Tips and Tricks: Lactation Cookies

So I know it's been forever since I've blogged last. I'm going to start with a little story. At the beginning of May we got sick (as in Tyler and I got sick. Oliver didn't catch whatever it is we had THANKFULLY!). Nasty stomach bug sick. Mine was worse than Tyler's. Like couldn't even keep down water bad. :( Drinking water is important for everyone, but for a nursing mom like me not staying hydrated is bad for me and my baby. If I don't have water in me I can't make enough milk to feed little Oliver, and that would be a sad day. Now this little stomach bug of terror hurt my milk supply significantly. I was seriously worried I was going to lose it altogether. I literally went from pumping 4-5 oz per session to barely 1-2 oz per session in that 24 hours of sickness. So I turned to my best friend for some help...Pinterest. Ok there are like a thousand million lactation recipes out there, cookies, smoothies, different foods that supposedly help with lactation and increasing supply, etc. Since I have a bit of a sweet tooth I turned to the cookies first. I found a link on Pinterest for the "Ultimate Lactation Cookie" found here. I'm not going to re-post the recipe in this entry because I don't want to and that's not the purpose of my post. :D Anyway, I've made this recipe a few times and I've learned a few tricks that I like. First off I'm just going to say I've found different variations of this recipe (most lactation cookie recipes are going to be fairly similar) and they all have 3 main, very important ingredients that can't be substituted. Those are brewer's yeast, flax seed, and oatmeal. Anything else you can usually fudge a little and still get results. For example, the butter in this recipe calls for special butter with flax seed oil or olive oil. I've gone and bought the special butter to use, but from what I've seen from other recipes regular butter should do just fine. I make this suggestion because the flax seed butter that I was able to find only comes in a 15 oz tub and you need a cup of it (that's about 8 oz) so 1 tub doesn't even make 2 batches of cookies and it costs way more than regular butter. Not to mention the average person is not going to have flax seed butter in their house, I certainly didn't. That's tip #1...let's move on.

Re-cap - Tip #1: Regular butter works just as good as the "special" flax seed oil or olive oil butter.

Tip #2: This recipe calls for Omega-3 eggs. Again, I don't usually buy these eggs I get the regular kind and they work just as well.

Tip #3: Another ingredient change...it calls for raisins. Yuck! Not a fan. I use chocolate chips instead. The mini kind because they're cuter.

Tip #4: When you're sifting together the dry ingredients, the brewer's yeast doesn't sift very well. At least mine doesn't. Everything will sift out and the yeast is left behind. I just use my fingers and grind it up against the sifter to break it up a little. I'll do that until there's not a ton left and then I just dump the little bit left in the bowl. It'll be ok.

Tip #5: In the comments I've read on these recipes there's always someone that asks about how many cookies to expect out of a batch. Every time the author says about 2 dozen. In my experience that's WAY underestimating. So far I've gotten between 65-70 cookies, the batch I just made today came out with 72! That's A LOT of cookies.

• Subtip #5: It's recommended that you eat up to 5 cookies per day. I've noticed among commenters that calories are important. I put this recipe into MyFitnessPal using 1 cookie as 1 serving and getting about 65 cookies out of a batch. So 1 batch = 65 servings. Ladies and Gents this works out to be 66 calories per serving! What?! Healthy cookies?? What is this magic? Isn't it awesome! Bonus - nursing takes up about 300-500 calories per day, so eating 5 cookies you'll take in 330 calories per day just from the cookies. Easily burned off JUST from nursing! No extra miles on the treadmill required! You're welcome!

Tip #6: I've used old fashioned oats for the oatmeal and it's been fine. It calls for "Thick cut" in the recipe, but I have not been able to find that anywhere. I did, however, try steel cut oats the first time I made these and they did not turn out well. They were like hard little oatmeal seeds in there. The old fashioned style oats will get soft in the dough just like a regular oatmeal cookie.


Alright so if you're making these as we're going along I have some pictures for you too once your dough is made. Mine seems to always come to the consistency of a slightly runny oatmeal cookie dough. When I'm ready to start baking these bad boys I pull out all of my cookie sheets (I have 4) and line them with parchment paper. I LOVE parchment paper. First because it makes clean up super easy! The second reason I'll give you in a minute.

I scoop out my dough using a Tablespoon measuring spoon. I don't quite fill it all the way, but I don't level it either. It looks something like this:

Ok so drop those onto your parchment lined cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake.

Mine are usually good after 12 minutes. These ones have about 5 minutes left:

After they are done and you've pulled them out of the oven I slide the whole sheet of parchment off the cookie sheet and put it on the counter to cool. That way I can let the cookie sheet cool a little before I put a NEW sheet of parchment on for more cookies.

Once the cookies have cooled a little transfer them to a cooling rack.

Here's a size reference so you know about how big they are when they are done. About palm sized:

 

Alright remember that second reason I love parchment paper? Here it is. Now that your cookies are baked and on a cooling rack you have perfectly spaced and sized circles on the paper. 

Tip #7: Cut the parchment paper up into squares around the circles left behind by the cookies. Put each cookie on its own square and they won't stick together when you store them! 

Store the cookies in Ziploc bags with 5 in each bag. Don't forget that parchment paper!

That's it! They are pretty yummy cookies. Good luck and I hope this was helpful!

Our Little Oliver!

So little Oliver made his way into the world on January 7th 2016 at 10:18 pm. He weighed in at 7 lbs 13 oz and was 21.75 inches long (though I don't think that's accurate, he hasn't measured even close to that since). We love him to pieces.

This is the first time I held him...well that I remember

Now the story of how he got here.

I had an appointment with my Dr on Monday the 4th and was 80% effaced and dilated to a 2+. He stripped my membranes which wasn't bad, and then Tyler and I headed to work. Nothing out of the ordinary happened over the next couple days. At work on Wednesday I noticed my belly would get hard and tight every now and then, but it didn't hurt so I didn't think anything of it and continued on with my work day. We went to bed that night at our usual time around 11. I woke up at about 12:15 to go to the bathroom and when I stood up out of bed there was a lovely gush of liquid. I made my way quickly to the bathroom (well as quickly as I could at nearly 40 weeks) luckily I missed the bed and made it to the bathroom. :) After doing my business, the water kept coming in little gushes, so I went and stood in the bathtub and waited for it to stop. It took about 30 minutes before it stopped long enough for me to get cleaned up and protected to make the 25 minute drive to the hospital. After I was ready I woke up Tyler and told him that my water broke and we needed to go. So on a little under 2 hours of sleep (an hour for me) we drove to McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden. We got there around 2 AM, got all checked in, and settled in for the adventure of labor.

My contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart from the time my water broke. They weren't terribly painful, more just uncomfortable, definitely not pleasant. I wanted to wait as long as possible before I went for the drugs. I started off with just the stuff they put in your IV to put off the epidural as long as I could (I was slightly terrified of getting one...giant needle in my back...yuck!). I was able to get to about 8 AM before they wouldn't let me get the IV stuff anymore and I had to do the epidural. The on call anesthesiologist was this little old guy from India, Dr Patel. He didn't say much, but we got it done and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. In fact it tickled when he put it in and I kept jumping. (Fun fact: my mom remembered that Dr Patel was the same Dr that did her epidural when I was born. Pretty crazy, right?) All I can say is heaven bless whoever invented the epidural! I was able to sleep through several hours of my labor and was never uncomfortable after that. The best was when I had one particularly strong contraction...like off the charts strong, and I didn't feel a thing!

Anyway...several hours went by and then several more. Long story short I was progressing beautifully until I got to 9 cm and there was a piece of my cervix that was in the way and Oliver wouldn't descend anymore. Problem #1. The nurse had me try several different positions and try some "practice pushes" to try and get it to go back and out of the way. It eventually worked and I got to 10 cm around 5 pm. They had been in contact with my Dr throughout the day, but I hadn't seen him at all up to this point, which wasn't surprising to me. I honestly wouldn't have minded if he didn't show up at all. The nurses however obviously had other plans or there are protocols for that or something, but they had me wait all the while I'm just hanging out at 10cm ready to go. Eventually my Dr did show up a couple hours later. He did a quick assessment and then left again to check on another patient. In the next hour or so the nurse discovered that Oliver's face was pointed at the ceiling instead of at the floor like it should have been. Problem #2. Again I waited for my Dr to come back to try and turn him the right way. That also worked, but he needed to go check on that other patient again and said he would be back in like 15 minutes and we'd get this show on the road (FINALLY, I've been at 10 cm for like 3 or 4 hours by now with no real pushing being done at all). Of course in the time it took for him to get back Oliver had flipped back over to his face up position. Again my Dr tried to flip him back over. I'm not sure how long he tried, but it felt like forever! It was not the most comfortable thing I've ever done, but again thank heaven for the epidural, all I really felt was a lot of pressure. By now, and since I had been sitting at 10 cm for hours with no baby being born, my contractions had all but stopped. All day I was contracting every 2-3 minutes and now they were coming every 10-15 minutes. Problem #3.

Finally my Dr decided that Oliver was just being too darn stubborn and gave me the option of using a vacuum to help him out or try to turn him again...or we could go the C-section route. At the mention of the possibility of a C-section I instantly got nervous. I've said for years that I wanted to avoid that route by any means possible. And at this point in my labor I had done everything right, my body did exactly what it should have done and I was quite upset that it might have to end in C-section anyway. We opted to at least give the vacuum option a shot to avoid a C-section. After about 30-45 minutes of that, which was only like 2 or 3 pushes because my contractions were conked out, it was decided that the vacuum wasn't working. Because of Oliver's face up position his brow kept getting caught on my pelvis and he just wouldn't budge. Problem #4. At that point my Dr said C-section was probably the best option. We could stay and push for several more hours, which would just end up exhausting both of us (as in me and baby) and potentially put us both in distress making the C-section even more necessary and probably more risky. He also let me know that this didn't mean my next babies couldn't be born vaginally, I'm actually quite a good candidate for VBAC next time, there was plenty of room in there for Oliver to come out if he were positioned right. With that reassurance from him I consented to the C-section and after he left I wanted to cry. I was headed for major surgery that I was in no way prepared for and it was the last thing I wanted out of this experience. I also felt defeated. I had just spent 20+ hours in labor, about 5 of which was spent waiting doing nothing, and to have it come to this...almost like all that was for nothing. But I was tired and I just wanted to meet my baby.

A C-section is an interesting procedure. You get strapped to a table in a T position, arms straight out to the side (imagine crucifixion only horizontal). Then there's the blue divider that makes it so you can't see anything, and a bright light in your face. My Dr kept poking at the incision point asking if I could feel it, which I could. Eventually I had to be put completely under. I didn't get to see my baby's first minutes or even hours. I have no memory of his actual birth. I remember bits and pieces after...the nurses asking if I wanted to nurse him. I said no because I was barely coherent so the nurses hand expressed some to feed him. That was an odd feeling...and it hurt. I don't remember a lot after that and I for sure don't remember seeing Oliver until the next day. I remember being transferred from the operating table to the hospital bed (that hurt too) and then being wheeled to my recovery room.

After all that and with the disappointment I felt at having things go the way they did I'm glad we were able to go home with a happy, healthy baby (well...after 4 days in the hospital). I'm grateful that we opted to deliver in a hospital, who knows what would have happened had we chosen a different option. Yes, I'm sad that I had to have a C-section and the recovery was harder than a normal delivery would have been (probably...I don't actually know), but I'm glad Oliver made it here safely and nothing too traumatizing happened. I'm recovering nicely and I'm not as sad about the C-section now as I was at the time it was happening.

So there you go...there's the story of our cute little boy. We love him so much and are so grateful he's ours and we get to teach him and watch him grow through the rest of his life!

Here are some more pictures of him for you to enjoy. Can't believe he'll be a month old on Sunday already!

Oh hey! I have a blog...

So yeah it's been over a year since I posted anything on here. It hasn't really been at the top of my priority list as of late.

A few updates on The Shumway's.

IT'S OUR LAST SEMESTER OF SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!

We just bought a new car. (yay tax return money!)

ummm....

Wow we're pretty boring if that's all I can think of...

OH! We're planning on leaving Logan when we graduate.

It's been great in Logan and we have lots of memories here, but it's time to move on. We're thinking of moving to Layton (area) so we can be semi-equidistant between families. I'm hoping to find a transfer down that way. NOT in a grocery store, a Department would be great, and HR would be ideal. After all that is my chosen field of study. I'm still debating on whether to do the MSHR program with Utah State. Right now I'm mostly leaning towards no, but that's just because I want to be done with school for a little while. We'll see how that goes.

I've also been throwing around another idea...but I don't know how well it will work out.

So you know those tulle wreaths I've made? They're on FB or Instagram, my Halloween one is on here I know for sure, if you haven't seen them. Anyway, I was thinking about possibly opening an Etsy shop to sell them. How much would you pay for one? Right now it costs me about $30-$35 to make one, but if I can find somewhere to get the supplies in bulk for cheaper then it won't cost as much. Thoughts?

Happy New Year...a month ago...

So I realize I've been a horrible blogger...I think my last post was my rant about Thanksgiving needing its turn before Christmas took over the world. Obviously our lives are so super exciting that SOO much has happened since then...(sarcasm intended) We had Thanksgiving with my family. Tyler finished up yet another semester of school. We had Christmas where we visited our families over two days. It was great. We started school again. Both of us! It's nice being back...I actually missed school a little. That a sentence I never thought I would say. After this semester I only have a year left! Woot woot!! Can't wait! But that also means we have to decide what we're doing with our lives. I know what I want to do after graduation and I have a plan of action...I just have to convince Tyler to jump on board with me. By the time we graduate we'll be married nearly 3 years (super crazy! it still feels like we just got hitched yesterday!) I think it's time to move on to the next stage of life. We need some little Tylers and Katies running around. Not gonna lie...I'm a little baby crazy. Tyler laughs at me while he's not-so-secretly freaking out inside. When we go to any stores that have a baby section we either avoid it like the plague or he grabs me and forces me to keep walking so I don't wander in there and start looking at stuff making me want a baby even more... I'm sorry Tyler...I can't help it. It doesn't help that we're getting 3 nieces/nephews this year. One in March (probably Feb...my sister-in-law likes to deliver early), another in July (I'm hoping for any day other than the 17th...I already share my birthday with too many people, but whatever), and the last one in August. I'm super excited for all three I love nieces and nephews even though we don't get to see them much where we're usually busy with school and work all the time. Stupid having to pay for things now plus getting an education so we can pay for things in the future. ;) Such is life I suppose.

On another note...we're kind of getting tired of Logan...just a little. This winter hasn't helped at all. As much as I LOVE negative temps for weeks at a time and celebrating when it finally does reach 15 degrees... We miss being able to hang out with our Ogden/Bountiful/Centerville friends without planning for it weeks in advance. We have a friend that just had a baby right after Christmas (gah another baby! See why I'm going crazy!) and we haven't been able to see him yet except for pictures on FB. We really want to visit. Plus I haven't held a baby-baby since my niece was born a month after we got married and I certainly wasn't baby hungry then. Maybe seeing a newborn isn't such a good idea...whatever, I'm 24 years old and not getting any younger! (every time I say that I think Scrubs when JD tells Elliot "You're closer to 40 than 30..." "JD I'm 29!" so funny! Love that show!)
Oh right I was talking about how Logan is wearing on us...sorry tangent there. Another reason...there is NOTHING in Logan. We went to the mall the other day to find Tyler and I new coats and Tyler some new shoes (he is super hard on shoes!) there was nothing good! We went to every store we could think of and they either didn't have a style we liked or didn't have our size. I finally just went online and found one but Tyler still wearing his old coat that is falling apart and his old shoes that leak water...

Anyway this post is slightly random and really has no point at all...this is just what's been happening in our lives lately. Enjoy! :)

Thanksgiving

I have come to the conclusion that Thanksgiving is the neglected middle child of Holidays...and it makes me sad. You would think that in a country with such a high obesity rate we would THRIVE on a holiday that a large part of its purpose is to EAT whatever you want and as MUCH as you want and not have anyone judge you for it. Am I right?! 

I love Thanksgiving. I get slightly annoyed when Radio Stations start paying Christmas Music on November 1st. Someone REALLY should invent Thanksgiving Music and make millions!

Yesterday I went to Michaels to try to find something to hang on my door to replace my Halloween Wreath...all they had was a little teeny tiny display w/ the leftover Halloween stuff that didn't sell. Really?? I was disappointed. I left without buying anything and went to Hobby Lobby instead. They weren't much better but at least had an aisle and a half dedicated to Thanksgiving. The rest of their holiday aisles were Christmas...but they have at least an aisle or two of Christmas stuff up all year so I was ok with life at this point.

I feel holidays should read as follows (size=emphasis, color is not important other than to brighten up the text):

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas...don't get me wrong. I have more Christmas decor than anything else in my house and the spirit of the season and what it's all about is incredibly wonderful and very comforting. I'm just of the belief that Thanksgiving is just as important, to remember what we have in life and to be grateful for it. So often we take the simple things for granted, I know I do it all the time. 

I'm super excited for Christmas every year but I refuse to forget about Thanksgiving. It needs its turn too.   

Drum Roll Please....

Here's the finished product as promised! Thanks to Michael's for the Halloween extras. You would think that they would have a lot of decorations for Halloween out but the only had half an aisle. There was more Christmas stuff out than Halloween. I was disappointed...but I still got the job done.

I think it turned out cute! I told Tyler I want to have/make a wreath for every month/holiday of the year. The only two months I could think of that don't have major holidays in them are April (unless Easter falls in April, which next year it doesn't) and September, unless I'm missing one. Here's what we came up with:

January: New Years

February: Valentine's Day

March: St. Patrick's Day/Easter

April: Sometimes Easter...otherwise just a Spring Wreath

May: Mother's Day

June: Father's Day

July: 4th of July/24th of July

August: Back to School (not really a holiday I know but it works)

September: Nothing...but I'm thinking a Fall Wreath w/ leaves would work

October: Halloween (check!)

November: Thanksgiving (next project)

December: Christmas (also check!)

 

Did I miss one or do you have any ideas for wreaths?

Another attempt at being crafty...

Alright I have a confession to make...it's Halloween month and I have ZERO decorations, now Christmas I am VERY well prepared. I have a WHOLE Rubbermaid container dedicated to Christmas...but Halloween...nothing. So to alleviate this problem I decided I would make a Halloween wreath for my door. I chose to make one of those Tulle Wreaths that are all over Pinterest. It was easy, but rather tedious. Between cutting the tulle and then tying it around the form, I got bored and had to enlist Tyler to help me. Anyway, it's still a work in progress, it needs some Halloween embellishments like ghosts/pumpkins/witches etc. but here's how it looks so far. I think it's way cute already! I'm quite proud...

I'll try to remember to post the finished product! What do you think so far?