Yesterday morning we parked the car at Spul'u'kwuk's Elementary School. Isaac checked out the school playground (he loves exploring new places) and had a lot of fun. After we walked over to the Sharing Farm in Terra Nova Park to attend the Garlic Festival.
There were some booths set up in the front, a vegetable/garlic/plant market, garlic ice cream, some cooking demonstrations, and some music performances. Isaac made a bee-line for the garden in the sharing farm and walked to the end. Daddy and Isaac walked on through a field to watch airplanes take-off and land. There were picnic tables and benches in the "viewing area". He also had a chance to pet a grasshopper. I walked back to check out the market and picked up some bok choy plants and a gai lan.
Daddy and Isaac tried out the garlic ice cream. Isaac exclaimed that it was "Delicious", but Daddy wasn't so keen on the flavour.
Today, I picked up a couple of planters/pots for the vegetable plants. We potted the avocado seed and transplanted the vegetables into a planter and pot. Isaac helped to water the plants. I think it's too chilly for the avocado to stay outside, so we're keeping them inside, but the vegetables are staying out on our balcony. I damaged some of the bok choy roots when I was trying to transplant them, so we'll have to see if they'll survive.
Update: August 25th - One of the gai lag leaves look like it's withering. And some of the bok choy leaves are flopping over/ going limp. I have them on the balcony under the sun. I've been watering them about every other day. I don't know if they need more or less water or something else.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
A lesson about seeds
August 5th: I was eating an avocado for breakfast this morning and I popped out the pit for Isaac to touch. Then I thought... why don't we just try to germinate the seed to see what happens? Isaac was excited about the idea. I looked up a couple of websites with some suggestions and I decided to wrap up the seed in a wet paper towel and keep it covered and stored in a dark place (by Isaac's bath tub).
I guess we'll have to see what happens. Either it will get mouldy and rot or a root will grow in 2-4 weeks. This could be interesting. :) I was almost tempted to buy a little ceramic pot (with drain hole) so that we can plant it somewhere... but I'll hold off just in case this experiment fails.
I'm pretty bad at taking care of plants so the chances of this working are quite low. I just think it's a good opportunity to show Isaac how seeds grow (and the bigger picture of where some food comes from).
Update:
August 14th: We checked on the seed and it looks like it's formed a crack on one end. I think we've been trying to germinate it upside-down, so I've turned it around and put the crack side on the bottom of the container. I guess we'll have to see if a root starts growing from the crack in a few days. I wasn't really expecting too much, so we don't have a pot or soil to plant it in yet...
Update:
August 20th: I stopped by a small flower shop in Kerrisdale today looking for a cheap plastic pot. The lady was so nice, she transplanted one of her flowers and gave us the pot for free. I think there might be a root growing in the crack, so we planted the avocado seed into a pot with some potting soil.
Update:
September 11th: I kept the avocado in the washroom because it was the room with the highest humidity. I checked on it today and there was a shoot growing out from the top! We had started germinating an additional avocado seed, but I forgot to check on it and it looks like some sort of hold or fungus was starting to grow on that one, so I don't know if it'll survive or not. It had a root growing out from the bottom. I moved it out to a pot with a little bit of soil. I guess we'll see what happens.
I guess we'll have to see what happens. Either it will get mouldy and rot or a root will grow in 2-4 weeks. This could be interesting. :) I was almost tempted to buy a little ceramic pot (with drain hole) so that we can plant it somewhere... but I'll hold off just in case this experiment fails.
I'm pretty bad at taking care of plants so the chances of this working are quite low. I just think it's a good opportunity to show Isaac how seeds grow (and the bigger picture of where some food comes from).
Update:
August 14th: We checked on the seed and it looks like it's formed a crack on one end. I think we've been trying to germinate it upside-down, so I've turned it around and put the crack side on the bottom of the container. I guess we'll have to see if a root starts growing from the crack in a few days. I wasn't really expecting too much, so we don't have a pot or soil to plant it in yet...
Update:
August 20th: I stopped by a small flower shop in Kerrisdale today looking for a cheap plastic pot. The lady was so nice, she transplanted one of her flowers and gave us the pot for free. I think there might be a root growing in the crack, so we planted the avocado seed into a pot with some potting soil.
Update:
September 11th: I kept the avocado in the washroom because it was the room with the highest humidity. I checked on it today and there was a shoot growing out from the top! We had started germinating an additional avocado seed, but I forgot to check on it and it looks like some sort of hold or fungus was starting to grow on that one, so I don't know if it'll survive or not. It had a root growing out from the bottom. I moved it out to a pot with a little bit of soil. I guess we'll see what happens.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
I'm a high FSHer!?!
This morning I woke up remembering part of my dream. I was at the top of a steep slide and there was a bear at the bottom in the water below. I spoke to the bear and said hello to it softly. Then someone else in my dream provoked the bear and it turned angry and tried to climb up to chase us. My heart was pounding.
I used to remember my dreams when I was younger. It was interesting to remember one from this morning. It might mean nothing, but bears symbolize introspection being chased by one means there's an obstacle I need to deal with. The critical side of me supposes that this sort of generic meaning can applied to anything in anyone's life at any point in time. But regardless, it does mean something to me.
I took a cd3 blood test and my FSH number was high (15.3 IU/L). The FSH measure the amount of follicle stimulating hormone in my blood. Having a high number COULD mean that I have a low/poor quality ovarian reserve. From everything I've been able to dig up on this so far, it means I'm likely a bad candidate for fertility medication (though this isn't the route I'm currently considering so I doesn't bother me so much). However, there are also other possible reasons for having a high FSH that I'll need the dr to investigate. I will be repeating this test next month to see what the numbers are.
At the end of the day, it's a big numbers game and the odds are a bit stacked against me. I'm still ovulating regularly according to my BBT charts (and 7dpo progesterone level), but my body might be stimulating fewer antral follicles per cycle so the dominant follicle(s) are chosen from a smaller set and generally it's not as good as if I had more to choose from. I still believe that I can get pregnant, but it'll take longer to find that "good egg". And of course, there's still the 20% chance that everything goes right and the egg gets fertilized. There are a number of women other there with high FSH who are able to get pregnant naturally through timed intercourse and deliver a healthy baby, so there is hope.
I will be requesting an Antral follicle count, AMH, FSH and E2 whenever I next see my gynaecologist. It's frustrating to know that I might have problems and yet not be able to get an appointment to talk to her about it. It's tempting to try to get a referral to someone else, but there will be lag time getting an appointment with any specialist either way. I've borrowed some books about infertility and hope that something there helps me understand more what all these numbers mean and what I can do about it.
Update: I was able to conceive naturally on that cycle with my FSH at 15.3. I'm currently 13 weeks along. I've had 3 scans so far and things are looking good. So if you're reading this and you have a high FSH, don't give up hope. It can still happen for you.
Update: I was able to conceive naturally on that cycle with my FSH at 15.3. I'm currently 13 weeks along. I've had 3 scans so far and things are looking good. So if you're reading this and you have a high FSH, don't give up hope. It can still happen for you.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
My Food Relationship
There's definitely a Love-Hate thing going on. I love prepackaged processed stuff like Mr. Christy's Chips Ahoy! Chocolate Chip Cookies... but I've noticed lately that my body doesn't love it. I get blood blisters in my mouth when I eat the cookies. Same with those yummy chinese bakery pineapple buns. The blood blisters go away after a few hours. I really suspect that I have developed a wheat or gluten sensitivity or allergy. I haven't gone to the doctor about this yet, but I should... soon.
On my EAT list:
On my EAT list:
- Fruits
- Apples, avocado, banana, bell peppers, chayote, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, grapefruits, grapes*, lemon, lichee, lime, mango, oranges, pears, plums, pumpkins, squash, strawberries*, tomatoes, winter melon
- Protein
- Beef, chicken, eggs, fish, pork, shrimp, tofu,
- Starch and Grains
- Potatoes, rice
- Vegetables
- Asparagus, beets, bok choy, broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, celery, gai lan, garlic, green beans, green onions, kale, laver, lettuce, onions, peas, pomelo, potatoes, snap peas, snow peas, soybeans, spinach, sweet potatoes, wakame, watercress, yam
* indicates only in limited quantity and preferably organic/pesticide-free.
On my AVOID list:
- Protein
- Octopus (gives me a stomachache), possibly some crustaceans (I had a moderately strong allergic reaction involving tingling then numb mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, sweating, and increased heart rate due to some spicy seaweed that was seasoned with what was labeled crustaceans)
- Starch and Grains
- Wheat (I'm getting blood blisters and rough scratchy patches in my mouth with I eat something containing wheat), tapioca (stomachache - I don't think I can digest it too well) I think this basically means no bread, pastry, or noodles unless it's gluten-free.
- Lactose
- Ice cream, milk
*sadly waves* Good bye wheat-filled cookies, I'll miss you!
I tried making a gluten-free muffin using almond flour, but sadly the texture wasn't great - it crumbled into little bits and it didn't quite taste right.
Ed's Gluten Free Specialty - 2827 Arbutus St. Vancouver BC - it's gone out of business :(
The Gluten Free Epicurean - 633 East 15th Ave. Vancouver BC
Panne Rizo Bakery and Cafe - 1939 Cornwall Ave. Vancouver BC
Grocery stores are offering a selection of gluten-free products so I'll have to look around and give some of these a try. It looks like IGA might have a decent selection of gluten free food.
There are a couple of bakeries in North Vancouver: Mountain Top Cafe and Bakery and The Sweet Tooth Bakery but the chances of me going up there are pretty slim.
List of Gluten-Free Cookie and Cracker Brands:
First order of business... finding a chocolate chip cookie replacement.
Yes Dr. Lucy's - So far I've tried just the chocolate chip cookies. It's a bit crispier than I like but has a nice sweet taste to it. I would probably buy this again the next time I go to Choices.
Yes Enjoy Life - I really like the soft baked chocolate chip cookies. They are tiny little cookies that are soft and sweet.
No Glutino Chocolate Wafers - I like sweet things but this had a sickening sweet flavour that I didn't really like. Isaac asked for another one, but me I'll pass. I like other Glutino products, just not this one.
No Mary's Organic Crackers - We picked up a box of Double Chocolate cookies from London Drugs today. It had a nice soft texture but I found the taste a bit on the salty side. It wasn't sweet enough for my tastes - so I'll probably pass on this the next time.
No Mi-Del - Found this at both Whole Foods and IGA. It has a buttery taste. It's not very sweet and it has a floury after-taste and texture that I don't quite like. It's ok, but again, not something that I want to eat and eat and eat.
Yes Pamela's Products - Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies. Mmmm... yummy! They are a bit on the crumbly side, but it tastes a bit like the chewy chips ahoy cookies.
I'm not crazy about the taste of rice crackers... so I won't be blogging about those. I'm going to try out some different gluten-free crackers.
Yes Glutino - The Gluten Free Original Crackers taste really good to me (especially with some margarine on top).
No Mediterranean Snacks - While we were at London Drugs, I saw the Lentil Crackers and picked up a box. It tastes ok but I don't really want to gorge on this stuff so I guess I don't love it.
I tried making a gluten-free muffin using almond flour, but sadly the texture wasn't great - it crumbled into little bits and it didn't quite taste right.
Update: I've been looking up Gluten-free alternatives in the Vancouver-Richmond area. Here are places that sell gluten-free products. I will be checking them out:
The Gluten Free Epicurean - 633 East 15th Ave. Vancouver BC
Panne Rizo Bakery and Cafe - 1939 Cornwall Ave. Vancouver BC
Grocery stores are offering a selection of gluten-free products so I'll have to look around and give some of these a try. It looks like IGA might have a decent selection of gluten free food.
There are a couple of bakeries in North Vancouver: Mountain Top Cafe and Bakery and The Sweet Tooth Bakery but the chances of me going up there are pretty slim.
List of Gluten-Free Cookie and Cracker Brands:
First order of business... finding a chocolate chip cookie replacement.
Yes Dr. Lucy's - So far I've tried just the chocolate chip cookies. It's a bit crispier than I like but has a nice sweet taste to it. I would probably buy this again the next time I go to Choices.
Yes Enjoy Life - I really like the soft baked chocolate chip cookies. They are tiny little cookies that are soft and sweet.
No Glutino Chocolate Wafers - I like sweet things but this had a sickening sweet flavour that I didn't really like. Isaac asked for another one, but me I'll pass. I like other Glutino products, just not this one.
No Mary's Organic Crackers - We picked up a box of Double Chocolate cookies from London Drugs today. It had a nice soft texture but I found the taste a bit on the salty side. It wasn't sweet enough for my tastes - so I'll probably pass on this the next time.
No Mi-Del - Found this at both Whole Foods and IGA. It has a buttery taste. It's not very sweet and it has a floury after-taste and texture that I don't quite like. It's ok, but again, not something that I want to eat and eat and eat.
Yes Pamela's Products - Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies. Mmmm... yummy! They are a bit on the crumbly side, but it tastes a bit like the chewy chips ahoy cookies.
I'm not crazy about the taste of rice crackers... so I won't be blogging about those. I'm going to try out some different gluten-free crackers.
Yes Glutino - The Gluten Free Original Crackers taste really good to me (especially with some margarine on top).
No Mediterranean Snacks - While we were at London Drugs, I saw the Lentil Crackers and picked up a box. It tastes ok but I don't really want to gorge on this stuff so I guess I don't love it.
t'm pretty excited that I was able to find GF Betty Crocker Cake Mix at IGA. Guess what I'll be trying out for my birthday cake!? My husband and son made me cupcakes from the mix for my birthday. They tasted pretty good, but needed to have frosting on it so that it'd taste better. I would consider getting it again.
August 25, 2012: Today I tried out the Glutino BBQ Chicken Pizza while my son and husband ordered a regular pizza. I ended up pilfering some of their toppings to add on top of my pizza. The crust was good, but the chicken was dry and I guess my own personal preference is for a more tomatoey sort of sauce... so while I might not get this flavour again, I will likely try another Glutino pizza with a different topping.
August 25, 2012: Today I tried out the Glutino BBQ Chicken Pizza while my son and husband ordered a regular pizza. I ended up pilfering some of their toppings to add on top of my pizza. The crust was good, but the chicken was dry and I guess my own personal preference is for a more tomatoey sort of sauce... so while I might not get this flavour again, I will likely try another Glutino pizza with a different topping.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Unimog Lego Shopping
Weather in Richmond this morning: sunny. As we drive towards Vancouver, large gray clouds loom overhead. As we approach our destination (Toys R Us), hail plunks down on our car. I watch as the little ice balls bounce off the car windshield.
We picked up another lego Technic because M really wants it and is afraid it'll be gone by the time TRU offers a sale on Technics. :p There has been lots of spending on lego lately... but sadly not by me. I'm still waiting for October before picking up the Town Hall for my Christmas present.
Isaac's still trying to make rockets but also makes submarines now. He also likes jets, planes, quad bikes, etc. When M showed Isaac the lego technic box at the store, Isaac said "whoa". I think it'll take M a while to build it over the weekend.
Yesterday M was building a model of the X-wing spaceship, Isaac got tired of waiting for daddy to finish it, so he decided to build his own X-wing (with one of our bins of spare regular lego pieces). I've been looking for more lego from Value Village, but sadly there hasn't been much lately. Maybe I just haven't been going in the mornings when they open - but our current schedule constraints with morning classes makes it difficult. I did happen to see something with a few pieces of lego, but it was mixed with a lot of Tyco and Mega Bloks (which are brands I don't want) - so I didn't buy it. I'm waiting for the garage sales and big kid swap meets to pick up some more random lego pieces.
We picked up another lego Technic because M really wants it and is afraid it'll be gone by the time TRU offers a sale on Technics. :p There has been lots of spending on lego lately... but sadly not by me. I'm still waiting for October before picking up the Town Hall for my Christmas present.
Isaac's still trying to make rockets but also makes submarines now. He also likes jets, planes, quad bikes, etc. When M showed Isaac the lego technic box at the store, Isaac said "whoa". I think it'll take M a while to build it over the weekend.
Yesterday M was building a model of the X-wing spaceship, Isaac got tired of waiting for daddy to finish it, so he decided to build his own X-wing (with one of our bins of spare regular lego pieces). I've been looking for more lego from Value Village, but sadly there hasn't been much lately. Maybe I just haven't been going in the mornings when they open - but our current schedule constraints with morning classes makes it difficult. I did happen to see something with a few pieces of lego, but it was mixed with a lot of Tyco and Mega Bloks (which are brands I don't want) - so I didn't buy it. I'm waiting for the garage sales and big kid swap meets to pick up some more random lego pieces.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
3rd Birthday Party
We had Isaac's 3rd birthday party this morning. We packed up all the food (and a friend picked up the cake from the grocery store for us). Our friend arrived early with the cake. Everyone else started arriving around 10:15am or so. There were some nets and hockey sticks, a slide, some bikes and a party assistant who helped to do some face painting, setup and cleanup.
We had the food laid out on a couple of tables: croissants, cinnamon buns, cookies, fruit platter, vegetable platter, proscuitto, salami, crackers, veggie chips, juice and water. Snacking was "buffet style". Some kids started out having a snack then running around the room for a bit.
We brought 2 bag of books and set them up on the bookshelf. At first I had everyone take turns picking a book, but it was slow (and we were running out of time). We served the cake at around 11:15am. After, I got the parents and kids to pick out more books to bring home. We came home with one bag of books. I will see if there are any that Isaac likes. The rest will be donated to the Animal Protection Society's Thrift Store.
After, lots of people helped us clean up the food. M. moved everything to the car and we went out to the playground so that Isaac could play there for a bit. The weather was excellent today (sunny, high 12 celsius, with a mild breeze). We drove to meet up with one of the friends for lunch by the docks at Pajos for some fish and chips. Isaac liked looking at the boats, water and sea gulls.
He fell asleep on the way home (2:40pm) and I had a nap when we got home.
We had the food laid out on a couple of tables: croissants, cinnamon buns, cookies, fruit platter, vegetable platter, proscuitto, salami, crackers, veggie chips, juice and water. Snacking was "buffet style". Some kids started out having a snack then running around the room for a bit.
We brought 2 bag of books and set them up on the bookshelf. At first I had everyone take turns picking a book, but it was slow (and we were running out of time). We served the cake at around 11:15am. After, I got the parents and kids to pick out more books to bring home. We came home with one bag of books. I will see if there are any that Isaac likes. The rest will be donated to the Animal Protection Society's Thrift Store.
After, lots of people helped us clean up the food. M. moved everything to the car and we went out to the playground so that Isaac could play there for a bit. The weather was excellent today (sunny, high 12 celsius, with a mild breeze). We drove to meet up with one of the friends for lunch by the docks at Pajos for some fish and chips. Isaac liked looking at the boats, water and sea gulls.
He fell asleep on the way home (2:40pm) and I had a nap when we got home.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
To Do List
Just before heading out to choir rehearsal, I couldn't find the main set of car keys. I had it this morning when I took Isaac to school. M couldn't find it when he went to pick up some pizza for dinner so I was the last person to use it. It turns out that it just fell off the counter into a box (hard to spot because the box was filled with a bunch of stuff like blankets, toys, clothes, bags, and mitts). Glad it turned up though. I was a bit worried that maybe I lost it at lunch (I took Isaac out for Pho and stopped by Value Village).
We got into our first pick for Isaac's preschool next year. I need to remember to pick up the registration package and pay the deposit fee. We're putting him in Salmonbellies. It focusses on phonetics. I like one of the instructors, but I didn't get a chance to meet the second one. The room is quite small, so that's another thing I worry a little about. I hope that he won't have too many problems in that class. Our second pick, Rainbow is the classroom next door to his current class. I still have a lot of doubts and I'm still not sure if we made the right choice for Isaac or not. [Picked up the form, still need to fill it out and submit it.]
There are other programs and preschools that run on other days, but I like having the option of possibly going to Strongstart or taking other classes in the morning. Even if Isaac does end up cutting his nap, I just don't think afternoon is a great time for him to be in a structured setting. If the weather is nice, he's better off going to a playground.
I am still considering trying to sign up for cooking class again, but at the moment, the idea of going to Kerrisdale on a Monday and have my choir rehearsals in the evening feels like too much for me on that day. I'm not sure if choir runs year round or if there's a summer break... but I will likely postpone cooking class for the summer since there aren't many other classes that I'm interested in.
My other to-do list items are to round up Isaac's library books and return some of them. I've been borrowing a bunch of them but over the last couple of weeks but have yet to return any books so they're piling up and getting lost in our bedroom. [Returned most of the books, borrowed 3 videos]
I'm still waiting for people to rsvp on Isaac's birthday invitations. So far we have 3 friends who plan to come. Hopefully more people will respond soon. [We are expecting 4 preschoolers, 1 toddler and 1 baby. Still awaiting replies from 9 more families.]
I need to see the doctor to see if he'll make a referral for Isaac. And I want to get some blood tests done for myself. It was too rushed to go today so the next chance I get to see the doctor I like at the clinic is Wednesday afternoon. Maybe I should take Isaac to the mall for lunch after preschool and get on the queue for a doctor's appointment before we eat. Wait times at the walk-in clinic are typically 45 min - 1.5 hours. My other chances are Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon, or Saturday morning. [Went to the clinic today-Thursday, and Dr. C. made the referral for Isaac and gave me my blood test requisition.]
We have a lunch date with a friend at Ikea on Friday. I think we're going to skip the VSO Tiny Tots Friday morning... but then again, it might be fun. They are focussing on speed: presto and largo with the theme: sailing on the musical seas. Maybe we can do both... 9am catch the sky train downtown, 10-10:45am concert, then rush to catch the sky train home - get home by about 11:45am and drive over to Ikea afterwards. Hmmm... timing is tight, but it is do-able. [Bought a ticket for me and Isaac to attend the concert tomorrow. We will rush back for lunch at Ikea.]
The other thing I'd like to remember is to pick up some garlic powder. I like to use it to season pork chops (with soy sauce) and sometimes I sprinkle it on steak... though we mostly just use the Montreal steak seasoning. [Got some garlic powder and pork chops on Wednesday.]
We got into our first pick for Isaac's preschool next year. I need to remember to pick up the registration package and pay the deposit fee. We're putting him in Salmonbellies. It focusses on phonetics. I like one of the instructors, but I didn't get a chance to meet the second one. The room is quite small, so that's another thing I worry a little about. I hope that he won't have too many problems in that class. Our second pick, Rainbow is the classroom next door to his current class. I still have a lot of doubts and I'm still not sure if we made the right choice for Isaac or not. [Picked up the form, still need to fill it out and submit it.]
There are other programs and preschools that run on other days, but I like having the option of possibly going to Strongstart or taking other classes in the morning. Even if Isaac does end up cutting his nap, I just don't think afternoon is a great time for him to be in a structured setting. If the weather is nice, he's better off going to a playground.
I am still considering trying to sign up for cooking class again, but at the moment, the idea of going to Kerrisdale on a Monday and have my choir rehearsals in the evening feels like too much for me on that day. I'm not sure if choir runs year round or if there's a summer break... but I will likely postpone cooking class for the summer since there aren't many other classes that I'm interested in.
My other to-do list items are to round up Isaac's library books and return some of them. I've been borrowing a bunch of them but over the last couple of weeks but have yet to return any books so they're piling up and getting lost in our bedroom. [Returned most of the books, borrowed 3 videos]
I'm still waiting for people to rsvp on Isaac's birthday invitations. So far we have 3 friends who plan to come. Hopefully more people will respond soon. [We are expecting 4 preschoolers, 1 toddler and 1 baby. Still awaiting replies from 9 more families.]
I need to see the doctor to see if he'll make a referral for Isaac. And I want to get some blood tests done for myself. It was too rushed to go today so the next chance I get to see the doctor I like at the clinic is Wednesday afternoon. Maybe I should take Isaac to the mall for lunch after preschool and get on the queue for a doctor's appointment before we eat. Wait times at the walk-in clinic are typically 45 min - 1.5 hours. My other chances are Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon, or Saturday morning. [Went to the clinic today-Thursday, and Dr. C. made the referral for Isaac and gave me my blood test requisition.]
We have a lunch date with a friend at Ikea on Friday. I think we're going to skip the VSO Tiny Tots Friday morning... but then again, it might be fun. They are focussing on speed: presto and largo with the theme: sailing on the musical seas. Maybe we can do both... 9am catch the sky train downtown, 10-10:45am concert, then rush to catch the sky train home - get home by about 11:45am and drive over to Ikea afterwards. Hmmm... timing is tight, but it is do-able. [Bought a ticket for me and Isaac to attend the concert tomorrow. We will rush back for lunch at Ikea.]
The other thing I'd like to remember is to pick up some garlic powder. I like to use it to season pork chops (with soy sauce) and sometimes I sprinkle it on steak... though we mostly just use the Montreal steak seasoning. [Got some garlic powder and pork chops on Wednesday.]
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Birthday Party Planning
It's that time of year again. (We've already received 3 birthday invitations and attended 1 party so far.) Birthday Party Season...
Isaac's turning 3 in March and I've been slack on starting the birthday party planning thus far. However, I was able to book his Twos Time classroom for his birthday party. It's set for March 24th (at the same time as a swap meet at the community centre and I'm hoping to take a peek if I have a chance to sneak away).
To Do:
Guest list and email invitations [check - invitations emailed!]
Decide on theme (if any) - Decorations and loot bag [check - Theme: Books]
Food and Utensils
Cake / Cupcakes [check - ordered a cake from Safeway (Isaac picked a dinosaur themed cake)]
Make a CD with background music
Maybe think up possible game ideas though it's highly unlikely we would be able to do anything really structured. Free play is probably the most I can expect from a group this age.
I've decided to organize a book swap with the other parents we're inviting to the party. I'm not sure if other people will bring books or not... but I hope we'll be able to trade some books. I just sent out the invitations on February 23rd and we have one RSVP attending.
Isaac's turning 3 in March and I've been slack on starting the birthday party planning thus far. However, I was able to book his Twos Time classroom for his birthday party. It's set for March 24th (at the same time as a swap meet at the community centre and I'm hoping to take a peek if I have a chance to sneak away).
To Do:
Guest list and email invitations [check - invitations emailed!]
Decide on theme (if any) - Decorations and loot bag [check - Theme: Books]
Food and Utensils
Cake / Cupcakes [check - ordered a cake from Safeway (Isaac picked a dinosaur themed cake)]
Make a CD with background music
Maybe think up possible game ideas though it's highly unlikely we would be able to do anything really structured. Free play is probably the most I can expect from a group this age.
I've decided to organize a book swap with the other parents we're inviting to the party. I'm not sure if other people will bring books or not... but I hope we'll be able to trade some books. I just sent out the invitations on February 23rd and we have one RSVP attending.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Moving forward after miscarriage
My bleeding has tapered down to spotting. I started temping/charting again when my miscarriage started. This will help me recognize when I ovulate. I believe my body will ovulate when it's ready. I still want to do a blood test just to check my hcg and iron levels before we start ttc.
Anyhow, as we head back on the journey of trying to conceive, I'll have to deal with the obsession and crazy emotions involved. This time around I will try not to do too much symptom spotting unless there's something different than usual.
Even though I've just gone through a miscarriage, I fundamentally still feel that moderation is the key. I won't freak or get paranoid about all the "what not to do and things to avoid" if we get pregnant again. I might feel different if we do miscarry again... but in the end if we have another healthy baby, it will be worth it. And if not, well going through the experience together builds who we are and gives us more empathy and understanding in the struggles others go through also. Things happen for a reason, sometimes it might not make sense to us but we can't change the past. We can only choose how we want to move forward.
Anyhow, as we head back on the journey of trying to conceive, I'll have to deal with the obsession and crazy emotions involved. This time around I will try not to do too much symptom spotting unless there's something different than usual.
Even though I've just gone through a miscarriage, I fundamentally still feel that moderation is the key. I won't freak or get paranoid about all the "what not to do and things to avoid" if we get pregnant again. I might feel different if we do miscarry again... but in the end if we have another healthy baby, it will be worth it. And if not, well going through the experience together builds who we are and gives us more empathy and understanding in the struggles others go through also. Things happen for a reason, sometimes it might not make sense to us but we can't change the past. We can only choose how we want to move forward.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Bleeding
Today I was able to take Isaac to school and get back home without incident. I made dumplings for lunch. Then... It started.
I've been dripping like a faucet and passing some big clots for the past hour. I put on a movie (Wall-E) for Isaac and he fell asleep watching it. I'm great full that I'm not experiencing any nasty cramps at the moment, but I have to say that this is definitely NOT the most comfortable experience to have to go through. I'm also glad that I am in the comfort of my home and M. Is here with me.
I played some games on my DS and tried the read a book, but I'm too tired to focus. Last night was a bit rough because I couldn't sleep. When I looked at the clock, it was already 4am! It's quite boring sitting on a toilet for what feels like forever when I'd much rather be napping!!! Typing on the iPad keyboard is tedious, but that's about the level of concentration I have and it's giving me something to do besides listening to Wall-E.
I hope that most of this will pass within a couple more hours. I've read that once the sac comes out the bleeding should slow down. I wish our toilet seat was cushier.
3:47pm: I am now resting in bed. At around 3pm, I started blacking out. It was really scary. My vision was reduced to black and yellow shadows of light, my ears suddenly muted and I found that I couldn't breathe. I immediately called M to come help me. He didn't know what to do, so he just held me. I started getting numb all over and insisted on lying down. Shortly after, my vision came back, my head cleared and I could hear and breathe normally. Then the cramping started right away. It felt pretty intense. M. tried to give me the Tylenol and 2 Advils as soon as he could. I felt a bit nauseous and wasn't sure if I could swallow them, but I managed to in between my panting. I got M. to call the doctor. After a very long 15 minutes or so, the pain subsided enough and I felt ready to pass the sac. M. brought me a towel to lie on, a pillow and a blanket. After the sac came out and I lay back on the floor. I was feeling cold all over, my hands were still tingly and I was a bit light headed. I spoke with a doctor and she reassured me that the cramping should stop within 24-48 hours. They will be checking up on me tomorrow. After lying on the floor for about 20 minutes, I felt ready to get up. I picked up the sac and opened it up to look at it before flushing it away.
I'm relieved that the worst part should be over now!!! Even though I had to go through a miscarriage, I still want to try for a healthy baby even if there's a risk of having to go through with this again.
Time for me to take a little nap before dinner time. Love and hugs, Vee.
I've been dripping like a faucet and passing some big clots for the past hour. I put on a movie (Wall-E) for Isaac and he fell asleep watching it. I'm great full that I'm not experiencing any nasty cramps at the moment, but I have to say that this is definitely NOT the most comfortable experience to have to go through. I'm also glad that I am in the comfort of my home and M. Is here with me.
I played some games on my DS and tried the read a book, but I'm too tired to focus. Last night was a bit rough because I couldn't sleep. When I looked at the clock, it was already 4am! It's quite boring sitting on a toilet for what feels like forever when I'd much rather be napping!!! Typing on the iPad keyboard is tedious, but that's about the level of concentration I have and it's giving me something to do besides listening to Wall-E.
I hope that most of this will pass within a couple more hours. I've read that once the sac comes out the bleeding should slow down. I wish our toilet seat was cushier.
3:47pm: I am now resting in bed. At around 3pm, I started blacking out. It was really scary. My vision was reduced to black and yellow shadows of light, my ears suddenly muted and I found that I couldn't breathe. I immediately called M to come help me. He didn't know what to do, so he just held me. I started getting numb all over and insisted on lying down. Shortly after, my vision came back, my head cleared and I could hear and breathe normally. Then the cramping started right away. It felt pretty intense. M. tried to give me the Tylenol and 2 Advils as soon as he could. I felt a bit nauseous and wasn't sure if I could swallow them, but I managed to in between my panting. I got M. to call the doctor. After a very long 15 minutes or so, the pain subsided enough and I felt ready to pass the sac. M. brought me a towel to lie on, a pillow and a blanket. After the sac came out and I lay back on the floor. I was feeling cold all over, my hands were still tingly and I was a bit light headed. I spoke with a doctor and she reassured me that the cramping should stop within 24-48 hours. They will be checking up on me tomorrow. After lying on the floor for about 20 minutes, I felt ready to get up. I picked up the sac and opened it up to look at it before flushing it away.
I'm relieved that the worst part should be over now!!! Even though I had to go through a miscarriage, I still want to try for a healthy baby even if there's a risk of having to go through with this again.
Time for me to take a little nap before dinner time. Love and hugs, Vee.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Wait is coming to an end
I started spotting Thursday night and Friday night. We went out for lunch with friends. Afterwards, we stopped by Zellers and I started to feel lots of lower pressure radiating down. We immediately left the store and M dropped me off at home. I took an extra strength Tylenol and an extra strength Advil, turned on my heating pad and am curling up in bed. Hopefully the worst will be over today. 12:22pm Saturday February 11th.
I would've been 12 weeks tomorrow. At least the pain killers are helping at the moment. Last night I was up thinking about all the things I wanted to say. I will save that for a post when this is over. I'm going to play some games for now until that distraction no longer works.
12:55pm The pain has subsided... Or maybe it's just the pain killers kicking in. No bleeding as yet.
4:13pm Still no bleeding. I guess maybe things settled down for now.
I would've been 12 weeks tomorrow. At least the pain killers are helping at the moment. Last night I was up thinking about all the things I wanted to say. I will save that for a post when this is over. I'm going to play some games for now until that distraction no longer works.
12:55pm The pain has subsided... Or maybe it's just the pain killers kicking in. No bleeding as yet.
4:13pm Still no bleeding. I guess maybe things settled down for now.
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