Good Friday Afternoon!
I was really hoping my family was going to be immune to all the "new age" food allergies, fads and diets. It doesn't look like it is going to go my way but that is okay.
LJ has eczema. I'm sure 9 out of 10 kids have some form of eczema and it ranges from minimal to severe. LJ is somewhere in the upper middle part of the scale. I was doing some more research on ways to handle eczema outbreaks without all the steroid creams and medications. While looking into some more healthier alternatives we also noticed he did not handle certain foods very well. Specifically, he did not handle drinking milk with Nestle Strawberry Syrup. 99% of the time he would throw part of it up and 100% of the time his skin would break out. **I only realized this after all my research**
After looking over the ingredients my husband, Coder (nickname), thought it could be the Red dye they use. We decided to not give him any of the strawberry syrup and only stick to chocolate syrup. His stomach issues were better but he continued to break out in rashes.
Since I am entering my 3rd trimester of twin pregnancy my wonderful mother came down for a week to give me slight break from the boys and house work. I mentioned the strawberry syrup to her and why we aren't offering it to LJ.
**She is a veteran teacher and is always talking to parents about changing the diet of the children on medication for ADD/ADHD instead of popping pills all the time.
She mentioned this to me since she noticed the boys do not sleep well (by not sleep well I mean going to bed late, up in middle of night, and up before 7:00am with very little napping.
Upon doing MORE research and digging I began (and still in the process of) learning about RED 40 intolerance/allergy and the side effects of the dye. I couldn't believe what I was reading. On all the webpages, blogs and medical sites they all said the same thing: linked to behavior issues. I was in shock!
Who knew that feeding my kids simple, easy, kid friendly foods could cause some of the behavior issue I was dealing with. I am not going to blame it all on the dye and assume that changing their diet will "fix" anything. I do believe it is a starting point and it is a healthy one!
Today marks the first official day both boys are beginning the RED 40 free diets. I am making a food journal for them and writing down everything they eat and when. I'm keeping the notebook in the kitchen for easy access. Whenever I fix a meal or snack I write down the time, what I prepared and after they finish I write down how much they ate.
By taking this extra step I'm seeing exactly what they are eating and I'm also keeping myself accountable for what I fix them. Major label reading is my new future and hopefully rashes and tantrums will be our past.
Since this is the very beginning of the journey expect more posts about RED 40 and how we are dealing, if it works and the results we are finding.
Praises to Him,
Angie K
Friday, June 12, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Discipline Is Not For Sissies
I don't think I have fully introduced you to my little men. For my own reasons I've given them nicknames:
J-Man will be four this August and LJ will be two in July. J-Man is very cautious, a picky eater, and loves all things boyish. LJ is fearless and throws caution to the wind. He eats everything in sight and is in a huge copycat stage. LJ has recently began his venture into the "terrible twos" stage. I'm not a big fan of the title "Terrible Twos". I prefer longer titles like: finding the lines to cross, discipline deserter, and "no" is not for me.
Now, we are strong believers in disciplining our children the way God intends us to: with a loving and firm hand. If you are wondering, yes we spank our children. No, we don't automatically spank them for every behavior incident but there are times we do spank first before other consequences.
Proverbs 13:24 NIV
Hebrews 12:11 NIV
Proverbs 22:6NIV
J-Man will be four this August and LJ will be two in July. J-Man is very cautious, a picky eater, and loves all things boyish. LJ is fearless and throws caution to the wind. He eats everything in sight and is in a huge copycat stage. LJ has recently began his venture into the "terrible twos" stage. I'm not a big fan of the title "Terrible Twos". I prefer longer titles like: finding the lines to cross, discipline deserter, and "no" is not for me.
Now, we are strong believers in disciplining our children the way God intends us to: with a loving and firm hand. If you are wondering, yes we spank our children. No, we don't automatically spank them for every behavior incident but there are times we do spank first before other consequences.
Proverbs 13:24 NIV
Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
**It breaks my heart each and every time I discipline (spank) the boys. I hurt for them and have sometimes even cried with them but I know this is what will help them become the men I know they can be.
Hebrews 12:11 NIV
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
**We as parents have the responsibility to raise our children in a world where God is barely existing in homes anymore. Our children will eventually leave home and begin their own live and families. How do I want my children to live and act when they are teenagers and then adults? I want them to have a loving relationship with us, their siblings but most importantly with God. By teaching them not only the "commands" of Christ but also to walk along side him we are giving them a wonderful gift!
Ephesians 6:1-4 NIV Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
**We work with our children to help them make good choices as they grow. We are not a spank and be done family. We talk together, we listen together, we read the bible together, and we pray together. Even though the boys are still young we are working to give them a positive and christian start to their lives.
Proverbs 22:6NIV
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Praises to Him,
Angie K
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Pregnancy: Pleasant vs Painful
Okay ladies! This one is for you!
How many of you have been pregnant? How many times? Once, twice, several? I am getting close to the beginning of the third trimester of my third pregnancy! Here's the catch though...this time I'm having twins!!!
Twin girls to be precise and I haven't decided if this go round has been more pleasant or painful verses my last couple pregnancies. Obviously there is going to be a difference these last few months but since the beginning of this one it hasn't been too bad!
Let me explain my first two pregnancies and birth:
My first pregnancy was amazing! No morning sickness/nausea AT ALL, no worrisome calls or visits to my physician and very little aches and pains. I did swell a lot towards the end but it was just water retention. Delivery was a whole other ballgame. We had to induce. For a couple weeks before delivery I was in prime condition to go into labor. 100% effaced and 4cm dilated!!! I stayed like that for two weeks! Induction time came and little man still took his time. 12 hours from start of pitocin (induction meds) to when the baby came.
I know that isn't as long as some women labor but my body was ready...the baby not so much. In fact, he decided to give us a little scare. His heart rate dropped 3x and I ended up pushing for an hour in the OR only to be wheeled back to my room and push some more after things calmed down and then little man made his debut!
My second pregnancy was a little more challenging. Again, no nausea or morning sickness but we did have a few hospital visits and extra ultra sounds. I got dehydrated from a stomach bug and later on in the pregnancy I passed a kidney stone. This time my little monster decided he wanted to come early. In fact he decided to time his arrival almost perfectly. By perfectly, I mean he decided to arrive on our wedding anniversary! Labor and delivery were much shorter. In fact, the labor pains weren't all that bad but consistent enough for me to call and get admitted. Just a few short hours later he was here!
This time it is much different in both good and bad ways. I haven't been having really bad pains except for the normal round ligament pain and I was only nauseous/morning sickness for a week at the very beginning. Now I will say I am HUGE. Yes, I am very large but it is expected when carrying twins. I'm almost the size I was at the very end of my other pregnancies but I've still got about 10 weeks to go! Now that I am getting farther along and getting close to the third trimester I've noticed some pretty big differences:
Shaving has already become quite a challenge. I'm having to get out of the shower and sit on the edge of the tub to shave my legs. Shaving "down there" has been a feat all on its own!
Being intimate with the hubby has now become less romantic and more comical. We still enjoy our time together but having to accommodate my growing belly has forced us to become creative much earlier than other times.
Attempting to by clothes that will still look cute, help beat the summer heat and fit towards the end is brand new challenge for me! I've decided the people who make maternity clothes needs to make a line of shirts just for moms carrying multiples! I may end up having to take my grandmother's advice and invest in some moo-moos. (Picture the gowns that old ladies wear around the house or nursing homes...).
Have you had many differences in your pregnancies? I would love to hear your pleasant or painful pregnancy, labor and delivery stories. Our bodies do amazing things and knowing that each one of us is different and unique but still built to create and delivery life amazing me!
Praises to Him,
Angie K
How many of you have been pregnant? How many times? Once, twice, several? I am getting close to the beginning of the third trimester of my third pregnancy! Here's the catch though...this time I'm having twins!!!
Twin girls to be precise and I haven't decided if this go round has been more pleasant or painful verses my last couple pregnancies. Obviously there is going to be a difference these last few months but since the beginning of this one it hasn't been too bad!
Let me explain my first two pregnancies and birth:
My first pregnancy was amazing! No morning sickness/nausea AT ALL, no worrisome calls or visits to my physician and very little aches and pains. I did swell a lot towards the end but it was just water retention. Delivery was a whole other ballgame. We had to induce. For a couple weeks before delivery I was in prime condition to go into labor. 100% effaced and 4cm dilated!!! I stayed like that for two weeks! Induction time came and little man still took his time. 12 hours from start of pitocin (induction meds) to when the baby came.
I know that isn't as long as some women labor but my body was ready...the baby not so much. In fact, he decided to give us a little scare. His heart rate dropped 3x and I ended up pushing for an hour in the OR only to be wheeled back to my room and push some more after things calmed down and then little man made his debut!
My second pregnancy was a little more challenging. Again, no nausea or morning sickness but we did have a few hospital visits and extra ultra sounds. I got dehydrated from a stomach bug and later on in the pregnancy I passed a kidney stone. This time my little monster decided he wanted to come early. In fact he decided to time his arrival almost perfectly. By perfectly, I mean he decided to arrive on our wedding anniversary! Labor and delivery were much shorter. In fact, the labor pains weren't all that bad but consistent enough for me to call and get admitted. Just a few short hours later he was here!
This time it is much different in both good and bad ways. I haven't been having really bad pains except for the normal round ligament pain and I was only nauseous/morning sickness for a week at the very beginning. Now I will say I am HUGE. Yes, I am very large but it is expected when carrying twins. I'm almost the size I was at the very end of my other pregnancies but I've still got about 10 weeks to go! Now that I am getting farther along and getting close to the third trimester I've noticed some pretty big differences:
Shaving has already become quite a challenge. I'm having to get out of the shower and sit on the edge of the tub to shave my legs. Shaving "down there" has been a feat all on its own!
Being intimate with the hubby has now become less romantic and more comical. We still enjoy our time together but having to accommodate my growing belly has forced us to become creative much earlier than other times.
Attempting to by clothes that will still look cute, help beat the summer heat and fit towards the end is brand new challenge for me! I've decided the people who make maternity clothes needs to make a line of shirts just for moms carrying multiples! I may end up having to take my grandmother's advice and invest in some moo-moos. (Picture the gowns that old ladies wear around the house or nursing homes...).
Have you had many differences in your pregnancies? I would love to hear your pleasant or painful pregnancy, labor and delivery stories. Our bodies do amazing things and knowing that each one of us is different and unique but still built to create and delivery life amazing me!
Praises to Him,
Angie K
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Greetings random readers!
I’m so glad you have stumbled upon
my blog. I am quite new to the writing and posting side of the blog world but
love to find and read other blogs. I hope you enjoy your read and will venture
back another day!
For starters let’s get to know each other! I am a SAHM in
Austin, TX. I have two boys ages 3.5 and 1.5 and we are expecting identical
girls sometime in August! My wonderful hubby works as a software developer/IT
support guy. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and assisted/taught
for about 4 years before staying home full time. I love to crochet, bake and
get sucked into the wonderful world of Pinterest. Here on my blog I plan to
post on several different topics such as: meal planning, budget for one income
family, raising boys, having twins/girls and home projects just to name a few. I
hope you stumble back again soon!
Blogging Newbie
(for now!)
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