Almost done with nursing

Kind of funny.  Kind of made me almost cry. I've been nursing for almost 9 1/2 straight years.  I would take a few weeks off every few years before the birth of my next baby.  That's really all though.  Sleepless nights of nursing babies for years and years.  I'd dream of a few nights in a row without a baby on the boob.  Then, came my surprise tonight.  

So, I'm drying up.  It hurts to nurse due to hormones, not much milk, and Z's teeth.  Tonight I tried nursing and it lasted 30 seconds.  Popped him off and his meltdown ensued.  

After he calmed, he snuggled and asked for boobies.  I told him Mommy's boobies hurt.  His tummy hurt today, and I reminded him, then told him Mommy's boobies hurt.  He seemed to understand.  Then, he glared at me and I said nicely, "it's not my fault".  

His eyes.  Lol!  They rolled sooo far back that I was waiting to see the backs of his eyeballs.  He just laid in my arms.  Eyes rolled up.  He then drank some milk from his cup, snuggled, and he would get sleepy.  Then we would smile at each other.  We did that several times until he fell asleep.  Then I got sad.  I felt like crying.  What if this was the end?  No more boobies for Z.  

Every morning we play a game.  I say "I.  Love..." then he finishes it with mom, dad, or this morning the first answer was "BOOBIES".  Lol!  He does love his boobies.  I will be happy and sad to stop nursing Mr Z.  I'll miss that time together.  It's 15 days away from his 2nd birthday.  He's my longest nursing little one.  I'm done.  Maybe not 100% emotionally, but I'm ready.  It's just a matter of him being ready.  

Kombucha - Trying this again

I decided to give my journey into the world of kombucha a second try.  The first time I tried it, we will just say that I didn't care much for it.  It was too vinegar tasting for me.  It didn't matter how long or short I brewed it.  It then molded within the first month.  I have no idea what happened, but it was all bad.

So, I'm trying again.  I'm on my second brew.  I have my second ferment going with my first brew.  Right now we have grape Jun and grape Kombucha, as well as one grape/blueberry Kombucha bottled up.  

What is Kombucha?  Let's venture into the website from House Kombucha.

"Kombucha is an ancient fermented tea-based probiotic beverage.  Kombucha has been revered as a healing tonic for at least 3,000 years.  It is believed to provide healthful micronutrients and bacteria beneficial to digestion, detoxification and immunity.  Worldwide, people make and drink kombucha for the way it make them feel, alive, healed and replenished."

What are the benefits?  Let us look at Kombucha Kamp.  This is an amazing site for all Kombucha questions.

"However, Kombucha Tea is JUST A FOOD – a naturally carbonated, healthy tonic enjoyed by those who brew and consume it regularly, often throughout the day in small doses. People are usually very loyal to their daily Kombucha consumption, and consider the drink healthy for a number of reasons, such as:

*Contains living bacteria and yeast
*Substituted for sugary sodas or multiple trips to the coffee pot
*Acts as a snack or pre-meal hunger control
*Alkalizes like vinegar or lemon juice – balances internal pH
*Compounds in the drink may bond to and help excrete toxins from the liver – happy liver = happy mood
*May speed metabolism
*The acids present may improve digestion or alleviate constipation
*Improved flexibility & fluidity of movement
*Smooth energy from low levels of tea
*Relieve headaches & migraines
*Antioxidants & polyphenols from the tea are partially fermented and so more bioavailable
*Kills h.pylori on contact
*Certain acids present are considered candida-cides..."

Here is a picture of my Scoby (the "mother") and my Kombucha Tea.

This is how I make it:

Make 3 quarts of boiling water. Dissolve 3/4-1 cup organic sugar (or reg sugar, or honey but not raw) in the water. Put 4-6 tea bags in. This can be green tea, black tea, or any tea that doesn't have oils added. Let it steep until the tea is cooled. Remove the tea bags, pour the tea into a gallon jar, add in your scoby, and cover the top of the jar with a towel or coffee filter. Then you wait 7-10 days. When it's where you like it, pour all but 2-4 cups of the kombucha liquid out, and start over. 

The kombucha you poured out can be drunk right away, or you can bottle it with fruit to make flavored "pop". 

So, I'm currently trying again.  We shall see how it goes.  Let's hope I don't have any exploding bottles.  Ha ha ha

Working out and preparing for my second 5K!

I'm posting a lot.  I have a lot to say, and do what to cram it all in one post.

I've been reading into my exercise routine.  Hannah and I ran Week 3 Day 1 of the 10K Trainer yesterday.  It was easier than I remembered it being.  It was a 90 second run, 3 min run, 90 second run, and 3 min run.  It doesn't seem like a lot, but it is when you haven't run a lot.

However, we have only 10 weeks before the 5K.  We should be well into the 10K Trainer by that point and running over the 3.1 miles.

I'm also part way into my 30 Day Challenge (30DC).  I am up to 16 pushups (don't laugh), 38 squats, 38 bridges, 85 second plank, and 16 tricep dips.  It goes up daily, so tomorrow will be higher.

What else?  DDP Yoga as well.  I'm not as good at keeping up with it, but I'm trying.

Hopefully I will be getting in better shape by the end of the summer.  :)

I will also add that I am amazed at how the endorphins from working out help with stress.  Wow!   Several weeks in and I'm relaxed.  I'm happy.  I'm stress free.  I love it.


I'm adding my before pictures. This was from Feb 12, so I'm not updating for a while.  If I ever have anyone read this... Sorry.  I have pictures.  Hey!  I've had 9 kids.  Leave me alone!  Ha ha ha!

Measurements:

Feb 13, 2016

Full hips - 41.5
Belly (button) - 38
Thigh - 25
Arm - 13.5
Calf - 15
Underbust - 34.75
Bust - 38
Neck - 13

Anyway...

Chili and Game Night

Tonight we are going to have a fun little night.  I've been so excited all week, craving chili.  I'm making it now.  It consumer a few hours.  Then we get to eat.

However, an unexpected delivery came today.  I was getting a board game sent for a review.  Amazingly, it came today!  It took less than 48 hours to get here.

Soooo, tonight we are playing our constitution trivia board game!  I'm really looking forward to it. It will be a fun historians for the kids schooling too!

A Positive Attitude

It's amazing how a positive attitude can change so much about your life.  It's been almost 6 months since my last post.  I have worked hard at changing my trot use and bettering myself.  I have managed to pull myself out if the funk that I had slipped into.  Instead of focusing on the negative I've worked on making my life better.  I am concentrating on the positive, and the positive has multiplied in my life.

I am doing amazing with my kids.  My patience is so much better.  My relationship with my hubby has grown exponentially.  I am flirting and snuggling more.  Something I had stopped doing.  Everyone is happier, and life is amazing right now.

I have learned to down out the bad thoughts and to listen to the happy ones.  I am still not where I want to be, but I'm getting there.

I am a great person.

I am a great mother.

I am a great wife.

I am a Daughter of God.

I am worth all the good in the world.

You are too.

I Have A Strange Addiction

I'm addicted. Yep. I started last October. I get free items, or items for $.01+ to test and review. I've become one of the top reviewers on amazon in this time. I've stopped getting most of the little things. It just adds up and becomes clutter. Too many boxes (I was getting a ups package daily for a while). I now try for the things I would love to try and have. I'm down to one ups delivery a week. Really slowing down a lot. 

I have a collection of essential oils, oil diffusers, cooking items/gadgets/skillets, several French Presses (super since I break mine off and on), about 25 pounds of coffee, food and spices, canning equipment. I have clothes I've reviewed, amber teething necklaces, toys (kid and adult), cloth diapers, baby wraps and ring slings...

Then a Kindle Fire HD. 

Now that I'm a top ranked reviewer, I can pitch for bigger stuff! 

Toady I got my projector!

I'm so hooked. It's a lot of fun to write and blog about all the thing you like, dislike, and would change about a product.

Legoland and Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City

It's been a while since I posted.  So much is going on, and I'll talk more about that in another post. 

We had such a fun trip the other day!  On Tuesday (June 26) we took a trip to the city.   Unfortunately my husband had to work.  However, my mom came with me and the kids.  We were given 4 free tickets to Legoland Kansas City and to Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City in exchange for a review.  We also purchased our 2 adult and 3 additional children's tickets for the rest of us.  Then the 2 little ones were free since they were under 3. 

We started off going to Legoland.  My kids have been asking for years to go there.  Actually, asking since before Kansas City had a Legoland.  We were supposed to go last week, but the brakes went out on our van, so I had to disappoint them and reschedule for today.  They patiently waited, and today they got to go!  They were so excited.  

We drove around for a while looking for parking, and finally decided to pay for parking at Union Station. We then went to Crown Center and I got some of the kids to pose with the Lego people. 

We then got our tickets.  The lady at the counter was so helpful and found the best price for us.  I was super happy with how much she helped us.  

There was so much to do in there.  There were rides to go on. 

There were Lego exhibits to look at. 

Then, there was also a play area for the kids to let loose and burn off some energy. 

They also had some areas with activities where you could build Lego sets and have the option to purchase them.  They weren't running those workshops at the time we were in there.  

I was impressed with Legoland, and my kids had a blast. 

We then went to the other side and visited Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City. 

I was just amazed at this place.  My 2 oldest went to an aquarium in Utah last year.  They said the Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City was a lot better.  

The fish exhibits were beautiful.  

The jellyfish!  I was so excited to see them!  The lights changed colors, and that changed the color of the jellyfish. 

I love the seahorses!  One of my favorites!!!

The kids got to pet the star fish.  They loved that!

The lady there even picked one up gently so my little girl could pet it. 

Then, there was my favorite area.  We went under the water.  We had the fish swimming over the underwater walkway. Even my baby Z loved it. 

A shark and giant stingray pass one another above us. 

They also had the Octonauts area for kids to explore.  

We then had the last few aquarium exhibits.  Some of the tanks the kids were able to interact with. 

 

Then we ended with the play area to run off that last bit of excited energy. 

It was such a huge day of fun.  We made it through both in 3 hours.  We could have EASILY spent another hour in each place.  You are able to just wonder through both places at your own pace.  My daughter mentioned that if she could ask for one thing to make the aquarium better, it woul be a stingray petting area.  Otherwise, it was just fabulous.  

Legoland was fun.  The kids loved it, but I felt that Sea Life Aquarium was more educational, more stimulating, more interactive, and held the kids attention much longer.  If I was to pick between the two, I'd choose the aquarium.  

While Legoland was fun, the aquarium was amazing.