Our Toe Walking Journey Part 3: Casting & Braces

November 5, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

While we still have a ways to go before the ‘end’ of our story, we’re trying to share with you all along the way. We were clueless before this began (and do still have many questions, I’m sure), so I want to help other parents that may have a child who also walks on their toes. Today we’re onto Our Toe Walking Journey Part 3: Casting & Braces – the part that we’re in at the moment, and will be for several months to come!

In case you missed it, we shared the first steps of our journey (meeting doctors, discussing options) HERE, and then discussed the next step (MRI under anesthesia) HERE so be sure you go check those out. After the MRI came back clear, we were good to move forward with the original plan – casting and braces for his legs to both train his legs to be able to bend how they should, but also train him to walk ‘flat foot’ (that’s what we call it, easier for him to understand).

First step: Casting for Toe Walking

The reason we had to do casts on his legs were that he’d been walking on his toes so long, he’d actually allowed his muscles and tendons to grow/adjust to that angle. He wasn’t ABLE to make an ‘L’ (90 Degree Angle) with his leg and foot, even if he tried to force it or we tried to stretch it. Because of this, it was necessary to stretch out the muscles and ligaments so they would allow him the ability to walk how he should.

The solution was casting – we would take him in to physical therapy every week for several weeks to change his casts, each time stretching the angle of his leg/ankle/foot a bit further. Then the casts would hold that stretch constantly, 24 hours a day for the following week, making his legs adjust to that stretch. At the end of the week, we’d unwrap the crast (it was a wrap kind, not a cut off kind, since it was to be changed weekly) – wash his legs and feet really well, because boy those stunk! – then take him back in for new casts.

It was neat to see how much closer to a 90 degree angle he could get each week, showing that the casts were doing their job. Since the casts weren’t for an injury, he was still allowed to walk on them normally (as normally as a stiff ankle would allow, at least) with little booties to protect the bottoms of the casts. We still had to avoid getting the casts wet or allowing too much physical force (like jumping or kicking), of course, but ultimately they didn’t hinder his play too much. At night, he also had a knee brace (just one, and we’d rotate legs each night, taking turns) to hold his leg straight while he sleeps. This allowed for a little extra ‘stretch’ in the muscles while he was asleep.

We did casts about 5 weeks until one of his legs could go just a tiny bit past 90 degrees, and the other a little further than that. We’d reached out goal – YAY! Now we were ready for the braces. During the casting weeks, we went in (after taking one set of casts off but before our appointment to put new ones on) to orthopedics to have him sized for his braces. They put a cushion around his feet, ankle and legs where the braces would fit, then wrapped a layer of the casting material around for a good fit. The doctor made marks where any indents/bumps and such were, so it would be perfectly fitted and comfortable – even marking the arch of his foot perfectly. They put a tube thing in between the padding and hard material so when they cut it off, there was no possibility of cutting him – not even close.

They cut the castings off his legs, then sent those off to have his braces made. They had a whole book of designs he was allowed to choose from – and he was excited to pick Batman, with green straps, for his!

Shortly before we were done with the casts, we went in to ortho again to make sure the braces fit perfectly – and fixing any parts that may rub him the wrong way, to avoid sores and discomfort. We then had the braces ready for when the last casts came off, and he began wearing them immediately. We had to get TALL socks to wear under them – you don’t want the braces against his skin, since they are a hard plastic – then shoes a size-ish too big so they’d fit over the braces. His braces do have hingest at the back ankle, to allow a little movement, but they do restrict him to walking how he should – no more toe walking!

He has to wear the braces for 23 hours a day, every single day. Yes, that means he sleeps with them on (but not the shoes, obviously) and he does still rotate with the knee brace at night to help that extra stretching. He’ll meet with the doctor and his physical therapist again next month, so they can double check his progress and make sure he hasn’t lost any of the new flexibility the casting gave him and double check they’re still fitting him comfortably (because we all know how fast kids’ feet can grow!). He’s not restricted in what he can do (just whatever he’s comfortable with), though he is slower. He even lasted just great during our Walt Disney World trip, though we did need to get a Disability Access Service for him.

The overall plan is to wear the braces for 4 months for 23 hours each day, then we’ll very gradually taper off an hour a day for awhile. The goal we all set (doctors, physical therapist and us) was a total of 8 months in braces. It all depends on how his legs do, if he does well at walking ‘flat foot’ and not toe walking after he doesn’t have braces, and factors like that. But we’re optimistic and already love how much better he can walk!

What’s your experience with a child toe walking?

Check out the first part of our toe walking journey…

… or the second part of our toe walking journey…

Our Toe Walking Journey Part 2: MRI

October 29, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

If you have a toe walking child, you may be wondering what to do about it – or if you even should do anything! Maybe they’ll outgrow it, but sometimes they don’t – such as one of my boys. We’re back sharing more of Our Toe Walking Journey, as we’re doing what we can to get it fixed to prevent future issues with his legs, hips or more.

In case you missed the first part of our toe walking story, be sure to check it out HERE. We talked about what led us to finally seeking a doctor’s help, and how the first visits and decision went. Today, I’m sharing about what was the most terrifying part of this whole adventure so far – him going under anesthesia for an MRI!

Before making more steps for correcting his muscles and ligaments in his legs and feet, they had to rule out other possible issues that could be causing and/or affecting them. As a twin, the chances of him having scarring on his brain were higher, and he also has a sacral dimple (meaning there was a possibility of an abnormality with his spine or spinal cord). To check for both of those, an MRI was required – and since the brain and spine take awhile, it would be about 90 minutes in the machine. Not many kids can sit still that long, much less hold COMPLETELY still in a big machine, so we decided anesthesia was the best option.

We had to be careful of a few things before the MRI, such as making sure he wasn’t sick (cold, flu, etc.) because that can increase the chances of side effects or risk. The night before, he had to stop eating solids about 8pm. He then could only have liquids (like water or apple juice) until around 7am the morning of.

We took him in a few hours before his scheduled time (as instructed) so they could get him all checked in, all the paperwork and questions completed, get him in a gown and take his vitals. We had the few hours just chilling in our room, letting him play on a tablet to help him stay calm, occasionally having a nurse or doctor come talk to us and answer any questions. They asked multiple times about metal – because remember, an MRI machine is like a big magnet!

I admit – I WAS A MESS! I was so nervous, hardly sleeping the night before. I was trying to play it cool, since Thor wasn’t really nervous at all and I didn’t want to cause him any unnecessary worry or stress. I know the risk is minimal, but it’s still there and I’d never had a child have to go through something like this before. I did my best to stay calm and act normal, but was on the verge of tears all morning.

The anesthesiologist came in shortly before to explain exactly what would happen, probably knowing that this momma would be worried. I loved that she also spoke to Thor, so he’d understand and nothing was a surprise. They also allowed him to bring a stuffed animal, that they would sit in the window by the doctor/nurse to ‘watch over him’ while he was out.

Basically, they take him back there and get him comfy (they showed him the MRI machine through the window). They give him one of those ‘fun’ kid masks to go over his nose, calming him and putting him out with the gas. They didn’t do the IV until he was out, knowing that that’s the worst part for many children. Once all settled, they did the MRI, with Thor sleeping comfortably and his vitals being monitored every moment.

We went and got lunch at the food court during this time, and yes I’m a nervous eater so hubby teased me quite a bit as I piled random foods on my tray. We made it back quickly (I was nervous that we wouldn’t be back in time for him to wake up) and sat around quite a while. Once he was done, they watching with him until he started to come out of it enough to remove the mask and such.

They then brought him back to the room and got him comfy on the bed. It still took a bit for him to wake up, and even then it was just a little, then back to rest a bit. When mostly awake, they removed the IV and heart/oxygen monitors. We weren’t rushed or anything, so let him wake up slowly and on his own time. Once awake, he was a little tired for a while still, but not badly. They let him drink some juice and soda, and gave him crackers to ease his stomach.

Within about an hour of leaving the hospital, he was right back to his normal self (and definitely ready to eat more)! I was so relieved it was over and went safely, and appreciated that the staff was so patient with me. I’m sure they’re use to nervous parents!

A week later we got the results of the MRI (the doctor looks over it after getting it from the MRI department) and Thor didn’t have any scarring on the brain OR issues with his spine, so we were cleared to move forward with our plan to correct his toe walking. What a huge relief that was for us! We scheduled our next appointment to move forward with the casting and braces – which I’ll be sharing soon.

For the Rest of our Adventure…

Check out the first post in this story…

…or the most current part here…

Our Toe Walking Journey: Part 1

October 22, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

I’ve gone back and forth sharing this adventure with y’all – it’s pretty personal – but ultimately decided that this is Busy Mom’s Helper, meaning we HELP each other through this whole parenting thing. If any of you have children who are toe walkers and aren’t sure what to do, maybe our story will give you some guidance. Today I’m sharing Our Toe Walking Journey, from when we decided it was a problem, to now being smack in the middle of getting things corrected.

First of all, a lot of little kids walk on their toes – it’s just that most outgrow it. When one of my boys, Thor, was getting older but STILL walking on his toes (constantly, not just every now and then), we kept wondering if it was a problem. So many people kept telling us ‘oh, he’ll grow out of it, don’t worry’ and we listened – for too long. You see, we let it get to the point that his muscles, tendons and ligaments were trained and grew to facilitate his toe walking – meaning he COULD NOT walk flat foot, or heel first. He couldn’t even make an ‘L’ (90 degree angle) because he’d walked on his toes constantly for so long! When we finally realized this, around when he turned 8, we decided that we had to look into it more – and I’m so glad we did!

You may be thinking ‘why is toe walking a problem’? Walking like that for too long, especially as they hit puberty or adulthood, can actually really mess with not only their legs and feet, but also their hips and spine. It can cause life-long problems, so it’s important to get it taken care of. Please remember that I’m NOT a doctor, and you should always seek the counsel of licensed medical professionals when making decisions like these.

Side note – Thor does have SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), so things like bouncing are a type of physical input that he really likes and – in a way – needs. That’s one reason we believe he kept walking on his toes, so he could get the sensory input just by walking. It’s important to understand reasons WHY your child may be toe walking longer than most, so just something to keep in mind.

Our pediatrician referred us to the specialists at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and they set up an appointment for us shortly after. At Thor’s first visit, they did measurements (seeing how far his feet could bend, the angles, etc.) and even did videos of him walking so they could accurately track everything. They then scheduled us an appointment with the neurology department, and their doctor who specializes in toe walking problems. She was fantastic, and very informative. We actually learned that there COULD be underlying problems also contributing to the toe walking, and we needed to rule those out before any treatment. If we treated the wrong way or for the wrong thing, it wouldn’t help in the long run. Since Thor is a twin, he had a higher chance of having scarring on his brain, which could be a problem, and also he has a sacral dimple. About 3-8% of the population have a sacral dimple (a small, shallow indentation in the small of the back, just above their bottom), and a small percentage of THOSE could mean spinal abnormalities.

To rule that and the brain scarring out, we had to schedule an MRI – and because they were looking at two major things (spine and brain), it would be 90 minutes. Not many 8 year olds can lay completely still for that long, especially in a large machine (even though they decorated it like a spaceship to help the kiddos), so he would have to be put under anesthesia. Needless to say, this momma was TERRIFIED! There’s always risks when doing anesthesia, especially for kids – but we knew there wasn’t another way to get this figured out. We scheduled his MRI (it can have a decent wait, since it’s not a super rushed issue) for a couple of months later.

Follow the links below for the rest of our adventure…

Part 2 – The MRI and Anesthesia

Part 3: Casting and Leg Braces

Back to School with Food Allergies

August 20, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

This post is sponsored by the School Nutrition Association. All opinions are mine alone.

School is starting again, and while some parents are worried about finding the exact binder type, size and color listed on their supply list or others are struggling to figure out the drop off routine, there’s parents that a truly worried about their child’s safety, because their kid is going Back to School with Food Allergies. So what can parents stressing about allergies do about their child going back to school? Find out everything they can to be prepared, but also educate themselves to make the best decisions possible for their young one.

Do y’all remember last month when I told you about the School Nutrition Association conference I was able to attend, and how much I learned about the different aspects of the school food programs? One thing I kept asking for more information about was allergies. I consider myself extremely blessed that none of my kids have food allergies, but do have several friends that don’t get that relief. Some are dealing with allergies to peanuts or gluten, others to dairy or soy, some a combination of multiple allergies. Speaking with them, I hear their worry about if their kid will be adequately taken care of at school to ensure they’re as safe as possible. Back to school should be an exciting (although stressful, I admit) time, not a time to really question if your kid will be ok or not.

After chatting with many vendors, school officials and others at the School Nutrition Association’s conference, I felt so much better at everything they’ve taken into consideration to keep the kiddos well taken care of, whether they eat breakfast, lunch or even snacks with the school food program. First of all, at the conference there were plenty of vendors looking to have their foods selected and added to menus at schools that offered several allergy-friendly options. Gluten-free grain options, alternatives to dairy, and even some seed butters that would be perfect to replace peanut or other nut butters! One in particular – 88 Acres – had samples that I really enjoyed, plus shared several recipes using their seed butters (they also offer snack bars and such) so kids can still enjoy a SB & J (Seed Butter instead of Peanut Butter!) and perhaps not feel like they’re missing out. It was really tasty, especially the pumpkin seed one!

One thing I was curious about – how can schools ensure a child with allergies doesn’t accidentally get served the incorrect thing. This is especially worrisome if the child is still young enough they may not be fully aware or understanding of their particular allergy. One program I was shown at the conference expo actually was a full check-out system, so when a child scans their card or number it pops up with any alerts or information that the staff member needs to know. That alone can make school meals much safer.

Also in that program, they can set it up to show SUBSTITUTION options that are okay for that particular child – so the staff can safely provide a quality meal that meets their needs while avoiding troublesome or dangerous (for that child) foods. It can help track insulin records or other medical information necessary for the school nutrition program to do their best, and helps handle alerts that may need to be sent out – such as the weekly menu to parents so they can see it and go over what is or isn’t okay for their particular situation.

I was so excited to learn of the many ways school meals can be made safer, even for kids that have allergies. I don’t personally know the stress that parents of children with food allergies deal with, but I imagine it’s immense. Luckily there are options available to make school less overwhelming in those cases!

If you’re a parent with a child (or children) that has to deal with food allergies, my heart goes out to you and the battle you may have while raising them. I highly encourage you to talk to your school nutrition director about how they handle things like that, and the ways they’re making it as safe as possible for your kiddo. Speaking to some directors and other staff of school programs at the conference, they all seemed to truly care about the quality and safety of the food being served – for ALL the kids, not just those without allergies. So don’t hesitate to reach out! Once you handle that, you can focus on some of the other exciting aspects of back to school – like family reading time!

If your child has allergies, how do you handle it best?

Note: these are programs/foods that are available and used at some schools, but keep in mind not every school may use the same programs/policies – I recommend checking with your school with questions.

How to Battle Daily Stress

May 8, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

As a busy mom (or dad) you have to wear a lot of hats. You’re juggling a lot of things at once, and the stress from all of these responsibilities can really start to add up over time. I’m already a pretty high-stress person, so when you add in the dozens of responsibilities I have to take on daily, it can be extremely overwhelming. Here’s some tips I’ve learned on how to battle daily stress – because we can’t run on ‘flight or fight’ forever!

Obviously, it’s important that we make time every day to help wind down from the stress of the day, lest it become too much. We don’t always have that option, but we can TRY to fit in even a few minutes to help us breathe and recover. Let’s take a look at a few ways to battle daily stress:

1. Unplug – Sometimes we just need to get away from it all. No electronics, no phones or social media, and no news. It can really help you unwind and relax after a very stressful day. Sometimes these things can push you over the edge even on a normal day, so unplugging is good for you. When hubby and I went on our big anniversary trip last year, it was the most relaxed I’ve ever been. We didn’t completely unwind, but compared to our normal days, it was a big difference!

2. Take a bath – A nice warm bath with bubbles or your favorite bath bomb can be just the right thing to help you relax at the end of a stressful day.

3. Get enough sleep – It may seem difficult when there is already so much to do but getting enough sleep each night will help you complete all of those tasks on your to-do list while also keeping your stress levels down. Never underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep – or a nap!

4. Laugh often – Laughter really is good for the soul and when you can laugh some every day, you help release stress and it creates positive vibes that you will carry with you throughout the day. I’m so grateful that my hubby and kids keep me laughing every day, because sometimes that’s the only thing that helps me not get overwhelmed.

5. Talk to someone – Venting your frustrations, catching up with an old friend, or talking to your partner about your days are all ways to help battle daily stress. Don’t feel you need to just stay quiet and hold it all in. We’re meant to get through life TOGETHER, not alone.

What are your best tips to battle daily stress?

Household Safety Concern I Didn’t Know About

May 1, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

This post was sponsored by Window Covering Safety Council as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #CordlessForKids #IC

As parents, it’s our main job to keep our family safe the best we can. Having helped my mom with her in-home daycare for many years, I already knew of many potential dangers when I became a mom. There’s still some that I didn’t learn about until later, though, and have had to adjust to keep my kids as safe as possible. One Household Safety Concern I Didn’t Know About until after having kids was cords on blinds – that was a big change we had to make!

It’s so easy to take care of the ‘larger’, more apparent items in your home when you have kids – baby gates on the stairs, outlet covers, knives put up high, those ‘kid leashes’ to help avoid getting lost or run away, etc. There’s a TON when you start to list them out! Until a few years into parenthood, I didn’t even think of the danger posed by corded blinds, and we all know that kids + cords do NOT mix!

Sadly, there’s plenty of stories out there of children who accidentally were strangled by random hanging items – be it cords, belts or similar. This is why it’s super important to use cordless window coverings and blinds in homes with young kids OR to use ones that have the cords inaccessible. I’d even go as far as to say that if you don’t have kids but do have pets, make sure either the cords are high enough your furry little ones don’t get tangled accidentally while playing or that you go with the cordless/inaccessible cords.

PSA: Only Use Cordless Window Coverings with Young Children from Window Covering Safety Council on Vimeo.

This is our first full week in our ‘new’ house – and it’s the first house we’ve owned that wasn’t actually NEW which meant we didn’t get to pick out the blinds ourselves to ensure they were safe. We’re learning all sorts household safety concerns with a 20-year-old house versus a newly built one, a big one being we need to check all the blinds, shades and window covers for cords.

Older window products with cords were a lot more common in the past, so I already am planning to switch some of the older corded ones with today’s safer products ASAP. If you’re not sure which items are the safer choice, just keep an eye out for the Best for Kids™ certification label while shopping in stores or online – it makes it simple to identify which products are the better choice for homes with young children.

Of course, there’s some household ‘dangers’ that we can’t always protect our kiddos from – such as that naptime they try so hard to put off!

Whether you’re also moving into a ‘new’ house, or just like refreshing your home for Springtime, it’s a great time to take some safety precautions that may be overlooked during the busy-ness of the rest of the year. You can even check out the Window Covering Safety Council on Facebook for more info to help you get your household safety concerns put to rest.

What household safety concerns were your biggest surprise?

Common Health Mistakes Busy Moms Make

April 4, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

With 5 kids, we know what it’s like to be a busy parent. It seems like there’s always something to do, and as soon as you think you’ve caught up, there’s a load more things to get done. With all of our tasks there’s a whole list of Common Health Mistakes Busy Moms Make! I know I’m guilty of often letting my own health slide due to my attention to my family and many responsibilities. However, it’s important we don’t skip over our own health while caught up in our parenting duties, so here’s some tips to help!

Here’s some of the most common health mistakes busy moms make and what you can do about it:

Failing to plan meals in advance – You should pick a day of the week (Sunday is a popular choice) to plan your meals for the week. At the start of each day, you should know what is for dinner that night. This helps ensure you have a healthy meal every day. If you need some help and/or hate meal planning, nab our YEAR of weekly meal plans with recipes!

Not drinking enough water – It’s easy to skip water when you’re busy – and if you’re like me and don’t like drinking water anyway (blah!) it makes it even more challenging. If you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Invest in a great water bottle and take it with you everywhere you go so it’s handy. There’s also some fun apps for your phone to set reminders to drink throughout the day!

Eating fast food (too often) – When you’re busy and on the go a lot, it can be tempting to grab some junk food, packaged foods, or fast food. Heaven knows how much I love a good burger and fries! I know it’s not the healthiest option if I eat that too often, though. Avoid this and take healthy snacks with you in your bag in case you get hungry when away from home.

Not getting enough exercise – You keep meaning to go to the gym, really. It’s just that you’ve been so busy! Haha – I’ve said that so many times, I’ve lost count! Don’t use running around after the kids as an excuse and call it exercise. It’s important to make some time each day for real exercise. It will help your body and mind, and if you’re like me, can really help your mood 🙂

Taking care of yourself is very important. If you don’t, you won’t be able to continue to care for everyone else. Like on airplanes when you should do your own oxygen mask BEFORE helping others!

What health mistake do you most often make?

How to Truly Find Balance in Your Life

March 30, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

Does anyone else experience those times in life when you just sit there thinking ‘how the heck can I handle everything?’ With all that we busy moms are asked to do, it’s an extremely frustrating task to find balance with it all. And not every person has the same responsibilities or desires for their time! One mom may need to provide some or all of the family’s income. Another may be the main household ‘manager’. Still another may be a full-time chauffeur due to their kids’ many activities. Most of us do more than one of those things, too! So how do we manage our responsibilities with spending quality time with our families AND making time to care for ourselves? Here’s a few tips on How to Truly Find Balance in Your Life – hopefully they’ll help us with this stressful balancing act a bit!

We hear a lot of talk about “balance” these days. Balancing your personal life with your mom duties, balancing work and home life, balancing this-and-that – but what does it really mean? The first, and most important, thing to know about balance is that it is not static. It comes and goes and weaves in and out of your life as things change throughout your day, week, and months. You need to understand that it evolves and regularly be aware of it. Learn how to self-check to see if you are feeling balanced.

Just because you “find balance” doesn’t mean you will feel the same tomorrow. You may need to find it again. In time, it will get easier and easier to form good, positive habits that help you maintain balance in your life, but it is still a daily process. It isn’t something you just find and keep forever. It’s a constant struggle, like a constant balancing act we have to do – and it can change constantly as our roles, responsibilities and life challenges adjust.

Next, you also need to know that healthy eating and getting enough sleep each night will help you. It sounds basic – that’s because it is. It’s simple enough, yet many people struggle with it. You need to have your body and mind in the right place and this begins with healthy living.

Don’t be afraid to say no. Many of us moms find our lives getting kicked out of balance because we take on too many responsibilities or try to do too much. It’s important that we learn to say no and be comfortable doing so when the time comes. You can’t do everything, nor should you try.

Okay, so that sounds a lot easier than I think it is – but I think these few things are the most important steps for working towards balance. It’s okay if we don’t always get it perfect, but what matters most is that we’re trying – for our families sakes, as well as our own!

How do YOU best find balance in your life?

Bring your Family Closer with 23andMe DNA Kit

November 30, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of 23andMe. All opinions are mine alone. #23andMeGifting

I absolutely love the holidays – the food, the music, the lights and decor, but especially the family time and memories. This year is even more special for us because it’s the first Christmas our new sweet daughter is here with us as ‘officially’ ours. She first came to our home just days before Christmas last year, so it was still new, and everyone was still nervous and shy and getting to know each other. She didn’t share our name, didn’t know any of our traditions, and wasn’t sure if it would really ‘last’. This year, that’s all changed – she’s as much a part of the family as any of our children, is legally ours even in name, and knows she’s not going to be taken away. We can really enjoy the holiday together, making new memories together! She does still wonder sometimes at having different DNA than all of us, so I thought I would bring the family closer with the 23andMe DNA Kit.

I want to have hubby and I tested, as well as her, so we can show her things that we have in common. Things in our DNA that are the SAME, despite her being born to different parents. Of all the gifts this season, this is the one I’m the most excited about! At 23and Me, they really believe that your genetic information has the power to bring you closer to the ones you love. I agree, wholeheartedly!

So how does it work, you may be asking? Well, 23andM3 offers two Personal Genetic Services for you to choose from:

Ancestry Service
Health + Ancestry Service
- This service provides insights on your genetic ancestry, health, traits and more. Information extracted from your DNA is analyzed, compiled and distilled into 75+ reports that you can access online, and even share with family and friends.

There’s no need to worry, because it’s also SUPER simple and quick on your part!

It just takes 3 Simple Steps

Order your 23andMe DNA kit
Follow the instructions to spit into the tube and register your sample. Then mail it back to their lab in the prepaid package.
In 6-8 weeks, they’ll send you an email to let you know your reports are ready in your online account.

That’s all it takes, and I’m so eager to see what information we find out! This is one holiday gift that’s truly personal, and will give us the opportunity to learn more about what makes us unique, but also help us form a deeper connection with our family.

What’s also great is that 23andMe has special holiday offers now through December 26th, so visit their site to check out offers and get kits for yourself or your family today!

Follow 23and Me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for more!

My Experience with the 21 Day Fix

October 11, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

I’ve talked lately about how I really want to get more healthy, strong and in-shape. My ‘baby’ is now 6 years old, yet I still had a decent belly that makes people sometimes wonder if I’m mid-pregnancy or not. I know I’ll never have my pre-baby body back – that ship has sailed – but I’d love to FEEL better about myself, not just by being happy and confident with what I see in the mirror, but also physically feel better. After hearing a lot of people rave about the program called the 21 Day Fix, I finally gave in and purchased it for myself to give it a try. I just completely two rounds, and am sharing My Experience with the 21 Day Fix in case anyone else is curious about it.

First of all, what IS the 21 Day Fix?

Designed by celebrity trainor, author AND working mom Autumn Calabrese, it’s a program that lasts – you guessed it – 21 Days and consists of daily work-outs as well as an eating plan. You use specifically sized containers to help you track the TYPE of foods you eat and how much of each per day, based on your personal body size and target caloric intake for during the program.

Red = Protein
Green = Vegetables
Purple = Fruit
Yellow – Carbohydrates
Blue = Cheeses
Orange = Seeds & Nuts

Don’t worry, the little booklet that comes with it breaks it all down, including lists of EXACTLY what foods count. If you’re going for the ‘healthiest’ options, go from the top of the lists and work your way down. It tells you how to factor your target calories, then how many of each container you need to fit into that range.

Also, it’s good to note that THREE days a week you can choose to swap out one of your yellow containers for a treat (recipes in the booklet). If I wasn’t able to have a treat, I wouldn’t have even attempted!

The Workouts

This isn’t JUST an eating program – you need a healthy diet PLUS exercise to really make it work. There’s a different workout every day, and they’re only 30 minutes each – except for a bonus ’10 Minute Ab Fix’ that you should try to fit in about 2-3 times a week. The workouts are as follows:

Day 1: Total Body Cardio Fix
Day 2: Upper Body Fix
Day 3: Lower Body Fix
Day 4: Pilates Fix (pilates INSPIRED)
Day 5: Cardio Fix
Day 6: Dirty 30
Day 7: Yoga Fix

You’ll need water and towel every day, and most days you’ll also need hand weights (light set and heavy set) or exercise band, as well as an exercise mat. They do have someone in each exercise that’s doing a modified version of each exercise so if needed, you can follow a bit easier routine.

Doubles Week

There’s an option to really increase your results by taking the third week and doing DOUBLES, meaning two exercises each day. I did this for my first round, but not my second. It’s mixed which ones you do each day:

Day 1: Total Body Cardio & Pilates
Day 2: Upper Body & Cardio
Day 3: Lower Body & 10 Minute Abs
Day 4: Pilates & Total Body Cardio
Day 5: Cardio & Upper Body
Day 6: Dirty 30 & Pilates
Day 7: Yoga Fix Only (active recovery day)

My Own Experience – Results & Thoughts

At first, the work-outs were EXTREMELY hard, like after the first I was afraid I was going to throw up or pass out (or both). I couldn’t do it very well, and went a lot slower than the people on the screen. I also could hardly move the day after I started because I was so sore. Keep in mind, though, I haven’t really done ACTUAL exercise in a very long time, so my body was really weak! Now, I still sweat a lot and am slightly sore after a lot of them – but I’m doing MORE, sticking with it longer, and not struggling near as much as I was at the start.

I regret not getting specific before/after photos – but here’s how I was BEFORE starting The 21 Day Fix…

The eating plan was a bit challenging, because I was use to eating whatever, whenever – this helped me get in the habit of thinking of what I ate and controlling amounts, but I was only a little hungry occasionally – mostly when I did extra active stuff during the day. I’m much better at drinking water now, too! I did get a little bored, but just because I didn’t want to worry about a huge variety of groceries so mostly stuck with similar items. I ate a lot of stir fry chicken with vegetables, and struggled with less fruit and carbs – but that’s because I really LOVE carbs like bread and pasta, and fruit was like a sweet treat 🙂

I will say, I didn’t stick EXACTLY to the diet – I did have treats that weren’t on the list, like ice cream and such. But sparingly and did a little bit extra active time to make up for it…but I had a treat more than 3 times a week which probably affected my results. During the one week I tried doubles, it was fine but I seemed to get better results when I did the regular daily workouts and also did the 10 minute abs DAILY. I did one in the morning then one around lunchtime. My abs/stomach are my biggest trouble area, so figured this worked best for me. And I love how much stronger my abs are!

Also, I did have two events during my rounds which meant I wasn’t able to work out for a couple of days, and also didn’t have control over my diet for a bit. I did the best choices I could, but it wasn’t perfect.

….and here’s how I looked September 26th, 2017 after TWO rounds! And NO sucking in!

Over the course of the 2 rounds, I lost almost 15 pounds, and lost 2 inches on my stomach and 1 inch on my waist! I gained muscle to my legs and arms, and feel lots stronger. My thighs don’t look as awful to me, and I don’t feel like I need to suck in my stomach all the time. I have more energy and love the way I look in the mirror. I do still have an inch or two on my stomach I’d love to lose, but I’m happy with my progress and confident I can work off that last bit in another round or two of hard work.

If you’ve tried the 21 Day Fix, what did you think?

Hyundai Hope on Wheels for Pediatric Cancer

September 29, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

Thank you to Hyundai Hope on Wheels for sponsoring this post & all you do to help fund pediatric cancer research! #endchildhoodcancer

Did you know that a child is diagnosed with cancer every 36 minutes? That’s 40 kids daily. That’s more than a full classroom of children every day of the year. For those that don’t want to do the math yourselves, that’s roughly 14,600 CHILDREN every year that hear that they have cancer, that the battle ahead will be hard and possibly long and they may not win. And that’s just in the U.S! That breaks my heart – for those little kids, their families, and all those who will hurt right along with them. This week I had the opportunity to learn more about all that’s done by Hyundai Hope on Wheels for Pediatric Cancer – and it gives me hope.

We’ve had two instances of cancer in my immediate family, and one was my little sister. At just 15 years old, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Within just a month of going in to get tested, she underwent surgery to remove it and several lymphoids, then had to go through some radiation treatment. She’s now 21, and so grateful to still be cancer free! Her struggle was hard, but to be quite honest, it was nothing compared to so many children who are battling other forms or levels of cancer. That’s where Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a non-profit organization, is working hard to make a difference.

Since the program began in 1998, they’ve donated over $130 MILLION to pediatric cancer research. With every new Hyundai vehicle sale, a percentage goes towards Hyundai Hope on Wheels to help researchers and doctors further their work for better treatments and – hopefully one day – a cure for all pediatric cancers. Today, survival rates are near 80% for the most common forms of pediatric cancer. That’s AMAZING, but what about the other 20%? It’s still the leading disease-related cause of death for children in the U.S. The goal is 100%, and this program is working hard to make progress towards that!

Since September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, Hyundai Hope on Wheels is going around the country to raise awareness and award research grants of $150,000 or $250,000 each grant. In 2017 alone, they’ve awarded more than $15 million in grants! They don’t just SAY they want to cure childhood cancer, they’re putting their money behind their words and actions.

At the ‘Celebration of Life’ dinner gala I attended here in DFW (the second to last stop during their month-long tour), I got to interact with the wonderful people behind the program, such as Executive Director Zafar Brooks and many local dealers. They even had some children there who are or were battling cancer, and to see their smiling faces and hear them talk about their story with such bravery had me with tears in my eyes the whole evening!

My favorite part was the ‘Handprint Ceremony’. The reason handprints are the logo of Hyundai Hope on Wheels is because every handprint is unique, just like every child battling cancer’s story is different. The kids there – as well as celebrities Jennifer Freeman and Luke Wade – got to paint their hands, they put their handprint on a canvas to be added to so many other handprints. These prints represent the children that Hyundai Hope on Wheels is fighting for and working hard for.

During the evening they also awarded some of the research grants to doctors who are doing all they can to find a cure. The winners were:

Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant ($250,000)
– Dr. Christopher Porter, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
– Dr. Julie Wolfson, University of Alabama – Birmingham

Hyundai Young Investigator Grant ($150,000)
– Dr. Kathryn Dickerson, UT Southwestern Children’s Medical Center Foundation
– Dr. Wendy Allen-Rhoades, Texas Children’s Hospital

I loved taking the time to read inspiring words on their ‘Wall of Hope’, and the messages others – including those in the midst of the cancer battle – have written.

If you want to help Hyundai Hope on Wheels with their mission, please check out their site HERE and, if you can, donate so that further progress can be made for researching better treatments and a cure!

Mom’s Day for Herself

September 6, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

I was provided clothing by prAna to enjoy & help facilitate this post, but all opinions are mine alone. #WhereDoYouprAna

How often do us moms get so busy, that we’re lucky to even eat all our meals (hopefully still warm) and get an okay amount of sleep at night? Too many times we have no time or energy left for ourselves, but that’s actually not good for anyone. If we don’t have a chance to unwind, relax and even have some fun with our own things occasionally, we get worn out or even grumpy (gasp!). That’s why it’s crucial that moms take a Mom’s Day for Herself every now and then. I decided to make this a priority and recently started DANCING!

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Okay, don’t laugh – if you know me, I’m about as graceful as an elephant and completely out of shape, so dancing doesn’t seem the right fit. But that’s just it – it’s something I WANTED to do, for myself, to enjoy, grow and learn. To improve myself, while having a fun time! Along with starting dance, I’m doing more exercise and eating healthier because it’s helped me realize just how unhealthy and weak I was. I’m working on getting myself more healthy and strong. And hey – I’ve even lost quite a bit of weight, which is a definite bonus!

Is it easy to fit in my dancing or exercising with my family’s crazy schedules? Absolutely not! But we made it a priority, and hubby’s on board fully supporting me and has even commented how much happier I seem since I started taking my ‘mom days’. It does mean I have to say no to some extra activities or events the kids may want to do, but taking this time makes me a better mom overall so it’s a win-win for everyone. I also like to think that I’m setting a good example to my kids about the importance of taking time from the busy-ness of life and doing something you enjoy, as well as the importance of being healthy and having a strong body.

By the way, it was also a good excuse for some adorable and COMFORTABLE new clothes to wear while practicing my dance – like this Daria Sweater Hoodie from prAna! It’s soft and warm, but since it’s shorter sleeved you can still wear it when it’s not super cold outside. I’ve always been a fan of sweaters, and love the coloring and style of this one – plus the front pocket is awesome! I have it in Muted Truffle, but there’s other colors available, as well.

You can’t do dance without very comfortable and free-moving pants, so this pair of prAna Mantra Pants in Black Herringbone are perfect! They’re plenty loose around my legs so they don’t restrict my leg steps and movements, but they fit perfectly around my hips and waist so stay in place comfortable. I could wear these out for errands, or lounging around the house. I love flexibility in my clothing!

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I also have a new sense of accomplishment each time I can do a new dance figure or step that I struggled with before, or when I can do one more push up than I did my last workout. I’m progressing, and I gives me such a great feeling! Now, am I ready for an actual dance competition? Not even close 🙂 But the whole point is I’m trying, I’m growing as a person and my mood is so much better than when I was focusing only on the kids or hubby’s needs or activities. I feel happier, healthier, stronger, and even feel more love towards my family – maybe it’s because they do have to help extra or sacrifice an extra thing or two for me instead of me doing all the sacrificing.

Whatever the reason, I’m so glad I finally took the dive and made having some time for myself a priority. It’s made a difference in so many ways, and I’m sure it would help so many other moms who just feel burnt out because they put themselves last ALL. THE. TIME. I don’t believe that’s healthy to do constantly – I mean, as moms of course our family comes first and we do make plenty of sacrifices – but that doesn’t mean you never get time or something for yourself. Make it a priority, and just see what an amazing difference it can make in your life!

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