The Fresh 20

Here is some general information on The Fresh 20. Other moms were discussing it in an online Facebook group and when I Googled it, I realized it was quite the impressive tool. So James and I bought a Groupon for a year subscription.

What: The Fresh 20 is a e-meal service that plans your meals for the week.
Why: The perks of  The Fresh 20 are that there is little waste at the end of the week and you only need to buy 20 ingredients to make the recipes. Also, they are fresh ingredients which cuts out processed foods. They include a shopping list with estimated cost and a prep guide.
When: We shop and prep on the weekends. Then cook the meals each night.

So my plan is to share my experience and post pictures of our meals each week. I will not be posting the recipes (since that would be stealing). If you get an annual subscription to The Fresh 20, you have access to all the archives, and you can go look it up by the week that we are on.

Samuel's Birth Story

I was put on “partial” bed rest two weeks before Samuel arrived. My blood pressure was getting very high. Partial bed rest was my negation with my doctor and meant working half days (3.75 hours) at school and then laying down the rest of the day. ( I mean really! Doesn’t my body understand that I have to get these standards based reports done?!?) This method worked for a short time and my body was handling the pregnancy much better. Then at school one morning I got extremely overwhelmed as my students walked in handing me TONS of fundraiser money and my longterm sub showed up declaring she was shadowing me. (The problem was her idea of shadowing was asking me as many questions as she could without taking a moment to breath between her question and my answer.) As I sat their counting money at my guided reading table, my vision went spotty and I started feeling dizzy. I didn’t tell her, but asked if she were double count the money for me and make sure she had the same number as me. I finished logging the money and walked the kids to the restroom. Carrying my log book, I asked her to watch the kids and proceeded the office, where I dropped off the log book. Then I told the secretary that if anybody needed me I was heading to the school nurse to get my blood pressure checked.

            Nurse Lynn checked my blood pressure and told me to lay down. She told me to call my doctor and that I needed to go home. I started crying because I didn’t have sub plans and I felt embarrassed and like a failure as a working mom that my body couldn’t support my child and fulfill my work duties. She went and got my principal, who held my hand and said sweet reassuring things (I can’t recall exactly what, but it was something to do with her having the same problem with her pregnancy). Nurse Lynn came back in and called my Grandmother to pick me up because she refused to allow me to drive. (Crazy thing here is my cell phone was charging in my classroom and I was so messed up I couldn’t remember ANY phone numbers. So she had to look up my fifth grade cousin’s file to get my grandmother’s contact information to come pick me up.) She then went to my room to get my personal item and I went to my Mom’s house.

            At Mom’s I took my BP again and it had come down to normal. I lay down anyway because I was overwhelmed and embarrassed. How was I going to face my coworkers or students tomorrow? My Mom made me lunch but I felt nausea the more I ate so I only had a few bites of steak. Finally I got a hold of my doctor and the nurse told me I needed to come in right after lunch and that they would work me in. I just seen them yesterday and everything was great. But we (Mom, Charlotte, and myself) loaded up in the car and headed that way. When they checked my BP at the office, it was off the charts ridiculous (198/112 or something like that). I knew I was in trouble when they asked me to go sit in the Dr. Robert’s office instead of an exam room. I forced back tears. Dr. Roberts told me that for whatever reason, my body was done being pregnant and that I was to head to the hospital. He would call them to inform them of my impeding arrival and that I was to go home and get together a hospital bag. We were having this baby tonight!

            I walked to the lobby to collect Mom and Charlotte holding back tears of frustration and fear. This new combination of feeling surrounding the impending birth of our son was foreign to me. I was much more prepared physical, emotionally, and spiritually for Charlotte’s arrival.  I told my mom the news and we headed to my house to pack a bag. I called James and he didn’t answer. Called his work line and he didn’t answer. Finally called my FIL (who works with my husband) and he took the phone to James. I mustered up excitement in my voice and declared, “We are having a baby tonight. I’m headed to the hospital.” I heard James’s disbelief in his voice as he remarked, “Wait. Really?” I explained the whole shebang to him and told him to meet me at the hospital. I then called my principal and told her the news. She continued to assure me that they would be fine without me and I told her that my Mom would drop the report cards off tomorrow morning.

            We arrived at the hospital and James was waiting on us in the parking lot. Which was great because we had to carry an overnight bag, a birthing ball, a boppy, the ipod and cube speaker, and a toddler. We checked in around 4 something and they put me in the room and started me on pitocin. When Dr. Roberts arrived, the plan was to break my water. They monitored my BP the whole time and it never went high again. I guess my body was a peace knowing it was almost over. The nurse came in and said that there had been a change in plans because Dr. Roberts was detained. They asked permission to have the doctor on staff break my water. I agreed and the proceeded with the rest of my labor. My birth plan was the same as last time… to give birth vaginally with as little medical intervention as possible (ie. No pain medicine).  The contractions came slowly and they continued to increase the pitocin past the amount they had given me with Charlotte.

I like to say James coached me just as well as he did with the birth of our daughter. But in all honestly he could be compared more to the man in the movies that is watching a sporting event in the room while is wife is in the background screaming. It’s not all his fault. Like I said above, we were not prepared for this birth mentally, physically or spiritually. With our first we shelled our more than $250 to take Bradley classes. We spent 2 hours every Thursday night for 12 weeks discussing labor and learning techniques and logistics. Each night for 12 weeks, we practiced relaxation techniques for 15 minutes before bed. We trained for the marathon that is labor. This time, somewhat do to have a toddler but mostly due to extreme laziness, we took the we’ve done this before, we can do it again approach. It will be a cake walk. (HA!)

Due to James’s uninterest in caring for me during labor, I felt pretty lonely, depressed, nervous, and scared during the process. The contractions felt different this time around (Maybe back labor?). The contractions were HARD and it seemed as little progress was being made towards pushing out my baby. I plateau-ed at 6 cm. At this point with the pain of contraction and emotional drama of the day I was very worn down. The pain was so intense and I was so exhausted that I felt as though I could breathe during the contractions. It was terrifying. I told the nurse I wanted the epidural and I wanted it fast. I said it through tears because I hated to hear the words. Yet another way, I felt I was failing my son. She put in the work order and we continued to labor for 30 minutes as we waited. The next 30 minutes were the worst of my life. I couldn’t breathe, I stayed tense, and SCREAMED through every contraction.

When the nurse walked in with the anesthesiologist at switch turned on in my brain and I announced “I think I need to push!” She checked me and low and behold I had been in the transition phrase and was now complete. She turned towards the anesthesiologist and told him he was not needed. I begged for him to stay and give me the drugs anyway because all I could think of was how tired I was and that I would be pushing for who knows how long. They told me no and said to wait to push until the doctor came in. HARDEST thing to do ever is to wait on the doctor when it’s time to push. I recall seeing movement out of the corner of my eye and remarking, “I hope that’s the doctor because I’m going to push! Where is he?!? TELL HIM TO HURRY UP!” There might have been some curse words laced through there. I can’t recall but I remember my tone was EVIL.

Doctor Roberts strolled in (I mean literally he was sauntering casually) and declared I could push. I pushed and I saw his eye get large and whatever he saw motivated him to at some speed to his walk and rush over to me. Two pushes later (and about 5 minutes of time) the nurses told me to look down. (I assumed they said that to help me focus my pushing energy as they had with my first. Instead I saw something else.) My son’s head had already been delivered and with one more push he was born.

He didn’t scream loudly but cried a little bit. They worked with him beside my bed and I asked if he was okay. They said they were concerned he was not getting enough oxygen because his lips were bluish. They finally were able to lay him on my chest but only for a few seconds because he started to turn blue again. Some how they were able to determine that he was badly bruised and not lacking in oxygen. However, they wanted to watch him closely for a while to be on the safe side. I totally understood and wanted what was best for him, but was left feeling very empty and alone as they whisked him off even before he had tried to latch on. It didn’t help that James’s main concern was getting to the next room so he can make his sofa bed at go to sleep.

My little guy struggled to keep his temperature up and had low blood sugar along with his badly bruised head and face. But he was otherwise healthy and he was mine. I was so thankful for the blessing of another healthy child. The next few hours were some of my hardest because I longed for him. I was still on an adrenaline rush from labor, James was already snoring, and there was not a whole lot of options for watching the TV in the middle night. This left me alone with my thoughts and they were not affirming in the least. My flesh was speaking lies to my soul and it would take me weeks to overcome the lies and accept the truth that God had for me.

They finally were able to bring Samuel to me and we began our journey with nursing. He struggled to latch on and stay on. It was defeating, yet another way I felt like a failure. The NICU nurses came to me and told me I had two choices. I could supplement with formula or send him to NICU for an IV of fluids. So I would try to nurse him for 30 minutes followed by a bottle of formula. I was told to record both nursing and bottle feeding information along with his diaper contents. The whole time I was raging a mental battle of doing what the doctors said vrs what I knew was right for our family. I wanted to be solely breastfeeding as soon as possible. How was he ever going to figure out latching when he had nipple confusion? (I laugh at this now…. But at the time I was very upset. P.s. He does survive and learn to nurse.)

Samuel developed a borderline case of jaundice due to the bruising so we stayed an extra day in the hospital. It was defiantly for the best because I felt like a million bucks physically because of the rest I was allowed to get since I didn’t need to care for our 18 month old daughter (newborns are easier than toddlers). Emotionally however I continued to beat myself up. I was still supplementing because the pediatrician insisted we “Push the liquids” to treat the jaundice. I was terribly upset that nursing was going smoothly. And to top it all off, I was beating myself up for asking for the epidural (You know the one I didn’t even get because I ran out of time). My flesh kept attacking with, “How could you even consider something you know would have gotten into your baby’s system? You didn’t ask for it with Charlotte. So you must love her more! Your son will never forgive your weakness.”

After three days in the hospital we headed home. Most people’s birth stories probably would have already ended. But like I said before God taught me a truth. And God’s truths are meant to be shared. At home, my emotional and mental war continued. I felt alone yet again and separated from my husband. I was frustrated and worn out. James and I got in a fight over I have no clue what and I excused myself to take a shower where I cried uncontorablly and thought about what it was going to be like to raise two kids under two by myself because the evidence was showing that James wasn’t going to be helpful this time around. God kept trying to speak to me but I was throwing two big of a pity party to listen.

Finally, I was rehashing the events of Samuel’s birth in my mind yet again and I paused long enough after a thought to listen. I was contemplating how weak and pathetic I was when I asked for the epidural. My thought process went something like this. “I was so weak and pathetic I begged for that epidural. I didn’t care about my baby in that moment. I just wanted it to be over. I would have yelled C-Section, cut him out! If I thought they would have listened. I am so worthless and weak. I almost poisoned my son.” “But I didn’t let you get the epidural did I?”

From that point lost in my thoughts, I knew the Holy Spirit wanted to speak truth to my soul. I just needed to stop and listen. Here is what was concluded… God had been in control throughout my whole labor. I was never in danger. Samuel was never in danger. God showed me that in my lowest moment, he would still shine. He allowed my body to progress and avoid the epidural. He allowed me to see through this hard labor that I had strayed far from him. I needed to refocus my life on his love. I got out of the shower with peace. But it didn’t stop there. God had more blessings in store for me. Through the baby monitor, I could hear the ipod playing a song in my daughter’s room. I got dressed and went to her room where I sat in the floor and sobbed. Not tear of grief due to my sinful flesh, my weakness, and my broken body but tears of joy because HE is greater than me, HE is strong, HE is whole and perfect. God is amazing and he LOVES me so much and he never leaves. He gives me so many second chances and I know that this is probably not the last one I will enjoy.  My son’s birth brought me from a dangerous and lonely place focused on me to a renewed place focused on the one true God. Here are the lyrics to the song that was playing.

And He is jealous from me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions Eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful You are And how great Your affections are for me

And oh, how He loves us, oh Oh, how He loves us, how He loves us all

And He is jealous from me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions Eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful You are And how great Your affections are for me

Oh, how He loves, yeah, He loves us Oh, how He loves us, oh, how He loves us Oh, how He loves

And we are His portion and He is our prize Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss And my heart turns violently inside of my chest I don't have time to maintain these regrets When I think about the way

Oh, how He loves us, oh Yeah, He loves us, yeah, He loves us How He loves us, oh, how He loves us all
How He Loves Us

Charlotte's Birth Story

*Note: some readers might consider part of this TMI. You've been warned.

I woke up at 2:40 a.m. and felt something trickling out of me. I rushed to the bathroom. I thought it was just a fluke because it was so little (no more than quarter’s spot in the bed), but felt the urge to tell James. I woke him up and told him, “I think my water might have broken.”  He leaped up and insisted we call the doctor. He called and I was a little mad. I knew I wouldn't get to go back to sleep because the doctor would tell us to go the hospital. Sure enough, the doctor called James back and told him to take me to the ER.  I had no pain or contractions and insisted on showering before we went. We decided to take our hospital bag just in case because I was 39 weeks along and the doctor had confirmed Monday that I was 4 cm and 70% effaced.

We laughed and talked on our way to the hospital and arrived closer to 4 a.m. I hadn't turned in my preregistration paperwork yet, so I gave it to the nice gentleman at the ER check-in. I joked with him saying we thought we might as well as preregister at 4 a.m. while we were here but we knew we would be going home soon since we had accidentally overreacted.  When we  entered labor and delivery, they insisted that I give them a urine sample and dress in a hospital gown. I left my top on and put it on. They did a test and confirmed that my water had broken. Patti informed us that I would be staying until the baby was born. I commented that it would be within 24 hours one way or another and she nodded in agreement. We shared our birth plan with her and started feeling her out with comments about natural birth and no medication. She was very encouraging from the start and said she would postpone iv and other hospital regulations as long as possible. We were moved to a labor and delivery room and began our wait for Charlotte’s arrival. I told myself that God had a reason and purpose behind getting stuck here. Even though I wasn't happy, I rested in the assurance that this was true and that I would see and hold our baby within 24 hours.

We walked and walked and walked until I was quite tired. Shift change occurred and Patti left (I got anxious). Kerri stepped in and seemed nice enough but my anxiety was back. She did not put me at ease like Patti. We walked some more and I ate a grape popsicle. I was so irritable that we had not waited at home longer and gotten myself a decent breakfast. We were still not experiencing contractions and I decide to try and take a nap. Kerri thought this would be a good idea. I dosed in and out for maybe 30 to 45 minutes. Kerri checked my progress and I was still 4 cm but 100 effaced. The doctor came in and told me he was not happy with the progress I was making. He commented about midwives letting their patients go on in labor for days, but that he was NOT a midwife and he did not feel comfortable with that. I just stared at him in shock. I was fighting back tears. I didn’t choose him. He didn’t care for our wishes and he was not scoring any brownie points with his form of bed side manners. In my head I just kept thinking “I wanted a doctor why are YOU bringing up a midwife. I’m not satisfied with my lack of progress either. I never said I wanted this to go on for days. Why couldn’t my doctor be on call?” I felt as though he was judging me and making wild assumptions about me and my expectations. He said he wanted to break my water to encourage progress. I agreed. This in my opinions was the first nice thing he had said to me. He broke the bag and turned to the nurse to tell her to immediately start me on pitocin. I calmly asked if I could try walking for just 30 minutes to see if my body would do its job. He forcefully said no and walked out. The nurse left too and I broke down in tears. Why couldn’t I have just 30 minutes? My mine raced with facts. Fact: my likelihood for c-section just went up. Fact: my likelihood for an epidural just went up. Fact: I strongly dislike this doctor who would be making decisions for me and delivering my baby. Fact: I had to get an IV and would be monitored 24-7 limiting my movement and freedom (making me feel like a caged animal). Fact: There has to be a reason. God is in control.

James held my hand and comforted me. I just couldn’t believe how this was playing out. I was very discouraged and scared. For those that do not know me well, I am a reflector by nature. I need time to process and ask questions and in some way come to peace about some things on my own. I did not have peace and I had only asked for 30 minutes. Had he given it to me I can’t help but feel like I would have been encouraged and not beaten myself up as much mentally in this early stage of labor. But alas, he did not give me a choice and the nurses had to follow orders.

I asked Kerri to explain the IV process to me and what would happen. After she did, I felt more at peace (I had thought a needle stayed in your arm and I was terrified that in some weird horror freak show accident is would stick through my vein and cause me to bleed out or something… I know silly but I had an extreme fear of the IV. ) Once she explained it was a flexible tube and that I couldn’t hurt myself with it, I was a peace and we moved on with the doctor’s orders.  I hated to be trapped there and paced around in a little dance pattern next to the fetal monitor. Baby was doing great, the machine was recording slight contractions (that I couldn’t feel), and I felt like I was helping out by letting gravity have some effect. Again this was the hardest part of my labor because I was mad at my body for not working properly and frustrated that I had been bullied into this ridiculously tiny cramped space.

 The nurse visited every 30 minutes and uped my dose of pitocin by 2 until I reached the max of 20. Not a whole lot changed with my body and I just kept hoping it would progress so I would end up with a c-section. At some point I started having mild contraction that I could actually feel and I was so happy. Then nurse said it needed to be more intense. Around 430ish I remember starting to feel contractions that I needed to relax through.  I was very tired and in the bed. I labored in an upright position and actually found the best place was to turn around in the bed on my knees and lay across the back of the bed. James would rub my back and talk me through the contractions.  This was the most helpful part of the situation. He would tell me when the contraction was rising, peaking, and coming back down. This pacing of the contraction kept me strong during the pain. I remember at one point when I was in a really difficult contraction (and it was still rising) thinking to myself, “What goes up must come down.” This became my go to phrase. I also prayed throughout the process and relied  on James for encouraging words.  Before shift change, I begged the Kerry to check me for progress. I was so worried that the doctor would take her via surgery. She checked me and I was 7 cm. I was so happy to have progress but still needed assurance that this was enough. Nurse Kerry commented that that was good progress and James reminded me that I would be entering transition soon so it would be the “hardest” but shortest.

Nurse Patti was back on her shift and she told me she was sorry I was till in labor but happy to be a part of delivery. She encouraged me to change positions frequently and recommended the birthing ball for transition contractions. This was a great suggestion and I would stand between contractions and sit on the ball during. This relieved some of the pressure of the contraction but the unstableness of a round ball made it difficult to relax completely. James supported my back and placed his hand to help stabilize me but I still couldn’t relax completely. I wish we had practiced this more. We mostly practiced the side-lying position during pregnancy. Funny thing is I HATED this position during labor. IT was extra painful and miserable lying down. We tried it 3 times and each time I would mutter “Big Mistake” during the contraction.

Transition was hard but knowing we were so close made it better. As the feel of the contractions changed I felt more and more pressure to push. I asked Nurse Patti when I could push and she said when I felt ready let her know. I told her I felt ready. I lay down and bed and a contraction came which I sat up for. Upright just felt so much better. After the contraction she checked me and said I was at least 9 cm but had a lip on the cervix. She felt like if I pushed with the next contraction it would move over the baby’s head and I would be complete. I agreed and pushed. She was so excited and told me she could see progress from my pushing.

After a few more pushes I was fully dilated and Brittany (a tech) came in to help. She was so super positive and encouraging. The nurses were very knowledgeable and changed my position based on where the baby was in the birth canal. I one point I remember sitting kind of upright and pushing down. I also remember laying kind of back with my feet in the air like a pretzel and pushing towards the sky. I followed Patti’s directions as best I could because I trusted her and she seemed to be an artist at work when it come to giving me advice. At one point I remember her saying now you don’t have to do it this way… it’s just a suggestion and I thought are you crazy!?! You obviously know what you are doing and I am clueless. What you say goes!

James and Brittany held my legs and encouraged me with praise during contractions and pushing while Patti prepped the room and different after birth stations. It felt so normal to push. It didn’t feel good, just took the pain away and I felt normal. It took me a several tries to get the breathing down. I didn’t want to hold my breath and kept forgetting to. Finally, I remembered to hold my breath with each push. The nurse called the doctor and told him she figured it would be about 20 to 30 more minutes until he was needed but to stay close. He came in and looked at me. I say this because he didn’t talk or encourage me he just looked at me…It seemed like he was studying my lower region and reflecting as if I were an observation project. He held his chin and tilted his head and stared.

All I wanted was his approval instead of stares and I recall asking if I were doing okay now. He commented oh yah you are doing great and walked out.  I was glad he was gone I really did not like him. He was so smug and scientific about the whole situation. The way he stared at me made me feel more like a lab rat than a woman working hard to get my baby out.

With a few more pushes the nurse remarked that I had made a liar out of her and the doctor needed to come back because the baby was crowning. My excitement at this overrode my irritation that the doctor would be back. “My baby would be here soon” I kept thinking to myself. The doctor sat at the end of the bed and peered at me over the top of his narrow glasses. His body language and quietness again confirmed that I did not care for him and that he did not consider me a person but a science experiment of sorts. Brittany got called away on an emergency c-section and I was very sad to see her go. Patti held my legs and continued to give me expert advice and praise. At one point they broke the bed down and brought up stirrups to ensure the baby’s head would not get sucked back in between pushes. Patti warned me that I would soon feel burning but that I needed to push through it. She was right but it didn’t burn as badly as I expected... more like if you get a thick shot and can feel the content of said shot being inserted into your body. Between pushing I reached down and touched my daughter’s head. I never thought I would want to do that and Brittany had brought a mirror just in case I wanted to look… (I did not and it stayed turned around). But touching her head made me that much more determined to get her out and hold her. I felt slime and hair and for the first time I believed Patti when she said I was a good pusher and that the baby was crowning.

After watching several birthing videos, I knew that once the head was out it should only take a few more pushes to eject her body so I was almost done. I remember at some point on pushing the doctor told me to push gently and I did. Her head was out and he asked me to wait…. I did. Then I was given the okay to push the rest of her out and she came with a woosh feeling. They placed her on my belly and she peed on me. I talked to her and recall saying things like you are beautiful. I love you. Look at your hair. I kept pushing gently with the not so painful contractions because I was so scared that the placenta would not come out. But it did come out and the doctor handed James scissors and he cut the cord.

Then the doctor told me I just barely tore so he was going to stitch me up. They gave me more pitocin because they wanted to stop the bleeding. Charlotte stayed with me for a few hours and nursed her. I requested orange juice to refuel and then we invited folks back to meet her.

My mom, sister, and mother in law came back first to meet Charlotte, and then mom thankfully went to get me some dinner. (Applebee’s tomato basil soup.) Next, in were my dad and father in law followed by my Mamaw and Papaw Carroll. The hospital was very busy and wanted to take Charlotte to the nursery and we obliged. James stayed with her until she got settled in. Then my mom was back with dinner for both of us and we happily ate.

My Mamaw stayed with me while  James moved our belonging to our new room. I did not want to be alone. The room felt so big a lonely when I was by myself. James got back. They removed my iv and prepared to move us to mommy baby rooms. It was all happening so fast and James got a little light headed and the nurses gave him a sprite and offered him a wheel chair.

The next few days in the hospital, I was full of energy. I wanted to hold my sweet daughter all the time. Charlotte nursed and slept. She was a pro at being a baby. She rarely cried and we actually had to wake her up to sleep.

The end result was worth it. My sweet daughter Charlotte was here. She was healthy and God had blessed me not only with her but with empowerment through his presence and love. The birth of my daughter taught me what it was like to trust God’s handiwork. He had designed my body to give birth, convicted me to do it naturally, and accompanied me through the experience. God is good. God keeps his promises. 

Birth Stories.

It's summer again and I'm attempting to blog yet again. I want to post the birth stories of my children. But first, I feel that I must start with a few disclaimers. 1. My experiences were very different, yet God used both to teach me. 2. You can learn on a mountain top and in a valley. (Charlotte's birth was definitely a mountain top experience and Samuel's was a valley. But both resulted in HUGE lessons and blessings from God.) 3. I wrote Charlotte's the first week she was home. Samuel's was written two month after he was born. So they read differently in my opinion. 4. Don't expect them to be free of grammatical errors.

Pumpkin Britches (PB) gained weight beautifully! She has also overcame her cold. <and passed it on to me.> 
Thanks for the prayers. Now if I can just make it through my presentation tomorrow ... it will be road trip time! 

Pumpkin Britches

Pumpkin Britches (PB) is growing. She can now crawl. PB says MaMa and DaDa. She loves sweet potatoes and applesauce. PB is taking a swim class with me and loves to kick her feet. She is also not crying anymore when we dump water on her head during bath time... YAY swim class and the tug boat that dumps water on everyone's head! 


The Johnson household is grateful for that little tug boat.


Unfortunately it is not all fun at the Johnson residence. These past few days have been taxing to say the least. But still we praise his name for every moment we spend as a family. 


The Johnson household is so grateful for each other. 


We went to the doctor a few days ago because she was super fussy and running a temp. She has LOST weight. :(  At nearly 8 months old she weighs only 14 lbs and 3 ounces. The doctor's first suggestion was to add formula to her diet following each nursing. We tried to supplement with formula... only to discover that at this time (by the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father it will pass and she will be healed) she is allergic to milk products. We think it is the casein becuase even the hypersensitive version makes her have a reaction. So I am struggling to figure out how to get her pack on the pounds. Idea 1: increase my milk supply, nurse more often. Well I have choked down a "healthy heart" portion of oatmeal every morning since the doctor's visit. I am also back on fenugreek. She has no problem with nursing more frequently.... but I do feel a little overwhelmed nursing ALL the time again. Idea 2:Increase solids. Sadly.... she is now on a slight solids strike (she'll eat two to three bites of those yummy sweet potatoes or apples and seal those lips like they are fort KNOX! :/ ) 


So we need prayers.And now (as I type this and reread and type some more) I'm not sure why Idea 1 wasn't PRAY. *duh me* The Holy Spirit keeps bringing to my mind the story in the old testament where Daniel refused to eat the king's meat and was the healthiest of them all. I'm not quite sure how that applies just yet... but I'm praying for PB to grow like Daniel. Please pray with me. Our weight check is Wednesday afternoon. 


The Johnson household is so VERY grateful for you prayers.


We are supremely grateful for a Father who heals and provides for each of us.

Awesomely Handy Baby Gadgets that Begin with the Letter B!

There are a lot of products out there for babies that are not a necessity but that I am head over heals in love with....

BUMBO:
We just got a Bumbo seat for Pumpkin Britches at the store today. PB loves sitting in it. She also likes staring at it. She is fascinated by it. :D It is so sweet because it allows us to look at her and play with her without always holding her. Now, don't get me wrong... I L*O*V*E* love holding her. However, sometimes it is fun to have my hands free to play and also sometimes she doesn't want to be held. So..... this awesome seat allows us all to be happy.

BUNDLE ME:
A Bundle Me is an insert that goes onto the carseat and is in essence a sleeping bag. We bought one to prepare for our trip to WV in November. It usually snows. This year we didn't need it while we were up there but have used is several times here at home. Last night it was windy and flurries were falling. The Bundle me allowed us to guard PB from the fierce cold wind.