My 5 Day Juice Cleanse

This process started while I was in Singapore. I met a chick that was doing a 5 day juice cleanse with her husband. She looked fit and healthy and I was sick of looking at my excess baby weight and doing nothing about it (well I was working out but the weight didn't seem to be going anywhere). Mind you, I also wanted to do it to get all of the junk out of my system. After the last 10 years, I'm sure there was A LOT. I decided to research and start one myself upon my arrival back in the States because enough was ENOUGH. After researching for a day, I chose Life Juice because it was rated as being one of the best tasting cleanses. I figured if I was going to do it, I may as well enjoy it. Right? 

To be honest, I can't believe I actually did this... successfully. I didn't even cheat!! I started my 5 day juice cleanse last Sunday and completed it last night. I went the full 5 days with just the juices, water and one glass of hot tea (decaf with no sugar). It started off really well but by yesterday afternoon I was pretty sure I was going to die. I mean, the juices did taste pretty good (except the first one... yuck!) but this girl needs her food! It was pure torture watching Jason and his parents eating a delicious dinner together last night. I tried not to watch. And I can't even tell you how many commercials have food in them (or maybe I can). I swear it's pretty much every single one. Did the TV gods know? I was salivating over things I would never dreamed I would have... like the all you can eat shrimp at Red Lobster. It was THAT bad. (If you didn't know, I worked at Red Lobster for a few years and let's just say I never planned on eating there again since I got so sick of the food). I also purposely took longer routes to my destinations all week so I wouldn't have to pass any restaurants that knowingly had strong odors coming from them, like barbecue joints. I think you get the gist.  

The first few days weren't hard. Jason was out of town which made it a lot easier since I didn't have to sit through any meals (except for last night) and I didn't have to worry about what I was going to eat for the day. I really didn't think about it until each evening when I got a slight headache. My energy level was definitely down and I went to bed earlier than usual every night. My tummy never really growled except for last night, which again had to do with Jason and his parents eating in front of me I think. 

Overall, I am very happy with my results. I just FEEL good. I feel healthy. And I am very proud of myself for sticking to it, which took a lot of willpower. I ended up losing 10 pounds in all. I probably could have lost more but I wasn't so much concerned with weight loss as I was with just cleaning out my body. I didn't work out during the cleanse except for the first day when I biked 14 miles. To be honest, I didn't have the energy for it. Was it worth it? Yes. Would I do it again? Maybe. I'm really not sure to be honest. Let's just say I am glad it's over. This cleanse really has made me think about what I put into my body though. I am more aware of what is in food and the nutritional value of my meals and I really hope to continue to make healthier choices. It was a great jump start to what I hope will become a healthier lifestyle. 

:)

I'm Not Supermom, Either

There is a blog post that is going around Facebook that I just love. It's called Moms, When Are You Going To Learn?. Click it and read it- I think every Mom needs to. It is basically saying that she is not supermom and that none of us are. That we each parent differently and that we should not criticize one another. Bravo!

It's funny because I JUST mentioned this to Jason last week after a couple of instances here. How I am sick of people judging every little thing about the way I parent (and you parent) and what you should do or shouldn't do. You can't please everyone and I certainly don't try to. And I don't pass judgment on other Moms because I realize that each person does what they feel is best for their child. Because that is what a good Mom does. End of story. I just try to be the best Mom that I can be. That's all. Cut me some slack.

While we were in the States, no one really gave me advice (or rather told me how I should parent) unless I asked. No little comments. Everyone always just complimenting me or my baby. Or if they did, it was in a very loving way. When I had questions, I would ask and got some amazing responses that I am thankful for. All was good in the world. Hakuna Matata.

Then we came to Singapore.

My first encounter was when I was doing laundry in the basement of our hotel with Olivia just a couple of days after our arrival. I was moving the clothes over to the dryer and Livi was in my arms. I was one arming it. No biggie. As we were leaving, this woman comes over to me (with her little 4ish yr. old daughter right behind her) smiling ear to ear and claps her hands and puts them out, obviously wanting to hold little Olivia. It was the first time a stranger has asked to hold her. I didn't want to fork my child over to a stranger so I politely declined, thanking her for the compliment. You would have thought that I said something horrible to her because the glare she gave me was as cold as ice. Thank God for her child because at that very moment her daughter got jealous and started to cry, not wanting her mom to hold another baby, which was my primo opportunity to slide out the door. Thank goodness because I wouldn't have known how to respond to that besides that I am sorry and that I am uncomfortable giving my child to someone I don't know. To each their own but please don't get angry with me for my decision.

The second incident happened last week. This one got me upset, MAD, hurt. I was waiting for Jason to leave work and a lady was talking to me about Livi. She was asking all sorts of questions like how old she was, was she my first, etc. then the question came (or statement rather)... You ARE breastfeeding her, right? Said just like that. I responded that no, in fact, I am not anymore. That I had until she was 6 weeks old but then I stopped. I didn't give a reason, that's all I said. And that's when she proceeded to tell me that I NEEDED to start breastfeeding right away and that it was what is best for her and that there is no excuse as to why I wasn't...yada yada yada... basically insinuating that I was a horrible mom. I tuned out after that. I was about to tell her my reasons as to why I stopped but then I thought- why do I owe her an explanation? It was our decision (because I talked to Jason about it before I stopped) and obviously it wasn't even possible anymore (my milk dried up already... hello!!) so why even waste my breathe?

Truth be told, what she said DID hurt my feelings and it made me feel like a shitty mom. And there was a pang of jealousy for all the Moms that do and can breastfeed without being in excruciating pain because that was my original, only plan. I tried to breastfeed and it just didn't work out. What she didn't know was that I ended up getting mastitis in my left breast and then went to the Dr. and was put on antibiotics. A couple of days after being off the antibiotics, I ended up getting it in my right breast and was put on antibiotics again. After those antibiotics, it started to come back to my left breast and that is when I had had enough. It was so extremely painful and at that point I was hardly producing anything anyhow. I spent hours pumping for just a couple of ounces (if that) through the pain because I do know that breast milk is the best milk. Then I had to make a decision. Do I spend hours pumping in pain and barely getting anything while supplementing the rest, or do I just feed her formula and spend quality time cuddling my baby and actually enjoying the first sweet moments with her that I could never get back? I chose the latter. But, I am very thankful for the time I DID get the chance to do it, even if it was just for a little while.

Mind you, I also chose that route because I knew that I would have to give it up anyway (or it would be nearly impossible) due to all of the traveling we were about to do (because there is no way I could do all of that pumping on a plane for 24 hours on the way to Singapore!). We made a decision as to what was important to us. And for us, formula was the best option. I am not ashamed. I'm pretty sure there are a few inventors or smart people out there with great immune systems that have Moms that lost their baby weight shortly after giving birth and that don't have breast cancer that were formula fed. Just sayin'.

Rather than make Moms (especially new Moms!) feel shitty about themselves, I don't understand why we don't lift others up and support each other and their decisions. I mean, we are all trying to do the same thing for crying out loud! Unless they are actually TRYING to harm their child, then give them your advice and call DFCS. :p

xx

Olivia's Newborn Pictures

If you saw my last post, you may have noticed that a couple of my posts this summer weren't actually published. I'm not sure what happened! Anyway, we had some amazing pictures taken for us from Graceology right after Olivia was born. (I can't believe that was already 3 months ago! Where does the time go?! And why is my baby so big now?) :( They did such an amazing job at our wedding and for my pregnancy pictures that we just had to hire them again. They never disappoint!! They totally captured Olivia in some of the sweetest poses. I am in love!!

Here are some of my favs:

So thankful that I will have these for a lifetime of memories. I love my sweet baby girl!! xx

My Grandson, Liam

Ok, you are probably thinking what a terrible Nonni (Grandma) I am, being that my Grandson Liam was born two months ago and that I haven't posted much about him. Truth be told, I did write an announcement post but I'm an idiot and it was just saved as a draft and was never actually published... doh!! I just figured this out because I thought I published more posts than I did the last couple of months and I just looked at my posts and boom, it was listed as a draft. That wasn't the only one but it was definitely the most important. So, I am sorry Kait!! It must have been my Mommy brain!

Anyhow, here is my original post:

Welcome To The World, Liam!!

Yesterday, (July 5) my Grandson Liam made his grand debut. He arrived at 3:30pm and weighed in at 7 lbs 15 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. Kaitlyn, his Mommy, did awesome! She had the shortest labor ever, lucky girl!! She went into the hospital at around 11:30am. Obviously Liam was in a hurry to meet her. :)

Liam is doing great. My Mom and I went to the hospital to visit him and Kait. Jason is out of town. :( When we got there, Liam was being held for observation because he had a bit of fluid in his lungs so we didn't get a chance to hold him. But, I am definitely looking forward to holding him soon! And I know that Jason is beyond excited to get home so he can meet the little man.

Without further ado, here he is:

I can't wait for him and Olivia to grow up together. It's going to be so much fun. :) And congrats, Kait!! Job well done! 

xx

Olivia Goes To Ohio

As you probably noticed, we have done a lot of traveling since Olivia has been born. If you didn't know or didn't read, it's because we are moving to Asia next month. I say Asia because it looks like we aren't moving into our place in Singapore until the beginning of December so we are going to travel around in Thailand, Australia and the Philippines before then. Anyhow, all of the trips we have made thus far have been to introduce Olivia to family and friends before we leave. We, of course, will be back and forth a couple of times a year however I didn't know when we would get to see everyone since our trips always seem so short. So, we took our baby around to show her off. ;)

Last month, Livi made her very first trip to Ohio to meet some of her family on my side. It was important to me because I really wanted her to meet my Grandparents (her Great-Grandparents... duh!) before we left. I was especially excited about this trip because it was also the first time Jason has joined me up there too. I was excited to show him around, introduce him to Swensons (only the best burger you will ever eat!) and introduce him to some of my family he hadn't met yet. (Gosh, now I want a galley boy... ugh!)

It just so happened that we were there during my birthday, which was an extra blessing! It was so wonderful to be able to celebrate with some of my favorite people.

We had a great time spending time together, eating, shopping, swimming in the pool (Livi's first time!!), hanging around the bonfire and going dancing at a country bar. It was very fun and relaxing, which is just what the doctor ordered since I have been super stressed about our move and everything that has to get done beforehand.

Here are some of pictures of our time together from my new camera (my awesome bday present). :)(P.S. I don't have the pictures off of Jason's camera yet, which has some great shots. And I have to get my Mom's pics too. I'll post those soon!)

What great memories!  It went by so fast! It always does. I can't wait to all be together again!! xx