Savvy Toddler Mom

Sorry to keep you waiting on the results of my HSG on Friday.  I needed more time than I had then to put a post together.

The HSG wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be — probably has something to do with the 800 mg of ibuprofen I took ahead of time (thanks for the heads-up, Toni!).  I was pretty uncomfortable that night and a bit into the next day, but nothing that required more than some more ibuprofen.

And now for the results… drumroll… they didn’t find anything wrong with me.  Yay!  That is a good thing!  If they had found something wrong with my uterus, I don’t know what they would have been able to do, so I’m glad we’ve been able to just rule that out completely.

Also, it was really cool to watch on the TV monitor as they put the dye in — crazy!

So, I’m still waiting for the results on my bloodwork.  After that, we’ll look at where we go from there.

In the meantime, I had a pretty busy weekend.  CTM and I went to the gym Saturday morning to do cardio and weights, and I am SO sore today.  My arms especially!  Saturday night we went out with some friends to Mikado.  I am not a sushi fan, but did try one roll.  I ordered the tempura shrimp and veggies — so yummy!

The toot spent the evening hangin’ with canyonfool, his wife and two-year-old son.  I think he had a great time!  Canyonfool is the best uncle a little boy could have… he loves to wrestle, he’s totally funny, he’s got a whole bunch of toys at his house, and he loves to play with the toot!  Thanks again, CF & wife!  You guys are the best.

Canyonfool made the boys a dinner from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld.  My other brother and SIL sent me a copy for my birthday — thanks, guys! — so CF wound up with the copy my parents gave me for Christmas. LOL  (Review still to come…) I was really impressed that CF made something out of it.  I read through it and my first impression is that it’s a TON of work!  It sounded like the boys really liked it and with all the veggies hidden inside, I can only tip my hat to CF.  Way to go.

On Saturday, I also spent some time packing up the toot’s 3T clothes.  He had a TON.  It took almost 2 big plastic storage boxes to fit them all.  I think I’m doing a better job now figuring out how many pajamas, shirts, and pants he needs — but I think I went a little crazy last winter on the pajamas!  I always wonder if I should store all of his clothes.  Is it worth it?  I actually set aside some to give to the DI — the ones that are far from my favorite or that got a random stain, etc.  And especially, what about shoes?  Do you keep them?  I’ve kept all the Robeez shoes (so cute!) he had when he was younger, but now they get so worn and dirty.

He was wearing 4T clothes at the end of last summer, so I’m excited to actually have him wear those again this spring. 

My favorite quote from the toot last week was: “Daddy, can I drive?  I’m three now!”  LOL

We were supposed to get a huge snow storm last night, but it flaked out.  I expect it will hit sometime today.  For now, the wind is blowing like crazy and I’m still planning on staying home all day!  I just hope the storm is done and over with by tomorrow — I have places to go!

I think we’ll do laundry, etc.  I also need to work on my “list” some more.  Those thank you notes aren’t going to write themselves!

President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passed away last night.  He will be dearly missed.  He was an incredible, incredible man.

Another zero Diet Coke day!  Yay!

I am going to celebrate by having a Fresca.

I made the BEST chicken tortilla soup tonight - here is the recipe (for the crock pot):

4 uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 15-oz cans black beans, undrained
2 15-oz cans low-sodium Mexican stewed tomatoes, or Rotel tomatoes
1 cup low-sodium salsa (mild, medium, or hot, whichever you prefer)
4-oz can chopped green chilies, undrained
14-1/2-oz can low-sodium tomato sauce
baked tortilla chips
2 cups grated fat-free cheese

1. Combine all ingredients except chips and cheese in large slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on low 8 hours. (I do mine on high for 4 hours.)
3. Just before serving, remove chicken breasts and slice into bite-size pieces. Stir into soup.
4. To serve, put a handful of chips in each individual soup bowl. Ladle soup over chips. Top with cheese.

Recipe by Becky Harder of Monument, CO from Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly by Phyllis Pellman Good.

Tomorrow is the dreaded hysterosalpingogram.  I’m trying not to think about it.

I’d like to thank my sweet friend Jasmine for reminding me this morning that “miscarriage” isn’t the right word. I’ve been thinking about it all day.  I’m going to try and say something else from now on.  I think she’s right in that “miscarriage” is a word taken lightly in our society.  Losing a baby should not be taken lightly.  She and I lost babies… real, live, loved babies.  “Miscarriage” doesn’t come close to defining what happened to them/us.  Jasmine, thank you again.

Just got home from getting my blood drawn (eight - yes, EIGHT! - vials of blood!) and a quick trip into the office – whew!

SavvyDad took this photo of me on Monday; just thought I would share:

He took it while doing some tests of the new lighting equipment our friends got.  Nice equipment, I say!  They were so generous to let us get a few extra shots of our family while SavvyDad took some pics of their new baby as well.  What a cutie! Here he is with his mommy:

Taking photos of babies and children is SO difficult, I think.  They don’t hold still and they usually refuse to cooperate.  But it is SO worth it when you can capture them and their adorable personalities on film (or a digital card - LOL).  They don’t stay small for long and you have to be able to remember how unbelieveably adorable they can be… especially when they get to be teenagers.

I finally did it.  Yesterday I went the whole day without a Diet Coke.  First time in… a long time.  I woke up with a bad headache today, though, and ran for a can this morning.  Kinda sad.  So, here’s the breakdown:

Sunday: 1 diet coke
Monday: 1 diet coke
Tuesday: 0 diet coke
Wednesday: 1 diet coke

I’m going to try for zero again tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

I’m going in to have my blood drawn for those clotting tests today.  Hopefully we’ll be able to say definitively if that’s a problem or not.

CTM and I went to the gym again last night and I am pretty tired and sore today.  It feels really good. :)  We are going again tonight!

I wanted to touch for a minute on a great Toddler Trip that is a favorite of mine and the toot’s: going to Target.  We went yesterday — an hour of wandering and browsing.  We both had a great time.  The toot LOVES to look at the toy cars, and is actually pretty good about not needing to take all of them home.  (We do bring home a random hot wheels here and there… but they are $1!)  He also loves to identify all the stuff he can, from pineapples to pajamas.

I found a new line of toys that Cranium has put together exclusively for Target, called “Bloom.”  I could only find these six on their web site, but they had a few more at the store.  This cooking set is similar to some of the others I saw, like sandwich stacker sets both for sandwiches and burgers.  They also seemed pretty affordable, with prices ranging between $10-$15.  Very cute.

It is snowing like CRAZY right now.  My MIL called earlier to say they had a foot of snow in Draper — we have about 10 inches in Bountiful.  Snow day!

It’s also Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so congrats to those that actually get the day off today.  SavvyDad doesn’t — he drove to work on a hideous I-15 and last I heard, he was helping a co-worker get his car unstuck near the office.

Needless to say, I think we will be staying home today.

We had a great weekend hanging out with friends and family.  I TOTALLY fell off the quit-diet-coke bandwagon Friday night at PF Chang’s… it was worth it!  Back on today, though.  After the initial headache last week that I blogged about, the rest of the week went pretty well, so I’m going to cut back to one every-other-day now.

Also, this article came out yesterday.  I’m not up to talking about it yet. 

I’m back at the gym. CTM and I went together on Thursday.  It’s perfect for us to go together.  We are at the same level: she’s 4 months pregnant and I’m totally out of shape. LOL

I’m still trying to figure out what the best strategy is for me to fit working out into my schedule.  I can’t do mornings — I am just not a morning person.  So many people get up and go to the gym before their kids get up.  I can’t.  I’ve tried.  It just doesn’t work for me.  So, that leaves during the day and evenings.  I love going in the evening, but I so often get stuck in the traps of “I’m too tired,” plans with friends and family, or just needing some time after the toot is in bed to do something else.  It’s hard!

During the day is just as hard — the babysitting problem.  Our gym does have a day care — $2 for 90 minutes!  Pretty sweet deal!  The last time I took the toot, though, he came down with pink eye shortly afterwards.  Ew.  Our gym has since changed locations, so I’m going to give it another try.  Bottomline: it’s not my favorite option.

Another idea: have a neighbor/friend watch the kids for an hour.  It sounds great and easy, but if your neighbor/friend doesn’t reciprocate, then you just feel like you are using them.  And, every day?  Or even three times a week?  That’s a lot to ask of a person.  If I had family that lived closer, that might be an option, too.  (But I don’t.)

I try to work out at home here and there.  I don’t have any exercise equipment, but I have videos, etc. and an exercise ball.  The toot and I did yoga this morning.  He loves to get on my mat and do it with me.  I think it’s great!

I am resolving to do something exercise-y every day, whether it be actually going to the gym, working out at home, or taking the toot for a walk.  I’m going to try the day care, ask a friend, get up early once a week… something!  I’m going to do it!

I’d love to hear about ideas that you have for finding the time/energy to keep in shape.  It’s a crucial thing for us moms — we have to be healthy and strong to keep up with these kids, not to mention living long enough to see their kids drive them crazy.

Alright, folks, I already miss my Diet Coke… and all I’ve done so far is cut back to ONE a day.  It’s pathetic.

I got home after a crazy day of birthday lunch (Happy b-day again, Katie!), meetings at the office, and north-bound rush hour traffic (ARGH!!!!) to find myself with a serious migraine headache and PINING for a Diet Coke.

It’s probably 90% mental.  Right?

I took some narcotics and managed to feel well enough to go see my friends and their new baby tonight.  Congrats again, Phil & Tiffany!  Your little guy is so adorable.  Sorry – again – that it took me three weeks to come and visit.  (I have issues…)  I will do my best to make it up to you with food and gifts.

ALSO (and I really will put this in a regular card for you, too), thank you so much for the awesome birthday present — a gift card to Heartland Paper Company.  As gifts go, that’s a home run for me.  Thanks, guys!

I got my craft room unburied over the weekend and actually did some scrapbooking, too!  I am seriously starting to think that my hobby isn’t the scrapbooking… it’s the taking of the pictures and the buying of the paper and other embellishments that I love.  Oh, and albums.  And pens.  And things to punch holes with.  Oh, and to haul stuff around in (I got one of those amazing totes for Mother’s Day last year).  Ya know… anything but the actual scrapping. 

It’s sort of an irony, I think.  Scrapbooking REALLY got fun when the toot was born.  But, as soon as he was born, I didn’t have time for it anymore.  What is THAT about?

Happy Monday!  I have some sweet deals to share…

I stumbled across a Graco TurboBooster this morning for $36.24!  Graco TurboBoosters normally retail around $50.  This one is in “Simpson Racing” (very boy) — the regular retail cost listed is $89.99.  Amazon.com has is right now for $36.24.  (Did I mention that?)  Get ‘em while they’re hot!

I also found some Jiffy Lube coupons at www.jiffylubeutah.com.  My Toyota Sienna needs an oil change and inspection.  I can’t believe I’ve had it for a year already.  I still absolutely love it.

That’s what the perinatologist said.  He wants to do some more blood tests to see if it’s a clotting problem (his best guess at the moment) and do a procedure where they shoot dye into my uterus so that can get a good look at it.  His other idea is that when the toot was born, something happened to my uterus that is causing it to not function properly.

I am hoping it’s a clotting thing — easily fixed with heparin.

All of the genetic testing came back normal - yay!

So, more testing.  Stay tuned…

Today, the toot and I are hunkering-down at home.  Another storm is supposed to hit.  I’m going to clean out my craft room, I think.  My parents gave me an awesome scrapbooking table for Christmas, but I haven’t been able to get it organized for all the STUFF in the way!

I’m getting ready to go to the doctor this morning, but thought I would answer a question some of you have asked… “Puddle Jumpers?  What the heck are Puddle Jumpers?”  Check them out here. 

They are the freakin’ cutest toddler shoes on the market.  And that’s my professional opinion.

You can find them in Salt Lake at Jolley’s Pharmacy on 1300 South and 1700 East.