This is Takeru Kobayashi, a competitive eater known for downing hotdogs.



This is 13 month old Monkey. Notice the similarities?



Twenty years from now, I predict Monkey will win the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest. You heard it here first!

A Story Made From Spelling Words

by Smartie Runner, 1st grade

a man had a run a Bad run he had IT BeFor Luch
he ran In the sun Hot Hot sun So He Ha
D too sit on a bus I see a Cub He seys
CooL He seys the cub is WitH A Net tHe
EnD

13.1 Done!

I finished my half-marathon today! My time was 3:18. The course time limit was 3:05, so I'm not sure if my time will count as an official finish, but I did still get a medal. And I wasn't last, there were three people behind me.

It was a tough race (what genius planned a race in August in Illinois?) but it was a fun race. My Team In Training coach and two teammates also ran it. Coach Terry placed second in his division, and Sherry won hers. Both of them came out to run the last mile with me, which helped tremendously.

I started out really strong. In fact, it was a little too strong. In training, I've averaged 15-16min/mile. My first six today I averaged almost 14min/mile. Part of me knew this was a dumb idea, and part of me really hoped I'd finish under the time limit. I hit "the wall" at mile 10 and couldn't run anymore. I walked most of the last 3 until I hit a downhill stretch and finally got a little strength to run again. Then I got to the last quarter-mile around the high school track to the finish line and was able to run and finish strong with Coach Terry beside me.

This was my third half, and the first real exercise I've done since before I was pregnant with the twins. Time-wise, it was my 2nd best of the three. I'm going to take a week or two off, but not too long. I want to maintain and build on my current level for my next half. That's right, I'm already registered for the Disney's Princess Half Marathon in February. I've already started making my costume! I'm hoping with more training and cooler temps, I can set a PR and break the 3:00 mark.

I am not convinced...

The more I learn about Type I Diabetes, the less sense it makes as a diagnosis for Sweetie. Other than the weight loss, she has none of the common symptoms of extreme thirst, frequent urination, or fatigue. Looking over her three lab reports, her blood glucose is within normal range in all three of them. In fact, it's on the LOW end of normal. Her first two urine tests were fine; it's only the third test that showed +1 glucose (out of 3). It seems very strange to me that she could have diabetes with no symptoms and low-normal blood glucose. We've either caught it literally as it happens in the earliest stages, or the one urine test was a fluke.

We did an A1C test yesterday (yet another blood draw, poor thing) along with another CBC and urinalysis. The A1C is a fairly new test that can tell you what your average blood sugar has been like for the last 3 months. Hopefully, it'll be pretty definitive one way or the other.

I've also looked over Smartie's three lab reports. (My mom, aunt, and sisters rightly pointed out that we shouldn't be so concerned with Sweetie that we forget about Smartie.) The biggest concern for her is that her liver enzymes and kidney function are persistently, though mildly, high. Dr. C noted on her report that he wants to see the results of her ultrasound before taking further steps with her. We haven't yet heard the official results on the ultrasound, which was done on Tuesday.

Another turn on the roller coaster...

Well, this roller coaster has taken another sharp turn. We met with the doctor today (we actually had an appointment in another office in the same building, and he came and found us.) Smartie's test results are improving, so he's not as concerned with her. But he now thinks Sweetie has Type I Diabetes. This is NOT a diagnosis yet, just a theory. He's cancelled the consult with the hematologist and is working to get us in with an endocrinologist ASAP, hopefully by the end of the week.

If it is JD, we've caught it very early. He said usually when he sees JD, he's sending very sick children straight to the hospital, but Sweetie is still relatively well.

If it is JD, she'll be on a very strict diet and will need insulin injections. The diet doesn't intimidate me (much), I'd actually welcome the excuse to get the whole family on a healthier diet. But I'm not looking forward to giving my poor sweet baby an injection every day. She's already terrified of needles from all the bloodwork we've done in recent weeks.

The girls' update as best as I understand it...

As you probably know, my older girls have always been very small. When I realized they hadn't gained anything in over six months, I made an appointment with Dr. C. He wanted to run some tests, and we've been waiting for the results. I finally got the call from Dr. C's office. (I've called six times in the last two weeks, and what they failed to tell me was that he was spending all this time researching and consulting with colleagues and specialists.) I should be getting a copy of the reports tomorrow, so I'll hopefully better understand the specifics then. This is what we can share as best as I know now.

The first round of bloodwork from July 19 came back with some really unusual readings on the Complete Blood Count (CBC). There are I think a dozen or so readings taken in a CBC, and for both girls, more than half came back abnormal. Some were very high and some were low; I don't really understand the specifics yet beyond that. Apparently, these results were pretty unusual, which is what lead Dr. C to repeat the test on July 27.

Smartie's second test came back a little better--still abnormal but closer to normal than it had been. Sweetie's came back the same or worse. It now appears likely that Sweetie, and probably Smartie as well, have some type of rare blood disorder. Dr. C is sending all of Sweetie's files to a pediatric hematologist (blood specialist) for review. In preparation for this, we have to do a third CBC and another new test we haven't run before. This new test (I don't know the name of it) is pretty rare. There are no labs in the Midwest that run it, so the blood needs to be shipped to California for analysis. Even though he hasn't sent Smartie's files to the hematologist, he wants her to have the new test run as well. They also are getting chest X-rays and abdominal ultrasounds because their liver enzymes were really high and he wants to see if their livers are enlarged.

I thought the last two weeks of waiting were hard, but this is going to be even worse. We know something is wrong, but we don't know what it is, how bad it is, what the prognosis is, or what the treatment plan will be. It'll take at least a week before we hear from California, and then we'll likely have to meet with the hematologist for one or both girls.

Please pray that their condition will be manageable and that we can find the best way to treat them.

Body Image

I feel absolutely sick. Smartie was running around doing jumping jacks and such. She said to me, "I'm exercising because I need to get skinny." What did she say?!? I said no, you don't need to get skinny. You actually need to get fatter. She got very upset. "I don't want to be fat!"

I explained to her that we don't exercise to get skinny, we exercise to be healthy. It's important to be at a healthy weight, not too fat OR too skinny.

I am horrified that my sweet, young, UNDERWEIGHT six year old is already dealing with the pressure to be thin. I've made a conscious effort to frame my own weight-loss/exercise goals in terms of getting healthy. I want my girls (and my boy, too) to have a realistic picture of what healthy looks like, not the media ideal. I want them to know that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. I want them to avoid all the garbage of warped body image and self esteem.

And to add insult to injury, I opened the comics section to see today's Family Circus. Talk about an impossible standard--there's no freaking way that woman has had four children! (And yes, I already sent an e-mail to the artists.) I know, it's just a cartoon. But it's still a glorification of an impossible ideal.

In other related news, we're still waiting for news on the girls' test results. I've called three times, and been told three times they'll check with the doctor right away and call me back. Grr.

When you have older sisters...

Prescription Milk

I really wish I were capable of milk donation, but between my low supply and my inability to pump well, it probably won't work out for me. I would encourage others to think about it, though.

WBW--More Info and some Fun

Okay, World Breastfeeding Week is technically over, but I was really busy the past two days and didn't get a chance to post. So here are the posts I would have done on Friday and Saturday.

First, resources. I don't know if I'd still be breastfeeding if I hadn't found some excellent sources of information. Four websites in particular have been extremely helpful both in helping me know what was normal (babies are supposed to nurse often in the evenings, it doesn't mean you don't have enough milk) and helping me fix what was not normal (herbs can help you make more milk). I would recommend these sites to anyone looking for more information and support.

BFAR--This site is for women BreastFeeding After Reduction. The online support forum is out of this world!
Low Milk Supply--the sister site to BFAR but for women with low supply problems of any cause
Dr. Jack Newman--great videos on how to latch properly as well as great handouts on a number of issues
Kelly Mom--a great resource on what normal breastfeeding looks like

I would also recommend the following books:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Reduction Surgery
The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk (this one is especially useful in identifying the causes of low supply)
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers

And finally, some humor:

WBW--Breastfeeding helps you sleep

Did you know exclusively breastfeeding mothers get more sleep and better quality sleep than their formula-feeding counterparts? This in turn lowers the risk of post-partum depression. I know I slept a lot better when Smartie finally started nursing and I didn't have to get bottles in the night. Just latch on and go back to sleep--bliss!

WBW--Yes, I'm still nursing

Now that the twins are a year old, I've been getting two questions: Are you still nursing? And how long do you plan to keep it up? The answers are yes, and I don't have an end date in mind.

The World Health Organization recommends a MINIMUM of two years breastfeeding with continued nursing for as long as is mutually enjoyable. Research shows that the natural age range for weaning is between 2.5 and 7 years with most children weaning in the 3-5 range. I don't know if I (or they) will want to continue that long, but I do know right now it's still mutually enjoyable. So we continue.

One of the reasons I'm in no hurry to wean is that I feel like I'm fulfilling God's plan for my breasts. That may sound silly, but think about it. God designed babies to drink their own mother's milk until they are old enough not to need milk anymore. As previously stated, that is usually between 3 and 5 years old. This is the way He meant it to be. Loving my enemies? That's hard. Reading my Bible consistently? A struggle. Submitting to my husband? No walk in the park. But breastfeeding? This I can do.

I don't know when this ride will end, but I plan to continue to enjoy it while it lasts.

WBW--What I've Learned

One of the most important lessons I've learned while breastfeeding my babies is that good things don't have to be all or nothing propositions. I had breast surgery when Smartie was a year old. As a result of the damage to my glands and nerves, I was unable to produce a full supply when Sweetie was born.

Many women in situations like this feel they have to give up. It's either all breast or all formula. I didn't want to give up, though. I knew breast was best and that I wanted to breastfeed this baby, but I just couldn't make enough milk. I did a lot of research. I started taking a medication to boost my supply. With this med, I increased my supply from 25% to 65%. I bought an at-breast supplementor so all her feedings could be at the breast even if it wasn't all breast milk. I was able to have a successful and rewarding breastfeeding relationship despite my circumstances.

I won't lie--it was hard work. I mourned the loss of the easy, ideal experience that every woman hopes for. I hated having to mix up formula and strap on a contraption instead of "lift shirt, insert boob". BUT IT WAS WORTH IT! Sweetie got the important growth factors and immunities from my 65% supply. She got the oral development from nursing. We both had the unequalled bond of feeding at the breast. Yes, she got some formula, but that was okay.

When the twins were born, I had an even better supply with the help of meds and herbs--110%! This was split between the two of them, each getting 55% of their needs from me. I again nursed with the at-breast supplementor. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. When I see my sweet nurslings cuddling close for their Nummers, I know all the struggles were worth it.

My support group has a list of mantras we repeat to each other when we're struggling with our low supplies. My favorite is, "Don't stop giving what you can because of what you can't."

Birth Through the Ages

I wasn't planning to post anything else during World Breastfeeding Week, but I found these videos to be so moving. While I am grateful for the lifesaving medical advances (Smartie and I likely would have both died during my first pregnancy, and I again could have died after the twins were born without these advances), the fact is modern birth practices that interfere with normal, healthy births do more harm than good. I find it fascinating that birth throughout time has included a doula and a midwife. I look forward to the day I can join this process.

(Warning, some of these images are a little graphic. But I would love to hear anyone's thoughts if you watch all the videos. Especially 4 and 5.)

WBW--Getting a Good Start

Many women start out wanting to breastfeed but have the deck stacked against them by the advice and treatment they are given when the baby is born. I find this analogy really telling.

When my first child Smartie was born, the hospital did not follow the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Of course, there were extenuating circumstances (a preemie in the NICU) that made some of the steps impossible. BUT hospital policy prevented me from nursing my preemie despite evidence that preemies benefit from the act of nursing. I had terrible advice from a hostile lactation consultant who refused to leave the maternity floor to help me in the NICU. Smartie came home with a strong bottle addiction that took weeks to correct. It was sheer strength of will that allowed us to overcome our horrible start and successfully breastfeed for 10 months. The fact that we overcame it is one of my proudest accomplishments.

Actually, I have had difficulty nursing all of my children for various reasons--low supply issues due to breast surgery, nursing twins, severe maternal illness during and after birth. But with the proper information and support, I happily nursed Smartie to 10 months, Sweetie to 10 months 1 week, and the twins to 12 months and counting. I would love to see all hospitals give mothers the support they need to get a good start. But I'm proof that even a bad start can be overcome.

World Breastfeeding Week--Benefits to Babies

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I plan to do a series of blog entries about breastfeeding. I want to make it clear that my intention is not to make anyone feel guilty about choices they have made. I believe the vast majority of mothers want to do the best for their children and make the best possible choices given their specific circumstances and the information they have available. No one should feel guilty for doing what they thought was best. That said, I also believe some mothers might choose differently if they had access to better information and/or better support in their circumstances. That is my goal: to get the best information out there and offer support to women who need it.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children be breastfed for a minimum one year with continued breastfeeding for as long as is mutually desired by mother and child. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum two years with continued breastfeeding for as long as is mutually desired. A few generations ago, infant formula was invented. Our grandmothers were told this was superior to human milk because science had developed it. A whole generation of children was formula fed. But the more we study breast milk, the more we realize how vastly superior it is to formula. There are so many components in human milk that simply cannot be recreated. These components offer many benefits to children.

Human milk is easier to digest.
It's always available and doesn't need to be prepared.
It has the perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to meet the baby's needs.
It has growth factors that ensure the proper development of the baby's organs.
It helps protect against diseases. In fact, breastfed babies have lower incidences of ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and meningitis.
It lowers the risk of SIDS.

The benefits of breastfeeding are not limited to the infancy period. Adults who were breastfed have lower incidences of obesity, diabetes, and even some cancers. The longer a child is breastfed, the greater the benefits. But even a short time of breastfeeding is worthwhile.

Source: AAP