I found some Iron, now I need to pump some!

I forgot to post last night before I went to bed, and didn't get another chance today, so here I am, a few minutes before hitting the hay.

Today marks the anniversary of Steve's car accident. Not a great anniversary to celebrate, but dates are my thing, and I couldn't let it go by without giving thanks to God for His protection that day. Steve usually drives our car, but that day he had the van and although it was totalled, it would have been a different story had he taken the car. Also, he often (used to) forgets to wear his seatbelt, and he estimates it was about 30 seconds before impact that he felt prompted to fasten it. He didn't even see the lady coming, it happened so fast. We were blessed with a new (2004) van a few weeks later, and Steve has had minor lasting effects from the impact, but we have certainly realized how fast life could change.

In other news... I have been looking for a new type of iron supplement to take because the pill my doctor had asked me to buy upset my stomach so much. I remember that when I was expecting Elizabeth I had to stop taking my pre-natal vitamin because it was making me as sick as the morning sickness. My OB had suggested that it was likely the iron in the vitamin that was bothering me, and I wondered later if that was the cause of the 'morning sickness' I had experienced so terribly through my other pregnancies.

Anyway, yesterday I went into Nature's Emporium, a health-food store near my house, and the lady there showed me a product that is supposed to be easy on the stomach. It's called SpaTone and so far, so good! It is iron-fortified water, and I've taken four doses so far. The lady at the store said that doubling up for the first two weeks would boost my iron stores, and then I could cut back to one dose a day. I took the first dose (a pre-measured package, poured into juice) before I went to work yesterday, and I had no problem at all. I took another dose before I went to bed last night, and today I took one in the morning and one tonight. I feel so much better than I did with the other product I was taking. The question is: does it work??!!

My doctor has given me a requisition for more bloodwork, as a follow-up to the testing he did in the fall, so after I've been taking this iron for a month, I'm going to go and see how I'm doing. That was the plan when I first saw him in September, so I figure I'll stick with it, even if it has been a few months since I had the other bloodwork done.

I don't know if I really feel better today, but I think I do! I know I didn't eat as much today as I've been eating over the past few weeks, and I know I was eating more to try to boost my energy. I didn't feel the need for that today. I'm desperately hoping to make it to the gym tomorrow! I haven't been for nine days, and I feel quite disgusted with myself. Not eating right doesn't help, that's for sure.

All that aside, Elizabeth and I had a good day today. We went to Costco with Cheryl and Jacob, Elizabeth's little 'boyfriend.' Those two are a riot. They have known each other their whole lives and never seem to get tired of the other's company. They are the best of friends, and have an unusually close friendship. I love seeing them together, and not a day goes by that they don't talk about each other or ask to talk on the phone. It is very cute.

Here are some pictures of the two of them, not from today, but sweet nonetheless, and then I'm off to bed.

Babies in 2004

With me in 2005
Playing with Chocolate the guinea pig in 2006

Mischievous friends in 2007

Strawberry picking in 2008

You two are so precious! I need to get some more pictures!

Mommy