I fought Sugar Mama hard this week. Having given up chocolate for Lent had pretty much neutralized her but this week, she came on strong. I'm sure it had nothing to do with all of the cake--wedding cake, christening cake, birthday cake. Yum, I love cake, creamy icing mmmmmmmmmmm. Obviously I need to de-tox! Other than that I had good workouts, I managed to finish my 20th thing at the gym and earn my shirt. I'll take a picture when I actually get it.
So, I was down 1.2 pounds this week, normally I'd be ecstatic but a week and a half ago I was down even further before the invasion of Aunt Flo. No complaints though. It was nice to see that middle number change.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Mixed Blessing
My parents are coming today to help out with the kids for the next couple of days while PDQs babysitter is having surgery. Then, on Saturday they are taking the kids back home with them for the week of Spring Break. When I originally asked if they’d come out and help for a couple of days it was just part of the childcare calculus plan. When they came to visit for PDQs birthday my Mom inquired about it being Spring Break and offered to take them back home for the week. I was hesitant at first, trying to figure out why that wasn’t a good idea but couldn’t find anything other than it wasn’t part of my carefully calculated plan (and I’d miss them, a lot).
Now its here, my girls are leaving on Saturday morning and we will join them at the end of next week and enjoy a long Easter weekend with my family. This week has been seriously chaotic, there is something going on every night and some nights more than one thing, I feel like I haven’t spent nearly enough time with the girls next week and next week I will mope because I miss them. Don’t get me wrong, we have something planned for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of next week with only grown-ups. I have at least one small home improvement project planned (G-man—surprise!). And I am relishing the thought of not having morning time fights about getting ready or trying to keep track of anyone but myself (and maybe G-man just a tiny bit).
So the other scary part of the tale, my mother, alone in my house for 3 hours tomorrow morning and then with the kids all day on Friday. It used to make me nuts that she’d come to my house and clean. Now I’ve realized that no matter the state of cleanliness when she arrives she’ll find something to clean-up. Now I either plan a project for her or I just leave the mess to give her something to do. Still, so many hours alone gives me a small dose of anxiety. Not so bad if she could just do the cleaning but when I have to hear it its reminiscent of nails on the chalkboard. Boobah seems to be channeling her, the other day when I told her the size 3 pants didn’t fit her anymore she went upstairs and took ALL of them out of her drawers and put them in a pile to give away. She isn’t such a great help for G-man or I but when Grammy is there she follows her around like a little shadow helping out. Could we bottle that?
So, if you had a child-free week what would you do? What would you miss the most about the kids? What would you not miss at all?
Now its here, my girls are leaving on Saturday morning and we will join them at the end of next week and enjoy a long Easter weekend with my family. This week has been seriously chaotic, there is something going on every night and some nights more than one thing, I feel like I haven’t spent nearly enough time with the girls next week and next week I will mope because I miss them. Don’t get me wrong, we have something planned for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of next week with only grown-ups. I have at least one small home improvement project planned (G-man—surprise!). And I am relishing the thought of not having morning time fights about getting ready or trying to keep track of anyone but myself (and maybe G-man just a tiny bit).
So the other scary part of the tale, my mother, alone in my house for 3 hours tomorrow morning and then with the kids all day on Friday. It used to make me nuts that she’d come to my house and clean. Now I’ve realized that no matter the state of cleanliness when she arrives she’ll find something to clean-up. Now I either plan a project for her or I just leave the mess to give her something to do. Still, so many hours alone gives me a small dose of anxiety. Not so bad if she could just do the cleaning but when I have to hear it its reminiscent of nails on the chalkboard. Boobah seems to be channeling her, the other day when I told her the size 3 pants didn’t fit her anymore she went upstairs and took ALL of them out of her drawers and put them in a pile to give away. She isn’t such a great help for G-man or I but when Grammy is there she follows her around like a little shadow helping out. Could we bottle that?
So, if you had a child-free week what would you do? What would you miss the most about the kids? What would you not miss at all?
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
New review
Head on over to Maven Says to check out my review of Good Night: The Sleep Doctor's 4-Week Program to Beter Sleep and Better Health. The book certainly opened my eyes to even more reasons that I need to be serious about sleeping.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Where the heck did the weekend go?!
I used to crave the weekends, it seemed like we actually had some downtime and there was a chance to relax. Lately, I just don't get that feeling. We have managed to escape the Sunday Curse the last few weekends but I've headed into Monday morning wanting nothing more than to lay in bed and snuggle under the covers.
This weekend we had something going on everyday--Friday was youngest stepson's band concert so we drove the half hour over there. His band was good, the elementary/middle school band was painful to listen to, all those clarinets squawking along. Then we had to wait for him to change his clothes at his mom's house, and I suspect pack as well. After dropping by McDonald's to harass his big brother in the drive thru, we got home and it was after 9PM. I know, I am such an old lady, out until 9 on a Friday night!
Then Saturday started with a skating lesson at 10:15AM. Esmerelda met us there and took on kid duties so Gman and I could attend a wedding. I thought it was small and that meant it would be short, no dice, we were there for nearly 4 hours. So we got home around 4PM after stopping off to get the girls from Es. We invited her over for dinner and started the Sushi festivities when we got home. I tried to watch the Ohio State vs. Memphis game while I was trying to manage the kitchen. We made the sushi, we ate the sushi, Es and her Mom headed out and it was 8PM on Saturday night. The girls got showers and I thought we were good to relax. Ha! In looking at PDQs hair I saw a few suspicious looking brown specs. Aggggggghhhhhhhh, the lice were back. I thought we had eradicated them and were lucky enough to avoid them the second time around when everyone else at daycare got them--guess not. Gman and I were up until nearly 1AM giving everyone the Ceptaphil treatment; washing and/or drying sheets, pillows, and stuffed animals; and calling the daycare providers and our friends who'd had our kids recently.
Finally, Sunday, the day of rest. Yeah, right. We headed to church, then PDQ and I met friends for the local ice rink's Spring show. When it was over we headed to Dick's to acquire the needed stuff to start soccer next week--cleats and shin guards. By the time we hit the road for home it was after 4! Another day sucked down the tubes. When we got home all the girls cared about was playing in yard. Thankfully the little girl next door indulged them and they all hung out together. By the time we were done with dinner I realized that we hadn't even opened PDQs backpack from last week. Sure enough, her poetry journal and book-in-a-bag needed to be done. A bath, a hair check and time for bed--for all of us!
When PDQ told me she had a stomach-ache this morning I was almost relieved. I've worked all day but in the relative peace & quiet of my own home. I did eventually put on clothes.
The worst part of all, I know its going to get worse. There will be ice skating, soccer, youth group, and whatever else they dream up. Right now its only one kid, what happens when they are both old enough to do activities. I was talking to the neighbor last night and my head was swimming when she told me her 2nd grader had something EVERY night of the week and wanted to do ice skating but there was no time. I hope PDQ doesn't find out about it because there is no way I can keep up!
This weekend we had something going on everyday--Friday was youngest stepson's band concert so we drove the half hour over there. His band was good, the elementary/middle school band was painful to listen to, all those clarinets squawking along. Then we had to wait for him to change his clothes at his mom's house, and I suspect pack as well. After dropping by McDonald's to harass his big brother in the drive thru, we got home and it was after 9PM. I know, I am such an old lady, out until 9 on a Friday night!
Then Saturday started with a skating lesson at 10:15AM. Esmerelda met us there and took on kid duties so Gman and I could attend a wedding. I thought it was small and that meant it would be short, no dice, we were there for nearly 4 hours. So we got home around 4PM after stopping off to get the girls from Es. We invited her over for dinner and started the Sushi festivities when we got home. I tried to watch the Ohio State vs. Memphis game while I was trying to manage the kitchen. We made the sushi, we ate the sushi, Es and her Mom headed out and it was 8PM on Saturday night. The girls got showers and I thought we were good to relax. Ha! In looking at PDQs hair I saw a few suspicious looking brown specs. Aggggggghhhhhhhh, the lice were back. I thought we had eradicated them and were lucky enough to avoid them the second time around when everyone else at daycare got them--guess not. Gman and I were up until nearly 1AM giving everyone the Ceptaphil treatment; washing and/or drying sheets, pillows, and stuffed animals; and calling the daycare providers and our friends who'd had our kids recently.
Finally, Sunday, the day of rest. Yeah, right. We headed to church, then PDQ and I met friends for the local ice rink's Spring show. When it was over we headed to Dick's to acquire the needed stuff to start soccer next week--cleats and shin guards. By the time we hit the road for home it was after 4! Another day sucked down the tubes. When we got home all the girls cared about was playing in yard. Thankfully the little girl next door indulged them and they all hung out together. By the time we were done with dinner I realized that we hadn't even opened PDQs backpack from last week. Sure enough, her poetry journal and book-in-a-bag needed to be done. A bath, a hair check and time for bed--for all of us!
When PDQ told me she had a stomach-ache this morning I was almost relieved. I've worked all day but in the relative peace & quiet of my own home. I did eventually put on clothes.
The worst part of all, I know its going to get worse. There will be ice skating, soccer, youth group, and whatever else they dream up. Right now its only one kid, what happens when they are both old enough to do activities. I was talking to the neighbor last night and my head was swimming when she told me her 2nd grader had something EVERY night of the week and wanted to do ice skating but there was no time. I hope PDQ doesn't find out about it because there is no way I can keep up!
Friday, March 23, 2007
In search of MILFdom, week 10
I was having a great week. By mid-week I was down another 2.5 pounds and the middle number had changed. Then Aunt Flo arrived for a visit and poof, back came the weight. I also wonder if the Group Power class I took last night makes me retain water while my muscles desperately try to repair themselves. The class is fun but seriously hard, non-aerobic work. Looking around the room at the ladies with arms with no dingle-dangle makes me stick it out! It might also have something to do with the fact I slacked on water for a couple of days as well.
The good news for the week, several people noticed I was losing weight! I weigh enough that a pound or two doesn’t make a difference. Last night, two women at church, who had no idea that I’ve been trying to lose weight made comments about how much it looked liked I’ve lost. I wanted to kiss them both! I am generally not good at accepting compliments but I told them both thank you, I’d been working really hard, thanks for noticing! Definite incentive to keep it up. The other good thing, my pants are loose (well, at least my fat pants). Especially in the thighs which is definitely my problem area. I look like I have two giant cauliflower attached to the outside of my upper thighs, they are absolutely mutant. Over the last couple of weeks they’ve become a bit less pronounced—still awful but at least a little less awful.
I worked out 6 times last week, it was nice to be able to get outside and walk last Sunday afternoon. It was a bit chilly but felt good to get outside in the sunshine and move. The rest of the week it was the gym—spinning class, elliptical, group power class. I am only two stamps away from getting my t-shirt in the gym challenge. I need to get in a game of racquetball with Esmerelda or Gman this week.
No new foods this week, just a real understanding that water DOES make a huge difference, as does fiber. Gotta have my high fiber English muffin or wrap every day or I just can’t get near my daily allotment of fiber.
The good news for the week, several people noticed I was losing weight! I weigh enough that a pound or two doesn’t make a difference. Last night, two women at church, who had no idea that I’ve been trying to lose weight made comments about how much it looked liked I’ve lost. I wanted to kiss them both! I am generally not good at accepting compliments but I told them both thank you, I’d been working really hard, thanks for noticing! Definite incentive to keep it up. The other good thing, my pants are loose (well, at least my fat pants). Especially in the thighs which is definitely my problem area. I look like I have two giant cauliflower attached to the outside of my upper thighs, they are absolutely mutant. Over the last couple of weeks they’ve become a bit less pronounced—still awful but at least a little less awful.
I worked out 6 times last week, it was nice to be able to get outside and walk last Sunday afternoon. It was a bit chilly but felt good to get outside in the sunshine and move. The rest of the week it was the gym—spinning class, elliptical, group power class. I am only two stamps away from getting my t-shirt in the gym challenge. I need to get in a game of racquetball with Esmerelda or Gman this week.
No new foods this week, just a real understanding that water DOES make a huge difference, as does fiber. Gotta have my high fiber English muffin or wrap every day or I just can’t get near my daily allotment of fiber.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
No as bad as I thought
It turned out that my quad wasn't as bad as I feared. A little ice, a little heat, a little sleep and it felt much better. I threw caution to the wind and went to my spinning class at lunchtime yesterday. I didn't go all out, babying my leg a bit, but I got a great workout. I felt like such a jock working through the pain. Of course at the end of the class I got off the bike and caught my foot on another bike and twisted my leg in just the right way, OUCH. I went back to the office and sat with an ice bag (a Trash Tosser from Blink, they are great for all kinds of stuff!) on my leg praying that I wouldn't end up looking like I'd peed myself.
I thought that lunchtime exercise would get my blood pumping and I'd be on top of my game all afternoon. I was doing really well until about 2:30 and then all I wanted to do was put my head on the table and nap. Unfortunately, not an option.
We had our first run at making sushi at home last night. We weren't quite as proficient as we were under the close supervision of the Sushi Princess but they tasted great. We let the girls pick their fillings, Boobah didn't eat a lot, PDQ loved everything and ate hers as well as some of mine & Gman's. We'll definitely do it again, the only issue was the time, we used the table to make the rolls so then we had to clean it off so we could eat. The children were NOT patient by that time since they knew the food was "done." Gman took some pictures, I'll link up when he's posted since I got to put them all up last time.
I thought that lunchtime exercise would get my blood pumping and I'd be on top of my game all afternoon. I was doing really well until about 2:30 and then all I wanted to do was put my head on the table and nap. Unfortunately, not an option.
We had our first run at making sushi at home last night. We weren't quite as proficient as we were under the close supervision of the Sushi Princess but they tasted great. We let the girls pick their fillings, Boobah didn't eat a lot, PDQ loved everything and ate hers as well as some of mine & Gman's. We'll definitely do it again, the only issue was the time, we used the table to make the rolls so then we had to clean it off so we could eat. The children were NOT patient by that time since they knew the food was "done." Gman took some pictures, I'll link up when he's posted since I got to put them all up last time.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Good plan, bad execution
I had a great workout today, 45 minutes on the elliptical, crunches on the ball, a good strech on the stretcher thingie (yeah, that IS the technical term). We went to Rita's Italian Ice after dinner and then hit the Asian grocery store for sushi making ingredients (more on that later). I, being the Martha that I am, pickled some ginger for our future sushi experiences, its going to kill me to wait weeks until it is done. Then I told Gman I was heading upstairs to work on some thank you cards. He beckoned me to come give him a kiss first. Being in a good mood, I thought I'd jog over and do a faux jump into his lap. Good plan, bad execution. My sock covered foot hit the laminate floor off the edge of the rug, I heard a tearing noise come out of my leg, managed to not do a complete split and landed on the floor in front of him curled up in pain. Gman said he heard the noise as well (I was hoping it was just my imagination). OUCH!
It figures, finally, after 2 months of a meeting every Wednesday at 1 o'clock I managed to get free and sign up for the noon spinning class tomorrow. My plan was almost foiled today when I needed to schedule another meeting but I managed to take care of it today instead. Now, I'll be lucky to walk tomorrow let alone cycle. I took some ibuprofen, a hot bath and need to get some ice on it. I read up on quad strains and figure its pretty minor but am NOT looking forward to extracting myself from the bed in the morning.
Oh yeah, the Asian market. It was huge and packed. There was the smell of fish in the air which Boobah pointed out--loudly. What is that smell. Mommy, do you smell something? Something smells gwooooooooossssssssss. Boobah, its fine, could you keep it down, we'll be done soon. Her eyes were as big as saucers when we saw the ice lined trays filled with fish--Mommy, are they alive?! Nope Boobah, they are dead. At the end of the aisle she exclaims, I knew that's what I smelled, its HAMSTERS! I tried not to laugh too hard as I explained to her that they weren't hamsters, they were lobsters. Close, but no cigar.
It figures, finally, after 2 months of a meeting every Wednesday at 1 o'clock I managed to get free and sign up for the noon spinning class tomorrow. My plan was almost foiled today when I needed to schedule another meeting but I managed to take care of it today instead. Now, I'll be lucky to walk tomorrow let alone cycle. I took some ibuprofen, a hot bath and need to get some ice on it. I read up on quad strains and figure its pretty minor but am NOT looking forward to extracting myself from the bed in the morning.
Oh yeah, the Asian market. It was huge and packed. There was the smell of fish in the air which Boobah pointed out--loudly. What is that smell. Mommy, do you smell something? Something smells gwooooooooossssssssss. Boobah, its fine, could you keep it down, we'll be done soon. Her eyes were as big as saucers when we saw the ice lined trays filled with fish--Mommy, are they alive?! Nope Boobah, they are dead. At the end of the aisle she exclaims, I knew that's what I smelled, its HAMSTERS! I tried not to laugh too hard as I explained to her that they weren't hamsters, they were lobsters. Close, but no cigar.
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