How To Lose 10 Pounds In A Week

(TL;DR - I had a my gallbladder removed, complications, another surgery to remove stones and put in a stent, had another surgery to remove stent. As of now, life is good.)

When I wrote this post I had no idea that I'd endure 5 more months of unnecessary pain, and occasional suffering. Turns out, I had gallstones that ultimately caused a severely infected gallbladder because it went undiagnosed for 9 months. NINE.

Apparently, pregnancy can cause gallstones. Who knew? Certainly not me. And I suspect that neither did the young ER doctors (residents?) I saw at 3-weeks-postpartum who ran a couple of tests and sent me on my way with a diagnosis of muscle spasms.

This hospital room (and one other) was my view for nearly a week at the end of October and early November.

On the 26th of October, I had a serious gallbladder attack that I thought was muscle spasms. I hadn't had an episode that bad since around April. I was writhing in pain, throwing up, and trying not to freak out. Ultimately, with Zac's help, I rode it out and was able to fall asleep. My mom came the next day to stay with us so she could help me with Aiden, since my back was shot. This time was a little different than the other attacks, because I never really recovered, even after a few days had passed. My back never felt better, and I was essentially bedridden until my next attack.

After Zac got home from work on Tuesday the 29th, I was feeling worse and had an eerie sensation that I was about to have more spasms. I rolled over in bed to try getting comfortable, and here came the pain. In a matter of 20 minutes, I was literally screaming and moaning in pain, throwing up, and trying to figure out what to do. It was far and away the worst pain of my life. I'd made a doctor's appointment for the upcoming Thursday, but we both decided that I needed to go to the emergency room instead of waiting it out like the other times.

The ride to the ER was horrible, as the slighest movement caused me to feel worse. After waiting for a room for what seemed an eternity, I was finally able to see a doctor. Thankfully, after a few hours my pain subsided as they treated me. Thank God the doctor thought to order an ultrasound, because it revealed the cause of my tough postpartum life: gallstones, and an infected gallbladder. He said it was good that I hadn't waited even another day because it was so bad. He told me I'd need emergency surgery, and all I could think about was that I hadn't shaved my legs in days. Shit.

I was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and had my gallbladder out a few hours later at 2am. I apologized to everyone, from nurses to doctors, about my hairy legs, and they just laughed. My surgeon smiled and said "that's the least of our worries."

They let me go home on Halloween, but it didn't feel quite right. My liver enzymes were really elevated, but they had gone down since I was first admitted, so they would just do another draw at my follow-up appointment.

I was focusing on not throwing up the whole drive home. I spent the next few days feeling absolutely miserable: vertigo, nausea, couldn't eat, couldn't drink, couldn't get out of bed. I was unable to spend much time with Aiden, and I was barely able to breastfeed him. I was worried that my breastfeeding journey was about to come to an abrupt end, and it broke my heart. I called the nurse hotline a few times to make sure my symptoms were normal, and one even suggested that I visit the ER again (it was a Sunday), but I wanted to wait until my appointment the next day.

I met with my doctor, gave some blood, and was actually starting to feel a bit better. They had to send out the blood for testing because their labs were down that day. At 10pm, the phone rang, and it's the doctor saying I need to go back to the hospital. My liver enzymes shot back up, but at least I could wait to go in until the next morning. I started to shiver from being nervous.

Okay, honestly, I'm getting tired of writing this novel, so I'm gonna try and summarize from here on out. I got to the hospital, it took 4 different people to get an IV in my arm because I was so dehydrated. They didn't let me eat or drink for 3 days. I had an MRCP, 3 HIDA Scans, and then an ERCP to remove remaining gallstones and they had to put in a temporary stent from having been so infected. I wasn't able to see Aiden that whole time (didn't want to expose him to hospital germs), and I missed him terribly. When I got home, I cried as soon as I saw him.

Temporary stents are removed within 4-6, and mine was taken out last Thursday. I was slightly nervous, considering nothing about my whole situation has been a normal case or gone as planned. But other than dizziness and fatigue, I feel great! I was pretty shocked at how good I felt afterward, and I was even able to eat a celebratory steak dinner.

I'll have another blood draw this week to make sure my liver enzymes are at normal levels, and if that goes well, this whole nightmare should be a thing of the past. Considering how good I'm feeling, I'm very hopeful that I'll get good news.

I'm ready for this to be all but a distant memory.

10 Months

On the 21st of November (yeah, I'm a bit behind), Aiden turned 10-months-old! I've really noticed in the last few days that he's turning into such a little boy compared to the baby that I've grown to know; and it's just going by way too fast.

The last 5 weeks has been incredibly difficult for our family due to my emergency surgery, 2 hospitalizations, and subsequent recovery (more on that in another post - eventually). But now that I'm starting to feel more like myself, I've been able to enjoy my guy even more.

In just the last week or so, he's been pulling himself up like crazy and cruising the furniture. He's even taking steps while being assisted! It's like once he got it, he got it.

This year was his first Thanksgiving, and I was really excited for him to be a part of the celebration. Serving him the same traditional meal that the rest of us were eating made me very happy. I think, again, because he's turning into a little boy, and now he gets to be part of the fun stuff.

 

Aiden had another height check on the 22nd when he got the 2nd part of the flu shot, and apparently he grew an inch in a month! I know he grew, but I'm not convinced it was a whole inch. Maybe I'm just skeptical because the way they have to measure babies isn't very scientific. So at 10-months and 1 day, he measured 26" in height and weighed 16 lbs, 11 oz. 

The fact that he's so tiny is making it very challenging to find winter wear. All of the 12 month sizes are way too big, and even the smaller sizes too! If you didn't know, baby clothes sizing is all over the place. For instance, this jacket is sized 3-6 months, but it looked just as big as a 12 month size that I had to return. Aiden wasn't a fan.

As I'm sure you could guess. That's getting returned too.

I'm really looking forward to the Holiday and Winter season. I can't wait for Aiden to experience his first snowfall, and for him to tear open his first Christmas gifts. I'm sure the paper will be more interesting than the gift itself, but that's fine with me. As long as I get to see a big smile on his face and his eyes light up, all will be right with the world.

Recipe: Chocolate-Cinnamon-Raisin No-Bake Energy Bites (Great Lactation Aid!)

Dude Von Dudenstein. These no-bake energy bites are legit. Seriously, I'm in love. I wanted to start off with a double batch, but decided not to if I didn't like them that much. I immediately regretted that decision! I love the subtle crunch the chia seeds give, and I'm having a moment with Costco's Saigon Cinnamon right now. It's probably the best cinnamon I've ever tasted or smelled. There's just something about it. And no, you don't have to be breastfeeding to enjoy these. Even my husband liked them!

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Chocolate-Cinnamon-Raisin No-Bake Energy Bites

1 1/4 c oats
1/2 c peanut butter
1/3 c honey
1/2 c chocolate chips
1/4 c raisins
1/4 c flaxseed meal
1/4 c chia seeds
1 tbl brewer's yeast
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

I dumped all of the dry ingredients in a big bowl, and then lightly combined them before adding the wet ingredients. (Not necessary to do it separately, but I just wanted to make sure it was all evenly incorporated.) 

Mix everything together. Roll into 1" balls (the heat of your hands helps bind the ingredients). Chill & store in the fridge for up to 1-week.

Yield: approximately 28
Nutrition Info: Per Bite (based on 28): 91 calories, 12g carbohydrates, 4g fat, 3g protein, 7g sugar, 22mg sodium 

Adapted from this recipe

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I entered the ingredients into this nutrition calculator. (Next time I'll halve the chocolate chips; I also think mini chips would be perfect.)

Because of the brewer's yeast, these are perfect as a lactation aid. Traditional lactation cookies that call for brewer's yeast are known to be more effective if you eat the dough raw, so this essentially the same thing. You could even up the amount of brewer's yeast in this recipe, but you'll have to remember the taste will be more potent. Or, you could omit it all-together. That's the beauty of this recipe: do what'cha like. I'm all about customization. I'm already coming up with different variations in my head!

Out of Place

Ever since the late stages of pregnancy, my back has been giving me trouble in one way or another. At the end of my pregnancy, it felt like my lower-back/spine was compressed, and I couldn't get it to feel right.

When Aiden was 3-weeks-old, I had a really bad scare with a strained upper-back and ended up in the ER. At first, I wasn't sure what was going on, because all of the sudden I was feeling a burning sensation in my back, I was throwing up, and I could barely breathe. The pain was intense and unrelenting for at least 30 minutes. It was the worst pain of my life, even worse than labor! At one point, I actually called 911 (for the first time ever), because I was alone, and could barely move. I was fearful for not only myself, but for Aiden. I didn't want anything to happen to him if something truly was wrong with me. I'm not a dramatic person by any means, so for me to even consider calling 911, it has to be bad.

After a while, the pain began to ebb-and-flow, which made me realize it was back spasms, and not something worse. I still went to the ER to make sure nothing else was going on, but that's what they deemed to be the cause of my pain, as well. I've had 3 other very intense spasm episodes, but I've been able to keep it in check a little better lately.

 

Let's just say that taking care of an infant with a bad back can be quite a challenge. For the first few months of his life, I was very hesitant to take him anywhere by myself in case I had more spasms. And it took me about 3 months to feel confident enough to take him out on my own.

Fast forward to last week, and suddenly my lower back is causing me problems again. It feels like I need to pop, or stretch, but I just can't get it loosened up. Sometimes I end up walking like an elderly person, or hunched over because it's so tight and compressed. Whenever I walk up stairs, or roll over in bed, I can feel something click. That... can't be good.

It's been suggested to me that I visit a chiropractor. There are few things in life that freak me out, but the popping of bones and joints is one of them. I wonder if my nerves would prevent me from reaping the full benefit of an adjustment. 

I just know I need to do something. It's preventing me from being able to exercise as much as I want to, get out as much as I want to, and babywear as much as I want to. It's just getting in the way of my LIFE. I'm over it.

Thankful Thursdays: 3

Seems as though it's been quite a while since I've written one of these, but here goes ::

1. Big Day for us tomorrow! We're having "the" ultrasound, and will be finding out the sex of the baby. I am so excited for this moment. I think it'll definitely feel more real once I know if it's a little boy or girl wrigglin' around in my tummy.

2. I've had a teeny, tiny problem with my lady-parts over the last few months. I'd developed a cervical polyp during the first 13 weeks. Generally they're not removed during pregnancy to prevent complications. At my last check-up, it had grown, and my doctor recommended that I have it removed. Well, I was worried and nervous and scared for the unknown. Would it hurt? Would I have any complications? WOULD IT HURT?

I'm so happy to report that during the removal this morning, it did not hurt at ALL. I didn't feel a thing, and I was beyond thankful for that. I said prayers last night and this morning, and then did some deep breathing to stay calm. It certainly worked! Phew!

3. Our sectional from Macy's is already done and will be delivered next Thursday! Sadly, they didn't have an earlier delivery date that fit our work schedule, but considering they're ready about 3! weeks ahead of schedule, I can't complain too much. I can't wait to be comfortable in my living room again!

4. Today was the first eye appointment I've had in about 3 years. I like my new doctor, and the fact that they had my contacts in stock, so I don't have to wait to get them! I'm also going to get some new glasses, as my old ones are definitely ready to be replaced. It's the little things that make me happy. I like being able to see.

I'm Alive!

Whoa. Where did the last 25 days go? I am finally(! I think) starting to come out of the coma that I've been in for the last 2 months. I don't fall asleep as soon as I get home from work every night (just some nights for a little nap). And I generally feel a bit better.

What's killing me, though? My allergies. Holy cow, the snot. Sorry for TMI, but firreal. It's driving me INSANE. I naturally have allergies 100% of the time, all year long. And now that I can't take my Allegra, it's just misery. The past few days have been full of sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes.

I'm taking Zyrtec, because it was deemed more safe than Allegra, and it is just. not. cutting. it. I have nausea every morning, and end up throwing up all of the post nasal drip goodness from the day & night before. (Again, sorry for the visual). I learned that pregnancy actually exacerbates all of the symptoms I already get from my allergies, and it's no lie. BOO ON THAT.

But, there are things to be grateful for. Like, the fact that I don't generally feel nauseated all day, and SOMEHOW, I've only gained 1-2 pounds thus far. Confession: I haven't been to the gym since the week before I found out I was pregnant. It's been 2 MONTHS, people. I was sick with a cold the week before I found out, and then right after I found out, I was a little paranoid about over-doing it and causing a miscarriage.  After a while, I wasn't worried about causing a complication, I was simply TOO TIRED to even think about exercising. I know I've fallen out of shape, but now that I'm starting to get my energy back, it is time for me to get moving.

I'm 14 weeks and 4 days, which means I've finally hit the 2nd trimester. I'm excited for all that this trimester brings, because I have some serious to-do lists to tackle before this baby's here!

The First Time I Turn 29

Today is my 29th birthday. The last year of my 20s. Just typing this seems really crazy to me. Almost as crazy as the notion that I'm currently growing a tiny baby inside of me. It's quite surreal.

Normally, I'd be at work right now. But a few weeks ago, I decided to request the day off, and just have a "me" day. So far, my "me" day has consisted of laundry, doing some dishes, and a little bit of tidying up. I'm embarrassed to admit that this is the most housework I've done in nearly a month. I simply don't have the energy.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I knew that I'd be tired. But I had no idea how tired that I'd become. I mentioned it a little in my last post, and it certainly hasn't gone away. If it's a workday, once I get home, I'm done. I can't keep my eyes open. Last night, I got home from work at 6:45. By 8pm, I was truly fighting to keep my eyes open, and I slept on the couch until 11:30, when I finally got ready for bed. Rinse, repeat. Every day.

I'm so beyond thankful to have such a wonderful husband who has seriously picked up the slack. Not only does he do it all- he doesn't get angry, or resent me for it. How lucky am I?

Later this evening, we're meeting up with some friends who are visiting from Idaho. We're going to have dinner with them in Seattle at 6pm, and we get to meet their 2-month-old daughter for the first time. I'll be honest though, I'm just hoping to stay awake. Fingers crossed!

The Biggest Secret of My Life

I haven't been blogging much over the last 3 weeks, because I've been keeping a secret.

On May 20th, I found out that I'm pregnant with my first child. As the line began to turn blue, I said "holy sh*t" probably fifty times in the span of one minute. When I told my husband after I was SURE the test was positive, he gave me a big hug and we did an awkward high five. We were in shock. I've had irregularities in the past, so we weren't even sure that we'd be able to conceive.

The pregnancy has been pretty much the only thing that's been going on for me, and since we couldn't tell anyone yet, I became kind of a hermit. That, and the fact that I'd been completely and utterly exhausted once my work day was over. The other night, I fell asleep on the couch at 8 pm. I woke up at 10 and it took me a half-hour to muster the energy to go upstairs and get ready for bed.

Nausea hasn't been an issue for me until a few days ago. In fact, it's taken me 25 minutes between the last two paragraphs because I'm feeling decidedly woozy. The nausea doesn't usually result in anything, it's just a nagging feeling. Not fun. I'm ready for the 2nd trimester pick-me-up. I'm tired of being tired!

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We didn't keep it a secret from everyone. We actually called our parents about 20 minutes after we found out that I was pregnant. I was disappointed that my brother wasn't able to find out right away, because he was on vacation in Poland. Luckily, he was coming back a few days after we found out.

We couldn't wait to tell him in person, so I called him up. After the 100th time of him yelling "unbelievable!" I knew that I needed to record our phone conversation. It was hilarious, and touching at the same time.

I could've kept recording, but it probably would've filled up all 16GB on my iPhone! To answer the question at the end of the video, I'm about 8.5 weeks. (At the time, I was 5 weeks). We initially planned to wait until 10-12 weeks to tell anyone else, to be in the "safe zone."

But, we had our first appointment yesterday, and the doctor yesterday said that everything looked great. She told us that if I didn't have any complications up to this point, it should be no problem telling the world. We got to see our baby for the first time- see and hear its little heart beating a mile a minute. 

I still just can't believe it sometimes. And then I remember every time I can't fall asleep, even though I'm exhausted. Every time I can't stay awake, even though I have to get up. Every time my husband looks at me with pure love in his eyes, and then rubs my belly.

So here I am, announcing it to the world. We're having a baby! And we couldn't be happier.

Lovely Lady Lumps

Let me preface this by stating that I am absolutely fine.

I haven't shared this with anyone except for a small handful of people, but 5 weeks ago, I came across a lump in my breast. I've been doing self-exams for some time to familiarize myself with what things should feel like. There is a strong history of breast cancer, and cancer in general on both sides of my family, so I've always wanted to be pro-active about such things.

I made an appointment with my OB/GYN for May 11th for a check-up and breast exam. My doctor didn't feel any unusual lumps, but referred me for a mammogram and ultrasound to make sure everything was all right. Being that I'm not yet 29, I'm not a normal candidate for either procedure. Typically, mammograms aren't recommended until 40.

My appointment was this morning at the Breast Health Clinic. I kept pretty calm about the whole thing all week. My biggest concern was how much the mammogram would hurt. The receptionist last week told me that times have changed, and it doesn't feel like it used to - and not to worry. Well, I took her advice. Normally I'm a worrier and a daydreamer of all things that might go wrong. But, I didn't worry, or dwell on it. And let me tell you this: mammograms AIN'T NO THANG.

After the first image was done, I said "wait... was that it?" Seriously, it didn't hurt in the slightest. Sure, I don't have gigantic breasts, so that might be part of it. But it's really just a slight pressure for a few seconds. NICE.

"Is it a girl or a boy?"

Immediately following the mammogram was an ultrasound for each breast. Not exactly what I pictured for my first ultrasound, but hey, things happen. "Is it a girl or a boy?" I asked the technician. She laughed, and then I realized she probably gets that a lot. No one likes hearing the same dumb things while they're on the job. Trust me, I know.

This whole process took about 10 minutes. Then, the technician left so she could get the results from the radiologist and I could clean myself up and get dressed.

I waited no more than 10 minutes to find out that everything came back normal, and no other tests would be needed. I'll just need to keep an eye on the things, and if nothing changes, I won't need another mammogram until I reach 40.

That couldn't have gone any better, and I'm so glad to have peace of mind now. Everything is gonna be all right.