OK... it's almost here... the half-marathon that I signed up for.
I really thought that training was going to go better than it has. I needed a reality check when I signed up for this race. Doing anything for yourself when you have three small children rarely ever happens. I was hoping to run with the babies in the stroller a couple of days a week but it has been cold and rainy this winter. I will certainly not run in the rain with them and I won't run with them unless it is 45 degrees or warmer. They are just sitting there in the cold. No matter how bundled up they get, I still feel bad dragging them out in the cold... and I really don't want to run in the cold either.
I cannot stand running on a treadmill... it is mentally exhausting for me to make it a mile on a treadmill. I can have a blast running 5 miles on pavement though. Two totally different experiences.
So, I see next Sunday in the forecast. Low's in the upper 20's, highs in the upper 40's... no precip. It will be a cold run but at least it won't be cold and wet. I have run this race several times and the weather is a toss-up. I have ran this race when it was 22 degrees outside and I have also ran it in shorts and a tee-shirt, ran in the rain as well.
My body hurts from the short term training. My hip starts hurting around mile 6 and my knees are always tender these days. My feet have started hurting too. I will be glad when it is all over but I will be sad to stop running. I really like getting out and running... I just like it. It is a great work-out and I also enjoy the time alone. Currently, Jeremy is watching the kids while I run Tues/Thurs evenings and then once on the weekend. The evenings will be the times that I will stop running. I hate to throw the kids on Jeremy as soon as he gets home. I plan to keep the weekend runs going but they will be short runs... 5/6 miles. It would be nice to keep myself in shape for a 10k.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
So Two Thousand Late...
SO, I am at a play-date with a few friends when a good friend that I don't get to see very often starts up a conversation with me.... mid conversation, she stops, looks at her cell phone, smiles, and then starts texting. Our conversation was over. She was more engaged with her text conversation than with me. The initial conversation was over. She didn't even remember what we were talking about. I wasn't even sure if she even remembered that she was once talking to me. SIGH... I definitely felt a bit hurt. Certainly shows how unimportant I am. And then I just get mad.... How rude!!??!!
Round two... While on our Christmas Vacation, we sat through a family dinner with young teenage cousins texting their friends. It's like wearing a hat at the dinner table... texting at the dinner table. You just shouldn't do it.
Both of these scenarios are quite typical these days.
There really is nothing wrong with it. The younger generation certainly doesn't see anything wrong with it and my generation probably should see something wrong with it but keeps on rolling.
This is coming from a person that still has trouble with call waiting. I still don't "flip over" to the other line very often. I feel like you are basically telling someone that they are not as important as another. I will do it though and have my own mental rules. When I know it is important, when it is a person that I rarely get to talk to, or when I'm on the phone with my Mom (we talk every day). Sometimes it's just a good way to end a boring conversation with her.
I have also not embraced texting. I will send some quick messages to certain people but I have never had an ongoing conversation in that manner. It's a pain to do with my current phone... I would much rather call than text. As much as I think that an iPhone is a neat toy, I would have no idea what to do with it. I have never gotten on the internet with my current phone. I can't imagine goofing off on my phone as much as I goof off on the home computer. It would make it easier to text though!
It took me forever to relent to Facebook and I still will not do any FB applications. I rarely post, rarely comment, yes... I lurk. I have linked to people's "follow me on twitter" button and I honestly have no idea what is going on there. I know what twitter is supposed to be but I really have no idea what's going on when I get there.
How are things going to be when my kids get cell phones? How old will kids be when they get one? Now it's about middle school age. I hope to pass on some etiquette about cell phone use but will it be a useless waste of my breath. There is proper phone etiquette... "Hello, may I speak to___?" Instead of "Haaaay!" This is one reason that I want to get a land line before anyone gets a cell phone. Not only can you practice 'how to answer a phone' but Mama and Daddy can also see (and speak with) who is calling.
Round two... While on our Christmas Vacation, we sat through a family dinner with young teenage cousins texting their friends. It's like wearing a hat at the dinner table... texting at the dinner table. You just shouldn't do it.
Both of these scenarios are quite typical these days.
There really is nothing wrong with it. The younger generation certainly doesn't see anything wrong with it and my generation probably should see something wrong with it but keeps on rolling.
This is coming from a person that still has trouble with call waiting. I still don't "flip over" to the other line very often. I feel like you are basically telling someone that they are not as important as another. I will do it though and have my own mental rules. When I know it is important, when it is a person that I rarely get to talk to, or when I'm on the phone with my Mom (we talk every day). Sometimes it's just a good way to end a boring conversation with her.
I have also not embraced texting. I will send some quick messages to certain people but I have never had an ongoing conversation in that manner. It's a pain to do with my current phone... I would much rather call than text. As much as I think that an iPhone is a neat toy, I would have no idea what to do with it. I have never gotten on the internet with my current phone. I can't imagine goofing off on my phone as much as I goof off on the home computer. It would make it easier to text though!
It took me forever to relent to Facebook and I still will not do any FB applications. I rarely post, rarely comment, yes... I lurk. I have linked to people's "follow me on twitter" button and I honestly have no idea what is going on there. I know what twitter is supposed to be but I really have no idea what's going on when I get there.
How are things going to be when my kids get cell phones? How old will kids be when they get one? Now it's about middle school age. I hope to pass on some etiquette about cell phone use but will it be a useless waste of my breath. There is proper phone etiquette... "Hello, may I speak to___?" Instead of "Haaaay!" This is one reason that I want to get a land line before anyone gets a cell phone. Not only can you practice 'how to answer a phone' but Mama and Daddy can also see (and speak with) who is calling.
I want to say that I am just showing my age, but people my age (and older) are out there texting, iPhone owners, Facebooking, twittering?, twitting?, twit-faces:), call waiting flippers, transferring all sorts of data on their phones. I am the one who is behind. Am I just old fashioned? Will I eventually give in? Am I the only one who thinks it's rude to ignore the person in front of your face to fiddle with a phone?
The iPad just came out... I prefer to call it the Iblet. Another toy. It really is amazing to be living through all the advances in technology. We had computers in high school but not internet. We wrote our papers on those computers and shift+F7 was the "save button." I got my first e-mail account when I was about 22 and the internet was still very new throughout college. Now (only a decade later) I do just about everything on the internet. Shop, blog, communicate, mail, Facebook, play games, read news, check weather, research... it goes on and on. I often wonder if my kids will even know what currency is. I rarely have actual cash on hand. I use our card, electronic money. It is all a bit crazy, amazing, and fantastic! I just wish there way to intertwine it in our lives and still be truly with the person that you are sharing time with.
Monday, February 1, 2010
It's February???
Time flies!!! I usually post about the migrating birds by now!!! And all the signals of spring are showing themselves. We had a yard full of robins last week, the migrating black birds were soon to follow, my bulbs have sprouted leaves (and one blossom for now), the camellia has buds that are soon to burst open and I am awaiting the bees that will soon be visiting our red maple. February in Alabama is all about thoughts of Spring!!!
Other signs of spring... We have already filed our taxes, registered all three kids for school for next year, and thought about buying tires for both vehicles.
We file our taxes early because we know that we will usually get money back.... three kids! It helps when we know that we will be forking over the money for tires for the Sub and the van. Jeremy's tires are actually starting to dry-rot, ack!!! Mine are almost bald on the front and back.
School for the kids is an insane expense!!! David has flourished in the Early Learning Center and many of his "school friends" will go on to the Private School along with him up to 8th grade. I so badly want to babies to go as well. I wish I was more of a home schooling type but I am not. I know that the kids learn from me and Jeremy in more ways than I know but I think that Nathan and Caroline will LOVE school, probably more than David! I need to take on some part time work to afford this but I am willing. I am hoping to pick up some more classes to teach at the local gyms.
It crossed my mind the other day that the babies will be turning 2 this year. I know, still half a year away, but 2!!!! Wow! I really can't call them babies any more... they will always be my babies :) This time next year I could have everyone potty trained... no more diapers! Caroline has a number of words and she will be talking before Nathan but soon both of them will be able to "use their words" instead of fussing at me. We always say, "David is easy." We said that from day one with the babies (when David was 19 months old) and we still say it. The babies are 19 months old now and I am ready for the easy parts!!!
We are in a good groove right now. We go to the gym M-F from 8-10 on M/W/F, and 9-11 on T/TH. Even though the gym only offers glorified babysitting, they all love it! David is with us on M/W/F and after the gym, we usually go to McWane Science Center, one of the local parks, or the Zoo. Sometimes we stay long enough to have a picnic and I absolutely love that McWane has a Subway in their cafe! I get a footlong and we all split it. I usually add chips to share, drink (soda for me), juice box, and one cookie to share and we all get fed for under $8!!! The Zoo will rape you for $25 by the time you get everybody fed... and it's nasty food... chicken fingers, hot dogs and french fries... we pack a picnic on Zoo days. Everyone naps at 1:00 and then on to dinner and night time routines.
David has successfully spent the night with MiMaw and Pappy a couple of times now and I think it is safe to say that he feels comfortable on the nights out now. We did have a spell last fall where we tried, but he ended up coming home around 10:30. I am glad that he gets to do something special, but soon Nathan and Caroline will be in the fray and want to spend the day with the grandparents as well... good luck to them!!! I can't even imagine a day without kids... Yes, I send David off to the ELC but I still have two babies, David spends the night but we still have two other people... we don't really get a break.
I am still running the half marathon on Valentine's day. I have basically trained for two weeks now. Yes, I have ran here and there but nothing dedicated. I ran 9 miles yesterday, kept a 10min pace. It hurt though, my legs were dead afterward and they are still dead. I really wish I could run more. I really like it and think it is a great work-out. I am not going to push my 100lb double stroller though. That is stupid! Jeremy has been a great running partner, meaning that he lets me run while he keeps the kids during the witching hours. I wish I could keep it going but I feel bad dumping the kids on him after he has worked all day.
I had a random thought this morning while I was listening to NPR. There was a brief mentioning that Maine may be the first state to require warning labels on cell phones... they may cause cancer. I have a number of friends that freak out about vaccinations, even the ones without thimerisol. None of them are about to give up their cell phones. They even let their kids play/talk with them. Let me say that I am not bashing non vaxers AND I am not giving up my cell phone. I did an adjusted vx schedule just because I thought it was crazy to give five injections/seven vxs to a two month old. We have skipped the non required ones as well just because they seem to be more about money than necessity. But when you look at all the things that people can become "alarmed" about, cell phones are not at the top of anyone's list. Teflon, microwaves, plastic, non-organics... BTW, I do find merit in the concern surrounding these things. It's just not convenient to give up cell phones, even if they may cause cancer. The convenience of alarmism... that's all I'm sayin'...
AND I am now rambling... time to sign off!
Other signs of spring... We have already filed our taxes, registered all three kids for school for next year, and thought about buying tires for both vehicles.
We file our taxes early because we know that we will usually get money back.... three kids! It helps when we know that we will be forking over the money for tires for the Sub and the van. Jeremy's tires are actually starting to dry-rot, ack!!! Mine are almost bald on the front and back.
School for the kids is an insane expense!!! David has flourished in the Early Learning Center and many of his "school friends" will go on to the Private School along with him up to 8th grade. I so badly want to babies to go as well. I wish I was more of a home schooling type but I am not. I know that the kids learn from me and Jeremy in more ways than I know but I think that Nathan and Caroline will LOVE school, probably more than David! I need to take on some part time work to afford this but I am willing. I am hoping to pick up some more classes to teach at the local gyms.
It crossed my mind the other day that the babies will be turning 2 this year. I know, still half a year away, but 2!!!! Wow! I really can't call them babies any more... they will always be my babies :) This time next year I could have everyone potty trained... no more diapers! Caroline has a number of words and she will be talking before Nathan but soon both of them will be able to "use their words" instead of fussing at me. We always say, "David is easy." We said that from day one with the babies (when David was 19 months old) and we still say it. The babies are 19 months old now and I am ready for the easy parts!!!
We are in a good groove right now. We go to the gym M-F from 8-10 on M/W/F, and 9-11 on T/TH. Even though the gym only offers glorified babysitting, they all love it! David is with us on M/W/F and after the gym, we usually go to McWane Science Center, one of the local parks, or the Zoo. Sometimes we stay long enough to have a picnic and I absolutely love that McWane has a Subway in their cafe! I get a footlong and we all split it. I usually add chips to share, drink (soda for me), juice box, and one cookie to share and we all get fed for under $8!!! The Zoo will rape you for $25 by the time you get everybody fed... and it's nasty food... chicken fingers, hot dogs and french fries... we pack a picnic on Zoo days. Everyone naps at 1:00 and then on to dinner and night time routines.
David has successfully spent the night with MiMaw and Pappy a couple of times now and I think it is safe to say that he feels comfortable on the nights out now. We did have a spell last fall where we tried, but he ended up coming home around 10:30. I am glad that he gets to do something special, but soon Nathan and Caroline will be in the fray and want to spend the day with the grandparents as well... good luck to them!!! I can't even imagine a day without kids... Yes, I send David off to the ELC but I still have two babies, David spends the night but we still have two other people... we don't really get a break.
I am still running the half marathon on Valentine's day. I have basically trained for two weeks now. Yes, I have ran here and there but nothing dedicated. I ran 9 miles yesterday, kept a 10min pace. It hurt though, my legs were dead afterward and they are still dead. I really wish I could run more. I really like it and think it is a great work-out. I am not going to push my 100lb double stroller though. That is stupid! Jeremy has been a great running partner, meaning that he lets me run while he keeps the kids during the witching hours. I wish I could keep it going but I feel bad dumping the kids on him after he has worked all day.
I had a random thought this morning while I was listening to NPR. There was a brief mentioning that Maine may be the first state to require warning labels on cell phones... they may cause cancer. I have a number of friends that freak out about vaccinations, even the ones without thimerisol. None of them are about to give up their cell phones. They even let their kids play/talk with them. Let me say that I am not bashing non vaxers AND I am not giving up my cell phone. I did an adjusted vx schedule just because I thought it was crazy to give five injections/seven vxs to a two month old. We have skipped the non required ones as well just because they seem to be more about money than necessity. But when you look at all the things that people can become "alarmed" about, cell phones are not at the top of anyone's list. Teflon, microwaves, plastic, non-organics... BTW, I do find merit in the concern surrounding these things. It's just not convenient to give up cell phones, even if they may cause cancer. The convenience of alarmism... that's all I'm sayin'...
AND I am now rambling... time to sign off!
Monday, January 18, 2010
I guess I'll just stay here...
Looking into moving the blog but I am too lazy. I may install some security settings though... long story.
We have had a great weekend... date on Friday night, we entertained on Sat night for birthdays (one friend's b'day celebrated on Friday and a dear friend shares a b'day with me)! Today, J took the kids to McWane while I got some peace at home. I went for a 6.5 mile run because I haven't done a thing to prep myself for the half marathon on Valentine's day. I completed the run in 61 minutes... not bad, considering that the most I have ran is 4 miles AND I can still count on ONE HAND how many times I have ran to prep myself for this race. UGH, this is going to be ugly!!!
My super awesome birthday present to myself is a body bugg... well this. Same thing, same company different names. I am stepping my fitness up to a new level with this thing. I may not look like a Shape Magazine model but I can knock the spray tan off her ass in any fitness challenge!!!! Hoping to start dropping the lbs with the help of my little bugg too. We'll see, I'll try to post some stats. It should get here tomorrow!!!!
Speaking of fitness challenge... my b'day request for J was to go to a BodyPump and RPM class with me. He always asks questions about my group fitness classes and I was hoping to have them all answered by having him experience them. He went with me on Sunday and I think he has a grasp on what I do at the gym now. I think he was impressed... at least sore!!!
J is now passed out on the top bunk with D... poor guy, he had a big weekend with the gym and the kids. Thanks to him, I had a great birthday weekend... date, party, sans kids, working out together... all good!!!
We have had a great weekend... date on Friday night, we entertained on Sat night for birthdays (one friend's b'day celebrated on Friday and a dear friend shares a b'day with me)! Today, J took the kids to McWane while I got some peace at home. I went for a 6.5 mile run because I haven't done a thing to prep myself for the half marathon on Valentine's day. I completed the run in 61 minutes... not bad, considering that the most I have ran is 4 miles AND I can still count on ONE HAND how many times I have ran to prep myself for this race. UGH, this is going to be ugly!!!
My super awesome birthday present to myself is a body bugg... well this. Same thing, same company different names. I am stepping my fitness up to a new level with this thing. I may not look like a Shape Magazine model but I can knock the spray tan off her ass in any fitness challenge!!!! Hoping to start dropping the lbs with the help of my little bugg too. We'll see, I'll try to post some stats. It should get here tomorrow!!!!
Speaking of fitness challenge... my b'day request for J was to go to a BodyPump and RPM class with me. He always asks questions about my group fitness classes and I was hoping to have them all answered by having him experience them. He went with me on Sunday and I think he has a grasp on what I do at the gym now. I think he was impressed... at least sore!!!
J is now passed out on the top bunk with D... poor guy, he had a big weekend with the gym and the kids. Thanks to him, I had a great birthday weekend... date, party, sans kids, working out together... all good!!!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
The new version... and a bit of vacation details...
Well, I used to think that vacation was something that should be relaxing. No work, sleeping in, doing what you like... I have been really holding on to that reality until just recently when I realized that it was not reality. New version...
Oh well... It is nice to see your kids having fun and it was pretty cool to see David experiencing flying through the eyes of a three year old. I still don't think that I will be the parent that takes the epic journey to Disney World for some fleeting moment of childhood joy but we will still go to the beach and make trips to Wyoming.
Aside from the flight and not being able to turn off "mommy mode", once we were there things were awesome. I learned that kids are quite resilient and they easily napped and slept in their new environment. They played well with their cousins and were generally happy the entire time! The new toys, and environment were somewhat of a vacation for all of us!
I even got to go to the gym a few times and went for a run while the kids were napping. I have to say that I was pretty impressed with my cardiovascular fitness. I was able to ride though my spin classes without dying and I kept a 10min run pace over 4 miles. A 10min run pace isn't that great for me, but neither one of those things is easy when going from 500' to 5000' in elevation. I still haven't kept up with my running and that was only the third time I had run since Race for the Cure (10th of Oct) and it was also my first time to run more than a 5k in about two years. I am pretty sure that I will somehow make it 13 miles to the finish, it may not be pretty though.
We flew to Cody, WY for Christmas. It started off with United completely screwing up all the flight plans there and back. I was angry, mad, upset, crying at one point, and left completely afraid to fly ever again. They cancelled flights without noticing us, they lost out luggage, and left me wondering if I was ever going to get home. That was enough for me to say that I doubt that we will be travelling any time soon. I honestly don't think that anyone can even pay me to travel at this point. Home is good... Vacation?????
While on 'vacation' I was still working at parenting, feeding, changing diapers, putting to sleep, bathing, etc... not really sleeping in... There is a new version of what 'vacation' means in my head now. It is no longer associated with relaxation, decadence, or a general sense of ease. Vacation is now for my kids, not me. Many things are that way now but I was thinking that vacation was still somewhat sacred. Not so. The stresses of motherhood were compounded by being out of our element, off schedule, and all out of sorts. I can't wait for our first vacation away from the kids!!! Years away though.Oh well... It is nice to see your kids having fun and it was pretty cool to see David experiencing flying through the eyes of a three year old. I still don't think that I will be the parent that takes the epic journey to Disney World for some fleeting moment of childhood joy but we will still go to the beach and make trips to Wyoming.
Aside from the flight and not being able to turn off "mommy mode", once we were there things were awesome. I learned that kids are quite resilient and they easily napped and slept in their new environment. They played well with their cousins and were generally happy the entire time! The new toys, and environment were somewhat of a vacation for all of us!
I even got to go to the gym a few times and went for a run while the kids were napping. I have to say that I was pretty impressed with my cardiovascular fitness. I was able to ride though my spin classes without dying and I kept a 10min run pace over 4 miles. A 10min run pace isn't that great for me, but neither one of those things is easy when going from 500' to 5000' in elevation. I still haven't kept up with my running and that was only the third time I had run since Race for the Cure (10th of Oct) and it was also my first time to run more than a 5k in about two years. I am pretty sure that I will somehow make it 13 miles to the finish, it may not be pretty though.
We even made it there and back without a DVD player. Proof that kids don't have to be in front of a tv all the time. To be honest, that wasn't our intent. We brought the DVD player but for some reason it didn't charge so it was dead for the flight out and then Jeremy forgot it in the billings security check... yes he lost our DVD player... FAIL!!!
We had to drive two hours to Billings to get on a flight that could take us home. This was something that I wasn't initially happy about because we should have already been HOME when we were boarding the plane for our flight to Denver. It turned out nice though... I actually enjoyed watching the scenery roll by. Eagles, migrating geese, rolling hills covered in snow, Beartooth slipping away behind us... it was beautiful and had me thinking that it was about nine years since I had set foot into Montana. Bittersweet!The flight back was good, mainly because we all got home and all of our luggage came with us. The babies were awesome and there was no fussing. All the flights were delayed but we still had time to make connections and we ended up home around midnight. Santa still had to make an appearance at our house so Jeremy & I were up til about 2am.
It hasn't taken long to unpack, figure out what to do with all the new toys, get all the laundry done and get back into our routine. It has been somewhat cold for Alabama so we haven't been to the zoo or to the parks like normal. Already getting cabin fever... still not up for vacation though :)
Monday, December 7, 2009
They're gonna kill me...
As I was picking up a prescription for David, I decided to check my blood pressure while I waited. It was something like 145/95... and then it hit me. This is for real!!!!!
I had my BP checked by a nurse in September. It was high then and I laughed it off, "Kids will do that to you, ha!" The reason that I let it roll off me was that my BP is usually 110/70. It barely got up to 120/80 when I was pregnant with the babies. I assumed it was just a fluke.
It was checked again in September by my internist and it was still high. I had gone out the night before to listen to some indie rock and have drinks. We were out til 2am... it was a rough morning and I chalked the high BP up to feeling miserable.
So, my BP is high... hypertension. It's like I ran into a wall. Blam, when did this happen??? A year ago, it was fine and now it isn't.
Anxiety??? Oh yes, by the end of the day, I am on my last nerve. Is motherhood physiologically affecting my body? Do other mamas have this happen to them?
This, on top of my high cholesterol (which has plagued me since I was at least 18 & had been a vegetarian for over 4 years) is not good.
I am now worried that I am going to be "one of those people" who drops dead before 35. The person who was in the gym everyday and doing everything right. The one that catches everyone off guard and causes people to say, "Just goes to show you... You never know when your time is up."
I had my BP checked by a nurse in September. It was high then and I laughed it off, "Kids will do that to you, ha!" The reason that I let it roll off me was that my BP is usually 110/70. It barely got up to 120/80 when I was pregnant with the babies. I assumed it was just a fluke.
It was checked again in September by my internist and it was still high. I had gone out the night before to listen to some indie rock and have drinks. We were out til 2am... it was a rough morning and I chalked the high BP up to feeling miserable.
So, my BP is high... hypertension. It's like I ran into a wall. Blam, when did this happen??? A year ago, it was fine and now it isn't.
Anxiety??? Oh yes, by the end of the day, I am on my last nerve. Is motherhood physiologically affecting my body? Do other mamas have this happen to them?
This, on top of my high cholesterol (which has plagued me since I was at least 18 & had been a vegetarian for over 4 years) is not good.
I am now worried that I am going to be "one of those people" who drops dead before 35. The person who was in the gym everyday and doing everything right. The one that catches everyone off guard and causes people to say, "Just goes to show you... You never know when your time is up."
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