Time Flies!

Boy have I been busy since the start of the new year! I had orders pretty much everyday for the first 3 weeks! That was nice, but I really needed to catch my breathe after having the crazy start with watching what I eat and worrying about Mack. Also, just having to keep up with 4 year old twins, the needs of a baby and all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Not to mention the fact that I now have to pump and bottle feed and on different time schedules and wash bottles and my pump consistently. I am tired just writing this. I am starting to get the hang of everything. I just need to get back on my laundry schedule and cleaning schedule. Things will reach a new normal soon or at least I hope they will.

I can't believe how fast this year has gone by so far. Probably because I stay so busy. Mack is already 4 months old! I really don't want him to grow up. It does make me sad since he is my last baby. He had a good doctor visit the other day. He is up to 15 lbs 1 oz and 25 in long. He is developing great and still had some gastro issues, but they were resolved today with a normal poop. I am still having to pump and mix with formula. I did break down and buy an electric pump. I got the Playtex Embrace and love it, just in case someone reading this needs a pump that is a good one. He also started rice cereal. I think he likes it. His first bite was him lunging at the spoon with his mouth open wide. Andy videoed it, so I will have to put it up soon.

It's funny how at first I was so devastated because of having to read labels although really it was the stress of messing up that has always scared me about having a child with a food allergy or other issue, but it hasn't been that bad. If anything it has helped us to eat more healthy and to be more conscience of what we are putting into out bodies. Reading the labels are second nature now. We eat a lot more fresh foods and don't really eat out at all. We have found a few places that serve foods that I can eat. Like Moe's Art Vandalay burrito, which I love the name, and pretty much anything at Wendy's. Those are our standbys just in case life gets too hectic. We did eat in 12 nights in a row! That is seriously the first time since, well we have known each other that that has happened (we have been together for 11 years). I have also lost 4 lbs, at least that is what it was a few days ago when I weighed last. I was really hoping to have lost more, but I will take that. Well as usually my tiny bit of free time has come to an end and I must go pump again and then blow dry my hair, then move the laundry once again from the bed to laundry basket all so that I will fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Here are some shots from Mack's 4 month pictures that were taken yesterday. I just now have taken him somewhere to get his picture made because I was so scared he would get the flu. Those places seem like germ magnets. Yes, I am a germaphobe. I felt so guilty and the pictures were so cute that I probably bought more than I should have. He is one of the three cutest kids ever!!

My New Goal

Mack had a doctor appointment this morning because his gastro problems have not really improved at all.  We luckily saw our regular doctor and she was much more helpful than the other doctor he reminded me a lot of Denise on Scrubs (not her appearance).  Mack's whatever they tested was improved a little.  Our regular doctor did explain better that this is an intolerance not an allergy.  That was a relief, because she said a lot of babies out grow it by 6 months and are totally fine.  So what we are going to, and hopefully this will work, is mix breastmilk with the special formula until whatever is aggravating his colon stops bothering him.  Then retry him on breastmilk at 6 months. 

This is a much better goal than before.  Seeing a possible end in sight for him especially has made me feel much better.  It is hard for me because of my love of food, but ultimately I feel terrible for him.  It is so hard to watch your baby struggle and know that you are doing all you can and it still isn't making his tummy better.  Hopefully the formula will help and it was awesome that she gave me four more cans today.  We will be back in two weeks for his 4 month check up and hopefully they can give me some more then.  He is currently taking the longest nap he has in the last couple of days. I think he has been having a growth spurt and his tummy seemed to be bothering him.  Please pray that this breastmilk/formula combo will make his gastro issues stop and that he outgrows it soon.

This has in a way been a blessing (it is good to find a blessing in all things good or bad).  We have eaten at home every night this week and will continue too!!!  My goal is that at the end of the year I would like to have saved enough so that we can either remoldel or get a bigger car which would be a "fancy bye bye" suburban (the boys call my car a bye bye and the bigger version a fancy bye bye). 

Last night I made a yummy Layered Mexican Bake.  I of course omitted the cheese and sour cream, I set it on the table for the rest of the family.  I also used the 10" tortillas instead of the 8.  Also, another tricked I learned lately that was a great time saver was when you buy your ground hamburger to go ahead and brown it and then divide it into 1 lb bags and then freeze it.  That was the best idea ever!! Thanks to whoever gave me that one!

Layered Mexican Bake---Kraft Food and Family  

3/4 lb. extra-lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tsp. chili powder
1-1/4 cups TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen corn
3 high-fiber whole wheat tortillas (8 inch)
1/2 cup BREAKSTONE'S Reduced Fat or KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream
3/4 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided
Make It!

HEAT oven to 375ºF.


BROWN meat with onions and peppers in large skillet on medium-high heat. Stir in chili powder; cook 1 min. Add salsa and corn; mix well. Simmer 5 min.



SPREAD 1 cup meat sauce onto bottom of 8- or 9-inch square baking dish; top with layers of 1 tortilla, 1/2 cup meat sauce, sour cream and 1/4 cup cheese. Cover with 1 tortilla, 1 cup of remaining meat sauce and 1/4 cup of remaining cheese; top with remaining tortilla and meat sauce. Cover with foil.



BAKE 25 min. or until casserole is heated through. Top with remaining cheese; bake, uncovered, 5 min. or melted.

My New Challenge

I don't even know where to begin. I never wanted my kids to have food allergies. I think that it is scary and tough. Well this past week Mack was diagnosed with an allergy to milk and soy. Since I am breastfeeding this means that I can no longer eat anything with milk or soy. I NEVER knew how much stuff had milk and especially had soy in it. Soy is in almost everything or at least it seems. Right now we are on a two-three week eliminating of those foods to make sure that it is what it is. Mack is seriously the happiest baby ever and we are just floored by this. I knew for sometime that he had an issue with milk, but never thought of it as being this extreme. We are really hoping that all he has is an intolerance to it and will out grow it hopefully by one year, but if not by 3 at the latest.

This has been really hard for me and for several reasons. I know that it isn't that severe and worse could be wrong. He has a gastrointestinal reactions to it, but it could be if lead to other blood issues. I love to eat and love sweets, well no more. That is sad. Also, Chikfila is no more. Even sadder. Then there is the fact that I have to cook. Even more sad. I hate to cook, but I am turning over a new leaf for my baby because I want him to be free of milk or soy so that he may hopefully outgrow it. Andy and I are both having a hard time with this mainly because of the thought of how his life will be different. Sure lots of people now have food allergies and why? I have no clue. The doctor said that it was some immune thing. Well it does make us sad to think if he has to have this allergy for the rest of his life just the trouble he will always have to go through and of course there is the missing out on some of life's most wonderful foods.

This year I have started off right by cooking. Yesterday we cheated and the boys had a freezer ziti and I had beans and greens. Then tonight Andy and I made pork bbq in the crockpot, I did homemade roasted potato fries in the oven and stewed apples and also some soft (canned) carrots for the boys. No bread because almost all bread has soy!! I at least hope that he doesn't have a soy allergy because so far that has been the hardest thing. We do luckily live in walking distance to the Whole Foods and that was a nice boost because they have lots of choices for allergy free foods. I will continue to post updates and any good allergy things I find. Andy says that God was trying to tell us something because we eat out way too much. We do and we spend too much money on eating out. I am hoping to now lose my last 17 lbs of baby weight really fast.

Here are some pictures of Mack turning over yesterday from his tummy to his back at only 3 1/2 months!!

Christmas Morning

This year was yet another sick free Christmas for the Warnke family. Cale was showing no signs of being sick and no one else got it. As a recap, every year someone in our family has been sick except for last year and this year. Yeah!!!

Cale and Carter looking so sweet and so different in this picture.



Andy half asleep and Mack chillin as usual

Mack opening his present with the help of his big brothers. He is so thrilled to get an aqurium toy for the crib.

They boys diving into their goodies!!

Christmas Eve

Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve. By the way Cale was recovering from having strep and scarlet fever. He had been on meds for 24 hours, so don't worry Santa was not at risk to get sick. Also, luckily no one else got it.

Making cookies for Santa. This is the first time we have done this with the boys and they loved it. Notice the big blue can of YUMMY icing by Pillsbury. If you need to decorate I highly recommend. It was easy and sooo good!!!


Cale

Carter

This was the best there was that night!