wellness

4 Small Ways I’m Taking Control of My Health

January 28, 2019 by Rachel 11 Comments

This post is sponsored by Nurx, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

New Year, New Me? Well, kind of. See in years past I’ve let the fact that I was busy raising children really surpass my own health and happiness. I missed routine dental visits and well-checks of my own because I simply didn’t make myself or my health a priority. But something about officially being in my mid-thirties with three young kids has slapped me in the face.

In the months since my 34th birthday, I’ve turned that promise to myself into a reality. Here are some small, simple ways you can take control of your health and wellness, too!

1. Move more!

I have used a fitness tracker of some sort for years now, but have often found reasons not to put it on (like forgetting to charge it). But I’m going on 4 months straight of wearing my fitness tracker! It’s certainly not the be all and end all, but it serves as a gentle reminder to move, move, move as much as possible!

I set small goals for myself, including my 10,000 steps a day, standing up at least every hour for 15 hours, and getting in a little exercise (usually in the form of chasing kids around).

2. Slow down by playing more.

I get it. It’s super easy to get focused on our daily to-dos and endless chores. I’ve been there… often. But something happened when I had my 3rd baby — I realized just how quickly they turn from newborns to toddlers. So I vowed to slow myself down. Those errands that are kind of important but not life or death? I put them off until later.

Instead, I find myself playing and laughing more. It’s made a tremendous difference for the kids and for me.

3. Check my risk for cervical cancer by using The Nurx Home HPV Screening Kit.

Last year I somehow missed my annual gynecological exam. I’m not sure how, as I am certain it was in my Google Calendar; but in December I realized that I had missed my November appointment. I know just how important these appointments can be for things like screening for cervical cancer, so I instead of rescheduling for months out, I used the Nurx Home HPV Screening Test.

The kit is quick and affordable, even for those without health insurance. It’s discreetly delivered to your home for a convenient way to test for 14 strains of HPV that have a high risk of leading to cervical cancer. For those of us that are over 30 and not getting regular pap smears, the Nurx Home HPV Screening Test is an appropriate replacement!

The kit includes everything you need — an extra long q tip, a plastic tube, a plastic bag, a barcode, and a prepaid envelope to return your specimen for testing! It costs just $15 with insurance and $69 without insurance — so there’s really no excuse not to check the health of your cervix right now.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, yet HPV causes 34,000 new cancer diagnoses each year. The problem is that most men and women contract HPV at some point in their lives and are completely unaware that they have it. Head to the Nurx website right now and order your screening kit today.

4. Take 30 minutes for ME every single day.

This seems like an impossibility most days — I understand. I really do — but hear me out. This 30-minutes does not have to be some grand gesture to self-care. Truthfully, most days it isn’t. But as a mostly stay-at-home mom I know it’s important to take small bits of time and take a nice hot shower or to read a book for 30-minutes before bed. Or, heck!, even go to sleep earlier and catch up on those zzs!

These small moments of ‘me’ time have really helped me maintain my mental health.

Sure, I would love to be all caught up on my appointments, with my housework, and to-do list, but for now, I’m embracing the small changes that make a big impact on my overall health. Take control of your cervical health today by contacting Nurx.

A Different Kind of Happy

December 14, 2018 by Rachel 12 Comments

“We haven’t been happy for a long time.”

Before Kids – AKA when it was easy

Disclaimer – this may be an unpopular post/opinion, but it’s real life. And, in all honesty, when my husband said this out loud to me, I responded with, “we’re just a different kind of happy.” But then he said, “Yeah but not a ‘happy all the time just because‘ happy.”

And you know what? He’s right.

But so am I.

Having kids is completely draining. Sure, it’s emotionally draining. But it’s also physically demanding. At the end of a busy day, when you have zero left to give, you have no choice but to give just a bit more. Your little humans’ lives are depending on it.

And it’s emotionally exhausting. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been brought to my knees and at the mercy of a two-year-old demanding lord knows what. That’s not to say that I give in, but I’ll tell ya what — there have been many moments where I’ve negotiated with the (tiny) terrorist if it meant just a little bit of sleep.

Would I trade them? Not for all of the riches in the world.

But I can still long for the days where I only had to wipe *only* my own ass.

The days where I could live by my own schedule.

The nights where I could work extra hours in the office and not have to worry about anyone waking up and needing me in the middle of a deadline.

I look at my husband and long for moments where we aren’t both too tired to converse during (a long overdue) date night.

Surely I know these days and moments are fleeting. But right now? Right now they are REALLY FREAKING HARD. They are fabulous, messy, hilarious, frustrating, and so. damn. HARD.

So if you’re in the thick of it like us, just know that you’re not alone when you get these feelings. It’s okay to be bummed about the fact that your life looks vastly different than it did before. It doesn’t make you a bad mom (or dad); It doesn’t mean you don’t love your kids; It just means you’re normal.

Making Room To Give with Sam’s Club

October 5, 2018 by Rachel 19 Comments

This post is sponsored by Depend, Poise, Ensure, and Glucerna but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

It’s hard to believe that in just a couple of short weeks I will be turning 34. It’s weird because if I can nearly be considered ‘middle aged’ then what does that make our parents? As much as I hate to believe it, my parents and my husband’s parents are getting older. And since we are pretty much the only family around, I’m certain that their care will eventually fall to us. Whether or not we care to admit this, this day is coming. That’s why we are preparing now.

Here’s what we’re doing to prepare for when this day comes:

1. Clearing space.

Our home is not big by any means. In fact, I’ve prided myself on the fact that we do not have more space than we need. We are content in our cozy home. I grew up in a home that was ‘cozy’ and so did my husband. But, as our parents’ age, the idea of additional space is a necessity.

So we’ve been literally and figuratively clearing space. Space in our home, space in our lives, and space in our hearts. Having three kids of our own is hard and, eventually taking on the role of adult-caregiver, it will get harder. The best thing we can do is to minimalize — toys, kitchen gadgets, stock-piled goods — it all needs to be less.

2. Using Sam’s Club Caregiver program to understand what we will need.

I am the kind of person who likes to make a plan rather than being blindsided. And with the help of resources, like the Caregiver program at Sam’s Club, I can feel ready for when that day comes. Their focus is on family caregiving and they provide resources and solutions for every situation.

Sam’s Club offers a large variety of products like Depend, Poise, Ensure, and Glucerna with options for discreet purchases (such as club pick-up and shipping) to specifically help caregivers get what they need without making their family members uncomfortable.

We recently did a big haul to make sure we are prepared for when that day comes. We purchased Glucerna shakes, Ensure shakes, Poise liners, and Depend underwear.

Having these items on-hand means we have one less thing to worry about when the day to become caregivers comes.

3. Making legal decisions now.

One of my biggest fears is that something will happen to our loved ones and we won’t have any legal authority to make decisions, whether it be financially or medically. So we took steps to make sure that we would not be in the dark.

Establishing a medical power of attorney is incredibly important. Having this means we have discussed details with our loved ones and will be able to make decisions that are in their best interests based on their desires while lucid. I realize that this can sound insensitive, but we would much rather discuss these issues now and have a plan versus being blindsided by an event.

4. Keep lines of communication open.

This may be the most difficult of all of the important line items. Communication needs to be open between all parties. Do you have siblings to keep in the loop? Discuss important things now, like who will ultimately make decisions and how those decisions will be made.

All of these things will help us to be as prepared as possible for the moment when we become caregivers to our elder generation. In all of the inevitable chaos, it’s heartwarming to know that Sam’s Club is on our side and will be there for every step of the way.

7 Must-Haves for Baby’s First Cold Season

September 18, 2018 by Rachel 18 Comments

I don’t know about you but I, for one, am very excited that Fall is nearly here. I look forward to the crisp air, fallen leaves, and cooler weather. But, as with every changing season, a new set of illnesses is on the horizon. In fact, Mila caught her first bit of something last week, which flooded back all kinds of ‘first cold’ memories from the previous two kids.

But truly, cold season is no joke. What starts as a common cold can easily turn into RSV or croup. It can get ugly fast, that’s for sure. So I’m sharing my trust mommy-must-haves for cold season!

01. The Nose Frida.

I know I’ve talked about this thing over and over again, but the Nose Frida is truly a lifesaver. Let’s cut the bologna though — it’s a snot-sucker. That’s all it is. But you’d be amazed at how important a snot-sucker can be when your teeny, tiny baby is struggling to breathe through congestion.

But the faint at heart must know that you won’t actually be sucking snot from your child’s nose with your mouth. So rest easy, friends. There are an apparatus and a filter to block your mouth from the gunk.

02. A Humidifier.

Nights are the absolute worst when your baby is sick. Before we bought a humidifier we would run the shower for steam constantly, but that was more of a defensive technique. To stay on the offensive with a cold, we use a cool mist humidifier to help them breathe more easily.

Each of our kids actually has this exact humidifier in each of their rooms and we run it from this time of year all the way through the Winter months. Just be sure to use distilled water in it to avoid mineral build up in the humidifier!

03. Infant Probiotics.

We start pumping our babies with these probiotics at the very beginning of cold season. We try to get in a few doses before they are even exposed to boost their immune systems. And they have been super helpful!

Whether or not your baby is breast or formula fed, it’s important to get that extra push of the good gut bacteria in them to help kick the colds as quickly as possible!

It comes with a teeny little syringe which makes it super easy to make sure they’re getting the appropriate amount.

04. Vicks Vaporub for Kids.

Nothing hurts a mama’s heart more than seeing her little one stuffy and struggling to breathe, so this is an absolute must! We apply the Vaporub to the chest and the bottoms of the feet and it really helps them out tremendously — especially at night and during nap time.

05. Boogie Wipes.

Before becoming a mom I would probably laugh if you told me that there are ‘special’ wipes specifically designed for babies noses. I mean, regular tissue will work fine, right? Wrong. So wrong. Boogie Wipes are a genius invention. They are super soft, extra gentle, and help to get even the toughest crusty boogers off of a newborns face.

Traditional baby wipes are not nearly as gentle and soft, so you may laugh at this concept, but I promise you these Boogie Wipes are a must-have for cold season.

06. Have Baby Sleep on an Incline.

For the first few months of our babies lives we’ve had them sleeping in a Rock ‘n Play sleeper next to our bed. But did you know that it can also be helpful for a baby to sleep at that kind of incline when they are congested as well? Whether it be in a rock and play or on a wedge mat, the incline will absolutely help with the drainage.

07. …and, as always, GRACE.

Mama, whether it’s your first baby or your 7th baby, the first cold season can be absolutely brutal on us. Expect long days and even longer nights, so give yourself a healthy dose of grace to get through it. Because you will get through it.

If you’ve been through it before

what tips

do you have

for cold season?

9 Postpartum Must-Haves

August 28, 2018 by Rachel 27 Comments

Bringing a new baby home is a huge adjustment — both for the new mom and the family. But one of the best things that you can do as a mom is to take care of yourself. It’s taken a few years to learn these things, but here is my list of postpartum must-haves for all moms!

1. Motrin.

I’ve been through three very different deliveries and each time I’ve needed help with aches and pains postpartum. Whether you’ve been through a drug-free delivery, a vaginal delivery with an epidural, or a c-section, Motrin will be your new BFF — at least for a few days.

Birth is traumatic, ya’ll. Even when it isn’t, it is. Whichever way you bring a new life into this world, it’s rough on your body. Don’t be a martyr, take the Motrin and take it often. I learned the first time around that it’s not a good idea to wait until you need it; instead just take it when you’re allowed.

2. Meals.

Ready-to-eat frozen meals, restaurant gift cards, a meal train — all of it. Whether you’re adding baby number one or baby number 7 to your family, the last thing a new mom wants to do is prepare food. In fact, you’ll need to eat as soon as you get a free moment.

If anyone asks if they can bring you a meal or a gift card to a restaurant, absolutely accept it. I felt so guilty about doing this the first time around, but I realized long afterward that I could do this for other people and pay it forward. So with baby number two and number three, I accepted every meal gift. Mostly it’s just moms who have been there and know how difficult it can be.

3. Comfortable clothes/pajamas.

The days (and weeks) that follow the birth of a new child will be days (and weeks) of hunkering down at home. If it’s your first child, you may think you need to wear real clothes. I’m here to tell you, just don’t. I mean, sure — shower and try to get yourself together because it will make you feel better. But you also need to feel comfortable. Your body, regardless of what kind of birth you’ve had, has been through trauma. So make sure you have several sets of comfortable clothes whether it be pajamas or sweatpants or whatever.

4. Depends.

Everyone will tell you how much you need the giant pads but I’m here to tell you that I’m not about that life. Did you know that Depends Silhouettes exist?! Because they are glorious! They are not like diapers in any way, shape, or form; in fact, they are (almost) comfortable. So ditch the pads — buy the depends.

5. Stool Softeners.

Whatever experience you’ve had with birth, a child has exited your body. And for 40-weeks a baby has grown inside of you. Your organs have shifted to make room and then shifted back very, very, suddenly. This and hormonal changes wreak havoc on our digestive systems. Whether or not you think you need them, take the stool softeners. They’ll be offered to you in the hospital — take them. And make sure you have a small pack of them at home to get you through the first week or two.

6. Breastpads.

Whether you decide to breastfeed or formula-feed, your breasts will leak — and you should most certainly be prepared. While I so desperately want to be a supporter of reusable breast pads, I have to say that I’ve tried the silicone breast pads and they are massively uncomfortable. Either get yourself the fabric reusables or the disposables.

7. Comfortable Nursing Bras + Tanks.

Comfort is key postpartum! Your tatas will hurt. So make them comfortable by finding bras and tanks that are secure but also not too tight.

8. Air Conditioning.

Hormones do crazy things. One of those things is making us sweat our booty off postpartum! Even after having my January baby, I was sweating like crazy — so much so that my husband had to sleep in the other room because I was freezing him out! So you’ll need air conditioning or, at the very least, a really good fan to circulate the air.

But no worries, because your hormones will even out and you’ll be back at a normal resting temperature before you know it!

9. Grace.

I’ve talked a lot about grace and motherhood. But I promise you it is not to be cliché. It is the one thing that has saved me, often times from myself. After becoming a mom for the first time I realized that I had put way too much pressure on myself, especially in those first few postpartum weeks. I accepted too many visitors and I stressed myself out by trying to ‘keep up’ with housework.

Just don’t. Breathe. Delegate. And give yourself all of the grace.

What are some

of the items

on your postpartum

must-have list?

What I Wish I Knew As a First Time Mom

June 13, 2018 by Rachel 25 Comments

This post is sponsored by Cord Blood Registry ® (CBR ®), but the opinions expressed here are my own.

Here we are… days away from meeting baby number 3. And being this close to her arrival, I just keep thinking about all of the things I wish I knew the first time around.

1. You may not feel an instant connection.

This was something I really struggled with just after our first was born. Sure, I felt protective; but I didn’t get that immediate, overwhelming feeling of pure joy. And the more I talked to others, the more I realized that this wasn’t that unusual. Thanks in part to social media, we would be made to believe that every mother feels an immediate and overwhelming connection with her newborn. But… that just isn’t the case.

And I want all moms to know that. The connection will come — and it may take some time — but it will happen.

2. The incredible benefits of cord blood banking, from birth and beyond.

Before I became a mom I had heard about cord blood banking, but I didn’t give it much thought beyond that. But being a mom changes a person. And a baby’s umbilical cord is made of tissue and contains blood, both of which are rich sources of stem cells that are unique and powerful. Preserving your newborn’s stem cells may give your child or an immediate family member the opportunity to use this resource for current cord blood therapies*!

How amazing is science?! So when we were pregnant with baby number two, I knew what we needed to do — preserve her cord blood with Cord Blood Registry (CBR). That’s because CBR is a resource for expecting parents in so many ways. When you choose to bank with CBR you have access to their team of Certified Genetic Counselors who can discuss your family’s medical history as it relates to newborn stem cells, and educate you on your options to preserve them for your family’s future. CBR believes every family should have the opportunity to preserve their newborn’s stem cells. That’s why they offer affordable payment options to fit almost every family budget and also offer a Gift Registry, where friends and family can contribute towards the cost of banking. Not only that, but their Newborn Possibilities Program® assists families with a qualifying medical need by covering all costs for preserving their child’s newborn stem cells and storing them for 5 years.

The process to get set up is really simple. We enrolled online at cordblood.com and received a collection kit. We’ll be bringing our CBR collection kit with us to the hospital for number 3, and once the cord blood is collected we’ll call the medical courier (phone number is on the kit) and CBR will take care of the rest.

If you’d like to learn more, CLICK HERE and fill out your information to receive a code for $200 OFF initial fees. We’ve already filled out our information and will certainly be taking advantage of the affordable payment plans. I’m so relieved to know that we have a trusted support system with CBR!

3. No phase lasts forever.

This is a really hard one for me. As someone who has struggled with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety with both of my other children, I know — firsthand — how difficult it can be to see past the fog of sleepless nights and colicky screams. And the last thing any new mother wants to hear is “This won’t last forever,” because, in that moment, you absolutely cannot see that. It just isn’t helpful.

But I’m repeating this phrase over and over again to myself in the coming days — no phase lasts forever — in hopes that I’ll remember and take solace in this during the endless nights and rough patches.

4. Do what you’ve gotta do.

You’ll get a lot of advice before becoming a mom. As a “seasoned” mom, I vow to not be one of those people who asks “Well have you tried ____?” Let’s just all assume that if someone is venting to you about their baby, they are not soliciting your advice, okay?

With that being said, I wish someone would have told me that all parents of a new baby are just surviving; we’re all just doing whatever we have to do to make it to the other side. There is no one ‘right’ way to parent and what works for your friend may not work for you.

Just do what you’ve gotta do and feel no shame about it!

5. You will find your way.

Between the mistakes, the late nights, the tears, the questioning of yourself, and the literal crying over spilled milk, you will find your way. One day you’ll have a toddler and you’ll realize you did it. When you realize that, thank your people — whether that be your family, your spouse, your friends, or your Mama Tribe — just thank them.

You’ll all find solace in the fact that, yeah, that was rough. But we made it.