My grandparents used to live in East Troy, WI, across the street from Lake Beulah. Some of my favorite memories include being at their house, sitting on the porch on summer evenings basking in the smell of the lake and the sweet smell of flowers. Since a very young age, that smell signifies summer for me. Tonight was the first night of summer in my world. Lake Michigan is a mile from our house and the Magnolia flowers are open...it's perfect.
Not only was tonight my first night of summer, but it was the first time in a year and a half that I've run. And it felt great! The first step of Couch to 5k is to do a 5 minute brisk walk warm-up, and then to alternate between 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes of running/walking. Then a cool down walk. I was out for 35 minutes and walked/ran 2.9 miles.
Now, of that 2.9 miles, the majority was walking, but still, that's pretty good. Plus, that was my second workout of the day! Hopefully I can keep it up.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Adventures in Getting in Shape
Ugh. I used to like working out. Well, at least I didn't hate it. Mostly because it wasn't that hard. I could go on my elliptical for a half hour, watch TV, work up a great sweat, and be done. Now, it's hard. I keep reminding myself that my body has been through it's own sort of war and that my stomach has been stretched like a balloon, but it's still frustrating. So, I didn't do it.
But, here's the deal. In about 6 weeks I'm going on vacation and I'm still about 15lbs too fat for my summer clothes. Oh, and we just bought a van, so we have no money for new "fat" summer clothes. Either I'll be naked on vacation or I'll lose my weight. And really, who wants to see a naked momma with her deflated balloon belly?
Here's the plan. First, I'm going to start the Couch to 5k program. I love running and it's the easiest way for me to shed the lbs. The main issues with running, though, are time and weather. So, the days that I can't run, I'll be doing the BabyTalk workout.
The beautiful thing about running is that it will be "me time." Time that I can spend clearing my mind and feeling free. And if/when the boys go with me, it'll be great to get them outside.
The beautiful thing about the BabyTalk is that I can spend time with my boys. And, as an added bonus, we're working on sitting up, so it gives them time to practice.
Today, Patrick was napping while George and I did the BabyTalk workout. For about a half hour, George worked on his tummy muscles while I worked on mine, and I'm pretty sure that by the end, we had both worked up a pretty good sweat.
So, today was the first day of my 6 weeks to Skinny (well, at least not fat). Let's see if I can hit my goal of 15lbs off in 6 weeks!
But, here's the deal. In about 6 weeks I'm going on vacation and I'm still about 15lbs too fat for my summer clothes. Oh, and we just bought a van, so we have no money for new "fat" summer clothes. Either I'll be naked on vacation or I'll lose my weight. And really, who wants to see a naked momma with her deflated balloon belly?
Here's the plan. First, I'm going to start the Couch to 5k program. I love running and it's the easiest way for me to shed the lbs. The main issues with running, though, are time and weather. So, the days that I can't run, I'll be doing the BabyTalk workout.
The beautiful thing about running is that it will be "me time." Time that I can spend clearing my mind and feeling free. And if/when the boys go with me, it'll be great to get them outside.
The beautiful thing about the BabyTalk is that I can spend time with my boys. And, as an added bonus, we're working on sitting up, so it gives them time to practice.
Today, Patrick was napping while George and I did the BabyTalk workout. For about a half hour, George worked on his tummy muscles while I worked on mine, and I'm pretty sure that by the end, we had both worked up a pretty good sweat.
So, today was the first day of my 6 weeks to Skinny (well, at least not fat). Let's see if I can hit my goal of 15lbs off in 6 weeks!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Our first of many Adventures in Poop
Let me start off by saying that I have a horrible gag-reflex. Or, at least I did...but I'll get to that. Here is a short list of things that make me gag: snot, phlegm, poop, vomit, raw chicken, raw meat, puss, and anything that resembles any of the previously stated items. And when I say those things make me gag, I don't mean a nice, polite gag. I mean a full-blown dry-heave. My eyes water, I double over, it's a mess. So, it really isn't shocking that before I had kids, I would get angry (not irritated or annoyed--angry) when people would tell "cute" or "funny" poop stories, especially if I was trying to eat.
That being said, I'm about to tell a poop story.
I was pregnant for 38 weeks with twins. Our boys weren't small. My back hurt, my legs hurt, and I was tired after not getting good sleep from about month 5 on. Although labor wasn't terrible, I still worked really hard to deliver not one, but TWO, babies, one of whom was breech (thank you Patrick). I literally put my blood, sweat, and tears into bringing them into the world.
And, what was the first present I received from my sweet at precious babies? A huge, sticky, smelly, poo right on my bare stomach (again, thank you Patrick).
But here's the crazy thing: I didn't gag. Maybe it was the drugs, maybe I was just too tired, but I don't think it was either of those. I think that something happened to me, sometime between the Pitocin and the epidural. I'm not sure what it was, but my gag-reflex started to die.
Don't get me wrong, I still gag (please believe...you'll get those stories soon enough) and the real test won't be until I have to use that nasty booger-sucker-outer-thingie. But, my first adventure as a mommy was not just an adventure with poop; it was an adventure in growing up. Oh, and an adventure in trying to walk to the bathroom to clean off the poo, only to find out my legs were still numb!
That being said, I'm about to tell a poop story.
I was pregnant for 38 weeks with twins. Our boys weren't small. My back hurt, my legs hurt, and I was tired after not getting good sleep from about month 5 on. Although labor wasn't terrible, I still worked really hard to deliver not one, but TWO, babies, one of whom was breech (thank you Patrick). I literally put my blood, sweat, and tears into bringing them into the world.
And, what was the first present I received from my sweet at precious babies? A huge, sticky, smelly, poo right on my bare stomach (again, thank you Patrick).
But here's the crazy thing: I didn't gag. Maybe it was the drugs, maybe I was just too tired, but I don't think it was either of those. I think that something happened to me, sometime between the Pitocin and the epidural. I'm not sure what it was, but my gag-reflex started to die.
Don't get me wrong, I still gag (please believe...you'll get those stories soon enough) and the real test won't be until I have to use that nasty booger-sucker-outer-thingie. But, my first adventure as a mommy was not just an adventure with poop; it was an adventure in growing up. Oh, and an adventure in trying to walk to the bathroom to clean off the poo, only to find out my legs were still numb!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A rant
I read the following in the most recent issue of American Baby magazine in the "mom to mom" section:
How do you calm your new-parent nerves?
I don't allow myself to get worked up when the baby isn't napping or when I say no to invites every now and then. When you just enjoy life and stop worrying about what you, your kids, or your husband should be doing, it's so much sweeter.
Morgan Dahm,
New Sharon, IA
What a crock of bull. Morgan Dahm, are you honestly trying to tell us that you don't get worked up, overwhelmed, frustrated, etc? You are one of two things--you are either a liar or Jesus because as far as I know, Jesus is the only perfect person to walk the face of the planet.
Frankly, Ms. Dahm, people like you are the reason that women put up walls and aren't real with each other. No one wants to admit to being anything less than the best when faced with someone who is "perfect." Guess what? The most amazing and beautiful women melt down on occasion. I am lucky enough to be surrounded with fantastic mothers. My own mom and mother-in-law are some of the best moms there are. I have two sisters-in-law who have incredibly different personalities (extreme type A and B) and have very different, but equally impressive, parenting styles. I have many, many mommy friends who span all different gaps (age, ethnicity, economic). Every single one of them have had to calm their "new-parent nerves;" they've all been frustrated.
So, Ms. Dahm, I have a request for you. Please, get real. I'm not saying that to be mean or cruel or to make fun of you. I'm saying that for your own good. My guess is that you'll be much more approachable, as well as happier, if you just let your hair down a little and let people see the real you.
And, if I am totally wrong, and you have mastered parenting and you can honestly just let it all go, shut up. The rest of the population really doesn't need to hear how you have it all together. It is just one more reminder to the rest of us that we are, at least sometimes, failures.
How do you calm your new-parent nerves?
I don't allow myself to get worked up when the baby isn't napping or when I say no to invites every now and then. When you just enjoy life and stop worrying about what you, your kids, or your husband should be doing, it's so much sweeter.
Morgan Dahm,
New Sharon, IA
What a crock of bull. Morgan Dahm, are you honestly trying to tell us that you don't get worked up, overwhelmed, frustrated, etc? You are one of two things--you are either a liar or Jesus because as far as I know, Jesus is the only perfect person to walk the face of the planet.
Frankly, Ms. Dahm, people like you are the reason that women put up walls and aren't real with each other. No one wants to admit to being anything less than the best when faced with someone who is "perfect." Guess what? The most amazing and beautiful women melt down on occasion. I am lucky enough to be surrounded with fantastic mothers. My own mom and mother-in-law are some of the best moms there are. I have two sisters-in-law who have incredibly different personalities (extreme type A and B) and have very different, but equally impressive, parenting styles. I have many, many mommy friends who span all different gaps (age, ethnicity, economic). Every single one of them have had to calm their "new-parent nerves;" they've all been frustrated.
So, Ms. Dahm, I have a request for you. Please, get real. I'm not saying that to be mean or cruel or to make fun of you. I'm saying that for your own good. My guess is that you'll be much more approachable, as well as happier, if you just let your hair down a little and let people see the real you.
And, if I am totally wrong, and you have mastered parenting and you can honestly just let it all go, shut up. The rest of the population really doesn't need to hear how you have it all together. It is just one more reminder to the rest of us that we are, at least sometimes, failures.
Adventures in Pregnancy
Here are a few signs that you've been pregnant a long time:
1.) People look at you and either stare and don't say a word, or stare and then ask in a shocked and somewhat scared tone, "When are you due?" as if they're worried that they may be responsible for cleaning up some amniotic fluid.
2.) You're reading a book about twin pregnancy, and you are pregnant longer than the book has chapters. What do I mean? I mean that the book I read described pregnancy up until the 36th week and then started talking about "life with your newborn twins." I hit 36 weeks and kept on going.
3.) You go in for your weekly check-up and your doctor says, "Why are you still pregnant??!!"
4.) You end up being induced at 38 weeks.
You need to understand something about being pregnant with multiples. Depending on the number of babies you're carrying, "full term" means different things. For twins, 36-37 weeks is considered full term, when for a singleton (one baby) 40 weeks is considered full term. Triplets are "full term" even earlier, etc. So, when I say that I was induced at 38 weeks, understand that I was nearly 2 weeks overdue. Oh, and EVERYONE I knew that had twins had them between 35-36 weeks.
But truthfully, if my biggest complaint is that I had two, healthy, full-term, beautiful baby boys, well, then, I guess I don't have any complaints at all.
Now, that isn't to say that there weren't a few aches and pains along the way. But, for every ache and pain, I found a remedy.
I never had morning sickness, but I did get migraines in a major way. I actually ended up in Urgent Care because they were so bad. However, once I started counting my calories and measuring my water (I'd get really involved in work and forget to eat or drink) I had no problems. I actually felt really good! Then, when I felt a headache coming on, I'd eat something or gulp a bottle of water and *bam* I was all better. Talk about your quick fix.
Another issue I had came a little later in pregnancy. I was getting up a few times a night to use the bathroom (God's way of preparing you for interrupted sleep) and by about month 5, I could barely walk when I first got up. By month 6 I cried out in pain every time I tried to get out of bed and woke up not only to use the bathroom, but to roll over too. My hips and groin were so sore from stretching that I was in a lot of pain. I tried all sorts of things, and then, a month before George and Patrick were born, I found my $12 best friend: the wedge pillow. I'm telling you, the first night I used it, I didn't have any problems getting up. I only wish I'd found it sooner!
The only other "problem" with my pregnancy was really just a vanity issue. Don't get me wrong, it was scary, sad, and frustrating at the time, but really, it was nothing. I got something called Bells Palsy. Long story short, half of my face became paralyzed. There's really no rhyme or reason to it, but pregnant women get it more than anyone else, and I was "lucky" enough to be one of them. My face still isn't 100%, and I still feel a little goofy looking, it is so not a big deal. What was my remedy to this one? To get over it an wait it out. I should be back to normal in about 2 months (6 months total time).
Pregnancy was definitely an adventure and I'm still not convinced it's an adventure I'm interested in taking again, but we'll see. Hopefully the next time is just as easy (in the grand scheme of things) as this one.
1.) People look at you and either stare and don't say a word, or stare and then ask in a shocked and somewhat scared tone, "When are you due?" as if they're worried that they may be responsible for cleaning up some amniotic fluid.
2.) You're reading a book about twin pregnancy, and you are pregnant longer than the book has chapters. What do I mean? I mean that the book I read described pregnancy up until the 36th week and then started talking about "life with your newborn twins." I hit 36 weeks and kept on going.
3.) You go in for your weekly check-up and your doctor says, "Why are you still pregnant??!!"
4.) You end up being induced at 38 weeks.
You need to understand something about being pregnant with multiples. Depending on the number of babies you're carrying, "full term" means different things. For twins, 36-37 weeks is considered full term, when for a singleton (one baby) 40 weeks is considered full term. Triplets are "full term" even earlier, etc. So, when I say that I was induced at 38 weeks, understand that I was nearly 2 weeks overdue. Oh, and EVERYONE I knew that had twins had them between 35-36 weeks.
But truthfully, if my biggest complaint is that I had two, healthy, full-term, beautiful baby boys, well, then, I guess I don't have any complaints at all.
Now, that isn't to say that there weren't a few aches and pains along the way. But, for every ache and pain, I found a remedy.
I never had morning sickness, but I did get migraines in a major way. I actually ended up in Urgent Care because they were so bad. However, once I started counting my calories and measuring my water (I'd get really involved in work and forget to eat or drink) I had no problems. I actually felt really good! Then, when I felt a headache coming on, I'd eat something or gulp a bottle of water and *bam* I was all better. Talk about your quick fix.
Another issue I had came a little later in pregnancy. I was getting up a few times a night to use the bathroom (God's way of preparing you for interrupted sleep) and by about month 5, I could barely walk when I first got up. By month 6 I cried out in pain every time I tried to get out of bed and woke up not only to use the bathroom, but to roll over too. My hips and groin were so sore from stretching that I was in a lot of pain. I tried all sorts of things, and then, a month before George and Patrick were born, I found my $12 best friend: the wedge pillow. I'm telling you, the first night I used it, I didn't have any problems getting up. I only wish I'd found it sooner!
The only other "problem" with my pregnancy was really just a vanity issue. Don't get me wrong, it was scary, sad, and frustrating at the time, but really, it was nothing. I got something called Bells Palsy. Long story short, half of my face became paralyzed. There's really no rhyme or reason to it, but pregnant women get it more than anyone else, and I was "lucky" enough to be one of them. My face still isn't 100%, and I still feel a little goofy looking, it is so not a big deal. What was my remedy to this one? To get over it an wait it out. I should be back to normal in about 2 months (6 months total time).
Pregnancy was definitely an adventure and I'm still not convinced it's an adventure I'm interested in taking again, but we'll see. Hopefully the next time is just as easy (in the grand scheme of things) as this one.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Surviving to Thriving
Survive (v): to remain alive or in existence
Thrive (v): to grow vigorously, to flourish (m-w.com)
Recently Kate Gosselin (from Jon and Kate Plus Eight) wrote a book entitled Multiple Blessings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets. I've been thinking a lot about that title in the past few days and I realize that the title really puts into words how I've been feeling. I feel like I've been in survival mode for over a year now. Since November of '07, John and I have found out we're pregnant, miscarried, found out John got into school, found out we were pregnant, found out we were having twins, moved to a new state, changed jobs, John started his Masters program, I went on bed rest, and we gave birth to the two most amazing and beautiful little boys. Life has been a windstorm of activity and change all around us and I've found myself just trying to stay upright.
Psalm 30:5 says, "...weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning." (NLT) I feel my morning s finally coming. Please understand, the last year has been amazing, but it's been far from easy and it's been hard to find the time to even feel joyful for more than a few moments. Slowly, but surely, though, the sun is rising and morning light is breaking through.
Survival. Remaining alive or in existence. That is a little dramatic, but there have been days that I don't think I can take another step. As I said, we've been surviving for over a year, but our "survival mode" has gone to new levels in the last four months. When people say that there is nothing more hard, yet fulfilling, than being a parent, they are not joking. Ask me about the first week of having our boys and you won't get too much of an answer. I remember looking at them and thinking, "I don't even know you." I remember crying every night for the first week because I just didn't want night time to come and I really wasn't too keen on the next day, either. I remember very little else. From lack of sleep and and overabundance of hormones, life was really blurry for a while.
Thriver. One who grows vigorously or flourishes. We're nearly to the four month mark. I remember a woman saying , "The first four months are awful. It gets so much better after that." At the time I was annoyed and discouraged thinking that I didn't want to wish away the first four months or not enjoy those precious moments with my babies. I understand her now. While I did enjoy my boys and I didn't wish away (most) 0f those days, I was merely surviving; I was just making it though. We are beginning to flourish now. I look forward to the night time because I have the energy to enjoy some "me" time. I'm actually finding time to clean my house. My relationship with John is better than it's been,well, ever. And I know that in a few hours I'll get the chance to wake up two little boys for their last feeding of the day. They'll open their dream-filled eyes and look into mine. They'll give me their sweet, sleepy smile. They'll stretch and twist and then find their place in my arms as I walk them down the hall to "our chair" for their midnight snack. I'll get to look over and see my husband in his new role as Daddy, staring down at the little one in his arms with such overwhelming love, and I'll fall in love with him all over again. And I can look forward to tomorrow, knowing that if I don't get enough sleep, coffee will be waiting to give me the kick I need, and even if we have ourselves "a day," as we call it, my boys will be no worse for the wear. Surviving to thriving. We are definitely on the upswing.
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