26 and 27 Weeks 3rd Trimester

Hello 3rd Trimester!

Not long now, not long at all!

How am I feeling?

I'm feeling fine, good in fact. Sometimes I've felt nauseous, but I'm done with Diclectin and I think it might have something to do with not getting enough water during these hot days. Coffee doesn't help either, does it?

So and so. I'm off a "set rhythm" but I'm eating enough. It's so hot, I'm not that excited about cooking so, making rice wraps is great. I always seem to be feeling hungry, I don't know whether I lack of a certain vitamin?

I know it's hot, but I've made soup from cauliflower and home made chicken stock. It's pretty light and is nutritious! To make it a rawfood soup, omit the chicken, bacon and heating up your soup just below the 45 Celsius is ideal.

At the moment, I am taking a B vitamin Complex, Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D, probiotics, Milk Thistle and Greens+

I'm drinking home made bubble tea, which is really healthy!!! Basically it's any home made vitamin water, but tea infused (today it was red raspberry leaf tea) with crushed ice and Goji berries, which soak up the flavours and become a subsitute to pearls and jelly. Yummy and healthy!

How have I been working out?

I've cut down a lot. I'm doing plenty of cardio; crosstrainer, stairmaster, tredmill etc. I'm aiming to do 30minutes to a hour a day.  Once I get into the groove again, I'll be picking up light weights, but for now I'm just getting myself going again. The stairmaster is still my master at the gym. My pregnancy weight gain has affected the level I've been working on. I was at level 6 and 7, now I am on level (intensity) 1 and 2.

Rice Wrap Filling 1:

thinly sliced:
carrots
broccoli

sprouts
alfalfa sprouts

cooked chicken, beef, shrimp or fish

Rice Wrap Filling 2:
baked salmon, seasoned
sprouts
iceberg lettuce
carrots
soy, garlic and ginger dressing

Taco Rice Wraps:

Filling:

Fried taco mince meat
salsa
iceberg lettuce
sour cream
sliced avocado

 

Anyway, here is what I made the other day. Guess which one is the healthy one? 

 My daughter pitted the cherries with me... she worked hard, pitted 7. I pitted the thousand after that.

 I don't bake, but I did make this pastry. It wasn't anything like my mom's... but whatever.

 Yes, I am in bed. yes those are my feet, and yes the plate is resting on my tummy.

I'm so Finnish, I went to IKEA and bought vanilla sauce... The pie was so tart from the lemon juice and lack of sugar, it balanced the taste perfectly.

 I roasted the cauliflowers at the same time I made my pie crust.

 Home made chicken stock. That's pretty much the recipe. Chicken stock and roasted cauliflowers.

 Put them all in a blender with a tbsp of bacon bits.

 Pureed yummyness!

Blend in a few carrots from the chicken stock "left overs" and voila!

27+3

24 and 25 Weeks

I'm feeling great! I'm kind of counting the days until I get to hold this little one in my arms, but at the same time, days are just passing by so quick without me even realizing it. Crazy busy! I think this is my "fastest" pregnancy so far, and I think it has something to do with having a busy household. I can't really sit down and think about the pregnancy or birth too much. The times, I get to sit down, I'm usually horizontal and asleep. 

But the little I have been able to plan and prep for are...

• Ordering a BellyBandit. 

I've had this band before and I must say I've liked it, however, I think I've had the wrong size and never got the optimum support or results. Now I've ordered a smaller size, which I think will be perfect.

• Home Made Kale Powder. 

I have got a garden full of kale, a super dehydrator and great ideas for it.

• Christ Centered Childbirth book. 

This book is amazing. Not only  does it give you a great insight on the physical area; pregnancy, birth and anatomy -it covers the emotional and spiritual areas as well. Love it! Even though I've read it 3 + times, I still get so much out of it, and new things keep popping up each read.

• Talking to my Doula. 

Going over some of my hopes for the birth. She has been my doula before, so she knows me and is really well equipped for this one. She is so busy with being a doula, I am so thankful that she is going to be there for us.

• Nesting.

Need I say more? Yes, nesting organizing, de-itemizing, de-cluttering, cleaning, scrubbing.... 

• Homeschooling through the summer.  

We're focusing on the "harder" topics this summer, so that when the baby comes we can take it a little easier and do the more self directed and more fun subjects.

I've also been enjoying the different flavoured homemade vitamin waters. My favourite is Cherry-Lime-ade.

Cherry Lime-ade

6 thin slices of lemon
10 thin slices of key lime
6 pitted black cherries
1 sprig of fresh mint (optional)
500 ml of sparkling water/ plain water

Muddle lemon, lime and mint in the bottom of a pitcher. Add cherries, sparkling water, and fill remaining with cold water. Cover and chill in the fridge for a few hours. Serve over ice.

My diet has been good, it could always be better, and I'm working towards that. I try to eat as much vegg throughout the weeks so that when that special treat comes along, it won't break the scale, my health or my heart.

Speaking of my heart. I am so so excited to see this little one... not long now, not long at all! The last month will always feel like the slowest, but I'm hoping to keep busy so that it will just creep up on me, in a good way! 

P.S check out Plain Plantain! I have been using her balms on my belly and I love it! So easy to apply and doesn't leave a greasy after feeling.

The Everything Salad

• lettuce
• spinach
• olives
• grapes
• tomatoes
• corn
• chickpeas 
• bacon bits
• chicken
• cucumber
• feta
• homemade bluecheese dressing

See you guys next week!

Vitamin Water -Homemade- Raspberry Mojito

Yuuuummy! Not only can I believe that this actually tastes like vitamin water, but it tastes even better!

I have a list of ideas for what kinds of waters I'll be drinking this summer!

Yesterday and today, I enjoyed 

Raspberry Mojito

• 10 thin slices of key lime/lime
• 1/2 pint of raspberries
• spring of mint
• 1T stevia (optional)
• 2L water
• a ton of ice

Place the mint and raspberries in the pitcher, mush them up good, add the lime, stevia, ice and water, give it a good mix! Let it sit in the fridge for a few hours. I drank mine immediately but enjoyed it the next day too!

Do you have any good vitamin water recipes to share?

19 and 20 Weeks

Fruit of my garden. I can't keep up with the berries... they ripen up so fast. I have to go in daily to pick out the ripe ones, if I miss a day, literally, they're over ripe. 

I enjoy them in my oats, yogurt, fruit salads....mmm....

I am finally starting to feel the baby move! What joy to know-know that there is someone in there and it's not just trapped gas! Ha ha! The movements are so soft, and it reminded me when the soft movements turn into invasive switching of the positions, kicking in the ribs kind of kicks and the endless hiccups. You know?! 

2 more days until the detailed ultra sound, I'm looking forward to it!

I've been dating my husband. Now seems to be a good time to get in as many date nights as possible. It dawned on me, 4 more months until #4 is here! Super exciting, but it sure will be a busy time and it'll be some time again, until we get to go out the just two of us.

 

This picture was taken at 20 weeks, sharp!  Time has definitely passed by fast this time around. May have something to do with having 3 kids, homeschooling and gyming it. It may. I'm looking forward to this little bundle, but at the same time, I am really enjoying the time I have being a family of 5, this too is a season, this too shall pass.

 (puffed tofu and broccoli stirfry)

My diet has contained mostly fruits, eggs, vegetables, greens+ , smoothies, juices, soups, salads, hot pots, steak (once in a while), protein powder, protein bars ( for when I forget to eat and I'm on the go), honey chrysanthemum and aloe vera teas, ice cubes, crushed ice and ice water! Ha ha! I tend to eat ice when I'm pregnant, keeps me cool!

My workout:

Day One

1. stairmaster 20-30minutes
2. single leg extensions 4 sets of 8 reps
3. leg curls 4 sets of 8 reps
4. planks 45sec x 2-3
5. stretching 

Day Two

upper body workout at home, 10lb dumbbells, shoulders, chest, triceps, biceps...

Day Three

repeat day one, add back exercises

Day Four

upper body workout at home, 10lb dumbbells, shoulders, chest, triceps, biceps... 

I'll be seeing a physio tomorrow for some pelvic issues. I have been "clicking" while I walk or even just stand at times. I also can't laugh, jump on a trampoline with my kids, or have a coughing fit (ha ha!) without leaking, I know too much information! But that is a fact, and I am being brutally and at times, embarrassingly honest here. Ladies, sometimes having more babies or even just one can leave your core weak, get yourself an appointment to see a physio who has the experience with pre- and post natal issues and get yourself strengthened. Trust me, it needs to be addressed, before you're 40 weeks along.

More posts on pregnancy workouts HERE

Posts on recipes HERE

Posts on homeschooling HERE

18 Weeks +

This juice was a sweet pick-me-upper for a hot summer day. My sweet husband made it for me. I asked him what was in it, and he said...

• apples
• ginger
• spinach
• fennel 

I try to spend a lot of time outside, especially since I've been sick on and off for a few weeks now. At the moment I am on antibiotics :( for a sinus infection. No worries, I'm topping up my probiotic intake in between the doses, I should feel fine. 

I've been investing in my vegetable and herb garden, I'm really looking forward to eating the first fruits.

I've spent some time menu planning for the next two weeks. Some things are given in our diets that I do not write down, i.e vegetables, super foods, salads, hemp hearts etc. This menu is more for the kids, as you know, I am not a big fan of hot dogs... I guess I'll be adjusting the menu a few times this week, making delicious dishes to post on here for you! Stay tuned!

I love the greens, to me it's the colour of life :) When I'm rushing, I drink Greens+, 3t in a bottle of ice water, throughout the day. I have the berry flavoured kind, I am getting used to it. I still LOVE PhytoFUEL -Look into that! That'll be my next purchase, that product amazes me! More on PhytoFUEL HERE.

Update on Carlson Fish Oil post HERE, I had to discontinue the use since I began to feel very nauseous in the mornings. I went back to gagging on my thumb sized fish oil capsules for now, but I will give the Carlson Fish Oil another try later on my pregnancy. I still believe it's quality stuff, just wrong timing.

I can feel the baby move a little. I still long for proper roly-polys and kicks. I know, I will... I am really looking forward to holding this little bundle. Everyday, I thank God for this miracle. I am so blessed. 

Unfortunately I had my detailed scan postponed. Two more weeks until I post some cute scan pics... you gotta wait!!! They are also putting me through some serial scans throughout the pregnancy, I take this as a pampering. I get to see that little baby more than once, before I get to see her/him face to face. Yay!

I'm thinking about baby names, any suggestions? Please share!

Week 17

Vitamins! This is what I take at nights just before I go to sleep. The reason I take them at night, all at once, is because I tend to get nauseous during the day. At night, I am asleep and I sleep through whatever nausea these give me.

Left to Right:

• Diclectin. I'm on one Diclectin a day. By the end of this week, I'll be down to NONE!
• Probiotic
• Vitamin D, small round ones
• Milk Thistle
• B Complex
• B6
• Folic Acid
• Omegas

I don't digest iron well when I am pregnant, but I get plenty through my iron rich diet. Also Vitamin C is in powdered form, which I add into my juices or smoothies.

I have been pretty sick for more than a week. I caught some sort of adult version of croup, thanks to my kids -thanks to the gym daycare cooties- followed by an aftershock -a cold.  Boo! I haven't been to the gym for a few weeks and I can't wait to start again!

In the midst of my sick week, I got to enjoy a night out with my hubby ! We went to my favourite Hot pot restaurant and I got to enjoy some food for my soul - yummy!!! One reason I like hot pot is that it's clean and I can decide how or if I want my veggies cooked. I love love love all of the flavours!

I think I need a little more of THIS! WATER!

 I like to flavour my water with fruits, herbs and berries.

 This is what I looked like between week 17 and 18... it's growing...

I wish I could feel my baby move more. With all of my other pregnancies, I felt them move at 16 weeks, and well. Sometimes I worry, but I try to snap out of it. It's out of my control. Instead of worrying, I praise God for this miracle growing inside of me. I can't believe how blessed we are! What a wonderful addition to our family and once again, a MIRACLE from God. May she/he be a blessing to everybody. Thank you for letting me be his/her mum. I am honoured.

A little note to my little one:

I often wonder what you will look like, who you are and how you will enrich our lives. I dream of the day I can hold you in my arms and kiss your little forehead and finger tips. I love you so much already. -Mami xx

Week 16

How do I feel? I've had two off days, when I've felt quite back. I had to increase my Diclectin dosage for those days. At first I thought maybe it had something to do with my switching my vitamins to a different brand and form, but that surely that wasn't the case. I had a good look at what I was eating and I'm 99% sure that, that was the cause! It wasn't hard to figure out what I was doing wrong.

What did I eat? I am emberrassed to admit this but, I had ice coffee from Mc Cafe two days in a row and twice!! Also, I did something even more stupid. I purchased and Arizona iced tea (we all know that's full of sugar!!!!) and I did that two days in a row as well. On top of this, since I thought I was feeling a lot better, and I was craving for a decaf hazelnut flavoured coffee... oh you guessed it! I am so dumb.

Well no wonder my body went a bit loopy and was like "hey!! what's going on?!" I felt so awful, I could hardly get out of bed.

There is something I didn't do for a few days, which was juicing. I guess, having S away for a few days put me on survival mode for a second, and honestly I just forgot to. Howeverm I put it to the test, and juiced today and I INSTANTLY felt my nausea had subside and, I have not even taken Diclectin today! I am now, again, a true believer in juicing my vegetables. If you cannot consume them in large quantities, then juice them!!! 

I am back to "normal" :)

Here are my top #5 snack ideas for in between meals

• Greek Yogurt with berries, nuts and stevia. I sometimes substitute almonds to a handful of oats or 1T hemp hearts.
• Protein smoothie. Basicall any kind of vegetable and fruit, yogurt based smoothie with a scoop of hemp protein or whey protein.
• Hummus and Peppers. I love red pepper boats filled with hummus. It's pretty much the only way I eat red peppers.
• Apples and nut butter. I love organic peanut butter. I know almond butter is better for you, but peanut butter tastes best!
• Cheese and grapes.

What are your favourite snacks?

Raw Foods Recipes

Since this blog is still new,  and I have not yet had the opportunity to post too many raw foods recipes here, buuut I got plenty of recipes on my 'holy temple blog'. Feel free to visit this blog :) hope you enjoy it!

Www.holytempleunderrenovation.blogspot.com

Also, let me know you were here, I would love to hear from you!

C

Holy Temple Under Renovation

There is a blog about....

Nutrition, Motherhood, Marriage, Recipes, Raw beauty, Exercise, Non-toxic Homecare, Weight Loss, Organizing, Remedies, Apologetics, Home Maker, Homeschooling, Family Fun, Faith, Growing Food, Raw and Live Food...


visit www.holytempleunderrenovation.blogspot.ca and read all about it!

Please stop by!

Energy Juice

Juice:
2 carrots
1/2 red pepper
1" ginger
Slice of lemon
1/3 large fennel
2 celery stalks
2 handfuls of tightly squeezed kale
1/2 sour green apple

Serve over ice,  drink immediately :)!  Yum!

Raw Lemon Cheese Cake -So so good!

Since I'm to stay away from sugars and sweets and any hidden sugars etc. I have been craving a sweet taste like no tomorrow. I found this recipe and I have made several types of cheese cakes. Vanilla Cheese Cake, Strawberry Layered Cheese Cake etc.

Pregnancy Week 13

I'm feeling a lot better now that my diet has been altered. I had an appointment with the midwife yesterday and she also happens to be a Naturopath. We went through my 5 day food log, to see if there was a reason for my drastic "up and downs". It seems that my body behaves like a diabetic (even though I am not) while pregnant, so we're trying out a new regime. So far so good. Low Glysemic is the new word this week.

This weeks key word: JUICING

I have been juicing most of my vegetables this week, since I haven't had the appetite to chew them. The juices have been so yummy!

This week I have taken away: SUGAR in almost every form. 

I'm eating less dried fruit and high fructose fruits just to see how my body reacts to it.

I'm feeling: BETTER. I am cutting out the Diclectin nausea meds slowly. Let's hope the nausea stays away.

I'm adding: EXERCISE and HEMP PROTEIN.

Since I'm not feeling that nauseous, dumbells are on the horizon. Soon. Because of my meat aversions, I will add the hemp protein to my smoothies.

Recipe of the week: 

PICK-ME-UPPER POWER JUICE

In a juicer, juice:

• 1/3 large fennel
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 small sour green apple
• 1" ginger
• handful of spinach/kale, washed and rolled up tightly
• slice of lemon
• 1 carrot 

serve with ice!