The next chapter in my book...

I am not sure if anyone actually reads these or not, but I still feel a need to share...

I started my journey a little over a month now and boy has it been rough for me. I knew it wasn't going to be easy when I started and I am not expecting it to be, but I really want to see results. I am working out hard and eating clean. Before I get into full detail let me give you a little back story to why I decided to embark on this next chapter in my life...

Since giving birth to my beautiful baby boy I have noticed a dramatic change in my body and have lost myself. I don't remember it being this hard with my first two, which are my princesses. I have tried to start working out many of times and then a week into it I become unmotivated to continue. So, I do what is easy and give up... Not very smart of me, but at least I can become transparent with you all (whoever you are)...

So, once we finally made the decision that we are staying in Nevada, I located a doctor and made an appointment. A little disclaimer (Don't wait until everything in your body is going wrong, I should have went over a year ago before I actually saw my physician, but I was scared to hear what the doctor would tell me).  I had been having chest pains for quite sometime and was always tired and out of breath, even if I was just walking up the stairs to my house. I started to always taste salt in my food (like everything, even if no salt was added to it). I would swell up even though I have always watched my salt in take (I cant even wear my whole wedding ring, I am only wearing one band). Always dizzy and very off balance. I knew things were off with myself.

I met with my doctor and explained all my concerns and he actually listened to me (I have worked for many doctors that don't). He ordered tests and sent referral's immediately. He told me that it would take a few weeks of course to get approvals but, in the mean time to go do blood work.

Although I have not been to all my appointments yet because they don't have many new appointments open right away, I did get my blood work back. I received a letter in the mail explaining that I am pre-diabetic and some instruction for me, also that I needed to follow up with my doctor as soon as possible.

I meet with him and we went over a few things that I could do to insure that I wont become a diabetic. Foods to stay away from, as well as some exercises that I never knew could help. I went to MA school (Medical Assisting) and never heard that weight training and resistant band training can help the diabetes flee. I have also changed the way that I eat. I am very consistent with watching all starches, because they are very bad for you.

So while I am still waiting on future tests for all my other issues I figured now is the time to get healthy.

A few things that I have changed:

• no fried foods
• no soda or added sugar drinks
• cutting out white rice, pasta, potatoes and white bread
• nothing greasy
• working out (at least 30 mins cardio everyday, and weight training/resistant band as well)
• WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER
• did I mention WATER!!!

There is a lot that is going into this journey but, this is just some of it. I have a beautiful family that needs me and how can I be here for them if I am not healthy? I cant. So, I would love to start an accountability group, If anyone reading this is interested please let me know, and I will do a blog about it... 

Thank you all for taking the time to read  my blogs and know that I love you all for reading... TTYL!!!

10 Best Mommy Must Haves

As a mom of three kids, I have tried a lot of different products. Some of which I cant live with out and some that I wish I never spent my money on. If you are a new mother or a mother to be, I promise these products will do you justice.

1. Medela breast pump. (There are a million different types you can make the decision based off what you considered to be needed).
2. Ergo carrier
3. Britax traveling system.
4. Lanolin nipple cream.
5. Tommee tippee bottles.
6. Bebe Au Lait nursing cover.
7. Burt's Bee Calming body wash, and lotion.
8. California baby bubble bath (Aromatherapy).
9. Nose Frida (I used this when little man had RSV, it did wonders).
10. Honest company diapers and wipes (I don't use anything else).

Now of course to each is own, but for me these are products that I stand 100% behind. I cant go wrong with any of them.

I love my Medela breast pump. I use the heck out of it, especially when little man was so sick in the hospital. I would pump so that I could leave enough milk for Shawn to feed him. I had to travel back and forth because I had 2 other kids depending on me as well. I am in love with it. When I first had Sariah I bought a cheap one, and boy did I make a mistake there. It had no suction and kept breaking.

You all know my love for the Ergo carrier. I am always using it.

The other day as I cleaned the house I put Logan in it and it put him to sleep. Sometimes you have to work with what works. I would not waste my money on anything but an Ergo, and that's not wasting money. I know that he is safe in it and that he is comfortable. Nothing can beat this.

My Britax traveling system has everything that you need for the baby. It comes with the car seat base, the car seat and the stroller (which is the best part of the whole thing). I wasted a lot of time and money with strollers. I probably have bought at least 10 strollers in my kids life time because they just weren't reliable. I wont go back.

Lanolin nipple cream soothes your sore cracked nipples. Now some say if your nipples are
cracked then your doing it wrong. Not true. Mine actually cracked from using the breast pump and feeding him. My nipples were on over drive if you can understand that. I used other creams and they were greasy and didn't really sooth me.

Tommee tippee bottles are amazing. I use the ones that specialize for colic and reflux babies. It really does make a difference. Logan
is very picky when it comes to a nipple. He likes the Medela bottles as well, but they cant surpass Tommee tippee... They make all the different sizes as well and babies r us always has a sale on them.

Bebe Au Lait nursing cover is a must for breastfeeding mothers. It keeps you 100% covered up and is airy

enough for the baby to keep cool. Also in the inside it has two terry cloth pockets so that you can keep extra breast pads or pacifiers. It is cool. This cover allows you to nurse your baby comfortably in public without worrying who can see (although I didn't care who saw, just being honest).

Burt's Bee Calming body wash, and lotion go hand in hand with the California Baby Bubble Bath (Aromatherapy). Not only do they smell amazing, but they work. When little man is tired at night and ready for bed. I give him a bath using these products and sure enough it puts him right to sleep. I wish I would have found these products with the girls.

Nose Frida is probably one of the coolest things invented since sliced bread (thank you Kendra). When Logan was sick those bulbs the hospital used didn't work for anything. Besides the fact they deep suctioned him we needed something that would work in between. This never once failed me. It grabs all buggers and snot. No people you cant actually get them in your mouth. I only wish that I would have came up with this product...

Honest company diapers and diaper wipes are my favorite for so many reasons. My favorite part about them is the cute designs that are on my babies butt.... OMG they have so many to choose from and I want them all (wait I do have them all). The are bio- degradable and safer for the environment.

Logan has very sensitive skin and huggies make him irritated. He gets very red and swollen. Pampers do the same thing to him. I was buying the sensitive pampers in the beginning because he was so small and the honest company would swim on him., but even those started to irritate him. I love these and am so glad that I found them. I wont go back. A big plus is if your order them online you get way more bang for your buck.

I hope that this will help you when shopping for your baby or setting up your registries for the baby shower. I love each product on here. They are not in any specific order they all stand out on there own.

Original Baby Carrier: Ergobaby Best Seller Review

Original Baby Carrier

Colors: Black / Camel, Black Exterior with Camel Lining/Hood

Price varies from $115- $195 Depending on the style.

When looking for a baby carrier you aren't only looking for a cute style, you are looking for safety, and comfort for you and the baby. This being my third child I knew what I wanted. I had tried the baby Bjorn (hated it). I tried a baby sling (loved it). The problem with the Bjorn was my baby looked uncomfortable and I felt uncomfortable.  The baby sling had a lot of recalls due to deaths in babies (scary as ever).

Baby insert for your Ergo carrier

Don't let the prices scare you away. Think of it as a investment. Baby wearing is something that people have been doing forever, but it seems as though the last 5 years it has started to become more of a trend. I myself am totally in love.

Now when your baby is first born you are going to want to purchase the infant insert. Don't worry it isn't expensive at all. Only $25 for it if you want just regular, $38 if you must have organic. It is well worth it if you want to baby wear right away. Which I did. With the infant insert there are two stages for weight and age. 0-2 months (7lbs) the babies feet are in like a cocoon. Once they are around 3-4 months their feet are out but, their bottoms are sitting in on the little pillow. (This is all depending on how big your baby is). I stopped using the insert with Logan at 2 months because he was getting too big.

Some will continue using the pillow that is in the insert for what they would call a transition from the insert to just the Ergo alone. I didn't because I felt the Ergo itself was very safe and comfortable for him. To each is own. You make the decision off of you and your babies comfort. I am in absolute heaven with this product, and only wish that I had this when I first became a mom.

I look for any excuse to take Logan out of his car seat so that I can wear my ergo. No lie, it is that comfortable and I feel much safer with him right on my chest. It is easy to put on and adjust to your comfort level. A big plus is that your hubby can wear the baby too. It extends around the waist and the shoulders. So it is a win win all around. You can wear your baby in the Ergo up about 45 lbs. They can be on the front, back or even on your hip.

There are some great videos on YouTube demonstrating how to use the Ergo. Check it out if you are looking for a great carrier. You wont be disappointed. Remember Safety is key as well as comfort. I also think that the Ergo look much better than any other baby carrier. Hope this helps...

Logan in the Ergo about to get his first shots.