easiest way to inform everyone of what it going on.

Well, so much for smooth sailing during this pregnancy. I usually hit a snag around 32 weeks, and thought I’d cleared it this time. “THOUGHT”

32 weeks, 6 days (Thursday) – we’re enjoying a breakfast of homemade pancakes and begin playing in the floor. I had a little bit of stuff to fix on the computer, so after playing in the floor with the little ones, I took care of that.

I felt a little tightness in my back, no big worries.. I figured I just twisted the wrong way in the recliner while typing. The nagging pain just wouldn’t go away, so I stuck a movie in for the kids to watch while I laid down. (I hadn’t slept well the night before).

From there the pain got worse, so I called DH just to let him know I was hurting, and am some point in the day I might call the dr. and need him to come home. From there it just went downhill quick. I couldn’t walk, couldn’t sit, couldn’t lie down – I just sat in the bathroom floor, crying, turned on the speaker phone, and began trying to find someone to help! Yep, I couldn’t even hold the phone up!

DD came in at one point and began stroking my hair before rejoining her brothers. After watching one show, she was ready to get up, despite my insistence that it was okay to watch another movie. “But’s it’s too much tv”, she said.

Long story short, I ended up having to call 911. My mom was working and I couldn’t get her, DH would take an hour to get home from B’ham…. The EMT’s waited until my mom got over to stay with the kids, then they took me to the hosptial. Either we weren’t going very fast, or the Jeep that rode our bumper that whole time was flying!

I can laugh about the whole EMT part now. I had to crawl to the door to unlock it (we haven’t taught the kids that one yet…), so was just sitting in the floor there when they got here. He looked at me all weird – asking what’s wrong, was I okay? HA!! Now I wouldn’t have called them if I was okay, would I??

He pushed my tummy a little and asked if it hurt, then started poking my back asking the same. Kinda reminded me about how oldest son might do a medial exam on me.

Yeah, my stomach hurt, but just on the left side, so I didn’t ‘think’ it was contractions – at least not like any I’d had before.

On my back, it hurt, but not where he was pushing. Once I showed him, oh yeah, it hurt. Then I had to figure out if it hurt when he pushed in, or when he released. COME ON!! I’m dying here…. He didn’t say much, just that they had to get me to the hospital.

I’m still not sure if he knew what he was doing, but he got me there, so that was good. Then the two EMT’s began aruging if I should be taken to the ER or L&D – no kidding. Finally, the one for the ER over-steered the other one and we went that way. They pointed us straight to L & D.

The EMT’s waited until my mom got over to stay with the kids, then they took me to the hosptial. Either we weren’t going very fast, or the Jeep that rode our bumper that whole time was flying!

Okay, back to the hospital – It’s kinda all one big blur from there. I know I kept begging for pain meds, but they wouldn’t give me anything until they checked on baby. Then they had to ask me all of these crazy off the wall questions they ask BEFORE doing anything on me!

Who cares what my highest education level was – my stomach killing me! (Sorry, I wasn’t taking the pain well…) It probably was at least 30 min. to an hour before the dr. came in and things slowly started taking place – though it was still hours before I had any bit of relief.

DH is still upset they didn’t take me to the ER, since L&D HAS to go though all the baby protocal – even though it wasn’t labor at that point. The dr. finally came over and ordered an ultrasound and meds.

The ultrasound showed that my left kidney was swollen, but that’s all they could tell. The OB kept saying he thought it was a kidney stone, but there was no blood in my urine, and it wasn’t on the ultrasound. There was by blood Thursday night, but then the pain was gone (or masked under the meds).

Well, all this prompted preterm labor, so I also had to be put on mag. That first night was going good, they had contractions down to once every 30 minutes or so. Around 3 AM, they picked back up to 3 to 8 minutes apart, so they up-ed? the mag.

I was pretty much completely (literally) paralyzed all day on Friday. DH was having to give me drops of water in a straw – I couldn’t even hardly drink or swallow without gagging. They finally checked my levels, and I was above the levels they treat at. So, they pulled off the mag. (BTW – I was still contracting while on the mag).

It took about 6 hours to finally be able to feel my teeth to chew, and regain normal sight. I had probably 5 or 6 husbands sitting next to me for a long time. (Major double vision!!)

Sat. AM – they pull out the catheter and IV’s. After lunch, they monitor me once more and release me. So, we’re back home, but still really not sure what all has gone on.

I’m a little concerned about the baby. If the mag was to the point of paralzying me, what does it do to a tiny little one? It’s heartrate did get about 20 beats slower yesterday, but seemed to be doing better today.

I’m so VERY tender in my back, having spasms a lot. We never saw a stone on the ultrasound, and despite my asking a million times, they never followed through with the 2nd ultrasound they were going to do.

My white blood cell count was up on Thursday, not sure about yesterday – they never said. I also don’t know how much more I dilated than from Friday. They were concerned about checking again, since that might retrigger the contractions.

So, we know that I’m atleast at the 1.5 cm mark, the baby was at -3 position (which they said it could go back up to floating), and I was 25% effaced. Not quite as much as I have been in previous pregnancies.

We know little about the next 7 weeks. No lifting – uh huh, how’s that possible with 3 little ones?? Lots of water – they said I was severly dehydrated when I got there. How do that know that? I had been trying to up my water…. I did definitely get a plumper face and swollen feet from all the fluids they gave.

I still am having back pain, but apparently will have to deal with it. They said there’s little to be done while pregnant. I’m just supposed to go back if/ when it happens again. So PLEASE pray that if this was a kidney stone – it’s either already passed or just disappears!

Thankfully, I didn’t get sick until I was at the hospital, so the little ones knew little about what was going on. I know now to get a bag packed (once I get some strength back), and keep some phone numbers close by. Have you ever tried to hunt down a phone book and call someone with a kidney stone?? It’s not easy! (Oh yeah, add pregnant to that!)

From reading online, calcium is a big trigger – plus the spinach salads, and strawberry fruit mix I found myself eating constantly this past week!

Please pray for wisdom as far as what is healthy to eat but won’t trigger another stone, that the stone is gone or won’t bother me anymore, and that someone the Lord would provide all we need in the next 7 weeks.

I could ‘almost’ laugh about it today – wouldn’t it be bad to go into labor and a kidney stone attack at the same time!! After all the pain from Thursday, I’m denifitely rethinking the whole ‘no pain meds’ during labor.

Honestly, my labor without an epi was better than my first with – because my water wasn’t broken until she was born vs. at the beginning of induction. Please, please first time moms – unless it’s an emergency, do NOT let them give you Pictocin or break your water. You will be in SO much pain – and it’s simply not as bad when it’s natural.

Of course, here I am saying I can’t do it already. Birthing one baby is enough, without it having to be two (the male baby – kidney stones). And my two cents on that…. It’s very similar to natural labor – it just isn’t over near as fast. Although, I wasn’t throwing up in labor….

Anyway, I’m tired, am VERY sore, still contracting – so am on meds as needed for those. The dr. this morning said her first goal was to get me to 34 weeks (next Friday). From there, 37 weeks. The baby had steriods on Thursday and Friday afternoons to get it’s lungs ready.

It sure was hard being there, looking at that empty baby bed in the room from the NICU – I am SO ready to hold this baby. Hopefully, we can make it till they consider it full term (37 weeks), and have no problems.

Oh, one last request – for anyone that knows us personally… IF you know of any young girl that would be willing to offer some extra hands, we would be more grateful than could be imagined. Just being home for a little while (the kids aren’t back from my parents yet), I’m already exhausted, cramping, and contracting.

We have a bed, and could offer a small pay.

“Little Mommy”

Just for the baby’s records, today – November 4, 2008 seems to be the biggest, most controversial Presidential election in my lifetime! The race is between war veteran, Senator John McCain (R), and half-black, Senator Barack Obama (D). His race being only part of the ‘bigness’.

His opponent in the primaries was Sen. Hillary Clinton (D), wife of former President Bill Clinton of the 1990′s. The running mate of Sen. McCain is Alaska’s governor Sarah Palin.

So, we could have our first elected ‘somewhat’ black President, or our first elected female Vice President. Neither of which I’m exactly wild about.

My biggest thought to share today is from my baby’s point of view. I WISH someone had thought of printing a t-shirt for this election (for pregnant women) with a big red circle with a slash through it over the baby belly – Obama’s name inside of course.

I am thoroughly dismayed with the fact that this man, who claims he is a Christian, can say he WILL allow innocent babies to DIE!!! Either through partial birth abortion or after birth for abortions that didn’t take.

I am heartbroken and tears coming to my eyes to think of those poor little babies lying there on a table, all alone in a room…. Their mother didn’t want them, tried to kill them, and it didn’t work. So now, Mr. Obama will help the mothers STILL try to kill their baby.

That baby will lie there until it dies – and that man won’t think a THING about it. How sick our nation is becoming!! I cannot fathom the wrath of God on this, I can only see how FURIOUS I am that someone would allow this to happen, sign his name on it – even saying he would support this happening to his own grandchild should his daughter one day ‘make a mistake’!

Dear Lord, PLEASE don’t allow such an evilness to happen in our nation!

“Little Mommy” – and PROUD of it!!

(Right click the title of this post, and select copy shortcut to be able to copy/ paste and spread this message to all you know!)

Alright, I’m growing VERY impatient waiting for this little stinker to get big enough for me to feel it moving!! I’ve thought many times over the past few days that I ‘might’ve’ felt it moving, but still not sure…

It’s definitely exciting to see maternity clothes actually looking like I have a little belly. There are still some things that I can wear and not really show, but some fit just right around this rounding and look too cute.

I believe I’ve finally found the mystery to our health issues – just a week before allergy testing is scheduled for myself and our oldest. Candida. It’s that yeast overgrowth you can get in your body. I discussed this my last pregnancy with my OB, and they said there was no way to get yeast overgrowth in your body. Somehow I ended up dismissing it.

Until… I read a health alternative post (Yahoo group I just joined) on itching and Candida. That’s all I do now – scratch continually. Plus this weird rash I had last preg. and the numbness in my lips coming back.

Googling Candida brought up a multitude of symptoms, which I can testify that I have most of them 100%. My children have some I don’t have – but I can see evidence of this in them, especially mood swings and irritability, skin conditions, dark circles under the eyes, and mostly – chronic sinus conditions! That’s been our life for the past year!

It sure is hard cutting out fruits and sugars though – wheat included – it’s just not going to happen 100% anytime soon. I’m starving! Of course, they say that’s part of the thing – the ‘yeast’ is craving more to feed of off, you’re really not needing it, the yeast is. I’ve been told it gets easier.

I have a hard time believing that since the options to eat are raw veggies, and my oldest and myself can’t stand veggies. At least not the ones that are good for this.

Then I think about this baby. My other three children are already suffering my this modern day food I’ve ‘trashed’ their systems with – I hate for this child to suffer through life too! We’re just having to pray for God to give us a desire to eat these foods that are good for us.

In the meantime, I’ve found that spirulina/ Ester – C (vitamin C)/ garlic pills/ and probiotics are working great on my congestion. I was DYING on Monday, but after taking these Monday night – I felt a zillion times better on Tuesday, and the worst thought sinus infection ever (my diagnosis) was gone OVERNIGHT!! I have pinpointed that the garlic pills are what open my head up and help me breathe.

So, if you ever have a cold, try taking one of these. Within 30 minutes I can feel a tremendous difference! This is the only one I take just at night, so that’s how I know it’s the one that helps this way. Now if I could just figure out a way to get these pills in my little ones.

Back to family stuff, I had to take one of our children to a genetics counsellor on Monday. Our oldest had testing done years ago for a rare heart condition, but no conclusions were made. Two new children since then have added pieces to the puzzle – new symptoms/ problems.

We’ll have to wait 4 weeks for one set of tests to come back, and 6 weeks for the other. The dr. seemed more confident that all 3 together made up all but one or two symptoms of this condition. I’m just now sure if the fact he ordered so many tests means he really thinks they have it, or what.

As much as we’d love answers, I hestiate to want this to be the syndrome/ gene mutation they have. It’s hard enough to have children with birth defects, feeling you are to blame. I know we’re not – God created these children JUST the way He wanted them to be. Still, you wonder if they’ll blame you one day….

The ‘biggee’ symptom that many children have, which my children don’t – is mental retardation. It’s scary to think you might bring a child into the world this way. AGAIN, God is in control, and we can’t ‘do’ anything to hurt a child. When we pray in His will, His will is what will be done.

In the meantime, I’m trying not to dwell on what could happen with this little one. I’ll love him/ her no matter what. They do need to find out though if this is something they have, in order to perform special tests on this baby before birth.

Not that we would do anything to end it’s life, but in case it might need immediate care after birth. Heart conditions are a large part of this syndrome – only our oldest has these issues, and thankfully they are not near as severe as they once thought. (Answered prayer!!)

Getting bedtime – so come on ‘lil stinker – let’s start moving! (At least that’s what I say until he/ she keeps me up at night rolling around – ha!!)

Little Mommy

I keep thinking any day now I’ll experience the wonderful moment when I feel this baby move for the first time…. I can hardly wait now!!

There’s been times I would think I felt it, but then realize that it couldn’t be – the baby isn’t above my belly button yet – ha!! We’re still unsure about finding out the gender… We’re just so busy with everything else that at times, I don’t even think about being pregnant. Hey , that means I’m feeling better!

My middle child, daughter is almost 3, and it was so sweet last night…. she came up to me, looked at my belly, and you could tell she wanted to touch it. I had to smile and convince her it was alright to touch the baby. She gently cupped both hands around my ‘baby belly’, smiled, and said “it’s so cute!”. (Laughing out loud – couldn’t help myself)

She was 20 months I believe when her baby brother was born, so she really wasn’t too into feeling him move, or having the mothering instinct. But she’s all into it this time! I know she’ll be a great help – hoping not too much.

Baby brother, well, I’m worried about him. It’s not comforting to watch him with baby dolls. He’s poking their eyes, and cuddles so cute until he decides to throw them down rather hard…. He will have to be closely supervised! He’ll be around 20 months when this one comes.

Oldest brother is already such a help with the younger two. I’m lost if his Daddy ever takes him out and leaves me with the younger one(s). He is a little bossy at times, but has their best interest at heart most of the time.

The more I grow, I think I look like I’m all belly – which would be a boy. I try to talk about ‘what if God gives us a boy’, and older brother still needs a little prompting to accept that. I don’t think it’s so much that he doesn’t want a brother, but in his mind we have to follow the ‘patter-in’. He’s a lot like me, things have to be in order, in a certain way, and done a certain way.

Hopefully, within the next week I’ll be posting the news of movement…. I kinda feel bad that I’ll get to feel it first and it’ll be a couple more weeks before the kiddos will feel it. They are so excited about it going to move….

Little Mommy

I can’t believe how fast this pregnancy is flying! I guess with 3 little ones running around, I don’t have as many hours in a day to think about it. In the back of my mind, as I went to the dr. Thursday, I was worried about ‘what if they don’t hear a heartbeat?’.

It’s weird, I’ve felt sick – but don’t always feel pregnant. I’ve been able to establish that the times I feel sick are after I eat (or when I’m hungry) – weird I know. But it seems that I’m just having food reactions, as I did in my last pregnancy. For instance, after eating grape jelly on a biscuit the other morning, my throat started burning.

I told the OB I felt like an alien, I can’t seem to handle anything I eat. Then I read Dr. Mercola’s website (all healthy stuff), and am reminded that God didn’t create our bodies to eat what we eat today. We aren’t to eat all this processed food – but made from scratch, all natural foods - even raw fruits and veggies.

That’s my problem, I don’t (#1) feel like making food from scratch while tired and pregnant and (#2), don’t like veggies hardly at all.

I am thankful for my visit to an allergist last pregnancy. The test came back negative, but I learned from his thoughts and my searching, that while I might not have allergies to the foods, I am extrememly sensitive. Anything in the tartrazine/ salicylate family causes problems for me – itching, tingling, burning in my mouth and skin. Basically, anything with artificial colors or flavors, along with some foods in their natural state.

After investigating a little, I found my newest prenatal – that although there are no articial colors in it (since those triggered severe itching) – it has vanillan – or vanilla flavoring. Now why in the world should they add that to something you swallow?! Vanilla is in the same family as the above listed ingredients – I believe all provoked by my use of aspirin for three pregnancies.

Now on the search for a new vitamin…. Can you believe all the OTC have colors?? Even the children’s vitamins! I’m amazed, sickened, and almost scared when I start to think of all the extra fillers put in our foods and everyday products that are harmful to us – and we don’t even know it!

We trust that they are good – but don’t be fooled! I even once had an OB tell me that I could easily get all the nutrition I needed from drinking milkshakes – like from a fast food restaurant. How absurd! First of all, some of these places aren’t even real milk, and for those that use milk – the milk is homogenized and pasturized – so it’s not all the healthy anyway. Not even thinking about the hormones in it, as well as antibiotics….

We had gotten much healthier here in the past year, but I was weak and gave into pregnancy cravings – now I’ve been paying dearly. So, I’m back on track, more determined than ever to find some land to raise some chickens and goats, and have a garden.

The latest email I received from Dr. Mercola talked about chemicals added to things we don’t even know about – such as BPA’s in our canned goods (drinks, fruits, veggies, and formula for those that use that – not good by the way…) It shared how it affects our immune systems, causing them to overreact to certain things such as toxins and chemicals in our foods, and underreact to sickness and such (I think I have that right).

Anyway, it pretty much spelled out everything I have endured in my last two pregnancies – this one and my last one. It even referenced this in pregnancy. Wow – God’s really answered my prayers for wisdom – showing me in black and white exactly what I’m going through and what’s causing it.

I rarely drink soft drinks, but we do buy and eat canned green beans. Then there’s the plastic that breads, cereals, jugs and bottles of water, (all those bad snack foods I’ve been eating lately) come in – BPA’s invading my body. It’s unavoidable if you buy food at the store – you HAVE to go natural if you want to be healthier. The risks of cancer and birth defects is unreal – all from these foods and drinks that companies lead us to believe are healthy for us.

It’s funny that it’s taken all this for me to become ‘one of those people’ that I used to make fun of – taking things too far. But I’m grateful the Lord has shown me – for my children’s future health and quality of life.

To end on a happy note – I’m excited to be nearing 15/ 16 weeks – that’s when I usually feel my babies move for the first time!! This week I’ve been able to finally know it’s in there – seeing my tummy growing rounder, and having the discomfort when my big babies crawl all over my stomach. Yep, it’s in there!!

Then not to mention going to the bathroom more – has it always started this early?? At least I’m only up once during the night still, then up when the baby has ‘his only nursing’ now – which is 6 or 6:30 AM. That will probably end this week, since I really have nothing much to give him anymore, and it’s getting more painful (since he doesn’t want to stop on empty).

I’ve been surprised that it’s taken until almost 14 weeks to really have any contractions while nursing. Usually that happens around 7 or 8 weeks with me – but I guess the Lord knew he needed to wean slowly. It’s been hard on him, and kinda sad – mainly since it’s been such a comfort to him. But now at 14 months, it’s time he can be a big boy – and he’ll still get lots of Mommy time with hugs, cuddles, and kisses.

November 21st is my next visit – time to really start thinking if we want to find out the gender on that visit. I’ll be 20 weeks then!

Little Mommy

Just a quick update – I’m going today for my 2nd checkup – a week early due to some questions over recent health issues. All 3 kiddos are going with me, so it should be an interesting visit for sure! I’m excited they’ll be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat!!

And what about the ticker up top – isn’t it cute!! I came across this yesterday, and love being able to know what’s going on with the baby as it develops! It’s a day early according to the OB calculations – but maybe they’re wrong??

I’ll give a report when I get a chance – we’ve just been running around like chickens with our heads cut off this week. All 3 kiddos are feeling much better, and they’re running circles around DH and myself.

Little Mommy