What have we been up to lately?

I have been neglecting my blog for a while.  This is supposed to be here to chronicle Ethan's life, but I have been too busy trying to get our lives under control to come on here much.

Ethan is doing pretty well.  He is still getting sick fairly often, but he hasn't had any infection of any sort since Christmas, which is a small victory for us :)

Ethan is still in the slow potty training process.  The good news is that his daycare sits him on the potty and he goes, and he goes for us usually (80% of the time) at night before bed.  I am not pushing it too much, but hoping that he will eventually get used to the idea that he will be doing this for the rest of his life :)  I am hoping that in the summer we can switch him to regular underwear one weekend and see how he does.  I can't really imagine that right now.

We finally had some snow and hopefully we will be doing more sledding soon.

This year is the year I take control of MY health.  I have been sick and tired (and overweight) for far too long and that needs to change fast if I want to be here to see Ethan grow up and become an adult.  I am hoping that by getting my sinus headaches under control (waiting for a follow-up visit to an ENT) and by getting in shape and eating better that I will be a happier, healthier version of myself so that I can devote more time to my family.

So far my plan hasn't made much progress.  I am back at the chiropractor and have started seeing a massage therapist in the hopes that the alternative therapy will help me feel better and I can actually START getting in shape without worrying about the sinus headaches that plague me EVERY DAY.  So far, in the 2 weeks since I have started this, I have only had a couple of sinus headaches.  I do have a bad cold this week, so that is a minor set back.  I did get up and work out on my elliptical trainer this morning however.

Yay Team!

This picture was taken on January 9, 2011 (pretty much exactly 1 year ago when he was 1.5 years old).  I had been so excited that he was getting interested in sitting on the potty - he even has the book :)

Fast forward 1 year, and he has refused to sit on the toilet at all, with about 4 or 5 exceptions.  I have been getting a little nervous, wondering if he will ever potty train.  He is finally getting out of his really bad "no" stage (No isn't always his standard response now).  So today I told him that starting tomorrow we were sitting on the potty and wearing big boy diapers.  I asked him if he wanted to practice tonight, so when we were getting his pyjamas on I asked him if he wanted to sit on the potty and he said "yes" (cue excited music).  So I watched him pull his pants down and I helped him sit on the potty.  I went to get him a book to read, and by the time I got back he had gone pee!  Yay!

Of course I made a big deal out of it, and I called out to Mike to come upstairs and rejoice in the potty moment.  I was so excited I said "Yay Team" and Ethan thought that was the best so he was saying it the rest of the night.

So here's hoping that this streak continues through until tomorrow.

Are Ethan's naps gone?

Ethan decided today that he didn't need to nap.  He did pretty well, playing and being relatively quiet.  I was wondering if this meant the end of naps altogether.

At 3:58 pm I thought Ethan was a little quiet so I checked up on him.  This is what I found:

I guess I don't have to worry about him phasing out the nap yet.

Independence

My little baby is growing up.  At 2.5 he is sitting on the couch, relaxing with a book and drinking his milk.   When I ask him to please start getting ready so I can take him to daycare he says "I stay here.  You go by self Mummy" and waves me away.

The "Silent Killer"

I went to the doctor yesterday and we talked about my sinus problems - I will use a spray that will hopefully shrink my polyps and we will see how it is after a month or so.

The big news is that I have high blood pressure.  My top number was normal, but my bottom number was in the severe zone.  The doctor kept telling me it is a number usually seen only in the ER.  So, needless to say I am on a water pill to see if it helps lower my blood pressure.  And no more procrastinating on the exercise, it is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure.  I am supposed to lower my sodium as well.  I don't add salt when I cook, but I am guilty of using canned soup.  I'll have to change that.

 I have to get blood tests and an EKG on Friday morning at the hospital on Friday.  I will go back to the doctor in 2 weeks and see how my blood pressure is, if it is getting lower or if I need new medication.  I have a blood pressure monitor at home to track my BP.

Nothing like a good scare to get someone doing the right thing....

I Am Not a Superhero

I am going to the doctor today.  I have been sick and tired for so long, every time I try to exercise and get in shape the natural way, my fatigue (or sickness) gets in the way.  I am starting to feel depressed about it, and that is a big alarm for me. Time for me to take control of my health.

My sinusitis has been out of control lately, I pretty much have a sinus headache 6 days out of 7.  I am pretty sure it is time for me have nasal polyps (growths) removed from my sinuses again, I have the symptoms I had before. I called the specialist who did it before, but because it has been more than 3 years I have to go through the referral process again.

Also, I am pretty sure I have high blood pressure.  I had hoped to control it by dropping weight and exercising, but my sinus problems pretty much make it impossible for me to do anything consistently.

I hope I can get these two problems addressed today, and maybe I will actually start feeling better soon.

Wish me luck, I am hoping these are the only problems I have....

On My Birthday...

I am 36 today.  I am not freaked out about my age, I accept it.  The only thing that has been upsetting me is the fact that I haven't managed to get in shape yet.  I had a great month in September, I was back at walking regularly and going on my elliptical trainer a lot as well.

I received an email from Sparkpeople.com today and I think it pretty much states how I would like to spend my next year of life - not just in regards to getting in shape.  Maybe by my next birthday I will have one less regret and even more joys and accomplishments to share.