Is it just me or is this just wrong!??!

So many of you read about Maren's issues with milk. It's been getting worse. Now not only does she throw up, but it makes her nose run whenever I cheat. This weekend I went up north by myself with the kids for a wedding. So I got Peanut Butter M & Ms for a 'pick me up' snack....ok, so I got like three packages because they were only 50 cents at Maverick. And then on Saturday I had Fettucine Alfredo for lunch because I figured I'd already cheated...I'm like that. If I eat three cookies, I'm going to eat eight...it's bad...I know.

Back to the subject at hand. So, this weekend was bad. Oh and let us not forget Sunday where I had not one, but TWO Utah mint truffles so kindly provided by the ward for Mother's Day. Well between Sunday and Monday Maren threw up 6 times. It was a lot worse than normal. Monday she also had a really bad snotty nose, a cough and a fever of 101 by the end of the night. She slept all day as well. So I think she might be teething, but I had a sneaking hunch most of the problem was directly connected to my "weekend-o-fun". My sister was passing through Cedar on Tuesday so I called my mom and asked her to send some soy formula with her for Maren. I wanted to just try it and see if we could get her back on track with that. (My mom works at a doctor's office and can get me samples...) Well she sent the formula, but instead of Soy sent Nutramigen Lipil. It's a formula for "babies with colic caused by an allergy to milk protein". Most normal formulas are made with Whey protein (I think). I was curious as to what they put in this that wasn't milk or soy so I turned it around and looked at the ingredients. Any guesses?????

Bet you will never guess....

#1 ingredient is:

CORN SYRUP SOLIDS

#2 ingredient:

VEGETABLE OIL

It then goes on to include a modified milk protein and I'm not sure what else. I couldn't get past those first two ingredients. They make up like 75% of the formula.

Does that totally disgust anyone else???? Seriously, who puts corn syrup and vegetable oil in infant formula? Well needless to say I didn't give it to her. Luckily she's been much better yesterday and today. I suppose I will just have to be more careful and when I cheat, not go so crazy. It still just blows my mind.

You know what else is a little crazy to me? I have been through at least three pediatricians with three kids and not one of them has ever suggested that I stop drinking milk to help with their "reflux". I think it was a chiropractor that said something to me about it. I did some reading on my own and tried it and found the answer myself.

My friend had some problem with milk too and brought the issue up with her pediatrician and he told her "seriously do you want to do that to yourself?" when she asked about cutting out dairy. I mean really people, come on! Doctors are putting kids on corn syrup and oil instead. OK, so I know there's probably more to it than that and I don't understand everyone's individual situation, but this is just one more really clear example to me of how important it is to be INFORMED and take charge of your own health. Because even with all that school, I am more and more convinced that sometimes doctors may not really have or be giving you the best information.

No, I am not anti-doctor. Yes, I really appreciate my pediatrician and have been very grateful for their help in many situations. Yes, we will continue to go back and no I'm not going "all natural". But this is still just eating at me. I don't know why it's bugging me so bad. But if anything is learned it will be that I need to be vigilant as a mother about my kids health and what is best for them.

Corn syrup and oil....come on! Am I missing something here?????

Artichokes

The other night Kelley wanted an artichoke. It was late and we had to get up early for something the next morning. And these are the kind you have to cook for a half an hour. So I told her we could have one the next day, she just needed to remind me so I didn't forget. After she went to bed I found this on the whiteboard in our kitchen. It took me a minute to decipher....

The Birds and The Bees

This is my Ty Ty in his beloved T-Bird hat. He loves this hat and wants to wear it everywhere. He thought he was pretty cool that he had his sunglasses on his hat, just like dad. What a funny kiddo :)


Last weekend we went to a Bees game with the kids. SUU Alumni was doing a thing with potential students. They fed us dinner and we all got SUU Baseball shirts. We have always liked taking the kids to the games. We went a lot when we lived there. The bummer this time was Joey had to work the whole game. He didn't even get to watch much of the game. Therefore I had to watch all the kids the whole game. It probably would have been fine, except the kids had to go to the bathroom about 6 times during the game.

Maren and I in all our SUU gear. GO T-Birds! and GO Bees!
Kelley loves the T-Bird. Tyler on the other hand, runs away, or buries his head in my lap. Today was my sister's graduation and it was at the SUU Centrum. As we were walking in, Tyler nervously asked "will the T-Bird be here mom?" I told him "no" but threatened that he might show up if he didn't behave himself ;)
Favorite part of the show! Fireworks afterward. Joey loves to sit on the grass and feel the perfection of it! The kids just like to watch the explosions.
Even Maren enjoyed the fireworks. She normally startles at loud noises, but she wasn't startled or upset at all. She just sat and watch the whole thing with intent interest.

It melts my heart!

I decided to catch up on my blogging today and found this picture from three months ago. This is the swaddler I put Maren in every night. As you can imagine she barely fits in it now!

Funny story: The other night Joey asked Tyler who he loved better - Daddy or Kelley. Without hesitation he answered "Maren". He adores his baby sister as does Kelley. She just fits right in. I feel SO lucky every day to have her here with me. I must have done something right on the other side or something.

Bits and Pieces

Several quick, random thoughts tonight. Let's begin with something fun! I finally understand the experience that is...I had not up to last weekend ever been to IKEA. I had heard it was great, but couldn't really grasp why it was so cool. I heard people say they literally could spend a whole day there. Now I understand why. All I have to say is "You had me at Hello....may I take your children please for an hour free of charge while you shop without having to chase them all over this really cool store?" WOW! Joey and I went in to buy end tables and came out with over $200 worth of stuff. We finally found the organizer we've been trying to find for MONTHS! Just after we went out and bought bookshelves instead....ah well.

Anyway, it's a cool place. Tyler asks me every day when we can back to the "IKEA --the blue store." We'll definitely be going back there sometime I'm sure! Moving on...

I have never seen this TV show. I've heard the music and thought it was fun. My sisters seem to enjoy the show. So last night I saw it was on and decided to check it out. Little did I know I would have to shield my poor children's eyes! Flipped over to the channel and there they are in all their glory. These young teenage kids crawling all over each other singing "Like a Virgin". OK, so I guess I WON'T be checking it out after all! I highly doubt it was like this when it first started, but my first impression was not very good...

Finally I find it really interesting how relationships develop with people. I was in Walgreens last night. I had a checker that I've seen there before. He wasn't very nice to me before. Not really rude or anything, but had seemed annoyed by my coupon habit. So tonight I was in there and as I was checking out he mentioned he was a vegetarian. So I told him all about Bountiful Baskets. We had a small connection and by the time I left the store I felt like he was my little buddy. I think when I see him again he'll be really nice and we'll be "friends forever" (as much as you are with your local drugstore cashier...)

I always try not to judge people too harshly based on my first impression of them. I have SO often proved to be wrong. Another example: Back in the day I was waitressing and some customers walked in. I didn't really want to serve them because they looked "scruffy" and I was sure I wouldn't get a good tip from them. But I treated them just as kindly and served them just as nicely as I would anyone else. He ended up giving me the best tip I think I've ever had. He did claim to have just won a lawsuit or something, but I was seriously suprised.

So back to my point. I think there is something we can learn from everyone. And even if it doesn't seem like you have anything in common, you just might. It comes down to this: we ought to treat everyone with respect and kindness. You never know where it my lead and the small blessings you might receive from doing so, even if those blessings are just knowing you have made a connection with someone. I think THAT is priceless and it always makes my day when it happens.

One tiny reason...

I love my baby for MANY many reasons. One thing that makes me so happy right now...the pants I bought maybe 3 weeks ago that were a size smaller than I've worn for even several months BEFORE I got pregnant...are already feeling much looser...I LOVE nursing! It's the best diet ever...eat whatever you want and still loose weight. Except that I can't have dairy, except on the days I cheat....but I'm getting used to that...mostly.

Oh and I love that she sleeps for 10-12 hours each and every night and wakes up talking happily! People have to clarify that she sleeps w/out waking up to eat...yes! She is the best baby EVER!

Right now she is:

Talking ALL the time. Joey thinks she's going to put Kelley to shame. Kelley is our social butterfly. Maren really likes to talk to and smile at people, or the ceiling fan...

She's really interested in her hands right now. She looks at her hands a lot in deep concentration a lot. She also is really into grabbing....my hair, blankets, anything she can reach.

She still sleeps in her little swaddler. She's nearly grown out of it and I don't know what I'm going to do, since I'm pretty sure that's at least part of the reason she sleep so well. I don't dare try going without it. On the rare occasion that she does wake up at 4 AM I am so disoriented because I'm just not used it...I literally wake up thinking "where am I and what is going on!" Maybe one of the weekends I'll try it...or maybe I'll just buy a bigger swaddler...

I can take her anywhere and she'll behave. She was the perfect little angel at the Kellie Pickler concert last week...who by the way was very fun!

She doesn't like standing oddly enough. Both my other kids were working out their leg muscles by now if I remember right, but she's content to be held or just sit.

It's so funny, people tell me every day "She looks just like Kelley". But then other people tell me every day "She looks just like Tyler!" What do you think?

Oh, and on a side note, this is my 200th post. I've been blogging for somewhere around 2 years now. How time flies!

Favorite Quote

I love General Conference!!! It is such a relaxing and enriching weekend for me. The talks this weekend have been fabulous as always. My "favorite" quote this time? Elder Holland said something to the effect of:

"The adversary comes as a thief in the night. But that doesn't mean you have to invite him in, serve him tea and crumpets and show him where the silverware is! YOU SHOULDN'T BE SERVING TEA ANYWAY!"

Mormon humor...makes me laugh!