Ahh I have missed you guys! How crazy that it has been over a year since my last newsletter/blog post. I have to be honest, this was not my plan. I thought I’d take a few months off and then be back with more energy & content than before. BUT, as you all know, life happens & trying to balance it all was harder than I thought it would be.
After maternity leave, I was able to get back into work mode (& actually liked it). I am so grateful for my job at the Alliance where I not only got 6 months of maternity leave but then was able to have a reduced schedule for 3 months to ease myself back. I get to work from home & have every other Friday off, which I love! I honestly didn’t know what work/life balance was until I got this job and it came at the best time. While I know this isn't ideal for all moms — I love being able to work from home & get to see my son throughout the day. It made breastfeeding wayyy less stressful & I never feel like I’m missing out on any big moments. If I need a little afternoon Khari fix, I can get it too and then get back to work. For me - it has been a win win.
That being said - a lot of the last year has been focused on him & trying to find my new groove has been a struggle. Parenting is ALOT you guys - & that’s coming from someone who has ALL the help. Kids thrive on routine (which has not been my previous way of living) - so it has been an adjustment for me. Trying to find “me” time has been a challenge and one I plan to work on more this year. I have still been able to work with clients here and there but I have missed writing, creating recipes & really just sharing my life with you all. It is such a big outlet for me and something I am so excited to get back to.
My health is another thing I have had a hard time with over the past year. The extreme lack of sleep really snowballed into constant colds -- COVID for the second + THIRD time, and some extremely odd health issues which I will get into more later. I was also breastfeeding 24/7 up until recently (now just once a day) and felt so depleted. My immune system was shot and I knew I had to do something about it. So here are the 5 things I focused on to help get my immune system back on track.
Fresh juices (usually green with all the vegetables) 🥦 🥕 🥒 We got a NAMA juicer this year and are OBSESSED. Khari is too! In case you haven't watched check out his video!
Counter Attack Immune Support - I swear by this but please ask your doctor before using if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Drinking LMNT packets daily. You guys -- I can't say enough about these electrolyte packets. I tell everyone about them. I first heard about them right before getting pregnant with Khari and they were a lifesaver for morning sickness, during labor, postparum recovery, breastfeeding, traveling, before/after drinking alcohol, you name it. I am so addicted now and the best part about them is they contain no sugar.
Cutting out dairy. Khari developed a dairy allergy right after being born, so a plus side for me is that I have been pretty much dairy free for over a year now and truly feel the benefits.
As always - Vitamin D3 w/ K2 is my go-to. Even with supplementation, my levels were below where I would like them to be -- so I try and get outside around 12pm for 10-15 without sunglasses or sunscreen to really soak it up straight from the source. ☀️
So even with the constant sickness, lack of sleep, no energy, and a weak immune system -- I somehow was able to get my period back right at 6 months postpartum. They timing of getting it back is such an intriguing concept to me and one I want to do a bigger deep dive into. As soon as it happened, I did all the things to help support my hormones again & regulate my cycle. From seed cycling and taking Vitex, to creating different tea concoctions and eating a more nutrient dense diet. I went back to my acupuncturist, Deva (who is a godsend) and told her I was ready to start healing my body and preparing for baby #2. After 3 months of working on myself and 4 months of trying -- I got a positive pregnancy test & am excited to say we are welcoming another baby in July! 🤍
This pregnancy journey so for has been vastly different than my one with Khari (for many reasons) and I am soooo ready to share it with you! Tune in next month to hear about how I (accidentally) found out i was pregnant + my first trimester highs & lows. AGAIN - I am so happy to be back!
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