{Update on my Fitness Journey} : I open up about my day-to-day struggles

        

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       I have been fairly honest with how much pain I experienced during my pregnancy with my daughter. We all hoped  the pain issues were only due to being pregnant. Unfortunately, the issues have only gotten worse during the past 4 postpartum months. It has really caused a major hit to my postpartum fitness plans. I had truly hoped I would be much further along on my fitness journey by now. It's very disheartening to essentially "live and die" by your calendar of all the various doctor's appointments I have on a regular basis. I always thought this lifestyle would only happen to me once I was much much older {if at all}. On any given week, I will probably see at least 2 different doctor's {if not more}. 

        So far, we have found that I already have arthritis in my spine. The most recent discovery, my neurologist found was that I have neuropathy in my arms and legs. The Mayo Clinic defines Neuropathy as: disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves, typically causing numbness or weakness. This discovery explained why I am definitely having many of my problems. I constantly feel a burning sensation, like as if your are or leg fell asleep and is just starting to wake up {that burning needle sensation}.  It causes much pain and weakness. This is a constant thing, not just an 'every-so-often' feeling. {Yeah, It sucks.} I tell family and close friends how much I hate being only 26 years old with a body that acts like I am 70 years old. My neurologist has already ran many tests to try to find out what is cause the neuropathy. I have not been told any results yet. Next week, I have to go get a skin biopsy done to see if my neuropathy is due to thick veins. If that is the cause, he said it should be a relatively easy fix by taking a particular medication that helps with this issue. Honestly, I really hope they can find what is causing the issue, so I can get back to "normal."
        All this being said, I have been in physical therapy for the past 3 months working on various strengthening exercises. My physical therapist thinks it could help relieve some of the pain. Every day, I see all these wonderful workout plans to get you into better shape. I only wish I could do some of these "get fit quick" workouts. Since I can barely write or type most days, these workouts would be practically impossible for me to complete. So, with the help for my wonderful husband, we are working on compiling some exercises and a fitness program for people with health issues like me {mainly the ones my physical therapist has deemed safe enough for me to do}. 

        I truly, truly hope that one day I can look back on all this, and be so proud to see just how successful this new workout regime has been. I will be working on compiling more and more information and examples of these exercises for all of you. I just felt that this is a great way to not only inform all of you about what's going on with me, but also let you know what I have in the works. I am so thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful support system around me. I couldn't deal with all this without all of you! I look forward to sharing and working on furthering my fitness journey.  I don't want this to become a pity party, I want to let you all know that I am hopeful that I can fulfill my wish to help others from my personal struggles.

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{6 easy tips to make potty training more successful}

       We are far from perfect or finished with potty training. Now that I had a baby girl in April, I will eventually get the pleasure of knowing first hand if one gender is easier than the other at potty training. For now, my focus is on potty training my almost 3 year old son {birthday in late October}. He’s been using the potty off and on since he turned 2. However, it seems his interest and willingness to train has just started within the past month. I’m one of those mothers that will read and read about other people’s experiences, and then I will form it to make it work for me. Potty training is one of those topics where I’m constantly look for suggestions on how to make it easier. Here is what’s worked and not worked thus far for us:

1.)    Pull-ups…

       Essentially, they are a bigger version of a diaper. More than likely, your child will associate the pull-up as a diaper and will believe it’s ok to go. I’ve learned that they have their specific place in potty training… My suggestion, ONLY use for the following 3 things:

 -traveling {mainly if you are going to be in the car or out of the house for longer than 20   

                     mins.}

             -nap time {I always try to get him to potty just before nap time, but to be on the safe
                                 side, I will put a pull-up on just to make sure we’re covered if he does go
                                 during his nap.}
            -bed time {Same concept for nap time as is for bed time. I get him to potty just before
                                bed time, and then put a pull-up on just in case we have an accident.}

Image from: www.southmountaincrossfit.com

 

 

2.)    Underwear…

       I have learned if we make something a big deal, my toddler will get super excited about it. So, we got him some super cool underwear. He loves wearing his undies. Plus, if he has an accident, he will know about it and want to change. A pull-up essentially just allows for accidents to keep happening. He doesn’t like to keep wearing wet undies. Keeping underwear on, actually keeps accidents to a minimum. He seems to recognize when he needs to potty quicker in actual underwear than in pull-ups.

Image from: www1.macys.com

3.) Get a great potty...

 

 When we were trying to decide on the best potty option for my little man, we chose to go with a potty that is somewhat realistic. The potty we chose has a handle that “flushes,” makes flushing sounds, lights up, and sings a potty song.  There were two main reasons we chose this particular potty for Braeden. 1) He loves to flush toilets, so we wanted one that he could “flush” and resembled a real toilet {Yes, we know real toilets do not usually sing to us. } 2) We wanted the potty to be “cool” enough to spark his interest and keep him coming back. Well, it was perfect… Little did I know, I would fall in love with the removable seat! It was not a factor I had considered at all. However, it has come in handy more than once. He now like to go between using both his potty and the “big” potty. We can remove the seat and place it on our toilet to ensure he won’t “fall” in. We can also take the seat with us when we visit people without a small potty at their house. I would even suggest you get a foldable seat cover, so they can go anywhere.

Image from: www.toysrus.com

 

 

4.)    Make a big deal about every success…

        It is so important to give them praise every time they even sit on the potty. Even if they do not end up going, tell them you are proud of them trying. This encouragement will keep them coming back. I’ve noticed now, when Braeden goes potty, he will announce it to everyone around to hear them tell him “Good Job.” We have even given him rewards when he remembers to go. {Example: 2 m&m’s for pee, and 3 or 4 for poo.} I even try to be encouraging when he had accidents. I will simply say, “It’s okay honey, just try to make it to the potty next time.”

Image from: www.repeatcrafterme.com

 

5.)   Be Patient!!

       I constantly have to remind myself of this. It’s easy for us to quickly potty, and be finished. Children are having to learn this. They are just figuring out how to understand what the urge to go feels like. So, they will have accidents. They may even sit on the potty for an excessively long time. Just remember, it’s ok. They are learning, and you are their first example. If you get frustrated, they will become frustrated and resent potty training. There are days where we are on our 5^th pair of underwear, and I have to catch myself before I get upset about having only one clean pair left. Which leads me to my next tip….

 

Image from: www.nasdaq.com

 

6.) Be Consistent!

 

This is probably the most important thing I have learned thus far. If I can keep reminding him to go potty, he’s less likely to forget. In turn, he is less likely to have accidents. I try to remind him every 10-15 minutes to go potty if he needs to. Approximately every 30 minutes, I will ask him to sit on the potty if he has not already gone. He is doing so much better now that I have become consistent in asking and reminding him about the potty.

Image from: comluv.com

 

 

As I said earlier, we are far from being finished with this whole potty training adventure. By following these few tips, potty training has become so much more successful.

Best alternative to Mayonnaise...

      While making my turkey sandwich for lunch today, I decided that I should try to make it as healthy as possible. Personally, I prefer to make sandwiches with bread. I know making a wrap with either a tortilla shell or lettuce leaf is ultimately the healthiest option. However, I'll stick with my usual honey wheat bread. I added some spinach and fresh tomato. As I was reviewing the best way to make my sandwich healthy, I remember that I had purchased a ton of avocados at the store the other day. {Kroger had them on sale!} So, I decided to make an avocado spread to put on my sandwich instead of mayonnaise. I knew Jimmy John's has a killer avocado spread on some of their sandwiches, so I figured I can keep that in mind as I made it. My spread was not a perfect match, but it definitely did not disappoint! So, here's the recipe:

Avocado Sandwich Spread
Yields: 1 1/2 cup {approx. 3 sandwiches worth}
Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

1 avocado, ripe
1- 1 1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice {depends on how thick or thin you prefer your spread}
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4-1/2 salt and pepper {season to taste}

Directions:
Place all ingredients into blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Apply to sandwich. ENJOY! :)

       {I'm not a professional photographer, but I think this sandwich looks pretty darn yummy}

If you truly are what you eat... Then, I am a Sweet Shop...

       It's no secret that I am trying to eat healthier, and get into better shape than I currently am in. I would say that I do not eat super unhealthy {as you can see by most of my other recipe posts}. However, I do have a super weakness for sweets. I could "eat clean" all day, but if you put a cupcake in front of me... IT WILL GET EATEN. Clearly, it has not gotten totally out of control, just yet. Most of the time, if I am having a huge sweets craving, I will have a few pieces of a Hershey's Dark Chocolate and Almond bar. Which isn't really all that unhealthy if you look into the health benefits of dark chocolate. I've tried holding out on having any desserts until the weekend and just have "cheat days." Well, what normally happens is that I make up an excuse. An example of one of my MANY excuses is: "Well, It's Thursday. It's almost the weekend. I can have just 1 {or 2 or 3} cookie(s)." So, my newest goal for my health journey is to cut back on my sweets, and if I get to really craving something sweet, I will find a healthier alternative.
     I do want to make sure I state that I am not actually dieting to lose weight. I am trying to change what my "ideal" eating lifestyle is {Cake, cookies, and sweets}, to more healthier eating habits. I know {as pretty much everyone else knows}... Just changing what you eat, and not doing more, like some kind of exercise, will only allow for limited results.  I do have an ultimate goal to change to a more healthy lifestyle altogether. For now, I'm just pleased with the baby steps I've taken so far. Due to my many unfortunate health issues, it will be very small baby steps. I will get there, eventually.

4 months and growing strong...

      Kathryn just keeps growing... which is obviously wonderful and exactly what we want her to do. However, I feel like time has flown by. Seriously, she's already 4 months old! She's get more and more fun every day. Of course, I love cuddling and taking care of a little newborn, but watching her become more and more independent is astonishing. She smiles and laughs all the time now. She's able to roll over, which means we have to watch her like a hawk when she's laying down any where. When she is doing "belly time," she can scoot across the floor in an almost crawling way. She gets so frustrated that she cannot totally sit up on her own yet. {It's so cute watching her try so hard, and then, seeing how mad at herself she becomes that she cannot do it just yet.} She would still be considered a "supported sitter," but she's definitely becoming more and more of an independent sitter every single day. Not only is carrying a baby and delivering such a miracle, but watching the baby go from totally dependent on those around them, to becoming an more independent little human, is also just as amazing!
       She had her 4 month check up last week at the doctor's office. She is growing like a weed. She's in the 75th percentile in height for her age group. {Seems like her and Braeden will be surpassing their mommy in height.} Her head circumference is right on mark at the 55th percentile. The only downer, is that her weight went from 46th percentile at 2 months old, down to 9th percentile. When the doctor came in to talk to me about the weight issue, she threw me for a loop. I noticed Kathryn seemed to be having more spit up episodes lately, and I had planned on talking to them about that. Well apparently, her acid reflux must be so bad lately that she is not able to keep her calories she needs to gain weight and keep the nutrition needed. So, we are going to try her on the baby version of Prilosec in the morning and upping her Zantac at night. We hope this will get her acid reflux and spitting up under control. Other than the acid reflux, she's healthy as an ox. I'm so thankful  and blessed to have two healthy children.

Kathryn Elizabeth Campbell

-I smile and laugh all the time.

-I am trying to sit up on my own.

-I can now roll over.

-I sleep though the night.

-I can lay on my belly and scoot across the floor.

Getting Down to the "Nitty Gritty": Let's talk about {Bullying}

       

       There's really nothing new about the fact that  bullying is still just as prevalent, if not worse, as it's ever been.
        Let's just paint a picture of a bullying circumstance...

The normal response: Two kids are out on the playground. One is making fun of the other child and maybe even pushing or hurting the child, while the other child is sheepishly taking the torture. We want our kids to "speak up" if we see this going on, and we want them to go tell someone.

The more real response: One teenager is on their twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media account saying horrible things about or to the other person. They will either tag them in the post, message them privately so that no one else knows what they are saying, or they will make a vague status saying something mean and the other teenager knows they are referring to them.

       Cyberbullying is very real. Social media outlets have made bullying so much easier. A person that would normally talk behind someone's back instead of saying anything directly to the person, can now hop online and bully who ever they wish without having to see them. It gives them a false sense of security and allows bullying to occur easier. We have made sure our children understand to go tell someone if they are physically being bullied, but we need to find a way to prepare our children on how to deal with cyberbullying (more on the psychological side). Our children need to understand that those who bully this way, are ultimately the insecure ones who need help. That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt those who are being bullied any less. If you or someone you know are being cyberbullied, here are a few tips on how to deal with it thanks to wiki how:

1. Save Every Message:
    You may want to forget about those terrible messages and words quickly, but it's best if you can save the messages. It could help you out later when you do go and tell an adult about being bullied. So take a quick screen shot, hit save, or print out the messages.

2. Try not to participate:
     It may be the hardest thing you do. The bully wants you to get upset and reply. That's how they get their satisfaction. If you can completely ignore them, they may quit bothering you altogether. If you do feel that you need to reply, just remember, they can save and copy every response you make as well. Do not say anything you would regret for anyone else to see, because you never know who might read it.

3. Identify the person:
    If they are hiding behind an unfamiliar screen name or picture, do a little research. Search your email, social media, etc. and see if you can find out who the person is. If you are totally unsuccessful, get an adult involved. They may be able to search the IP address to see who is the bully.

4. Approach the bully:
    If you know the person, approach them. When they are no longer behind their veil of the computer, their whole demeanor may change. If you stay calm and attempt to talk to them about the issue, it may deter them  from continuing to bully.

5. If it's severe, press charges: {I'm going to copy this directly from WikiHow because I couldn't say it better myself}
   "Bullying of any kind is illegal in most states. After letting a parent into the situation, allow them to contact the bully's parents (if the school has not already done this). If you've suffered severely from this, or experienced humiliation or violent threats/acts, this girl/boy can be suspended, expelled, or even arrested, depending on how severe they have acted towards you."
    

With this post, I truly hope it can help some of you out there that are being cyberbullied. No form of bullying is ever ok. I feel cyberbullying needs to be taken a little more seriously. It may not be a physical form of bullying, but the permanent psychological damage it could cause to a child is terrible. If you know some one who is bullying or has been bullied of any form, SPEAK UP. It truly can save lives.

Here's a few other resources that could help you:
The BULLY Project
StopBullying.gov
KidPower.org

Get out, unplug, and enjoy your weekend!

        I'm sitting here on a Saturday morning with 'Captian' Jake and the Neverland Pirates on the TV, my little man cuddling me on my left, and my sweet pea napping in her bouncy chair. A few years ago, I would have thought this was a total waste of a perfectly good Saturday. Now, I realize this is a perfect Saturday.
       For the longest time, I thought Saturdays were meant for catching up on all the work you couldn't get completed during the week. My how things change. Every Friday evening, I'll ask Paul the same question, "Do we have to be anywhere in the morning?". As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I begin praying the answer is NO. I'm begging to learn that the weekend should be meant for relaxation. We all work hard during the week, whether it's working at the office or just being a mother {In my opinion, that's one of the most challenging jobs a woman can do.}. We should maximize our weekends, but maximize our relaxation techniques- not by working even harder. I'm not going to lie, and let you think I won't be doing anything this weekend (or any weekend). Trust me, the essentials will still be done (dishes, laundry, picking up, etc,), but I will make sure I spend plenty of time with my family and friends.
        Life should be a never ending learning experience, and I am learning to simply love and enjoying other's company. So, I suggest you all do the same. Housework can wait {and trust me, it will still be there waiting for you}, unplug from technology, and go do something with your friends or family today. I hope you have a fun-filled weekend!