Littleg reining it in

[J9er]

Follow up to my last post  

We had to take a drive to a Home Depot in a direction we don't usually go today. As we were driving we saw a farm stand with some signs leading up to it advertising pastured meat. We stopped on the way back and met just the nicest couple who have an amazing farm with happy cows, pigs, and chickens. All pastured and/or 100% grass fed and finished. They had a wide variety of produce available from their farm as well.....sooo we might be making the switch. Loved that they were local and I could potentially get everything all in one place and not too far of a drive. Bought some eggs to try and some chicken wings - we're just staying in tomorrow evening and making appies for dinner. 

[littleg]

Lucky you!  We have a house in the ADKs and there is a farm like that near that house - but that is 2.5 hrs away  I'll check out that CSA you mention.  We currently do Field Goods which is ok.  I don't mind spending a little extra - and like you I like having to try new things (like Russian banana potatoes and Hakurei turnips last week).  

Chicken wings sound good... I haven't had those in a while!  If you don't have a perfect method yet - do this.  The pre-boil really makes a difference!

 

PS - just checked.  Door to Door isn't up here.

[J9er]

Recipe looks awesome. I have never tried pre boiled wings, so will give it a go! 

We ate at Cheesecake Factory last night - got a gift card for xmas and I was not feeling like cooking. They did such a nice meal for me, gluten and dairy free (steak, mushrooms and onions, and grilled asparagus - a big portion). I didn't have high hopes as I'd heard not so great things about their allergy attentiveness in the past, but our location was great. My husband got the gluten free Godiva chocolate cheesecake to go. I did attempt the one bite rule...usually chocolate cheesecake wouldn't even interest me. It quickly escalated to gobbling half of it lol. I still can't quite decide if that meant it was worth it or I just went bananas. It was pretty dang good. I think it's just sugar though....as soon as I start having little bits I have the potential to go crazy. 

Russian banana potatoes sound so interesting! We haven't had anything too out of the norm but we are actually enjoying all different ways of making kale, zucchini, and cabbage. We got a ton of greens this week and I saw a recipe for lettuce soup I think I'll track down....really sounds...um....not to my taste, but I'll give it a shot. 

I cant believe this year is coming to an end. looking forward to a fresh start for sure. 

 

 

[littleg]

The Cheesecake Factory cheesecake may have been worth more than one bite   I haven't been there in years (about 15 years ago when I lived in DC and was doing triathlons we'd do a long run on Sunday, go the Chevy Chase, MD TCF and then in my sugar buzz (I'd literally be dizzy) I'd go across the street to Marshall's and go shopping... every week - I haven't thought about that in a long time!).  Anyway, from what I remember, their cheesecake IS good.  But, alas, its not hard to make chocolate, sugar, etc taste good.  It was on my preggo-bucket list.  We never made it.  I hope you enjoyed it and that you woke up in the mood for eggs this morning!  

So, last night, I was pretty contraction-y, or perhaps just uncomfortable from a lot of "on my feet time" - I did a 4 mile walk in the AM and then walked to a bar for drinks with hubs for another 2 miles around 5 PM <-- (the time one goes to a bar on NYE when 40 weeks pregnant!).  So, we ate dinner and then put on Sully to watch (good movie).  I got really uncomfortable, contractions intermittently, period like cramping, my heart was racing a little.  I *really* thought (for like, the 4th time!) things might be starting.  But then I peed, and felt fine!  Slept through the night (first time in a year, literally, I haven't slept through the night since my mom passed away unexpectedly last Jan 14).  So... kiddo has 15 hours to make an appearance on it's due date.  I guess you never know!

We might do a small hike today, otherwise I'll just keep walking.  Figure its better than sitting all day!  

Thanks for checking in on me J9er!  I hope you guys have a wonderful 2017!

 

[J9er]

Ok first of all Happy New Year! 

It sure sounds like your body is doing a good job prepping for labor. I'm just so excited for you! So good you finally got a good night's sleep, I bet your body is just taking over and getting you ready for this baby. It's amazing what it can do and that's even before labor. Losing your mom is just the worst, - hope baby's appearance although probably bittersweet during this time, can make things a little brighter for you. I can't imagine losing my mom. 

So we puttered around here all day yesterday and I managed to cook up some good stuff. I did the chicken wings (preboiled ARE amazing) crab stuffed mushroom caps (from Danielle Walker's Celebrations cookbook - highly recommend, and I'm a picky cookbook person), charcuterie, and roasted cauliflower. 

Then we sat down and watched Sully as well! Too funny. Got it on a whim from red box yesterday. We really enjoyed it, I thought the story was portrayed so well! 

We're going to hike today too. Going to go out to where hubs hunts because I just want a quiet walk through the woods, and that can be hard to find around here. 

[jmcbn]

2 hours ago, littleg said:

So... kiddo has 15 hours to make an appearance on it's due date

Exciting times!!!

Can't believe how far you've come............. Keep us posted!!

[littleg]

@J9er - too funny about Sully (ours was a last minute Redbox idea too - we picked it up on the walk home from the bar)  I think we might get along in real life too!  That spread looks delightful!  Glad you liked the wings - the pre-boiling really helps them crisp up!  I'll check out that cookbook - looks like I still won't have much to do this week...  Hope you had a nice hike.  My hips decided to hurt too much for uphill walking today so just a loop around the SUNY campus for monster #1 and me.  

@jmcbn - Happy new year!  Thanks for popping in - I've hope things have been well across the pond - I'd like to hear more about that program you did when you've got some time!

 

[littleg]

Ok, 2 days out from due date.  Deep breath.  NICU crazies plus a friend who had 2 stillborns have definitely tipped me back into crazy-land... Doula and midwife have both said that 41+3 is the average for first time moms... I'm trying to stay off pregnancy websites/forums but I have stumbled onto a few birth stories on food blogger websites.  Which are great stories to read because those women are the types that had their nurseries finished when they were 16 weeks  Lots of 40 and 5, 40 and 6 stories out there... all which end well.  But I know the data that say stillborn rates increase as you go past your due date as well as higher rates in older women (like me, sigh).  Ugh.  I had a prescheduled OB appointment for tom'w that I'm going to try to reschedule today to get non-stress-test and talk to doc about next options (since they've really only been mentioned in passing rather than "this may actually happen" context so far). I was really hoping to do this without medical intervention... guess we'll see.  

But, onto food

Really good lunch yesterday.

Finally made a sunshine sauce I liked.  I used almond butter instead of sunflower seed and it is definitely better on day 2 than right after it was made.   Spiralized a zucchini and added red pepper, carrot, snap peas, left over chicken with sauce and some sliced scallions.  So good!  

Dinner was burger, taters and a salad.  I had two small pieces of the fudge I made and then stopped (small win).  I ended up tossing the batch after that because I had made a second batch a few days ago with 55% chocolate which came out AMAZING and then instead of throwing away the old (more bitter) batch I decided to melt them both down together to combine them... After eating those two pieces last night I realized I was eating almost 2 week old coconut milk... Oops.  I'm not sure yet what I want to do about making more.  I'm on the fence about doing a W30 vs a food freedom type approach.  I'd really like to eat 95% W30 but at the same time have some room for some well-controlled treats.  Since I'm hoping to get back in touch with the binge eating therapist in the near term I don't want to "fail" at a W30...  But, who knows what is going to happen with this baby (like a section)... so for now I'm just going to plug along at 95%.  But I think I may hold off on fudge making since stress levels are going up!

[ExpatElle]

@littleg I checked in this morning hoping for baby news. It must be far too comfortable in your tummy :-) 

At what point will your ob start mentioning induction? Even if you have medical intervention you've done such a great job - you're active, healthy, positive. I know i'm stressing already about if my placenta is going to move (really don't want a c-section) These babies stress us out from conception till.... well probably forever!

I'm so excited for you!! Good luck with your ob. Maybe a really spicy curry would get LO moving?? 

[J9er]

Do OBs strip membranes? I'm guessing no?  Most of my friends have had midwives and most have had pretty good luck with this kicking them into labor. A few of my friends have gone into labor even after a regular  exam at their regular appointment when they were overdue. 

Raspberry leaf tea? It doesn't actually advance labor but it does strengthen the uterus so maybe it might help a little?? 

Haha, castor oil?? I.just.couldn't....lol. 

Also my suggestions should come with a MASSIVE disclaimer. 

Your 95% plan sounds great. I know I've been learning that 95% is great, but so is 90%, so is 85%, and at certain times so is 75%. Food freedom is also great. Letting go of emotions of any kind tied to food is also really important and I think is what has helped me so much in the last little while. I feel like I could have gotten so down over Christmas because although I was mostly compliant, I was letting in a consistent amount of sugar. I did feel at times I was fighting off guilt - the feeling was fainter then it has ever been, but I could easily have let it take over (if that makes sense), but I just kept reminding myself that it should have no control over me and just keep on going. In the past, that cheesecake may have been the end of me. But yes it really was worth it and it was just a cake. And what if it wasn't worth it?? That's the thing....it still doesn't deserve to be the end of my food freedom.  

I feel like in the past, the more guilt I've had, the more I've just gone off the rails because if I couldn't be 100% all the time, then what was the point (and you're a nurse too, so......). And of course your situation isn't the same as mine and I don't know all of your circumstances, but just thought I'd share what my realizations have been.

Do I think you should make fudge? Not really for me to say, but it sounds like you are thinking things through which is also so great. 

Personally, I think you will find your food freedom. I mean, look at just this pregnancy alone. You fought back from the early on, eat all things stage, and had a lot of long stretches of good eating. The work break room was probably the worst but maybe with a solid chunk of time away from work you can beat that too! 

I highly suggest following Steph Gaudreau on Instagram both her personal and business handles. As well as the ladies from the paleo woman podcast. (Stephgaudreau, stupideasypaleo, stefaniruper, coconutsandkettlebells - all the handles) The movement they are pushing right now about the food freedom and just life freedom in general has helped me a lot - and I am not a social media person really...but these ladies are on fire! This of course is their business, they are all life coaches, nutrition coaches etc and do want to sell their brand, but they aren't pushy and they are people I would (and probably will) put my money behind at some point. 

Anyways, hang in there....sending lots of labor vibes from down south. 

[littleg]

Thanks for taking the time to write that    And thanks for thinking of me @ExpatElle!  One day I hope to have a birth story on here!

I'm going to ask about membrane stripping - I've read about it online - mostly on midwife sites and European pregnancy sites.  My MIL was a labor/delivery nurse (15 years or so ago) for a while and said she has seen them do it but she thinks you might need to be dilated for it.  Which I'm not.  If they could do that, it would be my first choice.  I'm drinking raspberry leaf tea.  Have been for about 4-5 days.  I mistakenly purchased "Pregnancy Tea" first which has raspberry leaf in it... but when i looked carefully at the box yesterday for plain raspberry leaf tea it has 5x the amount... so I switched.  Sitting here drinking a cup now.  Had some period like diarrhea this morning with those sort of deep cramps... but it passed.  For now no castor oil.  I once over did it on coconut oil and that has the same effect apparently... not an experience I'd like to repeat.  It was bad.  Have another acupuncture app't for 3 PM today.  Called OB office to try to get in today but they haven't called back.  My one complaint with this practice is that it is impossible to talk to a person... Grumble.  

Anyway, about the 95% thing.  I think that you are right that sometimes a goal of 100% is worse because then you are either "good" or "bad".  And once you've gone to the "bad" side, might as well cram all.the.shit in because you are going to start over... I have't read much in that Intuitive Eating book but I have read the authors' ideas on that 100% "rule".  As soon as you take away the "tomorrow I'll be good/on a diet/compliant" mindset it makes the off-the-rails less necessary because you can *always* eat whatever it is that you want.  And last night after eating those two pieces of fudge (but before tossing them) I put it back in the  fridge thinking "I can eat it tomorrow if I want".  And that is where I want to be.  I genuinely do feel better eating W30ish foods.  And pregnancy has helped me realize that because the effects of SAD food are more obvious.  Swelling... worse after SAD foods.  The only times I've had heartburn... after eating SAD food.  The only times baby has had distinct changes in activity... after SAD foods (I think he/she gets a sugar coma too! - always less active the day after too much processed food/sugar).  But at the same time I'd love to eat a 1/2 piece of Cheesecake Factory cheesecake and then stop, have enjoyed it and move on.  And right now I'm not there.  But I am thinking maybe I should make fudge  

I need to take monster for a walk.  I'll listen to one of those podcasts.  I skimmed the "Harder to Kill" podcast list yesterday too.  I've bookmarked Noelle's site and read a lot of it.  She needs something newer than those peppermint desserts  

And just because I'd totally want to see a pic of an internet stranger... here is my 40 week belly   These days I don't change out of my jammies much!  

 

[J9er]

Yes!!! Love the bump. Yeah, I'm a sucker for a baby clothes, AND a good bump pic  

Seriously looks  like you jammed a basket ball under there! Ok, maybe beach ball. But it's totally all baby. You've obviously done something right.

Dang!! No baby! I've been thinking about you today, I was running around to my Dr appt and picking friends up from the airport and haven't had time to check to see if here were any signs of little one. 

Well, it's nice you can just be off of work and enjoy yourself. Hope you're putting those feet up! 

 

[J9er]

Also, you're  not an internet stranger anymore.  I keep saying to my husband "my internet friend says...." 

[littleg]

Update from L&D... being induced.  Low amniotic fluid.  So no food pics for a while  Hopefully the cervidil kick starts a manageable labor and I'll have a happy little birth story in the not-so-distant-future!

My last supper (nothing but clears per anesthesia regs until this little one is out...):

meatloaf with pan fried taters, 1/2 lb strawberries, 2 rice cakes slathered in butter, munched on some coconut butter

Have a cooler with chicken broth, coconut water, kombucha and butternut squash soup (a secret non-clears food item if I'm not in active enough labor that I'm hungry instead of nauseated).  

Unless things progress really quick I might check in but otherwise hopefully I'll be back hopefully as a new mom!

@J9er aww, internet friends   

[J9er]

Woohoo!!! Thanks for the update!!!! So exiting. Haha love the "secret" non clear food item. Good job. 

Can't wait to hear the story and find out the gender! Good luck. 

[jmcbn]

Best of luck with the labour process @littleg !! - Can't wait to hear your next update.....!! Will be thinking of you x

[littleg]

We are all ok!  Not quite as planned...

This is what our little man had to say about his forceful eviction   I couldn't be more in love...

[jmcbn]

Oh wow!! He's gorgeous!! And that wee finger.....!! LOL

Congratulations - rest up, enjoy, and let us know how it all went when you're feeling up to it.....

He's a beauty!! x

[ExpatElle]

Woo Hoo! Congrats! Hope you're feeling ok 

[J9er]

I'm late to the party! Oh my what a little sweetheart. So glad he's here safe and sound.  Hope you're well. 

Take your pain killers missy. 

So happy for you. 

 

[littleg]

9 days post partum.  Little man is doing well.  Gaining weight, bilirubin levels normalized without phototherapy (thank goodness), pooping up a storm, breast feeding ALL the time (I hope we are in the midst of the day 7-10 growth spurt because hourly feedings for... well, almost all day!  are tough).  Dad (who was terrified of newborns, had never changed a diaper, etc) is doing great too  Our little family of three is off to a good start.

I'm still stuck in bed though.  My labor and delivery went exactly as I didn't want (except for getting a perfect, healthy little boy - which, at the end of the day is what matters!).  My birth plan was natural and I had every intervention besides a C section.  48 hour induction... it was quite brutal.  I ended up getting an epidural at hour 42 or so... I just couldn't do it anymore (not sleeping for 48 hours or so didn't help).  It was a traumatic birth b/c he came out with his right hand next to his face palm/nails facing out... lady bits took a beating.  I can't wait to be able to walk and sit... luckily hubs has been the most amazing person ever - helping with things he'd never thought he'd ever do (buying hemorrhoid cream, maxi pads, nursing bras, helping me change pads because I can't bend over).  But all I have to do is look at this little face and its all ok

 

[JulieP757]

Congrats!  He is beautiful!

 

[ExpatElle]

He did not want to come out of that warm space did he!!

Congratulations on such a beautiful baby boy. He is GORGEOUS  

Sounds like the birth was lengthy and exhausting. I wonder if a really strong core had something to do with it? 

I hope you have a swift recovery and maybe consider seeing a physiotherapist that specializes in Kegal muscles. A friend of mine had a very traumatic birth and the lady parts took a beating and she said she is so thankful she started seeing a specialist. Sneezing and peeing were happening in unison 

Plus food heals. Keep fueling your body and I am sure you'll recover well.

 

YAY Congrats again. oh and props to Dad!!! It's his time to shine 

[J9er]

Thanks for the update. He is a little sweetheart. Handsome little guy. 

Wow, what a harrowing birth. Yikes!! 

You lasted 42 hours with out an epidural. My goodness. Ouch. I can't even imagine. You are one tough lady. 

Glad to hear your hubby is settling in well too.  

Rest and heal up! 

 

[ShannonM816]

He's adorable! Congratulations!