The Sugar Challenge - a recap

Those who've been following my blog know of my participation in the 52 week Whole Healing Challenge. I think that God brought me into this challenge for a really good reason. This delivery proved that to me.

First, the 90 days of no sugar. I've changed that for myself, allowing myself sweeteners like honey, molasses, and maple syrup in very small amounts. This way I could bake and have these things that I found a lifeline in nursing during the night, just without processed sugar. I have been doing very well on the challenge, and told my husband that when I was in the hospital, I would not question the food brought to me, and just eat what I was given, even though it likely had sugars in it. So, since Monday, I know I've had sugar. However, I only used a tiny bit of sugar in the oatmeal and cream of wheat given during the breakfasts (I needed to eat everything... you don't get a lot of food in there). I didn't use syrups or anything at all with my meals otherwise. And the juices I drank anyway, even though I eliminated those from my diet as well. I needed them after the blood loss, the shakes, and for milk production. So, I did 'fall' on my challenge during this week, but I don't feel I failed at all. Now that I'm at home again, no desserts for me besides those that I made myself, fruits, etc. But this isn't the major thing I wanted to talk about...

It's about my blood loss, hemoglobin levels, and what the 55 days of no processed sugars up until my daughter's birth already did for me.

I mentioned earlier on my birth story that they were not expecting my hemoglobin to be as high as it was with the 2L+ blood loss, hemorraging, etc. They told me it was 88. The doctor suspects it will be at 95 'points' in a week. Normal is 120-150. (just did a little research now, haha). I suspect the reason my levels were 'higher' than expected, is that I went in with higher levels than many might have had. Why? The foods that help raise hemoglobin were things I was consuming in large amounts during my no sugar cleanse. Avocados, dates, beets (never had them before this challenge), bananas, oranges, spinach, red meats, tomato paste, berries, nuts (ate lots of these), and other various foods that I usually wouldn't have in the house. I consumed so many of these things! And most of the meals in the deep freeze are made with these foods (and beef)! I am praying that my levels will increase quickly, but I think God knew all along what was going to happen and made all these things possible right from the beginning of this year. Not only that, but even my ways of nesting brought things about in such a way that I am better prepared for this low energy. I just need to be careful and force myself not to do anything. Like taking the stairs too often for laundry. Or carrying heavy items.

Another thing to note... I usually have low iron. I'm usually with a lower level of 'hemoglobin' and while not anemic, sometimes I seem pretty close to. Nothing bad, just on the lower side of 'normal'. I had to have been with a higher level in order to be 'ok' without a transfusion. And I'm glad. I don't want a transfusion.

I guess I am just so awed that God started taking care of me in this way so far ahead of time, without me even knowing it. I am praying my levels will improve quickly, that I will not get bad blood loss at all in the coming weeks, no more hemorraging, and that I will heal quickly. My kids don't seem to be affected right now, and my milk production hasnt been affected beyond starting a little late. I'm dealing with similar issues that I had with my firstborn... engorgement, and our little A is choking with how much milk I'm producing now. I am hoping this will remedy itself in short order... the pain is not fun to deal with.

I still am not making food myself, which means I'm eating more of 'whatever' I have in the house.  Some of the things my mother in law brings over (ok... most of them) are prepackaged items that I shouldn't eat on this challenge, but my husband is making the meals now, and they are still healthier than what I was being served in the hospital, in my opinion (seriously, for breakfast one morning there was a slice of processed cheese as the protein source.  Processed cheese.  I haven't had that stuff in months and refuse to buy it again once the stuff we have is gone.  I mean, it's not terrible, but I thought it was funny being given certain things in the hospital).  We had a free pizza (coupon given with the Welcome Wagon stuff) yesturday for supper along with chicken fingers my Mother in law brought as well.  I couldn't even eat those, haha.  I'm so used to my homemade ones that these packaged foods just don't taste like food anymore.  Odd, isn't it?  I'm eating a lot of nuts right now, dates, and I'd love to make more avocado pudding, but that requires standing for a long period of time, and I'm finding that rather difficult for some reason.  But, we have food, and our church will be bringing some meals which is such a blessing!  Again, I am eating whatever I can right now until I heal enough to make things myself.  So, while I am not following this challenge perfectly right now, I'm still doing what I can.

And it has benefitted me immensely already!  I feel so blessed.  I feel that God has had this all in His plan for me to begin with, and that by stepping out and taking the challenge (which a part of me thought I was silly to do considering the circumstances), I listened to Him and actually made things much better for myself and my family in the long run.  I wasn't forced to stay in the hospital for terribly long.  I wasn't given a blood transfusion.  I didn't even pass out and was able to nurse our daughter.  I am blessed!

Lord, Thank you so much for the plans you have for us.  Thank you for guiding us and showing us Your will, even though we cannot see the future or know why we are led to do certain things.  You are an amazing God, and I am so blessed.