Yikes! How did it get to be the end of April already!?!?!? This year is already going by way way to fast....in a mere two months we will be celebrating our baby's FIRST birthday! Oh my...I just want to keep him little.
I am hoping I didn't shoot myself in the foot..This past Wednesday I had a fairly large cyst removed from my lower back. I didn't think it would be a big deal as it was done under local anesthesia and usually surgeons are able to make smaller incisions than you think they do. BUT mine is bigger than I thought it would be ...close to two inches long. And it is right at my waistband. As in every.single.pair of pants hit it. Despite being covered with a band aid, it is still getting irritated. So I haven't run since Tuesday night. Which in the grand scheme of things probably wouldn't be so bad..except this past weekend was our longest run for training, 11 miles. AND I skipped the week prior (don't ask, I have no good reason). Not a smart move. I am going to try to run tonight for a few miles, but race day is less than 2 weeks away so no more real long training runs. I keep telling myself that this is an endurance run (all trails vs street running) so I don't need to worry about time, but I am still slightly nervous.
Blake is STILL getting up 1-2 times per night. Ugh. I am not sure what we are doing wrong here! And he is eating more during the day. In fact yesterday I know he had two good meals outside of his bottles because I fed him. He is definitely getting better with that too. Although he is ready for big people food. Last weekend we went to DQ and I gave him Charles' grilled cheese since he wasn't eating it and boy was Blake in heaven! He gnawed on that thing forever and even got a few bits with no signs of choking. I then gave him a bite of garlic bread during the week and he loved that too. I have tried some of the third stage food jars and he liked the spaghetti that had chunks, but another one he didn't I think it depends on the size of the chunks. He also likes munching on puffs and the Gerber crunchy sticks. I am trying frozen vegetables steamed really soft and he isn't a big fan just yet.
Charles is doing great!! He has taken ownership of my iPad. And will yell that it is "Charles' turn!" if I go anywhere near him (he thinks I am going to take it...rightfully so!). And when I say it's Mommy's i Pad he says No, it's Charles' iPad. Stinker. He does have his own games, but I tend to find him in mine or W's and with things messed with. Like random requests sent to random people for Drawsomething. Hmph. He also has this thing where he (with W's help of course) has 'ranked' each family member. W is #1, he is #2 (because he was 2years old at the time this started), I am #3 and Blake is #4. And he .does.not.waiver. Ever. I keep trying to convince him that I am #1 to no avail. He will slip up every know and then but in the next sentence he corrects saying Daddy is #1. And he laughs at me when I try to tell him that I am #1.. It's cute.
W is going to Vegas in two weeks for a bachelor party..I will be home with the kids by myself for 3 whole days! Should be interesting..I haven't been alone with them for more than a day. Of course I can handle it...but it will be interesting.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sleep training, Weight loss and Running
Progress...Progress...Progress!!!
Sleep training- Had to do it. Little Mister has been waking up 4-5 times a night. Sometimes just to cry, but others he wants to eat. And W would feed him each and every time, because, well, that was the easy route. Give him a bottle and he would go right back to bed. Except... then he started not eating so much during the day so we ended up in a nasty cycle of little food during the day (3-4 ozs 4x a day, plus two solid meals) and lots of eating (upwards of 20ox) at night! One night he took 8ox before going to bed and then was up again a mere 2 hours later. Ugh. There is no way he could have been hungry so I walked with him, rocked him, etc until he went back to sleep. And since then we have been gradually working on less food at night and he is starting to eat more during the day. Last night..up only ONE time!!! Although he did guzzle a 6oz bottle! And even better, he put himself to sleep! He was overly tired, I had fed him and was trying to get him to sleep but he was fighting me. I finally had to just put him down. I walked out of the room to him screaming :( went to the bathroom, put on my pjs, went and checked on Charles...and QUIET. Didn't hear another peep until 2:30. I even had the monitor on in the bedroom which I don't normally do (W takes care of night wakings until he goes to bed so that I can get some sleep so the monitor stays off until he comes to bed). I was surprised that I didn't hear any restless-ness or whines come from him at all. I am hoping that means he is sleeping more soundly and getting good sleep.
Weight loss- Since I started tracking my weight on Jan. 20, I am down 8.4lbs!!!!!!!!!!!! I am 4 lbs away from my goal as of this morning...9 more to my 'ideal' goal. Not sure what happened, but the last couple weeks it just started melting off. I am now down to weighing less than I did when I got pregnant with Charles (even if it is only 1 lb less!). Clothes are starting to fit better and I am feeling more comfortable in my own skin. I am loving it!! And I am still eating plenty...don't get me started on how many times I had McD's last week...and an unplanned trip to Chipotle (w chips). Yum!
Running- I am truly amazed at the progress I have made in 7 short weeks. I am certain it is all due to the speed work and hills that we run on Tuesdays. I was just telling the ladies that I run with last night how thevery first night I wasn't really sure if I was going to be able to keep up. We started with one lap around a small block and I wasn't sure how I was going to do 3 more miles that night...or 4 that coming Saturday. I was struggling maintaining a 10 minute pace. But I stuck with it. Nearly two weeks ago I went out for a run on the path after work (alone) and as I started running and watching my pace, I realized I was pacing at about 9:15 per mile. In my head I thought there is no way I can sustain this, I need to slow down. My first mile was something like 9:11. Again..slow down. But I didn't. This particular stretch of bike path is a 1 and 3/8 mile loop near my house. I did 3 laps that day and timed the laps (instead of miles) and each one was faster. I couldn't believe it!! Monday night I went out and ran and paced at about 8:45. Amazing! I ran a 5k this past weekend and while it wasn't a PR it was better than my time two years ago for the same race. And that was after a year of running! I have only been back at it for 3 months! So needless to say I am extremely happy with my progress. I can even see it in my legs. They are thinning out a bit and looking more muscular.
An update on the boys...both went to the ped this past week for regular checkups. Blake weighed 21 lbs 6 oz and was 29 in. Compared to Charles at 9 mos was 22lbs and 29in. Charles was 40.5in and 32.8lbs and impressed the Dr with his spelling, shape knowledge, numbers, etc. So smart that kid is!
Sleep training- Had to do it. Little Mister has been waking up 4-5 times a night. Sometimes just to cry, but others he wants to eat. And W would feed him each and every time, because, well, that was the easy route. Give him a bottle and he would go right back to bed. Except... then he started not eating so much during the day so we ended up in a nasty cycle of little food during the day (3-4 ozs 4x a day, plus two solid meals) and lots of eating (upwards of 20ox) at night! One night he took 8ox before going to bed and then was up again a mere 2 hours later. Ugh. There is no way he could have been hungry so I walked with him, rocked him, etc until he went back to sleep. And since then we have been gradually working on less food at night and he is starting to eat more during the day. Last night..up only ONE time!!! Although he did guzzle a 6oz bottle! And even better, he put himself to sleep! He was overly tired, I had fed him and was trying to get him to sleep but he was fighting me. I finally had to just put him down. I walked out of the room to him screaming :( went to the bathroom, put on my pjs, went and checked on Charles...and QUIET. Didn't hear another peep until 2:30. I even had the monitor on in the bedroom which I don't normally do (W takes care of night wakings until he goes to bed so that I can get some sleep so the monitor stays off until he comes to bed). I was surprised that I didn't hear any restless-ness or whines come from him at all. I am hoping that means he is sleeping more soundly and getting good sleep.
Weight loss- Since I started tracking my weight on Jan. 20, I am down 8.4lbs!!!!!!!!!!!! I am 4 lbs away from my goal as of this morning...9 more to my 'ideal' goal. Not sure what happened, but the last couple weeks it just started melting off. I am now down to weighing less than I did when I got pregnant with Charles (even if it is only 1 lb less!). Clothes are starting to fit better and I am feeling more comfortable in my own skin. I am loving it!! And I am still eating plenty...don't get me started on how many times I had McD's last week...and an unplanned trip to Chipotle (w chips). Yum!
Running- I am truly amazed at the progress I have made in 7 short weeks. I am certain it is all due to the speed work and hills that we run on Tuesdays. I was just telling the ladies that I run with last night how thevery first night I wasn't really sure if I was going to be able to keep up. We started with one lap around a small block and I wasn't sure how I was going to do 3 more miles that night...or 4 that coming Saturday. I was struggling maintaining a 10 minute pace. But I stuck with it. Nearly two weeks ago I went out for a run on the path after work (alone) and as I started running and watching my pace, I realized I was pacing at about 9:15 per mile. In my head I thought there is no way I can sustain this, I need to slow down. My first mile was something like 9:11. Again..slow down. But I didn't. This particular stretch of bike path is a 1 and 3/8 mile loop near my house. I did 3 laps that day and timed the laps (instead of miles) and each one was faster. I couldn't believe it!! Monday night I went out and ran and paced at about 8:45. Amazing! I ran a 5k this past weekend and while it wasn't a PR it was better than my time two years ago for the same race. And that was after a year of running! I have only been back at it for 3 months! So needless to say I am extremely happy with my progress. I can even see it in my legs. They are thinning out a bit and looking more muscular.
An update on the boys...both went to the ped this past week for regular checkups. Blake weighed 21 lbs 6 oz and was 29 in. Compared to Charles at 9 mos was 22lbs and 29in. Charles was 40.5in and 32.8lbs and impressed the Dr with his spelling, shape knowledge, numbers, etc. So smart that kid is!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
In the blink of an eye..
He's THREE!! Yep, my little (big) boy is turning three tomorrow! I won't be home (sad, I know) so I am posting today...
We celebrated this past Sunday with our family. It was a great party! It was nice outside so all the kids went out to play..probably the highlight for Charles as he LOVES being outside!
Here he is opening some presents. Most of his gifts were in gift bags instead of wrapped and he didn't know what to do with that...it was sooo funny! He would pull out a piece of tissue paper and then rip it to shreds instead of looking in the bag for his gift! He made out pretty good...and our family fed into his letter addiction with alphabet toys and such. He also got a few more MobiGo games and has been playing non stop since Sunday night! (yay, I get my iPad back!)
Here he is being shy when we were singing Happy Birthday (just like his momma..I can still remember the time I went out to dinner on my birthday and my friend told the waitress it was my birthday. I turned so red..my friends thought it was funny!)
We celebrated this past Sunday with our family. It was a great party! It was nice outside so all the kids went out to play..probably the highlight for Charles as he LOVES being outside!
Here he is opening some presents. Most of his gifts were in gift bags instead of wrapped and he didn't know what to do with that...it was sooo funny! He would pull out a piece of tissue paper and then rip it to shreds instead of looking in the bag for his gift! He made out pretty good...and our family fed into his letter addiction with alphabet toys and such. He also got a few more MobiGo games and has been playing non stop since Sunday night! (yay, I get my iPad back!)
Here he is being shy when we were singing Happy Birthday (just like his momma..I can still remember the time I went out to dinner on my birthday and my friend told the waitress it was my birthday. I turned so red..my friends thought it was funny!)
And here he is with the cake he helped me make:
I didn't get a good picture, but it is green and blue on the inside. I went with a (minimal) Super Why theme so everything was green and blue for Whyatt. I put cut out pictures of the characters on scrapbook paper and hung them on the walls and we had green and blue balloons/plates/forks etc. The red latter 'C' is supposed to replicate the letters in the stories that go in the 'Super duper computer'.
I didn't get a good picture, but it is green and blue on the inside. I went with a (minimal) Super Why theme so everything was green and blue for Whyatt. I put cut out pictures of the characters on scrapbook paper and hung them on the walls and we had green and blue balloons/plates/forks etc. The red latter 'C' is supposed to replicate the letters in the stories that go in the 'Super duper computer'.He loved it!!
And here with momma...not looking of course!
Happy Birthday to my sweet boy! You bring us amazement, laughs and joy every single day and I couldn't be more proud to be your mama!!
And here with momma...not looking of course!
Happy Birthday to my sweet boy! You bring us amazement, laughs and joy every single day and I couldn't be more proud to be your mama!!Wednesday, February 29, 2012
It Defines me
So I think everyone has something in their life that 'defines' them. Whether it be an activity (i.e. a runner), an event, a catastrophe, something, anything really. And this is the thing that someone will know about with in a short time of meeting you. It's something you have to share.
I have come to the realization of what defines me. That one thing that I have to share about. I kind of realized this a couple months when I reconnected with an old friend and it was one of the first things I told her. And then again this past week when I started group half-marathon training and have been meeting alot of new people.
So what is it you ask!??! It's my pregnancies. Upon meeting me, you will know within an hour/day/first or second meeting that I went into labor at 27 weeks and that my babies were born early. And the sooner the kids get brought the sooner you will know about this. I am fully aware that I am not the first nor that last that has ever been pregnant or had babies. Nor am I the first, last or only person to ever have complications. But the things that happened, happened to ME. And for ME it was fairly traumatic.
I wish I wasn't but I am envious of those that sail through pregnancies without a care or concern, taking the natural occurrence of pregnancy for granted. I was there at one point...before 27 weeks with Charles. After that..well, pregnancy for me is an emotional roller coaster.
But I do think that I have a greater appreciation for my kids and the miracles that they are. That is NOT to say that the momma who has an easy pregnancy doesn't love her kids or appreciate them...I just have a different level of it. For example, I have an associate that works for me right now. She is pregnant, due in late spring. Nothing is a big deal to her. In fact she is already talking about going on vacation for 5 days in September. I know there is no way I could have done that.
Should I still be this profoundly affected by the things that happened to me? I don't know...I know that I am though. In fact, I actually try to hide it. (It doesn't work). I try to find other things about me that are just as interesting. Like that I am a runner and I have run 3 marathons, I am an accounting manager, I like to read, I have an MBA and a CPA, I like to bake when I have time, but I don't like to cook as much, etc. etc. But it always comes back to my pregnancies, birth stories and resulting prematurity of my boys.
I have come to the realization of what defines me. That one thing that I have to share about. I kind of realized this a couple months when I reconnected with an old friend and it was one of the first things I told her. And then again this past week when I started group half-marathon training and have been meeting alot of new people.
So what is it you ask!??! It's my pregnancies. Upon meeting me, you will know within an hour/day/first or second meeting that I went into labor at 27 weeks and that my babies were born early. And the sooner the kids get brought the sooner you will know about this. I am fully aware that I am not the first nor that last that has ever been pregnant or had babies. Nor am I the first, last or only person to ever have complications. But the things that happened, happened to ME. And for ME it was fairly traumatic.
I wish I wasn't but I am envious of those that sail through pregnancies without a care or concern, taking the natural occurrence of pregnancy for granted. I was there at one point...before 27 weeks with Charles. After that..well, pregnancy for me is an emotional roller coaster.
But I do think that I have a greater appreciation for my kids and the miracles that they are. That is NOT to say that the momma who has an easy pregnancy doesn't love her kids or appreciate them...I just have a different level of it. For example, I have an associate that works for me right now. She is pregnant, due in late spring. Nothing is a big deal to her. In fact she is already talking about going on vacation for 5 days in September. I know there is no way I could have done that.
Should I still be this profoundly affected by the things that happened to me? I don't know...I know that I am though. In fact, I actually try to hide it. (It doesn't work). I try to find other things about me that are just as interesting. Like that I am a runner and I have run 3 marathons, I am an accounting manager, I like to read, I have an MBA and a CPA, I like to bake when I have time, but I don't like to cook as much, etc. etc. But it always comes back to my pregnancies, birth stories and resulting prematurity of my boys.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
It has begun
I started (officially) half marathon training last night! I signed up/joined an organized training program that meets on Tuesdays and Saturdays (the rest of the week I am on my own). Our first run last night consisted of a mile out, 3 hill repeats, run some more and then run back for a total of about 30 minutes. Saturdays will be a long rung..this week about 4 miles. I think. This is the first time that I am participating in this group however I have done many others when training for the Chicago marathon. It appears they are following Hal Higdon's training plans and he is the running God.
I tried, and actually did quite well, to hang with the front of our 'pack' after realizing the back was too slow even with my 18 month break from running. There was one point that I thought I was going to die and needed to stop...but I kept going and was able to hold a conversation with the guy running next to me. After it was all said and done, I felt great and can't wait to go back on Saturday. Tonight and tomorrow will be treadmill runs. By myself. Sad.
On other news.... Blake FINALLY cut his bottom two teeth! Charlie had teeth at 6 months so I have been watching his mouth like a hawk since then. He doesn't seem to be a very good teether. Sad. He is still NOT sleeping through the night. W took care of his wakings last night so I *thought* he didn't get up..nope, he was up twice. Three times if you count waking an hour after going to bed. Sigh. I hope someday it will happen. and soon.
Charles is 95% potty trained!! Woo hoo!! He does great during the day peeing in the potty and now even likes to stand. That part has become a game to him. He even wakes up dry 90% of the time. Going #2 is a whole 'nother story. We are still struggling with this...diaper or potty. It makes me sad for him that he is having such a hard time. We started probiotics a week ago. I have not seen any improvement yet but I want to give it a month or two to really get working in his system. If that doesn't work...well, he may just have to continue to tough it out.
I have seen the 140's on the scale the past three days!!! I am hoping they are here to stay and that I can get closer to the 130's. I would not be sad to see the 130's, but that would more than exceed my goal. I started getting serious about my diet and weight loss a month ago and as of today I have lost 3.8 pounds. I have lost all of the pregnancy weight from Blake! 3-ish more pounds and I will be back to my weight from before Charles... I am not sure though that my (old) clothes will fit the same even if I get down to that weight. Pregnancy really messes with the body shape...
I tried, and actually did quite well, to hang with the front of our 'pack' after realizing the back was too slow even with my 18 month break from running. There was one point that I thought I was going to die and needed to stop...but I kept going and was able to hold a conversation with the guy running next to me. After it was all said and done, I felt great and can't wait to go back on Saturday. Tonight and tomorrow will be treadmill runs. By myself. Sad.
On other news.... Blake FINALLY cut his bottom two teeth! Charlie had teeth at 6 months so I have been watching his mouth like a hawk since then. He doesn't seem to be a very good teether. Sad. He is still NOT sleeping through the night. W took care of his wakings last night so I *thought* he didn't get up..nope, he was up twice. Three times if you count waking an hour after going to bed. Sigh. I hope someday it will happen. and soon.
Charles is 95% potty trained!! Woo hoo!! He does great during the day peeing in the potty and now even likes to stand. That part has become a game to him. He even wakes up dry 90% of the time. Going #2 is a whole 'nother story. We are still struggling with this...diaper or potty. It makes me sad for him that he is having such a hard time. We started probiotics a week ago. I have not seen any improvement yet but I want to give it a month or two to really get working in his system. If that doesn't work...well, he may just have to continue to tough it out.
I have seen the 140's on the scale the past three days!!! I am hoping they are here to stay and that I can get closer to the 130's. I would not be sad to see the 130's, but that would more than exceed my goal. I started getting serious about my diet and weight loss a month ago and as of today I have lost 3.8 pounds. I have lost all of the pregnancy weight from Blake! 3-ish more pounds and I will be back to my weight from before Charles... I am not sure though that my (old) clothes will fit the same even if I get down to that weight. Pregnancy really messes with the body shape...
Monday, February 6, 2012
And Just like that...
It's so so so very easy to fall of the weight loss/working out train. And I did it. Already. Two weeks. Damn Super Bowl.
Ok, so it was only for a day...but man was a bad day! But good eating! Yummy food. But oh soo bad. I 'planned' on having some junk yesterday for the game. Because according to W, Super Bowl Sunday is a holiday and you can't have a holiday (or a good football game) with out good food! So I bought some junk..hoping the neighbors would come by...for the game. Let me tell you...It was GOOD going down. But as soon as it was down, I regretted it. Sad.
And the scale showed it this morning. Bye bye 140's. Maybe I will see you next week.
But today...Today will be a good eating day. It's far easier to control my intake at work. I bring my lunch (there isn't anywhere really close to work to conveniently go to eat) and so right there I am limited to what I eat. It works and is great. Today I have yogurt, an orange, salad w/ a boiled egg & light dressing, and a Nature Val.ley Peanut butter thin (those are really really good! and only 90 cals.).
AND...I have every intention of getting on the treadmill tonight. I am signing up for a 1/2 marathon training program that starts 2/21 so I need to do my homework so I am ready for it.
So today, we start again!
Ok, so it was only for a day...but man was a bad day! But good eating! Yummy food. But oh soo bad. I 'planned' on having some junk yesterday for the game. Because according to W, Super Bowl Sunday is a holiday and you can't have a holiday (or a good football game) with out good food! So I bought some junk..hoping the neighbors would come by...for the game. Let me tell you...It was GOOD going down. But as soon as it was down, I regretted it. Sad.
And the scale showed it this morning. Bye bye 140's. Maybe I will see you next week.
But today...Today will be a good eating day. It's far easier to control my intake at work. I bring my lunch (there isn't anywhere really close to work to conveniently go to eat) and so right there I am limited to what I eat. It works and is great. Today I have yogurt, an orange, salad w/ a boiled egg & light dressing, and a Nature Val.ley Peanut butter thin (those are really really good! and only 90 cals.).
AND...I have every intention of getting on the treadmill tonight. I am signing up for a 1/2 marathon training program that starts 2/21 so I need to do my homework so I am ready for it.
So today, we start again!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Heellllooo...
140's!!!!! Yay!! I am now back in the 140's..atleast for today. I mean, I barely broke the surface..but, Yay!!
AND..I haven't worked out since Saturday (boo!). I am not sure why, but I just couldn't find my groove this week. Over tired..cranky kids..lack of sleep..no motivation..you name it, I found any excuse I could to not work out. Good thing it didn't effect my weight loss!
AND..I haven't worked out since Saturday (boo!). I am not sure why, but I just couldn't find my groove this week. Over tired..cranky kids..lack of sleep..no motivation..you name it, I found any excuse I could to not work out. Good thing it didn't effect my weight loss!
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