So Audrey and I are celebrating our one year anniversary of being totally wheat free. Which means it's been a year since Audrey was released from the hospital for a UTI. While the doctor never said so (since she's a twit and doesn't believe in the food/body connection) I totally believe it was our eating wheat like it was going out of style for the two months prior that lead to the UTI.
To be honest, I had been ignoring the signs of her allergy. The broken out skin, the gas, the night fits, I had my head in the sand. Thinking back now, I don't know why or how I could do that. I was upset about the move and all I wanted to was feel normal to eat like a normal person. So I did. So we did. So Audrey paid for it. All my fault.
Once we brought our baby home I went totally wheat-free. With the exception of communion each Sunday, I've had no wheat for the last year. I do miss wheat. There are times I watch people eat doughtnuts or hamburgers and think man I really want to eat one. Just one bite can't hurt. But it does so I don't.
I got a Facebook comment from a momma who is going gluten-free for her child. I could hear the stress in her comment and it made me realize that I don't talk too much about my wheatless life, anymore. Once I came to see it as my normal, once I stopped fighting it, I just stopped talking about it. I'll try to remember to talk about the struggles. To remember that helplessness I felt when I first when wheatfree and the joy/calm that still comes over me when I meet other wheatless folk. So I'll try to share tips and reviews and the such.
So tip number 1, if you have just gone wheatless/gluten-free know that you are not alone. Know you can do it. Know that it is okay to morn the loss of wheat.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
All breastfeeding ends
So with this being World Breastfeeding Week, I've been thinking alot about breastfeeding (shocking I know). I was thinking that all breastfeeding ends. As you can see by my breastfeeding timeline, I've been nursing for close to 20 months. That means I'm starting to get looks and have been getting comments like really, gross, well different strokes for different folks. I don't mind the last one. I mean everyone is different and for everyone breastfeeding ends. If you go 1 week, 1 year or until baby/child stops it all ends. Nobody breastfeeds forever.
So that brings me to my breastfeeding journey. My plan was to make it to 2 years. 24 months is the minimum recommendation from the World Health Organization. So I've always wanted to make it to two years but past that I really don't know. I know many women who are comfortable with a 3 year breastfeeding but not many that go past 4 years. Where is my comfort level? I want to be the momma that lets Audrey decide when to stop. I want to be okay with going 4 years plus but I just don't think I'm that woman. I think once we start pushing 4 years, I will begin actively weaning. Does that make me a hypocrite?
If I preach baby-led weaning does me actively weaning mean I am not practicing what I preach? I mean my feeling might change. I might not actively ever wean. Audrey could quit tomorrow. You would think that I would be actively trying to wean Audrey even now. I've been wheatfree for a year! But don't think the thought hasn't crossed my mind. No one would blame me for weaning. No one would think twice about me telling Audrey to get over and shoving a doughnut in my face but I wouldn't be able to look at myself. When my Audrey was born I looked at her and said I would give my life for her and that is what I'm doing; granted for now it's wheat but you know what I mean.
So anyways, yes Audrey is still breastfeeding. At lunchtime, when I get home from work, and a few times at night. Very normal for a toddler her age and nothing I can't handle. I know there will be a time when I offer and she'll turn to run after the dogs instead (heck she does that even now). I won't see it coming or maybe I will. I might even actively pursue it. After all all breastfeeding relationships end at some point.
So that brings me to my breastfeeding journey. My plan was to make it to 2 years. 24 months is the minimum recommendation from the World Health Organization. So I've always wanted to make it to two years but past that I really don't know. I know many women who are comfortable with a 3 year breastfeeding but not many that go past 4 years. Where is my comfort level? I want to be the momma that lets Audrey decide when to stop. I want to be okay with going 4 years plus but I just don't think I'm that woman. I think once we start pushing 4 years, I will begin actively weaning. Does that make me a hypocrite?
If I preach baby-led weaning does me actively weaning mean I am not practicing what I preach? I mean my feeling might change. I might not actively ever wean. Audrey could quit tomorrow. You would think that I would be actively trying to wean Audrey even now. I've been wheatfree for a year! But don't think the thought hasn't crossed my mind. No one would blame me for weaning. No one would think twice about me telling Audrey to get over and shoving a doughnut in my face but I wouldn't be able to look at myself. When my Audrey was born I looked at her and said I would give my life for her and that is what I'm doing; granted for now it's wheat but you know what I mean.
So anyways, yes Audrey is still breastfeeding. At lunchtime, when I get home from work, and a few times at night. Very normal for a toddler her age and nothing I can't handle. I know there will be a time when I offer and she'll turn to run after the dogs instead (heck she does that even now). I won't see it coming or maybe I will. I might even actively pursue it. After all all breastfeeding relationships end at some point.
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