Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful Holiday!

Santa Came Early!!!

Clean Scans for ME!!!

Hoping For The Best!

All I Want For Christmas Is...

All I want for Xmas is... A Clean Scan!! 

Having my 1st follow up scan today for my Thyroid cancer.  Nerves are setting in. I mean I feel pretty good since I have been off meds but who am I kidding it's been an awful ride. I haven't gained much thanks for doing gluten free and then low iodine- yuck I know but at least I am only mildly puffy.

So I went to my local hospital and took 7 tablets by mouth because there is radio active material on them so I can not touch them. I took them, drank my glass of water and have to go back this afternoon. During scan you cannot move. You need to stau still. So of course my eyes will be wondering toward the screen to make sure nothing lights up! 

They say I am safe to be around the children's but not to hold the baby up to my chest. Of course when I get home my middle one is screaming "UP, UP!"  So I bribed her with a mini ice pop and she left me alone after that. 

Gratefully my mom will have them soon so I don't have to worry about holding them. I am extremely lucky for the help and support system I have. 

I keep thinking.. It's ok if anything returned you'll have to just have another treatment and everything will be ok. I am more worried about my kids then me. I want to be healthy for them so I can take care of them. 

Once I get the ok I will definetly be going out for a cheeseburger, shakes and fries!! Wish me luck!!

Best Feature A Woman Can Have

Happy 4 Months My Little Angel

She's so calm and sweet and snuck into my life like a bundle of treats. She smiles and makes you feel so complete. She doesn't look like my husband or I With her big blue eyes that are still a mystery as to who she will be. My little one is now four months. Happy four months to an amazing baby who heals my soul and really brings all of us joy!

3 Step Journey to Having Three Kids

First Child

Everything is new. I was on bed rest and it was an awful pregnancy but I was so happy because it was new and I was pregnant and had this baby growing in my belly. She made a  "Mom" I was the best mom or would like to think that my first born was amazing because I was amazing. It wasn't because of me, she was who she was. I helped bring that out but she came out that way too.  She slept. She was sweet. We did everything together. I took her every where with me. Life was easy, even though with your first it is the hardest change.

Second Child

You began to feel you would be missing out with alone time with your first and guilty that you would not be able to love and give your second as much as you gave your first. You think "could I possibly love her as much as her older sister. " you start to understand the connection your parent has with her first and try to build it with your second all while you're still pregnant. 

Once she arrives all changes. Of course you love her as much as your first. She's another creation that is a different variation of who you and your husband are. You don't want her compared to her big sister.  You want her to be accepted for her own unique personality. You track her milestones not as best as the first but you try your best. You cannot image a third because how could you handle a third.

Third Child 

I never planned on a third- well at least not so soon. You're a little over the pregnancy thing and then as it inches towards your due date you think "OMG this is my last pregnancy. Maybe we should have a fourth". Once you realize you never napped like you could with pregnancy one and two the thought of another pregnancy disappears real fast. 

You hope your clothes from previous babies still look good to reuse- I lucked out having three girls so they could use each other things. You definitely don't go buy new maternity clothes. You think "I am sorry baby. I don't think I even talk to my belly and don't want you to think yelling is my permanent voice."  You feel sad your middle child is no longer the baby and she will now be labeled the "middle child" which she always acted like one but felt you could change her. You cling onto your middle one and try to baby her because well we all know once the baby comes she is no longer the one getting all the attention.

Milestones...you intend to write them down and like to believe that you will remember. Which we all know you won't.

Having Three Children

You wish your house was bigger so they all could have their own personal space. You don't rush the youngest growing up because she will walk and talk and be Independent soon enough. You try to take your first out once in a while alone so she doesn't resent not having any alone time with you.

Your second amazes you with her fast learned independence. She thinks and acts and does things like her big sister but in who own way. She wants to grow up fast and you take moments out of your day to try to sit with her so you can play with her and take in those special moments. You actually start to read books about having multiple children and how to handle different personalities. 

Your third, well mine at least, is calm and normally always some where her sisters can't fall on or touch so normally the pack an play while you try to shower and make dinner and clean and pack lunch and give the others a bath. 

When you pass by she looks up and smiles because for the quick second you finally make eye contact. You often apologize to all of them for wishing you could make each happy all the time but we know that is impossible. At night when the older ones are asleep you take out the play mat and play with her. You notice then how much she's already changed and grown and is rushing to be like her two older sisters. 

You love them all the same but enjoy their company doing things that they enjoy. They are NOT all alike but you cannot image your life without them. They are all your favorite in their own way.
 

Once Alone Time

Once you get a minute to yourself you miss them all. You miss the chaos and need for you to help them. You feel overwhelmed with gratefulness to have them. You realize you wouldn't change anything and they are three complete different variations of who you and your husband are. You rush and clean the house, cook and run errands so when they finally get home you think you will finally have time to give them all your undivided attention- which we all know is nice to think but can never happen because you are now and will always be a mother to three kids!

One More Week - Life Off Thyroid Medicine

One more week to go. Man this week has been tough! I have been off my meds for 3 weeks and on the low iodine diet for a week. My body is starting to really feel the withdraw of thyroid medicine now.

Symptoms:

* Metallic taste in mouth

* Hot flashes 

* Dry scalp 

* Loss of appetite

* Bad headaches

* Insomnia

* Extreme body aches

* Mood swings

* Puffiness

* Feeling mushy

* Brain fog

It's awful. I am beginning to now know what my doctor meant when she told me I will " feel like I'm torturing my body." 

Being a mom to three is tough enough so feeling like this on top of it adds more stress. My girls really have been great. I even gave my oldest a heads up incase I didn't seem like myself. I hate to have her think I am on a special "diet" for weight loss. I explained to her that I need to eat this way to make sure scar on my neck is ok. I never say Cancer in front of her. I do not want it to worry her. She understood. She even wished me luck on my first day!

It's really important to have a strong support system or someone who understands what you're going through. Gratefully I do. My mom has cooked a couple of meals for me and helped even more with my kids.  My dad has helped with bringing my oldest to school so I don't have to bring the younger two out in the cold. I have a friend with thyroid issues that I thank god for. I can turn and vent to her whenever needed. Don't ever do this alone!

Food Always Makes Everything Better:

In my life food always makes everything better. Here are some dishes that has been helping me. All made with organic and fresh ingredients and low iodine salt. 

Orange juice & banana smoothie (1/2 cup oj, 1banana, 1/2 cup water and ice blend together) and fried egg white sandwich on low iodine homemade bread. 

Low salt pasta with homemade low iodine sauce. (Sauté onions and garlic in Olivie oil, brown meat loaf mix add fresh diced tomatoes. Let simmer 20 mins. Add low iodine salt per preference)

Low iodine stew with beer. Add all the meat potatoes veggies to crock pot  Add 2 cups water. Oregano. Table spoon Olivia oil. Low iodine salt. 1 bottle dark beer. Cook low 8 hrs. 

Organic celery with no salt added organic peanut butter and raisins. 

Some of these recipes were inspired from the thyca.org. Low Iodine cook book. 

http://www.thyca.org/download/document/231/Cookbook.pdf

Stop Chasing The Wrong Things!

Parenthood:I Must Be Doing Something Right!

95% of the time they are happy kids. Makes me think I must be doing something right!