Welcome to my weekly publish after I share some footage and highlights from the previous week + what I’m studying, watching, and listening to. I additionally share hyperlinks to posts or different attention-grabbing issues I don’t need you to overlook.
It was colonoscopy week — and I received a number of requests to please share the entire particulars of the method and the prep. So I shared plenty of particulars on Instagram for these !
(I had colonoscopy and endoscopy so as to attempt to decide the foundation reason behind my power anemia.)
I did a low residue weight-reduction plan (no fiber) three days earlier than and I might undoubtedly do that once more as I feel it made the prep simpler! You possibly can see an instance of what I ate on this weight-reduction plan right here.
The toughest a part of the entire course of was the 36 hours of clear liquid weight-reduction plan. I didn’t count on to be SO hungry — like couldn’t perform, needed to lie down, mind fog hungry. Looking back, I might have gotten extra jello, exhausting candies, gummy bears, and Italian ice had I do know I used to be going to really feel so famished! See extra what I “ate” on my clear liquid weight-reduction plan right here.
(And I stored considering of people that at all times should eat a liquid weight-reduction plan, who’ve a feeding tube, or who’re experiencing true starvation and hunger and it gave me new appreciation for a lot I often take without any consideration.)
I took 4 Dulcolax to begin the prep and it labored very successfully and quick — and I used to be nauseous and uncomfortable for an hour after which I used to be good.
After which I had plenty of Miralax blended with Gatorade to verify I used to be absolutely cleaned out. This half was actually easy and I simply took it straightforward, stayed near the lavatory, and watched When Calls the Coronary heart.
I ended up sleeping many of the night time (I had prepped I could be up all night time and be depressing) after which began one other spherical of Miralax and Gatorade within the morning beginning at 5:30 a.m.
Preparing to return for my endoscopy and colonoscopy. This man was so wonderful this pasdt week – he at all times takes such excellent care of me!
He did two grocery runs to select up all my provides for the colonoscopy then went and received me tea with further honey, Jello, and Italian ice after I was so hungry on my clear liquid weight-reduction plan.
Then, he did all the college dropoffs and pickups for 2 days and took care of the children whereas I used to be within the Gatorade/Miralax prepping half 
after which drove me to the process and stayed there with me.
Marriage is commonly not massive grand gestures however small little actions and sacrifices added up that say,
“I really like you.”
We truly didn’t have fun Valentine’s Day this 12 months collectively as a result of Jesse is out of city (he and Silas are on a ski journey in Utah), however we attempt to have fun it each day of the 12 months with little gestures and acts of kindness. And I really feel like that’s actually what issues essentially the most.
10 Issues That Stunned Me About My First Colonoscopy/Endoscopy…
1) The prep was a lot simpler than I anticipated, however…
2) The 24+ hours of clear liquid weight-reduction plan was a lot tougher than I anticipated — I used to be so hungry and had lots of mind fog and was feeling so weak. (I used to be so glad I had deliberate to not do a lot work that day!)
3) Mixing the MiraLAX & Gatorade after which divvying it up into smaller bottles and refrigerating it made it truly style fairly good (or possibly I used to be simply so hungry that it didn’t style unhealthy!)
4) I didn’t expertise hardly any discomfort in the course of the prep apart from an hour of nausea after I took the Dulcolax.
5) I used to be anticipating simply mild sedation for the process so was actually stunned once they put an IV in and gave me oxygen.
6) I used to be anxious it would take me a bit to fall asleep. However inside actually two seconds of the anesthesiologist telling me he was beginning the meds, I used to be out.
7) I don’t bear in mind one single factor till an hour later once they have been speaking loudly over telling me I wanted to get up.(I assume it took a number of tries to get me to get up Jesse mentioned.)
8) My first thought after they woke me up was, “Please let me return to sleep. Don’t wake me up!”
9) I had no ache or discomfort of any kind, apart from in my esophagus the place they did some biopsies.
10) It took me a couple of hours to assume clearly. I couldn’t appear to recollect phrases after I was making an attempt to speak and when Kathrynne referred to as to inform me one thing about her day, I couldn’t monitor with what she was saying. I understood the phrases however may make sense of what it meant. It was the weirdest factor. 
Total, it was a extremely good expertise! The colonoscopy and endoscopy appeared good — nothing regarding and all the things appeared usually and wholesome internally. They did biopsies and we’re awaiting the outcomes of that + I’ve one other take a look at subsequent week after which I would want one other scope, relying upon the outcomes from that. We’re hoping to get some solutions from that, however we’ll see!
I used to be SO excited to get to eat some non-liquid meals… however since I’d had the endoscopy and a number of biopsies, they really useful solely mushy meals, so I had mashed potatoes and mac & cheese and it felt just like the BEST mac & cheese and mashed potatoes I’d ever eaten! 
Jesse and Silas went to Goal and got here again with these tulips for me. I assume Micah noticed them and insisted that they get these for me for Valentine’s Day. It was the sweetest gesture from my boys.
Kierstyn and Micah had Historical past Week at their little classical college all final week. They studied about Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. On the final day, they might gown up, so Kierstyn wore this gown… and as quickly as she put it on, she appeared SO grown up unexpectedly!
E book I Completed This Week
Don’t Burn Your Personal Home Down — This guide impressed me in so many sensible methods to to prioritize Jesse extra and to note many little and large areas I may enhance in to assist him really feel extra liked, supported, and seen. I liked how trustworthy the creator was but in addition how sensible and tangible it was. I undoubtedly suggest it in case you are both struggling in your marriage or simply hoping to proceed constructing a deeper connection. Take heed to the podcast episode I did with the creator right here.
What I’m Watching
The Olympics, in fact, identical to final week. I additionally watched fairly a couple of episodes of When Calls the Coronary heart. (I’m now on season 8!)
Psst! If you happen to didn’t see, you may watch the Olympics without cost by signing up for a free Walmart+ trial!
In Case You Missed It – Posts From This Week
How one can Discover Walmart Hidden Clearance and Save Huge! – If you happen to love saving cash and/or Walmart offers, there’s a secret treasure hunt ready for you — Walmart Hidden Clearance Gadgets!
Complete Wheat Pancakes ($10 Household Dinner Thought) – These complete wheat chocolate chip pancakes are straightforward and wholesome and they style wonderful. Add some hen breakfast sausage and scrambled eggs and also you’ll have a straightforward household meal for beneath $10!
Making the Most of Amazon Subscribe & Save Offers: Ideas and Tips to Maximize Your Financial savings – On this publish, I dive in-depth into explaining what Amazon Subscribe & Save is, the way it works, how to economize with it, what to do if the value adjustments, and the best way to modify or cancel your Amazon Subscribe & Save subscriptions.
This Week’s Podcast Episode
This week on The Crystal Paine Present, I need to discuss one thing that has unexpectedly modified my life this 12 months – what I jokingly name my “grandma hobbies period.” After I first shared that phrase on-line, it stirred up extra emotions than I ever anticipated. Some individuals actually liked it, however some have been actually bothered by it. For me, it’s a playful technique to describe one thing deeply significant: selecting actions that sluggish me down, calm my physique, and assist me really feel current once more!
Two years in the past, if I had heard myself speaking excitedly about puzzles, watercoloring, or crocheting a shawl, I most likely would have thought one thing had gone very improper. Again then, my life was stuffed with adrenaline, fixed urgency, and unending to-do lists. I didn’t notice how tightly I used to be residing till I began to loosen my grip, and with the encouragement of my practical medication physician, I started deliberately creating area – working fewer hours, constructing in white area, and letting go of the necessity to at all times be “on,” and in that area, I discovered myself drawn to easy, inventive issues that didn’t demand something from me different than simply my consideration.
Hear on this episode as Jesse and I open up actually about what it has been wish to step out of combat mode and discover ways to relaxation, and I share how scary it felt to cut back my work hours because the CEO of an organization, how a lot anxiousness that stirred up, and the way it revealed an idol of management that I hadn’t even realized I had. I additionally share the stunning ways in which God met me in that place – financially, emotionally, and spiritually – after I in the end selected to belief as a substitute of hustle.
Jesse and I additionally discuss what it seems like when your calendar lastly has respiratory room, when your to-do listing doesn’t fill the web page, and when individuals begin to really feel like alternatives as a substitute of interruptions. We chuckle about puzzles, sourdough, and my very versatile relationship with recipes, however much more than that, we discuss what it means to stay from a calmer place and present up extra absolutely to the individuals and work we love!
Please tune on this week, particularly in case you are drained, operating on adrenaline, or craving a slower, richer technique to stay. Possibly it’s time to seek out your individual model of a “grandma passion.” I hope that this dialog encourages you, and, as at all times, I might love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to succeed in out!
Take heed to this week’s podcast episode.
Inform me about your week! Something attention-grabbing occur? Did you learn any good books, watch any good reveals, or deal with any tasks?
