Dear Rain-

It has now been almost 10 days since I was able to run. Please stop. I am starting to feel icky. It is unsettling that I miss running. Although it is the only time I have to myself. So please stop.
Yours Always
Abi

Our Little Dude

We just got back from the doctor. A 'well visit' if you can believe it after the week we have had. We were just there Monday for Nick's croup and then we came back today for shots and blood work. (poor guy). The Dr. is concerned about Nick's weight. He has dropped from the 60th percentile to a little below the 5th in a matter of about 3 months. Part of that could be due to the fact that 'he's not a big guy' as the Dr. put it nicely that he's short for his age too... what do you expect with the parents he's got? :) So Nick will be eating meals of Mayonnaise and Olive Oil to add calories to his diet. (All this when I am trying to spend less time around food to decrease my calorie intake.) So if you think of it keep our little guy in your prayers, that he plumps up. He goes back after his birthday for a check-up (or before is he loses more weight) and we'll know then.

Adventure

Today I adventured... I tried out a new path today through the park and along the highway (the irony of doing cardiovascular workouts next to traffic is not lost on me) I saw a lot of people (that is new) I also ran kid/stroller free (also new) I looked outside myself and realized what I look like when I run in my sweatpants and over-sized sweatshirt. I look more akin to the old Chinese guy in chinos and orthopedic shoes riding his bike on the path than like the guy racing by with flames blazing up the back of his tight shirt with a pocket on the back. Perhaps if I had a shirt with flames...I would possibly be more motivated to run more often, I might run faster and I probably would look a lot better :) Additionally I would have a place to put all the things I am used to having when I run... sippy cups with juice, snacks, pockets to keep keys and cell phone, wallet to stop for ice cream if we see the ice cream man, and toys. I had none of those things with me today and I missed them I also missed my company. where do you hide your keys and cell phone when you run? Do you have a cool flame shirt?
Blaze on...

Veggies :)

No running this morning, anticipating rain that never arrived all day :( which means probably rain tomorrow... maybe my loving husband will allow me to go tonight when he gets home? But I did want to post this lovely picture of last night's dinner... I don't cook very often.. yet we still eat, I still haven't figured out how that happens.. Last night we indulged in Vegetable Lasagna :) delicious! and not too difficult, not any healthier though, mostly cheese and butter and well lots of veggies :)

And also here's a new one of Nick. Swinging is his new favorite pastime :)

W3D1

Check it off the list baby..
over the hump.

I know now why they say that most people drop out around week 3... it was rough getting out there.. I would much rather have been home eating cupcakes.. of which I have eaten too many. Stupid birthdays... Claire fell asleep tonight during our run, so cute. Keep pushing running buddies :)

To Choose or Not to Choose

I need some opinions... which do you like best for me? I am thinking of getting sweeping bangs. And possibly going a little shorter. They are all very similar but each with it's own difference.
So Which do you like?

A: B:
C: D:

She Says it Best

: Where is Nick's sock
: He ate it
: I don't think that's true
: Check his teeth

: Why did you do this? (unroll an entire new roll of toilet paper)
: I couldn't get out (of the bathroom)
: Why were you in the bathroom?
: uuuummmmm - I don't know (walks out)

: I need O's
: I don't think you do
: I do... I'm reary hungry
: Nope
: Please
: Mommy said no
: But I'm starbing, I NEED O's!
: ok if you are starbing

Triumph!

Over the hump - W2 done! That was a rough one.. couldn't find the motivation to get out there. But that's behind me now, a new week- a new workout :) What are you doing to get motivated?

Run baby Run

Claire told me today that if we did the last two runs a little closer together we could get to the park sooner... she was riding in the stroller and not running.... I think I'd have the same opinion if I were riding instead of running..

sorry to my 'readership' (always wanted to write that) who are not running along with me... I need to keep posting about the runs because then when I get the urge to stop running someone may call me out on it.. and even if none of you care enough to do such a thing; I torment myself with the thought and it makes me run on days when I don't feel like it.


W2D2 done!

Thanks

I just wanted to say thank you to my parents for staying together. I know you each have flaws... mom you leave those cups of soda 'just laying around' and dad you get 'weak from hunger' easily ;) but you have toughed it out. That makes me more able to make my marriage work because I have a great marriage to model mine after. And there's something to be said for knowing that you'll love me no mater what, for as long as we are here, because you have a good track record of love over long periods. I appreciate that and I hope that my kids have the same reassurance when they look at my marriage. I love you both. a lot.

plus I like that holidays are easy. One location. both of you there. no squabbling.. ok there may be squabbling but it's NOT over where my kids eat.

Progress

Still moving toward a healthier me. Today was beautiful. Finally no rain. Ran W2D1 today, I didn't even look at the times but I did every run. During the 4th one I thought about cutting it short but then Claire said, "Go mommy run"... how do you not wanna run after that? Keep moving running buddies. :)
Glad to see Miss Brenda pulling ahead. How are you doing Miss Meg?
Thinking about buying scale, also leaning heavily toward buying one like Ami's that doesn't actually tell you your weight. :)

In other news I got my stitches out today. but I still have to 'baby it' (Dr's exact words; I swear). This injury is more involved than I thought it should be.. I guess the lesson is 'don't cut yourself with a knife'.

W1D3

W1 done!! yay! ran again today... miss Brenda, how was your run in the clouds the other day? It was really foggy again today, and cold. We added lap blankets for both kids and earmuffs and gloves for mommy to our list of things you should have if you run. I could see my breath this morning but told myself that I had to do it (even Jim was impressed I think). I was thinking about skipping the final run but then "I feel good" came over the headphones and I knew I wouldn't feel good if I skipped out on the last run, I was right... and I feel good :)

Hide and Seek

What the kids do while I am on the phone and cooking dinner:

W1D2

W1D2 half-3/4 done. We started out in a foggy mist knowing that it was prolly gonna rain on us, but we figured we could get it all in. So my program just told me that I was 'half way done' and it started to rain.. I don't have rain covers for the kids so we ran the rest of the way home... so I'm prolly going to do 3/4 of the workout again tomorrow if it isn't raining again... I feel great...running in the rain, not so bad... cold but not so bad.
Additionally for anyone thinking of doing this with me; first you better get up off that couch and get your feet moving..it's not that bad, the second day is easier (maybe cause I didn't finish)... and second, I would look into a podcast or an app for your runs, it's nice to have someone to tell you when to walk or run, it makes the time fly :)
Gotta get breakfast for kids and a shower for myself... happy running

Two Firsts for mommy

Two days ago I was making cabbage soup... it was great! but when I was cutting my cabbage, there was more than cabbage under the knife... I sliced my thumb and the nail.. thanks goes to my mother-in-law who bought me the super sharp knives. (I do love them) Passed out, bleed on the floor, called my husband, reassured Claire that I would clean the blood off the floor. Then I slept on it after talking to my mother and the next morning I went in for stitches. 4 of them. i have no pictures because they took my phone before they gave me the Novocaine and after that I wasn't allowed to get up (yes only my thumb as numb). It was not as painful as I imagined it to be. The stitches hurt about as much as the tetnis shot they made me get. (silly because the knives are new and stainless steel) I get them out in 10 days.

Additionally this morning I ran my first day of the C25K. It went well, to be fully honest, I did skip half of one of the runs, but that's offset by pushing about 60lbs during the other runs. If anyone stumbles upon any 'running with a stroller' advice I'm in the market... I learned today that snacks are a must for Claire and Nick needs some sunglasses. They were troopers. I am doing time not distance and was surprised that it took me just about the same amount of time to recover from the run as it did to actually run it...I'm worse than I thought... there's always tomorrow...ok not tomorrow, probably Tuesday... If you wanna join me check out the stuff on C25K HERE. I'd love the running buddies :)

Facebook not Face to Face

Yesterday was my birthday... nothing special, mostly just a regular Monday. I got flowers that brightened my day from my lovely husband as well as a date to go pick out a new couch! :) I got enthusiastic hugs from my little girl and snuggles from my adorable son. Cake from my mother-in-law, songs from my best friend and even a peek of sunshine from my God. 25 is shaping up to be a good year. In addition to all that I got a lot of facebook notifications. But what was missing? my mother, the reason for the celebration... She didn't call (in her defense I did see on fb that she lost her phone)(then found it by 7pm). She did post on my wall on fb so I know she didn't forget or mix my bday up with my sister's (ami's is coming up, send your card now). I just feel like fb should not be a replacement for actual contact with people you love. So I will call her today, to remind her that she gave birth to me one day and 25 years ago... Love you mom. :)
neither of my sisters called either :(

Hair Cuts!

The kids went for their first haircut together today. We took them to the same guy that cuts Jimmy's dad's hair and Jimmy's hair and now he cuts Nick's hair... it's a family thing. :) They did really well, only a little screaming and squirming from Nick near the end and Claire got an A+ for sitting still and doing everything that they asked her to do. It was hard to see those hairs go, they have been with us from the beginning...

But for these little faces I'll give up Claire's long curls and Nick's wings

Birthday Fiesta!

Yesterday I went into Manhattan to celebrate my birthday! I went with my friend Sarah to see Emerill (the cooking guy). I really only know who he is because he was on Jon and Kate plus 8 but going to a taping was on my list of New Yorky things to do and it sounded like fun so I got a sitter :) I even go to have lunch with my hubby before the show :)
We knew the sound guy so we were VIP even (making it seem more fancy to me than it really was). The guest star was Sammy Hagar from Vanhalen! Him I was sure I could not pick out of a line up but hey, I didn't know they had guest stars on cooking shows anyway before yesterday so the fact that I didn't know him was not a big deal. We got to sing with Sammy, clap (a lot!), and sit for a really long time. It was fun and definitely an experience. Afterward we got to taste some of the food (that was the VIP part I guess) They made Mexican! Yummy! Definitely put me in the mood to make some. I was planning on taking some pictures with my phone (especially cause we got to hang out afterward with the crew and guest star) but my phone went kaput for no reason as we sat down :( Jimmy met us afterward and fixed my phone cause he's so good to me :) So I could take some pictures... but Sammy was gone, and just as I opened the camera app they shut off the bright stage lights :( So here is one of me frantically trying to take a picture while the lights are on...

Nice floor huh? and here is one of the set with the lights turned out...

Emerill stood right there and... well surprisingly Emerill did not cook.. Sammy cooked, the guys that help Emerill cook, but Emerill, he mostly just drank margaritas. He's got the life. And so do I... what a great birthday :)

ps it airs in Mid May, I'll keep you posted, I'm near the front on and aisle so you can see me :) i got to shake Emerill's hand

Help!

When I was still at home and Alex was still small; he went through a phase of 'awake-mares'. He saw bees... lots of bees in his room and it freaked him out. Of course there were no bees it was all made up in his head but it really got to him.
Claire is having similar experiences, only her nemesis isn't a bike or bees; it's snails. and hermit crabs. she is afraid that they are in her bed and on the floor around her bed. Her 'hallucinations' are not as vivid as AlMeads but all the same she wakes up screaming and crying and won't walk on the floor. Its scary for me as a mom since I can't do anything concrete. We have tried 'blowing them away' but that doesn't seem to work. With the ghosts a month back (thank you preschool television programing for introducing us to that lovely) we were able to simply clap three times and 'scare them away'. I am at a loss. It doesn't happen often but often enough to make my heart sad.
I know that during the day she oscillates between loving and hating to look into our large saltwater tank where the snails and hermit crabs live. Sometimes a snail or two will get out... we have an open top tank. They slime their way to the floor or onto the computer desk every once in a while. but we rarely see them moving, we usually find them just sitting on the floor, not moving and toss them back in.
I don't know what to do, so I'm asking for suggestions, even if you have no experience but have an idea, I am open. I just don't want her to be scared anymore.

The Mad Hatter

Things we learned during high tea today:
1. the more sugar the better
2. always stir first
3. wait for the host (Claire) to drink her tea first
4. little bothers are not good at having tea
5. ice cream + tea = delicious (that means in your tea like a float)
6. if your grandmother from WY says she is coming to tea via play phone rush around like crazy trying to find another cup immediately!
7. the more the merrier
8. always wear a hat