Rants, Recipes, and Running

I've been in a bit of a haze over the past 7 months. I wouldn't say I'm out of the haze. But I'm coming up for air.  Let me bullet point-style and unload my soul. As I feel these are pivotal life moments that need to be documented somewhere... Maddy had growth issues. I had breastfeeding issues. It took many pediatrician appointments, 6 lactation consultant appointments, Gallons of tears, and so many prayers - but somehow Madelyn has gone from being in the 1st percentile to the 13th percentile as an exclusively breastfed baby. If our next baby has issues - I am going to come back to this bullet point as a reminder. It took work. It took a supportive husband. It took professional help. It took many text messages and phone calls to my sisters, Mom, and some good mama friends. But...we got there.  We have had some awesome family visits - my parents stayed here for 2 weeks after Madelyn was born, my brother Kevin and his family came in April, Ryan's sister Erin came in ...

On February 15 at 2:33 pm we welcomed our beautiful, sweet, little baby Madelyn Claire into this world. I better document this story before it gets hazy in my mind during these busy, sleepless newborn days.  We checked into the hospital at 9pm on her due date to be induced- Valentine's Day! We joked about how this is a Valentine's Day we will never forget ;)  Why did I get induced? My OB doesn't like you to go too far past your due date. And I just had this feeling that this was a good choice. In hindsight, we are really glad I went with my gut as she did have meconium in the amniotic fluid! So she was ready to go.  The induction method was using this cervical tablet that is inserted to help with effacement and then we would start pitocin. My birth plan was to try to go without an epidural, if possible. But I was realistic that this may change as things progress. Especially with pitocin... Within 30 minutes of receiving the tablet, the contractions started firing. I worke...