Acid Reflux

The weeks before Cora started her acid reflux medicine were the hardest days of my life so far. She couldn't sleep, was in constant pain, and nursed 12 to 13 hours a day. I am so thankful for God's grace and healing, medicine, and amazing family support. Below I'm listing things I want to remember in case my next baby has acid reflux or of a friend needs advice.

1. See a pediatric GI specialist. It's worth it to have some one who sees and helps babies with reflux all day.

2. Use the medicine! It took 4 days to see a difference and 7 for a complete change.

3. Go to a pharmacy that specializes in compounding. People's pharmacy has been so helpful and knowledgeable about Cora's meds. Also, try different flavors. Cora hated the strawberry, but loves the grape.

4. Use lactation resources. The lactation consultants at St. David's have been so supportive and encouraging! They do free weight checks and have warm line where you can call in and get advice!

5. Ask for help. Everyone knows you need help the first few weeks home from the hospital, but for me the hardest weeks were when her acid reflux started. I would not have survived without the help of Max and my mom.

6. Pray! Before the meds kicked in Max or my mom would take Cora for an hour to give me a break I could hear her scream in pain. All I could do was pray. I would lay in bed and pray starting with her head and moving all the way down to her toes. I prayed for peace and comfort. Sometimes I just cried, but God heard both of us.

7. Memorize scripture. Not sleeping and nursing all day broke me down. I just felt frustrated, lonely, and exhausted. When I was getting angry I repeated this verse, "For the spirit God gave us ... gives us power, love, and self discipline" (2 Tim 1:7) and "...He gently leads those that have young."

8. Find the gear that works! For Cora that has been a rock and play, mam pacifiers, Velcro swaddles, her car seat and a crib with the mattress tilted up.

9. Look for encouragement! I go back to my sister's blog and read what she wrote about each of her babies during this time. It just helps to know other moms feel the same way.

10. Take each day one at a time. Yes, eventually it gets better, but hearing that didn't make me feel better. I just had to think of making it through this one feeding or this one hour because if I thought about tomorrow I was overwhelmed.

Motherhood

10 weeks with my sweet tiny girl in my life and my whole world has changed! I'm sure that motherhood will change me in many deep and profound ways, but today I marvel at the little ways this girl has changed me.

1. My voice - I've always been loud. I had one setting - "I will be heard." My parents were joking the other night that Cora taught me what they never could, to speak softly. I've never been asked to repeat myself so much (and remember I was a teacher). My default mode now is a whisper.

2. Driving - I don't like it. I have always avoided it at all costs. In college I would let my friends drive my car just so I wouldn't have to. Before Cora I couldn't tell you the last time I filled up the gas tank or drove for more than 20 minutes every once in awhile. Now, I drive everyday for at least 40 minutes. I'm not driving to get some where our do some thing, I'm just driving. Cora loves the car and will only go down for naps if I drive her.

3. Queso - I love dairy. I could make an entire meal out of chips and queso (and must admit multiple times have). It's not just queso though, I love cheese sticks, Greek yogurt, and cereal. Unfortunately, dairy and Cora don't get along. Good bye dairy. Ooh and good bye gluten, but that one isn't as hard. Don't get me wrong, I miss gluten, but at least that one I'm used to giving up because of Max.


Cora, my love, I am so happy that you are here and that you have already changed me so much. I can't wait to see how you grow and change and how God uses you to change and conform me.

Recipes

This weekend I got bored. I am not exactly sure why … I had plenty to do. I went straight from work on Friday to Belton to see friends. Saturday, I woke up early to clean my apartment and then my grandparents came over and took me out for lunch. Next I went to the pool, then curled up with a good book, and of course took Ranger out for his 100 times a day potty breaks, but alas no weekend is complete with out me in the kitchen. I made veggie soup, chocolate chip cookies, biscuits, banana bread, and some rotel diced tomato chicken. I LOVE all of these recipes and would make each and everyone of them on a daily basis if I had the time, money, and ability to not gain weight! Today, I will share two - veggie soup and chocolate chip cookies!

Veggie Soup

This recipe comes from the p90x nutrition plan and no I am not actually doing p90x, but some of their recipes are really good. It makes A LOT of soup, but I freeze some or half the recipe.

10 cups fat free chicken broth, low sodium

4 red potatoes cut in cubes

4 cups quartered onions

1 cups sliced carrots

3 cups celery

2 cups zucchini

8 ounces of tomato sauce

2 cloves of minced garlic

1/4 bunch of fresh parsley

1/4 bunch of cilantro

Dash of black pepper

1. In large stockpot, combine chicken broth, potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery. Bring it to a boil and then simmer until potatoes are tender. 
2. Add zucchini, tomato sauce, garlic, parsley, and cilantro. Reduce heat and cook 15 minutes 

Trust me this is good. I am not a veggie fan and I love it. Max is not a soup fan (especially if it doesn’t involve meat) and he loves it. I make it every couple of weeks and eat off it for days!

Try it!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are to die for. Seriously, they are so good and so easy to make!

¾ cup sugar

¾ cups packed brown sugar

1 stick of butter, softened (DO NOT MELT ALL THE BUTTER)

2 large eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

some salt

2 cups of chocolate chips (I recommend Ghirardelli 60% cacao premium baking chips)

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Mix sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and eggs in a bowl
3. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt
4. This dough will be very stiff – I always mix in the flower by hand – if you really feel like the batter is too dry you can add in more butter (but the more butter you add in the flatter your cookies will be!)
5. Roll into balls and place on cookies sheet
6. Bake for 10 minutes – take them out of the oven when the cookies are barely brown on the sides – You want them to be a little soft. If you leave them in the oven too long they will be really hard when the cool off.

Enjoy!

My New Place

So, I have been without internet for 3 weeks ... that is my excuse for not blogging ... I think it is a pretty good one...

Here is my NEW PLACE!

 Sneak Peak of my bathroom (I haven't finished it yet)

Ready ... Set...

BLOG!

To be honest I am only starting this because I feel left out. My sister has a blog, my sister-in-law has a blog ... and yes even my mom has a blog (two actually). I don't have kids or grandkids, and I am not starting a new career, but I am moving to a new apartment (my first) and I love to bake so surely that is reason enough to make friends and family read my posts. I hope to post about my upcoming move, my decorating (and redecorating) of my first place, and recipes from my favorite stress reliever - baking!

Two days until the big move and everything is packed ... mostly!