Week...End Report

I have to give a report on this past week....because it was the absolute pits. 

On Wednesday morning, I took Leo on a little walk before heading to breakfast with my mom, Uncle, and Grandma. While we were at breakfast, I started to feel super, super sick. I ordered dry toast and hot tea and couldn't get either of them down. 

I didn't know what was wrong but Leo had been up the night before (with what I thought was teething issues), so I thought maybe I was just extremely tired. My mom took Leo back to her house and told me to just go home and nap. She brought Leo back to my house to sleep because she had a couple of meetings, and when Leo woke up from his nap at 3pm, I had to call my mom crying asking her to come back.

I had a super high fever, chills, body aches, and swollen glands... and honestly, I felt like I was dying.  I couldn't even get up from my bed to go to the bathroom. It was a long night, but Thursday morning, I rallied as much energy as I could to get to the minute clinic and sure enough it was strep. 

Thank God we live near family, because Thursday I was still just as sick. My mom kept Leo in the morning, and then Joel's dad came by in the afternoon until Joel got home from work. I was literally worthless, but thankfully by Friday morning the meds started to kick in and by my 4th dose I was back to normal.

Just in time for Leo to spike a super high fever. He had been cranky all week, and I was chalking it up to teething. He had a low grade fever, his hands in his mouth constantly, and just seemed cranky. By Friday morning, I took his temp and was getting reads in the 104's. 

We took him to the doctor Saturday morning and sure enough, he had strep too. His first swab wasn't as bad I was expecting it too, and it followed by his first Icee-Pop, so that helped a little too.

Luckily for him, literally one dose of amoxicillin and a four and half hour nap and his fever broke and he was just about back to normal. 

Seriously, the only good thing about Strep is that as soon as you get the meds, life changes!

 

During Leo's super long nap, Joel powered washed our deck and swing set and it made SUCH a difference.  

 

Sunday we rode our bikes to my parents and then went for a long walk around the lake. It felt so good to just move outside! 

We spent the afternoon updating our deck since Joel had power washed on Saturday. I have a feeling we're going to get a ton of use out of the new table and umbrella. 

Sunday night, we took both sets of our parents out to dinner for helping us so immensely this past week. We would have literally drowned without their help.

We went to Duke's on the Water which is at 3 Oaks here in Crystal Lake. It was my first time to this lake and it is so, so cool. By the restaurant there is a huge wake boarding lake with zip lines, sand volleyball, tons of bags.....It's absolutely beautiful and so much fun so I know we'll be back. 

Overall, it was a shit week, but we wrapped it up really nicely and I'm extra motivated and ready to have a great week ahead. Hope you do too! 

Must Have's

I've been using this for a week and I am....obsessed. My therapist recommended this homeopathic option for daily anxiety relief, and its been working really well. I bought it off of amazon, and I mix 4 droplets in a glass of water every morning. It has a long lasting effect throughout the day, and while its obviously not magic, I don't find my body going into these tense, anxious states as much as I had previously. I also really like that you can use this when your pregnant (not that I am), but I suffered with a lot anxiety and this would have been really nice to have had.

Etsy shop here

You probably saw this bib in Leo's birthday party recaps, but I can't stop using it. I keep this bib in my diaper bag and use it when we are out. Its cute enough to have it on him the entire dinner, its machine washable, and it folds up so tiny it doesn't take any space in my bag. When I was thinking about buying things for Leo's birthday, I didn't want to get a shirt or bib that he could only wear once, and at $20 dollars, this bib was festive enough - but still useful after his birthday bash too.

I've tried a lot of pumpkin spice coffees this season, and this one from Target is by far the best. Just sweet enough - just spicy enough - and I've been obsessed with it. It's even better than my old faithful Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Spice.

We've reached a point where this just has to happen. Leo is in a phase of needing to be held or entertained constantly  and even with extra hands here in Chicago to help - that just can't be done 100% of the day. Coupled with the fact that we are now down to 1 nap, I'm feeling very grateful that I'm able to by some time with the help of Mickey and his friends. I've bought one episode through itunes and so far, Leo doesn't seem to mind the repetition!

Thoughts for Thursday: Health

Hot water, lemon, honey, and cayenne pepper

I had a chest cold from hell this week but I think I was able to nip it in the bud faster than normal thanks to this little concoction I was having 2-3x/day. I actually don't mind the taste, and it made almost an instant difference.

I know that drinking warm water and lemon is good for you on a daily basis, so it might have to make a more frequent appearance around these parts.

I also chugged an Emergen-C packet every morning, and I have Joel doing it too so he doesn't get sick. I think Emergen-C works if you use it when you start to feel the onset of cold, I'm pretty sure once you've got it, it can't help you, but I guess it can't really hurt.

Also while I was perusing ways to get rid of my cold as quickly as possible, I saw a lot of information on essential oils. Have you used them? I've seen a few friends sell/post them on Facebook, but I'm just not sure I believe the hype....Thoughts?

 

Any other tricks of the trade?

Weekend Weight

Pretty much since Thanksgiving - our calendar has been packed and we've been on an indulgent binge fest. We've been to tons of restaurants in the last few months, and I can feel an extra layer on my body that I do not want to stick. I'm getting so annoyed that during the week we eat clean and act smart, all to blow it Friday though Sunday.

Since I only have a few days before I leave for Mexico, I'm trying to do a quick and effective 4 days cleanse just to feel better.

 

Since I only have a short amount of time - I am...

:::cutting carbs:::

 This is the first thing I have to eliminate to start to feel good again. Before Thanksgiving I was on a maintenance program with just reduced carbs, I would have them sparingly, but it's time to go hardcore.

:::exercise everyday:::

I'm pretty good about getting in a workout 5x/week, but I need to up the intensity and maybe even considering adding in a few two-a-days. Exercise makes me feel good, it's just finding the time and getting out and doing it.

::: lots water & tea/little wine:::

I have at least 2 or 3 Camelbacks of water (64-96oz) and a few glasses of tea at night too.  

:::sleep:::

 I need at least 8 hours of sleep but my body these last few days has been craving even more. I'm trying to get into bed even earlier than normal, read a book - keep the TV off, and sleep as soundly as I can. 

:::vitamins:::

Whenever I get sick, it's normally because I've been burning the candle at both ends. With too much food, booze, and not enough sleep or exercise - my body reacts. I'm taking Emergen-C every morning to rid the toxins and bio-tin to keep my energy levels up during the day.

I also like this Dr.Oz Ultimate Supplement Checklist

 

I wish there was some sort of magic pill, but I sure as hell don't have it. All I know is that I feel better and look better when I'm taking care of myself, and I can't keep ruining it on the weekends!!

When I get back from vacation next week, we will be settling into a stricter routine and keeping these habits going in order to shed the winter skin.