Park fun and other stuff

We went to the park today. Here is some of the fun that K had.











The baby wasn't as impressed


We had an overcast day


all that playing really wore K out.




other stuff~
I got a speeding ticket. The cop was a jerk about the carseats. I understand the need to make sure car seats are safe but I believe in this case he went a bit overboard. I have written to the sherriff's department requesting some information and based on that information, I may go to my court date. My carseats are new, properly installed and not past their useful dates. I had my kids properly fastened in and the car seats are in excellent working order. I was not beligerent to the officer either. Although, I really wanted to scream for all the frustration he caused. I was speeding, although I do not believe I was going as fast as he said I was. Whatever~ :eyeroll:

The girls are doing good. We have been enjoying the mild weather and spending hours and hours outside.

K is potty training and is doing very well. Funniest thing. She pooped in her potty last night and wanted to show me and daddy so she wrapped the poop in her underwear, brought it into the livingroom and dropped it into my unsuspecting hand. Ewwww. But you gotta love her logic.

I have been 1 week with only 1 cigarrette. I got one from my brother when he was here. The day I got my ticket.

My friend stopped over last weekend. The baby really loves him.


That's it for now. Gotta go be mom again...

6 miles!!!

Yesterday the girls and I walked over 6 miles. We walked from our end of town all the way to the other side. The girls were really good other than Livy getting a bit fussy the last mile or so.

Today we are getting haircuts and maybe getting the kids' ears pierced. I have always wanted to get Kait's ear pierced but I wasn't sure how she would react. I will probably get hers done first and then Livy. But we'll see. I have to buy all the other stuff we need first so we can just get them done and get outta there.

200th post

We walked to McDonald's today, the girls and I. We had fun. We ate lunch, I fed the baby and then we headed back. McDonald's is about 2 miles from our house. Then we took Daddy for a walk tonight too. We got about 1 mile in with Daddy before his knees started to ache. Tommorrow is another beautiful day so we will get out again. Next week it is supposed to be cold, rainy and/or snowing everyday so we will not get out much if at all. It is really great to get outside with the kids. They enjoy it and I enjoy the exercise. Hooooray for spring!!!!

today

Today the kids and I are getting out for a walk again. Going for a walk, even a short one, has greatly improved the mood and sleeping of K. She is much better now in the evenings. Today is a double walk day. We are going out during the day today and this evening for a short walk with daddy. Daddy said he is getting a gut on him so he needs to get out and exercise. He showed me his belly last night and he is starting to put on some weight.

My garage is flooding. The melting snow is running under the garage door and refreezing at night. OH joy. I have started parking in the driveway because the ice is about 2 inches thick in spots and I am afraid it will either freeze the garage door shut along with my car in the garage, or freeze my tires to the garage floor. We are not forecasted to get any accumulating snow for at least a week. Maybe by then I can get the garage cleaned out. I went through yesterday and checked out what we had in there to make sure nothing would get ruined if it got wet.

ouch!

a little chilly out but we went for a walk anyway. The baby had layers on. 2 pairs of pants (1 leggings and 1 pair of jeans), 2 shirts (1 long sleeve t-shirt and 1 sweatshirt) and then her winter coat. K had on some layers too. Granted it was 38* when we went out but there was a slight breeze. We just needed to get out, all of us. We only walked 1 mile today because I am feeling the muscles today. I am so out of shape. UGH!

FINALLY

The weather was warm enough that I could take the kids outside. We still have much snow on the ground but it was warm enough to be outside. We walked almost 3 miles today. It was wonderful to get outside. Tommorrow is supposed to be even warmer sooooo bring on the sunshine!!

updates

Did my once a month shopping trip on Friday. I hired a sitter for the kids and I went. Walmart had an awesome clearance sale on kids clothes so I got K some shirts and a couple pairs of pants in the next 2 sizes. They had everything clearanced out for $1 each. I got O a couple things as well but not a lot because she has so many of K's outgrown clothes to wear. I went to the thrift store and go myself a pair of knit type pants with stripes on the sides for working out. I also got O a shirt and 2 pairs of pants from the 5 cent bin. I also got a bunch of other things we have been needing but did not have the extra money to get.

I am feeling better although I had another chest pain attack last night. It hurt so bad. I ended up taking 1 800mg ibuprofen and 1 vicodin. I slept well and felt better this morning.

I hope I can slowly work back into exercising by the end of this coming week. We will see how I feel first.

This NEVER happens...NEVER

Hubby is going grocery shopping with the kids and I this weekend. It is only happening because he is getting some work done on the SUV and doesn't want to sit at the dealership while they are working on it. We are doing our once-a-month pantry stocking. I am so glad he is going. He can see what it is like to try and grocery shop with 2 kids in tow. It will be nice for me to have the help and for him to be able to pick out some things for his lunch. I never know what to get him because he doesn't like things like cakes and cookies. He will eat an oatmeal creme pie every now and then but he really would rather not.
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My weight flucuates so much. UGH! I am glad that I have taken to only counting one weigh in a week. Yesterday my weight was at 245.2. Today it is back up to 246.2. Still a bit of a loss for the week. I am feeling unmotivated this week. I don't feel like working out, my right shoulder is so sore I have been doing the weight lifting motions but not using any weight. I am hoping that going through the motions will loosen it up so it stops hurting. I have been feeling like just giving up lately. I know I cannot but I feel like doing so. I am not overdoing it. I just think that I am bored with winter and I need a change.

feeling good, feeling great

I am feeling wonderful today. I took the whole weekend off from counting calories but I watched what I ate. I weighed myself this morning and I did not gain nor lose weight since Sunday. I tried on a pair of pants that I used to wear and I could get them up to just below my belly today. My waist is down another inch since the last time I measured. I think the difficult ab section in the long version of my workout video is really helping that. Now if I could just get in more cardio to burn that fat off. I am doing cardio during my workout but my favorite cardio activity is taking the kids for a walk. I decided to do more cardio. I thought about replaying the cardio sections in my workout video but I decided that I am just going to do my own version of it to some music. That way K can dance with me too.

whew!

I worked out to the Cindy Crawford video again today after having done my new one for the last 2 days. WOW. The other one is definitely a breeze compared to the Cindy one.

It is not yet 8 am here and I have already started on my water intake for the day. That is good. I did have a diet cola when I woke up. K and I are cleaning the upstairs today so I will get a workout carrying the vacuum and the carpet shampooer upstairs.

I asked Hubby if we can buy a better carpet shampooer when we get our tax return. He said I could. I really don't need to ask his permission to buy things but because I want one that is almost $200, I felt I should discuss it with him first. I would also like to get a better vacuum cleaner as well but the shampooer is more important right now. Our current one only picks up about 1/2 the water it lays out. Not cool. I have to go over the carpets 2-3 times in order to get it partially dry.

I have been asked on a board I am a member of what my fitness program is. So here goes.

I work out a minimum of 6 days a week. Because I can't get outside for cardio and I do not want to pay for a gym, I am doing light strength training everday but doing a different video. I recently bought a cardio video so I am going to mix it up a bit. My plan is to do my Cindy video one day, my cardio the next, Then either the Cindy one or the Kathy one and so on. The light strength training also has bits of cardio in it. I know that once I can get outside with the kids, I will slack on the weight training so in the end it will work out ok. I will probably only strength train once or twice a week in the summer, not because I don't like to, just because I LOVE being outside and will spend a lot of my time taking the kids for a walk or playing in the yard with them.

I am eating between 1500-1800 calories a day, keeping my fat % below 30, but shooting for below 25. I try to eat 1600-1700 a day but wanted to give myself a range for those hungry days. I eat 4-5 times a day. Dinner is my biggest meal. I work out in the morning as much as I can and then finish up when the kids are napping. I am drinking a minimum of 8 cups of water a day. I don't eat withing 2 hours of bedtime. Nothing is off-limits in my diet. I can eat whatever. I just have to write it down and eat it in moderation. If I know we are having a dinner that I love, I eat a lighter lunch and smaller snacks.

got out for a walk today

I took K and we got out for a 45 minute walk today. It was great to be outside and exercising. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. It warmed up to the mid 40's today so I bundled her up and covered her with a blanket too. She was plenty warm. When we got home and took her coat off she said she was hot so she took of her sweatshirt too. LOL. Guess I might have bundled her too much. I hope to get out again tommorrow. I worked up a sweat.

I am spoiled

I realized last night that O's sleep has me spoiled. I went to bed at 8:30, she woke up at 2 am and I could barely function enough to get up and feed her. I have been so used to her sleeping through the night that when she doesn't it is hard!! She has the same cold as the rest of us so I have to clean out her nose and then wait about 3 minutes to feed her so she can breathe better. She was up for an hour and a half last night. UGH!! My butt is dragging this morning but at least she slept in until a little after 7.

I am pretty sure once I do my workout I will wake up. It is too cold to go anywhere today so we aren't even leaving the house. I will be able to get a bunch of housework done though.

I stretched out my shoulders before bed last night with an exercise band I got from WIC yesterday. If you can get on it, WIC is an excellent program. Not only do they provide us with milk, eggs, cheese, juice, peanut butter, formula for the baby and cereal, they also have really great things monthly that they give away. This month it was exercise bands. The first time we went they had recipe cards for healthy meals. They check the children for growth. They are really great about providing me with health advice as well. The ladies (at least in my county office) are really nice and really helpful. The exercise band really helped. My shoulder feels great this morning. I have been waking up sore every morning.

feeling great

I know I already touched on this subject but I love how I feel after a workout, even just a short one. I feel more energized, less stressed and just all around better. I just finished working out and I feel FANTASTIC!!

a treat

I ordered myself 2 new work out DVDs. I would like to vary my routine a bit so I do not get bored with it. So I ordered
http://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Kaehler-Basics-Fitness-Workout/dp/B00067HP78
and
http://www.amazon.com/Cardio-Burn-Madeleine-Lewis/dp/B000BY9VRI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1198901860&sr=1-1

The first one I bought because I really have no experience with exercise DVDs but this is the instructor from the first one I ever bought (http://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Crawford-New-Dimension/dp/B0000X61V4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1198902093&sr=1-1)
and I really liked her in this video. She is not a supermodel and seems more like a real person. Some of the reviews say that her body is manly looking but quite frankly, I don't see what they are seeing. I think she is built like I am, and I am not manly looking.

The second one I bought because it was from the same seller and looked like an ok way to add in a little more cardio than the other ones have. Plus it was cheap and only $2 to ship.

I am looking for a little more variety in my workouts. I know that once spring hits, I will not use the dvds much except for when we can't go outside but at least I will have them available.

Do I need a DVD to work out to? Not really but I find that if I do not vary my routine, I get bored with it and quit. I can do regular exercises that I already know how to do but it gets old doing the same thing time and again. This way I can spice it up a bit.

I have a hard time picking out a DVD routine because
A) I need something that is in short bursts so I can stop and start when I need to so I can take care of the kids or do whatever. I try to fit in my workout first thing in the morning but that does not always happen. I can do it during K's nap but that is my time to spend with O. I spend time with K in the morning while O is napping. I like giving each child their own little bit of time with me and only me. I am not going to give that up. I usually manage to get in at least 20 minutes everyday so the short sections are perfect for me. I do not have the time for a complete 45-60 minute workout in 1 stretch of time. Sure I can pause it and go back but the sections work better.

B) the choices are daunting. There are so many to choose from. It seems that every model and actress has a video out, not too mention their trainers, etc.

C) Cost. I do not want to spend $20 + on one video that I may or may not like. I tried looking at the used video and the thrift stores around here but the choices are very limited. I even checked out Walmart and found 3, only 3. WTH?!?!

So anyway after I use them for a couple weeks I will let you know how they are. I can tell you that the New Dimension by Cindy Crawford is fantastic. I (and Hubby) have noticed a difference in my "wings"(the flabby lower part of my arm), my butt, and my abs already.

ow ow owie

at some point during my workout this morning, I turned wrong on my left knee. Oh the pain. I can still walk but I have a sharp pain in the center of it. Crap! It really freaking hurts. If it is not better by Wednesday I am going to go in to the DR. Why me?

I was able to finish the workout minus anything that involved using my knees so no cardio. Basically I did a bunch of upper body and abdominal stuff instead of the lower body.

I NEED to start working out again

I have not gained or lost any weight since my weigh in Friday. I need to start working out again. After cartoons are over, I am going to work out. Lord knows if I switch to my exercise video during Dora, K will have a fit. I know this week is going to be hard, my mom makes to die for fudge. It is so hard to eat just one piece.

Hubby had to work 5 hours today. That kind of sucked but we had no plans to go anywhere so that is ok. The girls and I are going to hang out at home. I need to clean up the toy room (again).

My brother came over to snowblow our driveway. We probably got close to a foot of snow on top of what we already had. This reminds me of winters when I was a child. We would get snowed in for days because we lived in a valley. The snow would drift 5-6 feet and we had to wait until the county brought a grader out to clean us out. I think that is part of the reason why I stock up when I hear about snow storms coming, even though we live in town. I buy extra milk, soda and any of the necessities. We have never lost power in town but it could happen so I make sure I have a jug of water in the fridge as well. I can still use our stove because it is propane. It won't light automatically but we have a candle lighter just for that purpose. Call me crazy (my hubby does) but I like being prepared, especially having small children.

Last winter our furnace went out on the coldest day of the season. Hubby was happy that I had extra blankets. It was 55 degrees in our house and it was below 50 by the time the furnace guy got it fixed. It went out sometime around 5 am so we did not have too many hours of no furnace. about 5, but it was COLD. K was just over a year old. He cuddled her on the couch while I used the stove for a little bit of heat.

got a lead on a perfect for me job!!

I stopped at the thrift store and my friend, who is the assistant manager there, asked if I had a couple minutes. I didn't have the girls with me so I stepped into her office. She handed me an application. I must have looked confused because she said. Are you still looking for work? I said yes she said "I want to hire you but I need a filled out application". I will have an interview with her boss after Christmas but she said that she wanted me to come work there because she knows that I am dependable and will come to work. I went to college with this girl. Anyway her boss was on vacation this week and someone gave their notice. She can't post a job ad without her boss's permission but she can hand out apps at anytime. So I filled it out and asked her a little bit about the job. She said that her boss probably won't even post the job if she has a qualified applicant before hand. It starts out pretty low pay wise but I can WALK TO WORK(once it gets warmer out)! and walk the kids to the sitters before work and walk after work to pick them up or have Hubby pick them up on his way home. It is a little bit of everything. One day is receiving, the next day is sorting, the next day is cashiering and another day is ticketing (which is pricing the items to be sold). If I were to get the job, I would have no or very little vehicle expense because I wouldn't have to drive to work. I would still pay the sitter but without having to pay for gas or maintenance on my car, I would actually be making some money instead of everything I make going to pay for gas, etc. I don't know how Hubby is going to feel about the Saturdays but I am going to talk to him as soon as he gets home!!!!!Please pray for me that I get this job

walking

Yesterday when hubby got home from work it was in the mid-thirties so I took K and went for walk. We were only gone about 15 mintues but it was so nice to be able to get out and get some exercise in. I am going to try to do that everyday when it is warmer out. If it is below freezing or windy, we are not going to go but I think it helps K from being stir crazy. We can leave the baby home with hubby.

I weighed in this morning because I have not been taking my Alli as I should be because of work and not eating breakfast, etc. I have still lost 4 lbs. So I am hoping that once I can do this on a regular basis, it will keep dropping.