A Little Update And Some Home Made Soup

Good evening friends!
How was everyones Tuesday?

It was a very productive day. Four more loaves of bread were made (thanks, Darling Rose), a double batch of cornmeal muffins (thanks again DR), this home style chicken noodle soup and some biscuits that our 15-year-old daughter made as well.

This is the first time I made the soup this way. I used some home made whole wheat noodles that had been sitting in the freezer for like two months. I also used a bag of chicken that had been sitting in their for a few months too. I added my broth, onions, carrots and canned corn...and it was unbelievable!

Everyone loved it!!

My daughter cooked up some biscuits. These actually use white flour, but they look wheat because we ran out of white and had to knead it in wheat flour.

So, those are my two pictures for today.

Now for the update with my maternity appointment.

When I met with this midwife this morning, I got to talking to her about her kids and forgot to ask her some questions. Also, she did not do a physical exam to see if I was dilated, if my cervix was softer ect.. So, after I got home I felt annoyed with myself for forgetting my questions and not asking to be examined. I told my husband about my frustration. So, he suggested I just call her back and ask her those questions. So, I called back, got some really good answers AND set another appointment for this Thursday to have a physical exam.

Lets be real here.

Ive got less than two weeks now before my due date and I dont want to have to wait another whole week to see if Im even dilated. I would be just too annoyed with myself for the next seven days.

But what I do now know...

She thinks the baby weighs around 6 1/2 pounds. My abdomen measured 38 centimeters as compared to last week where I measured 36 centimeters. So, my abdomen measurements now match the weeks along that I am.

Remember those stomach pains? Well, I asked if there were any side effects to taking Evening Primrose Oil tablets. The side affects can be that if you take too much: "nausea, vomiting and GI distress".

You know what GI distress is, dont you? Gastro intestinal distress. I would heartily describe my stomach pains as GI distress. One of the directions for taking those evening primrose tablets is to take it with food. So, there must be something in it that can affect my stomach. What I do now is to just take two tablets a day instead of three. I havent had any pains in the last two days.

See?! I didnt need the GasX! Ha, Ha!!!

There didnt seem to be any adverse affects from the raspberry lea tea extract.

Oh, I was leaving the clinic this morning from my appointment and in the elevator, when a gal with a newborn stepped in too. Her little baby girl had just been born on Friday, the 15th, a month early. It was her first baby. I asked to see her; this little girl looked so precious and delicate. Perfect little fingers, nose, and mouth. My heart just swelled with the joy and anticipation of soon being able to see our baby boy too.

The mama said she was on her way out to go shopping for her baby.

In the meantime, with all the cooking, I did stumble on my diet again today. I actually had a slice of white bread with some home made strawberry jelly. And I had a small biscuit. And then I had a small coffee with sugar and cream.

So, its back to a new day tomorrow.

Again, thanks for all your comments!

Hope your Wednesday goes well!

Sincerely,

Sunshine Mama

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Some Small Talk

Hello, this is a little update since its been a few weeks!

Im due in eight weeks, which just seems still like a long way away. Today is Saturday and the temperature hit 60 degrees. I love this spring weather! But that also means I have to pull out some short- sleeved maternity clothes.

I havent been working out. Im tossing around the idea of doing some home work-outs. But Im realizing that this pregnancy is just one of those where Im simply not as in shape as I was in the last pregnancy. Ive had those pregnancies before, and once Ive had the baby, I simply put my nose to the grindstone and start making goals. One of those will be a half marathon in September. I figure that Ill be able to start running by July which will give me 12 weeks to train for it. Im due on May 6th.

Speaking of this little baby. This girl is very active. Now all of her movements feel big and when she moves you can literally see it happen on the surface of my belly. The kids think its great!

I havent gone all out on clothes shopping for her yet. Im waiting to score some really good deals on garage sales first. But Im very excited about all of the cute little girl clothes out there. And when the time is right, this little lady will have a nice wardrobe.

Hope youre all enjoying your weekend!

Sincerely,

Sunshine Mama

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Quick! Some fun stocking stuffers before it is too late

I know - I have been remiss.  I will only say that Ive been sleeping very little, working very long, cooking lots, raising kids, which means that you, poor reader, have fallen much to the wayside.  Mea culpa.  Its been a hard trek these past few weeks and it doesnt look like it will get easier in the immediate.

However - I did have some fun stocking stuffers I wanted people to think about getting for some loved ones - these are great gifts and fun things to throw in all the holiday mix.  Im probably too late to help most of you, but maybe this list will help one of you and it will be well worth the time I put in to put it together.

Cookbooks

Ted Allens Cookbook - Love this book.  Love the layout.  (recipe and photo for almost every single page.) I love his voice, his writing style, and his FOOD.


Kimchi Chronicles -Youve seen the series and here is the book. I love the personal connection that Marja Vongerichten clearly feels for the food of Korea.  The recipes are comprehensive and the photography lush and gorgeous.


The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook - Famous blogger (WAY more famous than I) gets her recipes in a book, that she says has more of her timeless recipes in it.  If you love her blog, youll love this book.


The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook - I am always studying and thinking about new baked goods.  here is a book that Ive been drooling after, but havent gotten...yet.


Gadgets and Tools

Candy Thermometer -  if you ever plan on making any of my caramel bars, youll need one of these to help facilitate the candy making.  If youre a fudge maker or any sort of caramel/toffee maker, this is a necessity.


Liquid Measuring Cups - My friend gave me these as a hostess gift and I LOVE them.  Ive been using all three sizes just to measure things out before I have to cook and just to facilitate quicker more precise measurements.  The three different sizes means that you have options in terms of how big of a cup you want to wash.


Half Sheet Pans - this is one of my favorite hostess gifts to give because no one ever thinks to themselves that they want to buy new cookie sheets or sheet pans. (I am this way as well.)  I love gifting these because these are designed to go the distance and any time your gift recipient uses it theyll think of you.  These are durable, reliable, and oh so pretty and handy to have around in any kitchen.


Utensil Set - Husband recently gave me these as he knows of my obsession with good kitchen utensils and the color red.  Its a nice color pop in an otherwise pretty drab kitchen and I love the wooden handles and all these utensils.  So pretty and so functional.


Mini-prep Food Processor - I love mine as it is small enough to leave on the counter and it is powerful enough to chop up herbs, garlic and ginger, and can even be used to process small amounts of protein.  Since it is so small and easy to clean, sometimes I just power through all my garlic and ginger chopping (of which there is a lot in my kitchen) in this piece of equipment.

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Seven Days And Counting Some Things Are Happening

Hey there folks!

Just wanted to update you on the latest news. I dont want to get anyone unduly excited here, but I went into my appointment today and they measured me at 2 to 3 centimeters dilated and 50 percent effaced. So, that means that the contractions that I was having last night were actually causing some dilation and effacing because Thursday I was not effaced at all and I was only one centimeter dilated.

Also, my abdomen measured 39 centimeters consistent with how far along I am. She was able to move the babys head up, so hes not completely settled into position. She guessed that he was seven pounds.

Ive continued to have contractions today, much more than usual...much more compared to maybe having a half a dozen in one day. Ive probably already had a dozen or more short ones.

But the contractions are short and irregular. And, to me, they dont hurt that much. I dont consider going into the hospital until they are regular and the pain reaches a point of seemingly feeling "unbearable".

But Ive decided to pack everyone up, and have called my mom to see where shes at.

Just in case.

Oh, and tonight I think we may fix french toast, or pancakes and eggs, bacon and OJ. For the last four births...I kid you not...that was my last meal that I would eat before going into the hospital. Ha, ha.

Of course, I would throw it all up after I got there...but it sure tasted good going in.

And if this baby doesnt come by tonight, I will hit the gym again and even get in some kind of bouncy cardio since my leg work-out last night caused an increase in contractions.

Later folks!

Sincerely,
Sunshine Mama

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Happy Thursday! I Found Some Positive

Happy Thursday folks!
Are you hanging in there?

Yesterday I talked about trying to find the positive in situations when it comes to getting through the first several weeks of this weight loss/fitness journey.

Today it occurred to me that sometimes taking the spotlight off ourselves and focusing it on others may just be another remedy for making the time fly faster.

Take me for example. I have plenty of kids to focus on in my life. And catching a snapshot of Mr. Lovely sucking his thumb...well, that just makes me very happy. Very positive. Ha!

How about another angle?

Can you believe hes ten weeks old today?
I didnt even weigh him.
He might be 12 pounds by now.

Ahh...so anyway,

I think good conversations with friends, helping others, doing some deep cleaning organizations...other things that make you feel good...may just help you feel a little more in balance with the whole "waiting-for-the-next-ten-weeks-to-go-by-while-I-drop-this-weight-feeling".

I mean... who wants moments like this to go by fast?
Make your moments today count!

Have a good one!
Sincerely,
Sunshine Mama


Today, I ran 2 1/2 miles, got in a 45 minute leg work-out and got in 1,848 calories. Oh, and I actually gained 4/10 a pound. So, now its 6 1/2 pounds lost in ten days.

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