Another Chapter in our lives

Brad and I have noticed lately that Babies are EVERYWHERE! Some of our closest friends are having  babies, and it is really hard not to want to keep up with the "Jones'" or the Taylors or Nicholsons...  So Brad and I decided that we would start trying to have babies after the first of the year.  So I threw out the BC and headed to the doctor to figure out what my path would be once I became pregnant... you know 6 months or so down the road.  Well the Dr. appointment went well, I got some great information about my Thyroid and my Factor V Leiden (blood disorder).  I felt equipped when I walked out the door, thinking, I will happy I did this in May or June when I get pregnant. 
ONE MONTH LATER -  I'M PREGNANT!  Yep, we started in the beginning of January, and February 10th it was confirmed.  So all of that down the road, later this year stuff was thrown right out the window.  So here is what happened....
Symptoms arose, nausea and smells flooded me, anxiety and doubt filled my mind and I took a HPT on Wednesday morning.  GHOST of a plus sign, but I knew it, when you have taken enough tests to know what NO line looks like, you know what a line looks like.  So I freaked, and called my doctor's office.  Closed on Wednesday, of course.  Called my OB, she isn't in on Wednesdays...  Ok I thought, patience is the key, and I will take another test in the morning.  Thursday arose, same symptoms and a darker line... I drove straight to the Dr.'s office and got a blood test taken.  Results won't be back until tomorrow morning (more patience here, I haven't even told BRAD!)  So I wait, and wait, and feel more symptoms, and think I have to be pregnant!  Friday morning, I take another HPT, total PLUS SIGN! Breathe and think about how you are going to tell the DAD.  So I have a million errands to run, but I pop into Babies R Us and find two rock and roll onsies.  Music = Brad, so I knew it was perfect.  I couldn't just give them to him when he walked in the door... so I got an EXPO marker and took to our downstairs bathroom mirror.  " Make some room Dad. I'm moving in.  October 2011 Love Baby H! "And I waited until he got home from work.  We had plans to go get dinner at Esther's our local favorite Mexican restaurant and go out with friends.  He walks in and sits down on the couch and turns on the TV.  I am chomping at the bit... come on babe, lets go, go change, use the bathroom like you ALWAYS do when you come home!   But he changes and says lets go, I tell him go get something for me in the bathroom... He walks in and sees the onsies and walks out to me who is sitting on the stairs and says... NO WAY, with a look of stupor on his face.  NO WAY he says again, and tell him to go read the mirror.  He walks back in and reads the mirror and once again said... NO WAY.  I said yes way.  Dr.'s blood test confirmed yes way!  We are very happy and blessed to have this exciting road to go down.  We know God has had us in his hands the entire way. 

making an effort

So, I LOVE to read other people's blogs about daily life ramblings and thoughts.  So sometimes I might just do that here.  It seems like I haven't blogged in awhile so above is a new picture of the hubbs and me at his birthday in September.  We have been together 7 years as of January 1 and Married over 2 years. 

 We bought a house in April of last year, I can't believe we have been there almost a year already.  Don't you see how time flies? 

Annnnnd I have never introduced you to our little budle of joy, RIGGS! He is a total mutt, but the love of our lives.  Born June 17, we picked him up on September 6, 2009.  He loves our house and is such a cuddle bug, but he is still a puppy and loves to chew and play in the dirt.  He some times comes to bed with a muddy beard and I have to get up and clean him off before he gets mud all over my duvet! But he is a cute guy who loves attention and is over all a wonderful pup. 

So there it is.  Not a whole year's worth of information, but these are the big things, and it gives me time to elaborate on more things... soon to come!

River Trip

The weekend before labor day, we went to the River! B got his great Aun'ts river house in Parker, and we invited friends and family to join us for 4 days. Uncle Gary and Aunt Cathy brought my cousins, Scotty and Michael, and Michael's friend Carter


We also invited our besties Chris and Lo.





Uncle Gary brought his boat and we tubed all weekend. The boys went at it like they were all related. The 15 year olds attacked the 25 year olds with trash talking and the 25 year olds threw all of the 15 year olds off the tubes like rag dolls. To say the least, Lo and I had a great time watching the boys hurt each other. But Lo and I got on the tube and had a pretty good time!




Eating Gluten Free at the River was pretty easy. I made pancakes ahead of time from Pamelas mix, and stored them in the fridge until breakfast time. I made sure that I could indulge a little so I made chocolate chip cookies and two batches of rice crispy squares! I also brought starbursts and skittles, both gluten free!!!

Aunt Cathy made most of the dinners, I just adjusted it to be Gfree. 4 days of yummy comfort food, and I didn't get sick. We even ate out at 3 different places! Things are definitely looking good. Such a relief to have a 4 day vacation away from home, be able to eat, and not feel horrible. Gluten Free is my way to be.

August, Summer is almost gone

Working in a "corporate" job I haven't had a summer in a few years. Long gone are the days where I didn't have to work during my summer. I would love to be at the beach daily, or by the pool soaking up the rays, or even shopping at the mall with my girlfriends. But alas, those days are far and few in between. Yes, I am only 26 and I say long gone are the days when...; only because I haven't seen a summer since high school! Since my freshman year of high school I played water polo, where I worked out 5 hours a day Mon-Fri. Intense training, but a lot of fun. I couldn't sleep in every day and wake up thinking "What am I going to do today?". I was always busy!

When I graduated high school, realizing I needed some money, I got a summer job working for the City of Yorba Linda running summer programs. Three years later, I was offered a job coaching water polo at my Alma Mater, so yet again, I was coaching water polo 3 to 5 hours during the summer. It will be 3 years in October that I got hired for Whittier. Where Summer is our busiest time. We provide programs for the public and the public is most available in the summertime.... Therefore, I have had my summers occupied for many years now.

I am not regretting my choices, just wish that I could live the lives of some of my dear friends who are in the education system that get 2 months off each summer season to lay by the pool, go on week long vacations and not have to come back to the emails, messages, deadlines and quirky company of working in a office.

There are perks of working year round though, I can take off season vacations, I am becoming very successful in my work place, and I just got a promotion! New responsibilties, a little more change to add to the pocket book, and a wealth of knowledge I would not have gained laying by the pool! Weekends are spent with my new husband, and we even play softball with friends througout the year once a week. Each weekend my DH and I try to get out and get some fun in the sun. So this year, when I really look at my far and few in between days of the beach and pool time , with my new position and few extra dollars in the bank, summer coming to a close isn't looking so sad this year. Off to new adventures and more experience. Maybe I will get to the beach next year...

Here are a few pictures that I have taken in the last few days...

Lexy and I at our sotball game

pool side on a sunday

Happy Anniversary to B & Me!

So July 19th marked 1 year for B and me to be married. It is crazy to think that a year ago, we were planning a wedding, getting married and going on a fabulous Honeymoon to Mexico. We really had a wonderful wedding, it was everything we wanted, well everything I wanted, I think B enjoyed it though! Anyways, to celebrate, B gifted me with a Tiffany's Horseshoe Necklace that I have been wanting the whole year :0) So happy! For him, I wanted to take him shopping for a new mini wardrobe. He needed it! But before the shopping frenzy, we went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona!

Glen Ivy was wonderful. It was hot and the pools were refreshing. We had one hour massages under the Oak trees with misters and fans. Overall, we spent about 5 hours there. The best part was that I had called the cafe ahead of time and asked their Chef (Chef Bill) about Gluten free lunch. Chef Bill said to contact him when we arrived and he would be able to prepare something, no problem! So, just to be careful, I packed some goodies, just in case. But I didn't need them! Chef Bill was very polite and he suggestted the salads were the best option for me. He said I could have the BBQ chicken salad with blue corn chips, black beans, corn and cheese. Stick with the vinagrette dressing, he said, and you should be just fine. I said THANK YOU, and he said no problem, he used to work at a gluten free restaurant in Los Angeles so he understands my needs. Can a girl ask for a better day???

So the salad was great, we relaxed a few more hours before cleaning up and heading to the Block of Orange for some sh0pping. B got a whole slew of new things to wear, and he was a happy camper. So after spending all that money and being wiped out, we ex-nayed the fancy dinner, picked up In-N-Out (gluten free fries and a protein wrapped burger!) and watched a movie. What a wonderful Anniversary, and gluten free the whole time. I can do this, with a little help from Chef Bill and In-N-Out and a Tiffany's necklace, I forgot all about being sick last week. Things are possible, just seem impossible.

Surviving July

The Big question... Erin...How is your diet going? How have you been feeling? To that I tell you this...

So, my first holiday went by... Independence Day. Hot Dogs, Burgers, Pasta salad... all un-eatable. But I did get to eat grilled chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, and my sister was kind enough to make gluten free cupcakes! It was a GOOD dinner. My dad was great about grilling the chicken on separate piece of the grill, and my mom tried to keep most of the foods that I could eat, away from the gluten! My family is being very supportive. Then off to the field for fireworks. Who could ask for a better 4th?

So a week goes by, I am really tired and not feeling like doing anything but sleeping. What is going on with me? Is it low iron? Is it anemia? I know it is not my Thyroid, they tested that. So I started taking an Iron supplement. I think that is where I went wrong. Sunday night at midnight I was walking into the E.R. with horrible stomach pains. ;(

They ran the gauntlet on me. Urine, Blood, CT scans, pains pills, anti nausea pills, the works! I was in a bed and a gown by 3 am and I still had no answers!!! So Brad and I waited ( he was such a good sport to take me to the hospital knowing we would have to wait!) and waited and waited. Close to 4 a.m. a doctor came in and said you are........ constipated. GREAT, another thing to worry about. Drink Liquids, eat more fiber, take a supplement, do what you need to do because your body isn't getting enouth. So, 10 oz of laxitives and 12 hours later, my bowels felt better, but my stomach didn't. I had only eaten a few things that day because the laxitives took away my appetite, but as soon as my bowels started to move, my migraine kicked in, and so did my stomach. Up came dinner and any liquids I had drank the whole day, and following doctor's orders, I DRANK MY LIQUIDS. So by 10:30 p.m. I had gotten EVERYTHING out of my system.

Go into work the next morning? With what energy? I had none! So I stayed home to sleep and recover. All in all, liquids, fruits, and fiber supplements are really not that bad if it will keep me out of the E.R. After recovery, and being back at work, I am feeling good, but still tired. Will I touch the iron? Not after speaking with a nutritionist, which is next on my list of things to do. So, yes my diet is going ok, I have been very up and down with this process, but I am healthy and living.

Biscuts

So last night, (Wednesday) we didn't have a softball game so I decided to get creative and make a new recipe. B asked what we were having for dinner and I said something new! He didn't sound too enthused... But anyways I got a recipe online for a macaroni and ground beef skillet. kind of like a hamburger helper but healthier and gluten free. So I came home and thought, what could I have with the skillet... HOMEMADE BISCUTS! So started the skillet dish, and got out my new 500 GF recipe book and found a great corn based biscut recipe. I had all of the ingridients thanks to Henry's, Trader Joes and Herbie's! So off i went and made about 12 little patties of biscuts, put them in the oven for about 15 min, waited until they browned and then brushed them with a little butter... The were FABULOUS! Even B liked them. Which he is off and on with all of my GF products. He said the skillet was "different" but could be improved with more spices next time. =) Perfect, he didn't hate it and he even had a suggestion and a second helping!

So that was my experiment last night, and it made so much, I have leftovers for lunch today... What should I make tonight? I am still thinking but I am really getting into this GF cooking, now to make more leaps and bounds in the baking dept. Maybe I will let my sister try that for the 4th of July and I will follow in her footsteps....?! We will see what happens next...