The Frazzled Mama’s Guide to Breastfeeding

If you’ve stumbled upon this article, you are probably one of those who don’t flip their shiitake mushrooms when they see a mama nursing her baby. If you ARE one of those and you found yourself on this article, then sit your nosy butt back and be prepared to be educated about nursing a baby. (And maybe learn a thing or two about not being so dang judgmental.)

Now I’m not going to sit here and act like I know everything about breastfeeding, but I *did* nurse my son for 2 years and 7 months. Yep, 31 whole months. So, I guess you can say I’m pretty seasoned.

I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my children. Its what seemed most natural to me. I was prepared to jump many hurdles (which you’ll find below, that I did!) to be successful in nursing. I only knew a handful of people who had actually tried and were successful at nursing, so that meant I was going to have to arm myself for this battle.

Here are a few tips to new mamas, or those mamas struggling in the beginning stages:

1. Educate yourself before your baby even arrives.
I read I don’t know how many articles pertaining to breastfeeding, and I started reading them the month I found out I was pregnant! You cannot prepare enough for a child to be born! A few of my friends gave birth to micro-preemies and after seeing that, I knew I had to be well-prepared, and early! Find other nursing mamas you can confide in and trust. They will be your backbone! Having a strong support system at home is also very important! Google has great resources, and Facebook has some unbelievable support groups. REACH OUT TO THOSE GROUPS!!! If you’re a hands-on, got-to-have-the-book-in-your-hand, I suggest the book, Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding.
Best tip: Don’t wait until you’re 10 centimeters dilated to read up on this information!

(Look at me at 39 weeks…shooting a gun, hoping to get this big ol’ baby to come on out!)

2. Make sure to do skin-to-skin immediately after birth, tell the nurses NO BOTTLES/FORMULA/PACI, and limit the number of visitors so you all can rest.
My birth plan did not go as planned. I was so upset that I had to have an emergency c-section (we’ll save that explanation for another post!) and I felt that because I did not get to give birth naturally, I HAD to be successful at breastfeeding! As soon as I was stitched up, I told the nurses I wanted to do skin-to-skin immediately and I was strictly breastfeeding. My nurses were awesome and respected my wishes. Your milk may not come in for a few days, but until then, colostrum is enough! Doctors seem to act like if you haven’t produced milk by day 3, then you’re not going to. Colostrum is exactly what baby needs right now!
The only thing I wish I had done differently was limit the number of visitors at the hospital. Don’t get me wrong, I loved seeing everyone ooh and ahh over Brody, but stuffing 20 bodies into a 10×10 room was not fun.
Plus, who wants to play host to lots of people when you’re bleeding profusely from your bottom?! 😉

(Great visual of how much your baby really needs from Day 1. Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/_6VBJfAibY/)

3. Get in touch with a lactation consultant ASAP.
Most hospitals have a contracted lactation consultant that you can contact. My hospital’s LC was a freaking God-send. She gives everyone her personal cell phone number and tells you to call her no matter what time! I don’t know how many times she talked me off the ledge of quitting! She reassured me that as long as things were good with baby (good amount of wet and dirty diapers, gaining weight, etc.), then everything was normal!

Sweet little babies go up to be handsome little men.

4. It will hurt in the beginning, but not for long.
Of course your boobs aren’t used to a baby sucking on them, so your body is going to hurt for a little while. Get some lanolin to help with that. Also, have your LC make sure baby’s latch is correct. If after a week or so you’re still in pain, look for lip/tongue ties. If your baby has these, your pediatrician can clip them and the pain relief should be immediate. Also, BREATHE and nurse on, Mama!!!

Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/329255422739177437/

5. Babies nurse often, and that is normal!
Babies need to nurse often to help establish your supply. In the first few weeks, your babe will be attached to you every second of every day. Don’t fret, this is totally normal. Growth spurts also happen every few weeks, so don’t be surprised if one day baby is okay with the amount, then acting like a ravenous beast the next. Follow baby’s ques.

Brody’s 1st Birthday…we met our first big goal! Woohoo!

6. Stay hydrated.
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but is one of the most common reasons why mamas have trouble producing enough milk. Your nursing baby is drawing all the milk and liquid from you, so you must replace it. Your body is so amazing. Your milk may become more “liquid-y” in the summer to help your baby stay hydrated, and more “fatty” in the winter to help your baby stay fuller and warm.

Apparently he wanted Mama to eat as well!

7. Things you eat can affect your baby.
I thought Brody had colic, but thankfully after researching I realized he had a milk allergy. All the cereal with regular milk, the milkshakes, the ice cream…that was hurting his little tummy. I quit eating and drinking those and within about a week or so, Mama had her sweet happy baby back! Eat fatty foods like avocado and nuts to “fatten” your milk. You don’t necessarily have to stop having that glass of wine (in fact, it is mandatory for keeping your sanity!). You do, however, need to quit smoking and make sure any prescribed medications have your doctor’s okay, as some may affect your milk supply.

A bond that could never be broken.

8. Things like mastitis can happen, and it is a b*witch!
I developed mastitis and let me tell you…it wrecked my world! I have never been so sick in my life. And it was all from a clogged duct that became infected! I wore a sports bra to bed, and instead of putting it back the right way after nursing, I guess I left it and it pressed on my breast and caused the duct to clog. This can also happen if you don’t fully drain your breast after nursing. Go to the doctor and get an antibiotic. Also, keep nursing (it will “pull” the clog out). You will thank me later!

Yes, mastitis sucked, but how could I not do whatever it took for this sweet face?

9. Pumping does not indicate how much baby is truly getting.
All you have to do is look at my child and you can tell that he got every single last drop of milk that he could possibly get. (Uh, hello…he has always been 95+ percentile for weight and height!). I had to pump at work 3+ times a day and many a’times did I sit in the room and cry because I knew this wasn’t enough for his chunky butt! My advice is to nurse right before you go to work and immediately after you get off. Pumping was not my best friend, but, Brody needed it when I wasn’t there. I kid you not, there were times (read: every day) when I would pump going down the road because I worked 2 jobs and was going to school, and I seemed to always be on the road! (I was covered, of course!) There are many different supplements like fenugreek, Mother’s Milk, and flax seed that have been known to help up your supply. What helped me the most…was taking a very deep breath and letting the pump do its work. It really did help me relax and “let go”, therefore producing more. Most importantly, RESEARCH and decide what’s best for you and baby!

See those rolls…he wasn’t lacking much!

10. Set a goal…then forget about it!
Initially, I set a very small goal for our nursing relationship. I got the hang of it and kept upping my goal. Soon, he was 2 1/2 and I didn’t even realize it. It truly does become natural. Don’t try to rush your nursing relationship, it ends too quickly as it is! Next thing you know, he’ll be driving and your car insurance will double. 😉

One of our last documented pictures of Brody nursing. 2 years and 7 months.

11. Don’t let others discourage you from feeding your baby.
Today’s world is so rude and cruel. Don’t let other naysayers discourage you from doing what is best for you and your baby! Some mamas aren’t comfortable enough to nurse in public without a cover, and that is okay. But, do not let someone else make you feel uncomfortable about feeding your hungry baby just because they don’t want to see a part of the female body. And those who don’t give a shiznit about being covered, YOU ROCK!!! Baby gets hot under those covers and they don’t deserve to half-way suffocate trying to honor the wishes of others who’s feelings get hurt too easily.
(I always wished Brody would pop off and me “accidentally” squirt all over someone who had been rude or looked the wrong way at me!)

Need I, or Brody, say a word? Middle finger to the haters!

12. The need to supplement does not mean your breastfeeding journey has to end!
Look, if you have tried your very best to establish a nursing relationship and it just did not happen that way, YOU DID NOT FAIL! There are many different reasons why a nursing relationship doesn’t succeed. But you should not feel defeated because of that! There are still great benefits to partially breastfeeding!

17 months and no end in sight!

13. If you can stick with it, its worth it!
I think we may be very blessed, as Brody has only been sick a handful of times. He has been extremely healthy, and I really do think breast milk had a lot to do with it. Breastfeeding gives your child the best possible start in life. The likelihood of your child developing fatal diseases is decreased dramatically if he/she is breastfed. Nursing takes a lot of dedication. Trust your body. It was, after all, MADE and EQUIPPED for this!
…Oh, and it sure is nice not to have to hash out loads of money to pay for formula each month!

Our Tree Of Life photo. To me, its breathtaking ❤

 

Overall, I hope this post finds you well. I hope I did not offend anyone who simply could not nurse their baby. You DID NOT fail your child. You did everything you could to give your baby the best start. The medical world has advanced so greatly and formulas today are very nutritional for those babies who would not take to the breast, and you should not feel sub-par because you really did try your best! One day of nursing is more than not ever trying! You rock, Mama!

I hope I did not come off as a Sancti-mommy. I do not think I am better than anyone else reading this post. We are all good mamas, no matter which way we feed our children. The main thing is that they are fed and thriving. My hope for this article was to inform and educate those who are pondering the idea of nursing their new baby. I hope that you are encouraged to give it a shot! If anyone can do after facing what I did (emergency c-section, working 2 jobs and going to school while having to pump, mastitis), ANYONE CAN DO IT!

Now, those who refuse to even try after being educated and are judgmental about a barely exposed boob, you cross a fine line. I’m going to hold my tongue and say I hope you at least support new mamas wanting to give their child the very best. 🙂

What other tips would you give to a new mama thinking about breastfeeding? Did you have to overcome obstacles in your nursing journey, and how did you get passed them? How long did you nurse or pump for your baby? I’m excited to hear your stories! ❤

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

What Hidden Gems Can You Find in Dollar Tree?

I don’t know about you, but I love a deal. When I say “love”, I mean I am enamored with saving money, but not skimping out on quality.

I have never been considered “rich”, money-wise. Growing up, I was blessed with what I needed, but had to work hard for what I wanted. My mama used coupons and valued being able to spend as least amount of money as possible on groceries so that she and my daddy could save for things like birthdays and Christmas.

Thankfully my parents taught me the importance of money and budgeting. Sadly, a lot of people I know are in major debt simply because they do not know how to budget. But you can surely start making little changes today that will help you be more money-conscious!

So when my hometown finally got a Dollar Tree after many years of not having one (the other was closed down due to theft), I was thrilled!!! Dollar Tree is my go-to for most everything.

Below I’ve compiled a list of 10 products I can’t live without!

10. Calendars
Dollar Tree has definitely stepped up their game with the calendars this year! They have an array of themes; rustic, flowers, Disney characters, etc. They also have mini planners that perfect to stash in your purse. If you’re like me, you HAVE to write down EVERYTHING! Both the calendar and planner have ample space for keeping up with appointments as well as notes. These babies can run you anywhere from $2.00 to an upwards of 30 buckeroos for other brands. (Plus they make great Christmas gifts for the new year!)

9. Greeting Cards
Greeting cards for all holidays can be found at Dollar Tree. For Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas (ya know, when you have to get all the grandparents and great-grandparents cards!) I shop Dollar Tree. Their cards are 2/$1 so I can definitely maximize my dollar since I have to buy at least 4-6 cards each holiday. Other stores have “cheap” cards, but they are very plain. Surprisingly the wording in Dollar Tree’s cards are not corny!

8. Batteries
Jeremy will hate me for this, but I do not buy my batteries anywhere else! Dollar Tree has most sizes of batteries, in multi-packs as well. Brody has loads of toys that need loads of batteries…so why am I going to buy batteries from other places for $5-10?! Negative. I have the same batteries in some things I’ve had since we first moved into our house almost 6 years ago.
…And if you have to replace them…they’re just a DOLLAR!

7. Spices
If you’ve been to your local grocery store lately, you will see the prices of spices (ah, rhyming there! ;)) are outrageous! My Maw-Maw recently ran out of pepper so we looked at the prices and we both about fell out! Pepper was almost $5 for a container. You can season all your dishes on the cheap with these prices!

6. Bandaids
With a toddler in the house, we go through quite a bit of Bandaids. Whether he is using them as stickers on the wall, tattoos on his body, or he actually injures himself (or Daddy!), we need a lot of bandaids. Dollar Tree has super cute designs and characters for your little ones. Store-brand and other character adhesive bandages can run you $2.00 or more.

5. Quick Erasers
Hands down, just as good, if not better, than the Mr. Clean ones (which cost $3.00 for 2). I use these especially in our tub to scrub the nasty oil ring left by Jeremy. Having an auto mechanic as a boyfriend can be tough…fight back with these magic erasers! I also use this with Number 1 on my list, but of course you have to finish the article to see how those two work together! 🙂

4. Phone Chargers
I came across these the other week and bought one on a whim. We are always losing chargers and I hate wasting $5-10 on a charger that I may not be able to find next week. I bought a car charger and it puts out a good power charge. I stay on the road it seems, and I feel this is a dependable charger, especially since I bought it from Dollar Tree!

3. Toys
Who has children who think they’re supposed to get a toy every time they go in a store? *Raises hand* Brody has gotten to be quite the persuasionist when we go to Walmart or Target. Mama definitely doesn’t like hearing him scream and holler (like the tantrum that occurred this week) when he doesn’t get what he wants. So, every few times that we go to Dollar Tree and he acts exceptionally well, or if he has a good week at school, I don’t feel guilty spending $1 on a toy.
I also buy kids’ birthday gifts at Dollar Tree. (And if you’re a parent reading this and have a problem with it, you can kiss it!) They have the cutest puzzles, sticker books, and things the child is not going to care about (or judge me about!) and may even like more than the expensive gifts they received. I set a budget amount and let Brody help me pick out cute gifts! The savings doing this alone is priceless!

2. Toilet Paper
Y’all are probably about to laugh your tail off, but I *LOVE* Dollar Tree’s toilet paper. I’m here to tell you, don’t knock it til you try it! I also bought this on a whim because I hate another big box store in our town so much that I would rather use crappy (no pun intended!) toilet paper than go in that store! Much to my surprise, I fell in love. The quality is pretty good; not too thin and not too thick for my sensitive plumbing. I’m tellin’ ya…I feel like I hit the jackpot here, because I was paying $4.00 or more for a 4-pack of similar quality toilet paper. Why spend a ton on something that you’re going to discard?! I think not!

1. LA’s Awesome Spray
Drumroll please! I was told about this impressive bottle of gold by Jeremy’s Maw-Maw. She used it as a degreaser (its main property) to clean Jeremy’s greasy clothes before he moved out on his own. If you ask any of the members on Facebook cleaning pages, you will be overwhelmed how much you can really use this spray for! Awesome is truly the holy grail of cleaning supplies. I use it just about everywhere…clothes stains, carpet stains, to clean the oven and microwave after spills, around our toilet, to clean counters…it even takes out grape juice stains like a charm! I love the end result when I spray Awesome to set for a few minutes then use the Magic Erasers to scrub the bathtub.
You are technically supposed to dilute the spray. I have two different bottles, one diluted and one that is not. I use the diluted one for counters or anywhere that food could be near. I use it undiluted for the heavy stuff; stains, bathroom, etc. And at the low price of just $1, you can’t go wrong buying it from Dollar Tree (especially since its much more expensive elsewhere!)

 

I hope you try out these things the next time you stop by Dollar Tree! Those who are scared of the quality of items at Dollar Tree, fear not! Most items, if not all, that I have purchased have been really great quality, especially as a Mama on a budget!

And if it breaks, you only lost a dollar!

 

Which of these items on the list will you try out?

What “hidden gems” have you found at Dollar Tree? Comment below so I can try them out!

So Your Child Needs Speech Therapy…

March 2016, I was readying myself for Bro’s 2nd birthday party. The boy was obsessed with Minions, so I lived and breathed yellow and blue for weeks on end. He resembled those little boogers quite a bit. Short, stubby, and walking around jibbering about jabber. I had no worries though, because he has always been a very smart and independent child.

Fast forward to his well-check. Weight. Roughly 40ish pounds. Height. Around 38 inches. Head check. Since the kid had a huge head at birth! Eyes. Nose. Mouth. Ears. Shots. Oh beloved shots. They about make me want to take a shot myself…a shot of vodka! Then the doctor asks a few things she had never asked before.

“Is he talking yet?”
Well, yeah.

“What all is he saying?”
Duh, what every 2 year old says…mama, dada, bye, jibber jabber!

“Does he say more than 50 words?”
Pahaha, is this really a question? I’m not sure if the average Chester-ian knows 50 words!! (Haha, just kidding…maybe!)

She began telling me that she thought Brody might benefit from speech therapy.

And my heart sank.

How could this be? Was I not a good mama? What did I do wrong? Why wasn’t he “up to speed” like his 2 year old peers? What was speech therapy? Would it hurt him? Did he have autism?

I was so upset. But after talking with family, they all reassured me there was nothing wrong with my sweet boy…he just needed a little nudge.

And that was okay!

Children are not cookie-cutter. Some will excel in one area, and lack in another. But luckily if your child needs that little nudge, there are awesome therapy centers all around!

After being referred to an awesome specialized therapy center, we went for Brody’s initial evaluation. He was supposed to go back alone. But…separation anxiety. So I went back with him. HE.WOULD.NOT.TALK!

Stubborn lil’ booger! Wonder who he gets that from?!

Finally after warming up (aka, 15 minutes left in the session), he began to utter a few words. We left knowing he would need at least one session a week. A 45-minute drive there. For at least a year! Glad I have a car good on gas!

But, I’d do anything to help my baby!

Week after week he became more adjusted to his therapists. It wasn’t long until he raced on back (and I gained an hour to browse Pinterest!) And it also wasn’t long until utterances became clear words. Words became sentences.

And now he doesn’t shut up!

A year passed and at his last evaluation, he passed with flying colors! We were dismissed and sent on our merry way. (Helloooo no more racking up miles on my car!)

My hope is for those out there fearing that their child may need therapeutic help (whether that may be speech, physical, occupational, or ABA therapy), please know there is nothing “wrong” with your child. Don’t feel afraid or ashamed, because there is nothing to be ashamed about. Secondly, get the therapy your child needs. Therapy will not harm them…it will only help them.

You’re a good mama, whether or not your baby is “up to par” according to the world’s standards.

Your baby will catch up in their timing.

In the meantime, enjoy these precocious years. Soon those littles will be running around talking your head off about all things Cars and Paw Patrol and Mickey and PJ Masks and whatever else he finds on YouTube. In a damn Yankee accent! (Oh yeah, I forgot one con…they teach them how to talk proper.) *face palm*

Just Ramblin’

So, as you all can tell, its been quite awhile since I last posted. My apologies!

When we last left off, I had been to the doctor and got some not-so-good news. I wish I could come to you and say that I’m now a 150-lb weight-lifting machine. I wish I could tell you that my insomnia, body aches, and whatever the heck was happening last time was gone. I wish I could tell you everything is perfect.

But its not.

If fact, there for a little while, things were pretty durn rough. For one, this weight ain’t gone nowhere. Truthfully I haven’t tried SUPER hard to get it off, but I had been exercising and eating better more than I had. AND IT HASN’T GONE ANYWHERE. So frustrating.

But I also fell back into bouts of depression. Let me tell you, it very closely resembles what I picture the depths of hell to be. (For those who don’t know, I developed mild postpartum depression with Brody but never gave in to medication until Bro was about 8-9 months old. I was prescribed an anti-anxiety med that worked wonders.)

My relationship with Jeremy suffered. My relationships with family and friends suffered. I was a raging mess that no one, ESPECIALLY Brody, deserved to be put through.

But I couldn’t stop it.

Emotions ran wild and one moment I was happy-go-lucky, and the next, I’d tell you to go to hell. It sucked. Though I loved Bro, and J, and everyone else, I did not show it. I acted like a little bratty child who didn’t get her way. I couldn’t find the good in any situation. I was the most Negativest (Is that even a word? It is now!) Nancy the world could ever know. I couldn’t let Brody go to Jeremy’s grandma’s (ya know, the one who takes great care of him while we’re working?!) house without freaking out. Sleep…ha. Yeah, right! My mind raced at the darkest hour while these two guys were snoring. IF I was able to find zzz’s, I woke up SO.DANG.TIRED. I could barely get through the day. I had to resort to naps. And if I didn’t get one, I was the illest hornet. (See what I said about a bratty child not getting her way?) It was almost like I wasn’t really me. I mean, sure, I can be a b-witch at times, but my life seemed to be crumbling by the moment.

I’m not sure what made me give in to getting on a *very* low-dose anxiety prescription. But I, myself, and everyone around me agrees it was the best thing I could have made at that time.

Are things fine and dandy and roses and daisies 100% of the time? Nope. Can I control my emotions now? Yes, at least most of the time. (“That time of the month”, for instance!)

I know my thoughts and words can be hard to follow, but I guess today’s rambling is to let those out there dealing with something know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. The prettiest, most put-together woman can be hiding things they don’t want anyone else to know about.

But you shouldn’t feel ashamed.

In fact, the more these issues are talked about, the less there is a stigma about it. Which leads me to the death of Linkin Park front-man, Chester Bennington, and Soundgarden & Audioslave front-man, Chris Cornell. I grew up listening to both of these very talented voices. Because of this evil thing called “depression”, two rock legends will never sing another song.

Do I believe ending your life is the only decision after you’ve had so much? I am not at liberty to make that decision for anybody, or to judge them. I know life can be hard at times…and sometimes you think that your worries and faults will all be gone if you end your life, but you must understand THERE IS HELP out there. You are the only one who can make the decision to get the help you need, and deserve! So if the thought of taking your life has ever crossed your mind, please, reach out.

And those of you who see these suspicious posts, understand these people are not “drama queens” or just looking for attention. They are crying out for help. And it is your obligation to check in on these people and help them seek medical attention!

And if you “don’t want to get in their business”…well, then there is always prayer!

 

Wake Up Call

A few days ago I made myself a doctor’s appointment for an insect bite that looked like it was becoming infected. Friends and family said it looked like a spider bite, but I can confirm I’M NOT GOING TO DIE!…well, at least not from a spider bite 😉

I did, however, receive some pretty terrifying and eye opening news. Of course I try to stay away from doctor’s offices because who wants to deal with germs, weight scales, and being poked for blood samples?! Surely not me! (which is why I don’t have tattoos!)

So I am called from the waiting room, walked through the back hallway to the scale. “You can remove your shoes if you’d like.” Well of course my 2-oz flats are coming off, lady! So I step up to see my fate.

236.

236 pounds. Not kilograms. Not ounces. 236 whole POUNDS. Did I seriously put my weight on social media where the whole world can see?! Totally vulnerable now. Sista done lost ‘er mind!!!! Holyyyyyy moly, I wasn’t expecting that! I mean, I *knew* I had gained weight. I’ve actually been logging my weight every Friday at work, so it shouldn’t have been such shell-shock. But it was. Just 9 months ago, in September, I weighed 196 pounds. I may have shed a tear, or twenty. And maybe wanted to down 20 glasses of wine. But gaining weight was only one part of the bad news.

I sat down in the chair for the nurse to check my vitals. 98.3 degree temperature. 98% oxygen. Then comes the blood pressure reading. The nurse put the cuff on my arm. *Shup shup shup* goes the blood pressure meter. I’m sure I can feel my heart beating in my toes. Do they really have to squeeze it  that tight?! Finally I feel the cuff release. I look at the red mark on my arm. The nurse doesn’t tell me the reading, so I ask. “150/80”. Well at least the bottom number isn’t it’s normal 90+!, I think to myself! I ask how bad is that…”definitely not good, especially for  24-year old!” Well durn! “I’m sure Dr. Bhaskaran will address that as well,” she says.

So I wait.

In walks this tall, dark, Indian doctor. Totally different from Shanna, the nurse practitioner I saw last time. We talk about the bite under my armpit. He reassures me it was common and not detrimental. He prescribes a cream for it. But then he’s silent. “Is there anything else you have concerns about?”, as he checks my heart with the stethoscope.

Of course I don’t want to talk about my weight! I’m quite ashamed. I mean, I weigh more now than the day I gave birth to a 9.6lber! I have no energy. I can’t keep up with my 2 year old…it’s sad when a 70-year old great-grandmother can keep up with Brody more than I can!

“Um, I think everything else is good.” “Oh no no no no. Things are not good,” he reiterates in his Indian accent. Oh crap! Just what have I done? My heart drops. He explains to me that my weight gain and blood pressure worry him. The blood pressure is pretty much at hypertension state. At my age, I am at risk of having a heart attack. AT 24! My weight gain is more than I should ever gain in that small amount of time. It makes it very hard to pump blood as efficiently as it should, and it makes my heart work a crap-ton harder than it should. Especially with a family history of high blood pressure, heart attacks & problems.

Just lovely.

So Dr. Bhaskaran orders blood work. I asked him to check for EVERYTHING. I’d had blood work done to check on my thyroid almost a year ago, but the doctor didn’t check for various other factors that can attribute to hypothyroidism. He agreed. He schedules me for a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks.

So now we wait

I am the world’s worst wait-er! I like things to be done quickly and a timely manner, if it concerns my health. So here we are 6 days away from the follow-up appointment. Is it wrong of me to say I’m deathly afraid to go back? I don’t want to face reality. I mean, the blood work could show nothing, other than the fact that I’ve just become a fat @$$. That would mean I would just be responsible for losing the weight and thus, the blood pressure should also decrease. No need for medicine for the rest of my life. But on the flip side, I’m kinda wanting to put a name on “this”. A diagnosis. Yes, that’d mean daily medicine, possibly more doctor’s visits, and all over a pain-in-the-butt…But at least I could get help. Because I’ve heard with hypothyroidism, it is nearly impossible to lose weight without medicine regulating your thyroid.

So in the meantime, I get to revamp my way of eating. I get to coerce myself that even though its hotter than 30 hells outside, I need to get out there. I say this as my stomach is growling and begging for a whole entire key lime pie. I know through God, I CAN do this. But it’s my mind that needs deliverance! I tell ya…your mind is your worst enemy. The biggest “fear-leader” around. It contributes to your sleepless nights of worry and feeds your fears of “I can’t”. But, as Philippians 4:13 states, “I CAN do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me,”…I CAN do this. Now, that’s not saying I’m not going to need a lot of prayer to get through it. Because I can assure you, I will need a multitude!!! But its comforting to know I have a Savior backing me, and maybe a few of those who may be reading this little blog of mine! 😉

Here goes!

Bustin’ Seams

So, I’ve jumped on the blogging bandwagon. Something I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time, but just haven’t had the time. Even though today’s life is consumed with social media 24/7. (Funny how that happens, huh?) So, what’s my blog about. Good question. I haven’t a clue, just going with the flow one would assume! I mean, I DO have a reason WHY I’m blogging. I love to write. I always have. I have always thought my voice should be heard as well. (I can see some of y’all rollin’ your eyes!! =P) I just don’t know exactly what my blog’s “theme” is.

Which comes to the name of my blog. Bustin’ Seams. Down South, we’ve all heard the saying “Bustin’ at the seams”. Well, after further review, it seems that the saying is actually “BURSTING at the seams”. Oops, my bad! Any who! I decided to look to see what the famous saying actually meant. And here is where I found that my blog name is somewhat perfection, if I may say so myself!

One definition is “extremely full or crowded“. Yep. That would be my jeans. I’ve never, ever, ever been one of those skinny girls. Have you met my family…none of us are skinny. We have the Going Road Curse. Wide hips and big booties! Unfortunately you can’t alter genetics. But its alright. Thankfully I have a man that loves my seam-bustin’ curves, my stretch marks from a 9lb 6oz baby boy I was fortunate to carry for 9 months (bustin’ seams…stretch marks…see where I’m going here?!), and every other “flaw”.

The other definition I found was “containing an unusually large number of people or things“. This pertains to the wonderful life God has granted me with, and the people in it! I was born into a very big family, on both sides. I was blessed to grow up knowing I had an abnormally large (crazy) family, but I embrace that! Sunday mornings meant waking up with the rooster’s crow to Mawmaw’s buttery cheese grits, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and homemade biscuits and her famous sweet tea (which all may have contributed to my expanding waistline!!) All surrounded with about 15 cousins. We slept on a roll-out bed, couches, pallets…wherever we could find comfy! But no one can replace those awesome memories!

Another thing I’m “extremely full” of is God’s blessings. Every night when I lay down with Brody, we say our prayers (which he has now learned to put his hands together and its so sweet I could cry!). He undoubtedly falls asleep before I do, but it takes me so long to thank God at night, sometimes I fall asleep before I’m finished thanking Him. Now ain’t that awesome! Number one and above all, I have a Savior who loves me even when I’m unlovable. He has saved me from an eternity of damnation. He doesn’t care what you look like, how fat you are, what color you are, or even if you’ve said you’ve hated Him before! What a blessing that can be!!! My baby boy, whom I thought that I’d never get to witness, is the most perfect being I’ve ever met in my life! He is the smartest, silliest, most precious person in the world to me!! Jeremy, bless his heart, has been through hell & back with me, and yet he’s still by my side. I don’t know why, but I really do appreciate all that he does for me & Brody. (I think I fount a good’en. He might as well put a ring on it cause I sure as heck ain’t going nowhere. Hehe!) God has blessed me with such an unbelievably awesome family. Sure we fuss & fight, but let someone bash one of us…oh boy. Annie get’cha gun!!!! We are so blessed to have family members who are in great health and can keep Brody for us, free of charge. (WHAT A BLESSING!!!!) I’m thankful to have finally lucked up and got on at my dream employer!! I was able to buy a more roomier vehicle (ya know, for more babies…SIKE!!!!…At least not for a few years! For more…”junk“…as everyone calls my stuff.) I have a nice house with some land, heat in the winter, a/c in the summer, running water, electricity, a phone, tv…all the modern conveniences of today. I could go on and on and on…and on and on and on. But, I’m sure y’all are done reading for today.

 

Oh yeah…before I forget…Bustin’ Seams also relates to my journey learning how to sew, and getting myself healthier so that I can quit bustin’ the seams on my nice clothes I buy. From the Goodwill. Hehehe!! =P