·:[ The Healthy Mom ]:·
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… and yesterday too.

Here’s a quickie fitness recap of the week.

Monday afternoon, I had my mammogram, which was not nerve wracking as my first mammogram was.

Tuesday I went to Big 5 and bought a multi function chinning bar, which just happened to be ON SALE for $29.99 (instead of $39.99). Things are just coming together… That night I got to the climbing gym before May, and tried the V1 bouldering route we were working on the week before. Of course, there were 4 guys standing by there, so I decided not to pull the crash pad over and just climb without it. And I did it! On the first try. I was so PSYCHED! May and I climbed - a lot of routes, and worked really hard. After climbing we hit the floor for ab work, plank and finished off with the pull-up wall.

Wednesday we ran a speed workout for the first time in a LONG time. OH, it was BRUTAL. My lungs were ACHING. After the first set, I was nauseated. We only did 3 sets, then near the end we did a couple of sprints.

Thursday, I was supposed to go for a quick run in the morning, but it was super windy, so I didn’t go out. I was going to give up on a workout altogether, but then I dusted off my 20/20 Method Kickbox Cardio DVD and did one of the 20 minute workouts. With jumping jacks and weight training. It was work, but it was short. After school, we went to the park for playdate and stayed there for almost 4 hours! First nice weather day in months, it seems.

This morning, May and I went for a long run. She was on a time crunch, so we did 7 miles together, and then I did another mile after she left.

And now I’m finishing up working so I can go get a massage at noon. Can’t wait!

I am hoping to make the time for P90X while the boys are in school during the week.  It looks like it would take away from my running time, but I think I’m okay with that.  I don’t think May will be, though.

The reason I want to try P90X is because I have everything but the pull up bar (which I hope to buy in town for under $30). I would love to do CrossFit, but it’s too easy for me to skip a workout if I have to drive somewhere to do it. Drive time plus workout time ends up being the same hour that I would spend with the P90X workout.

As for the nutritional guide - I will do my best to follow it, but to be honest, if I could just get to the Before pictures of some of the ladies on the site, it would be worth it.

I’m doing BalanceLog - which has been good.  Some days I go over (usually the days I don’t work out), but some days I go under (usually the longer run days).  I have been working like crazy, and that is really helping me with not overeating.

Oh, and I got on the scale today
Week 5
Starting weight: 137.8
Last week’s weight: 135.2
Current weight: 134.2
Goal Weight: 125.0

Overall loss: 3.6
Lbs to go: 9.8

Another pound down - again, I’m cautiously happy about it.  I don’t know why I can’t seem to accept these losses as real.

Finally, I have a mammogram scheduled for this afternoon at 3:30 PM.  Last time I was so anxious about it - mostly because I didn’t know what to expect, and because of my family history.  But now I’m okay with it.  Still a little nervous, but okay.

I’m about to get on the scale after a 4 mile run with May, and some really decadent dessert and hot chocolate with butterscotch schnapps last night.

BUT! I have totally been sucked into an infomercial, and will be starting the P90X program in a few weeks. It’s the first program I’ve seen with people like me who don’t need to lose 20, 30, 40 or more pounds. I just need to get toned. This workout system is supposed to get you RIPPED.

I am going to turn 40 in December, and I have about 10 months to do something about this body shape of mine that I can be happy with. So, I am going to BRING IT! and hunker down for 90 days. It’s going to be painful, but I’m going to spend the money and commit myself to it if it kills me. Something has got to give.

I TOTALLY slacked off last week after my last update.  I didn’t work out AT ALL on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. 

Well, on Friday I walked a lot - we went to The Wildlife Experience, and then stopped at the Chapel Hills Mall on the way home for about an hour.  But other than that, nada.  Zip.  In fact, I mostly sat on my swiss ball and worked at the computer this weekend.  And slept.  I took a nap on Saturday and Sunday.

Add to that the purchase of 3 boxes of Girl Scout cookies (mmm, caramel delites - thanks Madison!), Kaitlynn’s birthday party, take out Chinese (sesame chicken) and banana cream pie with the Scott clan in Aurora, then Mr Biggs for a bowling game with the Scott clan (they still have their pizza buffet)… 

I actually have been keeping a rough log of my food intake - although I’m sure I will forget an item or two since I am recording it sometimes 2 days later.

Today, after a pancake/bacon/egg (boiled for me) breakfast with Greg and Joshua,  I took the boys to my parents with their Wendy’s lunch, ate a couple of girl scout cookies at their house.

Then I forced myself to go on a fast 4 mile run.  I was able to run 5k in 32:41 - so I’m going to try and get under 32:00 for the St Pat’s 5k.

I came home, worked some more, showered, ate lunch (and 2 more GS cookies  ) and worked until the boys came home. 

I horsed around with the boys for a while, mostly laying on my back with them riding on my shins (good ab workout) and they wanted me to pick them both up, and I said I couldn’t.  So we all headed to the scale.  I forgot to weigh myself this morning…  Zander weighs 43.6, Zevan weights 32.2, and I weigh…  135.2 ?!  Down 1.4 from last week

I weighed myself twice to be sure.  And I have noticed that I weigh less in the afternoon than I do first thing in the morning.  Why is that?

Week 4
Starting weight: 137.8
Last week’s weight: 136.6
Current weight: 135.2
Goal Weight: 125.0

So, I’m cautiously happy about it.  

The plan this week is to run on T/W/F, climb on Tuesday night, and try to do a Crossfit style calisthenics workout on Thu/Sat.

I’m doing pretty good this week - eating less (there’s nothing in the house right now, and I haven’t had much time to grocery shop), and I’m making decent choices and controlling portions.  Of course, Tuesday night I missed climbing because of that BAAC meeting, and then we went to Ruby Tuesday where I had salad & burger - along with  fries and hot chocolate with whipped cream and buttershots.    OH, and a piece of chocolate caramel, thankyouverymuch.

Anyway I ran 7 miles on both Monday and Wednesday (Candy totally blew me off on Wed!    that’s right - I’m calling you out right here, woman!)

 
And today…

I did calisthenics type stuff.  I did 150 (3 sets of 50) of those low quick squats, plus a ton of other exercises, one set of 25 reps for most (only 10 push ups - the real ones, and only 12 shoulder raises with the Billy Bands)

I did dips, push ups, leg lifts, leg raises, kickbacks, scissors, single leg stretch…

I did the plank, shoulder bridge and side plank

With the Billy Bands, I did curls, press, flys, tricep extensions…

All in all, it took me about 20 minutes - with very short rests between every 4-5 exercises.

Whew!

Last night I watched You: On a Diet, and it was alarmingly inspiring.  While we won’t be totally cleaning out our pantry of all the evils (hydrogenated, enriched, hfcs), we will moderate those foods and look for other alternatives.

Now I’m going to enjoy the chocolate that I got from all my guys for Valentine’s Day - in moderation of course.  This afternoon, Doug and I are getting a couple’s massage at Tuscany Day Spa, which finishes with champagne and chocolates…  Can’t wait!

So, there is discussion about a proposal for Buena Vista Elementary to become a magnet school.

And it seems to be going forward rather quickly and suddenly. Now, I’ve been avoiding any kind of parental involvement, other than volunteering in their classrooms, until they are both in school full time.

But I felt a need to find out more about this whole magnet school deal and why it was happening so urgently all of a sudden.

My intention was to sit in on the meeting for an hour, then go climbing, then meet the girls at Ruby Tuesday.

Not so much.

While I am satisfied now with, and even agree to, why it should happen quickly, it took longer than an hour to get all my answers. Mostly because the principal didn’t seem to get my questions clearly answered the first time I asked, or even after clarification. It was kind of odd - kind of like talking to a politician, but I guess really, like speaking with an administrator.

They are looking to enroll *40* more 3 and 4 year olds next year.

Oh, and they are offering full day (8:00 AM - 2:30 PM) preschool for the 3 and 4 year olds next year - $500/month for full day.

We’re not taking advantage of that, though. 

So I missed climbing

And somehow am on a committee with Johanna to come up with the marketing part of the proposal. With Johanna and Eva. By Tuesday.

So it begins…

So, I get to school, and my dad tells me that my mom has dental appt at 2 PM. Crap.

*I* have an appt for a facial at 12:45 PM until 2:15 PM. So there’s half an hour there of overlap. My dad was going to see if he could leave work early for that time. But it annoyed me that my mom just let us both know that this morning. So then I spent a lot of energy being irritated and wondering if I needed to cancel MY appt.

May, Candy and I met for a run today. Candy turned around earlier because she had a coffee date with Lindsey, and May and I went to the over pass. And yesterday I tried those crazy fast low fast CrossFit squats, and my inner thighs are ACHING. Ouch.

It was fine when I was running, but whenever we stopped or slowed down - ouch.

May suggested that my mom take the boys to her appt, and then I could pick them up from there. Okay. It’s across town from my appt, but better than having to cancel.

My mom said okay, but that my dad was still waiting to hear if he could get off work early.

So i went to my facial and enjoyed it, but in the back of my mind, worried about the whole situation. I got out at 2:15 PM, and headed towards my mom’s dental office. I called my dad’s cell phone, but there was no answer so I figured he was still at work.

I got to the dental office, only to be informed that my dad picked up the boys and took them to school with him. WTF? And no one could have left me a message to let me know?!

So I went home and worked, irritated that I missed half an hour of billable time when I’m so busy right now.

Sigh.

My dad brought the boys back at 4:30 PM, so I was actually able to work a few hours. When I asked him why he didn’t call me, he said that he *thought* that he had already told me.

Sigh.

I know I sound ungrateful, but my mom was the one who wanted a regular day with the boys, and I need to be able to know that time is time I definitely have. The facial was a rare treat - a Christmas gift certificate that took me 2 months to take the time and get an appt.

Okay, rant over.

Back to work.

So, I fell asleep on the sofa last night after catching up on a lot of shows - GH and the pilot of Lipstick Jungle.

Sometime in the wee morning hours, Zevan came downstairs and cuddled in with me. I only woke up briefly, cuddled him in, and felt right back asleep.

When I was waking up this morning, Zevan’s face was right next to mine, and I could feel his warm breath on my face. When I opened my eyes, I saw his little face grinning at me. I got a tiny little smooch, and then he moved down to put his ear to my belly.

I love mornings with Zevan. He’s just all quiet and cuddly and totally lovey. He tries all configurations of getting his bare skin on my belly. His hands, then his feet, then his ear, and then all over again.

It’s rare we get this time alone together anymore. This morning, I just felt like I need to cherish the feelings and the time.

He’ll be 4 in April, and I’m not going to get this kind of quiet devotion for much longer…

A long day at home for me - something I guess I needed.

We slept in a bit, then Doug made everyone breakfast. After eating, we puttered around here and there, and then it was chore time.

Doug and Zander did their routine on the main floor. This week, Zevan and I spent our chore time going from room to room and removing things that didn’t belong and putting it in the room/place where it did belong.

The last part of chores is to take the recycles to Recycle America, and get donuts. Zander went with Dad, but Zevan opted to stay home with me.

So, we all finally got out of our pjs and Zander & Doug headed out. Zevan and I stayed home and hung out together. We played and cuddled. And ate lunch.

They came back with our donuts, although Zander himself opted out - “too much sugar,” he said! Of course, he ended up taking a bite out of everyone else’s donut.

And, finally, it was the time that the boys have been waiting all week for - VIDEO GAME time! They played Mario Kart for a long while. Then took a stab Pokemon Stadium, where they could play the side games, but not the main battles, because apparently we need game packs for that!?

We had a snack/lunch break. And the boys helped me with putting their laundry away (their socks & underwear). Then we had more game time. We took a peek at Super Mario 64, and then finally a few rounds of our old favorite, Yoshi’s Story.

After we pried them from game time, Doug played Chutes and Ladders with the boys.

And then we sent them outside in the backyard to get some fresh, cold air.

Nice, low key family day…

On the whole, I think I’m fairly strict when it comes to parenting, and that’s where I want to be.

I just want to be more rationally strict, than shrill strict. I’m working on that.

I do find that if I plan the day, however loosely, and describe it to them at the start of the day, things are much easier to manage.

Consistency is definitely key. Things always get better for us when I “tighten the leash” which happens because things get out of control - as a result of me not being consistent and slacking off/checking out for a while. It’s a vicious cycle. We’re on a “tight leash” cycle right now, which means things are pretty good. I can’t seem to keep it up indefinitely, though.

Being consistent is hard work. Between work and running and climbing, I don’t have the energy to always be exhaustingly consistent.

This is where I get to choose my battles/priorities. My kids already accept the rules that I have been consistent with.

• Vegetables with lunch and dinner.
• They ask to be excused from the table when finished eating.  And they clear their plates and cups to the sink.
• Family Chores on Saturdays.
• Video games only on the weekends.
• Screen time can only happen (tv, computer, video games) after 2 PM.
• Screen time is EARNED, not a privilege.
• Screen time only happens if their toys are picked up and put away.
• Tantrums/disrespect result in loss of privilege or allowance (their choice).

If nothing else, I have these things.   

So, we went for a “long” run today. Although May did actually protest, believing that she would only run 3-4 miles, I convinced her to try for the bridge/overpass and back, like we did last week.

This role reversal is amusing to me.

Anyway, it went by quickly because we were discussing a possible new venture together, where she does the dB back end and I do all the web interface stuff in PHP.

Today is my day to myself. Doug takes the boys to school, and Grandpa picks them up from school. I can do a long run, have a coffee with May, and get a whole lot of work done. Which is good because I had to finish up the Tillie work today, and also do more work on the Rocky Mountain ASHRAE site.

And, I spent a good chunk of time today making appts - for a facial (Monday at 12:45 PM), an appt with the optometrist (Tuesday at 8:30 AM) and for a mammogram (2/25 at 3:00 PM). The dental office was closed today, so I have to make that appt next week.

And I even called a potential client to get an idea about the project they would like me to work on. That I would like Mike Jackson to help me out with if it turns out to be an ASP deal.

I finished off the chili that I made on Sunday for the Superbowl party. And watched “Make Me a Supermodel” as I ate lunch.

Then I worked some more on client projects. I’ve got a couple new ones starting next week, so I have to finish up the ones I am working on now ASAP.

When the boys came home, I was actually glad to see them and was able to focus on talking with them about their day. It felt really good. My other work days are shorter than this, since I have to pick up the boys from school and have lunch with them first. I need to prioritize better on those days…

We had an informal playdate today - I was watching Paxtin for Megan, and then Shanyn called me to say that no one showed up at Thorndale Park so I told her to come on over. Then Megan and Alexa joined us after their appt.

So it was the Doans (including Jeff ), the Carusos and us. While there was the usual amount of refereeing involved (between Alexa/Zevan and Elijah/Zander), it was actually quite manageable. The kids even played outside for a bit.

I was a little pre-occupied because I had Tillie to work on. But I think I was able to stay present and sociable.

As soon as everyone left (around 3 PM), I offered the boys a movie so I could work. I didn’t feel TOO guilty since they didn’t have any screen time during the day and got to play with their friends. They chose Madagascar, and I set them up in their room while I got some work done. I could hear them laughing at the movie while I worked. The movie only bought me about 90 minutes of work time, though, which wasn’t quite enough.

I worked hard to disengage from work and interact with them after the movie (and a few extras) were over. It’s tough, but I’m really trying to balance.

After my run, I picked up the boys, so we could head to grandma & grandpa’s for lunch. When I picked them off from the office (I was late), Zevan was crying and wanting to back to the playground for more recess. I had to carry him to the car, with him protesting. That was pretty annoying.

Then I got another call from an unknown long distance number on my phone. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be Harish, who is on the XML team for DHL. With Zevan crying in the background, of course. The life of a WAHM, right?

So, we’ve been going through this nearly comical fiasco trying to get international shipping to Canada through their API. It’s been a disaster. Mostly because there’s a breakdown in communication between Spence (who I thought all this time was our DHL rep, but he’s actually a reseller) and the DHL XML team. Wow. Talk about bad customer service skills. This has been going on since early December, and both parties take 4-5 to answer my emails, if they answer them at all. So, getting a call from Harish was a shocker.

I’m not sure what lit a fire under him today, but he was all of a sudden trying to get to the bottom of things. He was surprised to find out that I actually have a live, working web page with domestic rates. I promised to send him all my account information as soon as I got back to my office. Yes, this whole conversation took place with Zevan crying and whining in his carseat behind me. Sheesh!

We got to grandma & grandpa’s and all was well again with the world.

After lunch, I headed home to work. And I had a phone meeting with Vijaya from Cartoon Books to talk about working on their site.

I’m very excited to work with them. I just love Jeff’s work, and they are really friendly, warm people. I actually did a little happy dance when we finished up. Comic book related sites are just the most fun for me!

UGH - after ArtSports was difficult for me. I’m just really cranky. I made them dinner and then put them in the bath, and they got water all over the bathroom floor - not just near the tub either. I nearly slipped and that just pissed me off further. Good grief! It was all I could do to hang on until Doug got home so I could go to one of many choices of evening activity

PTA meeting about magnet school status - nope.

I’ve already decided not to participate in the PTA until both boys are in school full time. I’ve got years of that to come and I don’t want to start earlier than I have to. I told Johanna my magnet school concerns (exactly HOW MUCH parent participation?), though. Besides, it started at 5:30 PM and Doug got home after 6:00 PM.

Democratic caucus - nope.

After Edwards dropped out of the presidential race, I only recently decided who to support. Well, that’s not entirely true… I’ve never been a big fan of Hillary Clinton (though I still am one of Bill’s), and her campaigning has left me flat. Too scripted, no heart, and I’ll never believe that tear was genuine.

Besides, I know Republicans who would drive through sleet and snow and nails just to NOT vote for her, and that’s the biggest issue of all. So, I’m backing Obama. I’m not on the big Obama-rama-Ding-Dong Bandwagon, but I also know that there are actually Republicans who would vote for him, so there is a chance there to get a Democrat back in the White House.

And, truth be told, if our Republican ends up being McCain, I can live with that, too. Go figure.

I personally don’t believe that Hillary can take Colorado tonight. So I’m not caucusing either… which leaves me -

Climbing night and Shuga’s - yes!

So instead, I went climbing with Lisa and met Tiffany at Shuga’s (after she caucused).

It was actually a good climbing night - except for one particularly tough 10+ that I wasn’t even able to start - and I feel like I got a good workout. I also had a mental block in this one dyno at the start of another climb. I totally psyched myself out somehow. I was finally able to pull it off, but I took a long time to be able to let go.

Tiffany’s caucus ended before we finished climbing, so she was waiting there when I got there. Lisa joined us.

I was eager to hear about the caucus procedures. And the results. And in Tiffany’s precinct, the majority was for Obama, BUT the delegates were split 50/50. Which made me feel a little guilty for not going to my caucus, but only briefly.

We had a nice night of food and drink and laughter. Totally what I needed.

I need to change my Tuesday routine. I am just not cut out to spend the day with the boys. They are driving me CRAZY!

I’ve felt this way for a while, so as part of the new routine, I took them to the library right after school. We chose and read 3 books there, and checked them out to take home.

That killed about an hour.

Afterwards, we came home and had lunch. Another 45 minutes.

Then we have a few hours until our 3:30 class at Art Sports.

Sigh.

They played nicely for a while. Not long enough.

So I let them do computer games for a while. Probably too long. About an hour. While I played on the computer…

Then I had them turn the computer games off. And in that hour before Art Sports, they drove me NUTS! Fighting, whining, attitude. I was tempted to turn the computer games back on. But I didn’t.

I did make the mistake of telling them that I was picking up a copy of Mario Kart for their Nintendo64. What was I thinking telling them that? I thought it would make them happy, which it did, but then was followed by requests to play it right away. That’s when I invoked the heretofore-never-mentioned “We only play video games on weekends” rule.

Which was met with groans and protests, and then with Zander saying, “How many days until Saturday?”

Finally it’s time for ArtSports! YAY for ArtSports!

First of all, after not working out all weekend, and eating some really yummy stuff yesterday at our Superbowl party, it could have been much worse.

As it is, I am up 0.2 lbs from last week and sitting at 136.8. Sigh.

Overall loss - 1 lb in 2 weeks.

May is sick, so I had to run all alone today.

But I ran 5 miles in 55 minutes, so that’s something. I made an appt with Dr. Daugherty for tomorrow. My left butt cheek was hurting during my run today. I think I’m out of alignment again and my right leg is longer than my left right now. Ouch.

We hosted our annual Superbowl shindig today. It was a good time - lots of good food and friends and laughter.

The kids did pretty well together, considering how many of them they were - and the age range - 11 kids - 10 mos, 15 mos, 19 mos, nearly 3, 3, 3, 3.5, 4, 4, 5 and 7

See how many around 3 years old? That’s trouble!

Zevan and Alexa had the most issues together. They like to hit each other. And the Rokenbok was a big point of contention, particularly for the older boys. Zander enjoyed taking control of the monorail over Elijah and Paxton. Sigh.

Sadly, the Schwartzes were missed. Poor Megan was in the ER again, this time with Anna’s 105.5 fever, who turned out to have a double ear infection and the beginning stages of pneumonia! How much is a mom supposed to take Kurt is staying the night again at the hospital, so hopefully Meg can rest with her girls tonight before having to take care of Kurt at home.

The game was a bit of a dud other than early in the first quarter, and then the last 6 minutes of the game. While I would normally not root for either team, I chose the Giants because of my dislike for Tom Brady. So, those last 6 minutes were AWESOME!