Scary Pregnancy Photos

Several SHS friends are posting their scary pregnancy photos in an amazing show of solidarity with a dear sweet sister/friend Lisa. Lisa - soon and very soon. I wish I had some of the even scarier ones but all my photos are on the infamous crashed computer or need to be scanned - and I've not remembered how to do that. LOL I post these while I figure out what I want to blog about today.

Here are shots from my pregnancy with Stacia....

8 1/2 months and THRILLED to be moving! ::snort:: I thought I was dying when I heat the summer heat down here.

We moved into this house 2 weeks before Stacia was born....majorly nesting and NOT being a wise pregnant woman - to all my dear preggo friends "do not try this in your home!" BTW I happen to think purple is a gorgeous color for legs. LOL That thing in my hand never could find a new home here...and is gone...

Heading to the Hospital - doc Adams finally told me I couldn't stay pregnant forever. LOL We induced. It's a G family tradition to close your eyes for all important photos.
In the hospital - I've had to threaten Mike with dismemberment for some of his hospital photos - but you wanted scary.
Then I went home to bedrest for three weeks eclampsia....::snort:: Now THAT was scary.

*The Thyroid Diet* by Mary Shomon

Jill mentioned reading this book. She shared a summary of her thoughts on the book and it intrigued me enough to pick up a copy from the library.

More than 25 million Americans have diagnosed – and undiagnosed – thyroid conditions, which almost always result in a metabolic slowdown. This was not a huge surprise to me. I'd heard over and over that hypothyroidism results in a sluggish metabolism. Somehow, however, I'd never made the connection between that piece of information and my slow and steady weight loss. Obviously, I can lose weight - but it takes a lot of WORK. The following quote surprised me as I'd fallen into the "take a pill and it will all be fine camp", "Even after optimal treatment, however, weight problems plague many thyroid patients." I had figured the weight struggles could have nothing to do with my hypothyroidism as I have it checked annually and my TSH is always "within normal".

In The Thyroid Diet, Mary Shomon identifies the struggles one may have with weight and offers many solutions. Some of her solutions are alternative and she recommends MANY supplements. I have not decided to try any of the supplements at this time, but I was impressed with Mary's detailed explanations of each supplement and her opinion as to whether it would be worth a try. {g} This book, then, discusses dietary changes (low-glycemic, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet but I'm guessing still at 1200?), timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid-damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and more. There are several different eating plans, food lists and great looking recipes in the book. There are worksheets to use in tracking your weight loss and a wonderful appendix with websites, books, and support groups listed.

It is hard to summarize the information in this book. Some of it has been helpful, some I will skip. Bottom line is that a thyroid patient should realize their weight loss may be slower and they should be PATIENT with themselves. You will NOT often lose weight as quickly as you put it on when your thyroid "blurps" (as I term it). Your metabolism is slow and you must do all you can to speed it up. This line has been thrown around so much that I have spent quite a few years sort of disdaining it. EVERYONE in American CANNOT have a slow metabolism...and yet weight is on the rise. I think "slow metabolism" is probably the most oft used excuse for weight gain - and often it is more about lack of movement or over-consumption of food. Daily 60 minutes of exercise is essential (I'm up to 45 min 5 - 6 days a week), drinking adequate water, eating enough to keep your metabolism revved up....

It was an amazing "coincidence" (read God thing) that I'd be reading this book at the same time that our doctor sent me to talk with a dietitian. If I'd not had the dietitian look at my food journal and comment, I think I would have read this book and focused on the comments about "low calorie" and tried to cut my calories further.

Mary also runs several websites devoted to educating on thyroid disease (hypo and hyper and more). Obviously, her books and many supplements are offered at the website but the site is full of great information. She also has several articles at about.com .

Reading this book showed me that I need to educate myself on this condition I've had for 33 years. As a child, I took the pill I was given and assumed that the pill meant I would have no thyroid related struggles. I WAS told that I'd have a difficult time getting pregnant and not carry to term because of my thyroid - that should have been a clue that the pill wouldn't take care of all. However, I considered the info to be bogus because I did conceive and have carried to term...and didn't think more about it until I read this book.

I plan to study more on thyroid disease as it is an auto immune disease and seems fairly important that I understand what I can do to improve my health. Mary has written several more books and recommends other books. I found this book helpful enough that I've placed it on my PaperBack Swap wish list. I simply don't have time to explore the appendix with a library book. {G}

Weight Management Class

Most will want to skip this I'm sure. LOL

I really "know all this stuff" but I'm very excited about this class. Debbie, the dietitian, is so encouraging and knowledgeable and full of COMMON SENSE! I knew that I was doing all I could and my weight loss was VERY slow and/or stalled. I had to do something. I never would have met with Debbie if my cholesterol hadn't come up high. I was thinking of Weight Watchers - but I knew my philosphy on food is a bit different than theirs....so this is working. I can see if I can fit a once a week commitment into my schedule. AND I've learned from Debbie, that you take what works for you and if something doesn't work you "tweak it". No one program is going to work for every person, just as no one homeschooling curriculum is right for every family.

Obviously, as I shared earlier, she was right that my body was in "survival mode". Why it got there - I still don't totally get because I SWEAR I ATE every time my stomach growled.

ANYWAY.....today's class was on calories, portion sizes, basic nutrition, how many servings of each food group you should get a day....Oh - I was asked about protein today at co-op. She said a woman only needs 4 - 6 ounces a DAY (2-3 servings). That can come from eggs, nuts, meat, beans...etc... That really isn't much at all...I add nuts and seeds to my salads....and usually have a slice of lunch meat at lunch....I had three meatballs last night for dinner and that was all the protein I needed for the day. I know I'm not getting all the boxes checked each day but I'm getting the important ones for cholesterol and working on adding the others in. I stated right up front that I hate counting calories (I'm sure I wasn't the only one in the room who went "ugh" when she mentioned calories. I don't plan on spending the rest of my life counting calories. This is not a practice that will work long term for me). She suggested the class do it for 6 weeks because it would be eye-opening to see what you are really eating. She also had a neat little worksheet you could use where you don't count calories but check off boxes of various food groups. We went over all the food groups....guess what? Most the veggies I eat are FREE!!!! Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes are not. I can live with this! I talked with her a bit after class. I decided it would be good to count calories because obviously I've been surprised at how big some servings are and so this would help me get an idea of what a "typical" woman should be eating. Boy this goes against all my beliefs of the past few years.....She said that a short woman should have between 1200 - 1400 to lose weight. For a tall or short active woman it was higher - I think up to 1600 or 1800 calories. Well, I'm short. I'm active but I don't want to fall into THAT trap....so I picked the 1200-1400 numbers. She said that the MINIMUM anyone should ever eat before going into survival mode is 1200 calories. I have been eating so MUCH food the past two weeks (since my visit to her) that I was sure I was in the range...but wanted to be nearer the bottom...you know?

I decided to do the calorie thing until I'm consistently making choices that put me in the 1200 - 1400 range. I came home and figured out yesterday's calories...I went online and got calories for a 1/2 a chick fil a charbroiled chicken wrap (Cy brought 4 home the other night and I've been enjoying them), I figured out the calories for the dressing I make and how much I use, my salads are FREE...so....

Thank GOODNESS I had my chocolate covered almonds....I came in at 1000 calories yesterday. I just figured today's out and I've had 850 calories....guess I need some more almonds tonight...or something...but I'm stuffed. It's hard to figure out how to "not eat unless it's stomach hunger" (her comment today) and still get at least 1200 calories in. I can't figure out why I don't get hungry....Adrienne thought it may be psychological....All I know is that I think I'm going to need to find some sort of help figuring out what is a "good" amount to eat. I was SURE I was eating about 1400 calories a day since I've started eating all the time. I shudder to think how many calories I was eating before I met with her....and I still don't fully understand why the logic of 1200 to lose weight, 600 to lose even more doesn't work. LOL I would agree that counting calories was EYE OPENING....

I'm really thinking about what to do at the end of these 6 weeks. I really don't know. I think that I'm different in that yes, I seem to be fooling myself, but it isn't into thinking I'm eating LESS than I am...I simply think that every little bit of food is a huge number of calories. I've thought weight watchers....I've thought LA Weight Loss Centers but then I heard how much they charge and really by the end of the 6 weeks I'm hoping to not have much more to lose....I don't want to take all the supplements that LA pushes...but the idea of sitting down often with a nutritionist to discuss what you ate seems to be what I need. In other words I'm needing to figure out HEALTH and not really WEIGHT because it IS coming off again - and at a nice clip.

Honest - I won't do this all the time - I promise. I'm simply trying to process information and Mike isn't here for me to bore him with all this (I bet THIS is one time he's glad he's not here ::snort::) ...so ya'll get to hear it. ::snort:: I still struggle with the "this is gluttony - I'm not hungry" thoughts. How can it be gluttony if I've had only 850 calories today....but then "if you aren't hungry, then God is saying your body doesn't need the food - are you going to trust God or man-made food lists"....see my mixed up thought patterns. I prayed about this and know that I'm supposed to TRY to eat the way Debbie says is healthy for at least a month.

OH - she hasn't really heard of coconut oil but agreed to research it today. It's listed as "bad" in the literature they have at base. Well IT isn't but coconut and coconut milk is. She asked me to bring her any articles I have on it - so I'll be looking for some that are good - factual - and not from a company that manufactures coconut oil. If any of you have such websites, send them on to me. AND she said she isn't sure what to call my flax oil but to keep using it! LOL She said it could be grain or oil but she'll figure it out for me.

Ya' know if Cy would bring a SHAKE home tonight I'd get those calories in nothing flat! ::snort:: It looks like I need 350 calories still for the day and its 8:30 p.m. I simply don't think it is going to happen.....

Now I have a goal - work up to 10 servings of produce a day and 1200 calories.

Produce Co-op Today

Today was our first day trying to get everything delivered in 30 minutes so that I could go to my class. LOL It worked. It was a bit of a hectic a.m. because they forgot 1/2 our celery and lettuce. Thank GOD for Adrienne. I called her and she ran by to pick it up before coming to the house and I kept sorting what we had. It's so nice to do this WITH someone and not have all the responsibility.

We are growing....the back of the van

At the last minute I had the boys take the front seat out. I'm glad I did - we needed the space....

We've been doing this for months. Josiah was home today (had to work a closing shift) and pulled out the hand truck...Duh!!!! ::snort:: In my defense neither of the young men who unload every week had thought of this.

1/2 the living room - Empty Baskets

Full baskets

A single share - $28

Zander's Caught the Fitness Bug

"Push Ups"

"Unique Sit Ups"

Trailer Photos

*Note I figured out why the camera wouldn't focus and why it was washing everyone out - but I'm not going to go take new pictures and these are the FIRST shots - you know when the kids were excited. I thought going out again, opening it up, sliding it all out and trying to recreate their excitement would be anti-climatic. It was that same little switch Heather found before...this time it didn't flash F but it took strange photos. LOL

Arielle and Stacia are Happy

We all had our favorite amenities to exclaim over!

Nolan thinks the outside sink, stove and awning are cool!

Jamin takes advantage of the dinette


Several commented on the BIG freezer and fridge (as compared to the pop-ups)

Stacia loves the new hiding spots - this one between the bunks in the back room

Josiah likes the music options

I began to worry that we weren't all going to fit in this now that Stacia sleeps in a bed...we weren't sure the bunks would be long enough for Jared. They are. We've got four nice wide bunks in the back. We have several options for sleeping. I don't think they are big enough for the over 6 foot crowd...so we may put Jared and the four younger ones back here, Cy on the pull out sofa and Jamin on the dinette bed...

I must admit I share Zander glee at an INSIDE toilet....no more 2 a.m. jaunts to the restroom, potty training with the facilities 1/2 a mile away, mid-night walks with bears, porcupines, armadillos....but then again I've come to LOVE seeing the night sky at different times of night, the peace and tranquility of those middle of the night runs....but NAH....ultimately I share Zander's glee at the toilet. ::snort::

Several have mentioned over and over that they suddenly have an urge to go camping....and this will probably grow as the trailer sits in the front yard. ::snort:: It's all here waiting for you Mike. The other photos were to washed out to share (our room, pass through storage spots) it's nice...and it was 8K less than blue book! Yes! Co-op newsletter is done, tables are set up, baskets are out...I'm going to bed.

Oh - things that make a mom go "Hmmm"...the control panel...you know with the switch for the slide outs etc...is in a toddler height cupboard as you walk in the trailer. That will HAVE to be child proofed somehow.

NAME THAT R.V.

Here it is - outside my front door...and here it will stay because I can't get it in the driveway, which slants and the ally is narrow. It will stay here until Mike is home to move it....or until someone else who knows how to drive these things wants to move it. ::snort:: I'm a bit worried about the mailman and the neighbors...but if they ask I'm going to say, "Does your dh know how to drive something like that???" I am simply NOT moving that thing an inch further.

Mike grew up in a camping family. They tent camped, camped with tarps, had various campers, and even a little motor home. Grandpa Earl called his motor home the "dream boat". We are in the midst of coming up with an appropriate name for this trailer....maybe dream boat....one of my nameless children suggested "big rolling turd". OK - I explained that his suggestion was in bad taste (and I laughed - sorry) and that we wanted a complimentary name. We've thought Road Whale - which is a term Darshia's dear husband introduced us to when we were camping at Mt Denali. Send in your suggestions....winner gets a family of 11 parking outside THEIR home for a week and using their water and electricity. ::snort:: OK - nah I'll think of something for the winner. LOL

Josiah went to pick up the older boys from their ministry team. I'm sure they'll all want to open it up and look - so we'll take some more pictures, but I knew the girls and Mike would want to see evidence of the purchase asap....

I sure hope someone doesn't sideswipe the slide out when I show the boys...hmmm.....