Neuroma and what that means for me...

There is some momentary silence in the household with the dog outside playing in the breeze that caresses the weeds that have overtaken our backyard, the baby asleep after endless pacing (sometimes I find myself rocking even when I'm not holding him!), the hubs at school taking a test and not having much time to text me, so I thought I'd try to write a quick post!  Even though I should bother to clean the house or shower....

About 2 weeks before A was due I was walking lots of stairs because they said that helps with labor and delivery.  Well on one of my lunch breaks I decided to walk stairs for 35 - 40  minutes and do about twice as many as I normally do.  Didn't think anything of it until a couple of hours later I noticed a

sharp pain in my foot.  For the next 3 weeks I limped around and could barely walk.  I didn't want to go see the podiatrist that close to my due date and knowing they probably wouldn't take an x-ray anyway so I had to just slow way down and take a break from any exercise even walking. 

When I finally made it to the Doc he still didn't take an x-ray, go figure, he just pushed on a few spots in my foot and kept asking does this hurt?  Based on when I said yes he said you probably have a neuroma, which is essentially a swollen pinched nerve in-between the little bones that lead to your toes.  He said I'm going to put you in a boot for a week and you will wrap it and not walk on it.  Then after that you will have to go buy an expensive shoe insert, that they claim I have to replace every 6-12 months, and you should be fine.  Well it seems to have helped but to be honest I can't tell if it's completely gone away or just feels better.  I mean it feels like there is still a little bump on that foot that's not on the other and if I hit it just right it still hurts a little but I can walk on it just fine now with no foot pain.  He says it was probably from walking funny during pregnancy while I had the added weight on.  As long as it doesn't slow me down long term I'm happy and as long as I can go back to exercising regularly when my midwife gives me the green light in 2 weeks!

But the question becomes do I go to the follow up even though he'll just ask "Does it feel better?"  I'll say "Yes" and that's the end of our relationship and another $30 co-pay I didn't need to spend.  I just hope it won't come back to haunt me later.  Have any of you had this happen?  I'm hoping by losing the pregnancy weight that should alleviate the problem completely.  I do have to admit I haven't been rolling the frozen water bottle under my foot like he said but I'll start now.  :-)

What kind of injuries have sidelined you?  I'm glad mine was something simple and fixable!

Here's an article I read on it: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mortons-neuroma/DS00468/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis

Aiden's Journey in Photos!

When we first found out I was about 1 month pregnant.  In December...Ultrasound in April about 4 months

March about 3 months pregnant

May about 6 months

9 months The cutie in person!

DOB: 8/31/13  Aiden Richard Arnold 8 lbs 2 oz 21 1/4 in long

Him and dad

When you have 2 grandparents as photographers and a mom with a camera the precious moments are constantly being caught on camera.  So I promise I will still be writing about my endurance adventures but expect to have them sprinkled with pics of this guy! 

 

In the next few weeks I will write a little bit more about Aiden but then I will be back on track to trying to get back into shape.  I have been told I can start exercising (more than just the walking I've been doing) in about 3 more weeks.  More on that later.

 

 

Chipotle Ad

Hello there!  Remember me?  Yes, I'm back and more to come on that later, I'm still gathering my thoughts on what all I want to summarize about my experience with pregnancy, labor, delivery, and first few weeks of my beautifully awesome child's life!  Also will give updates on when my fitness come back will be able to start!  I have missed you guys and can't wait to catch up on what you have been doing, I know there should be a few extra Ironmen out there about now!!

So let's start my blogging back not by talking about me (GASP) I know, I know.  But I saw this new ad that Chipotle came out with posted and loved it but it does bring up a few questions for me.  It brings to light the false sense of security we get from seeing the word "natural" on our products and it tries to fill you with warm and fuzzies, but is Chipotle being a little hypocritical with this ad being that they serve meat in their restaurants?  Or is a step in the right direction and baby steps towards a solution?  As someone else pointed out they did stop putting bacon in their pinto beans.  So maybe we should be happy they are trying.  I know I am still in the minority out there being vegetarian.  But even for people who eat meat wouldn't it be nice to know that the factory farms' practices that have become common place are being looked at and reexamined both for the consumers safety and the animals humane treatment?  Or do most people just not care still?  Opinions or just think it's a cool ad?  I personally like Chipotle and am happy to have vegetarian options I can count on just not sure they can market this correctly.



So opinions?  No?  Well then what have you been up to?  Did you miss me at all?  Can't wait to get back to fitness!!!!

Just needed a few laughs, some funny pregnancy images...

 Just needed some laughs after a very long stressful day at work.  Hope you guys have a great 4th of July tomorrow!!!  Happy pseudo Friday!!

I so should have had this shirt while I was on my vacation!!

I'm sorry I don't care what hubs or anyone tries to tell me, there is nothing SEXY about pregnancy I will spare you the reasons why....

 

Surprisingly I've missed my Diet Dr. Ps more... but yes, this too is true

Best one yet "EMPATHY BELLY!" Where can I get one of these I know someone who should wear one

 

Cost of Triathlons + Cost of new baby = ??

Spoiler alert...  Conclusion to my very valid study a triathlete costs about the same as a child!

The cost of housing a triathlete for 1 year:

Fuel (gels, sports drinks, etc.): $200 ( I actually don't spend that much here because I hate gels and sports drinks so I keep them to a minimum and try to supplement with natural foods)

Race Entry Fees: $250 - $600 (I've been there done that with the big name expensive races so I will be sticking with the cheaper lesser known brand names for any of my big races)


Extra cost in groceries: $250 - $500 (I actually don't spend too much extra here but that might be because I have a hard time learning how to taper my food intake when it's off season)


New gear: $300 - $3,000 (are you just buying new tubes, a new tri suite and some new goggles or do you need a new wheel set and a fancy helmet?)


Coach: ?  Nope not gonna happen on my budget (that's why I became level 1 USAT certified before training for my 1st IM so I could just train myself)  Ha!!

Travel Costs: $200 - $1,500 (I camp when I can, never fly, try to race close to home whenever possible, but if you do a half or full IM in a race year it will easily reach the upper end)

So I tend to be very cheap frugal and tend to sit on the low end of this but my guess is some of you out there could easily surpass the high end of this :-) $950 - $5,800

The Cost Of Raising A Child From Birth To Age 2

• Child birth: $8,000*
  
• Diapers for 2-1/2 years: $1,800 for cloth or $2,400 for disposable
  
• Breast milk or formula for first year: Breastfeeding up to $450, or around $2,000 for mid-priced formulas
  
• Commercial baby food second year:  $1,300
  
• Baby clothes: $912 for the first 2 years
  
• Childcare:  $8,000 -$12,000+ for 2 years
  

The total cost of having a baby in the first 2 years falls somewhere between $12,462 and $26,612. You can break this down to something like $500 to $1000 a month.
Yes, in the end, babies are perfectly manageable cost wise. A baby costs no more than a car payment in the first 2 years.
 http://pregnancy.thefuntimesguide.com/2009/01/cost_to_have_a_baby.php

If everything goes as planned I hope to spend about  $5,700 in the first year that's assuming there aren't any surprises with the cost of child birth and my parents actually do end up moving up here to help with child care (no pressure!!).  And btw who has a car payment that is 500-1,000 ?!??!!  I've never had a car payment over $200 but again I'm not a big spender...


So if you break it all down it looks like we will be able to afford at least 1 triathlete and 1 baby on 1 salary.  Now if hubs decides to start doing triathlons (which he might/or might not have threatened promised in the past) or that he really wants a 2nd child then we will need to have 2 salaries or we'll just have to pick one or the other.....  :-)

What do you think?  Am I totally off on my calculations?



On a side note I thought I'd share my new favorite product.  I went cold turkey when I got pregnant with both my beloved Diet Dr. Peppers and Caffeinated Teas so I found a slightly flavored carbonated water that has no artificial sweeteners and is all natural.  I LOVE IT!!!! Now don't get these if you are expecting something sweet.  It's like having soda water with a twist of Lime or whatever fruit flavor you pick. Which is enough for me not to get bored of plain water...